Game controller with at least one detachable adjustable element having an adjustable controller pivot control stop angle

Abstract

The game controller has a housing and at least one control member (3) extending through the housing. The control member has a head (32) outside the housing for manipulating the control member (3), which is pivotable and adapted to be manually tilted in all directions from a rest position to which it has a rotational elastic recovery. The game controller also has at least one adjustment member (5A) for adjusting the stop angle (α) of the control member (3), the adjustment member (5A) being adapted to be detachably mounted on and removed from the control member (3) without disassembling the housing of the game controller; the control member (3) with the detachable adjustment member (5A) is adapted to be manually tilted to a stop position for each tilt direction, at which the adjustment member (5A) stops, locking the tilt of the control member (3).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of game controllers having at least one pivoting control tiltable in all directions, of the pivoting "joystick" type, in particular of the "gamepad" or "thumbpad" type. In this field, it relates to an improvement that makes it easy for the user of a game controller to vary the responsiveness of the pivoting control to make the controller better adapt to the type of game it is used to control. BACKGROUND

[0002] Currently, video games are generally controlled using a game controller having at least one pivoting control tiltable in all directions, of the pivoting "joystick" type, in particular of the "gamepad" or "thumbpad" type.

[0003] Generally, the pivoting control has a central rest position to which it is elastically returned in rotation, and is connected to displacement sensors that measure the degree of rotation of the control around two perpendicular axes relative to this rest position. The analog measurement signals delivered by these displacement sensors are automatically processed by the software loaded in the game controller, so that the manual actuation of this pivoting control by the game player allows interaction with the video game, for example to move a person or object in the video game.

[0004] In particular, to control a video game, a game controller is currently generally used that has two pivoting controls, generally called "gamepad", sometimes also called "thumbpad", which can be actuated independently of each other by the left and right thumbs of the game player holding the controller.

[0005] Such a game controller is described, for example, in the following publications: international patent applications WO2016 / 200548, WO2016 / 200615, WO2016 / 210586; US patents US9971420, US9710072, US9868058.

[0006] In fact, such a game controller has an assembly housing, generally in the form of at least two half-shells assembled together in any manner, for example by screwing and / or gluing and / or welding. This housing generally has ergonomic features to facilitate the game player's hand holding of the controller.

[0007] The electronic control means of the controller are received in said assembly housing. The electronic control means notably have:

[0008] - the above-mentioned displacement sensors, one or more electronic memories,

[0009] - a processor, suitable to automatically execute the software loaded, for example implementable by a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable electronic circuit of the FPGA type or a specific electronic circuit of the ASIC type,

[0010] - a connector, which enables the processor to communicate with a game console or equivalent.

[0011] For each pivoting control of the "joystick" type, the housing of the game controller has an opening through which the pivoting control passes.

[0012] In particular, each pivoting control has a pivoting base member, which passes through the opening of the housing, with its lower end received in the fitting housing and connected to a displacement sensor, and an ergonomic head for handling the pivoting control, for example a head whose upper surface can be concave or convex in the shape of a protuberance, or can be flat.

[0013] Initially, the pivoting base member and the head are designed to form a single integral assembly from only one piece or from several pieces permanently assembled together with each other.

[0014] Recently, in order to enable, in particular, the game player to choose the head of the control most suitable for him, the manufacturers of game controllers have proposed game controllers with easily replaceable multiple heads of pivoting controls of the "joystick" type. In this regard, reference can be made to the above-mentioned publications WO2016 / 200548 and WO2016 / 200615, which propose solutions of pivoting controls of the "joystick" type for game controllers, the head of the control being detachably mountable on the pivoting base member, the fitting means for fitting the head and the pivoting base member being of a mechanical type only, or at least partially of a magnetic type.

[0015] In the game controllers known at present, the pivoting controls of the "joystick" type, manually rotatable in all directions from their rest position, can be tilted up to an extreme position, hereinafter called "stop position", in which the pivoting control is stopped, its tilt being locked. For each tilt direction of the pivoting control, a stop angle of the pivoting control relative to its rest position can be defined. When the user releases the pivoting control, the control is elastically returned by a suitable mechanical return spring means to its rest position.

[0016] Generally, the rest position of the pivoting control is the central position, the stop angle value of the pivoting control being the same for all tilt directions of the control, approximately 38°, over 360°. However, it is possible to design a pivoting control for a game controller, which has at least two different angle values for different tilt directions.

[0017] Depending on the type of game controller, the stop position of the pivoting control can be obtained in different ways.

[0018] In a first known type of game controller, the stop position is obtained by using as a lower stopper the peripheral edge of the opening through which the pivoting control passes, or the inner edge of an attachment ring that surrounds the pivoting control and is fixed at the opening.

