Game controller with removable controller accessory

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11794098-B2
Application number	US-201816161464-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2018
Priority date	May 1, 2015
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

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 twist-to-lock mechanism integrally positioned above the electronic input sensor and configured to removably affix a selected removable controller accessory to the game controller, the selected removable controller accessory being one of a plurality of differently configured removable controller accessories removably affixable to the game controller, the twist-to-lock mechanism 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 to the twist-to-lock mechanism, wherein the twist-to-lock mechanism includes a sensor-activation feature integrally positioned within the game controller below a position where the selected removable controller accessory removably affixes to the game controller and above the electronic input sensor, and wherein the sensor-activation feature is configured to move based on movement of the selected removable controller accessory, such that movement of the selected removable controller accessory causes the sensor-activation feature to interface with the electronic input sensor to generate an activate control signal.

2. The game controller of claim 1 , wherein the twist-to-lock mechanism is a female twist-to-lock mechanism, wherein the selected removable controller accessory includes a male twist-to-lock mechanism, and wherein the male twist-to-lock mechanism is configured to be inserted into the female twist-to-lock mechanism to removably affix the selected removable controller accessory to the game controller.

3. The game controller of claim 2 , wherein the female twist-to-lock mechanism includes a plurality of slots, each slot configured to receive a corresponding radial pin that extends radially outward from the male twist-to-lock mechanism of the selected removable controller accessory.

4. The game controller of claim 2 , wherein the female twist-to-lock mechanism includes at least one slot configured to receive a corresponding radial pin that extends radially outward from the male twist-to-lock mechanism of the selected removable controller accessory.

5. The game controller of claim 4 , wherein the at least one slot includes a heel portion and a toe portion, wherein the male twist-to-lock mechanism of the selected removable controller accessory is insertable into the female twist-to-lock mechanism until the radial pin is stopped at the heel portion, and wherein the removable controller accessory is twistable to move the radial pin to the toe portion to removably affix the removable controller accessory to the game controller.

6. The game controller of claim 5 , wherein the female twist-to-lock mechanism includes a bias mechanism configured to bias the radial pin into the toe portion when the selected removable controller accessory is twisted such that the radial pin is positioned in the toe portion to maintain the selected removable controller accessory affixed to the game controller.

7. The game controller of claim 4 , wherein the female twist-to-lock mechanism includes a depressable catch inwardly biased to maintain the radial pin in the slot, and wherein the depressible catch is depressable to allow the radial pin to be removed from the slot.

8. The game controller of claim 1 , wherein the twist-to-lock mechanism is a male twist-to-lock mechanism, wherein the selected removable controller accessory includes a female twist-to-lock mechanism, and wherein the male twist-to-lock mechanism is configured to be inserted into the female twist-to-lock mechanism to removably affix the selected removable controller accessory to the game controller.

9. A game controller comprising:
a frame;
an electronic input sensor integrally mounted on the frame; and
a twist-to-lock mechanism integrally positioned on the frame of the game controller above the electronic input sensor and configured to removably affix a selected removable controller accessory to the game controller, the selected removable controller accessory being one of a plurality of differently configured removable controller accessories removably affixable to the twist-to-lock mechanism, wherein the twist-to-lock mechanism includes a sensor-activation feature integrally positioned within the game controller below a position where the selected removable controller accessory removably affixes to the twist-to-lock mechanism and above the electronic input sensor, and wherein the sensor-activation feature is configured to move based on movement of the selected removable controller accessory, such that movement of the selected removable controller accessory causes the sensor-activation feature to interface with the electronic input sensor to generate an activate control signal.

10. The game controller of claim 9 , wherein the twist-to-lock mechanism is a female twist-to-lock mechanism, wherein the selected removable controller accessory includes a male twist-to-lock mechanism, and wherein the male twist-to-lock mechanism is configured to be inserted into the female twist-to-lock mechanism to removably affix the selected removable controller accessory to the game controller.

11. The game controller of claim 10 , wherein the female twist-to-lock mechanism includes a plurality of slots, each slot configured to receive a corresponding radial pin that extends radially outward from the male portion of the selected removable controller accessory.

12. The game controller of claim 10 , wherein the female twist-to-lock mechanism includes at least one slot configured to receive a corresponding radial pin that extends radially outward from the male twist-to-lock mechanism of the selected removable controller accessory.

13. The game controller of claim 11 , wherein the at least one slot includes a heel portion and a toe portion, wherein the male twist-to-lock mechanism of the selected removable controller accessory is insertable into the female twist-to-lock mechanism until the radial pin is stopped at the heel portion, and wherein the removable controller accessory is twistable to move the radial pin to the toe portion to removably affix the removable controller accessory to the game controller.

14. The game controller of claim 9 , wherein the twist-to-lock mechanism is a male twist-to-lock mechanism, wherein the selected removable controller accessory includes a female twist-to-lock mechanism, and wherein the male twist-to-lock mechanism is configured to be inserted into the female twist-to-lock mechanism to removably affix the selected removable controller accessory to the game controller.

15. A game controller comprising:
an electronic input sensor; and
a snap fastener integrally positioned above the electronic input sensor and configured to interlock with a corresponding mating feature of a selected removable controller accessory to removably affix the selected removable controller accessory to the game controller, the selected removable controller accessory being one of a plurality of differently configured removable controller accessories removably affixable to the snap fastener, the snap fastener 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 to the snap fastener, and wherein the snap fastener includes a sensor-activation feature integrally positioned within the game controller below a position where the selected removable controller accessory removably affix

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Schmitz Aaron
• Jasinski Kenneth
• Weiher Joshua

Classifications

• A63F13/24 Primary

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

• A63F13/00

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