Controller device and controller system

• US 9,889,384 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• 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:
  US14/983,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20160129352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 463 30, 463 31, 463 37
• 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 for use in playing a game, comprising:

a unitary housing;

first and second analog directional input devices on a front surface of the housing;

first and second shoulder buttons on a side surface of the housing; and

first and second back surface input devices on a back surface of the housing, the first and second back surface input devices having symmetrical shapes and being symmetrically disposed on the back surface of the housing.

2. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second directional input devices are located on opposite sides of the front surface.

3. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising an inertial sensor.

4. The handheld electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the inertial sensor comprises one or both of an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

5. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a vibrator for providing vibration feedback.

6. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a camera located on the front surface of the housing.

7. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a touch-sensitive panel on the front surface of the housing.

8. The handheld electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second back surface input devices are simultaneously operable for receiving inputs for playing the game.

9. A handheld electronic device for use in playing a game, comprising:

a unitary housing;

at least one directional input device on a front surface of the housing;

a touch sensitive panel on the front surface of the housing; and

first and second back surface input devices on a back surface of the housing, the first and second back surface input devices having symmetrical shapes and being symmetrically disposed on the back surface of the housing.

10. The handheld electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the touch sensitive panel is part of a touch-sensitive display.

11. The handheld electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the at least one directional input device comprises an analog directional input device.

12. The handheld electronic device according to claim 9, further comprising an inertial sensor.

13. The handheld electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the inertial sensor comprises one or both of an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

14. The handheld electronic device according to claim 9, further comprising a vibrator for providing vibration feedback.

15. The handheld electronic device according to claim 9, further comprising a camera.

16. The handheld electronic device according to claim 9, further comprising first and second shoulder buttons on a side surface of the housing.

17. The handheld electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the first and second back surface input devices are simultaneously operable for receiving inputs for playing the game.

18. A handheld electronic device for use in playing a game, comprising:

a unitary housing;

at least one directional input device on a front surface of the housing;

an inertial sensor; and

first and second back surface input devices on a back surface of the housing, the first and second back surface input devices having symmetrical shapes and being symmetrically disposed on the back surface of the housing.

19. The handheld electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the inertial sensor comprises one or both of an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

20. The handheld electronic device according to claim 18, further comprising a touch-sensitive panel on the front surface of the housing.

21. The handheld electronic device according to claim 18, further comprising a camera.

22. The handheld electronic device according to claim 21, wherein the camera is located on the front surface of the housing.

23. The handheld electronic device according to claim 18, further comprising a vibrator for providing vibration feedback.

24. The handheld electronic device according to claim 18, further comprising first and second shoulder buttons on a side surface of the housing.

25. The handheld electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the first and second back surface input devices are simultaneously operable for receiving inputs for playing the game.

26. A handheld electronic device for use in playing a game, comprising:

a unitary housing;

at least one directional input device on a front surface of the housing;

a camera; and

first and second back surface input devices on a back surface of the housing, the first and second back surface input devices having symmetrical shapes and being symmetrically disposed on the back surface of the housing.

27. The handheld electronic device according to claim 26, wherein the camera is located on the front surface of the housing.

28. The handheld electronic device according to claim 26, further comprising an inertial sensor.

29. The handheld electronic device according to claim 28, wherein the inertial sensor comprises one or both of an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

30. The handheld electronic device according to claim 26, further comprising a touch-sensitive panel on the front surface of the housing.

31. The handheld electronic device according to claim 26, further comprising a vibrator for providing vibration feedback.

32. The handheld electronic device according to claim 26, wherein the first and second back surface input devices are simultaneously operable for receiving inputs for playing the game.

33. A handheld electronic device for use in playing a game, comprising:

a unitary housing configured to be held by the left and right hands of a player for playing the game;

at least one directional input device on a front surface of the housing;

a touch sensitive panel on the front surface of the housing; and

first and second back surface input devices on a back surface of the housing, the first and second back surface input devices having symmetrical shapes,

wherein, when opposite sides of the housing are held by the left and right hands for playing the game,

the directional input device is operable by a first digit of one or the other of the left and right hands of the player to supply inputs for the game, and

the first and second back surface input devices are operable by a second digit of the left hand and a second digit of the right hand, respectively, to supply inputs for the game.

34. The handheld electronic device according to claim 33, wherein the touch sensitive panel is part of a touch-sensitive display.

35. The handheld electronic device according to claim 33, wherein the first digit is the thumb and the second digit is the index finger.

36. The handheld electronic device according to claim 33, wherein the second digit is the middle finger.