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US 12,318,686 B2Granted
Controller for video game console
AssigneeIronburg Inventions Limited
InventorsSimon Burgess, Duncan Ironmonger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved controller for a game console that is intended to be held by a user in both hands in the same manner as a conventional controller, which has controls on the front operable by the thumbs, and has two additional controls located on the back in positions to be operated by the middle finger of a user.
Claims20
A hand held apparatus for providing user inputs to a computer program for controlling the computer program, the apparatus comprising:
- a case configured to be supported only by a user's hands during operation of the apparatus, the case comprising:
- a front face, a back face opposite the front face, a top face and a bottom opposite the top face;
- a pair of handles, a first handle of the pair of handles being adjacent a first edge of the back face and a second handle of the pair of handles being adjacent a second edge of the back face opposite the first edge, wherein at least a portion of the back face forms a recess between the first handle and the second handle configured to receive the user's fingers when the apparatus is grasped by the user;
- a plurality of front controls disposed at the front face, each front control configured to be activated by the user's thumbs during operation of the apparatus and each front control in communication with one of a plurality of first sensors;
- a plurality of top controls disposed at the top face, each top control configured to be activated by the user's index fingers during operation of the apparatus and each top control in communication with one of a plurality of second sensors;
- and
- a first back control located at the back face in a position to allow activation by the user's middle, ring, or pinkie finger during operation of the apparatus, the first back control in communication with a third sensor of the apparatus, the first back control having a vertical dimension measured from a top edge of the back face adjacent to the top face of the case to a bottom edge of the back face adjacent to the bottom of the case, the vertical dimension being different than a horizontal dimension of the first back control perpendicular to the vertical dimension, wherein the third sensor is configured to replicate a first user input from one of the plurality of first sensors or a second user input from one of the plurality of second sensors,
- wherein at least part of the first back control is located in the recess and is configured to bend when activated by the user and is configured to unbend with released.
5 more elements
A hand-held input device for providing user inputs to a computer program for controlling the computer program, the hand-held input device comprising:
- an outer case configured to be supported only by a user's hands during operation of the hand-held input device, the outer case comprising:
- a front face, a back face opposite the front face, a top face and a bottom opposite the top face;
- a pair of handles including a first handle of the pair of handles adjacent a first side of the back face and a second handle of the pair of handles adjacent a second side of the back face opposite the first side, wherein at least a portion of the back face forms a recess between the first handle and the second handle configured to receive the user's fingers when the hand-held input device is grasped by the user;
- a front control disposed at the front face in a position to be activated by a thumb of the user, the front control in communication with a first sensor of the apparatus configured to provide a first user input to the computer program;
- a top control disposed at the top face in a position to be activated by an index finger of the user, the top control in communication with a second sensor of the apparatus configured to provide a second user input to the computer program;
- a first back control located at the back face in a position to be activated by the user's middle, ring, or pinkie finger, the first back control in communication with a third sensor configured to provide a third user input to the computer program, the third user input of the third sensor from activation of the first back control capable of replicating one of the first user input from the first sensor or the second user input from the second sensor;
- and
- a second back control located at the back face in a position to be activated by the user's middle, ring, or pinkie finger, the second back control in communication with a fourth sensor configured to provide a fourth user input to the computer program, the fourth user input of the fourth sensor from activation of the second back control capable of replicating one of the first user input from the first sensor or the second user input from the second sensor,
- wherein at least part of the first back control and at least part of the second back control are located in the recess, and
- wherein the first back control and the second back control are configured to bend when activated by the user and configured to return to an unbent position when released.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.