Game controller

Abstract

To efficiently arrange an input part on a controller.SOLUTION: A game controller can be attached to a main body device capable of executing game processing and having a main body device side slide member. The game controller comprises a controller side slide member. The controller side slide member is disposed to protrude from a prescribed surface of the game controller, and can be slidably engaged to the main body device side slide member in a prescribed slide direction. The controller side slide member comprises: a lower stage surface whose orientation is substantially equal to an orientation of the prescribed surface, which has relatively short distance between the lower stage surface and the prescribed surface, and which is disposed in a range from one end to the other end in a direction substantially vertical to the slide direction; and an upper stage surface which has relatively long distance between the upper stage surface and the prescribed surface. The game controller has a first operation part. The first operation part is disposed on the lower stage surface, and is disposed not to protrude longer than the upper stage surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a game controller.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a controller capable of holding an information processing device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). For example, there is a controller that holds a mobile phone by sandwiching the mobile phone between left and right key plates. This controller is provided with button keys on the upper surface.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above controller, it is desired to arrange buttons and the like efficiently.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a controller capable of efficiently arranging an input unit and the like.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following configuration.

[0007] An example of the present invention is a game controller that can execute game processing and can be attached to a main body device having a main body device side slide member. The game controller includes a direction input unit, a first operation button, a second operation button, and a controller side slide member. The direction input unit is provided on the front surface of the game controller. The first operation button is provided on the front surface. The second operation button is provided on the first side surface with respect to the front surface. The controller side slide member is provided so as to protrude from the second side surface with respect to the front surface, and can be slidably engaged with the main body device side slide member in a predetermined slide direction. By inserting the controller side slide member into the main body device side slide member from one end of the controller side slide member in the slide direction, the game controller can be attached to the main body device. The game controller includes a locking member. The locking member locks the slide movement of the controller side slide member with respect to the main body device side slide member in a direction opposite to the direction in which the controller side slide member is inserted into the main body device side slide member. The locking member can protrude from the second side surface of the game controller or from a side surface of the controller side slide member substantially perpendicular to the second side surface, and is provided at a portion closer to the other end side than the one end of the controller side slide member in the slide direction. The controller side slide member includes a protruding portion and at least one terminal. The protruding portion is provided so as to protrude in the slide direction from one end side of the controller side slide member, and has an opposing surface facing the second side surface of the game controller. The at least one terminal is provided between the opposing surface and the second side surface, and can be electrically connected to the main body device. The game controller includes a third operation button and a fourth operation button, and a communication unit. The third operation button and the fourth operation button are provided on a surface of the controller side slide member that faces substantially the same direction as the second side surface. The communication unit transmits information representing operations on at least the direction input unit, the first operation button, and the second operation button to the main body device via the terminal.

[0008] The controller-side slide member may have a lower surface and an upper surface as surfaces facing substantially the same direction as the second side surface. The distance from the lower surface to the second side surface may be shorter than the distance from the upper surface to the second side surface. The third operation button and the fourth operation button may be provided on the lower surface.

[0009] The third operation button and the fourth operation button may be provided so as not to protrude more than the upper surface.

[0010] The controller-side slide member may have a first lower surface on one end side from the center in the slide direction and a second lower surface on the other end side from the center in the slide direction. The third operation button may be provided on the first lower surface. The fourth operation button may be provided on the second lower surface.

[0011] The game controller may further include a light-emitting unit provided between the third operation button and the fourth operation button on the upper surface for notifying the user of information.

[0012] The controller-side slide member may have an inclined surface connecting the lower surface and the upper surface.

[0013] The terminal may be provided on the opposing surface.

[0014] The terminal may be provided such that at least a part of the terminal is located within a slit provided on the opposing surface.

[0015] The protruding portion may have a wall portion protruding from the opposing surface toward the second side surface on one side or both sides of the terminal in a direction substantially perpendicular to the slide direction on the opposing surface.

[0016] The terminal may be provided such that the tip of the terminal is closer to the center of the controller-side slide member than the tip of the protruding portion in the slide direction.

[0017] The protruding portion may have a shape in which the end portion in the sliding direction becomes thinner toward the tip of the protruding portion.

[0018] The controller-side sliding member may have a flat end face on the other end.

[0019] The locking member may be movable between a first position and a second position. The locking member in the first position may protrude from at least one of the second side surface of the game controller and the side surface of the controller-side sliding member more than in the state where the locking member is in the second position. The locking member may be biased so as to be in the protruding state in the first position.

[0020] The game controller may further include a movable member. The movable member is movable by an operation by the user and moves the locking member from the first position to the second position in response to being operated by the user.

[0021] The movable member may be provided on the back surface of the front surface.

[0022] Another example of the present invention is a game controller that can execute game processing and is attachable to a main body device including a main body device-side sliding member. The game controller includes a controller-side sliding member. The controller-side sliding member is provided to protrude from a predetermined surface of the game controller and can be slidably engaged with the main body device-side sliding member in a predetermined sliding direction. The controller-side sliding member has a lower surface and an upper surface provided from one end to the other end in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction, which is a surface substantially in the same direction as the predetermined surface. The distance from the lower surface to the predetermined surface is shorter than the distance from the upper surface to the predetermined surface. The game controller includes a first operation unit. The first operation unit is provided on the lower surface.

[0023] The first operation unit may be provided so as not to protrude more than the upper surface.

[0024] The controller-side slide member may have a first lower surface on one end side from the center in the slide direction and a second lower surface on the other end side from the center in the slide direction. The first operation unit may include a first input unit provided on the first lower surface and a second input unit provided on the second lower surface.

[0025] The game controller may further include a light-emitting unit for notifying the user of information. The light-emitting unit may be provided between the first input unit and the second input unit on the upper surface.

[0026] The controller-side slide member may have an inclined surface connecting the lower surface and the upper surface.

[0027] The game controller may be attachable to the main body device when the controller-side slide member engages with the main body device-side slide member. The game controller may include a light-emitting unit for notifying the user of information and a light-emitting control unit. The light-emitting unit may be provided on the upper surface. The light-emitting control unit controls the light-emitting unit to be in a light-emitting state on the condition that the game controller is not attached to the main body device, and controls the light-emitting unit to be in a non-light-emitting state when the game controller is attached to the main body device.

[0028] The game controller may further include a second operation unit provided on a surface of the game controller different from the predetermined surface.

[0029] The second operation unit may be provided on the front surface of the game controller. The predetermined surface may be a side surface with respect to the front surface.

[0030] Another example of the present invention may be an information processing apparatus to which the game controller can be attached, or may be an operating system (also referred to as an information processing system) including the game controller and the information processing apparatus. Another example of the present invention may be a method executed in the information processing system. Another example of the present invention may be an information processing program that causes a computer to execute some of the processes executed in the information processing system, the information processing apparatus, or the game controller (in other words, causes a computer to function as some of the means in the information processing system, the information processing apparatus, or the game controller).

Advantages of the Invention

[0031] According to the present invention, the input unit and the like provided in the controller can be efficiently arranged.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0032]

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Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0033] Hereinafter, an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, an operation apparatus, and an accessory device according to an example of the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the information processing system includes an information processing apparatus 1 and a cradle 5 (see FIG. 28). In the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the main body apparatus 2, and the controllers 3 and 4 are detachable, and the controllers 3 and 4 can be used separately from the main body apparatus 2 (see FIG. 2). Further, the information processing apparatus 1 can be used in both a mode of displaying an image on the main body apparatus 2 and a mode of displaying an image on another display device such as a television. In the former mode, the information processing apparatus 1 is used as a portable device (for example, a portable game machine), and in the latter mode, the information processing apparatus 1 is used as a stationary device (for example, a stationary game machine).

[0034] [1. Appearance Configuration of the System] [1-1. Configuration of the Information Processing Apparatus] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 1 includes a main body apparatus 2, a left controller 3, and a right controller 4. The main body apparatus 2 includes a display 12 and is a device that executes various processes in the information processing apparatus 1. Further, the controllers 3 and 4 are devices provided with an operation unit for the user to input.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which each of the controllers 3 and 4 is removed from the main body apparatus 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the controllers 3 and 4 is detachable from the main body apparatus 2. The left controller 3 can be attached to the left side of the main body apparatus 2 (the positive x-axis direction side shown in FIG. 1). The right controller 4 can be attached to the right side of the main body apparatus 2 (the negative x-axis direction side shown in FIG. 1). Hereinafter, in the following, the left controller and the right controller may be collectively referred to as a "controller". Hereinafter, an example of the specific configuration of the main body apparatus 2 and each of the controllers 3 and 4 will be described.

[0036] [1-1-1. Configuration of the Main Body Apparatus] Figure 3 is a six-sided view showing an example of the main body device. As shown in Figure 3, the main body device 2 includes a substantially plate-shaped housing 11. In the present embodiment, the main surface of the housing 11 (in other words, the front surface, that is, the surface on which the display 12 is provided) is generally rectangular in shape. In the present embodiment, the housing 11 has a horizontally long shape. That is, in the present embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the main surface of the housing 11 (that is, the x-axis direction shown in Figure 1) is the horizontal direction (also referred to as the left-right direction), the short-side direction of the main surface (that is, the y-axis direction shown in Figure 1) is the vertical direction (also referred to as the up-down direction), and the direction perpendicular to the main surface (that is, the z-axis direction shown in Figure 1) is the depth direction (also referred to as the front-back direction). Note that the main body device 2 can be used in a horizontally long orientation, or can also be used in a vertically long orientation.

[0037] Note that the shape and size of the housing 11 are arbitrary. For example, in other embodiments, the housing 11 may have protrusions or grip portions for easy gripping by the user.

[0038] (Configuration provided on the main surface of the housing 11) As shown in Figure 3, the main body device 2 includes a display 12 provided on the main surface of the housing 11. The display 12 displays an image (which may be a still image or a moving image) acquired or generated by the main body device 2. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the display 12 is a liquid crystal display (LCD), but it may be any type of display device.

[0039] Also, the main body device 2 includes a touch panel 13 on the screen of the display 12. The touch panel 13 may detect the touch position, the pressure of the touch, and / or other characteristics related to the touch input. In the present embodiment, the touch panel 13 is of a type capable of multi-touch input (for example, the capacitive method). However, the touch panel 13 may be of any type, for example, it may be of a type capable of single-touch input (for example, the resistive film method).

[0040] The main body device 2 includes a speaker (i.e., the speaker 88 shown in FIG. 30) inside the housing 11. As shown in FIG. 3, speaker holes 11a and 11b are formed in the main surface of the housing 11. The output sound of the speaker 88 is output from these speaker holes 11a and 11b. In the present embodiment, the main body device 2 includes two speakers, and each speaker hole is provided at the position of the left speaker and the right speaker, respectively. The speaker hole 11a for the left speaker is formed on the left side of the display 12. The speaker hole 11b for the right speaker is formed on the right side of the display 12.

[0041] Also, the main body device 2 includes an ambient light sensor (i.e., the ambient light sensor 94 shown in FIG. 30) inside the housing 11. As shown in FIG. 3, a window portion 14 for inputting the light outside the housing 11 to the ambient light sensor 94 is provided on the main surface of the housing 11. The window portion 14 is formed by, for example, a transparent member that transmits light, or a filter member that transmits light of a predetermined wavelength detectable by the ambient light sensor 94.

[0042] Note that the positions, shapes, and numbers of the speaker holes 11a and 11b, and the window portion 14 are arbitrary. For example, in other embodiments, each of the speaker holes 11a and 11b may be formed on the side surface or the back surface of the housing 11. Also, the window portion 14 is provided at a position lower left than the display 12 in the present embodiment, but may be provided at other positions on the main surface of the housing 11, or may be provided on the side surface of the housing 11.

[0043] (Configuration provided on the left side surface of the housing 11) As shown in FIG. 3, the main body device 2 includes a left rail member 15 on the left side surface of the housing 11. The left rail member 15 is a member for detachably mounting the left controller 3 to the main body device 2. The user can easily mechanically and electrically connect the left controller 3 and the main body device 2, and can make the left controller 3 and the main body device 2 function like a single device. Also, the user can easily remove the left controller 3 from the main body device 2 and can operate the left controller 3 and the main body device 2 in a mechanically separated state. The left rail member 15 is provided on the left side surface of the housing 11 so as to extend along the vertical direction. The left rail member 15 has a shape that can engage with a slider of the left controller 3 (that is, the slider 40 shown in FIG. 5). Although details will be described later, a slide mechanism is formed by the left rail member 15 and the slider 40. By this slide mechanism, the left controller 3 can be slidably and detachably mounted to the main body device 2.

[0044] In the present embodiment, the left rail member 15 has a shape having a groove. In other words, the cross section of the left rail member 15 (specifically, the cross section perpendicular to the vertical direction) has a concave shape. More specifically, the cross section of the left rail member 15 is a shape in which the ends of the cross section face in the direction from the outside to the center. Therefore, the slider 40 engaged with the left rail member 15 is fixed so as not to come off with respect to the direction perpendicular to the slide direction (in other words, the direction in which the left rail member 15 extends) (see FIG. 7 described later).

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3, an engagement hole 16 is formed in the left rail member 15. The engagement hole 16 is provided at a position facing a protrusion 41 provided on the slider 40 when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2. The specific position of the engagement hole 16 is arbitrary. In the present embodiment, the engagement hole 16 is provided on the bottom surface of the left rail member 15 (in other words, the bottom surface of the groove of the left rail member 15). Further, the engagement hole 16 is formed in a shape that allows the above protrusion (that is, the protrusion 41 shown in FIG. 5) to engage. Although details will be described later, when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, the left controller 3 is fixed to the main body device 2 by inserting and engaging the protrusion 41 into the engagement hole 16. In other embodiments, a protrusion may be provided on the left rail member 15 and an engagement hole may be provided on the slider 40.

[0046] Further, the main body device 2 includes a left terminal 17. The left terminal 17 is a terminal for the main body device 2 to perform wired communication with the left controller 3. That is, when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, the left controller 3 and the main body device 2 can communicate via the left terminal 17. The left terminal 17 is provided at a position where it contacts a terminal (terminal 42 shown in FIG. 5) of the left controller 3 when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2. The specific position of the left terminal 17 is arbitrary. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the left terminal 17 is provided on the bottom surface of the left rail member 15. Further, in the present embodiment, the left terminal 17 is provided near the lower end portion on the bottom surface of the left rail member 15. The left terminal 17 is provided below the above engagement hole 16 (in other words, on the back side when the direction in which the slider 40 is inserted into the left rail member 15 is used as a reference).

[0047] A stopper 18 is provided on the left side surface of the housing 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the stopper 18 is provided near the end portion of the left rail member 15 (near the lower end in the present embodiment). The stopper 18 is provided inside the groove of the left rail member 15. Although details will be described later, the stopper 18 is provided to stop the sliding movement of the slider 40 engaged with the left rail member 15.

[0048] (Configuration provided on the right side of the housing 11) As shown in FIG. 3, on the right side surface of the housing 11, a configuration similar to the configuration provided on the left side surface is provided. That is, the main body device 2 includes a right rail member 19 on the right side surface of the housing 11. The right rail member 19 is provided on the right side surface of the housing 11 so as to extend along the vertical direction. The right rail member 19 has a shape that can be engaged with a slider of the right controller 4 (that is, the slider 62 shown in FIG. 6). Although details will be described later, a slide mechanism is formed by the right rail member 19 and the slider 62. By this slide mechanism, the right controller 4 can be slidably and detachably attached to the main body device 2.

[0049] In the present embodiment, the right rail member 19 has the same shape as the left rail member 15. That is, the right rail member 19 has a shape having a groove with the same cross-sectional shape as the left rail member 15. However, the right rail member 19 does not necessarily have exactly the same shape as the left rail member 15. For example, in other embodiments, the size and / or shape of the groove of the left rail member 15 and the groove of the right rail member 19 may be different so that the slider 62 of the right controller 4 cannot be engaged with the left rail member 15 (and / or the slider 40 of the left controller 3 cannot be engaged with the right rail member 19).

[0050] As shown in FIG. 3, an engagement hole 20 is formed in the right rail member 19. The engagement hole 20 is provided at a position facing a protrusion 63 provided on the slider 62 when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2. The specific position of the engagement hole 20 is arbitrary. In the present embodiment, the engagement hole 20 is provided on the bottom surface of the right rail member 19 (in other words, the bottom surface of the groove of the right rail member 19). The engagement hole 20 is formed in a shape that allows the above protrusion (that is, the protrusion 63 shown in FIG. 6) to engage. Although details will be described later, when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2, the protrusion 63 is inserted into and engaged with the engagement hole 20, whereby the right controller 4 is fixed to the main body device 2. In other embodiments, a protrusion may be provided on the right rail member 19 and an engagement hole may be provided on the slider 62.

[0051] Further, the main body device 2 includes a right terminal 21. The right terminal 21 is a terminal for the main body device 2 to perform wired communication with the right controller 4. The right terminal 21 is provided at a position where it contacts a terminal (terminal 64 shown in FIG. 6) of the right controller 4 when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2. The specific position of the right terminal 21 is arbitrary. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the right terminal 21 is provided on the bottom surface of the right rail member 19. Also, in the present embodiment, the right terminal 21 is provided near the lower end portion on the bottom surface of the right rail member 19. The right terminal 21 is provided below the above engagement hole 20 (in other words, on the back side when the direction of inserting the slider 62 into the right rail member 19 is taken as a reference).

[0052] A stopper 22 is provided on the right side surface of the housing 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the stopper 22 is provided near the end portion of the right rail member 19 (near the lower end in the present embodiment). The stopper 22 is provided inside the groove of the right rail member 19. Although details will be described later, the stopper 22 is provided to stop the sliding movement of the slider 62 engaged with the right rail member 19.

[0053] As described above, in the present embodiment, the housing 11 of the main body device 2 is provided with a left rail member 15 and a right rail member 19. Thus, the housing 11 has a configuration premised on mounting a controller. Note that the positions, shapes, and sizes of the above-described rail members 15 and 19 are arbitrary. For example, in other embodiments, the rail members 15 and 19 may be provided at the left and right ends on the front and / or back surfaces of the housing 11, respectively. Further, the mechanism for detachably mounting the main body device 2 and each of the controllers 3 and 4 is arbitrary, and a slider mechanism different from the slider mechanism in the present embodiment may be used, or a mechanism different from the slider mechanism may be used.

[0054] (Configuration provided on the upper surface of the housing 11) As shown in FIG. 3, the main body device 2 includes a first slot 23. The first slot 23 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 11. The first slot 23 has a shape capable of mounting a first type of storage medium. In the present embodiment, an openable and closable lid is provided at the opening of the first slot 23, and in a state where the lid is opened, a first type of storage medium can be inserted into the first slot 23. The first type of storage medium is, for example, a storage medium dedicated to the information processing device 1 and information processing devices of the same type (for example, a dedicated memory card). The first type of storage medium is used, for example, to store data used in the main body device 2 (for example, save data of an application, etc.) and / or a program executed in the main body device 2 (for example, a program of an application, etc.).

[0055] In addition, the main body device 2 is provided with a power button 28. As shown in FIG. 3, the power button 28 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 11. The power button 28 is a button for switching the on / off state of the power supply of the main body device 2. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the on mode and the sleep mode can be switched by the power button 28. Here, the on mode is, for example, a mode in which the screen display of the display 12 is performed, and the sleep mode is, for example, a mode in which the screen display of the display 12 is paused. Also, in the sleep mode, while (or instead of) the screen display of the display 12 is paused, predetermined processing in the running application (for example, game processing in a game application) may be paused. When a long press operation is performed on the power button 24 of the main body device 2 (specifically, when the power button 24 is continuously pressed for a predetermined time or longer), the main body device 2 executes a process of switching the on / off state of the power supply. On the other hand, when a short press operation is performed on the power button 24 (specifically, when the power button 24 is pressed for a time shorter than the predetermined time), the main body device 2 executes a process of switching between the on mode and the sleep mode.

[0056] As described above, in this embodiment, the power button 28 can switch the on / off state of the power supply and switch between the on mode and the sleep mode. In other embodiments, a button having only the switching function of switching the on / off state of the power supply or only the switching function of switching between the on mode and the sleep mode may be provided on the main body device 2.

[0057] The main body device 2 is provided with an audio input / output terminal (specifically, a headphone jack) 25. That is, a microphone or headphones can be attached to the audio input / output terminal 25 of the main body device 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the audio input / output terminal 25 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 11.

[0058] The main body device 2 is provided with volume buttons 26a and 26b. As shown in FIG. 3, the volume buttons 26a and 26b are provided on the upper surface of the housing 11. The volume buttons 26a and 26b are buttons for giving an instruction to adjust the volume output by the main body device 2. That is, the volume button 26a is a button for giving an instruction to lower the volume, and the volume button 26b is a button for giving an instruction to raise the volume.

[0059] Further, an exhaust hole 11c is formed in the housing 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the exhaust hole 11c is formed in the upper surface of the housing 11. The exhaust hole 11c is formed to exhaust (in other words, release) the heat generated inside the housing 11 to the outside of the housing 11.

[0060] (Configuration provided on the lower surface of the housing 11) The main body device 2 is provided with a lower terminal 27. The lower terminal 27 is a terminal for the main body device 2 to communicate with a cradle 5 described later. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower terminal 27 is provided on the lower surface of the housing 11. Although details will be described later, when the main body device 2 is attached to the cradle 5, the lower terminal 27 is connected to a terminal (main body terminal 73 shown in FIG. 29) of the cradle 5. In the present embodiment, the lower terminal 27 is a USB connector (more specifically, a female connector).

[0061] In addition, the main body device 2 includes a second slot 24. In the present embodiment, the second slot 24 is provided on the lower surface of the housing 11. However, in other embodiments, the second slot 24 may be provided on the same surface as the first slot 23. The second slot 24 has a shape capable of mounting a second type of storage medium different from the first type. In the present embodiment, a lid portion that can be opened and closed is provided at the opening of the second slot 24, and in a state where the lid portion is opened, a second type of storage medium can be inserted into the second slot 24. The second type of storage medium may be, for example, a general-purpose storage medium, such as an SD card. The second type of storage medium is used to store, for example, data used in the main body device 2 (such as save data of an application, etc.) and / or a program executed in the main body device 2 (such as a program of an application, etc.), similar to the first type of storage medium.

[0062] In addition, an intake hole 11d is formed in the housing 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the intake hole 11d is formed on the lower surface of the housing 11. The intake hole 11d is formed to intake (in other words, introduce) the air outside the housing 11 into the inside of the housing 11. In the present embodiment, since the intake hole 11d is formed on the surface opposite to the surface on which the exhaust hole 11c is formed, heat dissipation inside the housing 11 can be efficiently performed.

[0063] In addition, the main body device 2 includes a stand member 29 for standing and placing the housing. As shown in FIG. 3, the stand member 29 is provided on the lower surface of the housing 11. The stand member 29 is rotatably connected to the housing 11 by a shaft portion 29a. In FIG. 3, the stand member 29 is in a state of being housed in the housing 11.

[0064] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the state in which the main body device 2 is placed upright. In FIG. 4, for the purpose of making the configuration of the point part to be described using this figure easy to see, some other configurations in the main body device 2 other than the said configuration are shown in an omitted manner. Here, the rod-shaped part of the said stand member 29 protrudes from the housing 11 by rotating around the shaft part 29a as an axis. Therefore, by making the stand member 29 protrude from the housing 11, as shown in FIG. 4, the main body device 2 can be placed upright. The mechanism for placing the main body device 2 upright is not limited to the stand member 29 shown in FIG. 3 and is arbitrary.

[0065] The shape, number, and installation position of each component (specifically, buttons, slots, terminals, etc.) provided in the housing 11 described above are arbitrary. For example, in other embodiments, some of the power button 28 and each of the slots 23 and 24 may be provided on the other side surface or the back surface of the housing 11. Also, in other embodiments, the main body device 2 may be configured not to include some of the above components.

[0066] [1-1-2. Configuration of the left controller] FIG. 5 is a six-sided view showing an example of the left controller 3. As shown in FIG. 5, the left controller 3 includes a substantially plate-shaped housing 31. In the present embodiment, the main surface of the housing 31 (in other words, the front surface, that is, the surface on the negative z-axis side shown in FIG. 1) is roughly rectangular. Also, in the present embodiment, the housing 31 has a vertically long shape, that is, a shape that is long in the vertical direction (that is, the y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1). Note that the left controller 3 can be gripped in a vertically long orientation (see FIG. 38) or in a horizontally long orientation (see FIG. 35) when removed from the main body device 2. Note that the shape of the housing 31 is arbitrary, and in other embodiments, the housing 31 does not have to be substantially plate-shaped. Also, the housing 31 does not have to be rectangular, and may be, for example, a semi-circular shape or the like. Also, the housing 31 does not have to be vertically long.

[0067] The vertical length of the housing 31 is substantially the same as the vertical length of the housing 11 of the main body device 2. Also, the thickness of the housing 31 (i.e., the length in the front-rear direction, in other words, the length in the z-axis direction shown in FIG. 1) is substantially the same as the thickness of the housing 11 of the main body device 2. Therefore, when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2 (see FIG. 1), the user can hold the main body device 2 and the left controller 3 as if they were an integrated device.

[0068] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the main surface of the housing 31 has a shape in which the left corner portion is more rounded than the right corner portion. That is, the connecting portion between the upper surface and the left side surface of the housing 31, and the connecting portion between the lower surface and the left side surface of the housing 31 are rounder (in other words, the R in chamfering is larger) than the connecting portion between the upper surface and the right side surface, and the connecting portion between the lower surface and the right side surface. Therefore, when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2 (see FIG. 1), the left side of the information processing device 1 has a rounded shape, which is an easy-to-hold shape for the user.

[0069] The left controller 3 includes an analog stick 32. As shown in FIG. 5, the analog stick 32 is provided on the main surface of the housing 31. The analog stick 32 is an example of a direction input unit capable of inputting a direction. The analog stick 32 has a stick member that can be tilted in all directions parallel to the main surface of the housing 31 (i.e., 360° directions including up, down, left, right, and diagonal directions). The user can input a direction corresponding to the tilting direction (and an input of a magnitude corresponding to the tilted angle) by tilting the stick member. Note that the direction input unit may be a cross key or a slide stick or the like. The slide stick is an input unit having a stick member that can slide in all directions parallel to the main surface of the housing 31, and the user can input a direction corresponding to the sliding direction (and an input of a magnitude corresponding to the sliding amount) by sliding the stick member. Also, in the present embodiment, it is possible to input by pressing the stick member (in a direction perpendicular to the housing 31). That is, the analog stick 32 is an input unit capable of performing an input of a direction and a magnitude corresponding to the tilting direction and tilting amount of the stick member, and a pressing input to the stick member.

[0070] The left controller 3 includes four operation buttons 33 to 36 (specifically, a right direction button 33, a down direction button 34, an up direction button 35, and a left direction button 36). As shown in FIG. 5, these four operation buttons 33 to 36 are provided below the analog stick 32 on the main surface of the housing 31. Note that in the present embodiment, four operation buttons are provided on the main surface of the left controller 3, but the number of operation buttons is arbitrary. These operation buttons 33 to 36 are used to give instructions according to various programs (for example, an OS program or an application program) executed by the main body device 2. Note that in the present embodiment, since each operation button 33 to 36 may be used to perform a direction input, each operation button 33 to 36 is called a right direction button 33, a down direction button 34, an up direction button 35, and a left direction button 36. However, each operation button 33 to 36 may be used to give instructions other than direction input.

