Video game controller with rechargeable battery system
A wireless computer game controller with rechargeable batteries that may be recharged while the batteries are installed on the controller and/or while the controller is in operation. Disposable batteries may also power the controller. In one embodiment, a communication cable connects the controller with a stand-alone computer game console such that the rechargeable battery pack is recharged directly from the game console through the communication cable. The cable not only establishes a communication link to facilitate the transmission of both command signals and audio/video signals between the controller and computer device, but it also deliver a recharge signal to the battery pack through the game controller. In another embodiment, the rechargeable battery pack is recharged through a stand-alone cradle that receives either the controller while the batteries are mounted to the controller or the battery pack separate from controller. The cradle may be part of an adapter assembly that converts the game console into a wireless transmitter/receiver.
This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 11/071,591 filed on Mar. 4, 2005 and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/647,800 filed Jan. 31, 2005, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to video game controllers and more specifically to a wireless controller with rechargeable battery pack that may be recharged while installed on the wireless controller, or a wireless controller with disposable batteries that may be powered by a power cable if the batteries become depleted.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computer video games are well known in the art. Such devices range from small hand held all-in-one units, to larger stand-alone units which interact with stand alone controllers and stand alone video display devices. Small hand held devices are very portable. However, the graphics and sophistication game play are substantially inferior to stand alone units due limited processing power and associated peripherals. For more sophisticated play, stand alone computer units provide tremendous processing power and work with associated peripheral devices, such as a remote controller and television display in an attempt to bring the player a more dramatic gaming experience to that of hand held devices. These devices are widely available on the market and are well know in the art.
A central stand-alone console contains all the essential processing components to run a computer game. A controller is connected to communicate operation control commands from a user. A separate display is connected to the gaming device to display interactive video gaming images. As previously mentioned, this conventional arrangement is well known in the art.
With the tremendous commercial success of stand alone computer gaming systems, and entire peripheral market has emerged ranging from advanced video controllers, joysticks, steering wheel devices for racing games, multi-tap controllers, vibrating controllers, video stands, audio systems and the like. Programmable controllers are also available which allow a user to customize the operation of control buttons and to even store and retrieved such customized arrangements.
As a game is played, a player or players control various visual aspects of the game using either the hard-wired or wireless controllers. All of the controllers require power to operate but power sources can be cumbersome or inefficient, especially for wireless controllers. The need exists for a wireless controller that can accommodate alkaline batteries and/or a rechargeable batteries where the rechargeable batteries can be recharged in an efficient and useful manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a wireless computer game controller with rechargeable batteries that may be recharged while the batteries are installed on the controller and/or while the controller is in operation.
In one embodiment, a communication cable connects the controller with a stand-alone computer game console such that the rechargeable battery pack is recharged directly from the game console through the communication cable. The cable not only establishes a communication link to facilitate the transmission of both command signals and audio/video signals between the controller and computer device, but it also delivers a recharge voltage to the battery pack through the game controller.
In another embodiment, the rechargeable battery pack is recharged through a stand-alone cradle that receives either the controller while the batteries are mounted to the controller or the battery pack separate from controller. The cradle may be part of an adapter assembly that converts the game console into a wireless transmitter/receiver. The adapter/receiver can act as the rechargeable cradle while the controller is not being used and may require to be recharged during breaktime.
In another embodiment, the rechargeable battery pack is recharged by connecting a power cable directly to the controller and/or directly to the battery pack while the battery pack is mounted to the controller.
In another embodiment, the controller may be powered with disposable (e.g., alkaline) batteries that may be powered by connecting a power cable directly to the controller when the disposable batteries are depleted.
These and other features of the present invention will become more apparent with reference to the following drawings and associated description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In this example, system 50 is capable of processing, interactively in real time, a signal in response to real time inputs from handheld controllers 52a, 52b or other input devices. To play a video game or other application using system 50, the user first connects a main unit 54 to his or her television set or other video display device 56 or other display device by connecting a cable 58 between the two. Main unit 54 produces both video signals and audio signals for controlling the video display device 56. The video signals are what controls the images displayed on the television screen 59, and the audio signals are played back as sound through television stereo loudspeakers 61L, 61R.
The user also needs to connect main unit 54 to a power source. This power source may be a conventional AC adapter (not shown) that plugs into a standard home electrical wall socket and converts the house current into a lower DC voltage signal suitable for powering the main unit 54. Batteries could be used in other implementations.
The user may use hand controllers 52a, 52b to control main unit 54. Controls 60a, 60b can be used, for example, to specify the direction (up or down, left or right, closer or further away) that a character displayed on television 56 should move. Controls 60a, 60b also provide input for other applications (e.g., menu selection, pointer/cursor control, etc.). Controllers 52a, 52b can take a variety of forms. In this example, controllers 52a, 52b shown each include controls 60a, 60b such as joysticks, push buttons and/or directional switches. Typically, such controllers 52a, 52b may be connected to main unit 54 by cables or wirelessly via electromagnetic (e.g., radio or infrared) waves.
To play an application such as a game, the user selects an appropriate storage medium 62 (e.g., CD, DVD, etc.) storing the video game or other application he or she wants to play, and inserts that storage medium into a slot 64 in main unit 54. Storage medium 62 may, for example, be a specially encoded and/or encrypted optical and/or magnetic disk that stores commands for graphics and audio processor 114 and/or instructions controlling main processor 110 to develop such commands. The user may operate a power switch 66 to turn on main unit 54 and cause the main unit to begin running the video game or other application based on the software stored in the storage medium 62. The user may operate controllers 52 to provide inputs to main unit 54. For example, operating a control 60a, 60b may cause the game or other application to start. Moving other controls 60a, 60b can cause animated characters to move in different directions or change the user's point of view. Depending upon the particular software stored within the storage medium 62, the various controls 60a, 60b on the controller 52a, and 52b can perform different functions at different times.
