Games controller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10086269-B2
Application number	US-201514948103-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2015
Priority date	Nov 20, 2015
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

A wireless controller for a video game playing device includes electrically conductive contacts on portions of the surface of the controller positioned so that a first contact is contactable by one hand of the user and a second contact is contactable by the other hand of the user during operation of the controller. Electrical circuitry applies a voltage between the first contact and the second contact so that when the one hand contacts the first contact and the other hand contacts the second contact an electrical current flows through the user's body completing an electrical circuit. Further electrical circuitry enables power supply to the controller electronic control circuitry responsive to completion of the electrical circuit, and disables electrical power supply to the controller electronic control circuitry responsive to breaking of the electrical circuit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wireless controller for a video game playing device, comprising:
input controls for operating by a user for entering video game playing commands;
controller electronic control circuitry for communicating the entered video game playing commands to the video game playing device by wireless link; and
controller electrical power supply for providing electrical power to the controller electronic control circuitry;
electrically conductive contacts on portions of a surface of the wireless controller positioned so that a first contact is contactable by one hand of the user and a second contact is contactable by the other hand of the user during operation of the wireless controller;
first electrical circuitry for applying a voltage between the first contact and the second contact so that when the one hand contacts the first contact and the other hand contacts the second contact an electrical current can flow through the user's body as an electrical circuit is completed;
second electrical circuitry for, responsive to completion of the electrical circuit, enabling electrical power supply to the controller electronic control circuitry, and, responsive to breaking of the electrical circuit, disabling electrical power supply to the controller electronic control circuitry; and
an electrical energy storage mechanism for supplying electrical power to the controller electronic control circuitry to prevent disabling of electrical power supply to the controller electronic control circuitry during a breaking of the electrical circuit; wherein a switching mechanism notifies the electrical energy storage mechanism of cessation of the electrical current flowing through the user's body such that when the user removes the one hand or the other hand from the first contact or the second contact, respectively, stored electrical energy from the electrical energy storage mechanism is supplied to the second electrical circuitry for a given amount of time so as to stay the completion of the electrical circuit.

2. The wireless controller of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the electrically conductive contacts comprises a pad with an electrically conductive surface.

3. The wireless controller of claim 2 , wherein the electrically conductive surface comprises an electrically conductive plastic.

4. The wireless controller of claim 1 , further comprising:
electronic control circuitry for, responsive to breaking of the electrical circuit and before disabling electrical power supply to the controller electronic control circuitry, wirelessly communicating a pause command to the video game playing device so as to pause a currently active video game.

5. The wireless controller of claim 1 , further comprising:
electronic control circuitry for, responsive to recreation of the electrical circuit after a period of breaking of the electrical circuit, wirelessly communicating a resume command to the video game playing device so as to resume a currently paused video game.

6. A method of operating a wireless controller for a video game playing device, the controller comprising:
input controls for operating by a user for entering video game playing commands;
controller electronic control circuitry for communicating the entered video game playing commands to the video game playing device by wireless link; and
controller electrical power supply for providing electrical power to the controller electronic control circuitry;
the method comprising:
providing electrically conductive contacts on portions of a surface of the wireless controller positioned so that a first contact is contactable by one hand of the user and a second contact is contactable by the other hand of the user during operation of the wireless controller;
applying a voltage between the first contact and the second contact so that when the one hand contacts the first contact and the other hand contacts the second contact an electrical current can flow through the user's body as an electrical circuit is completed;
responsive to completion of the electrical circuit, enabling electrical power supply to the controller electronic control circuitry, and, responsive to breaking of the electrical circuit, disabling electrical power supply to the controller electronic control circuitry; and
supplying electrical power to the controller electronic control circuitry from an electrical energy storage mechanism to prevent disabling of electrical power supply to the controller electronic control circuitry during a breaking of the electrical circuit; wherein a switching mechanism notifies the electrical energy storage mechanism of cessation of the electrical current flowing through the user's body such that when the user removes the one hand or the other hand from the first contact or the second contact, respectively, stored electrical energy from the electrical energy storage mechanism is supplied to the second electrical circuitry for a given amount of time so as to stay the completion of the electrical circuit.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the electrically conductive contacts comprises a pad with an electrically conductive surface.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the electrically conductive surface comprises an electrically conductive plastic.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
wirelessly communicating a pause command to the video game playing device so as to pause a currently active video game before disabling electrical power supply to the controller electronic control circuitry responsive to breaking of the electrical circuit.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
wirelessly communicating a resume command to the video game playing device so as to resume a currently paused video game responsive to recreation of the electrical circuit after a period of breaking of the electrical circuit.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Clarke Matthew J
• Coulthard Adam
• Lawrence Mark J
• POLLARD Heather

Classifications

• G06F1/3231

  Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users · CPC title

• A63F13/214 Primary

  for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads · CPC title

• A63F13/235

  using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet · CPC title