[0071] In addition, the left controller 3 is provided with a recording button 37. As shown in FIG. 5, the recording button 37 is provided on the main surface of the housing 31, and more specifically, in the lower right region on the main surface. The recording button 37 is a button for giving an instruction to save an image displayed on the display 12 of the main body device 2. For example, when a game image is displayed on the display 12, the user can save the game image displayed at the time of pressing by pressing the recording button 37, for example, in the storage unit of the main body device 2.

[0072] In addition, the left controller 3 is provided with a -(minus) button 47. As shown in FIG. 5, the - button 47 is provided on the main surface of the housing 31, and more specifically, in the upper right region on the main surface. The - button 47 is used to give an instruction according to various programs (for example, an OS program or an application program) executed on the main body device 2. The - button 47 is used, for example, as a select button (for example, a button used to switch selection items) in a game application.

[0073] Each operation unit provided on the main surface of the left controller 3 (specifically, the analog stick 32 and the above-mentioned buttons 33 to 37, 47) is operated by, for example, the thumb of the user's left hand who holds the information processing device 1 when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2 (see FIG. 33). When the left controller 3 is used in a state where it is detached from the main body device 2, each of the above operation units is operated by, for example, the thumbs of the left and right hands of the user who holds the left controller 3 (see FIG. 34). Specifically, in this case, the analog stick 32 is operated by the thumb of the user's left hand, and the operation buttons 33 to 36 are operated by the thumb of the user's right hand.

[0074] The left controller 3 is provided with a first L button 38. The left controller 3 is also provided with a ZL button 39. These operation buttons 38 and 39 are used to give instructions according to various programs executed by the main body device 2, similar to the above-described operation buttons 33 to 36. As shown in FIG. 5, the first L button 38 is provided at the upper left portion of the side surface of the housing 31. The ZL button 39 is provided at the upper left portion from the side surface to the back surface of the housing 31 (strictly speaking, the upper left portion when the housing 31 is viewed from the front side). That is, the ZL button 39 is provided on the rear side (the positive z-axis direction side shown in FIG. 1) of the first L button 38. In the present embodiment, since the upper left portion of the housing 31 has a rounded shape, the first L button 38 and the ZL button 39 have a rounded shape corresponding to the roundness of the upper left portion of the housing 31.

[0075] When the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, the first L button 38 and the ZL button 39 will be arranged at the upper left portion of the information processing device 1 (see FIG. 1). Therefore, a user who holds the information processing device 1 can operate the first L button 38 and the ZL button 39 with the index finger or middle finger of the left hand (see FIG. 33).

[0076] As shown in FIG. 5, the portion of the back surface of the housing 31 where the ZL button 39 is provided (more specifically, at least a part around the ZL button 39) protrudes compared to other parts of the housing 31. The ZL button 39 is provided so as to protrude with respect to the other part on the back surface of the housing 31. Therefore, when the main body device 2 with the left controller 3 attached is placed on a placement surface with the back surface of the left controller 3 facing the horizontal placement surface, the protruding portion of the housing 31 abuts against the placement surface. As a result, the information processing device 1 is placed such that the upper side of the main body device 2 is slightly higher than the lower side. When the information processing device 1 is placed as described above, it becomes easier for the user to view the display 12.

[0077] In other embodiments, when the main body device 2 with the left controller 3 mounted thereon is placed on a placement surface with the back surface of the left controller 3 facing the horizontal placement surface, the ZL button 39 may contact the placement surface. Here, in the present embodiment, the ZL button 39 can be mainly pressed in the vertical direction (y-axis direction). That is, the ZL button 39 is mainly supported by the housing 31 so as to move in the vertical direction. Therefore, even when the information processing device 1 is placed such that the ZL button 39 contacts the placement surface as described above, since a force is mainly applied to the ZL button 39 in the front-rear direction (z-axis direction), the ZL button 39 is difficult to be pressed. That is, even when the information processing device 1 is placed as described above, the possibility that the ZL button 39 is accidentally pressed is small.

[0078] In addition, in other embodiments, the ZL button 39 may be formed so as not to protrude from the back surface of the housing 31. For example, the ZL button 39 may be provided on the side surface of the housing 31. Also, for example, by forming the portion of the back surface of the housing 31 where the ZL button 39 is provided to be recessed (i.e., formed thinner) compared to other portions, the ZL button 39 may be formed so as not to protrude more than the other portions.

[0079] The left controller 3 includes the slider 40 described above. As shown in FIG. 5, the slider 40 is provided on the right side surface of the housing 31 so as to extend in the vertical direction. The slider 40 has a shape that can be engaged with the left rail member 15 of the main body device 2 (more specifically, the groove of the left rail member 15). Specifically, the cross section of the slider 40 (specifically, the cross section perpendicular to the vertical direction) has a convex shape. More specifically, the cross section of the slider 40 has a T shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the left rail member 15 (see FIG. 7). Therefore, the slider 40 engaged with the left rail member 15 is fixed and cannot come off with respect to the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction (in other words, the direction in which the left rail member 15 extends) (see FIG. 7 described later).

[0080] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the slider 40 is provided with a protrusion 41. The protrusion 41 is arranged at a position where it is inserted into the engagement hole 16 when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2. The specific position of the protrusion 41 is arbitrary. In the present embodiment, the protrusion 41 is provided on the mounting surface of the slider 40. Note that the mounting surface of the slider 40 is the surface that faces the bottom surface of the left rail member 15 when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2. Further, the protrusion 41 is formed in a shape that can be engaged with the engagement hole 16 of the left rail member 15.

[0081] In the present embodiment, the protrusion 41 is biased from the inner side to the outer side of the slider 40. Therefore, by applying a force from the outer side to the inner side of the slider 40 to the protrusion 41, the protrusion 41 moves toward the inside of the slider 40 (that is, retracts to the inside of the slider 40). The configuration for biasing the protrusion 41 as described above is arbitrary. For example, in the present embodiment, the protrusion 41 is connected to an elastic body inside the slider 40, and a part of the protrusion 41 protrudes from a hole formed in the slider 40 with respect to the mounting surface of the slider 40. Note that in other embodiments, the protrusion 41 may be fixedly provided with respect to the slider 40.

[0082] Further, the left controller 3 includes a terminal 42 for the left controller 3 to perform wired communication with the main body device 2. The terminal 42 is provided at a position where it contacts the left terminal 17 (FIG. 3) of the main body device 2 when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2. The specific position of the terminal 42 is arbitrary. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the terminal 42 is provided on the mounting surface of the slider 40. Also, in the present embodiment, the terminal 42 is provided near the lower end portion on the mounting surface of the slider 40. The terminal 42 is provided below the protrusion 41 (in other words, on the tip side when the slider 40 is inserted into the left rail member 15).

[0083] In addition, the left controller 3 includes a second L button 43 and a second R button 44. These buttons 43 and 44 are used to give instructions according to various programs executed in the main unit 2, similar to the other operation buttons 33 to 36. As shown in FIG. 5, the second L button 43 and the second R button 44 are provided on the mounting surface of the slider 40. The second L button 43 is provided above the center in the vertical direction (the y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1) on the mounting surface of the slider 40. The second R button 44 is provided below the center in the vertical direction on the mounting surface of the slider 40. The second L button 43 and the second R button 44 are arranged at positions where they cannot be pressed when the left controller 3 is attached to the main unit 2. That is, the second L button 43 and the second R button 44 are buttons used when the left controller 3 is removed from the main unit 2. The second L button 43 and the second R button 44 are operated, for example, by the index finger or middle finger of the left and right hands of the user holding the left controller 3 removed from the main unit 2 (see FIG. 35).

[0084] The left controller 3 includes a notification LED 45. The notification LED 45 is a notification unit for notifying a user of predetermined information. The information notified by the notification LED 45 is arbitrary. In the present embodiment, the notification LED 45 shows the user information for identifying each controller when the main unit 2 communicates with a plurality of controllers. Specifically, the left controller 3 includes, as the notification LED 45, LEDs corresponding to the number of left controllers that can be communicated with by the main unit 2 at the same time (here, four). Among the four LEDs, the LED corresponding to the number assigned to the controller lights up. According to this, the above number can be notified to the user by the notification LED 45.

[0085] In other embodiments, the notification LED 45 may notify the user of the state regarding the communication between the left controller 3 and the main body device 2. For example, the notification LED 45 may light up when the communication with the main body device 2 is established. Also, in the present embodiment, the number of LEDs (in other words, the light emitting units) that function as the notification LED 45 is four, but the number of such LEDs is arbitrary.

[0086] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the notification LED 45 is provided on the mounting surface of the slider 40. In this way, the notification LED 45 is arranged at a position where it cannot be seen when the left controller 3 is mounted on the main body device 2. That is, the notification LED 45 is used when the left controller 3 is removed from the main body device 2.

[0087] The left controller 3 includes a pairing button 46. In the present embodiment, the pairing button 46 is used to instruct the setting (also referred to as pairing) process regarding the wireless communication between the left controller 3 and the main body device 2, and to instruct the reset process of the left controller 3. Note that in other embodiments, the pairing button 46 may have only one of the above-described setting process and reset process functions.

[0088] That is, when a short press operation is performed on the pairing button 46 (specifically, when the pairing button 46 is pressed for a time shorter than a predetermined time), the left controller 3 executes the above-described setting process. The details of the above-described setting process will be described later.

[0089] Also, when a long-press operation is performed on the pairing button 46 (specifically, when the pairing button 46 is pressed continuously for the above-mentioned predetermined time or more), the left controller 3 executes a reset process. The reset process is a process for resetting the state of the left controller 3, and is a process to be executed, for example, when the left controller 3 freezes (for example, when the main unit device 2 cannot acquire data from the left controller 3). The specific content of the reset process is arbitrary, but the reset process may be, for example, a process of turning off the power of the left controller 3 once and then turning it on again, a process of disconnecting the communication with the main unit device 2 once and then restarting it, a process of executing the process executed at the start of communication again, and / or the above setting process. With the pairing button 46, in this embodiment, even when the left controller 3 freezes for some reason, the left controller 3 can be reset to a usable state.

[0090] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the pairing button 46 is provided on the mounting surface of the slider 40. In this way, the pairing button 46 is arranged at a position where it cannot be seen when the left controller 3 is mounted on the main unit device 2. That is, the pairing button 46 is used when the left controller 3 is removed from the main unit device 2. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the pairing button 46 is pressed when the left controller 3 is removed from the main unit device 2, and it is assumed that there is a low possibility of being pressed when the left controller 3 is mounted on the main unit device 2. Therefore, in order to prevent the pairing button 46 from being accidentally operated when the left controller 3 is mounted on the main unit device 2, the pairing button 46 is arranged at the above position.

[0091] In addition, in the present embodiment, the buttons provided on the mounting surface of the slider 40 (specifically, the second L button 43, the second R button 44, and the pairing button 46) are provided so as not to protrude from the mounting surface. That is, the upper surface (in other words, the pressing surface) of the above buttons is arranged on the same surface as the mounting surface of the slider 40, or is arranged at a position recessed from the mounting surface. According to this, when the slider 40 is mounted on the left rail member 15 of the main body device 2, the slider 40 can be smoothly slid with respect to the left rail member 15.

[0092] [1-1-3. Configuration of the right controller] FIG. 6 is a six-sided view showing an example of the right controller 4. As shown in FIG. 6, the right controller 4 includes a substantially plate-shaped housing 51. In the present embodiment, the main surface of the housing 51 (in other words, the front surface, that is, the surface on the negative z-axis direction side shown in FIG. 1) is generally rectangular in shape. Further, in the present embodiment, the housing 51 has a vertically long shape, that is, a shape that is long in the vertical direction. Note that the right controller 4 can be gripped in a vertically long orientation (see FIG. 38) or in a horizontally long orientation (see FIG. 35) when removed from the main body device 2.

[0093] The housing 51 of the right controller 4 is similar to the housing 31 of the left controller 3 in that its length in the vertical direction is substantially the same as the length in the vertical direction of the housing 11 of the main body device 2, and its thickness is substantially the same as the thickness of the housing 11 of the main body device 2. Therefore, when the right controller 4 is mounted on the main body device 2 (see FIG. 1), the user can grip the main body device 2 and the right controller 4 as if they were an integrated device.

[0094] Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the main surface of the housing 51 has a shape in which the right corner portion is more rounded than the left corner portion. That is, the connecting portions of the upper surface and the right surface of the housing 51, and the connecting portions of the lower surface and the right surface of the housing 51 are rounder than the connecting portions of the upper surface and the left surface thereof, and the connecting portions of the lower surface and the left surface thereof (in other words, the R in the chamfering is larger). Therefore, when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2 (see FIG. 1), the right side of the information processing apparatus 1 has a rounded shape, which is an easy-to-hold shape for the user.

[0095] Similar to the left controller 3, the right controller 4 includes an analog stick 52 as a direction input unit. In the present embodiment, the analog stick 52 has the same configuration as the analog stick 32 of the left controller 3. Also, similar to the left controller 3, the right controller 4 includes four operation buttons 53 to 56 (specifically, an A button 53, a B button 54, an X button 55, and a Y button 56). In the present embodiment, these four operation buttons 53 to 56 have the same mechanism as the four operation buttons 33 to 36 of the left controller 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the analog stick 52 and each operation button 53 to 56 are provided on the main surface of the housing 51. In the present embodiment, four operation buttons are provided on the main surface of the right controller 4, but the number of operation buttons is arbitrary.

[0096] Here, in the present embodiment, the positional relationship between the two types of operation units (analog stick and operation buttons) in the right controller 4 is opposite to the positional relationship between these two types of operation units in the left controller 3. That is, in the right controller 4, the analog stick 52 is disposed above each operation button 53 to 56, while in the left controller 3, the analog stick 32 is disposed below each operation button 33 to 36. Details will be described later, but with such an arrangement, when the left and right controllers 3 and 4 are removed from the main body device 2 and used, they can be used with a similar operation feeling.

[0097] In addition, the right controller 4 is provided with a + (plus) button 57. As shown in FIG. 6, the + button 57 is provided on the main surface of the housing 51, and more specifically, in the upper left region of the main surface. The + button 57, like the other operation buttons 53 to 56, is used to give instructions according to various programs (for example, an OS program or an application program) executed in the main body device 2. The + button 57 is used, for example, as a start button (for example, a button used for an instruction to start a game) in a game application.

[0098] The right controller 4 is provided with a home button 58. As shown in FIG. 6, the home button 58 is provided on the main surface of the housing 51, and more specifically, in the lower left region of the main surface. The home button 58 is a button for causing the display 12 of the main body device 2 to display a predetermined menu screen. The menu screen is, for example, a screen that allows the user to start an application specified from among one or more applications executable on the main body device 2. The menu screen may be displayed, for example, when the main body device 2 is started. In the present embodiment, when the home button 58 is pressed while an application is being executed on the main body device 2 (that is, when an image of the application is displayed on the display 12), a predetermined operation screen may be displayed on the display 12 (at this time, a menu screen may be displayed instead of the operation screen). Note that the operation screen is, for example, a screen that can give instructions to end an application and display a menu screen on the display 12, and instructions to resume the application.

[0099] Each operation unit provided on the main surface of the right controller 4 (specifically, the analog stick 52 and each of the above buttons 53 to 59) is operated by, for example, the thumb of the user's right hand who holds the information processing device 1 when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2 (see FIG. 33). Further, when the right controller 4 is used in a state where it is detached from the main body device 2, each of the above operation units is operated by, for example, the thumbs of the user's left and right hands who hold the right controller 4 (see FIG. 34). Specifically, in this case, the analog stick 52 is operated by the thumb of the user's left hand, and each operation button 53 to 56 is operated by the thumb of the user's right hand.

[0100] The right controller 4 includes a first R button 60. The right controller 4 also includes a ZR button 61. As shown in FIG. 6, the first R button 60 is provided in the upper right portion of the side surface of the housing 51. The ZR button 61 is provided in the upper right portion from the side surface to the back surface of the housing 51 (strictly speaking, the upper right portion when the housing 51 is viewed from the front side). That is, the ZR button 61 is provided on the rear side (the positive z-axis direction side shown in FIG. 1) of the first R button 60. In the present embodiment, since the upper right portion of the housing 51 has a rounded shape, the first R button 60 and the ZR button 61 have a rounded shape corresponding to the roundness of the upper right portion of the housing 51.

[0101] When the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2, the first R button 60 and the ZR button 61 will be arranged in the upper right portion of the information processing device 1 (see FIG. 1). Therefore, the user who holds the information processing device 1 can operate the first R button 60 and the ZR button 61 with the index finger or middle finger of the right hand (see FIG. 34).

[0102] As shown in FIG. 6, the ZR button 61 on the right controller 4 protrudes from the housing 51, similar to the ZL button 39 on the left controller 3. That is, the portion of the back surface of the housing 51 where the ZR button 61 is provided (more specifically, at least a part around the ZR button 61) protrudes compared to other parts of the housing 51. Also, the ZR button 61 is provided to protrude with respect to the other part on the back surface of the housing 51. Therefore, when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2, similar to the case where the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, when the main body device 2 is placed on the placement surface with the back surface of the right controller 4 facing the horizontal placement surface, the protruding part of the housing 51 abuts against the placement surface. As a result, the upper side of the main body device 2 is placed slightly higher than the lower side, so the display 12 is easier for the user to see.

[0103] In this embodiment, the ZR button 61 on the right controller 4 can be mainly pressed in the vertical direction (y-axis direction), similar to the ZL button 39 on the left controller 3. Therefore, even when the information processing device 1 is placed so that the ZR button 61 abuts against the placement surface, similar to the ZL button 39, the ZR button 61 is difficult to press and the possibility of accidental pressing is small. In other embodiments, the housing 51 may be formed such that the back surface of the housing 51 protrudes more than the ZR button 61. Also, in other embodiments, the ZR button 61 may be formed so as not to protrude from the back surface of the housing 51, similar to the ZL button 39 on the left controller 3.

[0104] Also, in this embodiment, the shape of the first L button 38 and the shape of the first R button 60 are not bilaterally symmetric, and the shape of the ZL button 39 and the shape of the ZR button 61 are not bilaterally symmetric. However, in other embodiments, the shape of the first L button 38 and the shape of the first R button 60 may be bilaterally symmetric, and the shape of the ZL button 39 and the shape of the ZR button 61 may be bilaterally symmetric.

[0105] The right controller 4 is provided with a slider mechanism similar to that of the left controller 3. That is, the right controller 4 is provided with the slider 62 described above. As shown in FIG. 6, the slider 62 is provided on the left side surface of the housing 51 so as to extend in the vertical direction. The slider 62 has a shape that can engage with the right rail member 19 of the main body device 2 (more specifically, the groove of the right rail member 19). Specifically, the cross section of the slider 62 (specifically, the cross section perpendicular to the vertical direction) has a convex shape. More specifically, the cross section of the slider 62 has a T shape corresponding to the cross sectional shape of the right rail member 19 (see FIG. 7). Therefore, the slider 62 engaged with the right rail member 19 is fixed so as not to come off with respect to the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction (in other words, the direction in which the right rail member 19 extends) (see FIG. 7).

[0106] In addition, a protrusion 63 is provided on the slider 62. The protrusion 63 is arranged at a position where it is inserted into the engagement hole 20 when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2. The specific position of the protrusion 63 is arbitrary. In the present embodiment, the protrusion 63 is provided on the mounting surface of the slider 62. The mounting surface of the slider 62 is a surface that faces the bottom surface of the right rail member 19 when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2. Further, the protrusion 63 is formed in a shape that can engage with the engagement hole 20 of the right rail member 19.

[0107] In the present embodiment, the protrusion 63 of the right controller 4 is biased from the inner side to the outer side of the slider 62, similar to the protrusion 41 of the left controller 3. Therefore, by applying a force from the outer side to the inner side of the slider 62 to the protrusion 63, the protrusion 63 moves toward the inside of the slider 62 (that is, retracts inside the slider 62). Note that the configuration for biasing the protrusion 63 as described above is arbitrary and may be the same as the configuration of the protrusion 41 of the left controller 3.

[0108] Further, the right controller 4 includes a terminal 64 for the right controller 4 to perform wired communication with the main body device 2. The terminal 64 is provided at a position where it contacts the right terminal 21 (FIG. 3) of the main body device 2 when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2. The specific position of the terminal 64 is arbitrary. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the terminal 64 is provided on the mounting surface of the slider 62. In the present embodiment, the terminal 64 is provided near the lower end portion on the mounting surface of the slider 62. The terminal 64 is provided below the above-described protrusion 63 (in other words, the tip side when the slider 62 is inserted into the right rail member 19).

[0109] Also, similar to the left controller 3, the right controller 4 includes a second L button 65 and a second R button 66. These buttons 65 and 66 are used to give instructions according to various programs executed on the main body device 2, similar to the other operation buttons 53 to 56. As shown in FIG. 6, the second L button 65 and the second R button 66 are provided on the mounting surface of the slider 62. The second L button 65 is provided below the center in the vertical direction (y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1) on the mounting surface of the slider 62. The second R button 66 is provided above the center in the vertical direction on the mounting surface of the slider 62. The second L button 65 and the second R button 66 are arranged at positions where they cannot be pressed when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2, similar to the second L button 43 and the second R button 44 of the left controller 3, and are buttons used when the right controller 4 is removed from the main body device 2. The second L button 65 and the second R button 66 are operated, for example, by the index finger or middle finger of the left and right hands of a user who holds the right controller 4 removed from the main body device 2 (see FIG. 35).

[0110] The right controller 4 is provided with a notification LED 67. The notification LED 67 is a notification unit for notifying a user of predetermined information, similar to the notification LED 45 of the left controller 3. Also, the right controller 4 is provided with four LEDs as the notification LED 67, similar to the left controller 3. Among the four LEDs, the LED corresponding to the number assigned to the right controller 4 lights up. In the present embodiment, the notification LED 67 is provided on the mounting surface of the slider 62 (FIG. 6), similar to the notification LED 45. In this way, the notification LED 67 is arranged at a position where it cannot be seen when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2, and is used when the right controller 4 is removed from the main body device 2.

[0111] The right controller 4 is provided with a pairing button 69. The pairing button 69 is used to instruct the setting (also referred to as pairing) process regarding the wireless communication between the right controller 4 and the main body device 2, and to instruct the reset process of the right controller 4, similar to the pairing button 46 of the left controller 3. Since the above setting process and reset process are the same as those in the left controller 3, detailed description thereof is omitted. Also, in the present embodiment, the pairing button 69 is provided on the mounting surface of the slider 62 as shown in FIG. 6. That is, for the same reason as the pairing button 46 of the left controller 3, the pairing button 69 is arranged at a position where it cannot be seen when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2.

[0112] Also, similar to the left controller 3, the buttons provided on the mounting surface of the slider 62 in the right controller 4 (specifically, the second L button 65, the second R button 66, and the pairing button 69) are provided so as not to protrude from the mounting surface. Thereby, when the slider 62 is attached to the right rail member 19 of the main body device 2, the slider 62 can be smoothly slid with respect to the right rail member 19.

[0113] Further, a window portion 68 is provided on the lower surface of the housing 51. Although details will be described later, the right controller 4 includes an infrared imaging unit (infrared imaging unit 123 shown in FIG. 31), and the infrared imaging unit 123 detects the movement and / or gesture of the user's hand. The window portion 68 is provided for the camera of the infrared imaging unit 123 disposed inside the housing 51 to image the periphery of the right controller 4. The window portion 68 is for protecting the lens of the camera of the infrared imaging unit 123 and is made of a material (for example, a transparent material) that transmits light of the wavelength detected by the camera. Note that the window portion 68 may be a hole formed in the housing 51. In the present embodiment, the infrared imaging unit 123 itself has a filter member that suppresses the transmission of light of wavelengths other than the light (infrared light in the present embodiment) detected by the camera. However, in other embodiments, the above window portion may have the function of a filter.

[0114] In each of the above controllers 3 and 4, the shape, number, and installation position of each component (specifically, a slider, a stick, a button, an LED, etc.) provided on the housing 31 or 51 are arbitrary. For example, in other embodiments, the controllers 3 and 4 may include a direction input unit of a type different from the analog stick. Further, the slider 40 or 62 may be disposed at a position corresponding to the position of the rail member 15 or 19 provided on the main body device 2, and may be disposed, for example, on the front surface or the back surface of the housing 31 or 51. In other embodiments, the controllers 3 and 4 may be configured not to include some of the above components.

[0115] [1-1-4: Mounting Operation] Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the operation of attaching and detaching the controller to and from the main body device 2 will be described. Hereinafter, the operation of attaching and detaching the left controller 3 to and from the main body device 2 will be described as an example, but the operation of attaching and detaching the right controller 4 to and from the main body device 2 can be performed in the same manner as in the case of the left controller 3.

[0116] When attaching the left controller 3 to the main body device 2, the user first inserts the lower end of the slider 40 of the left controller 3 into the groove of the left rail member 15 of the main body device 2 from the upper end of the left rail member 15. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the state in which the left rail member 15 and the slider 40 are engaged. In FIG. 7, for the purpose of making the drawing easier to view, the configuration of the main body device 2 is shown by a dotted line. As shown in FIG. 7, the slider 40 is inserted into the left rail member 15 such that the convex cross-section of the slider 40 engages (can also be said to be fitted) with the concave cross-section of the left rail member 15 (in other words, the groove of the left rail member 15).

[0117] After inserting the lower end of the slider 40 into the groove of the left rail member 15, the user further inserts the slider 40 deeper into the groove of the left rail member 15. That is, the user slides the left controller 3 downward with respect to the main body device 2. Then, when the left controller 3 is slid downward until the lower end of the slider 40 reaches the position of the stopper 18 of the main body device 2, the left controller 3 is fixed to the main body device 2.

[0118] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the state before and after the slider 40 is fixed to the left rail member 15. In FIG. 8, for the left rail member 15, a cross-section perpendicular to the front-rear direction (z-axis direction) is shown. Also, in FIG. 8, for the purpose of making the components to be explained easier to view, the positional relationship and size of the components are changed as compared with FIG. 3 and the like.

[0119] As shown in FIG. 8(a), in a state where the left controller 3 is not completely attached to the main body device 2 (that is, a state where the lower end of the slider 40 has not reached the stopper 18 of the main body device 2), the protrusion 41 of the slider 40 is in a state of being in contact with the bottom surface of the rail member 15 and being housed inside the slider 40.

[0120] After the state shown in Fig. 8(a), when the slider 40 slides rearward on the left rail member 15, the lower end of the slider 40 reaches the position of the stopper 18 of the main body device 2 (see Fig. 8(b)). At this time, as shown in Fig. 8(b), the protrusion 41 of the slider 40 is at a position facing the engagement hole 16 of the left rail member 15. Therefore, the protrusion 41 protrudes from the mounting surface of the slider 40 and is inserted into the engagement hole 16. As a result, since the protrusion 41 engages with the engagement hole 16, the left controller 3 is fixed to the main body device 2 to such an extent that it will not come off even when a certain amount of force is applied (in other words, the slider 40 is fixed to the left rail member 15).