With reference to
The present invention also provides a mechanical or electrical switch 102 on the controller that is closed when the rechargeable battery pack 130 is placed in the battery compartment 101. Due to the physical shape of the battery pack 130, an actuator on the battery pack 130 closes the switch 102. However, when conventional disposable batteries are used, the switch 102 is not closed. In other words, an electro-mechanical actuator/switch 102 functions as charging circuit activation switch to recharge the battery pack 130 when the rechargeable battery pack 130 is disposed in the battery compartment 101 due to the physical interaction between the battery pack 103 and switch 102. When the battery pack 130 is not present or when alkaline batteries 130 are disposed in the battery compartment 101, the electro-mechanical actuator 102 is not activated and the control circuitry delivers power directly to the controller 100.
This invention also envisions a combination of the features of
Thus, the controller 100 has the ability to communicate with the gaming console through dual channels. First, the controller has wireless transmission/receiver circuitry to wirelessly communicate to the gaming platform via the receiver/transmitter unit 350 and establish wireless two-way communication there between. Circuitry for the wired connection is also provided to allow direct connection via controller cable 200 shown in
The controller 100 also has dual sources for recharging the batter pack. As previously mentioned, voltage may be drawn from voltage supplied through the wired cable 200 coupled directly to the gaming platform. However, controller 100 may also be provided with supplemental charge port to be connected to an alternate voltage source such as a dedicated power cable 300 through a connection to the adapter receiver unit 350 or from another power source.
Although the power plug 300 is shown as a separate cord, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that the power plug 300 may be integrated into the wireless adapter unit 350. Similarly, the adapter unit 350 may be formed as a cradle for the controller such that the controller may be electrically connected to the adapter unit by sitting directly on the adapter when the controller is not being used. In this case, the battery charge port 106 (see
It is also noted that the present invention provides a special safety device (e.g., charging circuit activation switch 102) that prevents accidental charging of disposable batteries through the controller charging port. The charging circuitry is “closed” when the specially designed battery pack is mounted to the controller by a mechanical actuator that physically closes a switch in the recharging circuit. See
It will also be apparent to those of skill in the art that the detachable controller cable shown in
The invention also envisions an idle sleep mode for the battery-powered controller to conserve power when the controller is not is use. Likewise, the smart circuit design of this invention detects when power from detachable controller cable is available in order to isolate and preserve battery power.
Moreover, the invention allows the use of either disposable batteries or a rechargeable battery pack.
While the foregoing invention has been shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1-21. (canceled)
22. A battery recharging system in combination with a wireless computer game controller, said combination comprising:
- at least one rechargeable battery adapted to be electrically connected to said wireless computer game controller for powering said wireless computer game controller;
- a wireless adapter that converts the game console into a wireless transmitter/receiver by sending and receiving wireless control signals with said wireless computer game controller and delivering said control signals to a control port of a game console; said wireless adapter being electrically connected to an electrical power supply for recharging said rechargeable battery, said wireless adapter also electrically connected to said at least one rechargeable battery and recharging said rechargeable battery simultaneously while the wireless controller is in operation and said adapter is sending and receiving wireless control signals with said wireless computer game controller and delivering said control signals through said control port.
23. The combination according to claim 22, wherein said wireless adapter is configured to connect to said power supply by direct connection to a voltage source through said game port of said game console.
24. The combination of claim 22, wherein said wireless controller communicates with said game console solely by wireless communication through said adapter.
25. The system of claim 22, wherein said wireless adapter is configured to deliver power directly to said at least one rechargeable battery.
26. The controller of claim 22, further comprising a detection circuit for detecting a voltage supplied via said game console and adapted to shunt/divert voltage to a recharging circuitry to facilitate recharging the at least one rechargeable battery.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein said rechargeable battery is recharged through a cradle formed as part of the wireless adapter and being the battery pack separate from controller.
28. The combination of claim 23, wherein said wireless controller communicates with said game console solely by wireless communication through said adapter.
29. The system of claim 23, wherein said wireless adapter is configured to deliver power directly to said at least one rechargeable battery.
30. The system of claim 24, wherein said wireless adapter is configured to deliver power directly to said at least one rechargeable battery.
31. The system of claim 28, wherein said wireless adapter is configured to deliver power directly to said at least one rechargeable battery.
32. A battery recharging system in combination with a wireless computer game controller and associated dedicated computer gaming console, said combination comprising:
- at least one rechargeable battery adapted for connection to and powering said on said wireless computer game controller;
- an adapter for converting a game console into a wireless transmitter/receiver by sending and receiving wireless control signals with said wireless computer game controller and delivering said control signals to a control port of a game console, said adapter being in electrical connection to a power source through said game port to recharge said at least one rechargeable battery;
33. The system of claim 32, further comprising a detection circuit for detecting a voltage supplied via said game port of said console, said detection circuit adapted to divert/shunt voltage to recharging circuitry to facilitate charging of the rechargeable battery.
34. The system of claim 33, wherein said rechargeable battery is recharged through a cradle formed as part of said adapter while the rechargeable battery is either mounted to the controller or separate from controller.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 31, 2006
Publication Date: Jan 25, 2007
Inventors: Saied Hussaini (Miami, FL), Marc Iacovelli (Miami, FL)
Application Number: 11/513,211
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);