U.S. patent application number 14/536416 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-09 for method of facilitating user preference in creative design of a manual controller.
The applicant listed for this patent is Aaron B. Sternberg. Invention is credited to Aaron B. Sternberg.
Application Number | 20150190711 14/536416 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38372015 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150190711 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sternberg; Aaron B. |
July 9, 2015 |
METHOD OF FACILITATING USER PREFERENCE IN CREATIVE DESIGN OF A
MANUAL CONTROLLER
Abstract
A configurable manual controller for manipulating images or
symbols on a display is adapted for construction with matable
building elements arranged by a user. The user forms the manual
controller to exhibit a customized ornamental appearance reflecting
the user's creative design preferences.
Inventors: |
Sternberg; Aaron B.;
(Scottsdale, AZ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sternberg; Aaron B. |
Scottsdale |
AZ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
38372015 |
Appl. No.: |
14/536416 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14155013 |
Jan 14, 2014 |
8894066 |
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14536416 |
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13347414 |
Jan 10, 2012 |
8628085 |
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14155013 |
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|
12795540 |
Jun 7, 2010 |
8091892 |
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13347414 |
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12278102 |
Aug 1, 2008 |
7731191 |
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PCT/US07/03462 |
Feb 9, 2007 |
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12795540 |
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60772343 |
Feb 10, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/37 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2300/1043 20130101;
A63H 33/04 20130101; A63F 13/06 20130101; A63F 2300/1062 20130101;
A63F 11/00 20130101; A63F 13/24 20140902; A63H 33/086 20130101;
G06F 3/0202 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63F 13/24 20060101
A63F013/24 |
Claims
1-6. (canceled)
7. A reconfigurable electronic device having a control interface
for manipulating images or symbols on a display that is configured
to display a computer software game, the reconfigurable electronic
device being configured to be mated with user-arranged matable
building elements, the reconfigurable electronic device comprising:
a) an exoskeleton having an interior region and a removable
patterned surface portion, wherein: i) at least a portion of the
removable patterned surface portion is disposed on an upper portion
of the electronic device proximate a control interface for
operating the electronic device; ii) an outwardly facing surface of
the removable patterned surface portion defines thereon a plurality
of areas that define raised rounded bosses uniformly spaced from
each other in a two dimensional grid pattern; iii) the interior
region is configured to confine internal electrical components, the
internal electrical components being operatively connected to the
control interface to produce signals for manipulating images or
symbols on the display; and iv) the removable patterned surface
portion is configured to support a set of building elements that
are configurable for mating to the removable patterned surface
portion of the exoskeleton and for mating to one another, thereby
to enable a user to establish a desired shape and ornamental
appearance of the reconfigurable electronic device.
8. The reconfigurable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the set
of building elements includes a subset of the building elements
having first and second matable features that are matable to each
other so that the building elements in the subset are configurable
for mated joining to one another for assembly in stacked
relationship.
9. The reconfigurable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the
reconfigurable electronic device is configured to connect to a
computing device through a wireless connection.
10. The reconfigurable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the
control interface includes a control pad.
11. The reconfigurable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the
reconfigurable electronic device includes motion sensors.
12. The reconfigurable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the
reconfigurable electronic device includes a receptacle for
connecting to a second electronic device by way of a data
cable.
13. A system including the reconfigurable electronic device of
claim 7 and a display screen, wherein the reconfigurable electronic
device is operably coupled to the display screen.
14. A reconfigurable electronic device having a control interface
for operably coupling with a computing device, the reconfigurable
electronic device being configured to be mated with user-arranged
matable building elements, the reconfigurable electronic device
comprising: a) an exoskeleton having an interior region and a
patterned surface portion, wherein: i) the patterned surface
portion is disposed on an upper portion of the electronic device
proximate a control interface for operating the electronic device;
ii) an upwardly facing surface of the patterned surface portion
defines thereon a plurality of areas that each define raised
rounded bosses uniformly spaced from each other in a two
dimensional grid pattern; iii) the interior region is configured to
confine internal electrical components, the internal electrical
components being operatively connected to the control interface to
produce signals that are directed to the computing device; and iv)
the patterned surface portion is configured to support a set of
building elements that are configurable for mating to the removable
patterned surface portion of the exoskeleton and for mating to one
another, thereby to enable a user to establish a desired shape and
ornamental appearance of the reconfigurable electronic device.
