US008641525B2
`
`(12) Unlted States Patent
`Burgess et a].
`
`(10) Patent N0.2
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,641,525 B2
`Feb. 4, 2014
`
`(54) CONTROLLER FORVIDEO GAME
`CONSOLE
`
`_
`(75) IIWBIIIOFSI 51111011 Burgess,LOughbOrOugh(GB);
`Duncan Ironmonger, Atlanta, GA (US)
`
`4/1998 Kung ......................... .. D14/401
`D393,291 S *
`5,853,326 A * 12/1998 Goto et a1. . . . . .
`. . . .. 463/37
`5,874,906 A *
`2/1999 Willner et a1. .
`341/22
`D409,183 S *
`5/1999 Chen ................ ..
`.. D14/401
`5,984,548 A * 11/1999 Willner et a1. .
`400/472
`5,984,785 A * 11/1999 Takeda et a1. ..
`463/38
`6,001,014 A * 12/1999 Ogata et a1. .
`463/37
`
`
`
`(73) Assignee: Ironburg Inventions Ltd. (GB) _ _ _ _
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`_
`
`
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`2 i 154313604 s * 10/2000 Chan ............ .. (T355351 ' ' ' ' '
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`' ' ' " .. D21/329
`
`463/37
`463/38
`463/38
`463/37
`
`. . . ..
`
`( * ) Not1ce:
`
`Subject to any d1scla1mer, the term ofth1s
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`
`U'S'C' 154(1)) by 0 days‘
`
`6,135,886 A * 10/2000 Armstrong n
`6,171,191 B1 *
`1/2001 Ogata et a1.
`6,186,896 B1* 2/2001 Takeda et a1. ..
`6 231444 B1 *
`5/2001 G r
`r 1
`
`,
`
`,
`
`0 0 e a .
`
`. . . . .
`
`(21) APPLNO" 13/162,727
`
`_
`
`_
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jun. 17, 2011
`
`6,241,611 B1* 6/2001 Takeda et a1. . . . . . .
`
`6,261,180 B1* 7/2001 Lebensfeld et a1.
`
`. . . .. 463/38
`
`463/49
`
`6,267,673 B1 *
`6,280,327 B1 *
`
`7/2001 Miyamoto et a1. . . . . .
`. . . .. 463/31
`8/2001 Leifer et a1. .................. .. 463/39
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`(Commued)
`
`US 2012/0322553 A1
`
`Dec. 20, 2012
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(2006-01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(51) Int CL
`A63F 9/24
`A63F 13/00
`(52) US. C].
`USPC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ N 463/37. 463/36. 463/46. 463/47.
`200/5 R, 200/5 A, 260/329, 2’00/341_’200/345’
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search
`USPC .......................................................... .. 463/37
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,552,360 A * 11/1985 Bromley et a1. .............. .. 463/38
`5,531,443 A *
`7/1996 Cruz .............. ..
`463/37
`5,551,693 A *
`9/1996 Goto et a1.
`463/37
`
`D376,826 S * 12/1996 Ashida . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. D14/401
`
`D377,198 S *
`D384,112 S *
`5,670,988 A *
`5,716,274 A *
`
`D14/401
`1/1997 Oikawa et a1.
`D14/401
`9/1997 Rileyetal.
`.. 345/157
`9/1997 Tickle .... ..
`2/1998 Goto et a1. .................... .. 463/37
`
`GB
`
`4/2012
`2481633
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`“Review: ScufXboX 360 Controller” b Dave Burns, ublished Oct.
`y
`P
`20, 2010. Source http://WWW.XboXer360.com/features/revieW-scuf
`XboX-360-controller/ Accessed Oct. 22, 2010*
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner * Steven J Hylinski
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Parks IP Law LLC
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`An improved controller (10) for a game console that is
`intended to be heldby a user in both hands in the same manner
`as a conventional controller (1), Which has controls on the
`front operable by the thumbs (2), (3), (4), (5), and has tWo
`additional controls (11) located on the back in positions to be
`operated by the middle ?ngers of a user.
