CONFIGURABLE MANUAL CONTROLLER

• US 20090118012A1
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lego Systems A/S (Kirkbi A/S)
• Original Assignee: Ippasa, LLC
• Inventors: Sternberg, Aaron B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,731,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 11/00 Game accessories of general use , e.g. score counters, boxes
• 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 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/04 Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/086 with primary projections fitting by friction in complementary spaces between secondary projections, e.g. sidewalls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

A configurable manual controller (10, 140) for manipulating images or symbols on a display is adapted for construction with matable building elements (122) arranged by a user. The user forms the manual controller to exhibit a customized shape and ornamental appearance reflecting the user'"'"'s game-inspired, ergonomic, or style preferences.

Claims

1. A configurable manual controller for manipulating images or symbols on a display and adapted for construction with user-arranged matable building elements to exhibit a customized shape and ornamental appearance, comprising:

an exoskeleton having an interior region and a patterned surface portion;

the interior region configured to confine internal electrical components, the internal electrical components operatively connected to control actuators to produce signals for manipulating images or symbols on the display; and

the patterned surface portion configured to support a set of building elements that are configurable for mating to the patterned surface portion of the exoskeleton and for mating to one another, thereby to enable a user to establish an arbitrary shape and ornamental appearance of the controller.

2. The configurable manual controller of claim 1, in which the set of building elements includes a subset of the building elements having first and second matable features that are matable to each other so that the building elements in the subset are configurable for mated joining to one another for assembly in stacked relationship.

3. The configurable manual controller of claim 2, in which at least some of the building elements in the subset are of different sizes.

4. The configurable manual controller of claim 1, in which the set of building elements includes a subset of the building elements having one or more surface features that are not matable to the building elements in the set.

5. The configurable manual controller of claim 1, in which the patterned surface portion includes a surface feature, and in which the set of building elements includes a subset of building elements of which each has a surface feature that matches the surface feature of the patterned surface portion.

6. The configurable manual controller of claim 1, in which the exoskeleton comprises multiple pieces, one of which has the patterned surface portion.

7. The configurable manual controller of claim 1, in which the exoskeleton is in a unitary structural form.

8. The configurable manual controller of claim 1, in which the patterned surface portion constitutes a first patterned portion, and further comprising the exoskeleton having a second patterned portion.