Valve Corporation

Jeffrey Scott Keyzer

Jeffrey Peter Bellinghausen

Eric James Hope

Claire Michelle Gottschalk

Amy Narae Kim

Scott Dalton

Michael Jacob Goerz

Brian David Hensley

Jason Beach

Pierre-Loup Miguel Griffais

Various game controller hardware and user interface configurations are disclosed. Some configurations may comprise two circular trackpads, driven by the player's thumbs, which may be clickable, allowing the entire surface to act as a button. Haptic feedback may be based on dual linear resonant actuators (e.g., by means of strong, weighted electro-magnets attached to each of the dual trackpads), capable of delivering a wide range of force and vibration, allowing control over frequency, amplitude, and direction of movement. The haptics-related components in certain implementations may also play audio waveforms and thereby function as speakers. In the center of the controller according to certain configurations may be another touch-enabled surface, this one backed by a display screen. In some configurations this entire screen itself may also be clickable, like a large single button. A variety of other exemplary implementations and configurations are described.

Game controller systems and methods

An electronic device may include a proximity sensor, a touch sensor, and one or more light emitting elements. The touch sensor may be configured to detect touch input provided on a surface of the electronic device at a location in front of the touch sensor for purposes of powering on the electronic device. Prior to powering on the electronic device, a location of the touch sensor may remain inconspicuous. When the proximity sensor detects an object, such as a user, which moves within a threshold distance from a surface of the electronic device, the location of the touch sensor can be made conspicuous. After the power switch is made conspicuous, the user is able to see where to provide touch input on the electronic device to power on the electronic device.

Proximity-based power switch appearance

A hand-held video game controller includes a controller body having a front and a back, with at least one front control on the front of the controller body. A removable and resilient unitary back shell is removably attached to the back of the controller body. At least one back control button underlies the unitary back shell, and is depressible by flexing of the unitary back shell into contact with that back control button. At least one battery compartment may underlie the unitary back shell, and may be accessible by removal of the removable unitary back shell.

Video game controller with unitary back shell for button control and battery access

Display screen or portion thereof with an animated graphical user interface

Controller

Growing community of inventors

Redmond, WA, United States of America

Jeffrey Scott Keyzer