Gaming Console Power Control for Wireless Controller Charging

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Gaming machines with wireless controllers face challenges in powering the controllers without wasteful power consumption, as they require the gaming machine body to remain turned on for battery charging, leading to unnecessary energy usage even after charging is complete.

Innovation Solution

An electronic apparatus connected to a device via a cable that detects when the battery is fully charged and automatically turns off power supply to prevent wasteful energy consumption, allowing the gaming machine body to charge the controller without needing to remain on.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the gaming machine body remains turned on to charge the controller battery, then the battery can be charged, but power is wasted continuously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery charging capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The gaming machine body incorporates a detection function that monitors the charging status of the controller battery. When the battery is fully charged, the system automatically detects this state and turns off the power supply, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that eliminates continuous power waste while ensuring reliable charging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables automatic power management where the gaming machine body autonomously controls its own power state based on battery charging status. The detection and power control functions work together to make the system self-regulating, turning off power automatically when charging is complete without requiring user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of energy

If the gaming machine body is turned off, then power consumption is reduced, but the controller cannot be charged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbattery charging capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses real-time detection of battery charging status to control power state transitions. The feedback mechanism ensures the machine body remains on only when necessary for charging, and automatically transitions to off state when charging is complete, resolving the contradiction between power savings and charging capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If USB bus-powered operation is used to charge the controller, then wireless controller operation is enabled, but the gaming machine must stay on

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewireless controller operationVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automatic detection of USB cable connection and battery charging status. When a controller is connected via USB for charging, the system detects this state and maintains power supply only for the duration needed. Once charging is complete, the system automatically turns off, enabling wireless controller versatility without continuous power waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares for wireless controller operation by enabling USB bus-powered charging capability in advance. This preliminary configuration allows the controller to be charged and ready for wireless use, while the automatic power control ensures energy is consumed only when necessary for this preparatory charging action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2141567B1Electronic device, control method and program
Publication Date: 2014.06.25 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP2141567B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2141567B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2141567B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Reduction of wasteful power consumption is envisaged. A power supply function-equipped electronic apparatus (10) is configured to be capable of supplying power to a battery device (20) incorporating a battery (21) by use of a cable (30) connecting the apparatus (10) with the device (20). A detection section (13) detects whether charging of the battery (21) incorporated in the battery device (20) is complete through the cable (30). When charging of the battery (21) is detected to be complete, a power control section (12) turns off power of the power supply function-equipped electronic apparatus (10). This invention can be applied illustratively to gaming machines and the like each composed of a gaming machine body and its controller.