Integrated Game Controller Housing to Minimize Grip Seam Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional game controllers with separate grips and housings have seams that can be accidentally touched by the user during grasping, leading to discomfort and potential operational issues.

Innovation Solution

A game controller design featuring a single-component housing with integrated grips and lids that cover the seams, allowing for seamless grasping and minimizing seam exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If separate grips are attached to the housing, then the controller can be grasped by both hands, but seams are formed between the grips and housing that users may accidentally touch

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrasping comfortVSAvoidseam contact
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the housing and grips into a single integrated component structure, eliminating the seams that would otherwise form between separate attached parts. This merging approach maintains the dual-hand grasping functionality while removing the harmful seam contact issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces lids as intermediary components that cover the openings and seams between the housing and grips. These lids act as mediators that prevent direct user contact with the seams while maintaining the structural integrity and grasping functionality of the controller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple lids are used to cover openings, then seam exposure is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseam exposureVSAvoidlid structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the lid structure into multiple separate lids that can cover different openings independently. This segmentation allows each lid to be optimized for its specific function while collectively reducing seam exposure across the entire controller structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent addresses seam exposure not by modifying the horizontal seam structure but by adding vertical coverage through lids that extend over the openings. This dimensional approach covers seams from above without requiring complex horizontal reconfiguration.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4696390A1Game controller
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 NINTENDO CO LTD
  • EP4696390A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4696390A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4696390A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A game controller configured to be grasped by a user to provide an input comprises a first input section, a housing and a first lid. The first input section is at a front side of the game controller. The housing is a single component comprising a first grip portion and a second grip portion and having an opening that spans between the front side and an upper side of the game controller, wherein the first grip portion and the second grip portion extend at least partly downward at a left side and at a right side, respectively, of the housing. The first lid at least partly covers the opening of the front side of the game controller.