Controller with swappable, rotatable button cluster

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11565173-B2
Application number	US-202016837863-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2020
Priority date	Apr 1, 2020
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A controller device includes a controller body with an interface port and least one control information output port. A modular input control is removably attachable to the controller body. The modular input control includes an interface connector region that is configured to communicatively couple the modular input control to the interface port. The modular input control is configured to be freely rotatable when attached to the controller body and operable in any orientation about the axis of rotation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A controller device comprising;
a controller body wherein the controller body includes an interface port wherein and least one a control information output port; and
a modular input control removably attachable to the controller body, wherein the modular input control includes an interface connector region and the interface connector region is configured to communicatively couple the modular input control to the interface port,
wherein the modular input control is configured to be freely rotatable in the interface port when attached to the controller body and operable in any orientation about the axis of rotation.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the modular input control includes a directional pad.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the modular input control includes a single button.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the modular input control includes a plurality of buttons.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the modular input control includes a modifier button and a plurality of other buttons, wherein the modifier button changes a button mapping for the plurality of buttons.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising an expansion interface wherein the expansion interface is a configured to operatively couple with a second controller body.

7. The device of claim 6 further comprising an expansion interface connector wherein the expansion interface connector attach-ably couples the controller body with a second controller body.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a power port for powering the controller device.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the control information output port is also a power port for powering the controller device.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a wireless networking module wherein the wireless networking module wirelessly communicates with a game system.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the interface port is configured to accommodate input controls that have different modalities of operation.

12. The device of claim 11 further comprising a control board and wherein the control board is configured to automatically identify the modality of operation of the modular input control.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a first input control paddle removably attachable to the controller body and wherein the controller body includes one or more paddle interface ports to communicatively couple the input control paddle to the controller body.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein one of the one or more paddle interface ports is located on a top of the controller body.

15. The device of claim 13 further comprising a second input control paddle wherein the second input control paddle includes a bent interface tab.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein one of the one or more paddle interface ports is located on a side of the controller body.

17. The device of claim 1 further comprising a joystick operably affixed to the controller body.

Assignees

• Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
• Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc

Inventors

• Black Glenn
• Daniel Alvin

Classifications

• A63F13/22 Primary

  Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment · CPC title

• A63F13/24 Primary

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

• 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

• A63F13/26

  having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth · CPC title

• A63F13/235

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