[0121] Also, in the state where the left controller 3 is fixed to the main body device 2, as shown in Fig. 8(b), the terminal 42 of the slider 40 is at a position facing the left terminal 17 of the left rail member 15. Therefore, the terminal 42 and the left terminal 17 are connected. As a result, wired communication between the left controller 3 and the main body device 2 (in other words, communication performed by physically connecting the terminals) becomes possible. Also, power supply from the main body device 2 to the left controller 3 becomes possible.

[0122] Note that either one or both of the terminal on the controller side (that is, the terminal 42) and the terminal on the main body device side (that is, the left terminal 17) are provided so as to protrude (slightly) from the surface on which they are installed. In the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8(a), the left terminal 17 on the main body device side is provided so as to protrude slightly from the surface on which it is installed (that is, the bottom surface of the left rail member 15). Also, the metal portion 17a that serves as the contact point of the protruding terminal is deformable in a direction approaching the surface on which it is installed. Therefore, when the terminals come into contact with each other, as shown in Fig. 8(b), one terminal receives the force pushed by the other terminal and is biased in the protruding direction. As a result, the terminals can be surely brought into contact with each other.

[0123] Also, in the present embodiment, the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2 is provided below the engagement hole 16. Further, the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 is provided below the protrusion 41. Therefore, when inserting the slider 40 into the left rail member 15, the protrusion 41 does not contact the left terminal 17, and the possibility of the left terminal 17 being damaged by the protrusion 41 can be reduced.

[0124] When removing the left controller 3 from the main body device 2, the user slides the left controller 3 upward with respect to the main body device 2. In a state where the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, the left controller 3 is fixed to the main body device 2 by the protrusion 41 and the engagement hole 16. However, by applying a force greater than a certain amount to slide the left controller 3 upward, the protrusion 41 is displaced from the position of the engagement hole 16, and as a result, the fixed state is released. Therefore, after the fixed state is released, the left controller 3 can be removed from the main body device 2 by further sliding the left controller 3 upward.

[0125] In another embodiment, the left controller 3 may be provided with a mechanism capable of performing an operation of housing the protrusion 41 inside the slider 40. For example, the left controller 3 may have a mechanism in which the protrusion 41 is housed inside the slider 40 in response to the user pressing a predetermined button provided on the left controller 3. According to this, the user can easily release the state in which the left controller 3 is fixed to the main body device 2 by the protrusion 41 by performing the above operation.

[0126] As described above, in the present embodiment, the controllers 3 and 4 can be detachably attached to the main body device 2 by the slide mechanism including the rail member and the slider. According to the slide mechanism, the controllers 3 and 4 can be relatively firmly fixed to the main body device 2 in directions other than the slide direction. Therefore, when the user grips the information processing device 1 with the controllers 3 and 4 attached to the main body device 2, the controllers 3 and 4 are less likely to wobble, and an information processing device 1 that is easy to grip can be provided. Further, in the present embodiment, the protrusion and the engagement hole are configured to fix the controllers 3 and 4 to the main body device 2 to some extent also in the slide direction. This also can reduce the wobbling of the controllers 3 and 4 attached to the main body device 2 and provide an information processing device 1 that is easy to grip.

[0127] [1-2. Other configuration examples related to the information processing device] Note that the configuration related to attaching the controller to the main body device 2 may be the second configuration example described below instead of the configuration example shown in the above “[1-1. Configuration of the information processing device]” (hereinafter referred to as the “first configuration example”). Hereinafter, the second configuration example related to the main body device 2 and each of the controllers 3 and 4 will be described centering on the differences from the first configuration example.

[0128] [1-2-1. Second configuration example related to the main body device] FIG. 9 is a left side view showing an example of the main body device in the second configuration example. Further, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a left side portion of the main body device in the second configuration example. In the second configuration example, the main body device 2 includes a left rail member 300 on the left side surface of the housing 11. As shown in FIG. 9, the left rail member 300 is provided so as to extend in the vertical direction (y-axis direction shown in FIG. 9). The left rail member 300 is a member for slidably and detachably mounting the left controller 3 to the main body device 2, similar to the left rail member 15 in the first configuration example. In the second configuration example, the left rail member 300 can engage with a slider 311 of the left controller 3 described later, and a slide mechanism is configured by the left rail member 300 and the slider 311. Hereinafter, the configuration of the left rail member 300 in the second configuration example will be described centering on the differences from the first configuration example.

[0129] FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a cross section of the left rail member in the A-A' cross section shown in FIG. 9. In this specification, "schematically showing" means showing the size, shape, and positional relationship between components of the component to be described (for example, the left rail member in FIG. 11) differently from other drawings for the purpose of making it easier to view.

[0130] As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the left rail member 300 has a bottom surface portion 301, side surface portions 302a and 302b, and top surface portions 303a and 303b. Hereinafter, in some cases, the side surface portions 302a and 302b may be collectively referred to as "side surface portion 302". Also, the top surface portions 303a and 303b may be collectively referred to as "top surface portion 303". In the second configuration example, each of the portions 301 to 303 is a substantially plate-shaped member.

[0131] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the bottom surface portion 301 is disposed substantially parallel to the left side surface of the housing 11 on the left side surface thereof. In this specification, the term "substantially (in a certain state)" includes both the case of being exactly in that state and the case of generally being in that state. For example, "substantially parallel" means that it may be in a state of being exactly parallel or may be in a state of generally being parallel even if it is not exactly parallel.

[0132] The bottom surface portion 301 has a bottom surface 3011 of the left rail member 300. Also, as shown in FIG. 11, the side surface portion 302 has side surfaces 3021 (specifically, side surfaces 3021a and 3021b) that are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface 3011. The side surface portion 302 extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface portion 301 from both ends in the front-rear direction (i.e., the z-axis direction) of the bottom surface portion 301. Specifically, the side surface portion 302a extends from the rear end side (i.e., the positive z-axis direction side) of the bottom surface portion 301, and the side surface portion 302b extends from the front end side (i.e., the negative z-axis direction side) of the bottom surface portion 301. As shown in FIG. 11, a groove portion is formed by the bottom surface portion 301 and the side surface portion 302.

[0133] As shown in FIG. 11, the top surface portion 303 has a top surface 3031 (specifically, side surfaces 3031a and 3031b) that is substantially parallel to the bottom surface 3011. The top surface portion 303 extends in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom surface 3011 from the side opposite to the side where the bottom surface portion 301 is connected in the side surface portion 302 (that is, the positive x-axis direction side). Specifically, the top surface portion 303a extends from the end portion on the positive x-axis direction side of the side surface portion 302a, and the top surface portion 303b extends from the end portion on the positive x-axis direction side of the side surface portion 302b. The top surface portion 303a and the top surface portion 303b extend from the side surface portion 302 in a direction approaching each other. The top surface portion 303 is arranged to face the bottom surface portion 301. In the second configuration example, the top surface portion 303 is arranged substantially parallel to the bottom surface portion 301. The top surface portions 303a and 303b are provided so as to protrude from the side surface portion 302 toward the inside of the left rail member 300 (in other words, so as to protrude in a direction approaching each other). Further, the top surface portion 303a and the top surface portion 303b are arranged at intervals from each other so that the slider 311 of the left controller 3 can be inserted into the groove portion formed by the bottom surface portion 301 and the side surface portion 302 (FIGS. 9 to 11).

[0134] From the above, when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, similar to the first configuration example, the slider 311 of the left controller 3 is inserted into the groove portion, and the left rail member 300 and the slider 311 are engaged (see FIG. 7 in the first configuration example). At this time, the slider 311 engaged with the left rail member 300 is fixed by the top surface portion 303 and will not come off with respect to the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction (in other words, the direction in which the left rail member 300 extends).

[0135] As described above, the slide mechanism in the second configuration example (in other words, the mechanism for slidably attaching the controllers 3 and 4 to the main body device 2) is generally the same mechanism as that in the first configuration example.

[0136] In the second configuration example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a notch C1 is formed in a part of the upper end portion of the top surface portion 303. Although details will be described later, the notch C1 is formed so that the locking member 319 of the left controller 3 locks to the notch C1 (strictly speaking, the top surface portion 303 around the notch C1) when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2.

[0137] Here, the "state where the controller is attached to the main body device 2" refers to a state where a part of the controller (for example, a part of the slider, more specifically, the lower tip of the slider) that has been inserted into the rail member of the main body device 2 and moved downward abuts against a part of the main body device 2 (for example, a part of the rail member) and can no longer move. Hereinafter, such a state where the controller is completely attached to the main body device 2 may be referred to as the "attached state". The above attached state can also be referred to as a state where the controller is connected to the main body device 2 (that is, the connected state). When the main body device 2 and the controller have terminals as in this embodiment, the attached state can also be referred to as a state where the "terminals are connected to each other".

[0138] As described above, in the second configuration example, the portion of the top surface portion 303 where the notch C1 is formed (in other words, the portion around the notch C1) functions as a locked portion for the above locking member to lock. Although details will be described later, in the second configuration example, instead of the engaging hole 16 and the protrusion 41 in the first configuration example, the slide movement of the left controller 3 attached to the main body device 2 is locked (also referred to as locked) by the above locked portion and the locking member 319. The state where the slide movement is locked (in other words, locked) means a state where the slide movement is prevented because the locking member 319 is caught by the locked portion. Note that "locking (or locking)" only needs to be able to prevent slide movement by a force smaller than a certain level, and when a force equal to or greater than a certain level is applied, (as a result of the engagement of the locking member 319 with the locked portion being released,) the slide movement may be performed.

[0139] In the second configuration example, the locked portion is provided near the upper end of the left rail member 300 (that is, the end on the positive y-axis side) (FIG. 9). In other embodiments, the locked portion may be provided at any position. For example, the locked portion may be provided near the center of the left rail member 300 in the vertical direction (that is, the y-axis direction), or may be provided near the lower end. Further, no notch is formed in the top surface portion 303, and the upper end portion of the top surface portion 303 may function as the locked portion. That is, in the mounted state, the locking member 319 of the left controller 3 may be locked to the upper end portion of the top surface portion 303.

[0140] In addition, in other embodiments, the left rail member 300 may be configured not to have a locked portion. Even in such a configuration, a force that hinders the sliding movement of the left controller 3 mounted on the main body device 2 can be applied by contact between terminals described later and / or by pressing by the leaf spring 305, and it can be made difficult for the left controller 3 to come off from the main body device 2.

[0141] In the second configuration example, the locked portions are respectively provided on both of the two top surface portions 303a and 303b (FIG. 9). The locked portion provided on the top surface portion 303a and the locked portion provided on the top surface portion 303b are provided at substantially the same position in the vertical direction. Thus, in the second configuration example, the left rail member 300 has a substantially symmetric shape (FIG. 9). According to this, the same-shaped members can be used as the rail member provided on the left side surface of the main body device 2 and the rail member provided on the right side surface. Thereby, simplification and cost reduction of the manufacture of the main body device 2 can be achieved.

[0142] Also, when the locked parts are provided on both sides of the top surface portion 303, the left controller 3 may be provided with a locking member that locks to either one of the two locked parts. Therefore, according to the second configuration example, the main body device 2 can correspond to more types of controllers. Further, according to the second configuration example, the degree of freedom in the configuration of the controller that can be attached to the main body device 2 can be improved. In other embodiments, the locked part may be provided on either one of the two top surface portions 303a and 303b.

[0143] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the left rail member 300 has an opposing portion 304. In the second configuration example, the opposing portion 304 serves as the stopper 18 in the first configuration example (that is, the role of stopping the sliding movement of the slider 311 of the left controller 3). That is, the opposing portion 304 contacts the slider 311 inserted from above in the sliding direction to stop the sliding movement of the slider 311. Further, in the second configuration example, the left terminal 17 is provided on the opposing portion 304. In other embodiments, instead of (or together with) the opposing portion 304 contacting the slider 311, the tip of the slider 311 (specifically, the tip of the protruding portion 321 described later) may contact the wall surface 306 provided at the back of the opposing portion 304 to stop the sliding movement of the slider 311.

[0144] FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the cross-section of the left rail member in the B-B' cross-section shown in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 12, the opposing portion 304 is provided at a position facing a part of the bottom surface portion 301 (specifically, a portion near the lower end of the bottom surface portion 301) with a space therebetween from the bottom surface portion 301. That is, the opposing portion 304 has an opposing surface 304a facing the bottom surface portion 301. The opposing surface 304a is a surface facing the housing 11 of the main body device 2. In the second configuration example, when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, the slider 311 (the tip portion thereof) of the left controller 3 is inserted into the space between the bottom surface portion 301 and the opposing portion 304.

[0145] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the left terminal 17 is provided on the facing surface 304a. Therefore, the left terminal 17 is arranged in a state where the side facing the bottom surface portion 301 is exposed. In this way, in the second configuration example, the left terminal 17 is a member (i.e., the facing portion 304) that is arranged at a distance from the side surface of the main body device 2 (i.e., the bottom surface portion 301), and is arranged on the back side of the member (i.e., the side facing the bottom surface portion 301). According to this, the possibility that the left terminal 17 comes into contact with the user's hand or other objects can be reduced, and the left terminal 17 can be protected. According to the second configuration example, for example, the possibility that the user's hand accidentally touches the left terminal 17 or the left terminal 17 is damaged can be reduced.

[0146] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an example of the terminals provided in the main body device 2. As shown in FIG. 13, in the second configuration example, the facing portion 304 has a pedestal portion 307 provided on the facing surface 304a. The left terminal 17 is provided on the pedestal portion 307. In the present embodiment, the pedestal portion 307 is movably provided (at least in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction) to such an extent that the position can be slightly shifted with respect to the facing surface 304a. This is to facilitate the adjustment of the position of the left terminal 17 when aligning the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2 and the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 (the details of the alignment will be described later). In other embodiments, the pedestal portion 307 (in other words, the left terminal 17) may not be movably provided with respect to the facing surface 340 (i.e., may be fixedly provided with respect to the facing surface 340). Even in this case, the alignment is performed by at least one of the following. · Deformation of any of the members in the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2 (for example, the left rail member 300 itself, the pedestal portion 307, and the left terminal 17, etc.) due to the elasticity of the member · Deformation of any of the members in the slider 311 of the left controller 3 (for example, the slider 311 itself, the protruding portion 321 described later, and the terminal 42, etc.) due to the elasticity of the member · When a slight gap occurs between the engaged left rail member 300 and the slider 311, the change in the positional relationship between the left rail member 300 and the slider 311 Also, in other embodiments, instead of (or together with) the pedestal portion 307, the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 may be movably provided for adjusting the position in alignment.

[0147] As shown in FIG. 13, the pedestal portion 307 is formed with the same number of slits 307a as the number of left-side terminals 17 (here, 10). The slits 307a are formed so as to extend in the sliding direction (that is, the y-axis direction). Also, each slit 307a is arranged parallel to the opposing surface 304a and substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction (that is, in the z-axis direction). Therefore, it can be said that the opposing portion 304 (specifically, the pedestal portion 307) has a wall portion 307b between adjacent slits 307a.

[0148] Each left terminal 17 is provided within the slit 307a. As shown in FIG. 13, the left terminal 17 is provided inside the slit 307a, that is, it is provided so as not to protrude outside the slit 307a. When the direction perpendicular to the opposing surface 304a (i.e., the x-axis direction) is taken as the height direction, the left terminal 17 is provided at a position lower than the wall portion 307b (in other words, at a position closer to the opposing surface 304a). Here, in the state where the left terminal 17 and the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 are connected in the above mounting state, a part of the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 enters into the slit 307a. That is, a part of the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 is located between the two wall portions 307b. Note that a part of the terminal 42 corresponding to the left terminal 17 within each slit enters into the inside of each slit 307a. Thereby, the possibility that the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 is displaced in the arrangement direction of the left terminals 17 of the main body device 2 (i.e., the z-axis direction) can be reduced. That is, as a result of the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 coming into contact with a left terminal 17 other than the correct left terminal 17 of the main body device 2, the possibility of an error occurring in the communication between the main body device 2 and the left controller 3 or an electrical trouble occurring due to an unexpected current flowing between the erroneously contacted terminals can be reduced. Further, by providing the left terminal 17 within the slit 307a, the possibility that the left terminal 17 is damaged can be further reduced.

[0149] Also, if a conductive foreign object adheres between the terminals, there is a risk of short circuit. Regarding this, in the present embodiment, since the wall portion 307b is provided between the left terminals 17, the possibility that a conductive foreign object adheres across the terminals can be reduced, and the possibility of short circuit can be reduced.

[0150] Also, in the second configuration example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the top surface portion 303 and the opposing portion 304 are integrally formed. In other words, the upper surface of the opposing portion 304 (i.e., the surface facing the positive x-axis side) is configured to be continuous with the upper surface of the top surface portion 303 (i.e., the surface facing the positive x-axis side). According to this, the shape of the left rail member 300 can be simplified, and the manufacture of the rail member can be facilitated.

[0151] In the second configuration example, the left rail member 300 having the above-described respective portions 301 to 304 is made of metal. According to this, the strength of the rail member can be improved. Furthermore, by improving the strength of the rail member, it is also possible to contribute to the improvement of the strength of the main body device 2 to which the rail member is attached.

[0152] As described above, in the present embodiment, the opposing portion 304 serves to stop the sliding movement of the slider 311 of the left controller 3. Here, in the second configuration example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the opposing portion 304 has a first portion disposed on one side of an axis (i.e., the y-axis) along the sliding direction and a second portion disposed on the other side. In the present embodiment, the first portion and the second portion are arranged with a gap therebetween. The gap between the first portion and the second portion is a narrow gap such that the slider 311 cannot be inserted. Therefore, when the slider 311 is inserted into the left rail member 300, the sliding movement of the slider 311 stops at a position where a portion near the tip of the slider 311 (specifically, the tip of the shaft portion 325 described later) abuts against the opposing portion 304 (details will be described later). In other embodiments, the gap between the first portion and the second portion may not be provided. That is, the first portion and the second portion may be integrally formed.

[0153] Also, in the second configuration example, as shown in FIG. 9, the left terminal 17 and the engaged portion (in other words, the notch C1) are arranged on opposite sides with respect to the sliding direction of the left rail member 300. That is, the left terminal 17 is provided on one side portion (i.e., the portion on the negative y-axis side) with respect to the sliding direction of the left rail member 300, and the engaged portion is provided on the other side portion (i.e., the portion on the positive y-axis side) with respect to the sliding direction of the left rail member 300. Here, although details will be described later, in the mounted state, the left controller 3 is prevented from sliding by the locking member 319 and the engaged portion, and also by contact between the terminals. Therefore, in the second configuration example, since sliding movement can be prevented on both sides with respect to the sliding direction of the left rail member 300, the force for preventing sliding movement can be applied in a well-balanced manner. That is, the force applied to the left rail member 300 can be dispersed, and the possibility of the left rail member 300 being damaged can be reduced. Also, similar to the left rail member 300, the force applied to the slider 311 of the left controller can also be dispersed, so the possibility of the slider 311 being damaged can be reduced.

[0154] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the left rail member 300 has a leaf spring 305. The leaf spring 305 is provided on the bottom surface portion 301 of the left rail member 300. The leaf spring 305 is an example of an elastic member that applies a force in the direction away from the main body device 2 (positive x-axis direction) to the left controller 3 in a state where the left controller 3 is mounted on the main body device 2. In other embodiments, an elastic member such as rubber may be used instead of the leaf spring.

[0155] As will be described in detail later, in the mounted state, the leaf spring 305 abuts against the slider 311 of the left controller 3 and presses (i.e., biases) the left controller 3 in the direction away from the main body device 2 (i.e., the positive x-axis direction). Thereby, rattling between the main body device 2 and the left controller 3 can be reduced. Therefore, the main body device 2 and the left controller 3 can be more firmly connected. Also, the sound (so-called rattling sound) generated when the left controller 3 vibrates due to the vibrator 107 described later can be reduced.

[0156] Note that, as shown in FIG. 9, in the second configuration example, two of the four leaf springs 305 are arranged above the center of the bottom surface portion 301 (i.e., on the positive y-axis side), and the remaining two are arranged below the center of the bottom surface portion 301 (i.e., on the negative y-axis side). Also, two of the four leaf springs 305 are arranged in front of the center of the bottom surface portion 301 (i.e., on the positive z-axis side), and the remaining two are arranged behind the center of the bottom surface portion 301 (i.e., on the negative z-axis side). Thus, the plurality (here, four) of leaf springs 305 are provided on both sides with respect to the center of the left rail member 300 in the vertical direction (y-axis direction) and / or in the front-rear direction (z-axis direction). According to this, since force can be applied to the left controller 3 mounted on the main body device 2 by each leaf spring 305 in a well-balanced manner, rattling between the main body device 2 and the left controller 3 and / or the above-described rattling sound can be reduced more effectively.

[0157] Note that, in the second configuration example, the number of leaf springs 305 is four, but in other embodiments, the number of leaf springs may be arbitrary. Also, in other embodiments, the arrangement position of the leaf spring 305 is arbitrary and is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 9. Note that, in the second configuration example, the leaf spring 305 is arranged so as to abut against the position of the upper surface 311d (see FIG. 24) of the slider 311 of the left controller 3 in the mounted state.

[0158] Also, although not shown, the main body device 2 includes a right rail member on the right side surface of the housing 11. The right rail member can engage with a slider 331 of a right controller 4 described later, and a slide mechanism is constituted by the right rail member and the slider 331. The right rail member in the second configuration example, similar to the right rail member 19 in the first configuration example, slidably and detachably mounts the right controller 4 to the main body device 2, and can be referred to as a slide member. In the second configuration example, the mechanism (including the right rail member) on the right side surface of the main body device 2 is symmetric with the mechanism on the left side surface including the left rail member 300 (note that the functions assigned to the terminals are not symmetric).

[0159] In the second configuration example, the right rail member (including the pedestal portion provided on the right rail member and the right terminal) has the same configuration as the above-described left rail member 300. As described above, in the second configuration example, since the left rail member 300 has a symmetric shape with respect to an axis parallel to the front-rear direction (that is, the y-axis), the same member can be used for the right rail member and the left rail member. That is, in the second configuration example, a right rail member having the same shape as the left rail member 300 is provided on the right side surface of the main body device 2. According to this, simplification and cost reduction of the manufacture of the main body device 2 can be achieved.

[0160] Note that in the second configuration example, the configuration of the main body device 2 other than the configuration described above (for example, the configuration arranged on the main surface, the back surface, the upper surface, and the lower surface of the housing) may be the same as that in the first configuration example.

[0161] [1-2-2. Second Configuration Example Regarding Left Controller] FIG. 14 is a six-sided view showing an example of the left controller in the second configuration example. In the second configuration example, the left controller 3 has differences in the configuration of the slider 311 and each part provided thereon from the first configuration example. Hereinafter, the configuration of the left controller 3 in the second configuration example will be described centering on the differences from the first configuration example. In FIG. 14, the same components as those shown in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. In FIG. 14, although some operation parts (for example, the recording button 37, the - button 47, etc.) have different shapes from those in FIG. 5, these operation parts have the same functions as the operation parts in the first configuration example to which the same reference numerals are attached.

[0162] As shown in FIG. 14, in the second configuration example, the left controller 3 includes a main body portion 310 and a slider 311. The main body portion 310 has the same function as the housing 31 in the first configuration example, and may be the same as the housing 31. The slider 311 is a member for slidably and detachably mounting the left controller 3 to the main body device 2, similar to the slider 40 in the first configuration example.

[0163] As shown in FIG. 14, the slider 311 is provided so as to extend in the vertical direction (that is, the y-axis direction) on the right side surface (that is, the side surface on the negative x-axis direction side) of the main body portion 310 of the left controller 3. The slider 311 has a shape that can be engaged with the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2 (more specifically, each part 301 to 303 of the left rail member 300). Specifically, the cross section of the slider 311 (specifically, the cross section perpendicular to the vertical direction) has a shape protruding from the main body portion 310, similar to the first configuration example, and specifically has a T shape corresponding to the cross section shape of the left rail member 300 (see the “(enlarged view)” shown in FIG. 14).

[0164] As shown in the “(Enlarged View)” in FIG. 14, the slider 311 has a shaft portion 325 and a top surface portion 326. The shaft portion 325 is provided so as to protrude from the main body portion 310. The top surface portion 326 is provided on the opposite side (i.e., the negative x-axis direction side) of the main body portion 310 in the shaft portion 325. As described above, the cross section of the slider 311 perpendicular to the sliding direction is T-shaped. That is, the width of the top surface portion 326 (i.e., the length in the z-axis direction) is wider than the width of the shaft portion 325. Further, the end portion of the top surface portion 326 in the z-axis direction is arranged at a position (in other words, an outer position) protruding more than the end portion of the shaft portion 325 in the z-axis direction.

[0165] Thus, the slider 311 has a shape in which the width of the first portion (shaft portion 325) protruding from the right side surface of the main body portion 310 (in other words, adjacent to the right side surface) in the cross section perpendicular to the sliding direction is shorter than the width of the second portion (top surface portion 326) located farther from the right side surface of the main body portion 310 than the first portion. Therefore, the slider 311 inserted into the groove portion of the left rail member 300 engages with the left rail member 300 in the same engagement state as shown in FIG. 7 in the first configuration example. As a result, the slider 311 engaged with the left rail member 300 is fixed to the left rail member 300 so as not to come off with respect to the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction (in other words, the direction in which the left rail member 300 extends).

[0166] (Configuration Regarding Terminals) As shown in FIG. 14, also in the second configuration example as in the first configuration example, the terminal 42 is provided at the lower end portion of the slider 311. That is, the terminal 42 is provided at the end portion of the slider 311 that can be inserted into the main body device 2 (in other words, the tip side portion in the insertion direction in which the slider 311 can be inserted into the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2, that is, the lower end portion). According to this, as the slider 311 is inserted deeper into the left rail member 300 (that is, in the negative y-axis direction), the terminal 42 moves toward the left terminal 17 of the left rail member 300. Therefore, the terminal 42 can be guided toward the left terminal 17 to which the terminal 42 is to be connected, and the terminals can be easily connected. Further, when the slider 311 is inserted into the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2 all the way (or almost all the way), the terminal 42 of the slider 311 and the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2 come into contact with each other. According to this, when the user attaches the left controller 3 to the main body device 2, in order to connect the terminals, the user inserts the slider 311 into the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2 all the way, so that the left controller 3 can be attached to the main body device 2 in the correct attachment manner.

[0167] Here, in the second configuration example, the arrangement of the terminal 42 and the like is different from that in the first configuration example. Hereinafter, the details of the arrangement of the terminal 42 in the second configuration example will be described.

[0168] FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a cross section near the lower end of the slider 311 in the second configuration example. FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a partial cross section of the slider 311 in the C-C' cross section shown in FIG. 14. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the slider 311 has a protruding portion 321 on the lower end side of the slider 311. The protruding portion 321 is provided to protrude in the sliding direction (more specifically, downward, that is, in the negative y-axis direction) on the lower end side of the slider 311. The protruding portion 321 is provided on the slider 311 on the side far from the main body portion 310 (that is, on the negative x-axis side). That is, the protruding portion 321 is provided at a distance from the right side surface of the main body portion 310. The protruding portion 321 has an opposing surface 321a facing the main body portion 310 of the left controller 3. The opposing surface 321a faces a predetermined surface (specifically, the right side surface) of the left controller 3.

