Controller device and information processing device

• US 8,827,818 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ashida, Kenichiro, Goto, Yositomo, Okamura, Takanori, Takamoto, Junji, Ibuki, Masato, Yamamoto, Shinji, Tsuchiya, Hitoshi, Suetake, Fumiyoshi, Suga, Akiko, Yamamoto, Naoya, Kumazaki, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/206,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20120106041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: D14/400, D14/401, 463/46, 361/679.01
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5252 using two or more virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character changes room or displaying a rear-mirror view in a car-driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5255 according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2402 Input by manual operation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 : Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 : External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

An example terminal device includes a generally plate-shaped housing, an LCD, and a projecting portion (an eaves portion). The LCD is provided on the front side of the housing. The projecting portion is provided so as to project at least at left and right positions on a back side of the housing above the center of the housing.

Claims

1. A controller device operable by a user, comprising:

a generally plate-shaped housing;

a display provided on a front side of the housing; and

a projecting portion provided so as to project at least at left and right positions on a back side of the housing above a center of the housing,

wherein a first engagement hole configured to engage with an additional device separate from the controller device is provided on a bottom surface of the projecting portion.

2. The controller device according to claim 1, further comprising a first operation section and a second operation section provided respectively on opposite sides of the display above a center of the housing.

3. The controller device according to claim 2, wherein the projecting portion is provided so as to extend across an area on the back side including positions corresponding to the first operation section and the second operation section on the front side.

4. The controller device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a third operation section provided below the first operation section on a front side surface of the housing; and

a fourth operation section provided below the second operation section on the front side surface of the housing.

5. The controller device according to claim 1, further comprising a third operation section and a fourth operation section provided respectively in left and right portions of the housing on an upper surface of the projecting portion.

6. The controller device according to claim 1, wherein the projecting portion is eaves-shaped and extends in a left/right direction.

7. The controller device according to claim 1, wherein a second engagement hole configured to engage with the additional device is provided on a lower surface of the housing.

8. The controller device according to claim 1, further comprising protruding portions having a protruding cross section and provided in left and right portions on a back surface of the housing below the projecting portion.

9. The controller device according to claim 8, wherein the projecting portion and the protruding portions are spaced apart from each other.

10. The controller device according to claim 1, further comprising grip portions provided in left and right portions on a back surface of the housing.

11. The controller device according to claim 1, further comprising a third operation section and a fourth operation section provided in left and right portions on an upper surface of the housing.

12. The controller device according to claim 1, further comprising a touch panel provided on a screen of the display.

13. The controller device according to claim 1, further comprising an inertia sensor inside the housing.

14. The controller device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication circuit for wirelessly transmitting operation data representing an operation performed on the controller device itself to a game device, and receiving image data transmitted from the game device; and

a display controller for displaying the received image data on the display.

15. The controller device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a game processor for performing a game process based on an operation performed on the controller device itself; and

a display controller for producing a game image based on the game process and displaying the game image on the display.

16. The controller device according to claim 1, wherein the display includes a screen of 5 inches or larger.

17. The controller device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an infrared marker provided on the front side of the housing.

18. A controller device comprising:

a generally plate-shaped housing;

a display provided on a front side of the housing;

a first operation section and a second operation section provided respectively on opposite sides of the display; and

a projecting portion provided on a back side of the housing at a position at which the projecting portion can rest on fingers other than thumbs while a user is holding the housing in such a manner that the user can respectively operate the first operation section and the second operation section with the thumb of a corresponding hand,

wherein a first engagement hole configured to engage with an device separate from the controller device is provided on a bottom surface of the projecting portion.

19. The controller device according to claim 18, wherein the projecting portion is provided so as to extend across an area on the back side including positions corresponding to the first operation section and the second operation section on the front side.

20. The controller device according to claim 18, further comprising a third operation section and a fourth operation section provided respectively in left and right portions of the housing on an upper surface of the projecting portion.

21. The controller device according to claim 18, wherein the projecting portion is eaves-shaped and extends in a left/right direction.

22. The controller device according to claim 18, wherein a second engagement hole configured to engage with, the additional device is provided on a lower surface of the housing.

23. The controller device according to claim 18, further comprising protruding portions having a protruding cross section and provided in left and right portions on a back surface of the housing below the projecting portion.

24. The controller device according to claim 23, wherein the projecting portion and the protruding portions are spaced apart from each other.

25. The controller device according to claim 18, further comprising grip portions provided in left and right portions on a back surface of the housing.

26. The controller device according to claim 18,. further comprising:

a third operation section provided below the first operation section on a front side surface of the housing; and

a fourth operation section provided below the second operation section on the front side surface of the housing.

27. The controller device according to claim 18, further comprising a third operation section and a fourth operation section provided in left and right portions on an upper surface of the housing.

28. The controller device according claim 18, further comprising a touch panel provided on a screen of the display.

29. The controller device according to claim 18, further comprising an inertia sensor inside the housing.

30. The controller device according to claim 18, further comprising:

a communication circuit for wirelessly transmitting operation data representing an operation performed on the controller device itself to a game device, and receiving image data transmitted from the game device; and

a display controller for displaying the received image data on the display.

31. The controller device according to claim 18, further comprising:

a game processor for performing a game process based on an operation performed on the controller device itself; and

a display controller for producing a game image based on the game process and displaying the game image on the display.

32. The controller device according to claim 18, wherein the display includes a screen of 5 inches or larger.

33. The controller device according to claim 18, further comprising:

an infrared marker provided on the front side of the housing.

34. A tablet-shaped information processing device comprising:

a generally plate-shaped housing;

a display provided on a front side of the housing; and

a projecting portion provided so as to project at least at left and right positions on a back side of the housing above a center of the housing,

wherein a first engagement hole configured to engage with an additional device separate from the controller device is provided on a bottom surface of the projecting portion.

35. The controller device according to claim 34, further comprising:

an infrared marker provided on the front side of the housing.