Patent ID: 9118750
Filing Date: 2015-08-25
Classification: B60R,H04M,H04W

Abstract:
1. A game controller accessory that is matable with a smartphone to provide a handheld electronic video gaming console, the smartphone including generally planar opposing major surfaces that define a multiple-sided perimeter, a display integral to one of the generally planar opposing major surfaces, information delivery circuitry in communication with the display, and a receptacle having a set of spaced-apart electrical conductors for communication with the information delivery circuitry to present for a user a video game on the display, the game controller accessory comprising: a housing having an interior and containing information input circuitry that facilitates communication of information between the game controller accessory and the smartphone, the housing including opposing front and back major surfaces, the front major surface including an opening that is sized to accept placement of the smartphone, the opening defined by an inner boundary formed of a pair of sidewalls and a pair of endwalls, the pair of sidewalls including a first sidewall and a second sidewall located opposite the first sidewall, the pair of endwalls including a first endwall and a second endwall located opposite the first endwall, each of the first and second sidewalls and the first and second endwalls confronting a different one of the sides of the multiple-sided perimeter of the smartphone so as to inhibit lateral movement of the smartphone when the user places it in the opening and thereby causes the user removing the smartphone from the housing to lift the smartphone outwardly away from the inner boundary of the opening and through a plane defined by the front major surface; a first input device supported by the housing proximal the first endwall and configured for communication with the information input circuitry, the first input device being operable to generate first game control signals for transmission to the smartphone when it is placed in the opening; a second input device supported by the housing proximal the second endwall and configured for communication with the information input circuitry, the second input device being operable to generate second game control signals for transmission to the smartphone when it is placed in the opening; and a connecting member having a set of spaced-apart electrical contact members, the connecting member being moveable, relative to the opening, to align and mate with the receptacle when the smartphone is placed in the opening so that the electrical contact members establish electrical contact with corresponding ones of the electrical conductors of the receptacle to thereby facilitate transmission of the first and second game control signals from the game controller accessory to the smartphone for user control of the video game presented on the display.