Game system and game controller

• US 9,517,407 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Yasuda, Shunpei, Kobe, Naoto
• Primary Examiner(s): LIDDLE, JAY TRENT
• Application Number:
  US13/640,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20130281213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

A second game controller includes both of a first detection section provided in a first game controller, and a second detection section provided in an extended controller that is detachably connected to the first game controller. An operation to the second game controller is detectable by the both detection sections, but the result of the detection by the first detection section is not included in transmission data to be transmitted to a game apparatus.

Claims

1. A game system including at least a first game apparatus, a first game controller, and a second game controller, wherein

the first game controller comprises:

a first communication section that wirelessly communicates with the game apparatus;

a first detection section that is able to generate first transmission data including a result of an input performed on a predetermined operation section;

a first operation section that includes a plurality of keys, and is electrically connect ed to the first detection section; and

a connector to which an extended controller is detachably connected, the extended controller including a second operation section that includes a plurality of keys, and a second detection section that is able to output, to the first detection section, second operation section detection data indicating the content of an input to the second operation section, wherein

the first detection section detects at least an input to the first operation section, generates the first transmission data in which first operation section detection data indicating the result of the detection is included, and outputs the first transmission data to the first communication section, and

the first communication section transmits, to the game apparatus, the first transmission data outputted from the first detection section, and

the second game controller comprises;

a second communication section that communicates with the game apparatus by using the same wireless protocol as that used by the first communication section;

a third detection section that is able to generate second transmission data including a result of an input performed on a predetermined operation section;

a fourth detection section; and

a third operation section that includes a plurality of keys, and is electrically connected to the third detection section and the fourth detection section, wherein

the third detection section and the fourth detection section are able to detect an input to the third operation section,

the fourth detection section outputs, to the third detection section, third operation section detection data detected by the fourth detection section,

the third detection section generates the second transmission data in which third operation section detection data detected by the third detection section is not included but the third operation section detection data outputted from the fourth detection section is included, and outputs the second transmission data to the second communication section, and

the second communication section transmits, to the game apparatus, the second transmission data outputted from the third detection section.

2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the number of keys included in the third operation section is greater than the number of keys included in each of the first operation section and the second operation section.

3. The game system according to claim 1, wherein

the second game controller includes a housing having grips held by left and right hands of a player, and

the third operation section comprises:

a first stick that is provided at an upper left position in a front surface of the housing of the second game controller, which position allows the player to operate the first stick with a thumb of his/her left hand when the player holds the grips;

a second stick that is provided at an upper right position in the front surface of the housing of the second game controller, which position allows the player to operate the second stick with a thumb of his/her right hand when the player holds the grips;

a direction key that is provided at a position close to the center of the housing relative to the first stick on the front surface of the housing, which position allows the player to operate the direction key with the thumb of the left hand when the player holds the grips;

a plurality of first type operation buttons that are provided at a position close to the center of the housing relative to the second stick on the front surface of the housing, which position allows the player to operate the first type operation buttons with the thumb of the right hand when the player holds the grips;

one or more second type operation button(s) that is provided at a position close to the center of the housing relative to the first stick and the second stick on the front surface of the housing, and above the direction key and the plurality of first type operation buttons;

a third type operation button that is provided at a position beneath the second type operation button(s) on the front surface of the housing, and between the direction key and the plurality of first type operation buttons; and

a plurality of fourth type operation buttons provided at positions in the vicinity of left and right ends of an upper surface of the housing of the second game controller, respectively, which positions allow the player to operate the fourth type operation buttons with his/her left and right index fingers, respectively, when the player holds the grips.

4. A game controller used for a predetermined game apparatus, comprising:

a communication section that wirelessly communicates with the predetermined game apparatus;

a first detection section that is able to generate transmission data including a result of an input performed on a predetermined operation section;

a second detection section; and

an operation section that includes a plurality of keys, and is electrically connected to the first detection section and the second detection section, wherein

the first detection section and the second detection section are able to detect an input to the operation section,

the second detection section outputs detection data detected by the second detection section to the first detection section,

the first detection section generates the transmission data in which detection data detected by the first detection section is not included but the detection data outputted from the second detection section is included, and outputs the transmission data to the communication section, and

the communication section transmits, to the game apparatus, the transmission data outputted from the first detection section.