[0169] Note that in the second configuration example, the protruding portion 321 is not provided at the upper end portion (that is, the end portion on the positive y-axis side) of the slider 311 (see FIG. 14). Here, when the user inserts the slider 311 into the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2, it is conceivable that the user may accidentally insert the slider 311 into the left rail member 300 from the upper end of the slider 311. Even in such a case, according to the second configuration example, since the upper end of the slider 311 does not reach the left terminal 17 of the left rail member 300, the possibility that the upper end of the slider 311 damages the left terminal 17 can be reduced.

[0170] The terminal 42 is provided on the opposing surface 321a of the protruding portion 321. Therefore, the terminal 42 is arranged in a state where the side facing the main body portion 310 is exposed. Thus, in the second configuration example, the terminal 42 is arranged on the back side of the mounting surface of the slider 311 (specifically, the protruding portion 321). As described above, by arranging the terminal 42 with the side facing the main body portion 310 exposed, the possibility of the terminal 42 coming into contact with the user's hand or other objects can be reduced, and the terminal 42 can be protected. According to the second configuration example, for example, the possibility of the user's hand accidentally touching the terminal 42 or the terminal 42 being damaged can be reduced. In other embodiments, the terminal 42 may be provided on the inclined surface 323a of the tip portion 323 described later (FIG. 15). Since this inclined surface 323a also faces the main body portion 310 like the opposing surface 321a, the effect of protecting the terminal 42 can be obtained.

[0171] As shown in FIG. 15, the terminal 42 is provided at a distance from the right side surface of the main body portion 310. Although details will be described later, when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, the opposing portion 304 of the main body device 2 is inserted into the space between the terminal 42 (in other words, the protruding portion 321) and the right side surface of the main body portion 310 (FIG. 26). By arranging the terminal 42 and the main body portion 310 so that the above space is formed, as a result of the opposing portion 304 being inserted into the space, when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 can come into contact with the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2.

[0172] FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an example of the protruding portion 321 of the slider 311 in the second configuration example. FIG. 16 is a view of the protruding portion 321 seen from the back side (that is, from the side of the opposing surface 321a). As shown in the “(enlarged view)” of FIG. 16, a hole 311a is formed in the surface of the shaft portion 325 of the slider 311 where the protruding portion 321 is provided (that is, the end surface on the negative y-axis direction side). The terminal 42 is provided so as to protrude from the inside of the slider 311 through the hole 311a. Further, the same number of slits 321b as the number of terminals 42 (here, 10) are formed in the opposing surface 321a of the protruding portion 321. The slit 321b is connected to the hole 311a. The slit 321b is formed so as to extend in the sliding direction (that is, the y-axis direction). Further, as shown in FIG. 16, each slit 321b is formed parallel to the opposing surface 321a and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction (that is, the z-axis direction).

[0173] As shown in FIG. 16, the terminal 42 is provided on the opposing surface 321a along the slit 321b. Each terminal 42 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction (i.e., the z-axis direction), similar to each slit 321b. In the second configuration example, a part of the terminal 42 (for example, the tip portion) is provided inside the slit 321b, and the other part is provided outside the slit 321b (FIGS. 15 and 16). Although details will be described later, when the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 is connected to the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2 in the mounted state, the terminal 42 is pushed by the left terminal 17 and deformed, and moves in a direction approaching the slit 321b (i.e., the negative x-axis direction). That is, each terminal 42 bends so that at least a part of each terminal 42 enters the slit 321b provided on the opposing surface 321a. It can be said that the slit 321b is provided to avoid the deformed terminal 42 so that the terminal 42 does not contact the opposing surface 321a when deformed. Thus, in the second configuration example, although the terminal 42 does not contact the opposing surface 321a, it is provided at a position corresponding to the slit 321b provided on the opposing surface 321a, and if there is no slit 321b, it is provided at a position where it contacts the opposing surface 321a. In this sense, in the second configuration example, it can be said that the terminal 42 is provided on the opposing surface 321a. In other embodiments, the slit 321b may not be provided on the opposing surface 321a, and the terminal 42 may be provided so as to contact the opposing surface 321a. Also, as shown in FIG. 16, the terminal 42 extends along the opposing surface 321a.

[0174] As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the terminal 42 is provided so as to protrude from the opposing surface 321a (specifically, protrude toward the positive x-axis side). Here, as described above, when the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 is connected to the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2 in the mounted state, a part of the terminal 42 enters the slit 307a (see FIG. 13) on the main body device 2 side (in other words, between the two wall portions 307b). When the terminal 42 enters the slit 307a in this way, the terminal 42 is provided so as to protrude from the opposing surface 321a so that the opposing surface 321a does not hit the wall portion 307b and get in the way.

[0175] As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the terminal 42 has a shape bent in a V-shape so as to protrude in a direction away from the opposing surface 321a (i.e., in the positive x-axis direction). By having such a shape, the apex portion of the V-shape is easily brought into contact with the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2. In other words, the surface of the terminal 42 that contacts the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2 (i.e., the surface facing the main body portion 310) is visible from the sliding direction, so it can be said that the lower end side of the slider 311 (i.e., the negative y-axis direction side) is exposed. Thereby, the terminal 42 is easily brought into contact with the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2.

[0176] In the second configuration example, the protruding portion 321 has a wall portion 322 (see FIG. 16). The wall portion 322 is provided on both sides in a direction parallel to the opposing surface 321a and substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction (i.e., the z-axis direction) on the opposing surface 321a. The wall portion 322 can further reduce the possibility of the terminal 42 coming into contact with a user's hand or other objects, so the terminal 42 can be more reliably protected. As shown in FIG. 16, in the present embodiment, the wall portion 322 is provided up to the tip of the protruding portion 321. That is, the wall portion 322 extends to a position closer to the tip of the protruding portion 321 than the terminal 42. Thereby, the terminal 42 can be more reliably protected. Note that in other embodiments, the wall portion 322 does not have to extend to the tip of the protruding portion 321.

[0177] Note that, as described above, the terminal 42 is provided to protrude from the opposing surface 321a. Here, the wall portion 322 is formed higher than the height at which the terminal 42 protrudes from the opposing surface 321a (see FIG. 15). Thereby, the protection of the terminal 42 by the wall portion 322 can be made more reliable. Note that, in other embodiments, the wall portion 322 may be formed to be the same as or lower than the height at which the terminal 42 protrudes from the opposing surface 321a. Also, the wall portion 322 may be provided only on one side in the front-rear direction (i.e., the z-axis direction) of the terminal 42. Even in such aspects, the wall portion 322 has a certain effect of protecting the terminal 42. Also, in other embodiments, the protruding portion 321 may be configured not to have the wall portion 322.

[0178] Also, in the second configuration example, at the tip portion of the protruding portion 321 (in other words, the lower end portion of the slider 311, that is, the end portion on the negative y-axis side), the interval between the two inner walls 322a of the wall portion 322 is formed so as to gradually widen toward the tip of the protruding portion 321 (FIG. 16). Thereby, when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2 is guided to the correct position with respect to the terminal 42 of the left controller 3. That is, when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, if the position of the left terminal 17 is slightly deviated with respect to the terminal 42 (in the z-axis direction), the pedestal portion 307 of the left terminal 17 abuts against the inner wall of the wall portion 322, whereby the position of the left terminal 17 is corrected. Thereby, the left terminal 17 is guided to the correct position with respect to the terminal 42, and alignment is performed. Thus, the wall portion 322 has a function of aligning the left terminal 17 and the terminal 42. Note that the inclined surface 323a may be a curved surface, and the boundary between the opposing surface 321a and the inclined surface 323a may be rounded (in other words, chamfered).

[0179] As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the protruding portion 321 has a tip portion 323. The tip portion 323 is provided on the tip side (i.e., the negative y-axis direction side) of the terminal 42 with respect to the sliding direction of the slider 311 (i.e., the y-axis direction). According to this, the terminal 42 is disposed slightly deeper than the tip of the slider 311 (specifically, the tip on the negative y-axis direction side). Therefore, for example, even when the tip of the slider 311 contacts another object when the controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, the possibility of the terminal 42 contacting the object can be reduced. In this way, the tip portion 323 can protect the terminal 42.

[0180] Also, as shown in FIG. 15, the tip portion 323 has a shape that becomes thinner toward the tip (specifically, the tip on the lower end side of the slider 311). More specifically, the tip portion 323 has an inclined surface 323a that inclines in a direction from the opposing surface 321a where the terminal 42 is provided toward the surface on the back side of the opposing surface 321a (in other words, in a direction away from the right side surface of the main body portion 310) (FIG. 15). According to this, when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2 (in other words, the opposing portion 304) is guided to the correct position with respect to the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 (in other words, the protruding portion 321). That is, when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, if the position of the left terminal 17 is slightly deviated with respect to the terminal 42 (with respect to the x-axis direction), the pedestal portion 307 or the opposing portion 304 of the left terminal 17 abuts against the inclined surface 323a, thereby correcting the position of the left terminal 17. As a result, the left terminal 17 is guided to the correct position with respect to the terminal 42, and alignment is performed. In this way, the inclined surface 323a of the tip portion 323 has a function of aligning the left terminal 17 and the terminal 42.

[0181] As shown in FIG. 14, the slider 311 has a reinforcing member 312. The reinforcing member 312 is provided on the mounting surface of the slider 311. Specifically, the reinforcing member 312 is provided at least on a portion corresponding to the opposing surface 321a where the terminal 42 is provided among the mounting surfaces (in other words, the portion on the back side of the opposing surface 321a) (see FIG. 17). In other words, the reinforcing member 312 is provided at least at the position of the protruding portion 321. That is, a part of the protruding portion 321 is constituted by the reinforcing member 312. Here, in the second configuration example, among the members forming the surface of the slider 311, other portions than the reinforcing member 312 are made of resin. On the other hand, the reinforcing member 312 is made of metal. Therefore, the strength of the portion of the slider 311 where the terminal 42 is provided (that is, the protruding portion 321) can be increased by the reinforcing member 312. Further, when the slider 311 is inserted into the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2, it is possible to suppress the slider 311 from being worn by rubbing against the left rail member 300 by the reinforcing member 312. In the second configuration example, in order to reduce the size of the device, the protruding portion 321 is formed thin to form a thin slide mechanism. Even when the protruding portion 321 is formed thin in this way, the strength of the protruding portion 321 can be maintained by being constituted by the reinforcing member 312. Further, when the protruding portion 321 is thinly formed of resin, there is a possibility that the molding of the protruding portion 321 becomes difficult. On the other hand, according to the second configuration example, the manufacturing of the protruding portion 321 including the above portion can be easily performed.

[0182] FIG. 17 is an exploded view showing an example of a reinforcing member and an insulating sheet provided on the slider. As shown in FIG. 17, a recessed portion 311b recessed with respect to the mounting surface is formed near the lower end portion (that is, the end portion on the negative y-axis side) on the mounting surface of the slider 311. The reinforcing member 312 is attached to the recessed portion 311b. In the second configuration example, the insulating sheet 316 is first inserted into the recessed portion 311b, and further, the reinforcing member 312 is attached to the outside of the insulating sheet 316, so that the reinforcing member 312 is attached to the slider 311 (more precisely, the portion other than the reinforcing member 312 of the slider 311). Note that the recessed portion 311b is formed not only at the position of the protruding portion 321 but also at the portion of the slider 311 that is not the protruding portion 321. Therefore, in the second configuration example, the reinforcing member 312 is provided at the protruding portion 321 and the portion (of the slider 311) continuous with the protruding portion 321. According to this, the protruding portion 321 can be reinforced, and the possibility that the protruding portion 321 breaks and detaches from the main body portion (that is, the portion other than the protruding portion 321) of the slider 311 can be reduced.

[0183] As shown in FIG. 17, the above-described slit 321b is formed on the bottom surface of the recessed portion 311b. That is, the slit 321b provided on the opposing surface 321a penetrates to the bottom surface of the recessed portion 311b on the back side of the opposing surface 321a. Note that the terminal 42 extends not only to the position of the protruding portion 321 but also inside the slider 311. The slit 321b on the bottom surface side of the recessed portion 311b is formed along the terminal 42. That is, the slit 321b on the bottom surface side of the recessed portion 311b is formed to extend not only to the position on the back side of the protruding portion 321 but also to the main body portion of the slider 311. According to this, when the terminal 42 is deformed by being pressed by the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2 in the mounted state, the possibility that a large force is applied to the terminal 42 can be reduced by the terminal 42 coming into contact with the bottom surface of the recessed portion 311b (precisely, the bottom surface in the case where the slit 321b is not provided in the recessed portion 311b and the bottom surface is provided at the position of the slit 321b).

[0184] As shown in FIG. 17, the reinforcing member 312 has a top surface portion 312a, side surface portions 312b, engaging portions 312c, and a ground connection portion 312d. In the second configuration example, by bending a single metal plate, it is possible to create the reinforcing member 312 having the above-described portions 312a to 312d, and the reinforcing member 312 can be easily created.

[0185] The top surface portion 312a is a portion having a top surface that becomes a part of the mounting surface of the slider 311 when the reinforcing member 312 is attached to the slider 311. In the second configuration example, the top surface portion 312a has a substantially rectangular shape. The reinforcing member 312 has four side surface portions 312b, and each side surface portion 312b extends substantially perpendicular to the top surface from the four sides of the top surface portion 312a. The side surface portion 312b abuts against the side surface of the recessed portion 311b when the reinforcing member 312 is attached to the recessed portion 311b of the slider 311.

[0186] The engaging portion 312c is provided so as to protrude from the side surface portion 312b. In the second configuration example, the engaging portion 312c is provided on each of the three side surface portions 312b out of the four side surface portions 312b, namely, the two side surface portions 312b extending from the long side of the top surface portion 312a and the side surface portion 312b where the ground connection portion 312d is provided. As shown in the enlarged view in FIG. 17, the ground connection portion 312d is provided so as to protrude from the engaging portion 312c. Also, the number of the engaging portions 312c is arbitrary and may be provided on two side surface portions 312b or may be provided on four side surface portions 312b. Here, the bottom surface of the recessed portion 311b has a rectangular shape substantially the same as that of the top surface portion 312a, and a slit 311c is formed in the side corresponding to the side surface portion 312b where the engaging portion 312c is provided among the four sides of the bottom surface. That is, in the second configuration example, the slit 311c is formed in three sides of the bottom surface of the recessed portion 311b. When the reinforcing member 312 is attached to the slider 311, each engaging portion 312c is inserted into each slit 311c, whereby the reinforcing member 312 is attached to the slider 311.

[0187] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the latching portion 312c is inserted into the slit 311c. FIG. 18(a) shows an example of a state before the latching portion 312c is inserted into the slit 311c. As shown in FIG. 18, the latching portion 312c has claw portions 312e on both sides in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction (i.e., the positive x-axis direction) in which the reinforcing member 312 is inserted into the slit 311c. The first end portion of the claw portion 312e in the insertion direction is formed such that the width of the latching portion 312c becomes narrower as the tip in the insertion direction approaches. Further, the second end portion of the claw portion 312e on the side opposite to the insertion direction is formed to have a side substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction. In other embodiments, the side of the second end portion may be formed to approach the inside of the latching portion 312c as the tip in the insertion direction approaches (see the dotted line shown in FIG. 18(a)). Thus, the claw portion 312e has a shape in which the latching portion 312c can move relatively easily in the insertion direction, and in the direction opposite to the insertion direction, the latching portion 312c is relatively difficult to move because the second end portion is latched to the slit 311c.

[0188] FIG. 18(b) shows an example of a state in which the latching portion 312c is inserted into the slit 311c. As shown in FIG. 18(b), in the above state, the claw portion 312e is latched to the side portion of the slit 311c. Further, in FIG. 18(b), a part of the claw portion 312e is in a state of biting into the slider 311 (specifically, the side portion of the slit 311c formed in the slider 311). Thus, in the state where the latching portion 312c is inserted into the slit 311c, since the second end portion of the claw portion 312e is latched to the side portion of the slit 311c, it has become difficult for the latching portion 312c to come out of the slit 311c. That is, it has become difficult for the reinforcing member 312 to come off from the slider 311.

[0189] As described above, in the second configuration example, the terminal 42 and the reinforcing member 312 which is a metal member are arranged relatively close to each other. Here, when the terminal 42 and the metal member are arranged close to each other, as a result of the terminal 42 being affected electrically due to accidental contact with the metal member, there may occur communication errors or unexpected currents between the left controller 3 and the main body device 2 via the terminal 42. For example, as described above, in the mounted state, the terminal 42 may be pushed and deformed by the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2 and move into the slit 321b. In this case, if the terminal 42 comes into contact with the reinforcing member 312 which is a metal member, there may occur communication errors or unexpected currents between the left controller 3 and the main body device 2 via the terminal 42.

[0190] In order to reduce the above-mentioned possibility, in the second configuration example, an insulating sheet 316 is provided between the terminal 42 and the reinforcing member 312 (FIG. 17). That is, in the second configuration example, after the insulating sheet 316 is inserted into the recessed portion 311b, the reinforcing member 312 is attached to the slider 311. According to this, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the terminal 42 is affected adversely by the reinforcing member 312, and as a result, it is possible to improve the communication accuracy between the left controller 3 and the main body device 2.

[0191] In addition, in the present embodiment, the insulating sheet 316 also has a waterproof function. Specifically, according to the insulating sheet 316, it is possible to prevent water that has entered from the boundary between the reinforcing member 312 and the slider 311 from entering the slit 321b, and it is possible to reduce the possibility of water that has entered the slit 321b adhering to the terminal 42. Thus, since the insulating sheet 316 has a waterproof function, it can also be referred to as a waterproof sheet. Note that the insulating sheet 316 may be made of a material having water absorption or a water-repellent material. When the insulating sheet 316 is a water-absorbent material, the possibility of water adhering to the terminal 42 can be reduced by the insulating sheet 316 absorbing moisture. When the insulating sheet 316 is a water-repellent material, the possibility of water entering the slit 321b can be reduced by the insulating sheet 316 closing the slit 321b.

[0192] Note that even when the terminal 42 and the reinforcing member 312 which is a metal member do not (by the insulating sheet 316) come into contact, it is conceivable that the reinforcing member 312 becomes charged due to an electric current flowing through the terminal 42 or static electricity from the outside or the like. When the reinforcing member 312 becomes charged in this way, there is a possibility that the terminal 42 may be affected adversely by the reinforcing member 312. Therefore, in the second configuration example, the ground connection portion 312d described above is used so that the reinforcing member 312 becomes the reference potential (ground).

[0193] FIG. 19 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the arrangement of components inside the left controller 3. As shown in FIG. 19, the left controller 3 includes an electronic circuit 318 inside. The electronic circuit 318 is, for example, a printed circuit board, and may be a flexible printed circuit board composed of a film-like substrate. Further, the terminal 42 and the ground connection portion 312d are connected to the electronic circuit 318.

[0194] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a state where the terminal 42 and the ground connection portion 312d are connected to the electronic circuit 318. In FIG. 20, only the through-hole and the land formed around it are shown for the electronic circuit 318, and printed wiring and the like are omitted. As shown in FIG. 20, the electronic circuit 318 has a terminal land portion 318a for connecting the terminal 42. The terminal 42 is inserted into the through-hole of the terminal land portion 318a and is (electrically) connected to the terminal land portion 318a by soldering or the like. In FIG. 20, a state where one terminal 42 is connected to one terminal land portion 318a is shown, but actually, ten terminals 42 are connected to ten terminal land portions 318a one by one.

[0195] Further, the electronic circuit 318 has a ground land portion 318b for connecting the ground connection portion 312d. The ground connection portion 312d is inserted into the through-hole of the ground land portion 318b and is (electrically) connected to the ground land portion 318b by soldering or the like. Here, the ground land portion 318b is a ground portion connected to the reference potential (in other words, having the reference potential). Although not shown, in the electronic circuit 318, the terminal land portion 318a to which the ground terminal among the ten terminals 42 is connected and the ground land portion 318b are electrically connected by printed wiring. That is, the ground terminal is electrically connected to the ground land portion 318b.

[0196] As described above, in the second configuration example, since the reinforcing member 312 is electrically connected to the ground portion, the possibility that the reinforcing member 312 is charged can be reduced. According to this, the possibility that the terminal 42 is affected by the reinforcing member 312 can be reduced, and as a result, the communication accuracy between the left controller 3 and the main body device 2 can be improved.

[0197] (Configuration regarding the locking member) As shown in FIG. 14, in the second configuration example, the left controller 3 includes a locking member 319. The locking member 319 is a member for locking the sliding movement of the slider 311 of the left controller 3 with respect to the main body device 2 in the above mounting state. That is, in the second configuration example, instead of the protruding portion 41 in the first configuration example, the sliding movement of the slider 311 is locked (in other words, locked) by the locking member 319.

[0198] As shown in FIG. 14, the locking member 319 is provided above the center (that is, on the positive y-axis side) with respect to the sliding direction of the slider 311. More specifically, the locking member 319 is provided at the upper end portion of the slider 311. Note that the position of the locking member 319 on the slider 311 is determined according to the position of the locked portion on the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2. That is, the position of the locking member 319 is determined so that the locking member 319 is located at the notch C1 of the top surface 303 of the left rail member 300 in the mounted state (FIG. 27). Further, the locking member 319 is provided at a portion closer to the upper end than the lower end of the slider 311 with respect to the sliding direction of the slider 311. Further, for example, when the locked portion is disposed at the upper end of the left rail member 300, the locking member 319 may be provided at the upper end of the slider 311.

[0199] When the locking member 319 is provided at the upper portion of the slider 311 as in the second configuration example, the period during which the locking member 319 contacts the left rail member 300 when the slider 311 is inserted into the left rail member 300 can be shortened. Thereby, the user can smoothly perform the sliding movement of the slider 311. Note that the position of the locking member 319 is arbitrary, and in other embodiments, it may be provided at the lower portion of the slider 311.

[0200] FIG. 21 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the positional relationship between the slider 311 and the locking member 319 in the second configuration example. As shown in FIG. 21(a), the locking member 319 is provided so as to protrude from the slider 311 (specifically, the side surface portion of the slider 311). Further, the locking member 319 is also provided so as to protrude from the right side surface of the main body portion 310. Thus, in the second configuration example, the locking member 319 is provided so as to protrude from the side surface portion of the slider 311 and the right side surface of the main body portion 310.

[0201] As described above, the slider 311 has a shaft portion 325 and a top surface portion 326 that is wider than the shaft portion 325. In the second configuration example, at least a part of the locking member 319 is provided so as to protrude from a hole 325a (see FIG. 23) formed in the side surface of the shaft portion 325. Further, at least a part of the locking member 319 is provided so as to protrude from a hole (not shown) formed in the right side surface of the main body portion 310.

[0202] Note that the locking member 319 may be provided at any position where it can be locked to the locked portion of the left rail member 300 in the mounted state. Therefore, instead of being provided so as to protrude from the side surface portion of the shaft portion 325, the locking member 319 may be provided so as to protrude from another position other than the side surface portion in the left controller 3. For example, the locking member 319 may be provided so as to protrude from the surface forming the recess H (see FIG. 21) formed by the main body portion 310 and the slider 311 of the left controller 3. Note that the recess H is a portion where a cross section perpendicular to the sliding direction of the slider 311 is formed in a concave shape by one or both of the main body portion 310 and the slider 311 of the left controller 3.

[0203] In other embodiments, the locking member 319 may be provided, for example, at the position shown in FIG. 22. FIG. 22 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the positional relationship between the slider 311 and the locking member 319 in other embodiments. As shown in FIG. 22, the locking member 319 may be provided so as to protrude from the main body portion 310 (only). Also, although not shown, the locking member 319 may be provided so as to protrude from the side surface (only) of the slider 311. Further, the locking member 319 may be provided so as to protrude from the top surface portion 326 forming the concave portion H (more specifically, from a hole provided in the top surface portion 326). The locking member 319 may be provided so as to protrude from the side surface of the main body portion 310, the side surface of the shaft portion 325, and the top surface portion 326. For example, in the case shown in FIG. 21(a), the locking member 319 may be provided so as to enter not only the side surfaces of the main body portion 310 and the shaft portion 325 but also the inside of the top surface portion 326.

[0204] As described above, according to the second configuration example, since the locking member 319 is provided so as to protrude from the surface forming the concave portion, the possibility that the locking member 319 contacts another object and is damaged can be reduced. Thus, according to the second configuration example, the locking member 319 can be protected by the concave portion.

[0205] Also, the locking member 319 is provided so as not to protrude from the space within the concave portion (the region surrounded by the dashed-dotted line and the oblique lines in FIG. 21(a)) to the space outside the left controller 3. According to this, the possibility that the locking member 319 contacts another object and is damaged can be further reduced, and the locking member 319 can be more reliably protected.

[0206] In the second configuration example, the locking member 319 is movable and can be in a state of being housed inside the left controller 3 (specifically, inside the slider 311 or the main body 310) as shown in FIG. 21(b). That is, the locking member 319 can take two states: a protruding state shown in FIG. 21(a) and a housed state shown in FIG. 21(b). Although details will be described later, in the mounted state, the locking member 319 releases the state of locking to the locked portion of the left rail member 300 (that is, it no longer locks to the locked portion) by being in the housed state. As a result, the lock by the locking member 319 (against the sliding movement of the slider 311) is released.

[0207] In the second configuration example, as shown in FIG. 21, the locking member 319 is movable in a direction parallel to the right side surface of the left controller 3 (that is, the z-axis direction). Specifically, the locking member 319 enters the housed state by moving in a direction approaching the inside of the slider 311 (that is, the negative z-axis direction). Note that the direction in which the locking member 319 can move may be any direction perpendicular to the slide direction. For example, in another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, the locking member 319 may be movable in a direction perpendicular to the right side surface of the left controller 3 (that is, the x-axis direction). At this time, the locking member 319 enters the housed state by moving in a direction approaching the inside of the main body 310 (that is, the positive x-axis direction).

[0208] In the second configuration example, the locking member 319 is movable to a position where its entire body is housed inside the left controller 3. That is, in the housed state, the entire body of the locking member 319 is housed inside the left controller 3. Here, in other embodiments, in the housed state, it is not necessarily the case that the entire body of the locking member 319 is housed inside the left controller 3. That is, the locking member 319 may be movable between a first position protruding from the surface forming the concave portion and a second position closer to the inside of the left controller 3 than the first position (the second position value may be a position where a part of the locking member 319 protrudes from the left controller 3). Further, the locking member 319 may be provided in a state of protruding from the surface forming the concave portion and may be a member that deforms itself when receiving a force from another source.

[0209] FIG. 23 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of the locking member and the release button. In FIG. 23, for the purpose of making the components to be described (that is, the locking member 319, the release button 313, the slider 311, and the spring 327) easier to see, some components (such as the main body portion 310, etc.) are shown with deletion. Also, for the same purpose, a part of the top surface portion 326 of the slider 311 is shown with deletion.

[0210] The locking member 319 is biased by an elastic member (specifically, a spring 327) so as to be in the protruding state. Specifically, the left controller 3 has a spring 327 inside it. The spring 327 is provided at a position inside the slider 311 rather than the locking member 319. The spring 327 abuts against the locking member 319 and biases the locking member 319 in the outer direction of the slider 311.

[0211] In the second configuration example, the left controller 3 includes a release button 313 (FIGS. 14 and 23). The user can move the locking member 319 to the housed state and release the lock by the locking member 319 by pressing the release button 313. Hereinafter, the configuration for moving the locking member 319 to the housed state will be described in detail.

