GAME CONTROLLER FOR A PIVOTABLE HANDHELD COMPUTING DEVICE
A game controller for a handheld computing device is disclosed. The game controller includes a body portion and a cradle pivotally attached to the body portion. The cradle configured and arranged to hold a handheld computing device therein. A number of controls are located on the body portion. A circuit is included that is configured and arranged to detect the state of the controls and transmit the state to the handheld computing device.
Latest ION AUDIO, LLC Patents:
This patent document claims priority to earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/587,414, filed on Jan. 17, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
The present patent document relates generally to handheld computing devices, such as smartphones, music players, portable game systems, personal data assistants, and the like, and more particularly to a game controller for such devices.
2. Background of the Related Art
Consumer acceptance of smartphones, PDAs, music players has exploded in the marketplace. Consumers have also embraced mobile apps and other downloadable software for these handheld computing devices. In particular, video games have become quite popular. However, these handheld computing devices lack controls specific to gaming, such as a D-pad, spaced-apart action buttons, triggers, joysticks and the like.
Furthermore, most handheld computing devices have rectangular screens and different video games have been designed to be played in either a landscape or a portrait orientation, but typically not both.
Therefore, there is a perceived need in the industry for a device to interface with a handheld computing device that provides video game controls users are accustomed to having when playing video games. There is also a need for a device to permit a user to play video games in a portrait or landscape mode.
SUMMARYThe game controller described herein solves the problems of the prior art by providing a game controller that includes a pivoting cradle that permits that handheld computing device to be positioned in landscape or portrait orientation as desired by the user. The game controller includes buttons, triggers, D-pads and other standard video game controls that user have become accustomed to using play video games
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Referring now to
The body portion includes a number of controls. A D-pad 20a and a number of triggers 20b and buttons 20c are shown (“controls” 20 collectively). A circuit 21 inside the body portion detects D-pad 20a, trigger 20b, and button 20c presses and releases of the controls 20 and transmits the state of the controls 20 to the handheld computing device 16. Transmission of the state of the controls 20 to the handheld computing device 16 may be done wirelessly, such as through a Bluetooth connection, or by a wired connection as is known in the art. Details of the transmission method need not be described herein as one skilled in the art would be familiar with the implementation.
The pivoting cradle 14 includes a recess 15 for securing the handheld computing device 16 therein. The rear of the pivoting cradle 12 (best seen in
Referring to
Inside the seat 34, a circular track 42 with four stop points 44 is formed. The circular track 42 receives the ball detents 28. The four stop points 44 allow the ball detents 28 to fully sit thereby locking the pivoting cradle 14 in either a portrait or landscape orientation relative to the body portion 12, as seen in
The pivoting cradle 14 further includes an elastic lip 46 adapted to receive different handheld computing devices 16 therein. The elastic lip 46 stretches to accommodate the handheld computing device 16 and captures the handheld computing device securely within the recess 15 the cradle 14. An optional insert may be included to attach to smaller devices in order to make them sufficient bulky to be captured inside the elastic lip 46. As can be seen, this arrangement permits the user to use the game controller 10 with a variety of handheld computing devices 16, whose dimensions are close but not identical to one another. Furthermore, the use of elastic materials in the pivoting cradle 14 provides additional shock absorption in the event the game controller 10 is dropped with a handheld computing device 16 contained therein.
It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A game controller, comprising:
- a body portion
- a cradle pivotally attached to the body portion, the cradle configured and arranged to hold a handheld computing device therein;
- a plurality of controls on the body portion; and
- a circuit configured and arranged to detect the state of the plurality of controls and transmit the state of the plurality of controls to the handheld computing device.
2. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the cradle is pivotable to a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation.
3. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the cradle includes an elastic lip configured and arranged to receive a handheld computing device therein.
4. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the cradle includes a raised mounting point surrounded by a collar and the body portion includes a seat for receiving the mounting pointing point and collar.
5. The game controller of claim 4, wherein the collar rotates on a circular track in the seat and further includes a ball detent that engages a stop in the circular track.
6. The game controller of claim 4, further comprising a pair of semi-circular raised lips partially surrounding the collar.
7. The game controller of claim 4, wherein the seat further includes an annular wall received between the collar fitting and the raised mounting point.
8. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the cradle is pivotally mounted to the body portion via an axle that is passed through an aperture on the body portion and into an aperture on the cradle.
9. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the cradle further includes a recess configured and arranged to receive the handheld computing device therein.
10. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of controls are selected from the group consisting essentially of D-Pad, button and trigger.
11. A game controller, comprising:
- a body portion
- a cradle pivotally attached to the body portion wherein the cradle is pivotable to a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation; the cradle configured and arranged to hold a handheld computing device therein;
- a plurality of controls on the body portion; and
- a circuit configured and arranged to detect the state of the plurality of controls and transmit the state of the plurality of controls to the handheld computing device.
12. The game controller of claim 11, wherein the cradle includes an elastic lip configured and arranged to receive a handheld computing device therein.
13. The game controller of claim 11, wherein the cradle includes a ball detent that selectively engages a stop on the body portion to selectively lock the cradle in the portrait and the landscape orientations.
14. The game controller of claim 11, wherein the cradle is pivotally mounted to the body portion via an axle that is passed through an aperture on the body portion and into an aperture on the cradle.
15. The game controller of claim 11, wherein the cradle further includes a recess configured and arranged to receive the handheld computing device therein.
16. A game controller, comprising:
- a body portion
- a cradle pivotally attached to the body portion, the cradle including a recess surrounded by an elastic lip configured and arranged to hold a handheld computing device therein;
- a plurality of controls on the body portion; and
- a circuit configured and arranged to detect the state of the plurality of controls and transmit the state of the plurality of controls to the handheld computing device.
17. The game controller of claim 16, wherein the cradle is pivotable to a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation.
18. The game controller of claim 16, wherein the cradle is pivotally mounted to the body portion via an axle that is passed through an aperture on the body portion and into an aperture on the cradle.
19. The game controller of claim 11, wherein the cradle includes a ball detent that selectively engages a stop on the body portion to selectively lock the cradle in the portrait and the landscape orientations.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 30, 2012
Publication Date: Jul 18, 2013
Applicant: ION AUDIO, LLC (Cumberland, RI)
Inventor: Fred S. Galpern (Providence, RI)
Application Number: 13/561,841
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);