Combination computing device and game controller with flexible bridge section

• US 9,126,119 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gamevice, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wikipad, Incorporated (Gamevice, Inc.)
• Inventors: Joynes, Matthew R., Townley, Fraser, Dooley, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): YEN, JASON TAHAI
• Application Number:
  US14/611,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20150149668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 218 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/122 where hardware performs an I/O function other than control of data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

A combination generally directed to a combination computing device and game controller. The computing device provides a plurality of sides, in which each of the sides are disposed between an electronic display screen and a back of the computing device. The game controller provides a communication port interacting with the computing device, the communication port providing a communication link and a pair of confinement structures, the pair of confinement structures adjacent to and confining the computing device on at least two opposing sides of the plurality of sides of the computing device, and an input device attached to and in electronic communication with the communication port. The input device is a separate and distinct structure from the communication port, forming no structural portion of the communication port.

Claims

1. A combination comprising:

a computing device, the computing device providing a plurality of sides, each of the plurality of sides are disposed between an electronic display screen of the computing device and a back of the computing device;

a communication port interacting with the computing device, the communication port providing a communication link and a pair of confinement structures, the pair of confinement structures adjacent to and confining the computing device on at least two opposing sides of the plurality of sides of the computing device;

an input device attached to and in electronic communication with the communication port, the input device providing a pair of control modules, the pair of control modules providing input module apertures, each input module aperture secures an instructional input device, wherein said input module apertures are adjacent each of the at least two opposing sides of the plurality of sides of the computing device, and wherein the input device is a separate and distinct structure from the communication port, forming no structural portion of the communication port; and

a structural bridge securing the pair of confinement structures one to the other, in which each of the pair of control modules provide an attachment structure cooperating with the communication port, each attachment structure secures the input device to the communication port, and in which the structural bridge comprising;

a conduit between the pair of control modules; and

a fastening mechanism cooperating with the pair of confinement structures, the fastening mechanism secures the pair of confinement structures one to the other.

2. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a data storage device confined within the input device and communicating with the computing device.

3. The combination of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary power source confined within the input device and communicating with the computing device.

4. The combination of claim 1, in which the instructional input device is a removable input device, and in which the removable input device passes signals through the communication port to the computing device, the signals controlling images displayed on the display screen of the computing device.

5. The combination of claim 1, in which the instructional input device is a game control module, and in which the game control module passes signals through the communication port to the computing device, the signals controlling images displayed on the display screen of the computing device.

6. The combination of claim 1, in which the instructional input device is a keyboard module, and in which the keyboard module passes signals through the communication port to the computing device, the signals controlling images displayed on the display screen of the computing device.

7. The combination of claim 4, in which the removable instructional input device is a removable game control module.

8. The combination of claim 4, in which the removable instructional input device is a removable keyboard module.

9. The combination of claim 1, in which the structural bridge is a ridged structure.

10. The combination of claim 8, in which the rigid structural bridge is a removable rigid structure.

11. The combination of claim 1, in which the structural bridge is a flexible structure.

12. The combination of claim 10, in which the flexible structural bridge is a removable rigid structure.

13. The combination of claim 1, in which the communication link is a signal pathway.

14. The combination of claim 12, in which the signal pathway is a metallic pathway.

15. The combination of claim 12, in which the signal pathway is a fiber optic pathway.

16. The combination of claim 1, in which the communication link provides a communication platform.

17. The combination of claim 15, in which the communication platform is a wired communication module.

18. The combination of claim 15, in which the communication platform is a wireless communication platform.

19. The combination of claim 17, in which the wireless communication platform operates in a frequency range of 2.4 GHz.

20. The combination of claim 17, in which the wireless communication platform is a personal area network.

21. The combination of claim 17, in which the wireless communication platform utilizes infrared technology for data transactions.