Case 1:16-cv-04110-TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 1 of 10
`“’°°“”11l|||flllllillllllllflllllllillllliflllllllllllflllllIlllfllllllllllll
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`US009308450B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Burgess et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,308,450 B2
`Apr. 12, 2016
`
`A63F 13/42; A63F 13/837; A63F 2300/10;
`A63F 2300/1018; A63F 2300/1043; A63F
`2300/1056; A63F 2300/1062; A63F
`2300/8076
`USPC ......................... .. 463/36-39; 42/69.01-70.01
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2/1944 Sweany ..................... .. 42/69.02
`2,341,298 A *
`2/1944 Sweany .... ..
`. 42/69.01
`2,341,299 A *
`3,773,026 A * 11/1973 Romero .... ..
`124/22
`3,791,061 A *
`2/1974 Tirone . . . . . . . .
`. . . . .. 42/41
`4,254,951 A *
`3/1981 De Laney
`. 463/47.1
`4,489,938 A * 12/1984 Darzinskis .................... .. 463/38
`6,053,814 A *
`4/2000 Pchenitchnikov et a1.
`463/36
`6,203,432 B1 *
`3/2001 Roberts et al.
`................ .. 463/37
`7,188,561 B1*
`3/2007 Kelbly .......................... .. 89/136
`
`
`
`(54)
`
`(71)
`
`(72)
`
`GAME CONTROLLER
`
`Applicant: Ironburg Inventions Ltd., Wincanton,
`Somerset (GB)
`
`Inventors: Simon Burgess, Loughborough (GB);
`Duncan Ironmonger, Atlanta, GA (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee:
`
`Ironburg Inventions Limited, Atlanta,
`GA (US)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 331 days.
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.: 13/910,409
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jun. 5, 2013
`
`(65)
`
`(62)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`(Continued)
`
`US 2013/0267320 A1
`
`Oct. 10, 2013
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`Division of application No. 13/163,368, filed on Jun.
`17, 2011, now Pat. No. 8,480,491.
`
`Int. Cl.
`
`A63F 9/24
`A63F 13/00
`A63F 13/24
`A63F 13/20
`A63F 13/90
`U.S. Cl.
`
`(2006.01)
`(2014.01)
`(2014.01)
`(2014.01)
`(2014.01)
`
`CPC ............... .. A63F 13/24 (2014.09); A63F 13/06
`(2013.01); A63F 13/08 (2013.01);A63F 13/20
`(2014.09); A63F 2300/1018 (2013.01); A63F
`2300/1043 (2013.01)
`
`Field of Classification Search
`CPC ....... .. A63F 13/06; A63F 13/08; A63F 13/20;
`A63F 13/218; A63F 13/219; A63F 13/23;
`A63F 13/24; A63F 13/245; A63F 13/40;
`
`Primary Examiner — Milap Shah
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Parks Wood LLC; Stephen
`J. Terrell
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A game controller for controlling video games or other elec-
`tronic interactive systems, having an adjustable trigger sys-
`tem for calibration or customized control of trigger action.
`The game controller includes a controller chassis and an
`actuator system, which includes a trigger body, a trigger
`mechanism chassis, a strike plate coupled to the trigger body,
`a first trigger adjustment control screw received in a screw
`thread disposed within the controller chassis, and a second
`trigger adjustment control screw received in a screw thread
`disposed within the controller chassis, wherein a portion of
`each of the first trigger adjustment control screw and second
`trigger adjustment control screw engages with a respective
`portion of the strike plate, and said portion of each of the first
`trigger adjustment control screw and second trigger adjust-
`ment control screw each create an end stop to limit the actua-
`tor movement of the trigger body.
`
`20 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`/I2
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-04110-TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 2 of 10
`Case 1:16—cv—04110—TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 2 of 10
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`US 9,308,450 B2
`Page 2
`
`9/2005 Villegas .......................... .. 463/5
`2005/0197178 A1*
`2005/0255918 A1* 11/2005 Riggs etal.
`.. 463/37
`2006/0207149 A1*
`9/2006 Lazor ............. ..
`42/69.01
`2007/0293318 A1* 12/2007 Tetterington etal.
`.. 463/37
`2010/0173686 A1*
`7/2010 Grant et al.
`.... ..
`463/2
`2010/0298053 A1* 11/2010 Kotkin .... ..
