Controller device and controller system

• US 9,272,207 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• 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): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US14/302,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20140295966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30, 463/31
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 provided on the front side of the housing, analog sticks, and first and second buttons. The analog sticks are provided respectively in left and right portions of the LCD above the center of the housing. The first and second buttons are provided on the back side of the housing so as to generally correspond to the analog sticks on the front side of the housing.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a generally plate-shaped housing;

a touch-sensitive display section provided on a front surface of the housing;

a first analog directional input device and a second analog directional input device provided respectively on opposite sides of the display section; and

a first operation device and a second operation device provided on a back surface of the housing.

2. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

wireless communication circuitry.

3. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a volume control on a side surface of the housing.

4. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

third and fourth operation devices on a side surface of the housing.

5. The handheld electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the third and fourth operation devices comprise respective shoulder buttons.

6. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive display section comprises

a multi-touch type touch-sensitive display.

7. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power charging terminal on a side surface of the housing.

8. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a magnetic sensor.

9. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

short distance wireless communication circuitry.

10. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

first wireless communication circuitry configured for wireless communication of a first type; and

second wireless communication circuitry configured for wireless communication of a second type different than the first type.

11. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an inertial sensor.

12. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a home button.

13. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power button.

14. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second analog directional input devices are disposed on the front surface so as to be simultaneously manipulable by respective fingers of different hands while the handheld electronic device is held by a user.

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

a microphone.

16. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker.

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

a vibrator for vibrating the housing of the handheld electronic device.

18. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a projecting portion arranged on the back surface of the housing.

19. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive display section is configured to display game images for a game.

20. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive display section is configured to accept inputs for use in controlling a game.

21. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second analog directional input devices are each configured to accept inputs for use in controlling a game.

22. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second operation devices are each configured to accept inputs for use in controlling a game.

23. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a tablet-shaped housing;

a touch-sensitive display on a front surface of the housing;

a first analog directional input device and a second analog directional input device provided respectively on opposite sides of the display;

a camera; and

one or more back surface operation devices on a back surface of the housing.

24. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the one or more back surface operation devices comprise first and second buttons disposed on opposite sides of the back surface of the housing.

25. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

wireless communication circuitry.

26. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

a volume control on a side surface of the housing.

27. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

first and second side surface operation devices on a side surface of the housing.

28. The handheld electronic device according to claim 27, wherein the first and second side surface operation devices comprise respective shoulder buttons.

29. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the touch-sensitive display is a multi-touch type touch-sensitive display.

30. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

a power charging terminal on a side surface of the housing.

31. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

a magnetic sensor.

32. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

short distance wireless communication circuitry.

33. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

first wireless communication circuitry configured for wireless communication of a first type; and

second wireless communication circuitry configured for wireless communication of a second type different than the first type.

34. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

an inertial sensor.

35. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

a home button.

36. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

a power button.

37. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the first and second analog directional input devices are disposed on the front surface so as to be simultaneously manipulable by respective fingers of different hands while the handheld electronic device is held by a user.

38. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

a microphone.

39. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

a speaker.

40. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

a vibrator for vibrating the housing of the handheld electronic device.

41. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

a projecting portion arranged on the back surface of the housing.

42. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to display game images for a game.

43. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to accept inputs for use in controlling a game.

44. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the first and second analog directional input devices are configured to accept inputs for use in controlling a game.

45. The handheld electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the one or more back surface operation devices are configured to accept inputs for use in controlling a game.