# US 11,298,610 B2 · Adjustable trigger-stops for videogame controllers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,610 B2 - Document ID: US11298610B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/909,307 - Filed: 2020-06-23 - Published: 2021-12-23 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-23 - Assignees: Performance Designed Products LLC - Applicants: Performance Designed Products LLC - Inventors: Storm Orion; Trevor Thomas Lehr; Ali Homayounfar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298610B2 ## CPC - A63F 13/24: Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A video game controller has triggers that can be depressed by a user. The triggers have associated trigger stops actuatable to limit the travel of the trigger when depressed by the user. The trigger stop can be selectively operated by the user to vary the trigger stop location, and therefore the amount of travel of the trigger when depressed, between multiple (e.g., more than 2, more than 3, more than 4, 5, etc.) positions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A video game controller, comprising: a housing; a trigger movably coupled to the housing, the trigger pivotable about a first axis along a travel path in a direction transverse to the first axis from an undepressed position to a fully depressed position; and a trigger stop assembly comprising a clutch lever rotatable about a second axis, the clutch lever having a tooth that protrudes relative to a surface of the clutch lever, a plunger rotatable about a third axis and configured to define a travel limit of the trigger when the trigger is fully depressed and contacts at least a portion of the plunger, the plunger comprising a gear with a plurality of teeth spaced apart from each other and a clearance space between adjacent teeth configured to removably receive at least a portion of the tooth of the clutch lever therein, where the travel limit of the trigger is adjustable between a plurality of travel limit positions by inserting the tooth of the clutch lever in the clearance space between different teeth of the gear. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The video game controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of travel limit positions includes a hair trigger limit position that allows a minimum travel distance for the trigger, a full travel trigger limit position that allows a maximum travel distance for the trigger, and at least one intermediate trigger limit position that allows an intermediate travel distance for the trigger that is greater than the minimum travel distance and smaller than the maximum travel distance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The video game controller of claim 2, wherein the at least one intermediate trigger limit position includes three intermediate trigger limit positions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The video game controller of claim 2, wherein the hair trigger limit position provides a maximum angular rotation for the trigger of 10% the maximum angular rotation for the trigger in the full travel trigger limit position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The video game controller of claim 4, wherein the hair trigger limit position provides one or both of a maximum angular rotation for the trigger of 5 degrees and a maximum travel span of between 2 mm and 2.5 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The video game controller of claim 2, wherein the plunger is biased to automatically move the plunger toward the hair trigger position upon actuation of the clutch lever. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The video game controller of claim 1, wherein actuation of the clutch lever causes the tooth to disengage from the gear, and where release of the clutch lever causes the tooth to engage the gear one of the plurality of travel limit positions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The video game controller of claim 1, further comprising a clutch actuator attached to the clutch lever, at least a portion of the clutch actuator configured to extend through an opening in the housing, the clutch actuator selectively actuatable by a user to move the clutch lever to disengage the tooth of the clutch lever from the plunger to allow for an adjustment in the travel limit of the trigger. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The video game controller of claim 8, wherein the clutch actuator is a button. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The video game controller of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to communicate an output signal to a gaming console based on movement of the trigger; and an electrical switch configured to communicate with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to map the travel span of the trigger for any of the plurality of travel limit positions to an output signal range proportionally such that the output signal communicated by the processor is the same when the trigger is fully depressed irrespective of the travel limit position set for the trigger. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The video game controller of claim 10, wherein the electrical switch is configured to detect the travel limit position for the trigger set by an engagement of the tooth of the clutch with the gear of the plunger, and to communicate a signal indicative of the set travel limit position to the processor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The video game controller of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to deactivate the trigger to prevent communication of the output signal to the gaming console while the clutch lever is actuated such that the tooth of the clutch lever is disengaged from the gear of the plunger. ### Claim 13 A video game controller, comprising: a housing; a trigger movably coupled to the housing, the trigger pivotable about a first axis along a travel path in a direction transverse to the first axis from an undepressed position to a fully depressed position; and a trigger stop assembly comprising a clutch lever rotatable about a second axis, a clutch actuator attached to the clutch lever and configured to at least partially extend through an opening in the housing, a plunger rotatable about a third axis and configured to define a travel limit of the trigger when the trigger is fully depressed and contacts at least a portion of the plunger, the plunger comprising a plurality of surfaces configured to releasably engage at least a portion of the clutch lever, where the travel limit of the trigger is adjustable between a plurality of travel limit positions by releasably engaging said at least a portion of the clutch lever with a different surface of the plurality of surfaces of the plunger, wherein the clutch actuator is selectively actuatable by a user to disengage the clutch lever from the plunger to allow for the adjustment in the travel limit of the trigger, wherein actuation of the clutch lever causes the clutch lever to disengage from the plunger, and where release of the clutch lever causes the clutch lever to engage with the plunger in one of the plurality of travel limit positions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The video game controller of claim 13, wherein the plurality of travel limit positions includes a hair trigger limit position that allows a minimum travel distance for the trigger, a full travel trigger limit position that allows a maximum travel distance for the trigger, and a plurality of intermediate trigger limit positions that allows an intermediate travel distance for the trigger that is greater than the minimum travel distance and smaller than the maximum travel distance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The video game controller of claim 14, wherein the hair trigger limit position provides a maximum angular rotation for the trigger of 10% the maximum angular rotation for the trigger in the full travel trigger limit position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The video game controller of claim 14, wherein the plunger is biased to automatically move the plunger toward the hair trigger position upon actuation of the clutch lever. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The video game controller of claim 14, further comprising a processor configured to communicate an output signal to a gaming console based on movement of the trigger; and an electrical switch configured to communicate with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to map the travel span of the trigger for any of the plurality of travel limit positions to an output signal range proportionally such that the output signal communicated by the processor is the same when the trigger is fully depressed irrespective of the travel limit position set for the trigger. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The video game controller of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to deactivate the trigger to prevent communication of the output signal to the gaming console while the clutch lever is disengaged from the plunger. ### Claim 19 A video game controller, comprising: a housing; a trigger movably coupled to the housing, the trigger pivotable about a first axis along a travel path in a direction transverse to the first axis from an undepressed position to a fully depressed position; and a trigger stop assembly comprising a clutch lever rotatable about a second axis, the clutch lever having a pawl, a plunger rotatable about a third axis and configured to define a travel limit of the trigger when the trigger is fully depressed and contacts at least a portion of the plunger, the plunger comprising a stepped end with a plurality of stepped surfaces spaced apart from each other, each of the stepped surfaces configured to selectively engage at least a portion of the pawl of the clutch lever, where the travel limit of the trigger is adjustable between a plurality of travel limit positions by engaging the pawl of the clutch lever with a different stepped surface of the plurality of stepped surfaces. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The video game controller of claim 19, wherein the plurality of travel limit positions includes a hair trigger limit position that allows a minimum travel distance for the trigger, a full travel trigger limit position that allows a maximum travel distance for the trigger, and at least one intermediate trigger limit position that allows an intermediate travel distance for the trigger that is greater than the minimum travel distance and smaller than the maximum travel distance.