Video game controller charging system having a docking structure

• US 8,378,630 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2012
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• 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:
  US13/468,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20120217929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 285 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, each having a power input port, the video game controller charging system comprising:

a base;

a plurality of docking bays supported by the base and configured to receive and support the video game controllers while the video game controllers are being charged, each of the docking bays comprising a pair of opposing surfaces and being open on opposite sides between the opposing surfaces such that handle portions of the video game controllers are outwardly projectable from each of the open opposite sides and graspable by a user; and

a plurality of male DC ports, each electrically coupled to a power input and configured to directly couple to and provide DC power to the power input port of a respective video game controller of the plurality of video game controllers without the use of an external or retractable cable, each of the DC ports being between the opposing surfaces of a respective docking bay of the plurality of docking bays, each of the DC ports configured to electrically and mechanically couple to and support the respective video game controller within the respective docking bay,

wherein the power input is spaced apart from the plurality of docking bays,

wherein the video game controller charging system is configured to concurrently charge the plurality of video game controllers in the plurality of docking bays, and

wherein at least one of the opposing surfaces extends continuously from a first end to a second end, the first end being spaced from the DC port of the respective docking bay at a first side of the DC port, the second end being spaced from the DC port of the respective docking bay at a second side of the DC port opposite the first side.

2. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein at least one port of a DC port of the plurality of DC ports or the power input port of the respective video game controller is insertable into the other of the DC port or the power input port of the respective video game controller, to provide electrical and mechanical coupling between the video game controller charging system and the respective video game controller.

3. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein the docking bays are configured to receive and support the video game controllers such that the handle portions located at opposite sides of the power input port of each of the video game controllers are graspable by a user with two hands in a position for playing a video game.

4. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein the pairs of opposing surfaces comprise parallel surfaces configured to align the video game controllers in the docking bays such that the power input ports of the respective video game controllers couple to the DC ports.

5. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein each of the DC ports is spaced apart from each of the opposing surfaces of the respective docking bay.

6. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein each of the opposing surfaces extends continuously from a respective first end to a respective second end, the respective first end being spaced from the DC port of the respective docking bay at a first side of the DC port, the respective second end being spaced from the DC port of the respective docking bay at a second side of the DC port opposite the first side.

7. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein a forward portion of each of the video game controllers including the power input port is insertable into the respective docking bay.

8. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein each of the docking bays has a substantially same size and configuration, and each of the video game controllers has a substantially same size and configuration to be received and supported in one of the docking bays.

9. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein the docking bays are spaced from one another along a lengthwise direction of the video game controller charging system, and wherein the docking bays are symmetric about a midplane extending in the lengthwise direction.

10. A video game controller charging system for charging a plurality of video game controllers, each including a central forward portion having a power input port, handle portions at opposite sides of the central forward portion, and a rechargeable battery disposed within the video game controller, the video game controller charging system comprising:

a support structure comprising a power interface for coupling to a single external power cord; and

a plurality of docking bays supported by the support structure, each of the docking bays comprising;

a pair of opposing surfaces; and

a male DC port between and spaced apart from the opposing surfaces, the DC port electrically coupled to the power interface and configured to plug into and provide DC power to the power input port of a respective video game controller of the plurality of video game controllers, thereby mechanically holding and supporting the central forward portion of the respective video game controller within the docking bay such that the handle portions of the respective video game controller project outwardly from the docking bay while the rechargeable battery is being charged,

wherein the video game controller charging system is configured to concurrently charge the plurality of video game controllers in the plurality of docking bays,

wherein the docking bays are located adjacent to one another such that the video game controllers being charged are spaced apart and stacked next to one another such that the handle portions of each of the video game controllers are individually graspable by a user when the video game controllers are being concurrently charged, and

wherein the power interface is spaced apart from the plurality of docking bays such that the power cord is disposed away from the docking bays.

11. The video game controller charging system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the DC port or the power input port of the respective video game controller is insertable into the other of the DC port or the power input port of the respective video game controller to provide electrical and mechanical coupling between the video game controller charging system and the respective video game controller without the use of an external or retractable cable.

12. The video game controller charging system of claim 10, wherein each of the docking bays is open on opposite sides between the respective opposing surfaces such that the handle portions of the respective video game controller are outwardly projectable through each of the open opposite sides.

13. The video game controller charging system of claim 12, wherein the docking bays are configured to receive and support the video game controllers such that the handle portions of each of the video game controllers are graspable by a user with two hands in a position for playing a video game.

14. The video game controller charging system of claim 10, wherein the pairs of opposing surfaces comprise parallel surfaces configured to align the video game controllers in the docking bays such that the power input ports of the respective video game controllers couple to the DC ports.

15. The video game controller charging system of claim 10, wherein the docking bays are spaced apart from one another along a lengthwise direction of the video game controller charging system, and wherein the docking bays are symmetric about a midplane extending in the lengthwise direction.

16. The video game controller charging system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the opposing surfaces extends continuously from a first end to a second end, the first end being spaced from the DC port of the respective docking bay at a first side of the DC port, the second end being spaced from the DC port of the respective docking bay at a second side of the DC port opposite the first side.

17. The video game controller charging system of claim 10, wherein the male DC ports are male mini-USB connectors.

18. A method of charging a plurality of substantially similar video game controllers, each including a forward portion having a female power input port, handle portions at opposite sides of the forward portion, and a rechargeable battery disposed within the video game controller, the method comprising:

providing a video game controller charging system comprising;

a base comprising a power input;

a plurality of docking bays supported by the base and configured to receive and support the video game controllers while the rechargeable batteries of the video game controllers are being charged, each of the docking bays comprising a pair of opposing surfaces and being open on opposite sides between the opposing surfaces, the docking bays being spaced apart from one another, the power input being spaced apart from the docking bays; and

a plurality of male DC ports corresponding to the plurality of docking bays, each DC port configured to plug into and support a respective video game controller in the corresponding docking bay and provide DC power to the power input port of the respective video game controller of the plurality of video game controllers, each of the DC ports being between and spaced apart from the opposing surfaces of a respective docking bay of the plurality of docking bays, at least one of the opposing surfaces extending continuously from a first end to a second end, the first end being spaced from the DC port of the respective docking bay at a first side of the DC port, the second end being spaced from the DC port of the respective docking bay at a second side of the DC port opposite the first side;

electrically coupling a single power cord to the power input, and disposing the power cord away from the docking bays; and

placing the video game controllers in respective docking bays of the plurality of docking bays

with the forward portions of the video game controllers in the respective docking bays such that the handle portions are exposed and graspable at opposite sides of the respective docking bays.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein placing the video game controllers in the respective docking bays comprises inserting at least one of the DC ports or the power input ports into the other of the DC ports or the power input ports to electrically and mechanically couple the video game controllers to the video game controller charging system.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein charging the video game controllers comprises charging the video game controllers concurrently in the respective docking bays.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein placing the video game controllers in the respective docking bays comprises inserting the forward portion of each of the video game controllers including the power input port into the respective docking bay.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the male DC ports are male mini-USB connectors.