Game console and memory card

• US 8,972,658 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Yoshino, Hiroshi, Ohta, Keizo, Yasumoto, Yoshitaka, Nishida, Kenji, Sugino, Kenichi, Ibuki, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEICHLITER, CHASE E
• Application Number:
  US12/461,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20090305792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,027 Days
• Field of Search: 463/43, 463/44, 463/45, 439/60, 439/55, 361/737, 711/100, 711/115, D14/435, D14/436, 710/301, 436/946
• US Class Current: 711/115
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• 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 2009/2432 actuated by a sound, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2491 with a detachable memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2494 Battery, e.g. dry cell
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6669 : using a plurality of virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character change rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6692 : using special effects, generally involving post-processing, e.g. blooming
• 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 1/1616 : with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 : the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 : including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 : Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 : the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 : the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 : by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 : Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 : using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 : using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 : Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 : Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/005 : General purpose rendering architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0247 : Flicker reduction other than flicker reduction circuits used for single beam cathode-ray tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 : Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 : to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 : Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/363 : Graphics controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/399 : using two or more bit-mapped memories, the operations of which are switched in time, e.g. ping-pong buffers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 : Games
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An example portable, handheld game console includes a main body incorporating a first display screen, and a cover body incorporating a second display screen. The main body is hingedly connected to the cover body along adjacent forward and rearward edges, respectively, such that the cover body is movable between closed and open positions. The main body is provided with a plurality of control buttons and a pair of game card slots for receiving game cards of different dimensions. One of the game cards is substantially square and comprises a substantially flat card body having a plurality of electrically conductive terminal strips adjacent the forward edge. One of the side edges of the card has a single continuous step configuration along substantially the entire length dimension of the card. A first notch is formed in a first forward corner of the card where the forward edge meets the other of the pair of side edges and a second notch is formed along the other of the pair of side edges, between the forward and rearward edges.

Claims

1. A memory card for a game machine, comprising:

a card body having length, width and thickness dimensions, a top, a bottom, a forward edge, and first and second side edges;

a plurality of electrically conductive terminal strips located on the top of the card body and adjacent the forward edge; and

a first notch located on the second side edge adjacent the forward edge wherein the first notch is open at least toward the top of the card body, wherein the first notch is at least defined by a lower surface that is substantially parallel to and between the top and bottom of the card body and a backwall that extends from the lower surface to a top of the card body, and wherein the backwall of the first notch is located forward of rearward edges of the terminal strips, and wherein at least a portion of the backwall forms an oblique angle with respect to the second side edge of the card body.

2. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the plurality of terminal strips are arranged in a parallel array.

3. The memory card of claim 2, wherein a center of the parallel array of terminal strips is offset toward the first side edge of the card body with respect to a centerline of the card body that is centered between the first side edge and the second side edge.

4. The memory card of claim 2, wherein a center of the parallel array of terminal strips is offset laterally along the forward edge of the card body toward the first side edge of the card body.

5. The memory card of claim 2, wherein the parallel array comprises seventeen terminal strips.

6. The memory card of claim 2, wherein top surfaces of the plurality of terminal strips are exposed through an aperture located in the top of the card body.

7. The memory card of claim 2, wherein a non-conductive rib separates one of the terminal strips located at an end of the parallel array from an adjacent terminal strip.

8. The memory card of claim 2, wherein non-conductive ribs separate the terminal strips located at ends of the parallel array from adjacent terminal strips.

9. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the plurality of terminal strips are located in a recess formed in a forward end of the card.

10. The memory card of claim 9, wherein a center of the recess is offset toward the first side edge with respect to a centerline of the card body that is centered between the first side edge and the second side edge.

11. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the first notch extends at least partway through the thickness of the card body.

12. The memory card of claim 11, wherein no portion of the first notch extends all the way through the thickness of the card body.

13. The memory card of claim 1, wherein a second notch is located on the second side edge between the first notch and a rearward edge of the card body.

14. The memory card of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the backwall is substantially parallel to the forward edge.

15. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the backwall comprises:

a first portion that extends substantially parallel to the forward edge; and

a second portion that extends between the first portion and the second side edge, the second portion forming an oblique angle with the second side edge.

16. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the first notch extends only partway through the thickness of the card body.

17. The memory card of claim 1, wherein a rearward facing wall is located on the second side edge between the first notch and a rearward edge of the card body.

18. The memory card of claim 17, wherein the rearward facing wall extends substantially parallel to the rearward edge of the card body.

19. The memory card of claim 1, wherein a second notch is located on the second side edge between the first notch and a rearward edge of the card body.

20. The memory card of claim 19, wherein the second notch extends only partway through the thickness of the card body.

21. The memory card of claim 19, wherein the second notch is at least partially defined by first and second sidewalls.

22. The memory card of claim 21, wherein the first sidewall of the second notch is substantially parallel to the forward edge, and wherein the second sidewall of the second notch is substantially parallel to the second side edge of the card body.

23. The memory card of claim 1, wherein a first corner joins the forward edge of the card body to the second side edge of the card body, and wherein a second corner joining the forward edge to the first side edge and third and fourth corners joining a rearward edge of the card body to the first and second side edges are configured differently from the first corner.

24. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the first notch is also open toward the second side edge of the card body.

25. The memory card of claim 1, wherein a length of the first notch does not extend rearward beyond the rearward edges of the terminal strips.

26. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the terminal strips extend rearward to at least adjacent a rearward edge of the first notch.

27. The memory card of claim 1, wherein a forward edge of the first notch is positioned closer to the forward edge of the card body than forward edges of the terminal strips.

28. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the first notch extends rearward from the forward edge only to a position adjacent a middle portion of the terminal strips.

29. The memory card of claim 1, further comprising a step that extends along at least a portion of the first side edge of the card body.

30. The memory card of claim 29, wherein the step extends along the first side edge from the forward edge at least to a location behind the rearward edges of the terminal strips.

31. The memory card of claim 29, wherein the step is open to the top and the first side edge of the card body.

32. The memory card of claim 29, wherein the step substantially extends along at least a majority of a length of the first side edge.

33. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the first notch is also defined by a sidewall that extends rearward from the forward edge of the card body in a direction parallel to the second side edge of the card body, wherein the backwall extends from the sidewall to the second side edge of the card body, and wherein the backwall is located at a position between forward and rearward edges of the terminal strips.

34. A memory card for a game machine, comprising:

a card body having a forward edge, first and second side edges, a top and a bottom;

a plurality of electrically conductive terminal strips on the top of the card body and adjacent the forward edge;

a first notch located on the second side edge adjacent the forward edge, wherein the first notch is at least defined by a lower surface that is substantially parallel to and between the top and bottom of the card body, a sidewall that extends from the lower surface to a top of the card body, and a backwall, wherein the lower surface extends from the sidewall to the second side edge of the card body, and wherein the backwall includes;

a first portion that extends substantially parallel to the forward edge, and

a second portion that extends between the first portion and the second side edge, the second portion forming an oblique angle with the second side edge, wherein the lower surface of the first notch abuts a lower edge of the second portion of the backwall.

35. The memory card of claim 34, wherein a second notch is located on the second side edge rearward of the first notch, wherein the second notch is at least partially defined by first, second and third sidewalls, the first and third sidewalls of the second notch being substantially parallel to the forward edge, and the second sidewall of the second notch being substantially parallel to the second side edge.

36. The memory card of claim 34, wherein a second notch is located on the second side edge rearward of the first notch, wherein the second notch is at least defined by first and second sidewalls, the first sidewall of the second notch being substantially parallel to the forward edge, and the second sidewall of the second notch being substantially parallel to the second side edge.

37. The memory card of claim 34, wherein a second notch is located on the second side edge rearward of the first notch, and wherein the second notch is at least defined by a rearward facing wall that extends substantially parallel to the forward edge of the card body.

38. The memory card of claim 34, wherein at least a portion of the first notch does not extend through an entire thickness of the card body.

39. The memory card of claim 34, wherein the first notch does not extend rearward beyond rearward edges of the terminal strips.

40. The memory card of claim 34, wherein a second notch is located on the second side edge rearward of the first notch, and wherein at least a portion of the second notch does not extend through an entire thickness of the card body.

41. The memory card of claim 34, wherein the plurality of terminal strips are located on the top of the card body.

42. A memory card for a game machine, comprising:

a card body having a forward edge, first and second side edges, a top and a bottom;

a plurality of electrically conductive terminal strips on the top of the card body and adjacent the forward edge; and

a first notch located on the second side edge adjacent the forward edge, wherein at least a portion of the first notch does not extend through an entire thickness of the card body and is open to the top of the card body, and wherein at least a portion of a backwall defining the first notch forms an oblique angle with the second side edge.

43. The memory card of claim 42, wherein the first notch is defined, at least in part, by a bottom wall that is parallel to and between the top and bottom surfaces of the card body.

44. The memory card of claim 43, wherein the bottom wall abuts the portion of the backwall of the first notch that forms an oblique angle with the second side edge of the card body.

45. The memory card of claim 42, wherein a second notch is located on the second side edge rearward of the first notch, and wherein at least a portion of the second notch does not extend through an entire thickness of the card body.

46. A memory card for a game machine, comprising:

a body having at least a forward edge and first and second side edges;

a plurality of electrically conductive terminal strips adjacent the forward edge and located on a top of the body;

a first notch located on the second side edge adjacent the forward edge, wherein the first notch is open to the top of the body, the forward edge of the body, and the second side edge of the body, wherein the first notch does not extend all the way through the body, wherein the first notch extends rearward from the forward edge only to a location between forward and rearward edges of the terminal strips, and wherein at least a portion of a backwall of the first notch forms an oblique angle with respect to the second side edge of the card body; and

a second notch located on the second side edge rearward of the first notch, wherein the second notch is open to the top of the body and the second side edge of the body, and wherein at least a portion of the second notch does not extend through an entire thickness of the body.

47. The memory card of claim 46, wherein the first notch is defined, at least in part, by a bottom wall that is parallel to and between top and bottom surfaces of the body.

48. The memory card of claim 47, wherein the second notch is defined, at least in part, by a bottom wall that is parallel to and between the top and bottom surfaces of the body.

49. The memory card of claim 47, wherein the backwall of the first notch extends from the bottom wall to the top of the body, the backwall being located between forward and rearward edges of the terminal strips.

50. A memory card for a game machine, comprising:

a card body having length, width and thickness dimensions, a top, a bottom, a forward edge, and first and second side edges;

a plurality of electrically conductive terminal strips on the top of the card body and adjacent the forward edge; and

a first notch located on the second side edge adjacent the forward edge wherein the first notch is open at least toward the top of the card body and toward the second side edge, wherein the first notch is defined, at least in part, by a sidewall that extends rearward in a direction that is substantially parallel to the second side edge and a backwall having a first portion that extends parallel to the forward edge of the card body and a second portion that forms an oblique angle with respect to the second side edge of the card body, and wherein the first notch extends rearward only to a position that is forward of rearward edges of the terminal strips.