[0019] In a second known type of game controller, proposed in particular in the documents WO2016 / 200548 and WO2016 / 200615, the stop position is obtained by an ogival element that is received inside the game controller housing, is fixed to the pivoting control and is adapted to abut against an internal portion of the controller housing, acting as an upper stopper. This upper stopper is constituted, for example, by the internal portion of the housing in the vicinity of the opening through which the pivoting control passes, or by the internal portion of the housing of an attachment ring that surrounds the pivoting control and is fixed at the opening.

[0020] When playing certain video games, for example fighting games, it is desirable for the game player to be able to respond as quickly as possible, for which it is desirable to have a game controller that responds quickly, so as to allow it to bring the pivoting control as quickly as possible to the stop position in a tilted direction. When playing other types of video games, the speed with which the pivoting control is brought to the stop position is less critical, and therefore the responsiveness of the game controller used can be slower. SUMMARY

[0021] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The present invention therefore mainly aims to propose a new technical solution that makes it easy for the game player to quickly change the responsiveness of the game controller, in particular to adapt it to different types of video games.

[0023] The present invention in particular aims to propose a new technical solution that makes it easy for the game player to quickly increase the responsiveness of the game controller, in particular to make it more suitable for use in playing fighting video games. SUMMARY

[0025] The present invention therefore mainly aims to propose a new technical solution that makes it easy for the game player to quickly change the responsiveness of the game controller, in particular to adapt it to different types of video games.

[0026] According to the features of the invention, the control device further includes at least one adjusting member for adjusting the stop angle of the control member, the adjusting member being adapted to be detachably mounted on and removed from the control member without disassembling the assembly housing of the game controller; the control member with the detachable adjusting member is adapted to be manually tilted to a stop position for each tilt direction, at the stop position, the adjusting member stops, and the tilt of the control member can be locked.

[0027] In particular, the game controller of the present invention may have the following additional optional features, either individually or in combination:

[0028] - The head of the control element is removable; the adjustment element is adapted to be removably mounted on the control element when the head is removed.

[0029] - The adjustment element is a ring that is designed to be removably fitted onto a portion of the control element when the head is removed.

[0030] - The control element has an assembly end with an upper open cavity; a portion of the detachable head is adapted to be inserted into the cavity; and the adjustment element is adapted to be detachably mounted, preferably detachably fitted onto the assembly end when the head is removed.

[0031] - The adjusting element is adapted to be detachably mounted on the control element and axially locked between the head of the control element and another part of the control element.

[0032] - The value of the stop angle (α) is the same for all tilting directions of the control element. The stop angle is the tilt angle of the control element with adjustment relative to its resting position when tilted to the stop position.

[0033] - The value of the stop angle (α) is less than 90°, preferably between 20° and 70°. The stop angle is the tilt angle of the control member with adjustment relative to its rest position when tilted to the stop position.

[0034] - The stop angle (α) is the tilt angle of a pivoted control with an adjustment member tilted to the stop position relative to its rest position. The game controller has at least two different adjustment members, preferably at least three different adjustment members, each of which can lock the tilt of the control member at the stop position with a different stop angle (α) value for each same tilt direction.

[0035] - The game controller has an inner edge surrounding the control member and defining an opening in the assembly housing through which the control member is positioned, wherein the inner edge acts as a lower anti-rotation member when the control member with adjustment is tilted to a stop position.

[0036] - The game controller has an inner edge surrounding the control member and defining an opening in the assembly housing through which the control member (3) is positioned, wherein when an adjustment member is mounted on the control member, the adjustment member is positioned through the opening, a portion of the adjustment member is received within the assembly housing, and another portion of the adjustment member is positioned outside the assembly housing.

[0037] - Each adjusting element is a cylindrical adjusting ring.

[0038] - The outer surface of each cylindrical adjusting ring forms a straight cylinder with a circular cross-section over at least a portion of the height of the adjusting ring.

[0039] - The game controller has at least two different adjustment elements, preferably at least three different adjustment elements, each adjustment element being composed of an adjustment ring, the outer surface of which forms a straight cylinder with a circular cross-section on at least a portion of the height of the adjustment ring; wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion with a circular cross-section on the outer surface of each adjustment ring is different.

[0040] - Each adjusting ring has the same inner cross-section, especially the same inner diameter, and preferably each adjusting ring has the same height.

[0041] - A portion of the pivoting control is received and secured within the assembly housing. The game controller has a sensor positioned within the assembly housing to measure the degree of rotation of the pivoting control.

[0042] The present invention also relates to an adjustment member for adjusting the stop angle of a pivoting control member of a game controller, the game controller having a mounting housing through which the control member passes, the control member having a head outside the mounting housing for manipulating the control member, the control member being adapted to be manually tilted in all directions from a rest position to a stop position via rotational elastic recovery. The adjustment member for adjusting the stop angle of the pivoting control member is adapted to be detachably mounted on and removed from the control member without disassembling the mounting housing of the game controller.