15. The reconfigurable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the
set of building elements includes a subset of the building elements
having first and second matable features that are matable to each
other so that the building elements in the subset are configurable
for mated joining to one another for assembly in stacked
relationship.
16. The reconfigurable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the
reconfigurable electronic device is configured to connect to a
second electronic device by way of a wireless connection.
17. The reconfigurable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the
control interface includes a control pad.
18. The reconfigurable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the
reconfigurable electronic device includes a receptacle for
connecting to a second electronic device by way of a data
cable.
19. A system including the reconfigurable electronic device of
claim 14 and a second electronic device, wherein the reconfigurable
electronic device is operably coupled to the second electronic
device by way of a wireless connection.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/155,013, filed Jan. 14, 2014, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/347,414, filed
Jan. 10, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,628,085, which is a continuation
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/795,540, filed Jun. 7, 2010,
now U.S. Pat. No. 8,091,892, which is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/278,102, filed Aug. 1, 2008, now U.S. Pat.
No. 7,731,191, which is a 371 of PCT/US07/03462, filed Feb. 9,
2007, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No. 60/772,343, filed Feb. 10, 2006.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0002] .COPYRGT.2014 IPPASA, LLC. A portion of the disclosure of
this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright
protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile
reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent
disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent
file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights
whatsoever. 37 CFR .sctn.1.71(d).
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] This disclosure relates to a manual controller for
manipulating images or symbols on a visual display and, in
particular, to a controller that can be constructed with
user-arranged matable building elements to exhibit a customized
shape and style depending on user game-inspired, ergonomic, or
appearance preferences.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0004] Manual controllers for manipulating images or symbols on a
visual display of a computer device include, for example,
joysticks, game pads, steering wheels, guns, mice, remote devices
for television, stored multi-media display and recording machines,
cellular telephones, portable video game systems, and portable
multi-media devices. One prevalent type of manual controller
comprises a control section having a plurality of buttons that the
user presses to enter commands and hand grips that the user holds
when the user operates the manual controller. Conventional manual
controllers are distributed with a predetermined appearance and
ergonomic structure. Manual controllers are operated by a variety
of users with different hand sizes. Moreover, each user has
different ergonomic and style preferences.
SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE
[0005] A configurable manual controller for manipulating images or
symbols on a display is adapted for construction with matable
building elements arranged by a user. The user forms the manual
controller to exhibit a customized shape and ornamental appearance
reflecting the user's game-inspired, ergonomic, or style
preferences.
[0006] The configurable manual controller comprises an exoskeleton
having an interior region and a patterned surface portion. The
interior region is configured to confine internal electrical
components that are operatively connected to and cooperate with
control actuators to produce signals for manipulating images or
symbols on the display. The control actuators are positioned for
tactile manipulation by a user to cause production of the signals.
The patterned surface portion is configured to support a set of
building elements. The building elements in the set are
configurable for mating to the patterned surface portion of the
exoskeleton and to one another. This enables a user to customize
the controller to an arbitrary shape and ornamental appearance,
according to the user's game-inspired, ergonomic, or style
preferences.
[0007] In a first embodiment, the exoskeleton of a controller
comprises a main section and a hand grip section, either or both of
which include at least one patterned surface portion on which a
user can build with the building elements to create a controller of
various shapes and appearances according to the user's preference.
This can be accomplished by one or both of attachment and add-on
techniques. In a second embodiment, the exoskeleton of a controller
comprises a unitary main and hand grip section that includes at
least one patterned surface portion on which a user can build with
the building elements to create a customized controller. The
resulting arbitrary controller configuration determined by a user
can be a recreation equipment item, for example as described below,
a golf club or a baseball bat.
[0008] Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the
following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which
proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment
of a configurable manual controller.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the matable building elements
assembled to form a hand grip that attaches to an exoskeleton
surface of the manual controller of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a patterned surface portion of
the exoskeleton of the manual controller of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a
manual controller that includes a unitary main and hand grip
section.
[0013] FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the manual
controller of FIG. 4 shown with two building elements with
different top side mating features.
[0014] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D are, respectively, plan, side
elevation, isometric, and exploded views of a first example of a
customized controller built in the form of a golf club around the
type of remote controller shown in FIG. 4.
