Wireless Game Controller Pairing via Display Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional game controllers with separate units connected via cables limit player movement and make it difficult to identify and change pairs of controllers, leading to potential operational errors.

Innovation Solution

A game system with wirelessly connected input devices featuring display sections and communication means to identify and change pairs, using LEDs, NFC, or human body communication to display and manage combinations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If two control units are connected via a connection cable, then the controller can be used for game operations, but the range of movement of the control units is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontroller functionalityVSAvoidmovement range
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The connection cable is extracted and removed from the system. The control units communicate wirelessly through a game apparatus, eliminating the physical constraint and allowing free movement of both control units during gameplay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical connection system (connection cable) is replaced with a wireless communication system. The control units transmit identification information and operation signals wirelessly to the game apparatus, substituting physical connection with electromagnetic communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Length of moving object

If connection cables are removed to allow free movement, then movement range increases, but it becomes difficult to identify and match pairs of control units

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement rangeVSAvoidpair identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Each control unit is equipped with a display section that provides visual feedback showing its identification information and paired status. The display section updates in real-time to reflect connection status, allowing players to easily identify which control units are paired without physical cables.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The display section uses color changes and visual indicators to represent different states of control unit pairing. Different colors or display patterns indicate whether a control unit is paired, unpaired, or actively connected, making identification intuitive and immediate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Length of moving object

If control units are completely separate without cables, then movement freedom increases, but the risk of using wrong paired control units increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement freedomVSAvoidcorrect pairing
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The display section provides continuous visual feedback about the pairing status and identification information of each control unit. This feedback mechanism ensures players can verify correct pairing before and during gameplay, preventing the use of mismatched control units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless communication system replaces the mechanical cable connection with a more reliable identification and pairing mechanism. The game apparatus manages pairing centrally using identification information from each control unit, ensuring accurate matching through digital verification rather than physical connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables players to easily identify and change controller pairs, preventing operational errors and enhancing gameplay flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

using LEDs, NFC, or human body communication to display and manage combinations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP2327460B1Game system and controller
Publication Date: 2022.01.12 NINTENDO CO LTD
  • EP2327460B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2327460B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2327460B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A game system is provided in which a plurality of pairs, each consisting of: a first input device provided with a first operation section; and a second input device provided with a second operation section, are wirelessly connected to a game apparatus, and in which a game process is executed based on operation data obtained from the first input device and the second input device. As an example, each of the first input device and the second input device includes a display section, wireless communication means for performing communication for the operation data and information regarding each pair, and a display control section for controlling a display form of the display section. The display control section controls the display form of the display section so as to be a display form corresponding to each pair. The game apparatus executes the game process based on the operation data for each pair.