[0043] In particular, the adjusting element may have the following additional optional features, either individually or in combination:

[0044] - The adjustment mechanism for the game controller consists of a detachable adjustment ring.

[0045] - The adjustment element for the game controller consists of a detachable adjustment ring, the outer surface of which forms a straight cylinder with a circular cross-section over at least a portion of the height of the adjustment ring.

[0046] The present invention also relates to an assembly having at least two, preferably at least three, of the aforementioned adjustment members for a game controller, wherein the adjustment members are different and each adjustment member can lock the rotation of the controller at a stop position with a different stop angle (α) value for each identical tilt direction of the controller.

[0047] In particular, the components may have the following additional optional features, either individually or in combination:

[0048] - The adjusting components are each composed of adjusting rings, and the outer surface of the adjusting rings forms a straight cylinder with a circular cross-section on at least a portion of the height of the adjusting rings; and the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion with a circular cross-section on the outer surface of each adjusting ring is different.

[0049] - Each adjusting ring has the same inner cross-section, especially the same inner diameter, and preferably each adjusting ring has the same height.

[0050] The present invention also relates to an adjustment method for adjusting the stop angle of a pivoting control component of the aforementioned game controller. The adjustment method includes installing a detachable adjustment component onto the control component without disassembling the game controller's mounting housing, such that the control component with the detachable adjustment component is suitable for manual tilting in each tilt direction until a stop position is reached. At the stop position, the adjustment component stops, locking the tilt angle of the control component.

[0051] In particular, the control component has a detachable head; in order to install the adjustment component, the detachable head of the control component is removed in advance, and once the adjustment component is installed, the detachable head of the control component is reset. Attached Figure Description

[0052] The features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of several specific embodiments of the invention as examples which are non-limiting and non-exclusive, and in accordance with the invention.

[0053] Figure 1 This is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of a game controller according to the present invention;

[0054] Figure 2 An exploded view of an embodiment of a pivot control and a thin adjusting ring detachably adapted to the pivot control;

[0055] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The cross-sectional view of the pivot control shown illustrates that, when the pivot control is assembled through the opening of the cylindrical insert fixed to the game controller housing, the pivot control is equipped with... Figure 2 The removable thin adjustment ring shown is located on the game controller housing. Figure 3Not shown above, Figure 2 The lower pivot base component of the pivot control shown is in Figure 3 Not shown above, the pivot control is in its rest position;

[0056] Figure 4 It is a cross-sectional view, showing Figure 3 The pivot control shown is equipped with a thin adjusting ring and tilted to the stop position;

[0057] Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional view, showing Figure 3 The pivot control shown is equipped with a thick adjusting ring and tilts to the stop position;

[0058] Figure 6A yes Figure 3 and 4 A top view of the thin adjusting ring;

[0059] Figure 6B It has the ability to Figure 6A The thickness of the thin ring and Figure 6C Top view of the adjustment ring with intermediate thickness between the thicknesses of the thick rings;

[0060] Figure 6C yes Figure 5 Top view of the thick adjustment ring. Detailed Implementation

[0061] Figure 1 The image shows a specific embodiment of a game controller 1, which has a housing 2 and a control device, particularly having two pivoting control members 3: one pivoting member 3 located on the left side of the game controller 1 and the other pivoting member 3 located on the right side of the game controller 1.

[0062] As is known, the assembly housing 2 has an upper housing 2a, which is assembled to the lower housing 2b by any means, such as mechanically using screws or equivalents, and / or by adhesive bonding and / or welding.

[0063] In this specific embodiment, the housing 2 has an ergonomic shape that is suitable for gamers to hold in both hands.

[0064] Each pivot control element 3 passes through an opening 20 in the upper housing 2a, specifically a circular opening 20.

[0065] In particular, in this specific embodiment, reference is made to Figure 1 and 3In a non-limiting manner according to the invention, at each circular opening 20 of the upper housing 2a, the game controller 1 has a cylindrical tubular insert 4, which is installed in and fixed to the upper housing 2a. The upper part of the insert 4 is provided with a ring 40, the inner edge 40a of which defines a circular opening 40b. Figure 3 The diameter of the circular opening 40b is smaller than the diameter of the opening 20 of the housing 2. When the tubular insert 4 is installed and fixed in the circular opening 20 of the upper housing 2a of the game controller 1, the circular opening 40b of the tubular insert 4 is centered relative to the opening 20.

[0066] In another embodiment, the game controller may omit the tubular insert 4 and / or the ring 40. Without the ring 40, the aforementioned inner edge 40a is replaced by the inner edge of the opening 20 in the upper housing 2a of the game controller. In another embodiment, the ring 40 may be an integral part of the upper housing 2a, or it may be an attachment member that is permanently or detachably fixed to the tubular insert 4, or directly fixed to the opening 20 of the upper housing 2a.

[0067] exist Figure 1 In a specific embodiment, each pivot control 3 is a "game joystick" type, positioned near the edge of the housing 2, so that gamers holding the game controller can easily operate it with their left or right thumb.

