Two-axis controller interface with reconfigurable orientation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021308564-A1
Application number	US-202016837888-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 1, 2020
Priority date	Apr 1, 2020
Publication date	Oct 7, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A controller device comprises a controller body that includes one or more interface ports, at least which is a control information output port. A joystick coupled to the controller body has an axis control orientation that is configurable relative to the controller body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A controller device comprising;
a controller body wherein the controller body includes one or more interface ports wherein at least one interface port is a control information output port; and a joystick coupled to the controller body wherein an axis control orientation of the joystick relative to the controller body is configurable.

2 . The device of claim 1 further comprising a modular input control wherein the modular input control includes an interface connector region and the interface connector region communicatively couples the modular input control to one of the one or more interface ports.

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

4 . The device of claim 2 wherein the modular input control includes a single button.

5 . The device of claim 2 wherein the modular input control includes a plurality of buttons.

6 . The device of claim 2 wherein the one or more interface ports include a first and second interface ports located on opposite sides of the controller body and wherein the modular input control is a first modular input control.

7 . The device of claim 6 further comprising a second modular input control removably attached to the controller body wherein the second modular input control includes an in interface connector region coupled communicatively coupled to the second interface port.

8 . The device of claim 7 wherein the first and second modular input controls have different control modalities.

9 . The device of claim 7 wherein the first and second modular input controls have the same control modality.

10 . The device of claim 7 wherein the first and second modular input controls are interchangeable between the first and second interface ports.

11 . The device of claim 2 wherein the modular input control is freely rotatable within one of the one or more interface control ports and is operable in any orientation about the axis of rotation.

12 . The device of claim 2 wherein the modular input controller includes a modifier button and a plurality of other buttons, wherein the modifier button changes a button mapping for the plurality of buttons.

13 . The device of claim 1 wherein the joystick is removably attachable to the controller body wherein the joystick includes an interface connector region and the interface connector region communicatively couples the modular input control to one of the one or more interface ports.

14 . The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to switch X axis control movements with Y axis control movements of the joystick.

15 . The device of claim 1 wherein the joystick further includes a button configured to provide a command to switch the X axis control movements of the joystick with the Y axis movements of the joystick.

16 . 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.

17 . The device of claim 16 further comprising an expansion interface connector wherein the expansion interface connector attachably couples the controller body with a second controller body.

18 . 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.

19 . The device of claim 1 wherein one of the one or more paddle interface ports is located on a top of the controller body.

20 . The device of claim 20 further comprising a second input control paddle wherein the second input control paddle includes a bent interface tab.

Assignees

• Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
• Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc

Inventors

• Black Glenn
• Daniel Alvin

Classifications

• A63F13/235

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

• A63F13/98 Primary

  Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers · 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

• A63F13/22

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