[0015] FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D are, respectively, plan, side
elevation, isometric, and partly assembled views of a second
example of a customized controller built in the form of a baseball
bat around the type of remote controller shown in FIG. 4.
[0016] FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D are, respectively, plan, side
elevation, isometric, and partly exploded views of a third example
of a customized controller built with several layers of mated
building elements around the type of remote controller shown in
FIG. 4 to form a baseball bat with an unfinished surface.
[0017] FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are, respectively, side elevation, end,
and exploded views of a fourth example of a customized controller
built with two matable, styled half-section building elements that
partly enclose the type of remote controller of FIG. 4 to form a
baseball bat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment
of a configurable manual controller 10 that is used with a
computing device (not shown) for manipulating images or symbols on
a display (not shown). Although it does not show a cable, this
embodiment can be connected to a computing device through a cable
or a wireless communication link. Manual controller 10 includes an
exoskeleton 12 formed of a main housing 14 and a main casing 16
that conformably fits around the side surface of main housing 14.
Main housing 14 fits inside of but is readily separable from main
casing 16. Main housing 14 houses in its interior the electrical
components necessary for controlling symbols or images on a display
associated with a computer device. Main casing 16 has a patterned
surface portion 20 that in part covers hand grip mounting plates 22
(one shown) to which removable hand grips 30 and 32 can be attached
as described below. Skilled persons will appreciate that
exoskeleton 12 can be alternatively made as a unitary structure
having a surface on which patterned surface portion 20 is
formed.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, exoskeleton 12 has an attachable
left-hand grip 30 and an attachable right-hand grip 32 for
two-handed gripping by a user. A left-side control pad 34,
including four pressable control members 36, and a left-side analog
stick control 38 are positioned for access by digits of the user's
left hand; and a right-side control pad 44, including four control
buttons 46, and a right-side analog stick control 48 are positioned
for access by digits of the user's right hand. A selection button
64 and a start button 66 are positioned between hand grips 30 and
32. Skilled persons will appreciate that the above-described number
of control actuators, control actuator layout pattern, and hand
grip arrangement represent only one of numerous possible control
actuator and hand grip configurations. The internal electrical
components include the actual electronic circuits, controls, and
corresponding switch elements for control pads 34 and 44 and
buttons 64 and 66.
[0020] Patterned surface portion 20, which in this embodiment
covers the exterior side surface of main casing 16, includes a
surface pattern in the form of an array of mutually spaced-apart
cylindrical mating features or bosses 80. Each of hand grips 30 and
32 has a handle mount 82 on which is formed an array of mutually
spaced-apart cylindrical mating features or recesses 84. The
diameter and depth of each recess 84 and the spacing distances
between adjacent ones of recesses 84 are established so that
recesses 84 mate with corresponding bosses 80 and provide a snug,
releasable attachment of each of hand grips 30 and 32 to main
casing 16.
[0021] FIG. 2 shows the matable building elements that when
assembled form left-hand grip 30 shown in FIG. 1. Left hand-grip 30
is made up of five building elements, of which some have different
matable features and some have smooth finished surfaces that
contribute to the ornamental appearance and ergonomic quality of
the hand grip.
[0022] Left-hand grip 30 includes a five-section body element 90 to
which the remaining building elements attach. A mounting element 92
has three recesses (not shown) that mate with three corresponding
bosses 80 of a mounting section 94 of body element 90 to form
handle mount 82 (FIG. 1) having eight recesses 84. Handle mount 82
fits over and attaches to hand grip mounting plate 22 (FIG. 1),
with eight recesses 84 and eight corresponding bosses 80 in mating
relationship. A medial side element 96 has nine bosses 80 that mate
with nine corresponding recesses of a center section 98 of body
element 90. A lateral side element 100 has nine recesses (not
shown) that mate with nine corresponding bosses 80 of a distal
section 102 of body element 90. Side elements 96 and 100 contribute
to the shape and appearance of the gripping surface of left-hand
grip 30. An end piece 104 has two bosses 80 that mate with two
corresponding recesses (not shown) of a tip section 106 of body
element 90 to form a rounded terminal end of left-hand grip 30. The
assembled left-hand grip 30 is shown in FIG. 1 with its side
elements 96 and 100 removed. Right-hand grip 32 can be assembled in
a corresponding manner to that described above.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a patterned surface portion 120 covering most
of the top surface of main housing 14 (FIG. 1), except for the
actuators on control pads 34 and 44. Patterned surface portion 120
includes a surface pattern in the form of an array of mutually
spaced-apart bosses 80 in the same array pattern as that of
patterned surface portion 20 (FIG. 1).
