Device, for example video game device, provided with a contactless transponder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020360802-A1
Application number	US-202016869184-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 7, 2020
Priority date	May 14, 2019
Publication date	Nov 19, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device comprising at least one controller handset possessing a housing and at least one control element that is arranged so as to protrude from the housing and to be movable with respect to the housing so as to allow a user to control at least one movement of at least one object that is external to the device, and a contactless transponder having at least one antenna that is housed in the at least one control element.

First claim

1 . A device comprising:
a controller handset including a housing and a control element protruding from the housing, the control element configured to be movable, in operation, with respect to the housing to allow a user to control a movement of an object that is external to the device; and a contactless transponder having an antenna housed in the control element.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control element includes a free end, and the antenna is housed at the free end.

3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control element comprises a control button or joystick that is articulated to a base of the control element arranged in the housing.

4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises a plurality of turns.

5 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising an impedance-matching circuit, wherein the contactless transponder further comprises:
a first interface coupled to the antenna; and a contactless component coupled to the first interface via the impedance-matching circuit.

6 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the control element includes two first electrical connectors having two first ends that are connected, respectively, to terminals of the antenna, and two second ends, and the device further comprises two second electrical connectors coupling the two second ends of the two first electrical connectors to the impedance-matching circuit.

7 . The device according to claim 6 , wherein the controller handset includes a base in the housing and the control element comprises a control button or joystick that is articulated to the base, wherein the base contains a first printed circuit board, the housing contains a second printed circuit board bearing the impedance-matching circuit and the contactless component of the transponder, and the two second electrical connectors include:
flexible connectors connected between the two second ends of the first electrical connectors; and metal tracks on the first printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the impedance-matching circuit.

8 . The device according to claim 6 , wherein the controller handset includes a base in the housing, the control element comprises a control button or joystick that is articulated to the base, the housing contains a printed circuit board bearing the impedance-matching circuit and the contactless component of the transponder, the controller handset includes metal screws securing the base to the printed circuit board, and the two second electrical connectors comprise:
flexible connectors connected between the two second ends of the first electrical connectors and the metal screws; and metal tracks connected to said screws and to the impedance-matching circuit.

9 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a processing unit, and the transponder further comprising a communication interface that is connected to the processing unit.

10 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller handset is a video game controller handset.

11 . A device, comprising:
a base; a control member articulated to the base, the control member includes:
a first end received by the base;
a second end spaced apart from the first end; and
a shaft extending between the first end and the second end, the shaft coupling the first end to the second end;
a contactless transponder on the second end of the contact member, the contactless transponder including an antenna.

12 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein the base includes a cavity that receives the first end of the control member.

13 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein the second end of the control member includes a groove that receives the antenna of the contactless transponder.

14 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein a cover covers the second end of the control member and the antenna of the contactless transponder.

15 . The device according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a printed circuit board including an electrically conductive track and housed in the base; an electrical connector coupled to the contactless transponder, the electrical connector extends along the shaft; and a flexible connector housed within the base, the flexible connector electrically coupled between the electrically conductive track of printed circuit board and the electrical connector.

16 . The device according to claim 15 , wherein the electrical connector includes a first end having a first shape and the flexible connector includes a second end with a second shape, the first end having the first shape is configured to be coupled to the second end having the second shape.

17 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein the antenna of the contactless transponder has a circular shape.

18 . A device, comprising:
a control member including a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a shaft coupling the first end to the second end; a contactless transponder on the second end of the control member; a first conductive track having a first end coupled to the contactless transponder and a second end adjacent to the second end of the control member; and a second conductive track having a first end coupled to the contactless transponder and a second end adjacent the second end of the control member.

19 . The device according to claim 18 , wherein the second end of the first conductive track is coupled to a male connector and the second end of the second conductive track is coupled to a female connector.

20 . The device according to claim 18 , further comprising a groove in the second end of the control member that receives an antenna of the contactless transponder.

Assignees

• Stmicroelectronics Kk
• St Microelectronics Rousset

Inventors

• Sakamoto Hirokazu
• Tornambe Anthony

Classifications

• H04B5/45

  Transponders · CPC title

• H04B5/26

  using coils · CPC title

• A63F13/235

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

• A63F13/24 Primary

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

• A63F13/95

  Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges · CPC title