Smart trigger-stops for videogame controllers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10632367-B2
Application number	US-201816175735-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2018
Priority date	Mar 2, 2017
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

Videogame controllers with smart trigger stops may include: a housing including A trigger, the trigger movable along a path of travel; a sensor configured to detect the position of the trigger and to generate a signal representing trigger position; a processor configured to interpret signals generated by the sensor and cause an output signal to be transmitted to a gaming console; a trigger-stop that is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the trigger-stop in the disengaged position allowing the trigger to move along the entire path of travel, the trigger-stop in the engaged position blocking the trigger from moving along the entire path of travel; and a switch coupled with the housing and the trigger-stop, wherein movement of the trigger-stop from the disengaged position to the engaged position flips the switch and causes the processor to map received signals to generated signals in a different manner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A video game controller, comprising:
a housing;
a trigger movably coupled to the housing via a spring-loaded hinge, the trigger pivotable about a first axis along a travel path in a direction transverse to the axis from a default position to a fully depressed position;
a processor configured to communicate output signals to a gaming console based at least in part on movement of the trigger;
a trigger stop movably coupled to the housing, the trigger stop linearly movable between a first position that allows the trigger to be depressed along the travel path to a fully depressed position and a second position that limits the trigger to move along a reduced travel distance between the default position and an intermediate depressed position located along the travel path between the default position and the fully depressed position, and
an electrical switch configured to communicate with the processor, the electrical switch configured to operate in a first mode when the trigger stop is in the first position and configured to operate in a second mode different than the first mode when the trigger stop is in the second position,
wherein the processor is configured to map movement of the trigger to said output signals in accordance with a first mapping profile when the switch is in the first mode and configured to map movement of the trigger to said output signals in accordance with a second mapping profile different than the first mapping profile when the switch is in the second mode, wherein the output signal communicated by the processor when the switch is in the first mode and the trigger is fully depressed is the same as the output signal communicated by the processor when the switch is in the second mode and the trigger is depressed to the intermediate depressed position.

2. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein the trigger stop in the second position is configured to contact at least a portion of the trigger to limit movement of the trigger along the travel path.

3. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein the trigger-stop includes a lever that extends through an opening in the housing, the lever configured to be engaged by a user to move the trigger-stop between the first position and the second position.

4. The video game controller of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a position of the trigger along the travel path and configured to generate a signal representative of a trigger position, the sensor configured to communicate with the processor.

5. 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 axis from a default position to a fully depressed position;
a processor configured to communicate output signals to a gaming console based at least in part on movement of the trigger;
a trigger stop movably coupled to the housing, the trigger stop movable between a first position that allows the trigger to be depressed along the travel path to a fully depressed position and a second position that limits the trigger to move along a reduced travel distance between the default position and an intermediate depressed position located along the travel path between the default position and the fully depressed position, and
an electrical switch configured to communicate with the processor, the electrical switch configured to operate in a first mode when the trigger stop is in the first position and configured to operate in a second mode different than the first mode when the trigger stop is in the second position,
wherein the processor is configured to map movement of the trigger to said output signals in accordance with a first mapping profile when the switch is in the first mode and configured to map movement of the trigger to said output signals in accordance with a second mapping profile different than the first mapping profile when the switch is in the second mode, wherein the output signal communicated by the processor when the switch is in the first mode and the trigger is fully depressed is the same as the output signal communicated by the processor when the switch is in the second mode and the trigger is depressed to the intermediate depressed position.

6. The video game controller of claim 5 , wherein the trigger stop in the second position is configured to contact at least a portion of the trigger to limit movement of the trigger along the travel path.

7. The video game controller of claim 5 , wherein the trigger stop is movable linearly in a direction generally transverse to the travel path of the trigger.

8. The video game controller of claim 5 , wherein the trigger stop is rotatable between the first position and a second position about a second axis different than the first axis.

9. The video game controller of claim 5 , wherein the trigger-stop includes a lever that extends through an opening in the housing, the lever configured to be engaged by a user to move the trigger-stop between the first position and the second position.

10. The video game controller of claim 5 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a position of the trigger along the travel path and configured to generate a signal representative of a trigger position, the sensor configured to communicate with the processor.

11. The video game controller of claim 5 , wherein movement of the trigger stop between the first position and the second position simultaneously actuates the electrical switch between the first mode and second mode.

Assignees

• Performance Designed Products Llc

Inventors

• Strahle Brad
• Wiggemans Yannik

Classifications

• A63F13/25

  Output arrangements for video game devices · CPC title

• A63F13/24 Primary

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

• A63F2300/1043

  being characterized by constructional details · CPC title