Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Greg Martinez

Richard S Lum

William Peter Stiles

William Guo

Robert S Walker

James R Stewart

A small-sized text input device is attachable to and removable from a game controller. The text input device can be sized and configured to fit between grip portions of the game controller, and can be attachable to the game controller with a separate attachment bracket. Different brackets can be used to attach the text input device to different types of game controllers. A game player holding the game controller can access the text keys of the text input device with his or her thumbs, and by making only minor (or no) adjustment to the position of his or her hands on the grip portions.

Controller with removably attachable text input device

A character input device is disclosed that includes a plurality of character input keys and one or more mode-altering keys. Each character input key is associated with multiple characters. By activating only the character input keys, primary characters may be input. By activating the character input keys in conjunction with the mode-altering keys, however, various secondary, tertiary, and quaternary characters may be input. The mode-altering keys may be utilized in a temporary mode, wherein only one secondary, tertiary, or quaternary character is input. Alternately, the mode-altering keys may be utilized in a base mode, wherein a series of secondary, tertiary, or quaternary character is input.

Mode-altering key for a character input device

A text input device for attachment to a game controller includes a small-sized housing, upper and lower faces, a plurality of text entry keys disposed on the upper face, and an attachment interface disposed on the lower face. A bracket for attaching the text input device to a game controller includes an arm portion having first and second ends. An attachment plate is fixed to the first end and has at least one engaging member protruding therefrom and engaging the attachment interface of the text input device. The bracket further includes at least one retaining member protruding from the second end in a position such that, when the attachment plate is coupled to a first part of a game controller and the retaining member is in contact with a second part of the game controller, a force is applied to a face of the retaining member by the second part of the game controller so as to maintain the coupling of the attachment plate to the game controller first part. The attachment plate engaging member is non-destructively disengagable from the attachment interface of the text input device, and is subsequently re-engagable so as to permit subsequent non-destructive disengagement.

Text input device and adapter mechanism

An input device includes a plurality of character input keys and is operable in a single and a multiple alphabetic character input mode. In the single alphabetic character input mode, an individual character input key is assigned a single alphabetic character, and activating the individual character input key inputs the alphabetic character. In the multiple alphabetic character input mode an individual character input key is assigned multiple alphabetic characters, and the specific character that is input depends upon the number of times the individual character input key is activated. Accordingly, a portion of the character input keys may be deactivated in the multiple alphabetic character input mode.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Greg Martinez