Adjustable trigger-stops for videogame controllers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11298610-B2
Application number	US-202016909307-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2020
Priority date	Jun 23, 2020
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

A video game controller has triggers that can be depressed by a user. The triggers have associated trigger stops actuatable to limit the travel of the trigger when depressed by the user. The trigger stop can be selectively operated by the user to vary the trigger stop location, and therefore the amount of travel of the trigger when depressed, between multiple (e.g., more than 2, more than 3, more than 4, 5, etc.) positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. 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 first axis from an undepressed position to a fully depressed position; and
a trigger stop assembly comprising
a clutch lever rotatable about a second axis, the clutch lever having a tooth that protrudes relative to a surface of the clutch lever,
a plunger rotatable about a third axis and configured to define a travel limit of the trigger when the trigger is fully depressed and contacts at least a portion of the plunger, the plunger comprising a gear with a plurality of teeth spaced apart from each other and a clearance space between adjacent teeth configured to removably receive at least a portion of the tooth of the clutch lever therein, where the travel limit of the trigger is adjustable between a plurality of travel limit positions by inserting the tooth of the clutch lever in the clearance space between different teeth of the gear.

2. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of travel limit positions includes a hair trigger limit position that allows a minimum travel distance for the trigger, a full travel trigger limit position that allows a maximum travel distance for the trigger, and at least one intermediate trigger limit position that allows an intermediate travel distance for the trigger that is greater than the minimum travel distance and smaller than the maximum travel distance.

3. The video game controller of claim 2 , wherein the at least one intermediate trigger limit position includes three intermediate trigger limit positions.

4. The video game controller of claim 2 , wherein the hair trigger limit position provides a maximum angular rotation for the trigger of 10% the maximum angular rotation for the trigger in the full travel trigger limit position.

5. The video game controller of claim 4 , wherein the hair trigger limit position provides one or both of a maximum angular rotation for the trigger of 5 degrees and a maximum travel span of between 2 mm and 2.5 mm.

6. The video game controller of claim 2 , wherein the plunger is biased to automatically move the plunger toward the hair trigger position upon actuation of the clutch lever.

7. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein actuation of the clutch lever causes the tooth to disengage from the gear, and where release of the clutch lever causes the tooth to engage the gear one of the plurality of travel limit positions.

8. The video game controller of claim 1 , further comprising a clutch actuator attached to the clutch lever, at least a portion of the clutch actuator configured to extend through an opening in the housing, the clutch actuator selectively actuatable by a user to move the clutch lever to disengage the tooth of the clutch lever from the plunger to allow for an adjustment in the travel limit of the trigger.

9. The video game controller of claim 8 , wherein the clutch actuator is a button.

10. The video game controller of claim 1 , further comprising
a processor configured to communicate an output signal to a gaming console based on movement of the trigger; and
an electrical switch configured to communicate with the processor,
wherein the processor is configured to map the travel span of the trigger for any of the plurality of travel limit positions to an output signal range proportionally such that the output signal communicated by the processor is the same when the trigger is fully depressed irrespective of the travel limit position set for the trigger.

11. The video game controller of claim 10 , wherein the electrical switch is configured to detect the travel limit position for the trigger set by an engagement of the tooth of the clutch with the gear of the plunger, and to communicate a signal indicative of the set travel limit position to the processor.

12. The video game controller of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to deactivate the trigger to prevent communication of the output signal to the gaming console while the clutch lever is actuated such that the tooth of the clutch lever is disengaged from the gear of the plunger.

13. 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 first axis from an undepressed position to a fully depressed position; and
a trigger stop assembly comprising
a clutch lever rotatable about a second axis, a clutch actuator attached to the clutch lever and configured to at least partially extend through an opening in the housing,
a plunger rotatable about a third axis and configured to define a travel limit of the trigger when the trigger is fully depressed and contacts at least a portion of the plunger, the plunger comprising a plurality of surfaces configured to releasably engage at least a portion of the clutch lever, where the travel limit of the trigger is adjustable between a plurality of travel limit positions by releasably engaging said at least a portion of the clutch lever with a different surface of the plurality of surfaces of the plunger,

wherein the clutch actuator is selectively actuatable by a user to disengage the clutch lever from the plunger to allow for the adjustment in the travel limit of the trigger, wherein actuation of the clutch lever causes the clutch lever to disengage from the plunger, and where release of the clutch lever causes the clutch lever to engage with the plunger in one of the plurality of travel limit positions.

14. The video game controller of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of travel limit positions includes a hair trigger limit position that allows a minimum travel distance for the trigger, a full travel trigger limit position that allows a maximum travel distance for the trigger, and a plurality of intermediate trigger limit positions that allows an intermediate travel distance for the trigger that is greater than the minimum travel distance and smaller than the maximum travel distance.

15. The video game controller of claim 14 , wherein the hair trigger limit position provides a maximum angular rotation for the trigger of 10% the maximum angular rotation for the trigger in the full travel trigger limit position.

16. The video game controller of claim 14 , wherein the plunger is biased to automatically move the plunger toward the hair trigger position upon actuation of the clutch lever.

17. The video game controller of claim 14 , further comprising
a processor configured to communicate an output signal to a gaming console based on movement of the trigger; and
an electrical switch configured to communicate with the processor,
wherein the processor is configured to map the travel span of the trigger for any of the plurality of travel limit positions to an output signal range proportionally such that the output signal communicated by the processor is the same when the trigger is fully depressed irrespective of the travel limit position set for the trigger.

18. The video game controller of claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to deactivate the trigger to prevent communication of the output signal to the gaming console while the clutch lever is disengaged from the plunger.

19. 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 first axis from an undepressed pos

Assignees

• Performance Designed Products Llc

Inventors

• Orion Storm
• Lehr Trevor Thomas
• Homayounfar Ali

Classifications

• A63F13/24 Primary

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