Game controller with removable controller accessory

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10124249-B2
Application number	US-201514702520-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2015
Priority date	May 1, 2015
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A game controller includes an electronic input sensor and a mounting platform. The mounting platform includes an accessory-retention feature and a sensor-activation feature. The accessory-retention feature is configured to removably affix a selected removable controller accessory to the mounting platform. The selected removable controller accessory is one of a plurality of differently configured removable controller accessories removably affixable to the mounting platform. The mounting platform is configured to move from a default posture to an activation posture responsive to finger manipulation of the selected removable controller accessory when the selected removable controller accessory is affixed to the mounting platform. The sensor-activation feature interfaces with the electronic input sensor to generate an activate control signal in the activation posture.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A game controller comprising:
an electronic input sensor; and
a magnetic mounting platform including a sensor-activation feature and being configured to removably affix a selected removable controller accessory directly to the magnetic mounting platform through a magnetic attraction between the magnetic mounting platform and the selected removable controller accessory, the selected removable controller accessory being one of a plurality of differently configured removable controller accessories removably affixable directly to the magnetic mounting platform, and the magnetic mounting platform being configured to move from a default posture to an activation posture responsive to finger manipulation of the selected removable controller accessory when the selected removable controller accessory is affixed directly to the magnetic mounting platform; and wherein the sensor-activation feature interfaces with the electronic input sensor to generate an activate control signal in the activation posture.

2. The game controller of claim 1 , wherein the selected removable controller accessory is made at least partially of ferromagnetic material, wherein the selected removable controller accessory is removably affixable directly to the magnetic mounting platform through a magnetic attraction between one or more magnets of the magnetic mounting platform and the ferromagnetic material, and wherein the one or more magnets move with the magnetic mounting platform when the magnetic mounting platform moves from the default posture to the activation posture responsive to finger manipulation of the selected removable controller accessory when the selected removable controller accessory is affixed directly to the magnetic mounting platform.

3. The game controller of claim 2 , wherein the one or more magnets are each positioned such that a pole of each magnet extends in a direction that is not parallel to an interface direction between the selected removable controller accessory and the magnetic mounting platform.

4. The game controller of claim 1 , further comprising
a frame including a socket configured to interface with a pivot piece of the magnetic mounting platform, the socket and the pivot piece collectively forming a joint about which the magnetic mounting platform is pivotable in a plurality of directions relative to the frame.

5. The game controller of claim 4 , wherein the magnetic mounting platform includes one or more magnets positioned in one or more troughs formed in the magnetic mounting platform, and wherein the frame includes one or more supports that extend at least to an opening of the one or more troughs to maintain the one or more magnets in the one or more troughs when the magnetic mounting platform is installed on the frame.

6. The game controller of claim 1 , wherein the selected removable controller accessory includes a finger interface and a mounting interface, and wherein one or more other of the plurality of differently configured removable controller accessories have a differently configured finger interface and a same mounting interface as the selected removable controller accessory.

7. The game controller of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic mounting platform includes a cross-shaped protrusion, and wherein the selected removable controller accessory has a cross-shaped concave mounting interface configured to cover the cross-shaped protrusion when the selected removable controller accessory is removably affixed directly to the magnetic mounting platform.

8. A game controller comprising:
an electronic input sensor; and
a magnetic mounting platform including one or more magnets and a sensor-activation feature, the one or more magnets being configured to magnetically attract a selected removable controller accessory made at least partially of ferromagnetic material to removably affix the selected removable controller accessory directly to the magnetic mounting platform, the selected removable controller accessory being one of a plurality of differently configured removable controller accessories removably affixable directly to the magnetic mounting platform, and the magnetic mounting platform being configured to move from a default posture to an activation posture responsive to finger manipulation of the selected removable controller accessory when the selected removable controller accessory is affixed directly to the magnetic mounting platform, and wherein the sensor-activation feature interfaces with the electronic input sensor to generate an activate control signal in the activation posture.

9. The game controller of claim 8 , wherein the one or more magnets are each positioned such that a pole of the magnet extends in a direction that is not parallel to an interface direction between the selected removable controller accessory and the magnetic mounting platform.

10. The game controller of claim 8 , further comprising:
a frame including a socket configured to interface with a pivot piece of the magnetic mounting platform, the socket and the pivot piece collectively forming a joint about which the magnetic mounting platform is pivotable in a plurality of directions relative to the frame.

11. The game controller of claim 10 , wherein the one or more magnets are positioned in one or more troughs formed in the magnetic mounting platform, and wherein the frame includes one or more supports that extend at least to an opening of the one or more troughs to maintain the one or more magnets in the one or more troughs when the magnetic mounting platform is installed on the frame.

12. The game controller of claim 8 , wherein the selected removable controller accessory includes a finger interface and a mounting interface, and wherein one or more other of the plurality of differently configured removable controller accessories have a differently configured finger interface and a same mounting interface as the selected removable controller accessory.

13. The game controller of claim 8 , wherein the magnetic mounting platform includes a cross-shaped protrusion, and wherein the selected removable controller accessory has a cross-shaped concave mounting interface configured to cover the cross-shaped protrusion when the selected removable controller accessory is removably affixed directly to the magnetic mounting platform.

14. A game controller comprising:
a plurality of electronic input sensors; and
a magnetic mounting platform including a cross-shaped protrusion having four branches, a plurality of sensor-activation features corresponding to the four branches of the cross-shaped protrusion, the magnetic mounting platform being configured to removably affix a removable controller accessory directly to the magnetic mounting platform through a magnetic attraction between the magnetic mounting platform and the removable controller accessory, the removable controller accessory having a cross-shaped concave mounting interface configured to cover the cross-shaped protrusion when the removable controller accessory is removably affixed directly to the magnetic mounting platform, the magnetic mounting platform being configured to move from a default posture to a selected activation posture responsive to finger manipulation of the removable controller accessory when the removable controller accessory is affixed directly to the magnetic mounting platform, the selected activation posture being one of four activation postures corresponding to the four branches of the cross-shaped protrusion, wherein a sensor-activation feature associated with a branch corresponding to the selected activation posture interfaces with a corresponding electronic input s

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Schmitz Aaron
• Jasinski Kenneth
• Weiher Joshua

Classifications

• A63F13/98

  Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers · CPC title

• A63F13/00

  Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions · CPC title

• A63F13/24 Primary

  Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles · CPC title