[0068] Each pivot control element 3 of the game controller 1 is composed of a single assembly formed by multiple components 30, 31, and 32, now referring to... Figure 2 and 3 These components are described, and each pivot control is also equipped with a cylindrical, removable adjusting ring 5A.

[0069] Pivot control unit 3

[0070] Component 30 of each pivot control element 3 ( Figure 2 The base component 30 is used for mounting and permanently securing itself relative to the housing 2 of the game controller. This base component 30 for each pivot control 3 is known and will therefore be briefly described below.

[0071] Reference Figure 2 The base member 30 has a cylindrical shaft (“rod”) 300 with a central axis 300a, which is pivotally mounted relative to the housing 301. This cylindrical pivot shaft 300 is adapted to... Figure 1 and 2The shown rotational elastic return to the central rest position is manually tilted in all directions relative to the housing 301. The elastic return device that causes the shaft 300 to rotate elastically back to the central rest position is known and will not be described in detail. This spring-type elastic return device is housed within the housing 301.

[0072] Additionally, the pivot shaft 300 is typically connected to an analog displacement sensor, such as a potentiometric sensor, housed within a housing 301. This sensor measures the rotation angle of the shaft 300 about two reference rotation axes, which are perpendicular to each other. Figure 2 The resting positions shown define a plane perpendicular to the central axis 300a of shaft 300. These sensors are known to transmit analog measurement signals characterizing the instantaneous values ​​of the angles formed by the central axis 300a of shaft 300 about each reference rotation axis relative to the resting position of axis 300a.

[0073] The base component 30 is installed and fixed inside the housing 2 of the game controller 1, such that, on the one hand, its box 301 is fully received inside and fixed to the housing 2, and on the other hand, its pivot axis 300 is positioned perpendicular to the circular opening 40b of the aforementioned tubular insert 4 and is centered relative to the circular opening 40b.

[0074] Each pivot control element 3 has a component 31 that is a symmetrical, rigid protective member, having:

[0075] -In the lower dome-shaped canopy 310, and

[0076] - The upper cylindrical assembly end 311 is centered relative to the lower dome cover 310, and the central axis of symmetry of the dome cover 310 coincides with the central axis of symmetry of the cylindrical end 311.

[0077] In particular, the cylindrical assembly end 311 has a cavity 311a open at the top. Figure 2 and 3 The cavity is defined by a bottom wall 311b and preferably cylindrical side walls 311c. The bottom wall has a central protrusion 311d. Figure 3 The sidewall 311c has preferably radially opposite mounting holes 311e.

[0078] Reference Figure 3The protective member 31 also has a central cylindrical slot 312 at its lower part. The dimensions of the central cylindrical slot 312 are determined to allow the pivot shaft 300 of the base member 30 to be tightly fitted into the slot 312. The cross-section of the cylindrical slot 312 and the cross-section of the pivot shaft 300 are not circular, but are chosen to prevent the pivot shaft 300 from rotating about its central axis within the slot 312. The member 31 is simply installed by axially fitting the member 31 onto the pivot shaft 300 of the base member 30.

[0079] The dome cover 310 of the protective member 31 is sized such that its maximum outer diameter is greater than the diameter of the opening 40b of the tubular insert 4. The dome cover of the member 31 can partially close the opening 40b of the tubular insert 4 without hindering the pivoting of the shaft 300 of the base member 30, thereby particularly preventing accidental insertion of foreign bodies or objects into the mounting housing 2, and also improving the aesthetic appearance of the game controller 1.

[0080] Component 32 forms the head of the pivot control component 3, and once installed, component 32 is positioned outside the assembly housing. Figure 1 The geometry and size of the head 32 are suited to allow gamers to operate the pivot control 3 preferably with one of their two thumbs.

[0081] In particular, the head 32 is detachable so that users can easily and quickly install or remove the head, especially without removing the housing 2 of the game controller 1.

[0082] In this specific embodiment, the head 32 is composed of sub-components 321 and 322.

[0083] Sub-component 321 is a symmetrical integral part having a central axis of symmetry 321a, such as an injection-molded part. Sub-component 321 has a generally disc-shaped upper portion 3210 and a cylindrical lower portion 3211, the cylindrical lower portion 3211 being oriented perpendicular to the disc-shaped upper portion 3210 and centered relative to the disc-shaped upper portion 3210.

[0084] Sub-component 322 is disc-shaped and designed for contact with the player's thumb. Sub-component 322 is generally overmolded onto the disc-shaped upper portion 3210 of sub-component 321, or can be permanently and securely fixed to the disc-shaped upper portion 3210 of sub-component 321 in any way.

[0085] The sub-component 322 may be made of rubber, for example, to improve adhesion to the user's thumb.