[0212] As shown in FIG. 23, the release button 313 is provided so as to abut against the locking member 319. That is, the release button 313 is connected to the locking member 319. The release button 313 is paired with the locking member 319 and moves in conjunction with it. Note that the locking member 319 and the release button 313 may be integrally formed. Although not shown, inside the main body 310 and the slider 311, there are provided grooves (in other words, spaces) in which the locking member 319 and the release button 313 can move. The locking member 319 and the release button 313 are provided so as to be movable in the front-rear direction (that is, the z-axis direction) along the above-described grooves. Therefore, when the release button 313 is pressed (that is, when it moves in the negative z-axis direction), the locking member 319 also moves in the pressing direction together with the release button 313. Also, as described above, the locking member 319 is biased in the rear direction (that is, the positive z-axis direction) by the spring 327. Therefore, in a state where no force other than the spring 327 is applied (for example, a state where the release button 313 is not pressed), the locking member 319 is in the above-described protruding state, and the release button 313 is in a state of being pushed up from the back surface of the main body 310 (specifically, a state of being pushed up from the inside to the outside of the main body 310 so as to protrude from the back surface of the main body 310. This state is referred to as the "pushed-up state"). That is, the release button 313 is biased in the rear direction by the spring 327 in the same manner as the locking member 319.

[0213] The user can press the release button 313 in the pushed-up state. In response to the release button 313 being pressed, the release button 313 and the locking member 319 move in the direction inside the left controller 3. As a result, the release button 313 is in a state of being pushed down more than the above-described pushed-up state (referred to as the "pressed state"). Also, as a result of the locking member 319 moving inside the slider 311 through the hole 325a, the above-described stored state is achieved. As described above, the user can put the locking member 319 in the stored state and release the lock by the locking member 319 by operating to press the release button 313.

[0214] Also, in the second configuration example, the locking member 319 has an inclined surface 319a at its lower end (i.e., the end on the negative y-axis side) (Fig. 23). That is, the locking member 319 has a shape in which the lower end becomes thinner towards the tip. Specifically, the inclined surface 319a is inclined so as to approach the direction in which the locking member 319 can move (in other words, the moving direction from the protruding state to the housed state, i.e., the negative z-axis side) towards the tip. Although details will be described later, the inclined surface 319a is provided to make it difficult for the locking member 319 to be caught by the top surface 303 of the left rail member 300 when the slider 311 is inserted into the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2.

[0215] Note that an end surface substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction is provided at the upper end of the locking member 319 (i.e., the end on the positive y-axis side) (Fig. 23). That is, no inclined surface like the lower end is provided at the upper end, and it has a shape that is less inclined than the lower end. Therefore, the upper end has a shape that is more likely to be caught by the top surface 303 of the left rail member 300 than the lower end.

[0216] Also in the second configuration example, similar to the first configuration example, on the back surface of the main body portion 310, the ZL button 39 protrudes from the back surface. Further, the left controller 3 has a protruding portion 314 that protrudes with respect to other portions of the back surface of the main body portion 310 in the vicinity of the ZL button 39 (FIG. 14). As shown in FIG. 14, the release button 313 is provided on the back surface of the main body portion 310 in the vicinity of the ZL button 39 (in other words, in the vicinity of the protruding portion 314). According to the second configuration example, the ZL button 39 and the protruding portion 314 are provided higher than the release button 313 with respect to the above-mentioned "other portions of the back surface". Therefore, when the left controller 3 is viewed from a predetermined direction parallel to the back surface (for example, when viewed from the left side as in FIG. 14(b) or when viewed from the upper side as in FIG. 14(d)), at least a part of the release button 313 becomes invisible. Therefore, in the second configuration example, for example, the possibility that the user accidentally presses the release button 313 or accidentally hits the release button 313 against another object and the release button 313 is pressed can be reduced. In this way, the ZL button 39 and / or the protruding portion 314 function as a protruding portion that protects the release button 313. By providing the protruding portion, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the left controller 3 detaches from the main body device 2 as a result of the release button 313 being accidentally operated and the lock being released. In other embodiments, the ZL button 39 and / or the protruding portion 314 may be provided lower than the release button 313 with respect to the above-mentioned other portions of the back surface. Even in this case, if it protrudes from the back surface of the main body portion 310, the effect of protecting the release button 313 can be achieved.

[0217] In the second configuration example, the release button 313 is provided on the back surface of the main body portion 310 (FIG. 14). Therefore, when the user holds the information processing device 1 (with the left controller 3 attached) so as to operate the operation units 32 to 36 on the main surface (that is, the front surface) with the thumb, the user can easily operate the release button 313 with the index finger. That is, according to the second configuration example, it is possible to provide an information processing device with high convenience that is easy to operate the release button 313 while holding the information processing device 1.

[0218] Incidentally, the arrangement position of the release button 313 is arbitrary. For example, in other embodiments, the release button 313 may be provided on the main surface of the main body 310. According to this, since the user can visually recognize the release button 313 while holding the information processing apparatus 1, it is possible to provide a controller including the release button 313 that is easy to operate.

[0219] Also, in other embodiments, the release button 313 may be provided on both the front and back surfaces of the main body 310. At this time, the mechanism for moving the locking member 319 to the stored state in response to the pressing of the release button 313 may be (a) a mechanism in which the locking member 319 moves to the stored state in response to the pressing of either one of the two release buttons 313, or (b) a mechanism in which the locking member 319 moves to the stored state in response to the pressing of both of the two release buttons 313. According to the configuration of (a) above, since the user may operate the release button 313 that feels easy to operate among the two release buttons 313, the convenience of the information processing apparatus can be improved. Further, according to the configuration of (b) above, since the lock is not released even if one of the two release buttons 313 is accidentally operated, the possibility of accidental unlocking can be reduced.

[0220] Also, in other embodiments, the left controller 3 may be configured not to include the release button 313. At this time, the user can release the lock by the locking member 319 and remove the left controller 3 from the main body device 2 by applying a force equal to or greater than a certain value to the left controller 3 to slide the left controller 3 upward.

[0221] (Configuration on the mounting surface of the slider 311) As shown in FIG. 14, also in the second configuration example as in the first configuration example, on the mounting surface of the slider 311, a second L button 43, a second R button 44, a notification LED 45, and a pairing button 46 are provided. In the second configuration example, recesses are formed at two locations on the mounting surface of the slider 311, and the second L button 43 and the second R button 44 are respectively provided in the recesses.

[0222] FIG. 24 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of the slider 311 in the vicinity of the second L button in the second configuration example. FIG. 24 is a view when the slider 311 is viewed from the front side (that is, from the positive direction side of the z-axis to the negative direction side). In FIG. 24, the configuration of the slider 311 in the vicinity of the second L button is shown, but the configuration of the slider 311 in the vicinity of the second R button is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 24.

[0223] As shown in FIG. 24, the mounting surface of the slider 311 has an upper surface 311d, an inclined surface 311e, and a lower surface 311f. The upper surface 311d is a surface provided at a position relatively separated from the main body portion 310 of the left controller 3 (that is, farther than the other surfaces 311e and 311f). The lower surface 311f is a surface provided at a position relatively close to the main body portion 310 of the left controller 3 (that is, closer than the upper surface 311d). In other words, the lower surface 311f is formed at a position lower than the upper surface 311d. The inclined surface 311e is a surface connecting the upper surface 311d and the lower surface 311f. In the second configuration example, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 311e is set to be less than 90° (for example, less than 45°).

[0224] As shown in FIG. 24, the second L button 43 is disposed on the lower surface 311f. Also, in the second configuration example (different from the first configuration example), the lower surface 311f and the inclined surface 311e are formed from one end to the other end in the width direction (i.e., the z-axis direction) of the slider 311. In other words, the recess formed by the lower surface 311f and the inclined surface 311e is formed from one end to the other end in the width direction of the slider 311. Thus, in the second configuration example, the second L button 43 is visible when the slider 311 is viewed from the above width direction.

[0225] Note that, in the second configuration example, the recess formed by the lower surface 311f and the inclined surface 311e is provided at a position different from the end portion in the sliding direction of the slider 311. Here, in other embodiments, the recess may be provided at the end in the sliding direction of the slider 311. That is, the end of the mounting surface in the sliding direction may be constituted by the lower surface.

[0226] Also, similar to the first configuration example, in the second configuration example, the second L button 43 is provided so as not to protrude beyond the upper surface 311d (FIG. 24). In other words, the distance from the right side surface of the main body portion 310 to the second L button 43 (specifically, the distance in the x-axis direction) is greater than the distance from the right side surface to the lower surface 311f and less than or equal to the distance from the right side surface to the upper surface 311d. According to this, in a state where the slider 311 is attached to the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2, the possibility that the second L button 43 contacts the bottom surface of the left rail member 300 can be reduced. Thereby, the slider 311 can be smoothly slid with respect to the left rail member 300.

[0227] As described above, in the second configuration example, since slopes are provided on both sides of the operation unit (the second L button 43 and the second R button 44), it is possible to make it easier to press the operation unit. Further, since the finger of the user who presses the operation unit hits the slope, it is possible to reduce the sense of discomfort felt by the user when the finger hits the step between the lower surface and the upper surface. Thus, according to the second configuration example, the operability of the left controller 3 can be improved.

[0228] Note that the slope 311e may be a flat surface as shown in FIG. 24, or may be a curved surface with a changing inclination angle. Further, with respect to the boundary portion between the lower surface 311f and the slope 311e, and the boundary portion between the upper surface 311d and the slope 311e, the inclination may change smoothly. According to this, it is possible to further reduce the above-described sense of discomfort felt by the user.

[0229] Also, as described above, in the second configuration example, for the second L button 43 and the second R button 44, the lower surface that constitutes the recess in which they are provided extends to the periphery of the mounting surface (FIG. 24). On the other hand, the pairing button 46 is configured in the same manner as in the first configuration example also in the second configuration example. That is, for the pairing button 46, a lower surface that extends to the periphery of the mounting surface is not formed, and an upper surface is formed on the entire periphery of the pairing button 46. Note that, also in the second configuration example, the pairing button 46 is provided so as not to protrude more than the upper surface. Here, the pairing button 46 is a button for instructing the above-described pairing process, and it is not expected to be frequently pressed during the use of the information processing apparatus 1 (for example, during a game operation). Therefore, in the second configuration example, in order to reduce the possibility that the pairing button 46 is accidentally operated during the use of the information processing apparatus 1, as described above, it is configured to be more difficult to press than the second L button 43 and the second R button 44.

[0230] [1-2-3. Second Configuration Example Regarding Right Controller] FIG. 25 is a six-sided view showing an example of the right controller 4 in the second configuration example. In the second configuration example, the right controller 4 has a configuration of the slider and each part provided thereon that is different from that of the first configuration example. Hereinafter, the configuration of the right controller 4 in the second configuration example will be described centering on the differences from the first configuration example. In FIG. 25, the same components as those shown in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. Note that in FIG. 25, some operation parts (for example, the + button 57, etc.) have shapes different from those in FIG. 6, but these operation parts have the same functions as the operation parts in the first configuration example to which the same reference numerals are attached.

[0231] In the second configuration example, the right controller 4 includes a main body part 330. The main body part 330 has the same function as the housing 51 in the first configuration example, and may be the same as the housing 51. As a configuration for mounting the right controller 4 on the main body device 2, the right controller 4 has the same configuration as the left controller 3. As shown in FIG. 25, the right controller 4 includes a slider 331. The slider 331 is a member for slidably and detachably mounting the right controller 4 on the main body device 2, similar to the slider 62 in the first configuration example.

[0232] The slider 331 is provided on the left side surface (that is, the side surface on the positive x-axis direction side) of the main body part 330 of the right controller 4 so as to extend in the vertical direction (that is, the y-axis direction). In the second configuration example, the configuration of the slider 331 of the right controller 4 (including the shape of the slider 331 and various members provided on the slider 331) is the same as the configuration of the slider 311 of the left controller 3 except for the position of the hole formed for the locking member. In the slider 311 of the left controller 3, a hole 325a is formed on one side surface of the shaft part 325, whereas in the slider 331 of the right controller 4, a hole is formed on the other side surface of the shaft part. As a result, in each of the controllers 3 and 4, a hole is formed on the back surface side (that is, the surface on the positive z-axis direction side) of the controller.

[0233] Note that the slider 311 used for the left controller 3 and the slider 331 used for the right controller 4 do not have to be exactly the same. For example, the positions of the operation parts (such as the second L button and the second R button, etc.) provided on the slider may be different between the left controller 3 and the right controller 4.

[0234] Also, in other embodiments, the slider 311 used for the left controller 3 and the slider 331 used for the right controller 4 may be the same. According to this, since the slider used for the left controller 3 and the slider used for the right controller 4 can be made common, the manufacturing efficiency of the controller can be improved.

[0235] As shown in FIG. 25, the right controller 4 includes a locking member 339 and a release button 333, similar to the left controller 3. The shapes of the locking member 339 and the release button 333 of the right controller 4 are the same as the shapes of the locking member 319 and the release button 313 of the left controller 3 (see FIG. 23), except that the left and right are reversed. Also, the locking member 339 of the right controller 4 is provided at the same position as the locking member 319 of the left controller 3. That is, the locking member 339 is provided above the center (i.e., on the positive y-axis side) with respect to the sliding direction of the slider 331. Further, the locking member 339 is provided to protrude from the surface forming the recess formed by the main body portion 330 (specifically, the left side surface of the main body portion 330) of the right controller 4 and the slider 331, and is provided so as not to protrude from the space inside the recess to the space outside the right controller 4.

[0236] Also, the position of the release button 333 in the right controller 4 is the same as the position of the release button 313 in the left controller 3. That is, the release button 333 is provided in the vicinity of the ZR button 61 formed on the back surface of the main body portion 330 (in other words, in the vicinity of the protrusion portion 334) (FIG. 14). Therefore, in the right controller 4, the ZR button 61 and / or the protrusion portion 334 function as a protrusion protecting the release button 333.

[0237] As described above, the locking member 339 and the release button 333 of the right controller 4 have the same mechanism as the locking member 319 and the release button 313 of the left controller 3. Therefore, when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2, the locking member 339 locks to the locked portion of the right rail member of the main body device 2, thereby locking the slide movement of the right controller 4 attached to the main body device 2. Also, in the above state, in response to the release button 333 being pressed, the locking member 339 enters the stored state, and as a result, the lock by the locking member 339 is released.

[0238] [1-2-4. Mounting Operation in the Second Configuration Example] Next, with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27, the operation of attaching and detaching the controller to and from the main body device 2 in the second configuration example will be described. In the following, the operation of attaching and detaching the left controller 3 to and from the main body device 2 will be described as an example, but the operation of attaching and detaching the right controller 4 to and from the main body device 2 can be performed in the same manner as in the case of the left controller 3.

[0239] (Operation Regarding Terminal Connection) When attaching the left controller 3 to the main body device 2, also in the second configuration example as in the first configuration example, the user first inserts the lower end of the slider 311 of the left controller 3 into the groove portion of the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2 from the upper end of the left rail member 300. Thereby, the slider 311 and the left rail member 300 engage (so as to be slidable). Also in the second configuration example as in the first configuration example, the engagement state between the slider 311 and the left rail member 300 is roughly the state shown in FIG. 7. Further, the user moves the slider 311 inserted into the left rail member 300 toward the back side (i.e., downward) of the left rail member 300.

[0240] FIG. 26 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the state around each of the left terminals 17 and 42 before and after the slider 311 is attached to the left rail member 300. Note that FIG. 26 shows a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the front-rear direction (i.e., the z-axis direction) (for the slider 311, it is a cross-sectional view in the same cross-section as the C-C' cross-section shown in FIG. 14), and for the purpose of making the components of the main body device 2 and the components of the left controller 3 easy to understand, the components of the left controller 3 are shown with hatching.

[0241] FIG. 26(a) shows a state where the left controller 3 is not attached to the main body device 2 (i.e., a state where the lower end of the slider 311 has not reached the back of the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2). Further, FIG. 26(b) shows a state where the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2 (the above-described attached state). By sliding the slider 311 deeper into the left rail member 300 (i.e., downward) from the state shown in FIG. 26(a), the attached state shown in FIG. 26(b) is achieved.

[0242] As described above, the protruding portion 321 is provided with members (specifically, the wall portion 322 and the tip portion 323) having a function of aligning the left terminal 17 and the terminal 42. Therefore, according to the second configuration example, when in the attached state, the terminals can be brought into contact with each other in the correct positional relationship.

[0243] In the attached state, the protruding portion 321 of the slider 311 is inserted between the bottom surface portion 301 and the opposing portion 304 of the left rail member 300. At this time, the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 contacts the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2. Thereby, the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 and the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2 are electrically connected.

[0244] Note that, as described above, in the mounted state, a part of the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 enters between the wall portions 307b provided on the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2. Therefore, according to the second configuration example, the possibility that the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 is displaced in the arrangement direction of the left terminals 17 of the main body device 2 (i.e., the z-axis direction) can be reduced.

[0245] Also, in the mounted state, since the terminal 42 of the left controller 3 and the left terminal 17 of the main body device 2 are in contact, a force can be applied by the frictional force between the terminals to prevent the slider 311 from sliding in the removal direction (i.e., the direction in which the slider 311 is removed from the left rail member 300, in other words, the opposite direction to the direction in which the slider 311 is inserted into the left rail member 300).

[0246] Further, in the mounted state, the leaf spring 305 provided on the left rail member 300 abuts against the slider 311 (specifically, the upper surface 311d of the slider 311) and presses the left controller 3 in the direction away from the main body device 2 (i.e., the positive x-axis direction). Thereby, rattling between the main body device 2 and the left controller 3 can be reduced, and the main body device 2 and the left controller 3 can be firmly connected. Also, a force can be applied by the frictional force between the leaf spring 305 and the slider 311 to prevent the slider 311 from sliding in the removal direction.

[0247] As described above, in the second configuration example, not only the locking member 319 described later but also each of the terminals 17 and 42 and the leaf spring 305 can maintain the mounted state of the left controller 3 to the main body device 2.

[0248] (Operation regarding the locking member 319) Next, with reference to FIG. 27, the operation of the locking member 319 when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2 will be described. FIG. 27 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the state near the locking member 319 before and after the slider 311 is attached to the left rail member 300. Note that in FIG. 27, only the components related to the explanation are shown for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the operation of the locking member 319, and the components not related to the explanation are omitted.

[0249] When attaching the left controller 3 to the main body device 2, as described above, the slider 311 of the left controller 3 is inserted into the groove portion of the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2 and moved to the back side (i.e., downward) of the left rail member 300. FIG. 27(a) shows a state before the locking member 319 provided at the upper end portion of the slider 311 reaches the upper end of the top surface portion 303a of the left rail member 300. As described above, since the locking member 319 is biased to be in a protruding state, the locking member 319 is in a protruding state when the top surface portion 303a is not in contact with the locking member 319.

[0250] When the slider 311 moves deeper into the left rail member 300 from the state shown in FIG. 27(a), the top surface portion 303a comes into contact with the locking member 319. FIG. 27(b) shows a state where the top surface portion 303a is in contact with the locking member 319. In a state where the top surface portion 303a is in contact with the locking member 319, the locking member 319 is pushed by the top surface portion 303a and enters a stored state in the hole 325a provided in the shaft portion 325 of the slider 311. Note that, as described above, an inclined surface 319a is provided on the lower end side of the locking member 319. Therefore, the top surface portion 303a approaching the locking member 319 comes into contact with the inclined surface 319a of the locking member 319. Thus, when the slider 311 is inserted into the left rail member 300, the locking member 319 can smoothly enter the stored state with almost no catching on the top surface portion 303a.

[0251] When the slider 311 moves deeper into the left rail member 300 from the state where the locking member 319 is in a housed state or a state close thereto by the top surface portion 303a (Fig. 27(b)), the left controller 3 is in a mounted state on the main body device 2. Fig. 27(c) shows the mounted state. In the mounted state, the locking member 319 is at a position corresponding to the notch C1 formed in the top surface portion 303a. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 27(c), the locking member 319 is again in a protruding state. At this time, the end portion on the upper end side (i.e., the positive y-axis direction side) of the locking member 319 is locked to (or in other words, abuts against) the locked portion of the top surface portion 303a. That is, the locking member 319 locks the sliding movement of the slider 311 in the removal direction. In this way, the locking member 319 can lock (or in other words, lock) the controller 3 to the main body device 2.

[0252] Note that, as described above, the locking member 319 may be provided so as to protrude at least from the side surface of the main body portion 310 and the top surface portion 326. That is, a part of the locking member 319 may be provided in a state of entering the hole provided in the side surface of the main body portion 310 and the hole provided in the top surface portion 326 in the protruding state. According to this, since no gap is generated between the locking member 319 and the main body portion 310 or the top surface portion 326, the possibility that the top surface portion 303a of the left rail member 300 passes through this gap can be reduced. That is, even though the locking member 319 remains in the protruding state, if the top surface portion 303a passes through the above gap, the possibility that the locking member 319 does not lock to the top surface portion 303a and as a result the slider 311 comes off the left rail member 300 can be reduced.

[0253] When removing the left controller 3 from the main body device 2, the user presses the above-described release button 313. In response to the release button 313 being pressed, as described above, the locking member 319 enters the stored state, so the state in which the locking member 319 locks the sliding movement of the slider 311 in the removal direction is released. Therefore, the user can slide the left controller 3 in the removal direction relatively easily (compared to the state in which the locking member 319 locks the sliding movement), and the left controller 3 can be removed from the main body device 2.

[0254] [1-3. Functions of Terminals in Main Body Device and Controllers] Next, the functions of the respective terminals in the main body device 2 and each of the controllers 3 and 4 (in other words, the signals transmitted and received using the terminals and / or the content of the information) will be described. Note that in the above-described first configuration example and second configuration example, the arrangements of the terminals are different. However, regardless of whether the terminals have the configuration of either of these two configuration examples, functions can be assigned to each terminal as described below.

[0255] Here, in the present embodiment, the left terminal 17 provided on the left rail member 300 of the main body device 2, the right terminal 21 provided on the right rail member, the terminal 42 provided on the left controller 3, and the terminal 64 provided on the right controller 4 each consist of 10 terminals. Here, these 10 terminals are respectively referred to as the first to tenth terminals. The following functions are assigned to the first to tenth terminals. · Terminals for charging the controller · Terminals for communicating data communication signals from the controller to the main body device 2 · Terminals for communicating data communication signals from the main body device 2 to the controller and for communicating signals for the main body device 2 to detect the connection (in other words, attachment) of the controller · Terminals for communicating control signals from the controller to the main body device 2 · Terminals for communicating control signals from the main body device 2 to the controller · Terminals for detecting signals for the main body device 2 to detect the connection (in other words, attachment) of the controller · Terminals for detecting signals by which the controller identifies an expansion device (e.g., an expansion grip described later). · Terminals for supplying power from the controller to the expansion device · Ground terminals Note that among the above nine types of functions, any function may be assigned to any terminal. Also, in the present embodiment, two of the first to tenth terminals are assigned the function of ground terminals. Further, in other embodiments, at least some of the above functions may not be assigned to the terminals, or functions other than the above may be assigned to the terminals.

[0256] [1-4. Configuration of the cradle] FIG. 28 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an example of the information processing system in the present embodiment. As described above, the information processing system includes the information processing apparatus 1 and the cradle 5. As shown in FIG. 28, the cradle 5 can mount the information processing apparatus 1. Further, the cradle 5 can communicate with a television 6 which is an example of an external display device separate from the display 12 (it may be wired communication or wireless communication). Details will be described later, but when the information processing apparatus 1 is mounted on the cradle 5, the information processing system can display an image acquired or generated by the information processing apparatus 1 on the television 6. Further, details will be described later, but in the present embodiment, the cradle 5 has a function of charging the mounted information processing apparatus 1 and a function of a hub device (specifically, a USB hub).

[0257] FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of the external configuration of the cradle 5. The cradle 5 has a housing on which the information processing apparatus 1 can be detachably mounted (it can also be said to be attached). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 29, the housing has a first support portion 71 in which a groove 71a is formed and a substantially planar second support portion 72.

[0258] As shown in FIG. 29, the groove 71a formed in the first support portion 71 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the lower portion of the information processing apparatus 1. Specifically, the groove 71a has a shape into which the lower portion of the information processing apparatus 1 can be inserted, and more specifically, a shape substantially matching the lower portion of the information processing apparatus 1. Therefore, by inserting the lower portion of the information processing apparatus 1 into the groove 71a, the information processing apparatus 1 can be placed on the cradle 5. Further, the second support portion 72 supports the surface of the information processing apparatus 1 (that is, the surface on which the display 12 is provided) with its lower portion inserted into the groove 71a. By this second support portion 72, the cradle 5 can support the information processing apparatus 1 more stably. Note that the shape of the housing shown in FIG. 29 is an example, and in other embodiments, the housing of the cradle 5 may have any shape capable of placing the information processing apparatus 1.

[0259] In FIG. 29, the information processing apparatus 1 is placed on the cradle 5 such that the main surface of the main body apparatus 2 (that is, the surface of the display 12) faces the second support portion 72. However, in the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus 1 can also be placed on the cradle 5 such that the back surface of the main body apparatus 2 faces the second support portion 72. That is, in the present embodiment, the user can place the information processing apparatus 1 on the cradle 5 with the front side facing up (that is, the direction in which the display 12 can be seen), or can also place the information processing apparatus 1 on the cradle 5 with the back side facing up (that is, the direction in which the display 12 is hidden).

[0260] As shown in FIG. 29, the cradle 5 also includes a main body terminal 73 for the cradle 5 to communicate with the information processing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 29, the main body terminal 73 is provided on the bottom surface of the groove 71a formed in the first support portion 71. More specifically, the main body terminal 73 is provided at a position where the lower terminal 27 of the information processing apparatus 1 comes into contact when the information processing apparatus 1 is mounted on the cradle 5. In the present embodiment, the main body terminal 73 is a USB connector (more specifically, a male connector). As described above, in the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus 1 can be mounted on the cradle 5 either face up or face down. Therefore, the lower terminal 27 of the information processing apparatus 1 and the main body terminal 73 of the cradle 5 have a symmetrical shape with respect to the depth direction (that is, the z-axis direction shown in FIG. 1), and communication is possible regardless of which of the two orientations in the depth direction they are connected in.

[0261] As shown in FIG. 29, the cradle 5 includes a sleep button 74. The sleep button 74 is a button for switching between the on mode and the sleep mode of the main body apparatus 2 mounted on the cradle 5. In other embodiments, the sleep button 74 may have a function of switching on / off the power of the main body apparatus 2 in addition to (or instead of) the function of switching between the on mode and the sleep mode of the main body apparatus 2.

[0262] In the present embodiment, the sleep button 74 is provided on the front surface of the first support portion 71. The sleep button 74 may be provided at any position where it can be pressed in a state where the information processing apparatus 1 is mounted. For example, the sleep button 74 may be provided on the side surface of the housing of the cradle 5 or on the back surface of the second support portion 72.

