Video game controller charging system having a docking structure

• US 8,143,848 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OKYN Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NYKO Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Navid, Amir
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US12/044,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20080150480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 320/113
• US Class Current: 320/113
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• 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: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

A video game controller charging system is provided. The video game controller charging system includes a base; at least one structure on the base for providing physical support to at least one video game controller while it is being charged; and at least one DC port on the base configured to couple to and provide DC power to a power input port of the at least one video game controller. The video game controller charging system may also include a current detector, a charging status indicator, at least one docking bay, and/or an AC-to-DC converter adapted to convert externally supplied power to the DC power provided to the power input port of at least one video game controller. The base of a charging station may include a recess having at least one electrical contact and a power input for connection to a power supply.

Claims

1. A video game controller charging system for charging a plurality of video game controllers using externally supplied power, the video game controller charging system comprising:

a base;

at least one structure on the base for providing physical support to the plurality of video game controllers while the plurality of video game controllers are being charged; and

a plurality of DC ports on the base, each of the DC ports configured to couple to and provide DC power to a power input port of a respective one of the plurality of video game controllers,

wherein the at least one structure on the base comprises a plurality of docking bays open in a first direction and configured to receive respective ones of the plurality of video game controllers from the first direction, and

wherein the at least one structure on the base further comprises a plurality of pairs of opposite surfaces, each pair of surfaces defining a respective docking bay of the plurality of docking hays each of the DC ports being on the base between a respective one of the pairs of surfaces.

2. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of DC ports comprises a plurality of male mini-USB connectors.

3. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, further comprising:

a current detector electrically coupled to the plurality of DC ports; and

an indicator electrically coupled to the current detector, the indicator configured to indicate a charging status of the video game controller charging system.

4. The video game controller charging system of claim 3, wherein the indicator comprises at least one LED.

5. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein the pairs of opposite surfaces are configured to align respective ones of the plurality of video game controllers such that the power input ports of the respective ones of the plurality of video game controllers couple to respective ones of the plurality of DC ports.

6. The video game controller charging system of claim 5, wherein the pairs of opposite surfaces comprise spring-loaded locating buttons configured to align the respective ones of the plurality of video game controllers.

7. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of DC ports is configured to concurrently couple to and provide the DC power to the plurality of video game controllers.

8. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, further comprising an AC-to-DC converter adapted to convert the externally supplied power to the DC power provided to the power input ports of the respective video game controllers.

9. The video game controller charging system of claim 8, wherein the AC-to-DC converter is in the base.

10. The video game controller charging system of claim 8, wherein the AC-to-DC converter is external to the base.

11. The video game controller charging system of claim 8, wherein the AC-to-DC converter is adapted to convert an AC voltage in the range of 100 V to 240 V corresponding to the externally supplied power into a DC voltage corresponding to the DC power.

12. The video game controller charging system of claim 11, wherein the DC voltage is :

DC 5 V.

13. A charging system for charging a plurality of video game controllers, each having a power input port, the charging system comprising:

a base;

a plurality of male mini-USB connectors supported by the base and each adapted to provide DC power to a respective one of the plurality of video game controllers;

at least one docking structure defining a plurality of docking bays open in a first direction and configured to receive from the first direction and align respective ones of the plurality of video game controllers to couple to respective ones of the plurality of male mini-USB connectors; and

a power input for connecting to a power supply, the power input electrically coupled to the plurality of male mini-USB connectors,

wherein the at least one docking structure comprises a plurality of pairs of substantially parallel opposite planar surfaces, each pair of surfaces defining a respective docking bay of the plurality of docking bays, each of the docking bays being open on opposite sides between the respective pair of surfaces.

14. The charging system of claim 13, wherein the charging system further comprises an AC-to-DC converter electrically coupled between the power input and the plurality of male mini-USB connectors.

15. The charging system of claim 13, wherein the charging system further comprises an AC-to-DC converter external to the base and electrically coupled to the power input.

16. The charging system of claim 13, further comprising:

a current detector electrically coupled to the plurality of male mini-USB connectors; and

an indicator electrically coupled to the current detector, the indicator configured to indicate a charging status of the charging system.

17. The charging system of claim 16, wherein the indicator comprises at least one LED.

18. A charging system for charging at least one video game controller having a power input port, the charging system comprising:

a base comprising at least one recess having at least one electrical contact, the base further comprising a power input for connection to a power supply, the power input being electrically coupled to the at least one electrical contact; and

at least one external adapter comprising a connector configured to couple to the power input port of the at least one video game controller, the at least one external adapter further comprising at least one electrical lead;

wherein the at least one external adapter is removably attachable on the at least one video game controller and configured to remain attached on the at least one video game controller when the at least one video game controller is in use during operation of a video game, and

wherein the base further comprises at least one structure defining at least one docking bay open in a first direction and configured to receive from the first direction the at least one video game controller having the at least one external adapter attached thereon such that the at least one electrical lead contacts the at least one electrical contact, the at least one structure comprising at least one pair of substantially parallel opposite planar surfaces defining the at least one docking bay, the at least one docking bay being open on opposite sides between the at least one pair of surfaces.

19. The charging system of claim 18, further comprising:

a current detector electrically coupled to the at least one electrical contact of the at least one recess; and

an indicator electrically coupled to the current detector, the indicator adapted to indicate a status of the charging system.

20. The charging system of claim 19, wherein the indicator comprises at least one LED.

21. The charging system of claim 18, wherein:

the at least one external adapter further comprises an angled edge; and

the at least one recess comprises an angled corner dimensioned to match the angled edge of the at least one external adapter and adapted to orient the at least one external adapter with respect to the at least one recess.

22. The charging system of claim 18, wherein:

the at least one electrical contact of the at least one recess comprises four electrical contacts; and

the at least one electrical lead of the at least one external adapter comprises four electrical leads.

23. The charging system of claim 18, wherein the connector of the at least one external adapter comprises a male mini-USB connector.

24. The charging system of claim 18, further comprising an AC/DC converter electrically coupled between the power input of the base and the at least one electrical contact of the at least one recess.

25. A video game controller charging system for charging a video game controller having a power input port, the video game controller charging system comprising:

a base comprising a plurality of electrical contacts, the base further comprising a power input for connection to a power supply, the power input being electrically coupled to the plurality of electrical contacts; and

an adapter comprising a connector configured to couple to the power input port of the video game controller, the adapter further comprising a plurality of electrical leads,

wherein the adapter is removably attachable on the video game controller and configured to remain attached on the video game controller when the video game controller is in use during operation of a video game, and

wherein the base further comprises a docking structure configured to receive the video game controller having the adapter attached thereon such that the plurality of electrical leads of the adapter contact the plurality of electrical contacts of the base.

26. The video game controller charging system of claim 25, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts comprises at least one spring biasing the plurality of electrical contacts toward the plurality of electrical leads.

27. The video game controller charging system of claim 25, wherein the connector comprises a male mini-USB connector.