[0086] The upper surface 322a of the sub-component 322 can, for example, be curved or concave, such as... Figure 3 As shown. In another variation, the upper surface 322a of the sub-component 322 may, for example, be raised in a convex shape, or may be planar.

[0087] The cylindrical lower portion 3211 of the sub-component 321 of the head 32 is elastically deformable to allow it to elastically engage with the cylindrical mounting end 311 of the protective member 31.

[0088] In particular, Figure 2 and 3 In the specific embodiment shown, the cylindrical lower portion 3211 of the head 32 has radially opposing claws 3211a, each claw being equipped with an external mounting protrusion 3211b. Each mounting protrusion 3211b can be pressed in under mechanical stress and can elastically recover when there is no mechanical stress. Figure 2 The head 32 is shown in its resting position, where it protrudes outward from the claw 3211a. The cylindrical lower part 3211 of the head 32 also has a lower opening 3211c, which is adapted to the geometry of the protrusion 311d of the protective member 31.

[0089] To assemble the head 32 with the protective component 31 ( Figure 3 To insert the head 32, simply manually axially insert the lower cylindrical portion 3211 of the head 32 into the cylindrical cavity 311a of the cylindrical mounting end 311 of the protective member 31, until the protruding pin 311d at the bottom of the cylindrical cavity 311a enters the slot 3211c. This will ultimately prevent the head 32 from rotating relative to the protective member 31. During this axial insertion, each protruding pin 3211b is slightly pressed into the claw 3211a until each protruding pin 3211b is positioned facing the mounting hole 311e of the cylindrical mounting end 311 and enters the mounting hole 311e. Figure 3 (configuration), so that the head 32 can be axially locked relative to the protective member 31.

[0090] The elasticity of the mounting pin 3211b also allows the cylindrical lower portion 3211 of the head 32 to be radially engaged relative to the cylindrical mounting end 311. This radial engagement is large enough to prevent the head 32 from accidentally disengaging from the protective member 31. Conversely, this radial engagement is small enough to allow the user to intentionally remove the head 32 from the protective member 31 by manually pulling the head 32 axially with sufficient force to press the mounting pin 3211b into the claw 3211a under the action of this axial pulling force, thereby allowing the pin 3211b to disengage from its corresponding mounting hole 311e.

[0091] Therefore, the head 32 is easily and quickly disassembled manually by the gamer, thus allowing the user to easily and quickly place the detachable adjustment ring 5A on the controller 1 when necessary, or to easily and quickly remove the detachable adjustment ring 5A from the game controller 1 without disassembling the housing 2 of the game controller 1.

[0092] Removable Adjustable Ring 5A

[0093] Each pivot control element 3 is equipped with a removable, rigid cylindrical adjusting ring 5A with a height H.

[0094] The material of the adjusting ring 5A is irrelevant to this invention.

[0095] In this specific embodiment, the adjusting ring 5A has an outer surface 50 that forms a straight cylinder with a circular cross-section over the entire height H of the ring 5A.

[0096] In another implementation variation, the outer surface 50 of the adjusting ring 5A may be formed as a straight cylinder with a circular cross-section only on a portion of the ring's height H.

[0097] The inner cross-section of ring 5A, especially the inner diameter D. in ( Figure 6A The minimum clearance is selected to allow the ring 5A to slide axially on the mounting end 311 of the component 31, so that the ring 5A can be mounted on the mounting end 311 of the component 31. Therefore, the adjusting ring 5A can be detachably fitted onto the mounting end 311 of the protective component 31 without being fixed to the protective component 31.

[0098] As will be more clearly shown later, the outer diameter D of this cylindrical adjusting ring out ( Figure 6A , 6B The selection of 6C) allows adjustment of the stop angle of pivot 3.

[0099] Installation and assembly of pivot control components and removable adjusting rings

[0100] The installation and assembly of the pivot control 3, equipped with a removable adjusting ring, are carried out, for example, as follows.

[0101] Each base component 30, assembled with the associated protective component 31, is fixed in a predetermined position in one of the upper housing 2a and the lower housing 2b, and is electrically connected to the electronic control circuit of the game controller for reception within the housing 2.

[0102] This electronic control circuit is particularly capable of automatically processing measurement signals sent by the rotational displacement sensor of the pivot control element 3. The electronic control circuit may have one or more electronic memories, a processor, and one or more connectors. The processor is adapted to automatically execute loaded software and may be implemented, for example, by a microprocessor, microcontroller, FPGA-type programmable electronic circuit, or ASIC-type specific electronic circuit. The connectors enable the processor to communicate with a game console or equivalent.

[0103] Then, the upper half-shell 2a, which is equipped with a tubular insert 4 at each opening 20, is positioned on the lower half-shell 2b such that the shaft 300 of each pivot control member 30, which is in a central rest position and carries the protective member 31, is vertically oriented and centered relative to the circular opening 40b of the tubular insert 4. Finally, the two half-shells 2a, 2b are assembled together, for example, with screws.