`.. 463/37
`2012/0142418 A1*
`6/2012 Muramatsu ................... .. 463/37
`2013/0267321 A1* 10/2013 Burgess ................ .. A63F 13/06
`453/37
`
`
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`Us, PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`7,407,439 131*
`7,758,424 B2*
`8,480,491 B2*
`
`8/2003 Ochoa ........................... ,, 453/37
`
`7/2010 Riggsetal.
`.... .. 463/37
`7/2013 Burgess ................ .. A63F13/06
`463/36
`.......................... .. 463/38
`5/2002 Magill
`2002/0052237 A1*
`.. 463/49
`2003/0195046 A1* 10/2003 Bartsch ...... ..
`
`6/2005 Hammond etal.
`........... .. 463/37
`2005/0124416 A1*
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-04110-TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 3 of 10
`Case 1:16—cv—O4110—TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 3 of 10
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 12,2016
`
`Sheet 1 of4
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`US 9,308,450 B2
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`106
`
`I02
`
`I00
`
`I06
`
`I04
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-04110-TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 4 of 10
`Case 1:16—cv—O4110—TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 4 of 10
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 12,2016
`
`Sheet 2 of4
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`US 9,308,450 B2
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`/I2
`
`\
`
`
`?é’?‘l'Il
`E’!/2
`
`
`\g
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-04110-TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 5 of 10
`Case 1:16—cv—O4110—TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 5 of 10
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 12,2016
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`Sheet 3 of4
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`US 9,308,450 B2
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`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-04110-TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 6 of 10
`Case 1:16—cv—O4110—TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 6 of 10
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 12,2016
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`Sheet 4 of4
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`US 9,308,450 B2
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`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-04110-TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 7 of 10
`Case 1:16-cv-04110-TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 7 of 10
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`1
`GAME CONTROLLER
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`US 9,308,450 B2
`
`2
`
`The present application is based on, and claims priority
`from, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/163,368, filed Jun. 17,
`2011, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,480,491, the disclosure of
`which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its
`entirety.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The invention relates to controllers for controlling the play
`ofcomputeri sed games, more particularly but not exclusively,
`the invention relates to an actuator system of a game control-
`ler for a gaming console.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`There are many different types of gaming consoles cur-
`rently available for operating a video game. For example,
`Microsoft®, Sony® and Nintendo® manufacture the
`Xbox®, Playstation® and Wii® gaming consoles, respec-
`tively. The gaming consoles typically include a game control-
`ler so that a user can control the operation of the video game.
`Some known game controllers include a form of actuator
`system for the operation of control of the functions of the
`video games. Actuators, buttons or other depressible or manu-
`ally operable devices are typically used for controlling dis-
`crete actions such as the firing of a weapon or an attack
`command. It is known to provide a button or actuator which is
`intended to be operable by the index finger of a user; such
`buttons are commonly known as triggers.
`At times, dependent upon the video game being played, it
`can be necessary to depress the trigger a distance before the
`trigger initiation point is reached and the command actually
`acknowledged. This renders part of the depressing action
`futile. Likewise, after the command has been operated, it is
`often possible to carry out further depression of the trigger
`past the trigger initiation point. This further depression is
`unnecessary and may also be disadvantageous.
`Furthermore, in other situations in some video games, the
`strength of a command is increased or decreased dependent
`upon how frequently the trigger is depressed. As such,
`depressing the trigger the whole distance is urmecessary and
`excessive for the command or operation required.
`It is desirable to have a controller, particularly for gaming
`applications, that is more responsive or has less scope for
`allowing unnecessary over-movement by the user of the con-
`troller.
`
`Due to the rapidly expanding gaming market and develop-
`ment ofinvolved games invoking considerable player input, it
`is desirable for players to be able to customise their control-
`lers in order to gain increased control in a variety of gaming
`circumstances.
`
`The present invention seeks to improve upon or at least
`mitigate some of the problems associated with controllers of
`the prior art by providing a game controller, which includes
`an adjustable trigger system that has a mechanism to allow the
`end user to control or recalibrate the maximum and/or mini-
`
`mum trigger positions.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`There are a variety of different commands available for the
`trigger functions of a game controller and the adjustable
`trigger system of the various embodiments of present inven-
`
`tion now provides use within the option to customise the
`trigger settings to suit the individual game at the time of
`operation.
`In some embodiments the trigger system includes adjust-
`ments for the depression of the trigger so that it is already to
`some degree, “depressed,” before any contact is actually
`made with the trigger by the operator (player).