[0263] Also, in the present embodiment, the sleep button 74 has a light-emitting part (specifically, an LED). The light-emitting part of the sleep button 74 is used to notify the user of the state of the main device 2 mounted on the cradle 5. That is, the light-emitting state (in other words, the lighting state) of the light-emitting part changes according to the state of the main device 2 mounted on the cradle 5. For example, in the present embodiment, when the main device 2 mounted on the cradle 5 is in the on mode, the light-emitting part lights up, and when the main device 2 is in the sleep mode or the power-off state, the light-emitting part turns off. Further, when the main device 2 has information to be notified to the user (for example, information on program updates, announcements, advertisements, etc.), the light-emitting part blinks. Note that the above light-emitting part does not have to be provided on the sleep button 74, and may be provided at an arbitrary position on the housing of the cradle 5, for example.

[0264] Although not shown in FIG. 29, the cradle 5 has terminals (a plurality of terminals in the present embodiment; specifically, the monitor terminal 132, the power supply terminal 134, and the extension terminal 137 shown in FIG. 32) on the back surface of the housing. Details of these terminals will be described later.

[0265] The shape, number, and installation position of each component (specifically, the housing, terminals, buttons, etc.) provided in the cradle 5 described above are arbitrary. For example, in other embodiments, the housing may have another shape capable of supporting the information processing device 1. Also, some of the terminals provided on the housing may be provided on the front surface of the housing. Further, in other embodiments, the cradle 5 may be configured not to include some of the above components.

[0266] [2. Internal Configuration of Each Device] [2-1. Internal Configuration of Main Device 2] FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the main body device 2. The main body device 2 includes each of the components 81 to 98 shown in FIG. 30 in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 3. Some of these components 81 to 98 may be mounted on an electronic circuit board as electronic components and housed in the housing 11.

[0267] (Configuration related to execution of information processing) The main body device 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81. The CPU 81 is an information processing unit that executes various information processes executed in the main body device 2. The CPU 81 executes various information processes by executing an information processing program stored in a storage unit (specifically, an internal storage medium such as a flash memory 84 or an external storage medium mounted on each of the slots 23 and 24) that can be accessed by itself.

[0268] The main body device 2 includes a flash memory 84 and a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 85 as an example of an internal storage medium built therein. The flash memory 84 and the DRAM 85 are connected to the CPU 81. The flash memory 84 is mainly a memory used to store various data (which may be a program) stored in the main body device 2. The DRAM 85 is a memory used to temporarily store various data and instructions used in information processing.

[0269] The main body device 2 is provided with a first slot interface (hereinafter abbreviated as "I / F") 91. The main body device 2 is also provided with a second slot I / F 92. Each of the slot I / Fs 91 and 92 is connected to the CPU 81. The first slot I / F 91 is connected to the first slot 23 and reads and writes data to and from a first type of storage medium (e.g., SD card) mounted on the first slot 23 according to the instructions of the CPU 81. The second slot I / F 92 is connected to the second slot 24 and reads and writes data to and from a second type of storage medium (e.g., dedicated memory card) mounted on the second slot 24 according to the instructions of the CPU 81.

[0270] The CPU 81 appropriately reads and writes data between each of the above memories 84 and 85 and each of the above storage media to execute the above information processing.

[0271] (Configuration related to communication) The main body device 2 is provided with a network communication unit 82. The network communication unit 82 is connected to the CPU 81. The network communication unit 82 communicates (specifically, wireless communication) with an external device via a network. In the present embodiment, the network communication unit 82 is, for example, a communication module that has received Wi-Fi authentication and communicates with an external device via a wireless LAN. In other embodiments, the main body device 2 may have a function of connecting to and communicating with a mobile communication network (in other words, a mobile phone communication network) in addition to (or instead of) the function of connecting to and communicating with a wireless LAN.

[0272] The main body device 2 is provided with a controller communication unit 83. The controller communication unit 83 is connected to the CPU 81. The controller communication unit 83 performs wireless communication with each of the controllers 3 and / or 4. The communication method between the main body device 2 and each controller is arbitrary, but in the present embodiment, the controller communication unit 83 communicates with each controller according to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard.

[0273] The CPU 81 is connected to the above-described left terminal 17, right terminal 21, and lower terminal 27. When the CPU 81 performs wired communication with the left controller 3, it transmits data to the left controller 3 via the left terminal 17. Also, when the CPU 81 performs wired communication with the right controller 4, it transmits data to the right controller 4 via the right terminal 21. Further, when the CPU 81 communicates with the cradle 5, it transmits data to the cradle 5 via the lower terminal 27.

[0274] Thus, in the present embodiment, the main body device 2 can perform both wired communication and wireless communication with the left and right controllers 3 and 4. The process of switching between wired communication and wireless communication will be described later.

[0275] Also, the main body device 2 can communicate with a plurality of left controllers simultaneously (in other words, in parallel). Also, the main body device 2 can communicate with a plurality of right controllers simultaneously (in other words, in parallel). Therefore, the user can input to the information processing device 1 using a plurality of left controllers and a plurality of right controllers.

[0276] (Configuration regarding input / output to the main body device 2) The main body device 2 includes a touch panel controller 86, which is a circuit that controls the touch panel 13. The touch panel controller 86 is connected to the touch panel 13 and also to the CPU 81. Based on a signal from the touch panel 13, the touch panel controller 86 generates data indicating, for example, the position where a touch input was made, and outputs it to the CPU 81.

[0277] Also, the above-described display 12 is connected to the CPU 81. The CPU 81 displays an image generated (for example, by executing the above-described information processing) and / or an image acquired from the outside on the display 12.

[0278] The main body device 2 includes a codec circuit 87 and speakers (specifically, a left speaker and a right speaker) 88. The codec circuit 87 is connected to the speakers 88 and the audio input / output terminal 25, and is also connected to the CPU 81. The codec circuit 87 is a circuit that controls the input / output of audio data to / from the speakers 88 and the audio input / output terminal 25. That is, when the codec circuit 87 receives audio data from the CPU 81, it outputs an audio signal obtained by performing D / A conversion on the audio data to the speakers 88 or the audio input / output terminal 25. As a result, sound is output from the speakers 88 or an audio output unit (e.g., earphones) connected to the audio input / output terminal 25. Also, when the codec circuit 87 receives an audio signal from the audio input / output terminal 25, it performs A / D conversion on the audio signal and outputs audio data in a predetermined format to the CPU 81.

[0279] Also, the above-described volume buttons 26 (specifically, the volume buttons 26a and 26b shown in FIG. 3) are connected to the CPU 81. The CPU 81 controls the volume output from the speakers 88 or the above-described audio output unit based on the input to the volume buttons 26.

[0280] The main body device 2 includes an acceleration sensor 89. In the present embodiment, the acceleration sensor 89 detects the magnitude of the linear acceleration along a predetermined three axes (e.g., the xyz axes shown in FIG. 1). Note that the acceleration sensor 89 may detect the acceleration in one axis direction or two axis directions.

[0281] Also, the main body device 2 includes an angular velocity sensor 90. In the present embodiment, the angular velocity sensor 90 detects the angular velocity around a predetermined three axes (e.g., the xyz axes shown in FIG. 1). Note that the angular velocity sensor 90 may detect the angular velocity around one axis or two axes.

[0282] The above acceleration sensor 89 and angular velocity sensor 90 are connected to the CPU 81, and the detection results of the acceleration sensor 89 and angular velocity sensor 90 are output to the CPU 81. Based on the detection results of the above acceleration sensor 89 and angular velocity sensor 90, the CPU 81 can calculate information regarding the movement and / or posture of the main body device 2. In other embodiments, other types of sensors may be used as sensors (for example, inertial sensors) for calculating the movement, posture, and / or position of the main body device 2.

[0283] (Configuration Regarding Power) The main body device 2 includes a power control unit 97 and a battery 98. The power control unit 97 is connected to the battery 98 and the CPU 81. Although not shown, the power control unit 97 is connected to each part of the main body device 2 (specifically, each part that receives power supply from the battery 98, the left terminal 17, and the right terminal 21). The power control unit 97 controls the power supply from the battery 98 to the above-mentioned each part based on a command from the CPU 81. Also, the power control unit 97 is connected to the power button 28. The power control unit 97 controls the power supply to the above-mentioned each part based on an input to the power button 28. That is, when an operation to turn off the power is performed on the power button 28, the power control unit 97 stops the power supply to all or part of the above-mentioned each part, and when an operation to turn on the power is performed on the power button 28, the power control unit 97 starts the power supply to all or part of the above-mentioned each part. Also, when an instruction to switch to the sleep mode is given to the power button 28, the power control unit 97 stops the power supply to a part of the configuration including the display 12, and when an instruction to switch to the on mode is given to the power button 28, the power control unit 97 starts the power supply to the configuration. Further, the power control unit 97 outputs information indicating the input to the power button 28 (specifically, information indicating whether the power button 28 is pressed) to the CPU 81.

[0284] Also, the battery 98 is connected to the lower terminal 27. When an external charging device (for example, the cradle 5) is connected to the lower terminal 27 and power is supplied to the main body device 2 via the lower terminal 27, the supplied power is used to charge the battery 98. In the present embodiment, the charging capacity of the battery 98 of the main body device 2 is larger than the charging capacities of the batteries provided in the respective controllers 3 and 4 described later.

[0285] (Other configurations) The main body device 2 includes a magnetic force sensor (also referred to as a magnetic sensor) 93 that detects the strength and / or direction of a magnetic field. The magnetic force sensor 93 is connected to the CPU 81, and the detection result of the magnetic force sensor 93 is output to the CPU 81. In the present embodiment, the magnetic force sensor 93 is used to detect the opening and closing of a protective cover (not shown) attached to the information processing device 1. For example, a magnet is provided on the protective cover, and the CPU 81 detects that the protective cover has covered the main surface of the main body device 2 based on the detection result by the magnetic force sensor 93. When the CPU 81 detects such a state, for example, the display on the display 12 is turned off.

[0286] The main body device 2 includes an ambient light sensor 94 that detects the strength of ambient light around the main body device 2. The ambient light sensor 94 is connected to the CPU 81, and the detection result of the ambient light sensor 94 is output to the CPU 81. In the present embodiment, the ambient light sensor 94 is used to adjust the brightness of the display 12. That is, the CPU 81 controls the brightness of the display 12 based on the detection result of the ambient light sensor 94.

[0287] The main body device 2 includes a cooling fan 96 for dissipating the heat inside the main body device 2. When the cooling fan 96 operates, the air outside the housing 11 is introduced from the intake hole 11d, and the air inside the housing 11 is discharged from the exhaust hole 11c, thereby dissipating the heat inside the housing 11. The cooling fan 96 is connected to the CPU 81, and the operation of the cooling fan 96 is controlled by the CPU 81. Further, the main body device 2 includes a temperature sensor 95 for detecting the temperature inside the main body device 2. The temperature sensor 95 is connected to the CPU 81, and the detection result of the temperature sensor 95 is output to the CPU 81. The CPU 81 controls the operation of the cooling fan 96 based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 95.

[0288] [2-2. Internal Structure of the Left Controller 3] FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the information processing apparatus 1. Note that the details of the internal configuration regarding the main body device 2 of the information processing apparatus 1 are shown in FIG. 30, and thus are omitted in FIG. 31.

[0289] (Configuration Regarding Communication) The left controller 3 includes a communication control unit 101 that communicates with the main body device 2. As shown in FIG. 31, the communication control unit 101 is connected to each component including the above-described terminal 42. In the present embodiment, the communication control unit 101 can communicate with the main body device 2 both by wired communication via the terminal 42 and by wireless communication without using the terminal 42. The communication control unit 101 controls the communication method that the left controller 3 performs with the main body device 2. That is, when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, the communication control unit 101 communicates with the main body device 2 via the terminal 42. Further, when the left controller 3 is removed from the main body device 2, the communication control unit 101 performs wireless communication with the main body device 2 (specifically, the controller communication unit 83). The wireless communication between the controller communication unit 83 and the communication control unit 101 is performed according to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard.

[0290] The left controller 3 also includes a memory 102 such as a flash memory. The communication control unit 101 is constituted by, for example, a microcomputer (also referred to as a microprocessor), and executes various processes by executing the firmware stored in the memory 102.

[0291] (Configuration regarding input) The left controller 3 includes each button 103 (specifically, buttons 33 to 39, 43, and 44). The left controller 3 also includes the above-described analog stick (described as "stick" in FIG. 31) 32. Each button 103 and the analog stick 32 output information regarding the operation performed on themselves to the communication control unit 101 repeatedly at appropriate timings.

[0292] The left controller 3 includes an acceleration sensor 104. In the present embodiment, the acceleration sensor 104 detects the magnitude of the linear acceleration along a predetermined three axes (for example, the xyz axes shown in FIG. 1). Note that the acceleration sensor 104 may detect the acceleration in one axis direction or two axis directions.

[0293] The left controller 3 includes an angular velocity sensor 105. In the present embodiment, the angular velocity sensor 105 detects the angular velocity around a predetermined three axes (for example, the xyz axes shown in FIG. 1). Note that the angular velocity sensor 105 may detect the angular velocity around one axis or two axes.

[0294] The acceleration sensor 104 and the angular velocity sensor 105 are connected to the communication control unit 101. The detection results of the acceleration sensor 104 and the angular velocity sensor 105 are output to the communication control unit 101 repeatedly at appropriate timings.

[0295] The communication control unit 101 acquires information related to input (specifically, information related to operations or detection results by sensors) from each input unit (specifically, each button 103, analog stick 32, and each sensor 104 and 105). The communication control unit 101 transmits operation data including the acquired information (or information obtained by performing predetermined processing on the acquired information) to the main body device 2. Note that the operation data is repeatedly transmitted at a rate of once every predetermined time. Note that the intervals at which the information related to input is transmitted to the main body device 2 may be the same or different for each input unit.

[0296] When the above operation data is transmitted to the main body device 2, the main body device 2 can know the input performed on the left controller 3. That is, the main body device 2 can determine operations on each button 103 and analog stick 32 based on the operation data. Further, the main body device 2 can calculate information related to the movement and / or posture of the left controller 3 based on the operation data (specifically, the detection results of each sensor 104 and 105).

[0297] (Configuration related to output) The above-described notification LED 45 is connected to the communication control unit 101. In the present embodiment, the notification LED 45 is controlled by a command from the main body device 2. That is, when the communication control unit 101 receives the above command from the main body device 2, it outputs a control signal for controlling the lighting of the notification LED 45 to the notification LED 45 according to the command.

[0298] Note that the communication control unit 101 may switch whether to cause the notification LED 45 to emit light depending on whether the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2. That is, the notification LED 45 may be controlled to emit light on the condition that the left controller 3 is not attached to the main body device 2 and not to emit light when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2. This is because when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, the notification LED 45 cannot be visually recognized, and thus there is little need for it to emit light.

[0299] The left controller 3 includes a vibrator 107 for notifying the user by vibration. In the present embodiment, the vibrator 107 is controlled by a command from the main body device 2. That is, when the communication control unit 101 receives the above command from the main body device 2, it drives the vibrator 107 according to the command. Here, the left controller 3 includes an amplifier 106. When the communication control unit 101 receives the above command, it outputs a control signal corresponding to the command to the amplifier 106. The amplifier 106 amplifies the control signal from the communication control unit 101, generates a drive signal for driving the vibrator 107, and supplies it to the vibrator 107. Thereby, the vibrator 107 operates. Note that the vibrator 107 may be any type of actuator that generates vibration.

[0300] (Configuration related to power) The left controller 3 includes a power supply unit 108. In the present embodiment, the power supply unit 108 includes a battery and a power control circuit. Although not shown, the power control circuit is connected to the battery and is also connected to each part of the left controller 3 (specifically, each part that receives power supply from the battery). The power control circuit controls the power supply from the battery to the above parts.

[0301] Also, the battery is connected to the terminal 42. Although details will be described later, in the present embodiment, when the left controller 3 is attached to the main body device 2, under predetermined conditions, the battery is charged by power supply from the main body device 2 via the terminal 42.

[0302] [2-3. Internal configuration of the right controller 4] (Configuration related to communication) As shown in FIG. 31, the right controller 4 includes a communication control unit 111 that communicates with the main body device 2. The right controller 4 also includes a memory 112 connected to the communication control unit 111. The communication control unit 111 is connected to each component including the above-described terminal 64. The communication control unit 111 and the memory 112 have the same functions as the communication control unit 101 and the memory 102 of the left controller 3. Therefore, the communication control unit 111 can communicate with the main body device 2 both by wired communication via the terminal 64 and by wireless communication without using the terminal 64 (specifically, communication according to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard), and controls the communication method that the right controller 4 performs with respect to the main body device 2.

[0303] (Configuration regarding input) The right controller 4 includes the same input units as the input units of the left controller 3 (specifically, each button 113, the analog stick 52, the acceleration sensor 114, and the angular velocity sensor 115). These input units have the same functions as the input units of the left controller 3 and operate in the same manner.

[0304] (Configuration regarding output) The notification LED 67 of the right controller 4 operates in the same manner as the notification LED 45 of the left controller 3. That is, when the communication control unit 111 receives a command from the main body device 2, the communication control unit 111 outputs a control signal for controlling the lighting of the notification LED 67 to the notification LED 67 according to the command.

[0305] The right controller 4 also includes a vibrator 117 and an amplifier 116. The vibrator 117 and the amplifier 116 operate in the same manner as the vibrator 107 and the amplifier 106 of the left controller 3. That is, the communication control unit 111 operates the vibrator 117 using the amplifier 116 according to a command from the main body device 2.

[0306] (Configuration regarding power) The right controller 4 includes a power supply unit 118. The power supply unit 118 has the same function as the power supply unit 108 of the left controller 3 and operates in the same manner. That is, the power supply unit 118 controls the power supply to each unit that receives power from the battery. Also, when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2, under predetermined conditions, the battery is charged by the power supply from the main body device 2 via the terminal 64.

[0307] (Other configurations) The right controller 4 includes an NFC communication unit 122. The NFC communication unit 122 performs short-range wireless communication based on the NFC (Near Field Communication) standard. The NFC communication unit 122 has the function of a so-called NFC reader / writer. For example, the NFC communication unit 122 includes an antenna used for short-range wireless communication and a circuit (e.g., an NFC chip) that generates a signal (radio wave) to be transmitted from the antenna. Note that the short-range wireless communication is not limited to that based on the NFC standard and may be any proximity communication (also referred to as contactless communication). Proximity communication includes, for example, a communication method in which an electromotive force is generated in one device by the radio wave from the other device (e.g., by electromagnetic induction).

[0308] In addition, the right controller 4 is provided with an infrared imaging unit 123. The infrared imaging unit 123 has an infrared camera that images the surroundings of the right controller 4. In the present embodiment, the infrared imaging unit 123 is used to image the user's hand. The information processing apparatus 1 discriminates an input (such as a gesture input) by the hand based on the imaged hand information (for example, position, size, shape, etc.). Further, the infrared imaging unit 123 may perform imaging by ambient light, but in the present embodiment, it has an irradiation unit that irradiates infrared rays. The irradiation unit irradiates infrared rays, for example, in synchronization with the timing at which the infrared camera captures an image. The infrared rays irradiated by the irradiation unit are reflected by an object (for example, the user's hand), and the reflected infrared rays are received by the infrared camera, thereby acquiring an infrared image. As a result, a clearer infrared image can be obtained. In the present embodiment, the infrared imaging unit 123 having an infrared camera is used, but in other embodiments, a visible light camera (a camera using a visible light image sensor) may be used as the imaging means instead of the infrared camera.

[0309] The right controller 4 is provided with a processing unit 121. The processing unit 121 is connected to the communication control unit 111 and is also connected to the NFC communication unit 122. The processing unit 121 executes management processing for the NFC communication unit 122 in response to a command from the main body device 2. For example, the processing unit 121 controls the operation of the NFC communication unit 122 in response to a command from the main body device 2. Further, the processing unit 121 controls the activation of the NFC communication unit 122 and controls the operation of the NFC communication unit 122 (specifically, reading and writing, etc.) with respect to a communication partner (for example, an NFC tag). Also, the processing unit 121 receives information to be transmitted to the communication partner from the main body device 2 via the communication control unit 111 and passes it to the NFC communication unit 122, or acquires information received from the communication partner from the NFC communication unit 122 and transmits it to the main body device 2 via the communication control unit 111.

[0310] In addition, the processing unit 121 executes management processing for the infrared imaging unit 123 in response to a command from the main body device 2. For example, the processing unit 121 causes the infrared imaging unit 123 to perform an imaging operation, or acquires information based on the imaging result (information of the captured image, or information calculated from the information, etc.) and transmits it to the main body device 2 via the communication control unit 111.

[0311] [2-4. Internal Configuration of Cradle 5] FIG. 32 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the cradle 5. Note that in FIG. 32, the details of the internal configuration related to the main body device 2 are shown in FIG. 30, so they are omitted.

[0312] (Configuration Related to Image Conversion) As shown in FIG. 32, the cradle 5 includes a conversion unit 131 and a monitor terminal 132. The conversion unit 131 is connected to the above-described main body terminal 73 and monitor terminal 132. The conversion unit 131 converts the format of the signals related to the image (which can also be said to be video) and audio received from the main body device 2 into a format to be output to the TV 6. Here, in the present embodiment, the main body device 2 outputs signals of an image and audio as a DisplayPort signal (that is, a signal conforming to the DisplayPort standard) to the cradle 5. Also, in the present embodiment, communication between the cradle 5 and the TV 6 uses communication based on the HDMI (registered trademark) standard. That is, the above monitor terminal 132 is an HDMI terminal, and the cradle 5 and the TV 6 are connected by an HDMI cable. From the above, the conversion unit 131 converts the DisplayPort signal (specifically, a signal representing video and audio) received from the main body device 2 via the main body terminal 73 into an HDMI signal. The converted HDMI signal is output to the TV 6 via the monitor terminal 132.

[0313] In addition, the cradle 5 is provided with a processing unit 135 that executes various information processes in the cradle 5. The processing unit 135 is connected to the above-described sleep button 74 and is also connected to the main body terminal 73 via a connection processing unit 136 (details will be described later). The processing unit 135 detects an operation on the sleep button 74 and notifies the main body device 2 that the operation has been performed. When the main body device 2 receives the above notification, it switches between its on mode and sleep mode. Thus, in the present embodiment, when the main body device 2 is mounted on the cradle 5, the on mode and sleep mode of the information processing device 1 are switched in response to the pressing of the sleep button 74.

[0314] (Configuration regarding charging) The cradle 5 includes a power control unit 133 and a power supply terminal 134. The power supply terminal 134 is a terminal for connecting a charging device (for example, an AC adapter, etc.) not shown in the figure. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that an AC adapter is connected to the power supply terminal 134 and commercial power is supplied to the cradle 5.

[0315] When the main body device 2 is mounted on the cradle 5, the power control unit 133 supplies the power from the power supply terminal 134 to the main body device 2 via the main body terminal 73. As a result, as described above, the battery 98 of the main body device 2 is charged.

[0316] In the present embodiment, the power supply terminal 134 is a connector having the same shape as the lower terminal 27 of the information processing device 1 (that is, a female USB terminal). Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to connect the charging device to the cradle 5 and charge the information processing device 1 via the cradle 5, or to directly connect the charging device to the main body device 2 and charge the information processing device 1.

[0317] (Other configurations) In addition, the cradle 5 includes a connection processing unit 136 and extension terminals 137. The extension terminals 137 are terminals for connecting other devices. In the present embodiment, the cradle 5 includes a plurality (more specifically, three) of USB terminals as the extension terminals 137. The connection processing unit 136 is connected to the main body terminals 73 and each of the extension terminals 137. The connection processing unit 136 has a function as a USB hub and manages communication, for example, between a device connected to the extension terminal 137 and the main body device 2 connected to the main body terminal 73 (that is, appropriately distributes and transmits a signal from a certain device to other devices). As described above, in the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus 1 can communicate with other devices via the cradle 5. Note that the connection processing unit 136 may be able to convert the communication speed or supply power to a device connected to the extension terminal 137.

[0318] [3. Outline of Operations in the Information Processing System] As described above, regarding the information processing apparatus 1 in the present embodiment, the left and right controllers 3 and 4 are detachable. Further, the information processing apparatus 1 can output an image (and sound) to the television 6 by being mounted on the cradle 5. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 1 can be used in various usage modes as described below. Hereinafter, the operations of the information processing system in the main usage modes will be described.

[0319] [3-1. Mode of Using by Mounting the Controller on the Main Body Device] FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the information processing apparatus 1 is used with each of the controllers 3 and 4 mounted on the main body device 2 (referred to as a "mounted state"). As shown in FIG. 33, when each of the controllers 3 and 4 is mounted on the main body device 2, the information processing apparatus 1 can be used as a portable device (for example, a portable game machine).

[0320] In the mounted state, communication between the main body device 2 and each of the controllers 3 and 4 is performed by wired communication (that is, communication via the terminals of the devices connected to each other). That is, the main body device 2 receives operation data from each of the controllers 3 and 4 mounted on itself, and executes information processing based on the received operation data (specifically, using the operation data as an input).

[0321] In other embodiments, wireless communication may be performed between the main body device 2 and the controller in the mounted state. Here, since the distance between the main body device 2 and the controller is too close in the mounted state, there is a possibility that wireless communication may not be successfully performed. In contrast, in the present embodiment, by performing wired communication between the main body device 2 and the controller in the mounted state, the reliability of communication can be improved.

[0322] In the mounted state, the four operation buttons 33 to 36 of the left controller 3 may be used to perform direction input (in other words, direction indication). At this time, the user can perform direction input using the analog stick 32, or can also perform direction input using the operation buttons 33 to 36. Since the user can perform direction input using the operation means according to their preference, the operability can be improved. However, how each operation button is used for what indication may be freely determined by the program executed in the main body device 2.

[0323] In addition, in the present embodiment, the left controller 3 and the right controller 4 have opposite arrangements of the analog stick and the four operation buttons (i.e., the A, B, X, and Y buttons). That is, in the worn state, the analog stick 32 is arranged above the four operation buttons 33 to 36 in the left controller 3, while the four operation buttons 53 to 56 are arranged above the analog stick 52 in the right controller 4. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 33, when the information processing apparatus 1 is gripped with the left and right hands at the same height (in other words, at the same position in the vertical direction), for one hand, the analog stick is at a position where it is easy to operate, and for the other hand, the four operation buttons are at a position where they are easy to operate. That is, in the present embodiment, an information processing apparatus in which the analog stick and the four operation buttons are easy to operate can be provided.

[0324] Although details will be described later, as the left controller and / or the right controller, a controller having a configuration different from that of the present embodiment (for example, a configuration having different functions or a configuration having a different arrangement of the operation unit, etc.) may be prepared (see "[5-1. Other types of controllers]" described later). At this time, by attaching a left controller and / or a right controller having a different configuration to the main body device 2 instead of the left controller 3 and / or the right controller 4 in the present embodiment, it is also possible to provide an information processing apparatus having a different operation feeling from that of the present embodiment (that is, the information processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 33).

[0325] [3-2.1 Mode of using the information processing apparatus with a pair of controllers removed] As described above, in the present embodiment, it is also possible to use the information processing apparatus 1 in a state where the left and right controllers 3 and 4 are removed from the main body device 2 (referred to as a "detached state"). As modes of using the information processing apparatus 1 in the detached state, at least two modes can be considered: a mode in which one user uses the two controllers 3 and 4, and a mode in which two users use one controller each.