[0104] Once the two half-shells 2a and 2b are assembled to form the shell 2 of the game controller 1, as follows: Figure 3 As shown, the cylindrical assembly end 311 of the protective member 31, which is centered relative to the circular opening 40b of the tubular insert 4, preferably passes through the opening 40b of the insert and protrudes outside the assembly housing 2, such that it is at least partially located outside the assembly housing 2 and is easily accessible from outside the assembly housing.

[0105] The above assembly process is carried out in the factory.

[0106] The user can easily and quickly configure the game controller 1 obtained at the end of the above assembly process as follows: select an adjustment ring, such as a thin adjustment ring 5A, which has a specific outer diameter Dout that defines the stop angle of the pivot control 3; and detachably fit the adjustment ring onto the cylindrical mounting end 311 of the protective member 31.

[0107] Once the adjusting ring is installed, the user simply inserts the detachable head 32 into the cylindrical mounting end 311 of the protective member 31, as previously described. Once the head 32 is inserted into the protective member 31 ( Figure 3 The adjusting ring is axially locked between the upper surface 310a of the dome cover 310 of the protective member 31 and the detachable head 32.

[0108] Stop angle of pivot control element 3

[0109] The central axis of symmetry of the tubular insert 4, that is, the central axis of symmetry of the circular opening 40b in this specific embodiment, is... Figure 3 The upper part is marked A, wherein the upper ring 40 of the insert 4 defines a circular opening 40b in the assembly housing 2.

[0110] In Figure 3 Above, the pivot control 3, equipped with its adjusting ring 5A, is in its central rest position, and its axis of symmetry 3a coincides with the central axis of symmetry A of the circular opening 40b in this central rest position.

[0111] As mentioned earlier, the user of game controller 1 can... Figure 3The control element is tilted at the central rest position, and can be manually pivoted in all directions. This control element 3, equipped with its adjustment ring 5A, is also adjustable. When the user of the game controller 1 releases the control element 3, it springs back to its original position. Figure 3 The central resting position is shown.

[0112] Regardless of its tilt direction, the control element 3, equipped with its adjusting ring 5A, can pivot. Figure 4 / Rotate R) until, for example, as shown Figure 4 The stop position is shown. In this stop position, the adjusting ring 5A stops, and therefore, the tilt angle of the pivot control 3 is locked. Therefore, the adjusting ring 5A can adjust the maximum stroke of the pivot control 3.

[0113] exist Figure 4 Specifically, the inner edge 40a of the ring 40 surrounds the control member 3 around its entire periphery. In the stop position of the control member 3, which is equipped with its adjusting ring 5A, the control member 3 rests against the inner edge 40a of the ring 40 via the adjusting ring 5A, and the inner edge 40a of the ring 40 functions as a downward anti-rotation member.

[0114] The stop position of the control element 3 equipped with its adjusting ring 5A is characterized by the stop angle α. Figure 4 ), which corresponds to the maximum angle formed by the two central axes of symmetry A and 3a with respect to a given tilt direction of the control element 3.

[0115] In the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, but not in a limiting way, the value of the stop angle α is preferably the same for all tilting directions of the control member 3 equipped with its adjustment ring.

[0116] In another implementation variation, the value of the stop angle α may be different for at least two different tilting directions of the control member 3 equipped with its adjustment ring, and / or the geometry of the opening 40b is not necessarily circular, but may be, for example, polygonal or elliptical, and / or the resting position is not necessarily the central position.

[0117] Typically, the stop angle of the pivot control 3 of the game controller is less than 90°, usually between 20° and 70°.

[0118] Figure 5 The diagram shows an embodiment variation in which the pivot control 3 is equipped with a cylindrical adjusting ring 5C, the height H of which is the same as the height of the ring 5A, but the ring is thicker than the thin ring 5A, therefore its outer diameter D is... out ( Figure 6C The outer diameter of the thin ring 5A is greater than that of the outer diameter of the thin ring 5A. In this case, the stop angle α is adjusted to a value smaller than the stop angle obtained using the thin ring 5A.

[0119] Therefore, the value of the stopping angle α depends on the outer diameter D of the cylindrical adjusting ring used. out The larger the outer diameter, the smaller the stopping angle α will be, and vice versa.

[0120] Preferably, the controller user has multiple detachable adjustment rings for each pivot control element 3, such as, for example, respectively Figure 6A , 6B The cylindrical adjusting rings 5A, 5B, and 5C shown in 6C are available. Figure 6A , 6B The cylindrical adjusting rings 5A, 5B, and 5C shown in Figures 6C and 6C have the same inner cross-section, and in particular, the same inner diameter D. in However, they have different thicknesses E, and therefore different outer diameters D. out These cylindrical adjusting rings 5A, 5B, and 5C preferably have the same height H.

