GB2532069A

GB2532069A - Game controller

Info

Publication number: GB2532069A
Application number: GB1419891.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Weatherstone Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-11-07
Filing date: 2014-11-07
Publication date: 2016-05-11
Also published as: GB201419891D0

Abstract

A pistol grip shaped game controller 1 with a handle 2, one or more input devices 4, 5, 6 such as directional buttons, switch array, analog stick, all to be actuated by the users thumb, and a trigger 3 and button 7 to be actuated by one finger of the user. The button 7 is positioned in a way to be pressed by the back of the users finger. The buttons 6 and 7 could be capacitive sensors rather than mechanical input devices. The handle 2 has a cover that is preferably removable and can be a number of different shapes and sizes to accommodate the user.

Description

Game controller

Technical Field

This invention relates generally to video game input devices or video game controllers, and more particularly to a pistol grip shaped video game input devices.

Background Art

Gamepads and hand held dual analogue joystick game controllers for PC, game consoles and the like are electronic devices which are used for video game play input. Such devices consist of an almost de facto standard arrangement of input components. The form of this arrangement reflects the two handed nature of gamepad operation, which comprises of a distinct left-hand and a distinct right-hand area. The left hand area consisting of thumb operated joystick, often referred to as a "thumbstick" and a thumb operated axial direction button or so called "D-Pad". There is also a left index finger operated trigger and an adjacent left index finger operated button or so called "shoulder button" on the left hand area of a typical gamepad. Whereas the right hand area of a gamepad has a thumbstick with an adjacent button array. The button array usually consisting of four push buttons. Such an arrangement reflects the practical ergonomic limitations of the human hand, insomuch, that a pair of hands must hold the gamepad whilst at the same time operate the gamepad, via thumb and index finger movements. There have been attempts to improve upon the limitations of the standard gamepad controller without deviating too much from the widely accepted input format and components i.e. thumbsticks, D-Pad, trigger and buttons etc. One such attempt being the Nintendo Wii system, which has an individual left-hand and right-hand input game control units. By dividing the gamepad into distinct halves it allows each arm to move independently and therefore permit video game input via gesture movements of the arms. These gestures being detected via sensors and or cameras and the like. However such "split" input devices have only proved popular for use with relatively simple unsophisticated video games due to the ergonomic limitations of the individual units. The limitations being that holding a control unit "half' and operating a control unit "half' with thumb and index finger. For example, for ergonomic comfort reasons the standard Nintendo Wii controller unit is provided with a D-Pad, but not a thumbstick or button array and the matching other hand half of a Nintendo Wii suite the so called "Wii nunchuck" is provided with a thumbstick, but not a D-Pad or button array.

Another attempt at making a "split" type gamepad, but this time with a typical gamepad component layout being the Frag FX controller from Splitfish. It can be held with a single hand, thus leaving the remaining hand to control a mouse or other such pointing device. However such known controller's arrangement input components, triggers and thumhsticks etc. proved to be tiresome for some people and caused hand finger and thumb strain even when used for a relatively short period of time. Also since existing gamepads are an ergonomic compromise, some manufactures have provided rubber covers for the thumhsticks in order to accommodate differing thumb lengths. Although the thumbstick covers are considered by some as a useful ergonomic improvement, such covers do not fully address the problem as hands also differ in size (not just thumbs).

Summary of Invention

It is an object of this presently disclosed invention to provide a game controller (gamepad half') or split controller which ensures comfortable operation of the input components typically found upon either the left hand or right hand area of a typical gamepad. It is a further object of this presently disclosed invention to provide a game controller or split controller, wherein button array operation and shoulder button operation can he carried out substantially faster than when compared to the button array and shoulder button operation of typical gamepad or split gamepad controller. Also the drawback of the prior art is overcome by using removable pistol grip covers of different shapes and thicknesses allowing to comfortably accommodate different hand sizes.

According to the preferable embodiment the proposed substantially pistol grip shaped game controller comprises a body having a handle adapted to be grasped by a user; a trigger coupled to the body and adapted to be operated by the user's finger; one or more action buttons, analog stick and/or a switch array coupled to the body and adapted to be operated by the distal phalange of the user's thumb, wherein one or more action buttons are located on the game controller such that they arc positioned under proximal phalange of a user's thumb of a hand holding the handle, wherein the game controller further comprises a button or capacitive sensor adapted and located to be pressed or touched by the back side of the finger operating the trigger.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 shows side view of one embodiment of the proposed game controller; Fig. 2 -back side axonometric projection of the proposed game controller; Fig. 3 -left side axonometric projection of the proposed game controller; Fig. 4 -front side axonometric projection of the proposed game controller; Fig. 5 -side view of another embodiment of the proposed game controller being held in user's hand; Fig. 6 -side view of another embodiment of the proposed game controller having removable rubber handle.