[0326] (Mode where one user uses two controllers) FIG. 34 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which one user holds two controllers 3 and 4 and uses the information processing apparatus 1 in the detached state. As shown in FIG. 34, in the detached state, the user can hold a pair of two controllers 3 and 4 in the left and right hands respectively and perform operations.

[0327] In the present embodiment, based on the detection results of the acceleration sensor and / or the angular velocity sensor provided in the controller, information regarding the movement and / or posture of the controller can be calculated. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 1 can accept an operation of moving the controller itself as an input. The user can perform not only operations on the operation unit (operation buttons and analog sticks) provided in the controller, but also operations of moving the controller itself to change the position and / or posture of the controller. That is, in the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus 1 can provide the user with an operation of moving the controller (without moving the display) while being a portable device. Further, the information processing apparatus 1 can provide an information processing apparatus that enables the user to perform operations at a location away from the display 12 while being a portable device.

[0328] Note that the information processing apparatus 1 can calculate information regarding the movement and / or posture of the information processing apparatus 1 based on the detection results of the acceleration sensor 89 and / or the angular velocity sensor 90 provided in the main body apparatus 2 not only in the detached state but also in the attached state.

[0329] In the detached state, communication between the main body apparatus 2 and each of the controllers 3 and 4 is performed by wireless communication. That is, the main body apparatus 2 receives operation data from each of the controllers 3 and 4 with which wireless communication has been established (pairing has been performed), and executes information processing based on the received operation data (specifically, using the operation data as an input).

[0330] In this embodiment, in the case of wireless communication, the main body device 2 distinguishes a plurality of controllers that are communication partners. For example, the main body device 2 identifies whether the received operation data is from the left controller 3 or from the right controller 4. A method for distinguishing the controllers will be described later.

[0331] (Mode where two users use one controller each) FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which two users hold one controller each and use the information processing apparatus 1 in the detached state. As shown in FIG. 35, in the detached state, two users can perform operations using the controllers they hold. Specifically, one user (referred to as the "first user") can perform operations using the left controller 3, and the other user (referred to as the "second user") can perform operations using the right controller 4. The information processing apparatus 1 executes information processing for controlling the operation of a first object (for example, a player character) in the virtual space based on an operation on the left controller 3 and controlling the operation of a second object in the virtual space based on an operation on the right controller 4. Note that, as in the mode shown in FIG. 34, in the mode shown in FIG. 35, the user can perform an operation on the operation unit provided in the controller and / or an operation of moving the controller itself.

[0332] Also, in this embodiment, the positional relationship between the analog stick 52 and each of the operation buttons 53 to 56 on the right controller 4 is opposite to the positional relationship between these two types of operation units on the left controller 3. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 35, when two users hold the left controller 3 and the right controller 4 in the same orientation, the positional relationship between these two types of operation units is the same for the two controllers. That is, in this embodiment, the user can use the left controller 3 and the right controller 4 removed from the main body device 2 with a similar operation feeling with respect to these two types of operation units. Thereby, the operability of the controller can be improved.

[0333] Also, in the detached state, the four operation buttons 33 to 36 of the left controller 3 may be used as having the same functions as the four operation buttons 53 to 56 of the right controller 4 (in other words, may be used to give the same instructions). Specifically, the right arrow button 33 may be used as having the same function as the Y button 56, the down arrow button 34 may be used as having the same function as the X button 55, the up arrow button 35 may be used as having the same function as the B button 54, and the left arrow button 36 may be used as having the same function as the A button 53. Thus, in the present embodiment, the functions of the operation buttons 33 to 36 may be changed between the attached state and the detached state. However, how each operation button is used for instructions may be freely determined by the program executed in the main body device 2.

[0334] In FIG. 35, the information processing apparatus 1 divides the display area of the display 12 into two, and displays an image for the first user (for example, an image including the first object) in one of the divided display areas, and displays an image for the second user (for example, an image including the second object) in the other of the divided display areas. However, depending on the application executed in the information processing apparatus 1, the information processing apparatus 1 may display an image for two users (for example, an image including both the first object and the second object) without dividing the display area of the display 12.

[0335] Also, in the aspect shown in FIG. 35 as well as in the aspect shown in FIG. 34, the communication between the main body device 2 and each of the controllers 3 and 4 is performed by wireless communication. At this time, the main body device 2 distinguishes the controller that is the communication partner.

[0336] (Other aspects) Also, in the present embodiment, the right controller 4 includes an infrared imaging unit 123. Therefore, in a state where the right controller 4 is removed from the main body device 2, the information processing apparatus 1 may execute information processing based on the imaging result (also referred to as a detection result) by the infrared imaging unit 123. Examples of this information processing include, for example, the following processing.

[0337] For example, when an attachment (hereinafter referred to as an "expansion controller") having an operation unit is attached to the right controller 4, the main body device 2 can detect an operation on the operation unit based on the imaging result by the infrared imaging unit 123. Therefore, the main body device 2 can execute information processing corresponding to the operation on the operation unit by using the imaging result.

[0338] Specifically, the expansion controller is detachable from the right controller 4 and includes a movable operation unit such as buttons and a stick. Further, the expansion controller includes a movable part that moves (here, in a meaning including rotation) in response to the operation unit being operated inside the housing. The movable part is, for example, a member configured to move in response to the depression of a button that is the operation unit. Here, the expansion controller is attached to the right controller 4 so that the infrared imaging unit 123 can image the movable part inside the housing. For example, a window portion is provided in the housing of the expansion controller, and in a state where the expansion controller is attached to the right controller 4, the infrared imaging unit 123 can image the movable part through the window portion. In the above, the main body device 2 can determine an operation on the operation unit of the expansion controller based on the position and / or posture of the movable part in the imaging image by the infrared imaging unit 123. Therefore, the main body device 2 may execute information processing corresponding to the operation on the operation unit by using the imaging image.

[0339] In addition, the main body device 2 may detect a gesture input by the user's hand based on the imaging result by the infrared imaging unit 123 and execute information processing according to the gesture input. For example, the user holds the right controller 4 with one hand and images the other hand with the infrared camera of the infrared imaging unit 123. In this embodiment, the infrared camera is arranged to image the downward direction of the right controller 4. Therefore, the user places the other hand below the right controller 4 to perform a gesture input. The main body device 2 acquires information based on the imaging result from the right controller 4 and discriminates the gesture input by the user. Then, the main body device 2 executes information processing based on the gesture input.

[0340] Here, the gesture input may be any input performed by an operation object (moved) operated by the user. The operation object may be the user's body (which may be a part of the body such as a hand or a face, or may be the whole body), an object held by the user, or both. The information processing device 1 may recognize the shape of the operation object as a gesture input, may recognize the position, orientation, and / or movement of the operation object as a gesture input, or may recognize a combination of these as a gesture input. For example, the user can perform a gesture input by the shape of the hand, the movement of the hand, the position of the hand (with reference to the right controller 4), the orientation (posture) of the hand, and the like.

[0341] Further, the infrared imaging unit 123 may be used to calculate the position and / or orientation of the right controller 4 with respect to a predetermined marker while (or instead of) discriminating gesture input. For example, the user places a marker at a desired position (e.g., around the display 12 or around the television 6), and performs an operation of moving the right controller 4 within a range where the infrared camera can image the marker. Note that the marker may be made of a material that reflects infrared rays, for example. At this time, the information processing apparatus 1 can calculate the position and / or orientation of the right controller 4 with respect to the marker based on the imaging result by the infrared imaging unit 123. Further, the information processing apparatus 1 can execute information processing using the calculated information as a user operation input.

[0342] In addition, the main body device 2 can also perform user authentication (specifically, vein authentication) based on the captured image by capturing the user's hand (specifically, the vein of the hand) with the infrared imaging unit 123. Further, the main body device 2 can also measure the user's pulse by capturing the user's hand with the infrared imaging unit 123. That is, when the main body device 2 detects the reflected wave of the infrared ray irradiated on the user's hand by the infrared imaging unit 123, the main body device 2 can calculate the user's pulse based on the change in the reflected wave.

[0343] In the above description, the case where the infrared imaging unit 123 is used when the right controller 4 is removed from the main body device 2 is described as an example. Here, the information processing apparatus 1 can also execute information processing based on the imaging result by the infrared imaging unit 123 even when the right controller 4 is attached to the main body device 2.

[0344] In addition, in the present embodiment, the main body device 2 is provided with an input unit (specifically, a touch panel 13, an acceleration sensor 89, an angular velocity sensor 90, etc.). Therefore, the user can also use only the main body device 2 with the controllers 3 and 4 removed. According to this, the user can use the information processing apparatus 1 in a lightweight state.

[0345] In addition, in this embodiment, it is also possible to use the information processing apparatus 1 with either the left controller 3 or the right controller 4 removed from the main body device 2 and the other attached to the main body device 2. At this time, the main body device 2 may perform wireless communication with the one controller and wired communication with the other controller.

[0346] When the controller is removed from the main body device 2 for use, the user can hold one controller with both hands (see, for example, FIG. 35) or hold one controller with one hand (see, for example, FIG. 34). Here, when the user holds the controller with one hand, the holding method is arbitrary. For example, as shown in FIG. 34, the controller can be used by holding it in a way that the operation unit provided on the main surface of the controller (in other words, the front surface, that is, the front side surface) is operated with the thumb. Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 33, while operating the operation unit provided on the main surface of the controller with the thumb, the operation units provided on the side surface of the controller (for example, the first L button 38, the ZL button 39, the first R button 60, and the ZR button 61) can be operated with the index finger and / or the middle finger. Note that FIG. 33 shows the state where the controller is attached to the main body device 2, but it is obvious that even when the controller is removed from the main body device 2, the controller can be used in the same holding method as shown in FIG. 33.

[0347] Furthermore, when the user holds the controller with one hand, it is also possible to use the controller in a way that the operation unit provided on the side surface of the controller is operated with the thumb. FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an example of how to hold the right controller 4 with one hand. As shown in FIG. 36, the user can hold the right controller 4 by grasping the housing 51 with the palm of the hand and operating the first R button 60 and the ZR button 61 with the thumb. That is to say, it can be said that the first R button 60 and the ZR button 61 are provided at positions where they can be operated with the thumb when the user holds the housing 51 with the palm of the hand. With such a holding method, the user can use the controller with an operation feeling similar to operating, for example, the joystick of an airplane.

[0348] Also, in the present embodiment, the first R button 60 and the ZR button 61 are arranged at different positions in the front-rear direction (in other words, the direction perpendicular to the main surface, that is, the z-axis direction). In other words, the first R button 60 and the ZR button 61 are offset in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the user can easily distinguish and operate these two buttons.

[0349] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the first R button 60 is provided on the side surface of the right controller 4, and the ZR button 61 is provided on the portion from the side surface to the back surface of the right controller 4. Here, the length of the ZR button 61 in the front-rear direction is longer than the length of the first R button 60 in the front-rear direction. In this way, in the present embodiment, the ZR button 61 arranged at a position slightly offset from the side surface of the right controller 4 has a shape that is easy to press when the right controller 4 is held as shown in FIG. 36.

[0350] In FIG. 36, an example of holding the right controller 4 is shown. However, for the left controller 3 as well, similar to the right controller 4, it is possible to use the left controller 3 in a way that the operation unit provided on the side surface of the left controller 3 (that is, the first L button 38 and the ZL button 39) is operated with the thumb.

[0351] Also, when holding the controller with one hand in the manner shown in FIG. 36, the user can operate another controller with the other hand. At this time, it is possible to use the other controller in the same manner as in FIG. 36 with the other hand, or it is also possible to use the controller in other ways.

[0352] In addition, in the holding manner shown in FIG. 36, the user can operate the operation parts (for example, the second L button 65 and the second R button 66) provided on the side surface different from the side surface where the operation part operated by the thumb is provided, with fingers other than the thumb (for example, the index finger, the middle finger, and the ring finger). Also, in the holding manner shown in FIG. 36, the user can perform the operations of moving the controller and / or the operations by gesture input as described above. By combining these operations with the operations by the thumb, it becomes possible to perform a somewhat complex operation in the holding manner shown in FIG. 36.

[0353] [3-3. Modes of Using Three or More Controllers] As described above, in this embodiment, the main body device 2 can communicate with a plurality of left controllers. Also, the main body device 2 can communicate with a plurality of right controllers. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to use three or more controllers simultaneously.

[0354] FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an example of a usage mode when using three or more controllers. In FIG. 37, a case where a total of four controllers, namely, two left controllers 3a and 3b and two right controllers 4a and 4b, are used is exemplified. Here, it is assumed that each controller is detached from the main body device 2. When four controllers are used in this way, at least two usage modes can be considered: a mode where four users use one controller each (FIG. 37(a)), and a mode where two users use two controllers each (specifically, a set of left and right controllers) (FIG. 37(b)).

[0355] (Mode in which one user uses one controller) In FIG. 37(a), four controllers 3a, 3b, 4a, and 4b are used, one for each user. That is, in the present embodiment, when four controllers are prepared, four users from user A to user D can perform operations using the controllers. The information processing apparatus 1 executes information processing for controlling the operation of an object corresponding to each controller based on, for example, an operation on each controller. In each usage mode shown in FIG. 37, as in the usage modes shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, each user can perform an operation on the operation unit provided in the controller and / or an operation of moving the controller itself.

[0356] In FIG. 37(a), the main body device 2 performs wireless communication with the four controllers 3a, 3b, 4a, and 4b, respectively. Here, in the present embodiment, the main body device 2 distinguishes the four controllers 3a, 3b, 4a, and 4b. That is, the main body device 2 identifies from which of the four controllers the received operation data is. In the case of FIG. 37(a), the main body device 2 distinguishes the left controller 3a from the left controller 3b, and also distinguishes the right controller 4a from the right controller 4b. The method of distinguishing each controller will be described later.

[0357] (Mode in which one user uses a set of controllers) In FIG. 37(b), four controllers 3a, 3b, 4a, and 4b are used, one set for each user. That is, user A uses a set of controllers, the left controller 3a and the right controller 4a, and user B uses a set of controllers, the left controller 3b and the right controller 4b. Thus, in the present embodiment, when four controllers are prepared, two users can each operate a set of controllers (also referred to as a set of controllers).

[0358] The information processing apparatus 1 executes information processing by treating two pieces of operation data received from one set of controllers as one set. For example, the information processing apparatus 1 executes information processing for controlling the operation of an object corresponding to the one set of controllers based on an operation on the one set of controllers. Specifically, based on operations on the left controller 3a and the right controller 4a, the operation of the first object is controlled, and based on operations on the left controller 3b and the right controller 4b, the operation of the second object is controlled.

[0359] Here, in the present embodiment, in the usage mode shown in FIG. 37(b), the main body device 2 sets a set of a left controller and a right controller used by one user. The main body device 2 executes information processing using each operation data from the two controllers included in the set as one set (for example, used as operation data for controlling one operation target).

[0360] The method of setting a set of controllers may be any method, but in the present embodiment, the set is set by attaching the left and right controllers to the main body device 2. That is, the main body device 2 sets the simultaneously attached left controller and right controller as one set of controllers. For example, when setting the set of controllers shown in FIG. 37(b), the user first attaches the left controller 3a and the right controller 4a to the main body device 2, removes these two left controller 3a and right controller 4a from the main body device 2, and then attaches another left controller 3b and right controller 4b to the main body device 2. Thereby, the set of the left controller 3a and the right controller 4a and the set of the left controller 3b and the right controller 4b can be set (also referred to as registered) in the main body device 2. The details of the process for setting the set will be described later.

[0361] In addition, when using three or more controllers, in addition to the usage modes shown in FIG. 37, it is possible to use the information processing system in various modes. For example, it is possible to use the information processing system in a mode where a certain user uses a set of controllers consisting of left and right controllers, and another user uses one controller. Also, for example, it is possible that a certain user uses the controller attached to the main body device 2, and another user uses the controller removed from the main body device 2.

[0362] [3-4. Mode of Use by Displaying on a TV] As described above, in this embodiment, when the information processing device 1 is attached to the cradle 5, the information processing device 1 can output an image (and audio) to the TV 6 via the cradle 5. FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an example of a usage mode when an image is displayed on the TV. As shown in FIG. 38, the information processing system in this embodiment can use the TV 6 as a display device (and an audio output device).

[0363] [3-4-1. Operation When an Image is Displayed on a TV] FIG. 39 is a diagram showing an example of the operation flow when an image is displayed on the TV. Hereinafter, the operation when switching from the mode of using the information processing device 1 as a portable device to the mode of using it as a stationary device (that is, using the TV 6 as a display device) will be described. Here, it is assumed that the cradle 5 is pre-connected to the TV 6. Also, a charging device (for example, an AC adapter) (not shown) is connected to the power supply terminal 134 of the cradle 5, and it is assumed that commercial power is supplied to the cradle 5.

[0364] First, the user uses the information processing device 1 as a portable device, that is, in a state where it is not attached to the cradle (shown as (1) in FIG. 39). In this state, when switching to a mode of using the information processing device 1 as a stationary device, the user attaches the information processing device 1 to the cradle 5 (shown as (2) in FIG. 39). As a result, the lower terminal 27 of the information processing device 1 and the main body terminal 73 of the cradle 5 are connected. At this time, the information processing device 1 with the controllers 3 and 4 attached may be attached to the cradle 5, or the information processing device 1 in a state where the controllers 3 and 4 are removed (that is, the main body device 2) may be attached to the cradle 5.

[0365] Note that, although details will be described later, in the present embodiment, when it is detected that the information processing device 1 is attached to the cradle 5, the information processing device 1 stops the display on the display 12. Thus, in the present embodiment, the display 12 of the main body device 2 is not used in a state where it is attached to the cradle 5. In other embodiments, the main body device 2 may display an image on the display 12 even in a state where it is attached to the cradle 5. In the present embodiment, when it is detected that the information processing device 1 is removed from the cradle 5, the information processing device 1 starts the display on the display 12.

[0366] As described above, in the present embodiment, the information processing device 1 can be attached to the cradle 5 with the front side facing up or the back side facing up. Therefore, the user can place the information processing device 1 in a free orientation, which facilitates attachment to the cradle 5.

[0367] In other embodiments, the cradle 5 may support the information processing apparatus 1 in a backward orientation (i.e., in an orientation where the display 12 is hidden facing the second support portion 72) and may not be able to support it in a forward orientation (i.e., in an orientation where the display 12 is not hidden). Here, in the present embodiment, when the information processing apparatus 1 is placed on the cradle 5, the display of the display 12 stops. At this time, although the stop of the display of the display 12 is an operation originally intended by the information processing apparatus 1, the user may misunderstand the stop of the display of the display 12 as a failure or malfunction. Regarding this, by making it impossible for the information processing apparatus 1 to be placed on the cradle 5 in the forward orientation, the above-described misunderstanding by the user can be suppressed.

[0368] In the present embodiment, when detecting that the information processing apparatus 1 is attached to the cradle 5, the cradle 5 starts charging the information processing apparatus 1. That is, when the processing unit 135 detects that the information processing apparatus 1 is attached to the cradle 5, it instructs the power control unit 133 to perform an operation of supplying power from the power supply terminal 134 to the main body apparatus 2. When the power control unit 133 starts this operation, charging of the main body apparatus 2 by the cradle 5 is started. That is, in the main body apparatus 2, the battery 98 is charged by the power supplied from the cradle 5 via the lower terminal 27.

[0369] Also, when the main body device 2 is being charged by the cradle 5, if a controller (specifically, the left controller 3 and / or the right controller 4) is attached to the main body device 2, the main body device 2 charges the controller attached to itself. That is, in the above case, the power control unit 97 of the main body device 2 supplies the power supplied from the cradle 5 via the lower terminal 27 to the controller attached to the main body device 2 through the terminals corresponding to the controller (specifically, the left terminal 17 and / or the right terminal 21). Thereby, the controller is charged. That is, when the left controller 3 is charged, the battery of the power supply unit 108 is charged by the power supplied through the terminal 42. Also, when the right controller 4 is charged, the battery of the power supply unit 118 is charged by the power supplied through the terminal 64.

[0370] In other embodiments, the cradle 5 may be configured to charge the main body device 2 under predetermined conditions. For example, the power control unit 133 of the cradle 5 may be configured to charge the main body device 2 when the remaining amount of the battery 98 of the main body device 2 attached to the cradle 5 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. Similarly, the main body device 2 may be configured to charge the controller under predetermined conditions. For example, the power control unit 97 of the main body device 2 may be configured to charge the controller when the remaining amount of the battery of the controller attached to the main body device 2 is equal to or less than a predetermined amount.

[0371] Also, the above-described charging operation may be executed even when the power of the information processing device 1 is off. That is, even when the information processing device 1 is attached to the cradle 5 with the power off, the cradle 5 may charge the information processing device 1 (that is, charge the main body device 2 and / or the controller).

[0372] Furthermore, in other embodiments, the main body device 2 may charge the controller when it is not mounted on the cradle 5. According to this, even if the battery 98 of the main body device 2 has sufficient power, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the user cannot play due to the lack of power in the battery of the controller. Here, as described above, in this embodiment, the battery 98 of the main body device 2 has a larger charging capacity than the battery of the controller. According to this, the above possibility can be further reduced.

[0373] Also, when the information processing device 1 is mounted on the cradle 5, under predetermined conditions, the information processing device 1 outputs an image (and audio) to the TV 6 and causes the image (and audio) to be output from the TV 6 ((3) shown in FIG. 39). That is, the information processing device 1 transmits the data of the image and audio to be output to the cradle 5 under predetermined conditions. Note that the "image and audio to be output" is, in this embodiment, the image and audio generated or acquired by the program (for example, an OS program or an application program) being executed at the time when the information processing device 1 is mounted on the cradle 5. For example, when a game application was being executed at the above time, the information processing device 1 outputs the data of the image and audio generated by the game application to the cradle 5. Also, for example, when an application that acquires and plays a video from the Internet was being executed at the above time, the information processing device 1 transmits the data of the image and audio acquired by the application to the cradle 5.

[0374] Note that the conditions for transmitting the image and audio to be output to the cradle 5 (referred to as "image output conditions") are arbitrary, but the image output conditions in this embodiment are to satisfy the following (Condition 1) to (Condition 3). (Condition 1) The cradle 5 is connected to the TV 6 (Condition 2) Power is supplied to the cradle 5 (Condition 3) The cradle 5 is an authentic (or genuine) product (in other words, the cradle 5 is one permitted by the manufacturer of the information processing apparatus 1). When the above three conditions are satisfied, the information processing apparatus 1 determines that the image output conditions are satisfied. In this case, the information processing apparatus 1 transmits the image and audio to be output to the cradle 5. Note that in other embodiments, the information processing apparatus 1 may use any one or two of the above (Condition 1) to (Condition 3) as the image output conditions, or may use other conditions as the image output conditions in addition to (or instead of) these conditions.

[0375] When the cradle 5 receives the image and audio data from the information processing apparatus 1, the cradle 5 transmits the image and audio data to the TV 6. As a result, the above "image and audio to be output" are output from the TV 6 ((3) shown in FIG. 39). When the state is such that the image and audio are output from the TV 6, the user can perform operations using the controller ((4) shown in FIG. 39).

[0376] Note that when no image is displayed on the display 12 of the information processing apparatus 1 (that is, when the power is off or in the sleep mode), even if the information processing apparatus 1 is attached to the cradle 5, no image is displayed on the TV 6.

[0377] Also, in the present embodiment, even when the above image output conditions are not satisfied, while the information processing apparatus 1 is attached to the cradle 5, the information processing apparatus 1 stops the image display on the display 12. However, in other embodiments, when the image output conditions are not satisfied, the information processing apparatus 1 may resume the image display on the display 12.

[0378] As described above, in this embodiment, when an image is being displayed on the display 12 of the information processing apparatus 1, by mounting the information processing apparatus 1 on the cradle 5, the display destination of the image can be switched from the display 12 to the television 6. That is, in this embodiment, the user can easily (and seamlessly) switch the display destination just by placing the information processing apparatus 1 on the cradle 5.

[0379] As described above, in this embodiment, the information processing apparatus 1 can be used in a usage mode in which an image is displayed on the display 12 and a usage mode in which an image is displayed on the television 6. Here, in this embodiment, the information processing apparatus 1 changes its operation mode according to these two types of usage modes. That is, the information processing apparatus 1 can operate at least in two modes: a portable mode and a stationary mode. Although details will be described later, in the portable mode, some functions in the information processing apparatus 1 are restricted. Note that the switching of the operation mode will be described later (see "[3-5. Change of operation mode]" and "[4-3. Mode setting process]").

[0380] In other embodiments, the information processing apparatus 1 may be able to communicate directly with the television 6 (that is, without going through the cradle 6). At this time, the information processing apparatus 1 may directly transmit an image and / or audio to the television 6. Note that the communication method between the information processing apparatus 1 and the television 6 is arbitrary. For example, it may be wired communication using a cable (e.g., an HDMI cable), or it may be wireless communication. Also, when the information processing apparatus 1 communicates directly with the television 6, the cradle 6 may be used, for example, for charging the information processing apparatus 1. Even in this case, similar to the above embodiment, the information processing apparatus 1 may transmit an image and / or audio to the television 6 on the condition that it is mounted on the cradle 6 at least.

[0381] [3-4-2. Usage mode when displaying an image on a television] When images and audio are output from the TV 6, the user can perform operations using the controller (as shown in (4) of FIG. 39). Here, in the above case, since the main unit 2 is mounted on the cradle 5, it is difficult to use the controllers 3 and 4 when they are mounted on the main unit 2. Therefore, in the above case, the user may perform operations using the controller removed from the main unit 2. For example, the user can remove the left controller 3 and / or the right controller 4 from the main unit 2 as needed and perform operations. Here, in the present embodiment, the controllers 3 and 4 can be removed from the main unit 2 by sliding them upward of the main unit 2. Therefore, the user can remove the controllers 3 and 4 from the main unit 2 while the main unit 2 is mounted on the cradle 5, which is convenient.

[0382] In addition, when a controller other than the controllers 3 and 4 mounted on the main unit 2 can communicate with the main unit 2 wirelessly, the other controller may be used.

[0383] Also, in the usage mode of displaying an image on the TV 6, when a controller removed from the main unit 2 is used, the communication between the controller and the main unit 2 is performed by wireless communication.

[0384] When the television 6 is used as the display device, the usage mode is the same as the usage modes described in the above "[3-2.1 Mode of using without removing a set of controllers]" and "[3-3. Mode of using three or more controllers]", except that the television 6 is used instead of the display 12. That is, in this embodiment, when the television 6 is used as the display device, similar to the case where the display 12 is used, one user can operate using a set of controllers (see Fig. 38), and two users can also operate using one controller each. Further, when controllers other than the left controller 3 and the right controller 4 are prepared, three or more users can operate using one controller each, and two or more users can also operate using a set of controllers each.

[0385] [3-5. Change of operation mode] As described above, in this embodiment, the information processing apparatus 1 can be used in a usage mode of displaying an image on the display 12 and a usage mode of displaying an image on the television 6. Here, in this embodiment, the information processing apparatus 1 changes the operation mode according to these two types of usage modes. That is, the information processing apparatus 1 can operate at least in two modes: a portable mode and a stationary mode.

[0386] The portable mode is a mode when the information processing apparatus 1 is used as a portable device. In the portable mode, the image acquired or generated by the information processing apparatus 1 is displayed on the display 12. Further, the sound acquired or generated by the information processing apparatus 1 is output from the speaker 88. Also, in the portable mode, the settings of the information processing apparatus 1 are changed as follows in (a) and (b).