`In some embodiments the trigger system includes adjust-
`ments for the amount that the trigger is depressed before there
`is no more motion available to be made by the operator. This
`removes any urmecessary distance travelled by the trigger.
`The present invention provides a method of fully control-
`ling both ofthe above features simultaneously for the amount
`of depression inflicted on the trigger without contact, and the
`amount of available motion to give the greatest advantage in
`any gaming circumstances.
`In some embodiments, there would be the ability to switch
`the trigger adjustments between incremented settings on the
`threaded adjustments. This would allow the end user to
`quickly and accurately calibrate the triggers between custom-
`ised or pre-set settings.
`In some embodiments, there would be a thread cut directly
`into the chassis of the controller to take the threaded adjust-
`ment screws.
`
`In other embodiments the thread in the chassis may be
`achieved via the fitting of a threaded insert.
`There is provided an apparatus for supplying user inputs to
`a computer program, such as a game program, for controlling
`the game program, the apparatus comprising at least one
`depressible trigger mechanism and having a mechanism for
`manual adjustment of the depressible range of the trigger
`mechanism.
`
`There is provided an apparatus for supplying user inputs to
`a computer program, such as a game program, for controlling
`the game program, the apparatus comprising at least one
`depressible trigger mechanism and having a mechanism for
`manual adjustment of the start position of the trigger mecha-
`nism.
`
`There is provided an apparatus for supplying user inputs to
`a computer program, such as a game program, for controlling
`the game program, the apparatus comprising at least one
`depressible trigger mechanism and having a mechanism for
`manual adjustment of the stop position of the trigger mecha-
`nism.
`
`There is provided a game controller for controlling elec-
`tronic games, including a housing, at least one depressible
`trigger at least in-part exposed relative to the housing, said at
`least one depressible trigger being in operational association
`with electrical circuitry contained within the housing which
`electrical circuitry is controlled by depression of the each
`depressible trigger for manipulating electrical outputs of the
`circuitry for controlling electronic games and having a
`mechanism for manual adjustment ofthe depressible range of
`the trigger mechanism.
`There is provided a game controller for controlling elec-
`tronic games, where the game controller includes a controller
`chassis, a trigger body, a trigger mechanism chassis, a strike
`plate coupled to the trigger body, a first trigger adjustment
`control screw received in a screw thread disposed within the
`controller chassis, and a second trigger adjustment control
`screw received in a screw thread disposed within the control-
`ler chassis. A portion of each of the first trigger adjustment
`control screw and second trigger adjustment control screw
`engages with a respective portion of the strike plate and said
`portion of each of the first trigger adjustment control screw
`and second trigger adjustment control screw each create an
`end stop to limit the trigger movement.
`
`5
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`40
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`

`

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`US 9,308,450 B2
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`3
`Preferably the strike plate is integral with the trigger body.
`There is additionally provided a method of adjusting the
`range of movement of a button on a game controller for
`controlling electronic games. The method includes providing
`a game controller including a controller chassis, a trigger
`body, a trigger mechanism chassis, a strike plate coupled to
`the trigger body, a first trigger adjustment control screw
`received in a screw thread disposed within the controller
`chassis, and a second trigger adjustment control screw
`received in a screw thread disposed within the controller
`chassis. In accordance with an aspect of the exemplary
`method, a portion of each of the first trigger adjustment con-
`trol screw and second trigger adjustment control screw
`engages with a respective portion of the strike plate and said
`portion of each of the first trigger adjustment control screw
`and second trigger adjustment control screw each create an
`end stop to limit the trigger movement rotating one of said
`first trigger adjustment control screw or second trigger adjust-
`ment control screws to adjust the position of the end stop.
`
`10
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`15
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be
`described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
`which:
`
`25
`
`FIG. 1 is a front view of a game controller.
