U.S. patent application number 11/967061 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-01 for separable recombinable game controller.
This patent application is currently assigned to HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to JEN-TSORNG CHANG.
Application Number | 20090005164 11/967061 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40161283 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090005164 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHANG; JEN-TSORNG |
January 1, 2009 |
SEPARABLE RECOMBINABLE GAME CONTROLLER
Abstract
An exemplary game controller includes a first main body, a
second main body, a first signal connection unit, a second signal
connection unit and a fastening unit. The first signal connection
unit and the second signal connection unit are respectively secured
on the first main body and the second main body, and configured for
establishing communication between the first main body and the
second main body. The fastening unit is installed on the first main
body and configured for fastening the second main body to the first
main body.
Inventors: |
CHANG; JEN-TSORNG;
(Tu-Cheng, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PCE INDUSTRY, INC.;ATT. CHENG-JU CHIANG
458 E. LAMBERT ROAD
FULLERTON
CA
92835
US
|
Assignee: |
HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO.,
LTD.
Tu-Cheng
TW
|
Family ID: |
40161283 |
Appl. No.: |
11/967061 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/37 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 13/06 20130101;
A63F 2300/1025 20130101; A63F 13/24 20140902; A63F 13/23 20140902;
A63F 2300/1043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/37 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 29, 2007 |
CN |
200710200964.0 |
Claims
1. A game controller, comprising: a first main body; a second main
body; a first signal connection unit and a second signal connection
unit respectively secured on the first main body and the second
main body, the first signal connection unit and the second signal
connection unit being configured for establishing communication
between the first main body and the second main body; and a
fastening unit installed on the first main body and configured for
fastening the second main body to the first main body.
2. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the first main body
comprises a depressed portion, the second main body comprises a
protrusion portion fitly matable with the depressed portion; the
first signal connection unit and the second signal connection unit
respectively are secured in the depressed portion and on the
protrusion portion.
3. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the first signal
connection unit and the second signal connection unit are
configured for establishing hard-wired communication between the
first main body and the second main body
4. The game controller of claim 3, wherein the first signal
connection unit and the second signal connection unit respectively
are a male connector and a female connector; when the first main
body and the second main body being separated from each other, the
male connector and the female connector are connected with each
other by a data connection cable; when the first main body and the
second main body being recombined together by the fastening unit,
the male connector and the female connector are directly connected
with each other.
5. The game controller of claim 4, wherein the male connector and
the female connector are USB connectors, respectively.
6. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the first signal
connection unit and the second signal connection unit are
configured for establishing wireless communication between the
first main body and the second main body.
7. The game controller of claim 6, wherein each of the first signal
connection unit and the second signal connection unit is one of an
infrared connector and a Bluetooth connector.
8. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the fastening unit
comprises a fastening portion, a stopper portion and a fixed
portion, the fastening portion releasable and resiliently connected
with the first main body and normally retracted therein, the
stopper portion retained outside of the first main body and
connected with an end of the fastening portion, and the fixed
portion fixed at a side of the first main body and opposite to the
stopper portion.
9. The game controller of claim 8, wherein the second main body
comprises a securing hole formed at an end thereof opposite to the
end on which the second signal connection unit secured; when the
first main body and the second main body being recombined together
by the fastening unit, the fastening portion being drawn out from
the first main body, inserted through the securing hole and
thereafter being retained by engaging the stopper portion to the
fixed portion.
10. The game controller of claim 8, wherein the fastening portion
is made of a flexible material.
11. The game controller of claim 10, wherein the flexible material
is one of cloth, plastic and artificial fibre.
12. The game controller of claim 8, wherein the stopper portion and
the fixed portion respectively are velcros that are matable with
each other.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention generally relates to game controllers
for operating electronic games.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Nowadays, game controllers have become popular input
peripherals of the computer system. The game controllers facilitate
users (or players) to operate various actions in electronic games.