[0024] Patterned surface portion 120 is configured to receive
matable building elements 122. Building elements 122 in this
embodiment are preferably small molded plastic components that are
stackable upon one another, like small bricks, to create a desired
object. (Building elements 122 intended to provide a finished
surface typically do not have top surface mating features that
would enable stacking of another layer of building elements.)
Building elements 122 can be of different colors. Suitable building
elements 122 include LEGO toy bricks, available from Interlego AG,
Zug, Switzerland.
[0025] A preferred building element 122 has on its bottom side
recesses 84 that are sized to mate with spatially corresponding
bosses 80 so that building element 122 can be affixed to and
thereby cover part of patterned surface portion 120. Skilled
persons will appreciate that a building element 122 having multiple
recesses 84 on its bottom side is configured so that adjacent
recesses 84 are separated by the same distance as that separating
corresponding adjacent bosses 80 in patterned surface portion 120.
The spaced-apart bottom side recesses 84 of building element 122
that are sized to mate with spatially corresponding bosses 80 of
patterned surface portion 120 define a recess feature pattern that
is complementary to patterned surface portion 120. FIG. 3 shows a
building element 122a that has an open rectangular bottom side
recess 124 that is sized to fit over and against lateral arcuate
peripheral portions of two adjacent bosses 80 to mate with them in
an operational manner. Building element 122a defines a surface
feature that is matable to bosses 80 in, but not is complementary
to, patterned surface portion 120.
[0026] Either building element 122 or 122a has on its top side the
absence or presence of a matable feature. FIG. 3 shows attached to
main housing 14 (FIG. 1) a building element 122s having a smooth
top surface that can be of a color or that contributes to a
finished decorative pattern selected by a user. FIG. 3 also shows
attached to main housing 14 and positioned adjacent building
element 122s a building element 122b having on its top side two
bosses 80 to which another building element 122b could mate at its
bottom surface.
[0027] For purposes of simplicity and uniformity, a user preferably
constructs a manual controller with a set of stackable building
elements in which the bottom side feature and the top side feature
mates with and operationally matches, respectively, the features in
a patterned surface portion of the manual controller. Operationally
match is defined to mean that a top side feature is matable to the
bottom side feature of the same building element. This is the
situation illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D below.
A user constructing a manual controller with building elements 122
stacked to form a specific shape could do so, however, by
assembling a set of stackable building elements that are included
in subsets. A first subset of building elements could be one in
which the bottom side feature mates with, but the top side feature
does not operationally match, the features of a patterned surface
portion of the manual controller. A second subset of building
elements could be one in which the bottom side feature mates with,
and the top side feature operationally matches, the top side
feature of the building elements in the first subset.
[0028] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a second preferred embodiment
of a configurable portable manual controller 140 that includes a
unitary main and hand grip section. Manual controller 140 is built
around a remote controller in the form of a Wii.TM. remote
controller, which is available from Nintendo of America, Inc.,
Redmond, Wash., and is implemented with motion sensors that move
images on a display in response to user movement of manual
controller 140. Manual controller 140 includes an exoskeleton 142
that is a main housing that houses in its interior the electrical
components necessary for controlling symbols or images on a display
associated with a computer device. As shown in FIG. 4, exoskeleton
142 has a control actuator 144 located between a control pad 146
including four pressable control members 148 and a menu button 150
and two control actuator buttons 152 and 154. A power button 156 is
located near the front end, two control actuator buttons 158 and
160 are located near the back end, and a joystick connector
receptacle 162 is located in the back surface of manual controller
140. Exoskeleton 142 has a tapered front end bottom surface on
which a user can rest his fingers to grasp the controller and
operate a trigger device (not shown).
[0029] Exoskeleton 142 has patterned surface portions 170 and 172
that together cover most of the exterior of exoskeleton 142.