`FIG. 2 is a cut-away side view of the trigger mechanism
`according to a first illustrated embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of FIG. 2 showing the trigger
`mechanism of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional of view taken through the front
`of the trigger mechanism;
`FIG. 5 is a full front profile showing hidden detail oftrigger
`mechanism;
`FIG. 6 is a side view of a trigger mechanism according to a
`second embodiment ofthe invention showing another mecha-
`nism for adjusting trigger travel motion;
`FIG. 7 is a front view depicting a trigger mechanism
`according to a third embodiment having incremental trigger
`calibration; and
`FIG. 8 is an enlarged view ofthe trigger mechanism system
`shown in FIG. 7.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the game
`controller and its trigger mechanisms are disclosed herein. It
`will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely
`examples ofthe way in which certain aspects of the invention
`can be implemented and do not represent an exhaustive list of
`all ofthe ways the invention may be embodied. Indeed, it will
`be understood that the game controller and its trigger mecha-
`nisms described herein may be embodied in various and
`alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and
`some features may be exaggerated or minimised to show
`details of particular components. Well-known components,
`materials or methods are not necessarily described in great
`detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Any
`specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are
`not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the
`claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in
`the art to variously employ the invention.
`FIG. 1 is exemplary of a game controller 100 in which the
`present invention could be employed. The game controller
`100 includes a bumper control function 102, button control
`functions 104, analogue joystick controls 106, and a trigger
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`body 108. FIG. 1 illustrates the positions of the trigger body
`108 in relation to the position of the aforementioned features
`of the game controller 100.
`FIG. 2 is a cut-away view ofpart ofthe game controller 100
`illustrating an adjustable trigger mechanism according to a
`first embodiment of the invention. The game controller 100
`also includes a controller chassis 110, which encloses its
`internal components. The trigger body 108 can extend at least
`partially through an opening in the controller chassis 110.
`Referring now also to FIGS. 3-8, the game controller 100 also
`includes:
`
`a printed circuit board (PCB) 112;
`a trigger mechanism chassis 114 fixed to the PCB 112;
`an adjustment strike plate 116 integral to the trigger body
`108;
`a first trigger adjustment control screw 118 for adjustment
`of trigger depression;
`a second trigger adjustment control screw 120 for adjust-
`ment of the trigger command initiation point;
`a threaded insert or screw thread 122 cut into the controller
`chassis 110;
`a trigger pivot bearing 124 integrally formed with the trig-
`ger mechanism chassis;
`a trigger sensor link arm 126; and
`a trigger motion sensor 128.
`FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of FIG. 2 showing in more
`detail the trigger adjustment mechanism in accordance with
`the invention.
`
`FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the trigger mechanism.
`In this embodiment the trigger mechanism has two trigger
`adjustment control screws 118, 120; first trigger adjustment
`control screw 118 for adjustment of trigger depression, and
`second trigger adjustment control screw 120 for adjustment
`of trigger command initiation point as shown in FIG. 2
`respectively.
`In this embodiment the first and second trigger adjustment
`control screws 118 and 120 that are used are grub screws but
`could be many different threaded mechanisms.
`In this embodiment the screw thread 122 for receiving the
`screw mechanisms is cut into the chassis 110 of the game
`controller 100 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. In
`other embodiments, it would be possible to use threaded
`inserts with nylon locking systems or entire adjustment
`mechanisms 130, 132 fitted as a complete component that
`could be inserted through an aperture in the controller chassis
`110 in such embodiment it is envisaged that the user may be
`able to adjust the trigger settings without the use of a tool, for
`example by providing a grip coupled to the screw thread,
`preferably this would be integral with the screw thread as
`shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
`
`In some embodiments, the position of the trigger body 108
`would be adjusted by use of a specified tool that would be
`provided to turn the first and second trigger adjustment con-
`trol screws 118 and 120, which are located next to the trigger
`body 108, on the controller chassis 110.
`One advantage of the present invention is that it allows
`adjustments to be made to the trigger response; such adjust-
`ment could be customised to suit the nature ofthe video game
`that is in use at the time of operation and the skill of the
`operator. For example, in combat style games involving a
`shooting function it is often the case that the trigger would
`need to be depressed a certain amount before any command
`was prompted. The second trigger adjustment control screw
`120 can be adjusted so that the command was prompted with
`any amount of depression of the trigger body 108, by using
`the required tool (for example an Allen key, or hex or star
`driver, cross head or flat head screwdriver, sparmer or wrench)
`
`

`

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`US 9,308,450 B2
`
`5
`to turn the second trigger adjustment control screw 120,
`whereby driving it into or out of the controller chassis 110 by
`virtue of the threaded insert or screw thread located within
`controller chassis 110.