In order to meet specific requirements of the players, the
designing trend of the game controllers is to be user friendly.
[0005] A common game controller generally includes a unitary main
body, which facilitates single handed as well as two handed
gripping and operation of the game controller by a player. With the
rapid development of multimedia electronic games, a new-style
electronic game having a specific requirement requires players to
operate a game controller by using two hands to assume different
postures. The above-mentioned common game controller is
unsatisfactory for operating such new-style electronic game.
Therefore, a new-style game controller having two separated main
bodies is necessary so as to meet the specific requirement of the
electronic game. The two separated main bodies of the new-style
game controller facilitate two hands of the player to assume
different postures for electronic game playing. However, in the
situation whereby the player is only required to activate buttons
of the separated main bodies but are not required to assume
different postures when playing an electronic game, both hands of
the player are still needed to respectively grip the separated main
bodies. As a result this is troublesome and inconvenient.
[0006] Therefore, what is needed is a game controller which is
separable as well as combinable, so as to meet specific
requirements of different electronic games.
SUMMARY
[0007] A game controller, in accordance with a present embodiment,
is provided. The game controller includes a first main body, a
second main body, a first signal connection unit, a second signal
connection unit and a fastening unit. The first signal connection
unit and the second signal connection unit are respectively secured
on the first main body and the second main body and configured
(i.e., structured and arranged) for establishing communication
between the first main body and the second main body. The fastening
unit is installed on the first main body and configured for
fastening the second main body to the first main body.
[0008] The first main body and the second main body of the game
controller are separable as well as combinable for game player and
thus can be used for effectively operating various actions of the
electronic games. Accordingly, the present game controller could
easily meet specific requirements of various electronic games.
[0009] Other advantages and novel features will become more
apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments,
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Many aspects of the present game controller can be better
understood with reference to the following drawings. The components
in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis
instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of
the present game controller. Moreover, in the drawings, like
reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the
several views.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic, top view of a game controller, in
accordance with a present embodiment, showing a first main body and
a second main body of the game controller separated from each
other.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic, side view of the game controller of
FIG. 1, showing the first main body and the second main body
respectively includes a first signal connection unit and a second
signal connection unit.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows the first main body and the second main body of
the game controller of FIG. 2 recombined together through a
fastening unit installed on the first main body.
[0014] FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 2, but showing a data connection
cable connected between the first signal connection unit and the
second signal connection unit.
[0015] The exemplifications set out herein illustrate various
present embodiments, in various forms, and such exemplifications
are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present game
controller in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a game controller 10, in
accordance with a present embodiment, is provided. The game
controller 10 includes: a first main body 11, a second main body
12, a first signal connection unit 130, a second signal connection
unit 132, a fastening unit 14 and a selectably used data connection
cable 20.
[0017] The first main body 11 includes a connection end 110 and a
depressed portion 112 formed at the connection end 110. Generally,
user (or player) activated switches 111 are mounted on the first
main body 11 and accessible from the outside of the first main body
11 for operating electronic games. A control circuit (not shown) is
placed in the first main body 11 and operatively connected to the
user activated switches 111 for responding to the manipulation of
the switches 111 by the player.
[0018] The second main body 12 includes a connection end 120 and a
protrusion portion 122 formed at the connection end 120. The
protrusion portion 122 has a shape to mate with that of the
depressed portion 112 of the first main body 11. Generally, user
(or player) activated switches 121 are mounted on the second main
body 12 and accessible from the outside of the second main body 12
for operating electronic games. A control circuit (not shown) is
placed in the second main body 12 and operatively connected to the
user activated switches 121 for responding to the manipulation of
the switches 121 imparted by the player. As illustrated in FIGS. 1
and 2, the second main body 12 further includes a securing hole 124
penetrating therethrough and a signal transmission interface 126.
The securing hole 124 is formed at the other end of the second main
body 12 opposite to the connection end 120. The signal transmission
interface 126 may be a FireWire interface or a universal serial bus
(USB) interface.