[0121] The thinnest ring 5A allows for the largest stop angle α value, for example, a stop angle of 46°. The thickest adjusting ring 5C allows for the smallest stop angle α value, for example, a stop angle of 30°. The intermediate thickness ring 5B allows for an intermediate stop angle α value, for example, a stop angle α of 38°.

[0122] The smaller the stopping angle α, the greater the responsiveness of the pivot control 3 of the game controller, and vice versa.

[0123] With the aid of adjustment rings 5A, 5B, and 5C, the user of the controller can advantageously and very easily adjust the responsiveness of the pivot control 3 of their game controller 1, especially to make this responsiveness more suitable for the type of game they want to play. The user only needs to manually remove the removable head 32 of the pivot control 3, remove the adjustment ring present on the control 3 if necessary, put a new adjustment ring 5A, 5B, or 5C corresponding to the user's desired responsiveness of the pivot control 3 onto the protective member 31, and reset the removable head 32. All these operations are advantageously easy to perform by the user without disassembling the mounting housing 2 of the game controller 1.

[0124] Therefore, when a user of the game controller desires a more responsive controller, such as for playing combat games, the user can choose to equip each pivot control 3 of their game controller 1 with an adjustment ring 5C that allows for a minimum stop angle α. When a user of the game controller desires a less responsive game controller, the user can choose to equip each pivot control 3 of their game controller 1 with an adjustment ring 5B or 5A that allows for a larger stop angle α value.

[0125] Other implementation variations (non-restrictive table)

[0126] This invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0127] In particular, the present invention is not limited to the specific structure and dimensions of the sub-components 321 and 322 forming the head 32 as shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0128] The invention is not limited to implementing the head 32 as two assembly parts 321 and 322. In another variation, the head 32 may have more than two assembly parts, or may be made into a single part, such as an injection-molded part.

[0129] The head 32 is not necessarily specifically designed for thumb manipulation; the invention is generally extendable to any pivot control 3 that can be manually operated, and especially regardless of the structure, geometry, size, and constituent materials of the head 32 of the control 3. For example, the control 3 may be a game joystick-type pivot "joystick" that can be held with two fingers or the whole hand.

[0130] The assembly device for assembling the detachable head 32 may differ from the aforementioned assembly device. The detachable head may be assembled, for example, by screwing or using a magnet or equivalent.

[0131] In another variation, the cylindrical mounting end 311 of the protective member 31 (or another member of the control member 3) can be adapted to fit into the tubular lower portion 3211 of the detachable head 32, in which case an adjustment ring is used to fit onto the tubular lower portion 3211 of the head 32.

[0132] In another variation, the head 32 is not necessarily removable. In this case, the adjusting ring for adjusting the stop angle can, for example, be two separate parts that can be assembled together, so that the adjusting ring can be mounted on the pivot control without removing the housing 2 or the head 32 of the pivot control. For example, the adjusting ring can be composed of two semi-cylindrical portions, which can be assembled on the control by magnetization to form the adjusting ring; the two semi-cylindrical portions can be magnetized, or the pivot control 3 can be magnetized, and the two semi-cylindrical portions can be made of a ferromagnetic material such as metal. The two semi-cylindrical portions can also be assembled with each other in any other way, such as by screwing, clipping, or interlocking, so that they can be separated from each other.

[0133] The protective member 31 in the embodiment shown in the figures is optional and can be removed. In this case, the head 32 of the pivot control member is designed to be directly assembled onto the pivot axis 300 of the base member 30 without the need for the intermediate part 31.

[0134] In this invention, the detachable adjusting members 5A, 5B, and 5C preferably have an outer surface 50, which forms a straight cylinder with a circular cross-section.

[0135] In another variation, the cross-section of the outer surface 50 may not be circular; for example, it may be polygonal or elliptical.

[0136] This invention is not limited to using adjustment rings 5A, 5B, and 5C with circular inner cross-sections. The geometry of the inner cross-section of adjustment rings 5A, 5B, and 5C is irrelevant to this invention; the inner cross-section can be, for example, a polygon (triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon, etc.).

[0137] In another embodiment, the adjusting element may consist of detachable cylindrical adjusting rings adapted to be coaxially nested with each other to obtain a detachable adjusting element whose outer diameter depends on the number of coaxial rings. The more adjusting rings coaxially mounted on the pivot control relative to each other, the smaller the value of the pivot control's stop angle α, and vice versa.

Claims

1. A game controller (1) having an assembly housing (2) and control means having at least one control member (3) which passes through the assembly housing (2) and which has outside the assembly housing (2) a detachable head (32) for manipulating the control member (3), the control member being pivotable and adapted to be manually tilted in all directions from a rest position which is resiliently returned to, characterised in that, The control has an assembly end (311) having a cavity (311a) open at the top; a portion of the removable head (32) is adapted to be removably inserted into said cavity (311a); the control device further has at least one rigid adjustment element (5A; 5B; 5C) for adjusting the stop angle (a) of the control (3), which is adapted to be removably mounted on the assembly end (311) of the control (3) when the head (32) is removed and to be removed from the assembly end (311) of the control (3) without the need to disassemble the assembly housing (2) of the game controller (1); and the control (3) with the removable rigid adjustment element (5A; 5B; 5C) is adapted to be manually tilted for each tilting direction until a stop position in which the rigid adjustment element (5A; 5B; 5C) stops, locking the tilt of the control (3).