`
`After reaching or passing the command initiation point no
`further commands are given from the trigger sensor link arm
`126 to the trigger motion sensor 128; therefore the first trigger
`adjustment control screw 118 which controls the degree of
`trigger depression allows the operator to restrict the amount
`of travel available to the trigger body 108, as they desire. The
`first trigger adjustment control screw 118 would impede the
`movement by striking the adjustment strike plates, which are
`preferably formed integrally with the trigger body 1 08, which
`trigger body 108 is pivotally mounted preferably on a trigger
`pivot bearing which may also be integral to trigger mecha-
`nism chassis 124.
`
`Such an adjustment would directly relate to the majority of
`combat style games or other varieties of firing operations in
`video games.
`The present invention could find application in a variety of
`other video games genres but for the simplicity ofthis disclo-
`sure reference is made to combat style games.
`A further advantage of the present invention is that it mini-
`mises the amount of motion an operators finger must travel,
`therefore minimising the recovery time after trigger initiation
`contacts have been made allowing the operator to commence
`command prompt again and again more rapidly, or to operate
`different commands quicker. As the movement
`that
`is
`required to operate commands detected by the trigger motion
`sensor 128, by depressing the trigger body 108, the risks of
`any related repetitive strain injury acquired due to the
`repeated movement of the finger when operating the trigger
`function would be greatly reduced. In known controllers the
`operator may be require to move their finger 11 mm whereas
`in the present invention adjustment of the first trigger adjust-
`ment control screw 118 and the second trigger adjustment
`control screw 120 allow the operator to reduce the required
`movement of their finger to 5 mm thus reducing the overall
`motion required by the operator by over 50% of the initial
`movement required, whereby providing a health benefit to
`users retaining healthy joints after many years of vigorous
`gaming. Repetitive strain injury is a clinically proven medical
`issue related to hours of repeated movements made during
`activities like the movements made while depressing the trig-
`ger function of the controller.
`In other video game genres, such as driving games, trigger
`response could be controlled by adjustment ofthe first trigger
`adjustment control screw 118 and the second trigger adjust-
`ment control screw 120 to allow the operator greater control
`over breaking and accelerating functions of the game, for
`example restricting maximum throttle settings and breaking
`level settings for difficult corners. This could be adjusted by
`assessing where the greatest advantageous breaking or accel-
`erating position would be, and then recreating this position
`with the trigger adjustment control screw for adjustment of
`trigger depression 118.
`In this application the degree of the trigger body 108
`depression is detected by trigger motion sensor 128 which are
`coupled together by the trigger sensor link arm 126. The
`degree of depression ofthe trigger body 108 is converted into
`a signal which signal directly relates to a command to be
`executed by the video game for example the amount of accel-
`eration or braking to be applied. The trigger motion sensor
`128 is connected to the trigger mechanism chassis 114
`coupled to the printed circuit board 112. The present inven-
`tion provides a device to restrict the range ofmovement ofthe
`trigger body 108 which the trigger motion sensor 128 is
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`effectively able to detect, and thus limit the magnitude of the
`command which can be made by the operator when depress-
`ing trigger. A further advantage of this embodiment is that the
`ergonomic design of the controller is not compromised.
`FIG. 6 depicts the use ofa stopping block 134 for control of
`trigger depression, this could be achieved by insertion into the
`base of the trigger of a screw comprising screw head which
`interacts with controller chassis 110. This system could be
`used instead of the trigger adjustment control screw 118 for
`adjustment of trigger depression. This system may incorpo-
`rate a stopping block of the desired shape and size to prevent
`the trigger from depressing fully and this would be attached
`via a screw fixing into a threaded portion of the trigger body
`108, or by any other means ofmechanical fixing such as those
`that wouldbe apparent to those skilled in the art. The stopping
`block 134 could be interchangeable with stopping blocks or
`different dimensions depending on the intended application
`and the degree to which movement of the trigger is to be
`restricted. The screw head itself may be shaped such that the
`angular orientation of the screw with respect to the controller
`chassis 110 determines the degree of trigger movement, for
`example the outer surface of the screw head could be any
`noncircular shape such as oval or spiral shape, wherein the
`radial dimension of the screw head is not constant. In such
`
`embodiment is envisaged that trigger adjustment control
`screw 120 may also be employed in order to provide adjust-
`ment of trigger command initiation point to achieve fully
`adjustable trigger commands.
