# US 8,529,357 B2 · Combination tablet computer and game controller with flexible bridge section > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,529,357 B2 - Document ID: US8529357B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/779,987 - Filed: 2013-02-28 - Published: 2013-07-11 - Granted: 2013-09-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: Wikipad, Inc. - Applicants: Wikipad, Inc. - Inventors: Matthew R. Joynes; Fraser Townley; James Bower; Daniel P. Dooley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8529357B2 ## CPC - A63F 13/24: Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles - G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations} - G06F 3/0219: {Special purpose keyboards} - 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) ## Abstract An apparatus generally directed to a combination tablet computer and game controller. The tablet computer provides a plurality of sides, in which each of the sides are disposed between an electronic display screen and a back. The computer game controller provides side structures adjacent the tablet computer on at least two opposing sides. The computer game controller further preferably providing input module apertures and a camera. Preferably, each input module aperture selectively accepts either a game control module or a removable keyboard module. The input module apertures are preferably adjacent each of the at least two opposing sides of the tablet computer, and the camera communicates with each the electronic game controller and the tablet computer. The electronic game controller further provides an integrated transaction card input feature. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device comprising: a tablet computer, the tablet computer providing a plurality of sides, each of the plurality of sides are disposed between an electronic display screen of the tablet computer and a back of the tablet computer; an input device in electronic communication with the tablet computer, the input device providing a pair of control modules, the pair of control modules adjacent to and confining the tablet computer on at least two opposing sides of the plurality of sides of the tablet computer, the pair of control modules providing input module apertures, each input module aperture secures an instructional input device, wherein said input module apertures are adjacent each of the at least two opposing sides of the plurality of sides of the tablet computer; and a structural bridge securing the pair of control modules one to the other and communicating with the back of the tablet computer at a mid-region of the back of the tablet computer, and wherein the input device is an electronic game controller, in which the pair of control modules provide a confinement boss, and in which the structural bridge comprising: a communication link passing signals between the pair of control modules; and a fastening mechanism cooperating with the confinement boss to secure the pair of control modules one to the other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in which the instructional input device is a removable input device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in which the instructional input device is a game control module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in which the instructional input device is a keyboard module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, in which the removable instructional input device is a removable game control module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, in which the removable instructional input device is a removable keyboard module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in which the structural bridge is a ridged structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, in which the rigid structural bridge is a removable rigid structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in which the structural bridge is a flexible structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, in which the flexible structural bridge is a removable rigid structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in which the communication link is a signal pathway. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, in which the signal pathway is a metallic pathway. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, in which the signal pathway is a fiber optic pathway. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in which the communication link provides a communication module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, in which the communication module is a wired communication module. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, in which the communication module is a wireless communication module. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, in which the wireless communication module operates in a frequency range of 2.4 GHz. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, in which the wireless communication module is a personal area network. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, in which the wireless communication module utilizes infrared technology for data transactions.