Game controller and game system

• US 9,533,220 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2014
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ikeda, Akio
• Primary Examiner(s): LIDDLE, JAY TRENT
• Application Number:
  US14/512,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20150031455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• 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 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• 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 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera

Abstract

A first control unit includes a first operation data generation section for generating first operation data in accordance with a motion of a first control unit body included in the first control unit. A second control unit includes a second operation data generation section for generating second operation data in accordance with a direction input operation performed by a player. Further, one of the first control unit and the second control unit includes a transmission section for transmitting the first operation data and the second operation data to a computer at a predetermined timing.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

(a) a first handheld controller including a first handheld housing supporting or containing at least;

a first processor,

a first wireless transceiver,

a first inertial sensor,

a first infrared image detector,

a first vibration device,

a first manually-operable depressible control, and

a first manually-operable directional control;

(b) a second handheld controller including a second handheld housing supporting or containing at least;

a second processor,

a second wireless transceiver,

a second manually-operable depressible control, and

a second manually-operable directional controller; and

(c) a processor that cooperates with the first and second handheld controllers to provide game play in response to signals provided by each of the first handheld controller and the second handheld controller.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first inertial sensor comprises at least one of an accelerometer and a gyrosensor, and the first infrared image detector is configured to determine coordinates of detected bright areas.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second directional controls each comprise inclinable sticks projecting from the respective first and second handheld housing top surfaces, the inclinable sticks outputting operation signals in accordance with inclining directions of the sticks.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is coupled to a display and wirelessly communicates with each of the first and second wireless transceivers.

5. A handheld device comprising:

a handheld housing defining a top surface and at least one side surface;

a processor disposed in the housing,

a wireless transceiver disposed in the housing,

an inertial sensor disposed in the housing,

a vibration motor disposed in the housing, the vibration motor generating vibration feedback to be conveyed to the hand;

a manually-operable depressible operation button arrangement disposed on the housing top surface, the operation button arrangement comprising switches, the operation button arrangement outputting operation signals in accordance with pressed switches;

a manually-operable directional control disposed on the housing, the manually-operable directional control comprising an inclinable stick projecting from the housing top surface, the inclinable stick outputting an operation signal in accordance with the inclining direction of the stick;

an array of light emitting diodes disposed on the housing, the light emitting diode array being configured to indicate an assigned controller number; and

an infrared image detector disposed on the housing on the at least one side surface.

6. The handheld device of claim 5 wherein the housing at least one side surface has at least one connector thereon configured to connect the handheld device to a further handheld device.

7. The handheld device of claim 5 wherein the handheld housing is elongated and configured to be supported by a single hand, and the depressible button arrangement and directional control on the housing are configured and located to be operable by the single hand while the single hand supports the housing.

8. The handheld device of claim 5, wherein the infrared image detector includes an image information calculator that analyzes received infrared images to determine coordinates of high brightness.

9. The handheld device of claim 5 further including a trigger switch disposed on a curved surface of the housing, the trigger switch being located and configured on the housing curved surface so as to be operable by an index or middle finger of a hand holding the housing.

10. The handheld device of claim 9 wherein the trigger switch is wedge-shaped and inclined relative to the housing top surface.

11. A handheld device comprising:

a housing configured to be held in the hand, the housing including a forward portion having a first depressible button with a first size and a second depressible button with a second size disposed thereon, the first size being different from the second size, at least one of the first and second buttons being wedged;

a movable stick projecting from the housing, the stick providing an operation signal based on orientation of the stick relative to the housing;

a further depressible button disposed on the housing, the further depressible button providing an operating signal indicating depression;

at least one of an accelerometer and a gyrosensor disposed in the housing, the accelerometer or gyrosensor detecting aspects of orientation and movement of the housing;

a vibration motor disposed in the housing, the vibration motor being configured to generate vibration that can be felt by the hand; and

an infrared image sensor disposed on the housing, the infrared image sensor detecting an infrared image and analyzing the infrared image to determine high brightness coordinates.

12. A handheld wireless controller pair configured to wirelessly interoperate with a computing device, the handheld wireless controller pair comprising:

first and second handheld housings movable with respect to one another;

an infrared image sensor disposed on the first handheld housing, only the first handheld housing having an infrared image sensor disposed thereon;

the first and second handheld housings each having an inclinable stick disposed thereon, the first housing inclinable stick producing a first operation signal in response to inclination of the first stick relative to the first housing, the second housing inclinable stick producing a second operation signal in response to inclination of the second stick relative to the second housing;

the first housing having a first set of depressible buttons disposed thereon, the second housing having a second set of depressible buttons disposed thereon, the first set of depressible buttons having a first arrangement, the second set of depressible buttons having a second arrangement different from the first arrangement;

an inertial sensor disposed in the first handheld housing, the inertial sensor producing an orientation signal indicating aspects of motion of the first handheld housing;

a vibration motor disposed in the first handheld housing; and

wireless transceivers disposed in each of the first and second handheld housings, the wireless transceivers each enabling wireless communication.

13. The handheld wireless controller pair of claim 12 wherein the inertial sensor comprises at least one of a linear accelerometer and an angular velocity gyrosensor.

14. The handheld wireless controller pair of claim 12 wherein the first and second housings are configured to be held and operated by different hands.

15. The handheld wireless controller pair of claim 12 wherein the second housing has rounded edges and includes two trigger switches disposed thereon.

16. The handheld wireless controller pair of claim 12 wherein the first and second housing each are connected to electrical connectors.

17. The handheld wireless controller pair of claim 12 wherein the second housing is configured to be held in the left hand when the first housing is held in the right hand.

18. The handheld wireless controller pair of claim 12 wherein the image sensor includes a calculator that analyzes received images and generates coordinates indicating bright areas.

19. The handheld wireless controller pair of claim 12 wherein the first housing has a first housing shape, the second housing has a second housing shape, and the first housing shape is different from the second housing shape.

20. The handheld wireless controller pair of claim 12 wherein the first and second housings each include trigger buttons disposed on forward curved surfaces.

21. The handheld wireless controller pair of claim 12 wherein the vibration motor is configured to provide vibration feedback to the hand.