2. The game controller of claim 1, wherein, The rigid adjustment element (5A; 5B; 5C) is a rigid ring adapted to be removably fitted onto a portion of the control (3) when the head (32) is removed.

3. The game controller of claim 1, wherein, The rigid adjustment element (5A; 5B; 5C) is adapted to be removably mounted on the control (3), axially locked between the head (32) of the control (3) and another portion of the control (3).

4. The game controller of claim 1, wherein, The value of the stop angle (a) is the same for all tilting directions of the control (3), the stop angle being the angle of tilt of the control (3) with the rigid adjustment element (5A; 5B; 5C) tilted to the stop position with respect to its rest position.

5. The game controller of claim 1, wherein, The value of the stop angle (a) is less than 90°, the stop angle being the angle of tilt of the control (3) with the rigid adjustment element (5A; 5B; 5C) tilted to the stop position with respect to its rest position.

6. The game controller of claim 1, wherein, The stop angle (a) is the angle of tilt of the pivoting control (3) with the rigid adjustment element (5A; 5B; 5C) tilted to the stop position with respect to its rest position, the game controller having at least two different rigid adjustment elements which can respectively lock the tilt of the control (3) in the stop position with different values of the stop angle for each same tilting direction.

7. The game controller of claim 1, wherein, The game controller has an inner edge (40a) which surrounds the control (3), defining an opening (40b) in the assembly housing (2) through which the control (3) is positioned, wherein said inner edge (40a) acts as a lower stop when the control (3) with the rigid adjustment element (5A; 5B; 5C) is tilted to the stop position.

8. The game controller of claim 1, wherein, The game controller has an inner edge (40a) which surrounds the control member (3) and defines an opening (40b) in the fitting housing (2) through which the control member (3) is positioned, wherein, when a rigid adjustment member is mounted on the control member (3), the rigid adjustment member (5A; 5B; 5C) is positioned through the opening (40b), a portion of the rigid adjustment member (5A; 5B; 5C) being received in the fitting housing (2) and another portion of the rigid adjustment member (5A; 5B; 5C) being positioned outside the fitting housing (2).

9. The game controller of claim 1, wherein, Each rigid adjustment member is a cylindrical rigid adjustment ring.

10. The game controller of claim 9, wherein, The outer surface (50) of each cylindrical rigid adjustment ring forms a straight cylinder with a circular cross section over at least a portion of the height (H) of the rigid adjustment ring.

11. The game controller of claim 1, wherein, The game controller has at least two different rigid adjustment elements, which are respectively formed by rigid adjustment rings, the outer surface (50) of the rigid adjustment ring forms a straight cylinder with a circular cross section on at least a part of the height (H) of the rigid adjustment ring; wherein the outer diameter (D out ) of the cylindrical part with a circular cross section of the outer surface (50) of each rigid adjustment ring is different.

12. The game controller of claim 11, wherein, The rigid adjustment rings have the same inner cross section.

13. The game controller of claim 1, wherein, A portion of the pivoting control member (3) is received and fixed in the fitting housing (2), the game controller having a sensor positioned in the fitting housing (2) which measures the degree of rotation of the pivoting control member (3).

14. The game controller of claim 1, wherein, The rigid adjustment member (5A; 5B; 5C) is adapted to be detachably fitted onto the fitting end head (311) when the head (32) is removed.

15. The game controller of claim 5, wherein, The value of the stop angle (a) is between 20° and 70°.

16. The game controller of claim 6, wherein, The game controller has at least three different rigid adjustment members (5A; 5B; 5C).

17. The game controller of claim 12, wherein, Each rigid adjustment ring has the same inner diameter (D in ).

18. The game controller of claim 12, wherein, The rigid adjustment rings have the same height (H).

19. An adjustment method for adjusting the rest angle (a) of a control member (3) of a game controller (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that, The adjustment method comprises: removing the detachable head; mounting the detachable rigid adjustment member (5A; 5B; 5C) onto the fitting end head (311) of the control member (3) without having to dismount the fitting housing (2) of the game controller (1), so that the control member (3) with another detachable rigid adjustment member (5A; 5B; 5C) is adapted to be manually tilted for each tilting direction until a stop position in which the rigid adjustment member (5A; 5B; 5C) stops and the degree of tilting of the control member (3) can be locked; and mounting the detachable head onto the fitting end head (311) by inserting a portion of the detachable head (32) into the open cavity (311a) of the fitting end head.

Images