[0387] (a) Setting for restricting the processing ability of the main body device 2 In this embodiment, in the portable mode, the range of the operable clock frequency of the CPU 81 is restricted. Here, in this embodiment, it is possible to specify the operable clock frequency of the CPU 81 within a predetermined range by a program executed in the main unit device 2. In the portable mode, the range of the clock frequency that can be specified by the program is restricted more than the range that can be specified in the stationary mode. For example, in the stationary mode, the specifiable range is a range of X1 [Hz] or less, whereas in the portable mode, the specifiable range is restricted to X2 (<X1) [Hz]. When the main unit device 2 includes a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) in addition to the CPU, the range of the processing capabilities (i.e., clock frequencies) of the CPU and / or the GPU may be restricted. Also, in this embodiment, in the portable mode, the image drawing ability (which can also be said to be the generation ability) is restricted. Specifically, in the portable mode, the resolution of the image (in other words, the number of pixels) generated by the main unit device 2 becomes lower than the resolution of the image generated in the stationary mode. Due to the limitation in (a) above, in the portable mode, the amount of processing executed in the main unit device 2 is restricted, so that heat generation and power consumption in the main unit device 2 can be suppressed.

[0388] (b) Setting to restrict the operation of the cooling fan 96 In this embodiment, in the portable mode, the operation of the cooling fan 96 is restricted. Specifically, in the portable mode, the number of revolutions (in other words, the rotational speed) at which the cooling fan 96 can be driven is restricted to be lower than the maximum number of revolutions that can be driven in the stationary mode. For example, in the portable mode, the cooling fan 96 is restricted to operate at a predetermined number of revolutions or less that is smaller than the above maximum number of revolutions. Due to the limitation in (b) above, the operating noise of the cooling fan 96 can be reduced. Here, in the portable mode, it is assumed that the user uses the main body device 2 near himself / herself. In this regard, in the present embodiment, since the operating noise of the cooling fan 96 can be reduced in the portable mode, the possibility that the user feels the operating noise is annoying can be reduced.

[0389] On the other hand, the stationary mode is a mode when the information processing device 1 is used as a stationary device. In the stationary mode, the image acquired or generated by the information processing device 1 is displayed on the TV 6. Also, the audio acquired or generated by the information processing device 1 is output from the speaker of the TV 6. Further, in the stationary mode, the suppression of the functions in the portable mode is released. That is, in the stationary mode, the limitations in (a) and (b) above are released. Therefore, in the stationary mode, the program in the information processing device 1 can utilize the processing capacity of the CPU 81 in a higher range. Also, the information processing device 1 can display an image with a higher resolution on the TV 6 than in the portable mode. Further, the information processing device 1 can perform cooling by the cooling fan 96 more effectively than in the portable mode.

[0390] In the present embodiment, the switching between the portable mode and the stationary mode is performed as follows. That is, when the information processing device 1 is mounted on the cradle 5 and the above-described image output conditions are satisfied, the information processing device 1 sets the operation mode to the stationary mode. On the other hand, when the information processing device 1 is removed from the cradle 5, the information processing device 1 sets the operation mode to the portable mode. Note that the switching of the operation mode will be described later (see FIG. 44).

[0391] Note that the differences in settings between the portable mode and the stationary mode are not limited to the above and are arbitrary. For example, in other embodiments, the information processing apparatus 1 may apply only one of the above (a) and (b) restrictions in the portable mode. Further, for example, in other embodiments, the information processing system may make the communication method with an external device via a network (e.g., the Internet) different (in other words, switch) between the portable mode and the stationary mode. For example, consider a case where a predetermined network connection device having a function of connecting to the above network and performing communication is connected to the cradle 5. In this case, in the portable mode, the information processing apparatus 1 may perform communication with the above network using the network communication unit 82. On the other hand, in the stationary mode, the information processing apparatus 1 may perform communication with the above network via the above cradle 5 and the network connection device.

[0392] Further, for example, in the application executed in the information processing apparatus 1, the settings in the application may be changed between the portable mode and the stationary mode. For example, in a game application, the content of the game (e.g., the rules of the game and the operation method, etc.) may be changed between the portable mode and the stationary mode (see FIG. 45).

[0393] Note that the above operation modes (portable mode and stationary mode) and the above-described on mode and sleep mode are at different levels. That is, when the operation mode is the portable mode, the main body device 2 may be in the on mode or the sleep mode. Also, when the operation mode is the stationary mode, the main body device 2 may be in the on mode or the sleep mode.

[0394] [4. Specific Examples of Processing in the Information Processing System] Next, some processes executed when the information processing system performs the above operations will be described in more detailed specific examples.

[0395] [4-1. Registration Process] As described above, in this embodiment, communication is performed between the main body device 2 and each of the controllers 3 and 4. Therefore, the main body device 2 executes a registration process for registering the controller in order to identify the controller that communicates with itself. Note that, for the controller provided (specifically, sold) together with the main body device 2, it may be already registered in the main body device 2 at the time of provision.

[0396] FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the registration process executed in the main body device 2. In this embodiment, the registration process is executed in response to the controller being attached to the main body device 2. That is, the main body device 2 detects that the left controller 3 or the right controller 4 is attached, and in response to the detection of the attachment, starts the execution of the registration process shown in FIG. 40.

[0397] The method of detecting that the controller is attached to the main body device 2 is arbitrary. For example, the detection method may be based on the signal state (e.g., voltage state) at a predetermined pin included in the terminals of the main body device 2 and / or the controller. Also, for example, the detection method may be a method of mechanically detecting that the terminal of another device is connected to the own device. Further, each of the main body device 2 and the controller may have the above-described detection function, or only one of them may have the detection function. In the case where only one of them has the detection function, the one device may notify the other device of the detection of the connection as necessary.

[0398] Note that the processing of each step in the flowchart shown in FIG. 40 (the same applies to the flowcharts in FIGS. 43 to 47 described later) is merely an example, and if the same result can be obtained, the processing order of each step may be changed, or another processing may be executed in addition to (or instead of) the processing of each step. Further, in the present embodiment, the processing of each step of the above flowchart will be described as being executed by the CPU 81 of the main body device 2, but the processing of some steps in the above flowchart may be executed by a processor or a dedicated circuit other than the CPU 81. Also, a part of the processing executed in the main body device 2 may be executed by another information processing device capable of communicating with the main body device 2 (for example, a server capable of communicating with the main body device 2 via a network). That is, each process shown in FIGS. 40 and 43 to 47 may be executed by a plurality of information processing devices including the main body device 2 cooperating with each other.

[0399] In the registration process shown in FIG. 40, first, in step S1, the CPU 81 determines whether the controller detected as being attached to the main body device 2 has already been registered. Here, in the present embodiment, the main body device 2 stores registration information indicating the controller registered in itself in its storage unit (for example, the flash memory 84). The determination in step S1 is made based on this registration information.

[0400] FIG. 41 is a diagram showing an example of the registration information. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 41, the registration information is information associating number information, identification information, and wireless communication information. The number information is a number assigned to the registered controller. The above-described notification LED in the controller may be controlled to represent a value based on this number.

[0401] The identification information indicates a value (e.g., ID) uniquely assigned to the controller. With this identification information, the controller can be uniquely identified. Here, in this embodiment, the identification information includes information indicating whether the controller is a left controller or a right controller. That is, the main body device 2 can determine whether the controller is a left controller or a right controller based on the identification information assigned to the controller. Note that in other embodiments, the identification information may not include information indicating whether the controller is a left controller or a right controller. In this case, the registration information may include (separate from the identification information) information indicating whether the controller is a left controller or a right controller. Note that when the CPU 81 acquires the identification information from the controller, it can determine whether the controller indicated by the identification information is a left controller or a right controller based on whether the identification information was acquired via the left terminal 17 or the right terminal 21.

[0402] The wireless communication information indicates whether the connection setting (i.e., pairing) for wireless communication with the main body device 2 has been completed. That is, when the pairing between the main body device 2 and the controller is completed, information indicating "set" is stored as the wireless communication information regarding the controller. On the other hand, when the pairing between the main body device 2 and the controller is not completed, information indicating "not set" is stored as the wireless communication information regarding the controller. Note that the main body device 2 may store (separate from the registration information) information regarding the connection setting of wireless communication so that it may not be necessary to perform pairing again for a controller that has been paired once.

[0403] Note that a part of the above registration information may be deleted or changed according to the user's instruction. For example, the main body device 2 may delete the information regarding the specified controller according to the user's instruction, or may change the number assigned to the controller.

[0404] Returning to the description of FIG. 40, in step S1 above, the CPU 81 first acquires identification information from the controller for which attachment has been detected. It is assumed that the identification information assigned to itself is stored in advance in the memory of the controller (for example, memory 102 or 112). The controller transmits its identification information to the main body device 2 in response to its connection to the main body device 2 or in response to a request from the CPU 81. The CPU 81 determines whether the controller for which attachment has been detected is registered by checking whether the acquired identification information is included in the registration information. If the determination result in step S1 is negative, the process of step S2 is executed. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S1 is positive, the process of step S2 is skipped and the process of step S3 is executed.

[0405] In step S2, the CPU 81 registers the controller for which attachment has been detected. That is, the CPU 81 updates the registration information stored in the storage unit so as to add the number information, identification information, and wireless communication information for the controller in an associated manner to the registration information. As the number information, for example, information indicating a number not set for other registered controllers is set. As the identification information, the identification information acquired from the controller in step S1 above is set. As the wireless communication information, since pairing has not been performed at this point, information indicating "not set" is set. The process of step S3 is executed after step S2.

[0406] In step S3, the CPU 81 determines whether both the left and right controllers are attached to the main body device 2. That is, it is determined whether the left controller 3 and the right controller 4 are currently detected as being attached to the main body device 2. If the determination result in step S3 is positive, the process of step S4 is executed. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S3 is negative, the process of step S4 is skipped and the CPU 81 ends the registration process.

[0407] In step S4, the CPU 81 sets the left controller 3 and the right controller 4 attached to the main body device 2 as one set. Here, in the present embodiment, the main body device 2 stores set information indicating the set of the left controller and the right controller in a storage unit (for example, the flash memory 84).

[0408] FIG. 42 is a diagram showing an example of the set information. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 42, the set information is information associating left identification information and right identification information. The left identification information is the identification information of the left controller set as a set among the registered controllers (in other words, the controllers indicated by the identification information included in the registration information). The right identification information is the identification information of the right controller set as a set among the registered controllers (in other words, the controllers indicated by the identification information included in the registration information). Further, the left identification information and the right identification information associated in the set information indicate a set consisting of the left and right controllers.

[0409] In step S4 above, the CPU 81 first acquires the identification information of the left and right controllers attached to the main body device 2. Note that it is not necessary to acquire the identification information again for the controllers for which the identification information has been acquired in step S1 above. Next, the CPU 81 associates the acquired identification information of the left and right controllers and adds it to the set information. That is, the CPU 81 updates the set information so as to add the set of the two acquired identification information to the set information (accurately, the set information before the update). At this time, the updated set information is stored in the storage unit. Note that if the information indicating the set of the two identification information is already included in the set information, the CPU 81 may not update the set information. Also, if the information indicating the set including one of the two identification information is already included in the set information, the CPU 81 deletes the set from the set information. As a result, the set including one of the controllers included in the set set this time is deleted (that is, deleted from the set information). After step S4, the CPU 81 ends the registration process.

[0410] As described above, in this embodiment, when a controller is attached to the main body device 2, the controller is registered in the main body device 2. According to this, the user can easily perform the registration work of the controller. Further, in this embodiment, since the registration process is executed when the main body device 2 and the controller perform wired communication, the possibility that the main body device 2 cannot acquire information (specifically, identification information) from the controller can be reduced, and the possibility of registration failure can be reduced.

[0411] Also, in this embodiment, when both the left and right controllers are attached to the main body device 2, these two controllers are set as a pair. Since the user only needs to attach the two controllers that he or she wants to use as a pair to the main body device 2, the pair can be set with an easy-to-understand and easy operation.

[0412] Note that, although details will be described later, in this embodiment, an accessory device (see FIG. 52) that can simultaneously attach the left and right controllers may be prepared. At this time, even when both the left and right controllers are attached to the accessory device, the main body device 2 sets these two controllers as a pair, similar to the case where both the left and right controllers are attached to the main body device 2. Details of such pair setting processing will be described in "[5-2. Accessory device for the controller]" described later.

[0413] Note that the main body device 2 may set the two controllers simultaneously attached to the main body device 2 as a pair as in the above embodiment, or, different from the above embodiment, may set two controllers that are not simultaneously attached as a pair. For example, the main body device 2 may set the left controller that was last attached to itself and the right controller that was last attached to itself as a pair.

[0414] In other embodiments, the method of setting the pairs is arbitrary, and the pairs of controllers may be set by other methods. For example, the main body device 2 may set two controllers on which a predetermined operation is performed within a predetermined period as the same pair. Specifically, the main body device 2 notifies the user to perform a predetermined operation in response to a predetermined condition being satisfied (for example, in response to receiving an instruction to set a pair from the user). Then, among two or more controllers in communication, the main body device 2 sets two controllers on which the predetermined operation has been performed within the predetermined period from the notification as a pair of controllers. Note that the above “predetermined operation” may be, for example, an operation of pressing the A button, or an operation of hitting two controllers (this operation can be determined based on, for example, the detection result of an acceleration sensor).

[0415] [4-2. Wireless Setting Process] As described above, in this embodiment, wireless communication may be performed between the main body device 2 and each of the controllers 3 and 4. Therefore, in this embodiment, the information processing apparatus 1 performs setting (also referred to as pairing) for performing wireless communication between the main body device 2 and the controller. Note that, for a controller provided (specifically, sold) together with the main body device 2, the setting for wireless communication may be completed at the time of provision.

[0416] In this embodiment, the main body device 2 executes a wireless setting process for performing setting related to wireless communication with the controller. FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the wireless setting process executed in the main body device 2. In this embodiment, the wireless setting process is executed in response to the controller being removed from the main body device 2. That is, the main body device 2 detects that the left controller 3 or the right controller 4 has been removed, and starts executing the wireless setting process shown in FIG. 43 in response to the removal (referred to as “detachment”) being detected. Note that the method of detecting the detachment of the controller from the main body device 2 is arbitrary, but may be the same method as the method of detecting the attachment of the controller to the main body device 2, for example.

[0417] In the wireless setting process, first, in step S11, the CPU 81 determines whether the pairing of wireless communication has been completed for the controller for which detachment from the main unit device 2 has been detected. This determination is made using the registration information described above. That is, for the controller for which detachment has been detected, if the wireless communication information included in the registration information indicates "set", the CPU 81 determines that the pairing of wireless communication has been completed. On the other hand, for the controller for which detachment has been detected, if the wireless communication information included in the registration information indicates "not set", the CPU 81 determines that the pairing of wireless communication has not been completed. If the determination result in step S11 is negative, the process of step S12 is executed. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S11 is positive, the process of step S12 is skipped, and the CPU 81 ends the wireless setting process.

[0418] In step S12, the CPU 81 executes a pairing process to enable wireless communication with the controller for which detachment has been detected. The pairing process in this embodiment may be the same as the pairing process in the communication technology according to the conventional Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. Although details will be described later, in this embodiment, the controller executes the pairing process in response to being removed from the main unit device 2. As a result, pairing is performed between the main unit device 2 and the above-mentioned controller, and wireless communication is established. Step S13 is executed after step S12.

[0419] In step S13, the CPU 81 determines whether the pairing with the controller for which detachment has been detected has been successful. The process of step S13 is executed at the timing when a predetermined time has elapsed after the process of step S12. If the determination result in step S13 is positive, the process of step S14 is executed. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S13 is negative, the process of step S14 is skipped, and the CPU 81 ends the wireless setting process.

[0420] In step S14, the CPU 81 updates the registration information. That is, for the controller in which detachment is detected, the wireless communication information included in the registration information is changed to the content indicating "set". After step S14, the CPU 81 ends the wireless setting process.

[0421] In the present embodiment, regarding the above wireless setting process, controllers 3 and 4 also execute the same process as the main body device 2 (referred to as "wireless setting process on the controller side"). Specifically, the controller stores registration information in which the identification information of the main body device on which it is mounted is associated with wireless communication information indicating whether or not pairing with the main body device has been completed in a storage unit (for example, memory 102 or 112). The controller (specifically, the communication control unit 101 or 111) determines whether or not pairing with the main body device 2 has been completed in response to being removed from the main body device 2. If the pairing has not been completed, the controller executes the pairing process. Further, the controller determines whether or not the pairing has been successful, and if the pairing is successful, updates the above registration information. Thus, in the present embodiment, when the controller is removed from the main body device 2, the pairing process is executed in the main body device 2 and the controller, so that the pairing is successful and wireless communication is established.

[0422] As described above, in this embodiment, in response to the removal of the controller from the main body device 2, setting processing related to wireless communication between the main body device 2 and the controller is executed, and wireless communication is established. Here, in this embodiment, wired communication is performed when the controller is attached to the main body device 2, and wireless communication is performed when the controller is removed from the main body device 2. Therefore, by executing the setting processing when the controller is removed from the main body device 2, wireless communication can be established at an appropriate timing. In this embodiment, since the controller is registered wh...

Claims

1. A game controller set including a first game controller and a second game controller that are respectively attachable to and detachable from a device having a first device-side attachment mechanism and a second device-side attachment mechanism, The first game controller includes: a first input unit for receiving directional inputs on a front surface of the first game controller, and a second input unit which is a set of four operation buttons or a cross key and is provided below the first input unit, a first attachment mechanism that is detachable from at least the first device-side attachment mechanism of the first device-side attachment mechanism or the second device-side attachment mechanism, a third input unit, and a fourth input unit provided below the third input unit, on a first side surface of the first game controller that faces a right side; a fifth input unit is provided on a second side surface of the first game controller that faces upward; The second game controller is a sixth input unit for receiving directional inputs on a front surface of the second game controller, and a seventh input unit which is a set of four operation buttons or a cross key and is provided above the sixth input unit, a second attachment mechanism that is detachable from at least a second device-side attachment mechanism of the first device-side attachment mechanism or the second device-side attachment mechanism, an eighth input unit, and a ninth input unit provided below the eighth input unit, on a third side surface of the second game controller that faces a left side; a tenth input unit is provided on a fourth side surface of the second game controller that faces upward; Game controller set.

2. A game controller set including a first game controller and a second game controller that are respectively attachable to and detachable from a device having a first device-side attachment mechanism and a second device-side attachment mechanism, The first game controller includes: a first input unit provided on a front surface of the first game controller, and a second input unit provided below the first input unit; a first attachment mechanism that is detachable from at least the first device-side attachment mechanism of the first device-side attachment mechanism or the second device-side attachment mechanism, a third input unit, and a fourth input unit provided below the third input unit, on a first side surface of the first game controller that faces a right side; a fifth input unit is provided on a second side surface of the first game controller that faces upward; The second game controller is a sixth input unit similar to the first input unit, and a seventh input unit similar to the second input unit, provided above the sixth input unit, on a front surface of the second game controller; a second attachment mechanism that is detachable from at least a second device-side attachment mechanism of the first device-side attachment mechanism or the second device-side attachment mechanism, an eighth input unit, and a ninth input unit provided below the eighth input unit, on a third side surface of the second game controller that faces a left side; a tenth input unit is provided on a fourth side surface of the second game controller that faces upward; Game controller set.

3. the second side includes a first connection portion that is connected to a fifth side opposite to the first side and has a rounded shape; The fifth input unit is provided on the first connection unit, the fourth side includes a second connection portion that is connected to a sixth side opposite to the third side and has a rounded shape; The tenth input unit is provided on the second connection unit.

3. A game controller set according to claim 1 or 2.

4. With respect to a vertical direction of the first game controller, the third input unit is provided above a center, and the fourth input unit is provided below the center, With respect to a vertical direction of the second game controller, the eighth input unit is provided above a center, and the ninth input unit is provided below the center. The game controller set according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the first game controller does not include an input unit between the first input unit and the second input unit in the up-down direction on a front surface of the first game controller, and includes an eleventh input unit on an outer side; the second game controller does not include an input unit between the sixth input unit and the seventh input unit in the up-down direction on a front surface of the second game controller, and includes a twelfth input unit on an outer side; The game controller set according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The eleventh input unit is a video record button and is provided below the second input unit, The twelfth input unit is a home button and is provided below the sixth input unit.

6. The game controller set according to claim 5.

7. A game controller set including a first game controller and a second game controller that are respectively attachable to and detachable from a device having a first device-side attachment mechanism and a second device-side attachment mechanism, The first game controller includes: a first input unit for inputting directions and a second input unit which is a set of four operation buttons or a cross key, on a front surface of the first game controller; The first input and the second input unit are When a user holds the first game controller horizontally with both hands so that the front surface of the first game controller is the front and the first input unit is located to the left of the second input unit, the first input unit can be operated with the thumb of the user's left hand and the second input unit can be operated with the thumb of the user's right hand, when the user holds the first game controller in a vertical position in his / her left hand with the front surface of the first game controller facing forward and the first input unit is located above the second input unit, the first input unit is provided at a position where the first input unit can be operated with the thumb of the user's left hand, The first game controller includes: a first attachment mechanism that is detachable from at least the first device-side attachment mechanism of the first device-side attachment mechanism or the second device-side attachment mechanism, at a portion of a side of the first game controller that faces upward when the first game controller is held in the horizontal position; a third input unit that is provided at a position operable with the index finger or middle finger of the user's left hand when the first game controller is held in the horizontal position; and a fourth input unit that is provided at a position operable with the index finger or middle finger of the user's right hand when the first game controller is held in the horizontal position; The first game controller includes: a fifth input unit provided in a portion of a side surface of the first game controller that faces upward when the first game controller is held vertically, the fifth input unit being located at a position operable by an index finger or a middle finger of the user's left hand; The second game controller is a sixth input unit for inputting directions and a seventh input unit which is a set of four operation buttons or a cross key, on a front surface of the second game controller; The sixth input unit and the seventh input unit are When a user holds the second game controller horizontally with both hands so that the sixth input unit is located to the left of the seventh input unit with the front surface of the second game controller facing forward, the sixth input unit can be operated with the thumb of the user's left hand, and the seventh input unit can be operated with the thumb of the user's right hand, when the user holds the second game controller in a vertical position in his / her right hand so that the front surface of the second game controller faces the front and the sixth input unit is located below the seventh input unit, the seventh input unit is provided at a position where the seventh input unit can be operated with the thumb of the user's right hand, The second game controller is a second attachment mechanism that is detachable from at least the second device-side attachment mechanism of the first device-side attachment mechanism or the second device-side attachment mechanism, at a portion of a side of the second game controller that faces upward when the second game controller is held in the horizontal position; an eighth input unit that is provided at a position operable with the index finger or middle finger of the user's right hand when the second game controller is held in the horizontal position; and a ninth input unit that is provided at a position operable with the index finger or middle finger of the user's left hand when the second game controller is held in the horizontal position; The second game controller is a tenth input unit provided on a side surface of the second game controller, the tenth input unit being located at a position operable by an index finger or a middle finger of the user's right hand, the tenth input unit being located on a portion of the side surface of the second game controller that faces upward when the second game controller is held in the vertical position; Game controller set.

8. A game controller set including a first game controller and a second game controller that are respectively attachable to and detachable from a device having a first device-side attachment mechanism and a second device-side attachment mechanism, The first game controller includes: a first input unit and a second input unit on a front surface of the first game controller; The first input and the second input unit are When a user holds the first game controller horizontally with both hands so that the front surface of the first game controller is the front and the first input unit is located to the left of the second input unit, the first input unit can be operated with the thumb of the user's left hand and the second input unit can be operated with the thumb of the user's right hand, when the user holds the first game controller in a vertical position in his / her left hand with the front surface of the first game controller facing forward and the first input unit is located above the second input unit, the first input unit is provided at a position where the first input unit can be operated with the thumb of the user's left hand, The first game controller includes: a first attachment mechanism that is detachable from at least the first device-side attachment mechanism of the first device-side attachment mechanism or the second device-side attachment mechanism, at a portion of a side of the first game controller that faces upward when the first game controller is held in the horizontal position; a third input unit that is provided at a position operable with the index finger or middle finger of the user's left hand when the first game controller is held in the horizontal position; and a fourth input unit that is provided at a position operable with the index finger or middle finger of the user's right hand when the first game controller is held in the horizontal position; The first game controller includes: a fifth input unit provided in a portion of a side surface of the first game controller that faces upward when the first game controller is held vertically, the fifth input unit being located at a position operable by an index finger or a middle finger of the user's left hand; The second game controller is a sixth input unit similar to the first input unit and a seventh input unit similar to the second input unit on a front surface of the second game controller, The sixth input unit and the seventh input unit are a position where, when a user holds the second game controller horizontally with both hands so that the sixth input unit is located to the left of the seventh input unit, with the front surface of the second game controller facing forward, the sixth input unit can be operated with the thumb of the user's left hand and the seventh input unit can be operated with the thumb of the user's right hand, and when the first game controller is held vertically with the user's right hand so that the sixth input unit is located below the seventh input unit, with the front surface of the second game controller facing forward, the seventh input unit can be operated with the thumb of the user's right hand, The second game controller is a second attachment mechanism that is detachable from at least the second device-side attachment mechanism of the first device-side attachment mechanism or the second device-side attachment mechanism, at a portion of a side of the second game controller that faces upward when the second game controller is held in the horizontal position; an eighth input unit that is provided at a position operable with the index finger or middle finger of the user's right hand when the second game controller is held in the horizontal position; and a ninth input unit that is provided at a position operable with the index finger or middle finger of the user's left hand when the second game controller is held in the horizontal position; The second game controller is a tenth input unit provided on a side surface of the second game controller, the tenth input unit being located at a position operable by an index finger or a middle finger of the user's right hand, the tenth input unit being located on a portion of the side surface of the second game controller that faces upward when the second game controller is held in the vertical position; Game controller set.

9. the fifth input unit is provided on a side surface of the first game controller, the portion being located at an upper left position when the first game controller is held in the vertical position; the tenth input unit is provided on a side surface of the second game controller, the side surface being located at an upper right portion when the second game controller is held in the vertical position; 9. A game controller set according to claim 7 or 8.

10. The first input unit is tiltable or slidable in directions including up, down, left, and right, The sixth input unit is tiltable or slidable in directions including up, down, left and right. A game controller set according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. the second input unit is a set of four operation buttons or a cross key; The seventh input unit is a set of four operation buttons or a cross key.

9. A game controller set according to claim 2 or 8.

12. the third input unit and the fourth input unit are provided at positions that are not exposed when the first game controller is attached to the device, the eighth input unit and the ninth input unit are provided at positions that are not exposed when the second game controller is attached to the device; A game controller set according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. the third input unit and the fourth input unit are provided in the first mounting mechanism, the eighth input unit and the ninth input unit are provided in the second mounting mechanism; A game controller set according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

14. the first game controller includes a first light-emitting unit in the first attachment mechanism, the first light-emitting unit emitting light to notify a user of information; the second game controller includes a second light emitting unit in the second attachment mechanism, the second light emitting unit emitting light to notify a user of information; A game controller set according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The device comprises a display. A game controller set according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. A system comprising the game controller set of any one of claims 1 to 15 and the device.

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