# US 11,027,190 B2 · Game controller and game system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,190 B2 - Document ID: US11027190B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/161,745 - Filed: 2018-10-16 - Published: 2019-03-28 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2005-08-24 - Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Nintendo Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Akio Ikeda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027190B2 ## CPC - A63F 13/24: Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles - A63F 9/24: Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for - A63F 13/211: using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes - A63F 13/213: comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells (A63F13/219 takes precedence) - A63F 13/214: for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads - 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 13/285: Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback - A63F 13/428: involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes - A63F 13/92: Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing - A63F 2009/2408: {Touch-sensitive buttons} - A63F 2009/2447: {Motion detector} - A63F 2300/1006: having additional degrees of freedom - A63F 2300/1025: details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection - A63F 2300/1031: using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth®, infrared connections - A63F 2300/1037: being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback - A63F 2300/1043: being characterized by constructional details - A63F 2300/105: using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes - A63F 2300/1068: being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad - A63F 2300/1087: comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera - A63F 2300/6045: for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands - A63F 2300/8076: Shooting - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A first control unit includes a first operation data generation section for generating first operation data in accordance with a motion of a first control unit body included in the first control unit. A second control unit includes a second operation data generation section for generating second operation data in accordance with a direction input operation performed by a player or a motion of a second control unit body included in the second control unit. Further, one of the first control unit and the second control unit includes a transmission section for transmitting the first operation data and the second operation data to a computer at a predetermined timing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A controller arrangement, comprising: a first game controller; and a second game controller, the first game controller comprising: a housing having, at least, a first surface and a second surface, the housing of the first game controller configured to be operated by a first hand of a user as the user holds the first game controller; a directional input positioned on the first surface of the housing of the first game controller and operable by a first digit of the first hand of the user as the user holds the first game controller; a first operation button positioned on the second surface of the housing of the first game controller and operable by a second digit of the first hand of the user as the user holds the first game controller; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the directional input and the first operation button, and configured to process data in response to input made in association with the directional input and the first operation button, and generate first output data from the first game controller, the second game controller comprising: a housing having, at least, a first surface and a second surface, the housing of the second game controller configured to be operated by the user as the user hold the second game controller; a directional input positioned on the first surface of the housing of the second game controller and operable by a first digit of the second hand of the user as the user holds the second game controller; a first operation button positioned on the second surface of the housing of the second game controller and operable by a second digit of the second hand of the user as the user holds the second game controller; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the directional input and the first operation button, and configured to process data in response to input made in association with the directional input and the first operation button, and generate second output data from the second game controller, wherein the first and second game controllers are configured to communicate the first and second output data to an information processing apparatus, and the first and second output data is usable in combination with data output from at least one inertial sensor for executing game processing using the information processing apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The controller arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first and second game controllers are connectable to each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The controller arrangement of claim 1, wherein at least the first game controller includes a home button positioned on the top surface of the first game controller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The controller arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first game controller includes a plurality of input buttons positioned on the top surface of the housing of the first game controller, and the directional input of the first game controller is positioned above the plurality of input buttons on the top surface of the housing of the first game controller. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The controller arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first game controller includes a first trigger button and the second game controller includes a first trigger button. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The controller arrangement of claim 5, wherein the second game controller includes a second trigger button. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The controller arrangement of claim 1, wherein the second game controller further includes first and second input buttons positioned on the top surface of the housing of the second game controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The controller arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first controller having a different shape than the second controller. ### Claim 9 A game system, comprising: a first game controller configured to be held and operated by a first hand of a user as the user holds the first game controller and plays a game; and a second game controller configured to be held and operated by a second hand of the user as the user holds the second game controller and plays the game, the first game controller comprising: an input portion including at least a directional input positioned on a first surface of the first game controller and operable by a first digit of the first hand of the user as the user holds the first game controller; a first operation button positioned on a second surface of the first game controller and operable by a second digit of the first hand of the user as the user holds the first game controller; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the input portion and the first operation button, and configured to process data in response to input made in association with the input portion and the first operation button, and generate first output data from the first game controller, the second game controller comprising: an input portion including at least a directional input positioned on a second surface of the second game controller and operable by a first digit of the second hand of the user as the user holds the second game controller; a first operation button positioned on the second surface of the second game controller and operable by a second digit of the second hand of the user as the user holds the second game controller; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the input portion and the first operation button, and configured to process data in response to input made in association with the input portion and the first operation button, and generate second output data from the second game controller, wherein the first and second game controllers configured to communicate the first and second output data to an information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus configured to utilize the first and second output data in combination with data output from at least one inertial sensor for executing game processing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The game system of claim 9, wherein the first game controller further comprising a first button positioned on the top surface of the first game controller, and the second game controller further comprising a first button positioned on the top surface of the second game controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The game system of claim 10, wherein the first game controller includes a second button positioned on the top surface of the first game controller, the first button of the first game controller is positioned above the directional input on the top surface of the first game controller, and the second button is positioned below the directional input on the top surface of the first game controller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The game system of claim 9, wherein the first and second game controllers are connectable to each other. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The game system of claim 9, wherein execution of the game processing using the data output from the inertial sensor is different than using the first and second output data. ### Claim 14 A game controller, comprising: a housing having at least a first surface and a second surface, the housing of the game controller configured to be operated by a first hand of a user as the user holds the game controller; first directional input positioned on the first surface of the housing of the game controller and operable by a first digit of the first hand of the user as the user holds the game controller; a first operation button positioned on the second surface of the housing of the game controller and operable by a second digit of the first hand of the user as the user holds the game controller; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the first directional input and the first operation button and configured to process data in response to input made in association with the first directional input and the first operation button, and generate output data for the game controller, wherein the processing circuitry configured to communicate the output data for the game controller to a first device, wherein: the first device is operable as a game controller, the first device includes a gyro sensor configured to generate data in association with movement of the first device, the first device includes an input portion, on a first surface of the first device, configured to accept input associated with playing a video game, and the input portion of the first device is operable by at least a first or second digit of at least a second hand of the user; and wherein the output data for the game controller and data output from the gyro sensor are used for playing the video game. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The game controller of claim 14, wherein the controller is mechanically attachable to the first device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The game controller of claim 14, wherein the output data for the game controller is used for playing the video game regardless as to whether the game controller is connected to the first device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The game controller of claim 14, wherein the game controller is configured to wirelessly communicate data to the first device while mechanically connected to the first device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The game controller of claim 14, operation of the video game using the data output from the gyro sensor is different than using the output data for the game controller. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The game controller of claim 14, wherein the game controller having a different shape than the first device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The game controller of claim 14, wherein the first device includes an operation button on a second surface of the first device, the operation button operable by at least the first or second digit of at least the second hand of the user.