Similar to patterned surface portion 20 of main casing 16 of manual
controller 10 shown in FIG. 1, patterned surface portion 170
covering the top surface of manual controller 140 includes a
surface pattern in the form of an array of mutually spaced-apart
cylindrical mating features or bosses 80. Patterned surface portion
172 covering a side surface of manual controller 140 includes a
surface pattern in the form of an array of mutually spaced-apart
square mating features 174. For purposes of simplicity, it is
preferable to cover exoskeleton 142 with patterned surface portions
including arrays of the same mating features.
[0030] FIGS. 4 and 5 show two examples of building elements that
are matable to manual controller 140. A building element 176 shown
positioned above (but not mated to) a building element 178 has top
side cylindrical features 80 in a surface pattern that is less
densely packed than features 80 in the surface pattern of patterned
surface portion 170. Building element 178 shown mated to bosses 80
of patterned surface portion 170 has top side square features 174
of patterned surface portion 172. Building element 178 may have
bottom side features that are matable to either cylindrical
features 80 or square features 174, depending on the surface of
manual controller 140 on which a user intends to build.
[0031] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D show a customized controller built
in the form of a golf club 190 around a remote controller in the
form of a Wii.TM. remote controller. Golf club 190 includes an
exoskeleton 192 that has a surface portion 170, which is described
above with reference to FIG. 4. As best shown in FIG. 6D, golf club
190 includes five building elements, of which adjacent ones mate
with each other and all of which collectively mate with exoskeleton
192. A mounting element 194 includes two side sections 196 and 198
having recesses 84 that mate with corresponding bosses 80 on
respective sides 200 and 202 of exoskeleton 192. Golf club shaft
components 204, 206, 208, and 210 mate in series connection to form
an assembled golf club 190.
[0032] FIG. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D show a customized controller built
in the form of a baseball bat 220 around a remote controller in the
form of a Wii.TM. remote controller. Baseball bat 220 includes an
exoskeleton 222 that has a surface portion 170, which is described
above with reference to FIG. 4. As best shown in FIG. 7D, baseball
bat 220 includes five building elements (two of which are partly or
completely removed to illustrate mating bosses 80 of exoskeleton
222) mated to exoskeleton 222 to form a bat handle 224 and eleven
building elements (several of which partly cut away to show mating
bosses 80 on adjacent building elements) mated in series connection
to form a bat barrel 226. A building element 228 mates to the rear
end of exoskeleton 222 to provide a bat heel, and a building
element 230 mates with the front end of exoskeleton 222 to
interconnect it with bat barrel 226.
[0033] FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D show a customized controller built
in the form of a baseball bat 240 around a remote controller in the
form of a Wii.TM. remote controller. Baseball bat 240 includes an
exoskeleton 242 that has a surface portion 170, which is described
above with reference to FIG. 4. As best shown in FIG. 8D, baseball
bat 240 is formed of two multi-layer stacks 244 and 246 of building
elements positioned on and mated to either side of a bat barrel
core section 248. Rectangular building elements 250 and 252
included in respective multi-layer stacks 244 and 246 have recesses
84 (not shown) that mate with bosses 80 on the sides of exoskeleton
242 at its tapered end to connect bat barrel core section 248 to
exoskeleton 240. Unlike baseball bat 220 of FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and
7D, baseball bat 240 has substantially large unfinished surface
portions.
[0034] FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C show a customized controller built in
the form of a baseball bat 260 around a remote controller in the
form of a Wii.TM. remote controller. Baseball bat 260 includes an
exoskeleton 262 that has a surface portion 170, which is described
above with reference to FIG. 4. As best shown in FIG. 9C, baseball
bat 260 is formed with two matable half-section building elements
264 and 266 that resemble longitudinal half-sections of a complete
bat, including its handle and barrel. The interior surfaces of
building elements 264 and 266 have arrays of recesses 84 that mate
with bosses 80 on the side surfaces of exoskeleton 262 to connect
building elements 264 and 266 to exoskeleton 262. The interior
surface of building element 264 has three mounts 268 for sets of
bosses 80 that mate with corresponding recesses 84 on the interior
surface (not shown) of building element 266 to connect building
elements 264 and 266 together. Baseball bat 260 presents with very
few building elements a finished replica of a baseball bat.
[0035] It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that
many changes may be made to the details of the above-described
embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the
invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be
determined only by the following claims.
* * * * *