`
`20 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1001
`
`p. 000001
`
`

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`US 8,641,525 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U_S_ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,288,709 B1* 9/2001 Willner et a1. .............. .. 345/169
`6,342,009 131* V2002 Soma """ “
`463/38
`6394906 131*
`5/2002 Ogata “““““““““““““““ " 463/38
`D464’349 S * 10/2002 Loughnane et a1‘ ““““ " D14/40l
`6,512,511 B2 *
`1/2003 Winner et a1‘
`‘ 345/169
`6,524,186 B2 >x<
`2/2003 Takatsuka et a1‘
`463/37
`6,524,187 132*
`2/2003 Komata “““““ “
`463/37
`6,682,426 B2 *
`V2004 Goto et a1‘ “
`463/37
`6,760,013 B2* 7/2004 Willner et a1.
`. 345/169
`6,887,158 132*
`5/2005 Goto et a1‘ "
`463/37
`7,235,012 132*
`6/2007 DiDatO """ “
`463/38
`D547,763 S *
`7/2007 Hayes et a1‘ “““““““““ “ D14/454
`7,377,851 B2 *
`5/2008 G010 et a1. .................... .. 463/37
`D572,710 S *
`7/2008 Li .......... ..
`D14/401
`7,407,439 B1* 8/2008 Ochoa .... ..
`463/37
`7,471,216 B2 * 12/2008 Chen et a1. ..
`341/20
`7,473,180 B2: 1/2009 Hunoto er a1~ ~
`463/37
`*
`gigoto et a1‘
`463/36
`737533786 B2 *
`7/2010 lshimé?'l'égél'i'
`D14/401
`D620,939 S *
`8/2010 Suetake et a1. .
`7,774,155 B2 *
`8/2010 Sato et a1. ................... .. 702/127
`
`D623,649 S *
`7,794,326 B2 *
`
`9/2010 Claussen .................... .. D14/401
`9/2010 Wu et a1. . . . . . . . . .
`. . . . .. 463/37
`
`345/156
`9/2010 Martinez et al.
`7,804,484 B2 *
`7,859,514 B1* 12/2010 Park ............................ .. 345/156
`7927216 132*
`4/2011 Ikeda eta1~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ 463/38
`7,942,745 B2* 5/2011 Ikeda et a1. ..
`.. 463/38
`D659,140 S *
`5/2012 Ikeda etial.
`D14/401
`2004/0063502 A1* 4/2004 Hussaini et a1.
`.. 463/56
`2004/0224768 A1* 11/2004 Hussaini et a1.
`.. 463/37
`2005/0215321 A1* 9/2005 Husseini et a1.
`.... .. 463/37
`2005/0269769 A1* 12/2005 Nagh1_et_ a1.
`273/148B
`2006/0025217 A1* 2/2006 H11SSalnl et a1.
`.... .. 463/36
`2006/0040740 A1* 2/2006 DIDMO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ 463/37
`2006/0116204 A1* 6/2006 Chen etial. .................... .. 463/37
`2007/0021209 A1* 1/2007 Hussaini et a1.
`.. 463/36
`2008/0261695 A1* 10/2008 Coe ............................... .. 463/37
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?0pti0n:c0mic0ntent
`&task:view&id:235&Itemid:65&limit:1&limitstart:2
`Benchmarkreviews.comiThurstmaster Run-N-Drive PC/PS3
`Wireless GampadiWritten by Oline Coles, Apr. 8, 2009.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1001
`
`p. 000002
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 4, 2014
`
`Sheet 1 of2
`
`US 8,641,525 B2
`
`Figure 1
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1001
`
`p. 000003
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 4, 2014
`
`Sheet 2 of2
`
`US 8,641,525 B2
`
`Figur? 3
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1001
`
`p. 000004
`
`

`
`US 8,641,525 B2
`
`1
`CONTROLLER FOR VIDEO GAME
`CONSOLE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to video game consoles, in
`particular to hand held controllers for video game consoles.
`Conventional controllers for most game consoles are
`intended to be held and operated by the user using both hands.
`A conventional controller Will generally comprise a hard
`outer case With a plurality of controls mounted about the
`controller. Typically the controls include buttons, analogue
`control sticks, bumpers, and triggers. An example of a con
`ventional controller is shoWn in FIG. 1.
`As can be seen in FIG. 1, all of the controls are mounted on
`the front and top edge of the controller 1. Speci?cally, there
`are left and right analogue thumb sticks 2, 3 Which normally
`control movement and are intended to be operated by the
`user’s left and right thumb respectively. There are four but
`tons 4, located on a front right portion of the controller 1
`Which normally control additional actions and are intended to
`be operated by the user’s right thumb. There is a direction pad
`5 located on the loWerportion of the front left of the controller
`1. The direction pad 5 is intended to be operated by the user’ s
`left thumb, typically either as an alternative to the left thumb
`stick 2 or to provide additional actions. There is a left trigger
`6, a right trigger 7, a left bumper 8, and a right bumper 9
`located on the top edge of the controller 1. The left and right
`triggers 6, 7 are typically operated by the user’ s index ?ngers.
