IP Library Granted Patent US 11,331,567
Granted Patent B2
US 11,331,567 · App. 16/731,428 · Granted May 17, 2022

Information handling system and game controller trigger

Inventors: Christopher A. Torres (San Marcos, TX); Andrew P. Tosh (Cedar Park, TX); Enoch Chen (Wenshan District, TW); Yongook Guack (Austin, TX); Chia Yuan Chang (New Taipei, TW)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
A63F13/24A63F13/23A63F13/92A63F13/98A63F2300/1043A63F2300/204
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,331,567
App. No.
16/731,428
Granted
May 17, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A game controller integrates a trigger at a side of a planar controller housing, the trigger rotating within the plane of the controller housing about an axle disposed perpendicular to the plane. The trigger rotationally couples to the axle at a trigger bracket that fixedly coupled to a frame. A guide integrated in the frame engages a member extending from the trigger to manage trigger motion. A cover couples to the frame and separate from the trigger to enhance housing robustness.

Claims (57)

1. An information handling system game controller comprising:

a frame having an attachment structure at one side, the attachment structure configured to detachably couple to a side surface of an information handling system, the attachment structure having an opening;

printed circuit board coupled to the frame and having a communication interface extending through the opening;

a bracket fixedly coupled to a front side of the frame, the bracket having spaced axle openings aligned perpendicular to the printed circuit board;

a trigger disposed at the bracket, the trigger having spaced axle openings aligned with the bracket axle openings;

an axle inserted through the bracket axle openings and the trigger axle openings, the trigger rotating about the axle towards and away from the printed circuit board; and

a cover coupled to the frame and over the printed circuit board.

2. The information handling system game controller of claim 1 further comprising a torsion spring coupled to the axle and biasing the trigger away from the printed circuit board.

3. The information handling system game controller of claim 2 further comprising a bezel disposed around the trigger and coupled to the cover and the frame.

4. The information handling system game controller of claim 1 further comprising:

a member extending from the trigger towards the frame; and

a guide coupled to the frame and engaged with the member to manage trigger motion towards and away from the printed circuit board.

5. The information handling system game controller of claim 4 further comprising an elastomeric damper coupled to the frame between the frame and trigger distal the axle to dampen trigger presses toward the printed circuit board.

6. The information handling system game controller of claim 1 further comprising:

an input detector coupled to the printed circuit board proximate the trigger and aligned to detect rotation of the trigger towards the printed circuit board; and

a processor disposed on the printed circuit board and interfaced with the input detector and the communication interface to communicate trigger inputs through the communication interface.

7. The information handling system game controller of claim 6 wherein the communication interface comprises plural pogo pins.

8. The information handling system game controller of claim 7 further comprising a button disposed over the trigger to accept end user inputs.

9. The information handling system game controller of claim 8 further comprising a joystick extending up from the frame and out of the cover, the joystick interfaced with the processor to communicate inputs through the pogo pins to the information handling system.

10. A method for making inputs at an information handling system game controller, the method comprising:

coupling first and second game controllers at opposing sides of a tablet information handling system having a planar housing, the first and second game controllers disposed in a plane of the planar housing;

rotating a trigger disposed at the first game controller about an axis oriented perpendicular to the planar housing and located distal the information handling system, the trigger rotating into the first game controller more proximate the information handling system than the axis;

detecting the trigger rotation at the first game controller; and

in response to the detecting, communicating a trigger input from the first game controller to the information handling system through a wired interface disposed between the information handling system and first controller;

wherein the rotating a trigger further comprises:

fixedly coupling a trigger bracket to a frame of the first controller;

rotationally coupling the trigger about an axle disposed in the trigger bracket; and

coupling a cover to the frame, the trigger held free from touching the cover.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising coupling a bezel to the cover and frame, the bezel encircling the trigger.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

engaging a member extending from the trigger towards the frame with a guide formed in the frame; and

guiding the rotating of the trigger with engagement of the member in the guide.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

disposing an elastomeric damper on the frame proximate the trigger; and

dampening impact of the trigger at the frame during the rotating with the elastomeric damper.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

detecting movement of a joystick at the first controller; and

communicating the joystick movement as an input to the information handling system through the wired interface.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

detaching the first and second game controllers from the information handling system;

attaching the first and second game controllers to opposing sides of a bridge;

rotating the trigger at the first game controller;

detecting the trigger rotation at the first game controller;

in response to the detecting, communicating the trigger input from the first game controller to the bridge through the wired interface; and

communicating the trigger input from the bridge to the information handling system.

16. A trigger input system comprising:

a frame sized to fit in a game controller housing having a plane, the frame having an attachment structure at one side, the attachment structure configured to couple to an information handling system;

a trigger bracket fixedly coupled to the frame and having an axle support disposed perpendicular to the plane;

a trigger rotationally coupled to the trigger bracket rotate in the plane; and

a biasing device disposed between the trigger and frame, the biasing device biasing the trigger away from the frame.

17. The trigger input system of claim 16 further comprising:

an axle rotationally coupling the trigger to the trigger bracket axle support, the axle located at a side opposite the attachment structure, the trigger rotating to contact the frame at a position between the axle and the attachment structure;

wherein the biasing devices comprises a torsion spring coupled to the axle.

18. The trigger input system of claim 17 further comprising:

a member extending from the trigger towards the frame; and

a guide integrated in the frame, the member engaged with the guide to manage motion of the trigger during rotation about the axle.

19. The trigger input system of claim 18 further comprising a dampener disposed on the frame proximate the trigger to dampen trigger impact at the frame.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053311/0169) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060438/0742 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052216/0758) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060438/0680 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AF REEL 052243 FRAME 0773 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0152 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0169 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 26, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 052243/0773 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Mar 24, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052216/0758 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2019
From: TORRES, CHRISTOPHER A.; TOSH, ANDREW P.; CHEN, ENOCH; GUACK, YONGOOK; CHANG, CHIA YUAN
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 051392/0898 →