[0019] The first signal connection unit 130 is secured in the
depressed portion 112 and the second signal connection unit 132 is
secured on the protrusion portion 122. The first signal connection
unit 130 and the second signal connection unit 132 can be
electronically coupled with each other by a wire to establish
communication between the first main body 11 and the second main
body 12. The first signal connection unit 130 and the second signal
connection unit 132 can also be wirelessly connected to each other.
The second signal connection unit 132 and the securing hole 124 are
located on opposite sides of the second main body 12. For the
purpose of illustration, the first signal connection unit 130 is a
male connector while the second signal connection unit 132 is a
female connector that is matable with the male connector. The male
connector and the female connector may be USB connectors,
respectively.
[0020] The fastening unit 14 is installed on the first main body
11. The fastening unit 14 includes a fastening portion 142, a
stopper portion 143 and a fixed portion 144. The fastening portion
142 is releasable and is resiliently connected with the first main
body 11 and can be retracted into the first main body 11 in a
normal state. The fastening portion 142 also can be drawn out from
the first main body 11 via an external force. The stopper portion
143 is retained outside of the first main body 11 and connected
with one end of the fastening portion 142. The fixed portion 144 is
fixed at a side of the first main body 11 opposite to the stopper
portion 143. The fastening portion 142 beneficially is made of a
flexible material, such as cloth, plastic or artificial fibre, etc.
The stopper portion 143 and the fixed portion 144 may be velcros
(i.e., a type of fastening tape) matable with each other.
[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first main body 11 and the
second main body 12 of the game controller 10 are combined
together, due to a fastening effect of the fastening unit 14, for
operating an electronic game. In particular, the protrusion portion
122 of the second main body 12 is fitly mated/engaged with the
depressed portion 112 of the first main body 11. The first signal
connection unit 130 and the second signal connection unit 132 are
directly connected with each other, so that hard-wired
communication between the first main body 11 and the second main
body 12 is established. The fastening portion 142 are drawn out
from the first main body 11 and inserted through the securing hole
124, and thereafter are retained by engaging the stopper portion
143 to the fixed portion 144. As a result, the second main body 12
is firmly fastened to the first main body 11.
[0022] In this situation where the first main body 11 and the
second main body 12 of the game controller 10 are being combined
with each other, the first main body 11 could generate a first
control signal responsive to a manipulation (e.g., activating the
user activated switches 111) applied thereto by a player and send
the first control signal to the second main body 12 through the
first and the second signal connection units 130, 132. The first
control signal would be transmitted to a game console (e.g., a
computer system installed a game program) through the signal
transmission interface 126 of the second main body 12, for
operating corresponding actions in the electronic game. The second
main body 12 could generate a second control signal responsive to a
manipulation applied thereto by the player and transmit the second
control signals to the game console by the signal transmission
interface 126, for operating corresponding actions in the
electronic game.
[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the first main body 11 and the
second main body 12 of the game controller 10 are separated from
each other. In particular, the data connection cable 20 is employed
to connect between the first signal connection unit 130 and the
second signal connection unit 132, so as to establish a hard-wired
communication between the first main body 11 and the second main
body 12. When the stopper portion 143 releases from the fixed
portion 144, the fastening portion 142 of the fastening unit 14 is
self retracted into the first main body 11. The stopper portion 143
is stopped outside of the first main body 11.
[0024] It is understood that, the first main body 11 and the second
main body 12 respectively are not limited to have the depressed
portion 112 and the protrusion portion 122, the depressed portion
112 and the protrusion portion 122 being changed to be planar are
appropriate as well. The stopped portion 143 and the fixed portion
144 of the fastening unit 14 are not limited to be velcros,
respectively, that are matable with each other.
[0025] It is believed that the present embodiments and their
advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it
will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing
all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described
merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the present
invention.
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