`The left and right bumpers 8, 9 may also be operated by the
`user’s index ?ngers.
`The only Way to operate the four buttons 4 is for the user to
`remove his or her right thumb from the right thumb stick 3.
`This takes time and, in some games, can cause a loss of
`control. This is a particular problem in games Where the right
`thumb stick 3 is used for aiming. A similar problem may arise
`in games Where the direction pad 5 provides additional
`actions and the user has to remove his or her thumb from the
`left thumb stick 2 in order to operate the direction pad 5.
`In light of the above, there is a need for an improved
`controller Which removes the need for a user to remove his or
`her thumb from the left or right thumb stick 2, 3 in order to
`operate additional actions controlled by the four buttons 4
`and/ or the direction pad 5.
`
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides a hand held controller for a
`video game console having a hard outer case and a plurality of
`controls located on the front and top edge of the controller.
`The controller is shaped to be held in both hands of the user
`such that the user’ s thumbs are positioned to operate controls
`located on the front of the controller and the user’s index
`?ngers are positioned to operate controls located on the top
`edge of the controller. The controller further includes one or
`more additional controls located on the back of the controller
`in a position to be operated by the user’s other ?ngers.
`In one embodiment, each additional control is an elongate
`member Which is inherently resilient and ?exible such that it
`can be displaced by a user to activate control function.
`Preferably, each elongate member is mounted Within a
`respective recess located in the case of the controller.
`Preferably, each elongate member comprises an outermost
`surface Which is disposed in close proximity to the outermost
`surface of the controller such that the user’s ?nger may be
`received in said respective recess.
`
`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`2
`Preferably, each elongate member has a thickness less than
`10 mm thick, more preferably less than 5 mm thick, and most
`desirably betWeen 1 mm and 3 mm.
`Preferably, there are tWo additional controls Which are
`elongate members that are parallel to each another. In another
`embodiment, the elongate members converge toWards the
`front end of the controller With respect to one another.
`Optionally, a portion of each of the elongate members is in
`registry With a sWitch mechanism disposed Within the con
`troller, such that displacement of the elongate member acti
`vates the sWitch mechanism.
`Optionally, a sWitch mechanism is disposed betWeen the
`elongate members and an outer surface of the controller.
`The controller of the present invention may be very similar
`to controllers according to the prior art. Inparticular, the outer
`case of the controller and the type, number and positioning of
`the controls located on the front and top edge of the controller
`may be the same as a controller according to the prior art, as
`described above and as illustrated in the ?gures.
`The controller of the present invention is particularly
`advantageous over controllers according to the prior art as it
`comprises one or more additional controls located on the back
`of the controller in a position to be operated by middle ?ngers
`of a user. The additional controls may either replicate the
`functions of one or more of the controls located on the front or
`top edge of the controller or provide additional functionality.
`In a preferred embodiment of the invention the additional
`controls replicate the function of a control located on the front
`of the controller. This means that a user does not need to
`remove his or her thumb from one of the thumb sticks in order
`to operate the buttons and/ or direction pad located on the front
`of the controller and can instead perform the function by
`manipulating an additional control located on the back of the
`controller With a ?nger.
`Alternatively, the additional controls may provide addi
`tional functionality in that they do not replicate the function of
`controls located on the front or top of the controller but may
`perform different functions. In this manner a controller
`according to the present invention may provide more func
`tions than prior art controllers.
`Preferably, the controls located on the back of the control
`ler are paddle levers. Suitable paddle levers may be formed
`integrally With the outer case of the controller or may be
`substantially separate from the outer case. This may be done
`in any manner apparent to the person skilled in the art. HoW
`ever, it is to be appreciated that the additional controls may
`comprise any other control suitable for use by a hand held
`controller.
`Advantageously, if the additional controls are paddle
`levers, they Will be formed such that they are substantially
`vertically aligned With respect to the controller. This may
`alloW the most ergonomically e?icient activation of the
`paddle levers by the middle ?ngers of the user.
`Further features and advantages of the present invention
`Will be apparent from the speci?c embodiment illustrated in
`the draWings and discussed beloW.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the front of a conven
`tional game controller according to the prior art.
`FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the back of a game
`controller according to the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the back of a game
`controller according to the present invention as held and
`operated by a user.
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1001
`
`p. 000005
`
`

`
`3
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`US 8,641,525 B2
`
`4
`embodiments a paddle lever 11 may activate a neW function
`not activated by a control on the front or top edge of the
`controller 10.
`It is envisaged that the paddles 11 could be ?tted to an
`existing controller 10. In such embodiments the paddles
`Would be mounted on the outer surface of the controller body
`by means of a mechanical ?xing such as a screW or bolt or
`alternatively bonded or Welded to the controller body by
`adhesive or other suitable means. A sWitch mechanism Would
`be mounted Within the controller in vertical registry With a
`portion of each paddle. A portion of the sWitch mechanism
`may extend through the controller body and be disposed in
`close proximity or in contact With an innermost surface of the
`paddle 11.
`In alternative embodiments it is envisaged that the paddles
`11 Would be integrally formed With the controller body, the
`paddles 11 being con?gured to be resilient and ?exible such
`that they can be depressed by a user to activate a sWitch
`mechanism. This could be achieved by moulding the control
`ler body to have a U-shaped slot extending through the con
`troller body; alternatively a U-shaped slot could be cut into
`the controller body after the moulding process.
`Preferably, the paddles 11 Would comprise a raised outer
`most surface With respect to the surrounding area such that a
`user may locate the paddles 11. This may be achieved by
`moulding the paddle such that is thicker than the surrounding
`area. It Will be recognised that as used herein, directional
`references such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, “end”,
`“side”, “inner”, “outer”, “upper”, and “loWer” do not limit the
`respective features to such orientation, but merely serve to
`distinguish these features from one another.
`Modi?cations and variations of the present invention Will
`be apparent to those skilled in the art from the forgoing
`detailed description. All modi?cations and variations are
`intended to be encompassed by the folloWing claims. All
`publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are
`hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
`
`The invention claimed is:
`1. A hand held controller for a game console comprising:
`an outer case comprising a front, a back, a top edge, and a
`bottom edge, Wherein the back of the controller is oppo
`site the front of the controller and the top edge is oppo
`site the bottom edge; and
`a front control located on the front of the controller;
`Wherein the controller is shaped to be held in the hand of a
`user such that the user’s thumb is positioned to operate
`the front control; and
`a ?rst back control and a second back control, each back
`control being located on the back of the controller and
`each back control including an elongate member that
`extends substantially the full distance betWeen the top
`edge and the bottom edge and is inherently resilient and
`?exible.
`2. The controller of claim 1, further having a top edge
`control located on the top edge of the controller and Wherein
`the controller is shaped such that the user’s index ?nger is
`positioned to operate the top edge control.
`3. The controller of claim 2, Wherein at least one of the back
`controls replicates the function of one or more of the top edge
`control and the front control.
`4. The controller of claim 2, Wherein at least one of the back
`controls has functions in addition to the top edge control and
`the front control.
`5. The controller of claim 2, Wherein the top edge is sub
`stantially perpendicular to the front.
`
`The particular embodiment described below and illustrated
`by FIGS. 2 and 3 serves to further illustrate the invention, to
`provide those of ordinary skill in the art With a complete
`disclosure and description of the devices claimed herein, and
`is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. For
`example, the additional controls are described beloW as tWo
`paddle levers but the term “control” as used in the claims,
`unless otherWise made clear in the claim, refers to paddle
`levers as Well as other controls such as buttons, analogue
`control sticks, bumpers, and triggers.
`The game controller 10 according to the present invention
`is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The front of the game controller
`10 of FIGS. 2 and 3 is the same as a conventional controller 1,
`as illustrated in FIG. 1 and as discussed above. Therefore,
`Where appropriate the same reference numerals have been
`used to indicate the features of the controller according to the
`present invention 10 that are identical to the features of a
`conventional controller 1.
`Game controller 10 differs from the conventional control
`ler 1 in that it additionally comprises tWo paddle levers 11
`located on the back of the controller. The paddle levers 11 are
`vertically orientated With respect to the controller 10 and are
`positioned to be operated by the middle ?ngers of a user 12, as
`shoWn in FIG. 3.
`In one embodiment the paddles 11 are formed from a thin
`?exible material such as a plastics material for example poly
`30
`ethylene. Preferably, the paddles 11 are less than 10 mm
`thick, but may be less than 5 mm thick, and more preferably
`are 3 mm thick or less.