Description of Embodiments

The proposed substantially pistol grip shaped game controller (gamepad half) -Fig. 1-5 comprises: a body 1 having a handle 2 (preferably removable rubber handle -Fig. 6) adapted to he grasped by a user; a trigger 3 coupled to the body 1 and adapted to be operated by the user's finger; one or more action buttons 6 and 7. The game controller further preferably comprises an analog stick 4 and/or a switch array (D-pad) 5 coupled to the body 1 and adapted to he operated by the distal phalange of the user's thumb.

The action button or buttons 6 arc located on the game controller such that they are positioned under proximal phalange of a user's thumb of a hand holding the handle 2 (Fig. 5).

The button 7 is so located and adapted to be pressed by the hack side of the finger being used to operate the trigger 3. According to the preferable embodiment the button 7 is so located and adapted to be pressed by the back side (nail side) of distal phalange of the index finger of the hand, holding the handle 2.

According to another embodiment, instead of one or more action buttons 6 the game controller contains one or more capacitive sensors located on it such that they are positioned under proximal phalange of a user's thumb of a hand holding the handle 2.

Operating mechanical button requires certain amount of torque, however when it is the back of the finger that is required to apply the torque, applying even the smallest amount of torque can become very irritating and tiresome after a short period of rapid repetition. According to the preferred embodiment, instead of the button 7 the game controller contains a capacitive sensor adapted and located to be touched by the back side of the finger operating the trigger 3.

When a user is holding the handle 2, his or her thumb distal phalange is pressing or resting on either the analog stick 4, or the switch array 5, while his or her proximal phalange is always above or on the action button or buttons 6. Preferably the index finger of the hand holding the handle 2 is pressing or resting on the trigger 3 and can be used to press or touch the button or capacitive sensor 7 by the back side (nail side) of distal phalange of the index finger.

Further, according to the preferred embodiment, the button or capacitive sensor 7 is located on a movable supporting plate 8 (Fig. 4) being releasably fixed to the body 1 of the game controller. To accommodate different hand sizes of users, the game controller is adapted to adjust the distance between the button or capacitive sensor 7 and the handle 2. This can be done by releasing fixing means and moving forward or backwards the supporting plate 8 on which the button or capacitive sensor 7 is located and fixing the supporting plate 8 at a required distance from the handle 2.

Further a removable (rubber) handle cover as shown in Fig. 6 can he used to enhance comfort of holding the handle 2 by different users having different hand sizes. A kit with the game controller may contain a set of said removable handle covers of different shapes and thicknesses allowing to comfortably accommodate different hand sizes.

Claims

Claims 1. A substantially pistol grip shaped game controller comprising: a body (1) having a handle (2) adapted to be grasped by a user; a trigger (3) coupled to the body (1) and adapted to be operated by the user's finger; one or more action buttons (6), analog stick (4) and/or a switch array (5) coupled to the body (1) and adapted to be operated by the distal phalange of the user's thumb, characterized in that one or more action buttons (6) are located on the game controller such that they arc positioned under proximal phalange of a user's thumb of a hand holding the handle (2), wherein the game controller further comprises a button (7) adapted and located to be pressed by the back side of the finger operating the trigger (3).
2. The game controller according to claim I, characterized in that the button (7) is so located and adapted to be pressed by the back side of distal phalange of the index finger of the hand, holding the handle (2).
3. The game controller according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that instead of one or more action buttons (6) it contains one or more capacitive sensors located on the game controller such that they are positioned under proximal phalange of a user's thumb of a hand holding the handle (2).
4. The game controller according to any preceding claims, characterized in that instead of the button (7) the game controller contains capacitive sensor adapted and located to be touched by the back side of the finger operating the trigger (3).
5. The game controller according to any preceding claims, characterized in that the game controller is adapted to adjust the distance between the button or capacitive sensor (7) and the handle (2) to accommodate different hand sizes of users.
6. The game controller according to any preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a set of removable handle 2 covers having different shapes and thicknesses allowing to comfortably accommodate different hand sizes.