Game controller with adapter duplicating control functions

• US 8,550,915 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ashida, Kenichiro, Takamoto, Junji, Ibuki, Masato, Yamamoto, Shinji, Kumazaki, Daisuke, Suetake, Fumiyoshi, Suga, Akiko
• Primary Examiner(s): GALKA, LAWRENCE STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US13/028,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20110195785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/161, 463/37, 463/38, 463/36, 463/46, 463/47
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/219 for aiming at specific areas on the display, e.g. light-guns
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/818 Fishing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• 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: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8035 Virtual fishing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality

Abstract

A video game controller for a video game and a receptor assembly may include a controller core unit including a housing formed with a top, bottom and opposite sides, at least the top having a plurality of control buttons thereon; and a base portion provided with a first connector; a receptor having a shape substantially similar to a component appearing in the video game. The receptor may be a gun-shaped sub-unit with a barrel portion and a gripper portion with an open slot adapted to receive the core unit.

Claims

1. A video game controller and receptor assembly comprising:

an elongated, substantially rectangular electronic video game controller core unit for operating an electronic game comprising a housing having a top, bottom, opposite sides, a forward end and a rearward end, said top having a plurality of control buttons including a crosskey thereon and said bottom having an inclined face with a trigger switch adjacent said forward end and projecting from said inclined face; and

a receptor unit shaped to simulate a device held or worn by a character in the electronic game, said receptor formed with a forwardly-facing open-topped recess with sides and a bottom defining a shape substantially similar to at least a portion of the bottom and opposite sides of the video game controller core unit received in said recess, such that said forward end and said trigger switch project forwardly beyond said receptor unit.

2. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 1 wherein said rearward end of said video game controller core unit is provided with a first connector and wherein said recess includes a rear wall provided with a second connector coupled to said first connector to thereby establish an electrical connection between the core unit and the receptor unit.

3. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing is formed with slots on said opposite sides, and wherein said recess is formed with aligned ribs adapted to be received within said slots.

4. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 2 wherein said first connector is a male connector and said second connector is a female connector.

5. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 2 wherein said receptor unit is provided with at least one switch that performs a function of one of said control buttons or said trigger switch.

6. A video game controller and receptor assembly comprising:

an elongated, substantially rectangular electronic video game controller core unit for operating an electronic game comprising a housing having a top, bottom, opposite sides, a forward end and a rearward end, said top having a plurality of control buttons including a crosskey thereon and said bottom having an inclined face with a trigger switch adjacent said forward end and projecting from said inclined face;

a receptor unit shaped to simulate a device held or worn by a character in the electronic game, said receptor formed with a forwardly-facing open-topped recess with sides and a bottom defining a shape substantially similar to at least a portion of the bottom and opposite sides of the video game controller core unit received in said recess; and

wherein said receptor unit is provided with two switches that perform respective functions of said trigger switch and one of said control buttons.

7. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 6 wherein said receptor unit comprises a second controller in the shape of a steering wheel or a joystick.

8. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 6 wherein said receptor unit comprises a game racquet.

9. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 6 wherein said receptor unit comprises a ball bat.

10. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 6 wherein said receptor unit comprises a chair.

11. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 6 wherein said receptor unit comprises a fishing rod assembly.

12. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 6 wherein said receptor unit comprises a golf club.

13. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 6 wherein said receptor unit comprises a toy figure.

14. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 6 wherein said receptor unit comprises a wheeled toy.

15. A receptor for an electronic video game controller comprising:

a receptor housing including side walls extending along an elongated forward portion and a rearward gripper portion;

a substantially U-shaped slot formed in said elongated forward portion in part by said side walls, said substantially U-shaped slot open at a forward aiming end of said forward portion of said receptor housing and adapted to receive an electronic video game controller such that, in use, said forward aiming end of said receptor housing and a forward end of the electronic video game controller can be aimed at a target display;

said substantially U-shaped slot having a length sufficient to support a portion of the electronic video game controller substantially co-axially with said elongated forward portion of said receptor housing;

a first connector at a rearward, closed end of said substantially U-shaped slot adapted to align with and engage a mating second connector on a rearward end of the electronic video game controller to thereby enable electrical connection between said receptor housing and the electronic video game controller;

a trigger switch located within said receptor housing, substantially axially aligned with said substantially U-shaped slot, rearwardly of said first connector, said trigger switch accessible through openings in said sidewalls; and

a universal stick on said receptor housing at in interface between said elongated portion and said gripper portion.

16. The receptor of claim 15 wherein said gripper portion extends angularly from said elongated portion.

17. The receptor of claim 15 in combination with the electronic video game controller, said electronic video game controller having a controller housing including a top face, a bottom, opposite sides, forward and rearward ends, a trigger button projecting from said bottom and a universal button on said top face;

wherein said bottom and said opposite sides of said portion of said controller housing are supported in said U-shaped slot in said receptor housing and have a shape complementary to said U-shaped slot;

said forward end of said controller housing, including said trigger button projecting from said forward aiming end of said receptor housing.

18. The receptor of claim 17 wherein, in use, when said receptor and said electronic video game controller are electrically connected, said trigger switch and said universal stick perform functions of said trigger button and said universal button, respectively.

19. A receptor for an electronic video game controller comprising:

a receptor housing including substantially parallel side walls extending along an elongated forward portion and a rearward gripper portion;

a substantially U-shaped slot formed in said elongated forward portion in part by said substantially parallel side walls, said substantially U-shaped slot open at a forward aiming end of said forward portion of said receptor housing remote from said rearward gripper portion and adapted to receive an electronic video game controller such that, in use, said forward aiming end of said receptor housing and a forward end of the electronic video game controller can be aimed at a target display;

a first connector adapted to align with and engage a mating second connector on the electronic video game controller to thereby establish electrical connection between said receptor housing and the electronic video game controller; and

a trigger switch located within said elongated forward portion between said substantially parallel side walls and rearwardly of said substantially U-shaped slot, said trigger switch substantially axially aligned with said substantially U-shaped slot and accessible through openings in said substantially parallel sidewalls.

20. The receptor of claim 19 wherein said rearward gripper portion extends angularly downwardly and away from said elongated forward portion.

21. The receptor of claim 19 further comprising a universal stick at in interface between said elongated forward portion and said rearward gripper portion.

22. The receptor of claim 19 wherein said first connector is located at a rearward, closed end of said substantially U-shaped slot.