IP Library Granted Patent US 10,940,385
Granted Patent B2
US 10,940,385 · App. 16/526,238 · Granted Mar 9, 2021

Controller add-on device with customizable presets

Inventors: Glenn Black (San Mateo, CA); Thomas Bruckbock (Livermore, CA); Arthur Kwun (Newark, CA)
Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
A63F13/2145G06F1/1637
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,940,385
App. No.
16/526,238
Granted
Mar 9, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A controller add-on includes a housing that mechanically couples to a game controller body. A conformable surface of the housing is configured to conform with a bottom of the body of the game controller. A plurality of buttons coupled to the housing are located opposite the conformable surface. A controller interface coupled to the housing is configured to communicatively couple to the plurality of buttons to the game controller. Buttons on the add-on may be mapped to controller buttons using customized button mapping pre-sets. A button mapping may indicate that a selected preset is to be hidden during a switching operation Upon receiving a switching operation input, the selected pre-set is skipped during the switching operation.

Claims (27)

1. A controller add-on comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing is configured to mechanically couple to a body of a game controller, wherein a conformable surface of the housing is configured to conform with a bottom of the body of the game controller;

a plurality of buttons coupled to the housing wherein the plurality of buttons are located opposite the conformable surface; and

a controller interface coupled to the housing wherein the controller interface is configured to communicatively couple the plurality of buttons to the game controller and further configured to tilt from a first position to cause a physical and mechanical connection with the body of the game controller to a second position wherein the conformable surface contacts to the bottom of the body of game controller.

2. The controller add-on from claim 1 further comprising a display screen coupled to the housing.

3. The controller add-on of claim 2 , further comprising an input interface associated with the display screen.

4. The controller add-on of claim 3 , wherein the input interface is a touch interface.

5. The controller add-on of claim 3 , wherein the input interface is a mechanical button.

6. The controller add-on of claim 1 wherein the plurality of buttons are configured to be within reach of a user's index, middle or ring fingers while holding the body of the game controller.

7. A controller add-on comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing is configured to mechanically couple to a body of a game controller, wherein a conformable surface of the housing is configured to conform with a bottom of the body of the game controller;

a plurality of buttons coupled to the housing wherein the plurality of buttons are located opposite the conformable surface;

a display screen coupled to the housing; and

a controller interface coupled to the housing wherein the controller interface is configured to communicatively couple the plurality of buttons to the game controller.

8. The controller add-on of claim 7 , further comprising an input interface associated with the display screen.

9. The controller add-on of claim 8 , wherein the input interface is a touch interface.

10. The controller add-on of claim 8 , wherein the input interface is a mechanical button.

11. The controller add-on of claim 7 , wherein the controller interface is further configured to tilt from a first position to cause a physical and mechanical connection with the body of the game controller to a second position wherein the conformable surface contacts to the bottom of the body of game controller.

12. The controller add-on of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of buttons are configured to be within reach of a user's index, middle or ring fingers while holding the body of the game controller.

13. A controller add-on comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing is configured to mechanically couple to a body of a game controller, wherein a conformable surface of the housing is configured to conform with a bottom of the body of the game controller;

a plurality of buttons coupled to the housing wherein the plurality of buttons are located opposite the conformable surface;

a display screen coupled to the housing and an input interface associated with the display screen, wherein the plurality of buttons and the input interface are configured to be within reach of a user's index, middle or ring fingers while holding the body of the game controller; and

a controller interface coupled to the housing wherein the controller interface is configured to communicatively couple the plurality of buttons to the game controller.

14. The controller add-on of claim 13 , wherein the controller interface is further configured to tilt from a first position to cause a physical and mechanical connection with the body of the game controller to a second position wherein the conformable surface contacts to the bottom of the body of game controller.

15. The controller add-on of claim 13 , wherein the input interface is a touch interface.

16. The controller add-on of claim 13 , wherein the input interface is a mechanical button.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2019
From: BLACK, GLENN; BRUCKBOCK, THOMAS; KWUN, ARTHUR
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 050368/0385 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210031098A1 · Feb 4, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,194,375