Game controller with receptor duplicating control functions

• US 8,591,333 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• 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:
  US11/790,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,405 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/161, 463/37, 463/38, 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 a receptor assembly comprising:

a controller core unit including an elongated, substantially rectangular housing formed with a top having an upper surface, a bottom having a lower surface, opposite sides and forward and rearward ends, at least the top having a plurality of control buttons including a cross-key button on said upper surface at said forward end;

said lower surface having a trigger button, the forward end having an imaging operating unit, and the rearward end having first connector; and

a substantially gun-shaped receptor including a barrel portion and a griper portion, said barrel portion having a laterally-oriented aperture therethrough;

a first switch located within said aperture and a second switch located on an external surface of said receptor at an interface between said barrel portion and said gripper portion, said receptor adapted to receive said controller core unit; and

wherein the receptor is formed with a recess sized and shaped to receive said core unit, said recess terminating at a second connector adapted to receive said first connector to thereby establish an electrical connection between the core unit and the receptor, and further wherein, when said core unit is received within and electrically connected to said receptor, said first and second switches perform functions of said trigger button and cross-key button, respectively.

2. The video game controller 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.

3. The video game controller of claim 1 wherein said first connector is a male connector and said second connector is a female connector.

4. The video game controller of claim 1 wherein said recess comprises an opening in said barrel portion having a substantially U-shaped cross-section.

5. A game controller comprising a first control unit and a second control unit to which said first control unit can be mounted in a freely detachable manner,

said first control unit comprising an elongated first housing with an imaging device in a forward end thereof for imaging a marker placed in a display in order to compute a pointed position on the display;

and a first connector located in a rearward end thereof;

said second control unit comprising a second generally gun-shaped housing having an elongated barrel portion and a gripper portion formed rearwardly of said barrel portion;

an open slot in said barrel portion for receiving said first control unit wherein said open slot is adapted for receiving at least a part of said first control unit and wherein a second connector is installed inside said barrel portion for electrically connecting said first control unit and said second control unit;

an aperture in said barrel portion adjacent said gripper portion; and

a first control switch installed within said aperture, and a second control switch mounted above said first control switch, at an interface between said barrel portion and said gripper portion wherein said first control unit is provided with a trigger button on a bottom surface thereof, and a cross-key button on an upper forward surface thereof wherein, when said first control unit is received within and electrically connected to said second control unit, said first and second control switches perform functions of said trigger button and cross-key button, respectively.

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

a gun-shaped housing including an elongated barrel portion, a gripper portion extending downwardly and away from a rearward end of said elongated barrel portion and a trigger button, said barrel portion formed with an upwardly-open, substantially U-shaped slot, open at a forward end of said elongated barrel portion and shaped to receive an elongated, substantially rectangular electronic video game controller having a forward face and an internal imaging information operating unit located at said forward face, said substantially U-shaped slot having a length sufficient to support more than half a length dimension of the elongated, substantially rectangular electronic video game controller substantially co-axially with said elongated barrel portion such that the internal imaging information operating unit of the rectangular electronic video game controller will be aimed at a target display when said elongated barrel portion is aimed at the target display, and wherein said trigger button is configured to control a function identical to a function ascribed to a trigger switch on an underside of the electronic video game controller;

wherein a rearward end of said upwardly-open substantially U-shaped slot is provided with a connector adapted to align with a mating connector on a rearward end of the electronic video game controller to thereby enable electrical connection between the receptor and the electronic video game controller; and

wherein said upwardly-open substantially U-shaped slot is defined in part by a pair of substantially parallel side walls, each provided with a rib adapted to engage a respective slot on opposite sides of the electronic video game controller.

7. A video game controller assembly for a video game comprising:

a gun-shaped receptor housing including a barrel portion, a gripper portion and a trigger button, said barrel portion having a first forward end remote from said gripper portion and a second rearward end adjacent said gripper portion, said barrel portion formed with an elongated, upwardly-open substantially U-shaped slot, open at said forward end of said barrel portion;

an elongated, substantially rectangular electronic video game controller comprising a housing having a top, bottom, opposite sides, a forward end and a rearward end, said top having a plurality of control buttons thereon and said bottom having a trigger switch supported therein, said forward end of said housing enclosing an internal imaging information operating unit, and said rearward end provided with a first connector;

said elongated, substantially rectangular electronic video game controller seated in said upwardly-open substantially U-shaped slot substantially co-axially with said barrel portion, such that said internal imaging information operating unit of said rectangular electronic video game controller is located beyond said substantially U-shaped slot and said first forward end of said barrel portion, and will be aimed at a target display when said barrel portion is aimed at the target display.

8. The video game controller assembly for a video game according to claim 7 wherein a rearward end of said upwardly-open substantially U-shaped slot is provided with a second connector engaged with said first connector on said rearward end of said electronic video game controller to thereby establish an electrical connection between said receptor and said electronic video game controller.

9. The video game controller assembly for a video game according to claim 7 wherein said upwardly-open substantially U-shaped slot is defined in part by a pair of substantially parallel side walls, each provided with a rib engaged in a respective slot on said opposite sides of said electronic video game controller.

10. The video game controller assembly for a video game comprising:

a gun-shaped receptor housing including a barrel portion, a gripper portion and a trigger button, said barrel portion formed with an elongated, upwardly-open substantially U-shaped slot, open at a forward end of said barrel portion;

an elongated, substantially rectangular electronic video game controller comprising a housing having a top, bottom, opposite sides, a forward end and a rearward end, said top having a plurality of control buttons thereon and said bottom having a trigger switch supported therein, said forward end of said housing enclosing an internal imaging information operating unit, and said rearward end provided with a first connector;

said elongated, substantially rectangular electronic video same controller seated in said upwardly-open substantially U-shaped slot substantially co-axially with said barrel portion, such that said internal imaging information operating unit of said rectangular electronic video game controller extends beyond said forward end of said substantially U-shaped slot and said forward end of said barrel portion, and will be aimed at a target display when said barrel portion is aimed at the target display; and

wherein said gun-shaped housing is provided with a trigger configured to control a function identical to a function ascribed to said trigger switch on said bottom of the electronic video game controller.

11. A video game controller assembly for a video game comprising:

a gun-shaped receptor housing including a barrel portion, a gripper portion and a trigger button, said barrel portion formed with an elongated, substantially U-shaped slot, open at a forward end of said barrel portion;

an elongated, substantially rectangular electronic video game controller comprising a housing having a top, bottom, opposite sides, a forward end and a rearward end, said top having a plurality of control buttons thereon and said bottom having a trigger switch supported therein, said forward end of said housing enclosing an internal imaging information operating unit, and said rearward end provided with a first connector;

said elongated, substantially rectangular electronic video game controller seated in said substantially U-shaped slot substantially co-axially with said barrel portion, such that said internal imaging information operating unit of said rectangular electronic video game controller extends beyond said forward end of said substantially U-shaped slot and said forward end of said barrel portion, and will be aimed at a target display when said barrel portion is aimed at the target display; and

wherein said gun-shaped housing is provided with a trigger configured to control a function identical to a function ascribed to said trigger switch on said bottom of the electronic video game controller.