Controller Device Finger Rest Grip Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Large-screen portable terminal devices become difficult to hold due to their increased size, making it challenging for users to operate them comfortably.

Innovation Solution

A controller device with a plate-shaped housing featuring a display section on the front and projecting portions on the back, allowing users to rest the device on their fingers, providing a secure grip and enabling easy operation with thumbs and other fingers, while also incorporating engagement holes for additional devices to ensure stable connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the display section is enlarged to provide a larger screen, then the display area is improved, but the device becomes more difficult to hold and operate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidease of holding
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into multiple functional regions: a display section on the front side and projecting portions on the back side. This segmentation allows the large device to be held by resting the projecting portions on the user's fingers, effectively dividing the holding function between the display section (viewed by eyes) and the projecting portions (resting on fingers), thus resolving the contradiction between large display area and ease of holding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If the device size is increased to accommodate larger screens, then the display capability is improved, but the grip stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen sizeVSAvoidgrip stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The solution moves from a two-dimensional flat housing to a three-dimensional structure by adding projecting portions that extend from the back side of the housing. This dimensional change creates multiple contact points (projecting portions resting on fingers) in addition to the display section, providing stable grip and preventing the device from rotating or slipping, thus resolving the contradiction between large screen size and grip stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2446945B1Controller device and information processing device
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 NINTENDO CO LTD
  • EP2446945B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2446945B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2446945B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A terminal device 7 is a controller device to be operated by a user. The terminal device 7 includes a generally plate-shaped housing 50, an LCD 51, and a projecting portion (an eaves portion 59). The LCD 51 is provided on the front side of the housing 50. The projecting portion is provided so as to project at least at left and right positions on a back side of the housing 50 above the center of the housing 50. When the user holds the left and right portions of the housing 50 with respect to the LCD 51, the user can easily hold the terminal device 7 by holding it so as to allow the projecting portion to rest on the fingers.