Game pad connectable to personal portable terminal

• US 6,530,838 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2001
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Astronest Incorporated, Mobilink Telecom Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mobilink Telecom Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Hwan-Gi, Ha, Dong-Kook
• Primary Examiner(s): Esquivel, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Norman, Marc
• Application Number:
  US09/878,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20020155890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/47, 463/38, 341/20, 341/22, 200/61.1, 345/168, 345/169
• US Class Current: 463/36
• 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 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device

Abstract

There is provided a game pad connectable to a personal portable terminal. Each of a left handle and a right handle has a plurality of key buttons in the game pad. A mounting portion is formed between the handles and holds the personal portable terminal. A guide rib is formed along the upper ends of both sidewalls of the mounting portion, for guiding both ends of the personal portable terminal. A connector is formed on an end portion of the mounting portion to be electrically connected to an interface connector of the personal portable terminal and selectively detachable from the personal portable terminal.

Claims

1. A game pad connectable to a personal portable terminal, comprising:

an interface for interfacing the game pad to the personal portable terminal;

a keypad having a plurality of keys, for generating key data to a pressed key;

a vibrator having a vibration motor, for generating vibrations upon receipt of a first operation control signal;

a voice processor having a sound source chip, for generating effect sounds upon receipt of a second operation control signal; and

a controller for controlling operation of function blocks of the game pad, feeding the key data received from the keypad to the personal portable terminal via the interface, and outputting the operation control signals to the vibrator and the voice processor according to a vibration signal and a sound signal, respectively, from the personal portable terminal via the interface.

2. The game pad of claim 1, wherein the voice processor further includes an earphone connection jack for outputting the effect sounds to an earphone.

3. The game pad of claim 1, further comprising a memory unit for storing an operation program of the controller and downloaded game programs.

4. The game pad of claim 3, wherein the operation program of the controller is stored in a library format in a flash memory of the memory unit.

5. The game pad of claim 1, wherein the personal portable terminal is a PDA.