IP Library Granted Patent US 8,529,357
Granted Patent B2
US 8,529,357 · App. 13/779,987 · Granted Sep 10, 2013

Combination tablet computer and game controller with flexible bridge section

Inventors: Matthew R. Joynes (Agoura Hills, CA); Fraser Townley (Pembroke, MA); James Bower (Windermere, FL); Daniel P. Dooley (Oklahoma City, OK)
Assignee: Wikipad, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,529,357
App. No.
13/779,987
Granted
Sep 10, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus generally directed to a combination tablet computer and game controller. The tablet computer provides a plurality of sides, in which each of the sides are disposed between an electronic display screen and a back. The computer game controller provides side structures adjacent the tablet computer on at least two opposing sides. The computer game controller further preferably providing input module apertures and a camera. Preferably, each input module aperture selectively accepts either a game control module or a removable keyboard module. The input module apertures are preferably adjacent each of the at least two opposing sides of the tablet computer, and the camera communicates with each the electronic game controller and the tablet computer. The electronic game controller further provides an integrated transaction card input feature.

Claims (24)

1. A device comprising:

a tablet computer, the tablet computer providing a plurality of sides, each of the plurality of sides are disposed between an electronic display screen of the tablet computer and a back of the tablet computer;

an input device in electronic communication with the tablet computer, the input device providing a pair of control modules, the pair of control modules adjacent to and confining the tablet computer on at least two opposing sides of the plurality of sides of the tablet computer, the pair of control modules providing input module apertures, each input module aperture secures an instructional input device, wherein said input module apertures are adjacent each of the at least two opposing sides of the plurality of sides of the tablet computer; and

a structural bridge securing the pair of control modules one to the other and communicating with the back of the tablet computer at a mid-region of the back of the tablet computer, and wherein the input device is an electronic game controller, in which the pair of control modules provide a confinement boss, and in which the structural bridge comprising:

a communication link passing signals between the pair of control modules; and

a fastening mechanism cooperating with the confinement boss to secure the pair of control modules one to the other.

2. The device of claim 1 , in which the instructional input device is a removable input device.

3. The device of claim 1 , in which the instructional input device is a game control module.

4. The device of claim 1 , in which the instructional input device is a keyboard module.

5. The device of claim 2 , in which the removable instructional input device is a removable game control module.

6. The device of claim 2 , in which the removable instructional input device is a removable keyboard module.

7. The device of claim 1 , in which the structural bridge is a ridged structure.

8. The device of claim 7 , in which the rigid structural bridge is a removable rigid structure.

9. The device of claim 1 , in which the structural bridge is a flexible structure.

10. The device of claim 9 , in which the flexible structural bridge is a removable rigid structure.

11. The device of claim 1 , in which the communication link is a signal pathway.

12. The device of claim 11 , in which the signal pathway is a metallic pathway.

13. The device of claim 11 , in which the signal pathway is a fiber optic pathway.

14. The device of claim 1 , in which the communication link provides a communication module.

15. The device of claim 14 , in which the communication module is a wired communication module.

16. The device of claim 14 , in which the communication module is a wireless communication module.

17. The device of claim 16 , in which the wireless communication module operates in a frequency range of 2.4 GHz.

18. The device of claim 16 , in which the wireless communication module is a personal area network.

19. The device of claim 16 , in which the wireless communication module utilizes infrared technology for data transactions.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2018
From: STRUCTURAL CAPITAL INVESTMENTS II, LP
To: GAMEVICE, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS WIKIPAD, INC.)
Reel/Frame 045481/0240 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2017
From: WIKIPAD INC.
To: STRUCTURAL CAPITAL INVESTMENTS II, L.P.
Reel/Frame 041316/0643 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2013
From: JOYNES, MATTHEW R.; TOWNLEY, FRASER; BOWER, JAMES; DOOLEY, DANIEL P.
To: WIKIPAD, INC.
Reel/Frame 030755/0439 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 13681153 · Nov 19, 2012
Continuation In Part 13494801 · Jun 12, 2012
Provisional Application 61577709 · Dec 20, 2011
Related Publication 20130178285A1 · Jul 11, 2013