Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Robert S Walker

Richard S Lum

William Peter Stiles

Greg Martinez

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 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.

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Mukilteo, WA, United States of America

Robert S Walker