Information processing system, information processing device, operation device, and power supply method

• US 10,516,280 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Tamaki, Yuki, Matoba, Hideto, Fukasawa, Ryo, Yasuda, Shumpei, Shimohata, Yasuyuki, Oizumi, Toshiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Pacheco, Alexis B
• Application Number:
  US15/455,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20180138727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 320108, 320114, 320115, 320137, 320134, 320132
• 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 13/235 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 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

An example information processing system includes a main device, and an operation device attachable to the main device. The operation device includes a first control circuit, a first battery, and a first power supply circuit. The main device includes a second control circuit, a second battery, and a second power supply circuit. The second power supply circuit supplies power from the second battery to the operation device in response to satisfaction of a condition about the amount of remaining charge indicated by the remaining charge amount information transmitted from the operation device. When power is supplied from the main device to the operation device, the first power supply circuit supplies power supplied from the main device to the first control circuit, instead of power from the first battery.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising:

an information processing device; and

a first operation device configured for selective attachment to/detachment from the information processing device,

wherein

the first operation device includes

a first control circuit configured to control at least a portion of the first operation device,

a first battery,

a first power supply circuit configured to control power supply to the first control circuit, and

a first communication circuit, wherein the first control circuit is configured to control the first communication circuit to transmit, to the information processing device, first remaining charge amount information indicating an amount of charge remaining in the first battery,

the information processing device includes

a second control circuit configured to control at least a portion of the information processing device,

a second battery, and

a second power supply circuit configured to control power supply to the second control circuit,

wherein the second power supply circuit is configured to supply power from the second battery to the first operation device based on the amount of remaining charge indicated by the first remaining charge amount information transmitted from the first operation device satisfying a condition, and

wherein the first power supply circuit is configured to, based on power being supplied from the information processing device to the first operation device, supply the power supplied from the information processing device, but not power from the first battery, to the first control circuit.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the first operation device further includes a control,

the first communication circuit includes a first communication interface configured to perform wired communication with the information processing device,

the information processing device further includes a second communication interface configured to perform wired communication with the first operation device,

the first communication circuit is configured to transmit, to the information processing device, by wired communication via the first communication interface, operation information based on an operation performed on the control, and the first remaining charge amount information, and

the second power supply circuit is configured to supply the power from the second battery to the first operation device through the second communication interface.

3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein

the second control circuit is configured to perform an information process based on the operation information transmitted from the first communication circuit.

4. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the first operation device further includes a control,

the first communication circuit includes a wireless communication interface configured to perform wireless communication with the information processing device,

the information processing device further includes a wireless communication interface configured to perform wireless communication with the first operation device, and

the first communication circuit is configured to transmit, to the main device, via the wireless communication interface of the first communication circuit, operation information indicating an operation performed on the control, and the first remaining charge amount information.

5. The information processing system according to claim 4, wherein

the second control circuit is configured to perform an information process based on the operation information transmitted from the first communication circuit.

6. The information processing system according to claim 4, wherein

the first power supply circuit is configured to, based on the first operation device performing wireless communication with the main device, supply power from the first battery to the first control circuit.

7. The information processing system according to claim 5, wherein

the first power supply circuit is configured to, based on the first operation device performing wireless communication with the information processing device, even if the remaining charge condition is satisfied, supply power from the first battery to the first control circuit.

8. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the information processing device further includes a power terminal configured to acquire power supplied from a power source external to the main device, and

the second power supply circuit is configured to, based on the second power supply circuit being supplied with power from the external power source through the power terminal, supply power supplied from the power source to the second control circuit and to the first operation device.

9. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the first power supply circuit is configured to, based on detecting power being supplied from the information processing device to the first operation device when the first power supply circuit is supplying power from the first battery to the first control circuit, stop supplying the power from the first battery to the first control circuit, and start to supply the power from the information processing device to the first control circuit.

10. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the first power supply circuit is configured to, based on power being supplied from the information processing device to the first operation device, supply power from the information processing device to the first control circuit, and charge the first battery using power from the information processing device.

11. The information processing system according to claim 10, wherein

the second power supply circuit is configured to, based on the amount of remaining charge indicated by the first remaining charge amount information being equal to or greater than a first value when the second power supply circuit is supplying power to the first operation device, stop supplying power to the first operation device, and

the second power supply circuit is configured to, based on the amount of remaining charge indicated by the first remaining charge amount information being smaller than the first value when the second power supply circuit is not supplying power to the first operation device, start supplying power to the first operation device.

12. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising at least a second operation device configured for selective attachment to/detachment from the information processing device, wherein

the second power supply circuit is configured to supply power from the second battery to the second operation device based on the second operation device transmitting second remaining charge amount information to the information processing device that satisfies the condition.

13. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the first operation device further includes a control, and

the second control circuit is configured to execute a game process based on an operation performed on the control.

14. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein

the second power supply circuit is configured to, based on the amount of charge remaining in the second battery being less than or equal to a first value, stop supplying power from the second battery to the first operation device, regardless of the amount of remaining charge indicated by the first remaining charge amount information.