`It can be appreciated that various changes may be made
`within the scope ofthe various embodiments ofpresent inven-
`tion, for example, the size and shape of the features may be
`adjusted. In other embodiments of the invention it is envis-
`aged that a system could incorporate several button or slider
`controls on the external case of the controller which may be
`adjusted to select pre-set ranges of movement, or pre-set
`trigger depression or preset
`trigger initiation command
`points. Each ofthese could be pre-set in manufacture or by the
`operator to correspond to popular video games or specifically
`chosen video games that the operator has chosen for maxi-
`mum efiiciency. It is also envisaged this invention could be
`used for other buttons provided on the controller. It is envis-
`aged the invention could be employed with digital sensors or
`switches which generate digital signals having an on state and
`an off state since such switches typically require a predeter-
`mined range of movement to change states such that required
`range of movement to change states can be reduced. It is also
`envisaged this invention could be incorporated to adjust the
`button depression depth required of such digital switches to
`its greatest point before such a command for the function it
`controls would be given.
`In some embodiments the first trigger adjustment control
`screws 118 and the second trigger adjustment control screw
`120 can be entirely released restoring the full range oftrigger
`movement.
`
`It will be recognised that as used herein, directional refer-
`ences such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, “end”, “side”,
`“inner”, “outer”, “upper” and “lower” do not limit the respec-
`tive features to such orientation, but merely serve to distin-
`guish these features from one another.
`While particular embodiments of the invention have been
`shown and described, numerous variations and alternate
`embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art without
`
`departing from the scope of the present invention.
`
`The invention claimed is:
`
`1. A game controller configured to supply input to a com-
`puter program, comprising:
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-04110-TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 10 of 10
`Case 1:16—cv—O4110—TWT Document 1-5 Filed 11/02/16 Page 10 of 10
`
`US 9,308,450 B2
`
`8
`9. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising
`means for biasing the strike plate against the screw.
`10. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the screw is
`configured to create an end stop to limit movement of the
`actuator body out of the controller chassis through the open-
`ing in the first outer wall.
`11. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the screw is
`configured to create an end stop to limit movement of the
`actuator body away from the first outer wall of the controller
`chassis.
`
`12. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the actuator
`body includes a trigger button.
`13. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the actuator
`body is pivotably mounted to the controller chassis.
`14. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the screw and
`the screw thread are configured such that rotation ofthe screw
`moves the screw relative to the screw thread, which moves a
`point of contact between the screw and the strike plate.
`15. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the actuator
`body is configured to be depressed into the controller chassis.
`16. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the strike plate
`is adjacent a connection between the actuator body and the
`control chassis.
`
`17. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the screw
`thread is adjacent a connection between the actuatorbody and
`the control chassis.
`
`18. The game controller ofclaim 1, wherein a portion ofthe
`first outer wall that includes the opening is substantially pla-
`r1ar.
`
`7
`a controller chassis comprising a first outer wall, wherein
`the first outer wall includes an outer surface of the game
`controller;
`an actuator body that extends at least partially through an
`opening in the first outer wall, wherein the actuator body
`is configured to move relative to the controller chassis;
`a strike plate coupled to the actuator body, wherein the
`strike plate is configured to move based on movement of
`the actuator body;
`a screw that is configured to be received in a screw thread
`that is disposed in the first outer wall of the controller
`chassis;
`wherein, when received in the screw thread, the screw is
`configured to contact the strike plate to adjustably define
`a command initiation point; and
`wherein the command initiation point defines one end of a
`range of motion of the actuator body.
`2. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the command
`initiation point is a start position.
`3. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the strike plate
`is configured to rotate about an axis.
`4. The game controller of claim 3, wherein the screw thread
`is positioned between the axis and a portion of the actuator
`body that is configured to be contacted to depress the actuator
`body.
`5. The game controller of claim 3, wherein the screw thread
`is positioned between the axis and an edge of the opening in
`the first outer wall that is distal most from the axis.
`
`6. The game controller of claim 3, wherein a portion of the
`strike plate that is configured to be contacted by the screw is
`positioned between the axis and a portion ofthe actuator body
`that is configured to be contacted to depress the actuatorbody.
`7. The game controller of claim 3, wherein the actuator
`body is configured to rotate about the axis.
`8. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising
`means for biasing the actuator body towards the command
`initiation point.
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
`
`19. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the first outer
`wall is a front wall of the game controller.
`20. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the strike plate
`is positioned inside the controller chassis adjacent an inside
`surface of the first outer wall.
`*
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