# US 10,118,093 B2 · Information processing system, information processing device, controller device and accessory

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- Number: US 10,118,093 B2
- Document ID: US10118093B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/418,426
- Filed: 2017-01-27
- Published: 2017-05-18
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-06-12
- Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yoshiaki Koizumi; Yui Ehara; Munetaka Nishikawa; Kochi Kawai; Kenichi Mae
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118093B2

## CPC

- A63F 13/23: for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
- A63F 13/2145: the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
- A63F 13/235: using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
- A63F 13/24: Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
- A63F 13/26: having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
- A63F 13/31: Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
- A63F 13/843: involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
- A63F 13/92: Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
- A63F 13/98: Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
- G06F 1/1607: {Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing (G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence)}
- G06F 1/1671: {Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop (G06F1/1666 takes precedence)}
- G06F 1/1684: {Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675}
- G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)}
- G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)}
- G06F 3/02: Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
- G06F 3/0304: {Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means (constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042)}
- G06F 3/033: Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user {, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks}; Accessories therefor (digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041)
- G06F 3/0338: with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
- G06F 3/0346: with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
- G06F 3/1423: {controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display}
- G08C 17/02: using a radio link
- G08C 19/00: Electric signal transmission systems (G08C17/00 takes precedence)
- A63F 2300/1075: using a touch screen
- A63F 2300/204: the platform being a handheld device
- G06F 1/1669: {Detachable keyboards}
- Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

An example multi-configuration game system includes a computer device including a housing, a first display on a front surface of the housing, and processing circuitry and first and second controllers configured for detachable attachment to the computer device. The game system is configurable for game play in a first physical configuration in which the first and second controllers are attached to the computer device and in a second physical configuration in which the first and second controllers are detached from the computer device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A multi-configuration game system comprising:
a computer device comprising a housing, a first display on a front surface of the housing, and processing circuitry; and
first and second controllers configured for detachable attachment to the computer device, each of the first and second controllers including an input device configured to receive player input,
wherein the game system is configurable for game play in a first physical configuration in which the first and second controllers are attached to the computer device and in a second physical configuration in which the first and second controllers are detached from the computer device,
wherein the first physical configuration provides for single player game play in which inputs to the respective attached first and second controllers are processed by the processing circuitry as being from the same player, and
wherein the second physical configuration provides for single player game play in which inputs to the respective detached first and second controllers are processed by the processing circuitry as being from the same player, and for two player game play in which inputs to the respective detached first and second controllers are processed by the processing circuitry as being from two different players,
wherein the processing circuitry processes a first input as a first direction when the first controller is attached to the computer device and processes the first input as a direction different from the first direction when the first controller is detached from the computer device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The game system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second controllers communicate with the computer device via a wired connection in the first physical configuration and via a wireless connection in the second physical configuration.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The game system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second controllers have different shapes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The game system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a third controller,
wherein the third controller is configured for wireless communication with the computer device in the second physical configuration, whereby the second physical configuration provides for three player game play in which inputs to the respective first, second and third controllers are processed by the processing circuitry as being from three different players.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The game system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second controllers are configured for slidable detachment from sides of the computer device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The game system according to claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a directional input device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The game system according to claim 6, wherein the directional input device comprises a stick.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The game system according to claim 7, wherein the stick comprises an analog stick.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The game system according to claim 7, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to process a tilt operation for tilting the stick in a first direction relative to a housing of the first controller as corresponding to an input for a first direction when the first controller is attached to the computer device and process a tilt operation for tilting the stick in the first direction relative to the housing of the first controller as corresponding to an input for a second direction different from the first direction when the controller is detached from the computer device.

### Claim 10

A multi-configuration game system comprising:
a computer device comprising a housing, a first display on a front surface of the housing, and processing circuitry; and
first and second controllers configured for detachable attachment to the computer device, at least the first controller including a directional input device configured to receive player input specifying a direction relative to a housing of the first controller,
wherein the game system is configurable for game play in a first physical configuration in which the first and second controllers are attached to the computer device and in a second physical configuration in which the first and second controllers are detached from the computer device,
wherein the first physical configuration provides for single player game play in which inputs to the respective attached first and second controllers are processed by the processing circuitry as being from the same player, and
wherein the second physical configuration provides for single player game play in which inputs to the respective detached first and second controllers are processed by the processing circuitry as being from the same player, and for two player game play in which inputs to the respective detached first and second controllers are processed by the processing circuitry as being from two different players,
wherein the processing circuitry is configured to, when the first controller is attached to the computer device in the first physical configuration, control the game system to receive, via wired communication between the first controller and the computer device, a first signal indicative of player input to the directional input device of the first controller specifying a first direction relative to the housing of the first controller and process the first signal as corresponding to a first direction; and
wherein the processing circuitry is configured to, when the first controller is detached from the computer device in the second physical configuration, control the game system to receive, via wireless communication between the first controller and the computer device, a second signal indicative of player input to the directional input device of the first controller specifying the first direction relative to the housing of the first controller and selectively process the second signal as corresponding to and a second direction different from the first direction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The game system according to claim 10, wherein the first and second controllers are configured for slidable detachment from sides of the computer device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The game system according to claim 10, wherein the directional input device comprises a stick.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The game system according to claim 12, wherein the stick comprises an analog stick.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The game system according to claim 12, wherein
the first and second signals are indicative of respective tilts of the stick in the first direction relative to the housing of the first controller.

### Claim 15

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for execution by a processing circuitry of a game system comprising a computer device including a housing, a first display on a front surface of the housing, and the processing circuitry; and first and second controllers configured for detachable attachment to the computer device, at least the first controller including a directional input device configured to receive player input specifying a direction relative to a housing of the first controller,
wherein the game system is configurable for game play in a first physical configuration in which the first and second controllers are attached to the computer device and in a second physical configuration in which the first and second controllers are detached from the computer device,
wherein the first physical configuration provides for single player game play in which inputs to the respective attached first and second controllers are processed by the processing circuitry as being from the same player, and
wherein the second physical configuration provides for single player game play in which inputs to the respective detached first and second controllers are processed by the processing circuitry as being from the same player, and for two player game play in which inputs to the respective detached first and second controllers are processed by the processing circuitry as being from two different players,
wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, control the game system to perform operations comprising:
when the first controller is attached to the computer device in the first physical configuration,
receiving, via wired communication between the first controller and the computer device, a first signal indicative of player input to the directional input device of the first controller specifying a first direction relative to the housing of the first controller; and
processing the first signal as corresponding to a first direction; and
when the first controller is detached from the computer device in the second physical configuration,
receiving, via wireless communication between the first controller and the computer device, a second signal indicative of player input to the directional input device of the first controller specifying the first direction relative to the housing of the first controller; and
selectively processing the second signal as corresponding to direction and a second direction different from the first direction.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the directional input device comprises a stick.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the stick comprises an analog stick.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein
the first and second signals are indicative of respective tilts of the stick in the first direction relative to the housing of the first controller.