`The paddles 11 are inherently resilient, Which means that
`they return to an unbiased position When not under load. A
`35
`user may displace or depress either of the paddles 11 by
`engaging an outer surface thereof; such displacement causes
`the paddle 11 to activate a sWitch mechanism mounted Within
`the body of the controller 10. The paddles 11 are mounted
`Within recesses located on the case of the controller 10; and
`are disposed in close proximity to the outer surface of the
`controller body. In this Way a user may engage the paddles 11
`With the tips of the ?ngers, preferably the middle ?ngers,
`Without compromising the user’s grip on the controller 10.
`While the example shoWs the paddles 11 engaged by the
`middle ?ngers, they could also be engaged by the index, ring,
`or little ?ngers. The index ?ngers may also engage trigger
`style controls mounted on the top edge of the controller 10
`While the thumbs may be used to activate controls on the front
`of the controller 10.
`The paddles 11 are elongate in shape and substantially
`extend in a direction from the top edge to bottom edge of the
`controller 10. In one embodiment the paddles are orientated
`parallel With each other. In an alternative embodiment the
`paddles are orientated such that they converge toWards the top
`edge With respect to each other. This elongate shape alloWs a
`user to engage the paddles With any of the middle, ring, or
`little ?nger; it also provides that different users having differ
`ent siZe hands can engage With the paddles in a comfortable
`position thereby reducing the effects of prolonged or repeated
`use such as repetitive strain injury.
`In one embodiment, the paddle levers 11 replicate the
`functions of tWo of the four buttons 4 located on the front of
`the controller 10 and thereby alloW a user to operate the
`functions of the relevant buttons using his or her middle
`?ngers 12, Without the need to remove either of his or her
`thumbs from the left or right thumb stick 2, 3. In alternative
`
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`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1001
`
`p. 000006
`
`

`
`US 8,641,525 B2
`
`5
`6. The controller of claim 1, wherein each of the back
`controls is positioned to be operated by a middle ?nger of a
`user.
`7. The controller of claim 1, Wherein each elongate mem
`ber is mounted Within a recess located in the case of the
`controller.
`8. The controller of claim 7, Wherein each elongate mem
`ber comprises an outermost surface Which is disposed in close
`proximity to the outermost surface of the controller such that
`a user’s ?nger may be received in said respective recess.
`9. The controller of claim 1, Wherein each elongate mem
`ber has a thickness betWeen about 1 mm and 10 mm.
`10. The controller of claim 1, Wherein each elongate mem
`ber has a thickness betWeen about 1 mm and 5 mm.
`11. The controller of claim 1, Wherein each elongate mem
`ber has a thickness betWeen about 1 mm and 3 mm.
`12. The controller of claim 1, Wherein the elongate mem
`bers are parallel to one another.
`13. The controller of claim 1, Wherein the elongate mem
`bers converge toWards the front end of the controller With
`respect to one another.
`14. The controller of claim 1, Wherein a portion of at least
`one of the ?rst back control and the second back control is in
`registry With a sWitch mechanism disposed Within the con
`troller, such that displacement of the at least one back control
`activates the sWitch mechanism.
`
`20
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`6
`15. The controller of claim 1, Wherein a sWitch mechanism
`is disposed betWeen each of the elongate members and an
`outer surface of the back of the controller.
`16. The controller of claim 1, Wherein at least one of the
`back controls is a paddle lever.
`17. The controller of claim 1, Wherein at least one of the
`back controls is substantially parallel to the front of the con
`troller.
`18. The controller of claim 1, Wherein at least one of the
`back controls is formed as an integral part of the outer case.
`19. The controller of claim 1, Wherein at least one of the
`back controls is formed separate from the outer case of the
`controller.
`20. A hand held controller for a game console comprising:
`an outer case comprising a front, a back, a top edge, and a
`bottom edge, Wherein the back of the controller is oppo
`site the front of the controller and the top edge is oppo
`site the bottom edge;
`a front control located on the front of the controller,
`Wherein the controller is shaped to be held in the hand of
`a user such that the user’s thumb is positioned to operate
`the front control; and
`a ?rst back control and a second back control, each back
`control being located on the back of the controller and
`each back control including an elongate member that
`extends substantially the full distance betWeen the top
`edge and the bottom edge.
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1001
`
`p. 000007