Abstract:
A handheld controller for manipulating objects on a video screen includes a handheld controller housing having right and left handgrips where a user grips the handheld controller with right and left hands; more than one select hand ventilation area that air moves through to the user&#39;s hand to cool the user&#39;s hand during use, the more than one select hand ventilation area including multiple ventilation holes therein to allow air to move from an inside of the handheld controller housing to an outside of the handheld controller housing, the more than one select hand ventilation area located in less than the entirety of at least the right and left handgrips; means for manipulating objects on a video screen; and an internal fan assembly within the handheld controller to move air through the multiple ventilation holes from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention, in general, is in the field of handheld controllers such as controllers used to manipulate objects on a video screen, and, in particular, in the field of such handheld controllers that are also ventilated to keep a user&#39;s hand dry and prevent perspiration.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,247 describes a controller for manipulating icons on a video display. The controller reduces or substantially eliminates perspiration on the user&#39;s hands during extended use. The controller includes a housing with finger operated buttons that control the video game. The housing includes ventilation holes to allow air to circulate through the controller and between the housing and the user&#39;s hands. The housing encloses electronic components that are contained in a protective package that can be removed from the housing so that it can be easily and thoroughly cleaned. The ventilation holes may be located over the entire housing or may be located only at locations on the housing that are intended to be grasped by the user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention represents an improvement over the controller described above. An aspect of the present invention involves a handheld controller for manipulating objects on a video screen. The handheld controller includes a handheld controller housing including a right handgrip and a left handgrip where a user grips the handheld controller with a right hand and a left hand, respectively; more than one select hand ventilation area where air moves through the ventilation area to the user&#39;s hand to cool the user&#39;s hand during use of the handheld controller, the more than one select hand ventilation area including multiple ventilation holes therein to allow air to move from an inside of the handheld controller housing to an outside of the handheld controller housing, the more than one select hand ventilation area located in less than the entirety of at least the right handgrip and the left handgrip; means for manipulating objects on a video screen; and an internal fan assembly within the handheld controller to move air through the multiple ventilation holes from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing.  
         [0004]     Implementations of the above aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following. The right handgrip and the left handgrip include outer palm grip areas corresponding to where a user&#39;s palms would be disposed when grabbing the handheld controller, and the more than one select hand ventilation area located in less than the entirety of at least the right handgrip and the left handgrip includes at least a select ventilation area in the outer palm grip areas of the right handgrip and the left handgrip. The right handgrip and the left handgrip include inner finger grip areas corresponding to where at least an upper portion of a user&#39;s fingers would be disposed when grabbing the handheld controller, and the more than one select hand ventilation area located in less than the entirety of at least the right handgrip and the left handgrip further includes at least a select ventilation area in the inner finger grip areas of the right handgrip and the left handgrip. The right handgrip and the left handgrip include areas corresponding to where the thumbs and adjoining palm areas would be disposed when grabbing the handheld controller, and the more than one select hand ventilation area located in less than the entirety of at least the right handgrip and the left handgrip further includes at least a select ventilation area in the areas corresponding to where the thumbs and adjoining palm areas would be disposed when grabbing the handheld controller of the right handgrip and the left handgrip. The right handgrip and the left handgrip include areas corresponding to where the lower part of the user&#39;s fingers would be disposed when grabbing the handheld controller, and the more than one select hand ventilation area located in less than the entirety of at least the right handgrip and the left handgrip further includes at least a select ventilation area in the areas corresponding to where the lower part of the user&#39;s fingers would be disposed when grabbing the handheld controller of the right handgrip and the left handgrip. The more than one select hand ventilation area includes at least one spacer to space the user&#39;s hands from the multiple ventilation holes. The internal fan assembly is a multi-speed fan assembly and further including a multi-position switch carried by the housing to control the multi-speed fan assembly. The handheld controller housing includes a central section with the internal fan assembly located therein. The handheld controller housing includes a central section with a top and a bottom, and the handheld controller housing includes a fan intake in the bottom of the central section where air is drawn from outside the handheld controller into the housing and to the internal fan assembly.  
         [0005]     Another aspect of the invention involves a handheld controller for manipulating objects on a video screen including a handheld controller housing including a right handgrip and a left handgrip where a user grips the handheld controller with a right hand and a left hand, respectively, the right handgrip and the left handgrip including outer palm grip areas corresponding to where a user&#39;s palms would be disposed when grabbing the handheld controller, inner finger grip areas corresponding to where at least an upper portion of a user&#39;s fingers would be disposed when grabbing the handheld controller, areas corresponding to where the thumbs and adjoining palm areas would be disposed when grabbing the handheld controller, areas corresponding to where the lower part of the user&#39;s fingers would be disposed when grabbing the handheld controller; select hand ventilation areas in the outer palm grip areas corresponding to where a user&#39;s palms would be disposed when grabbing the handheld controller, inner finger grip areas corresponding to where at least an upper portion of a user&#39;s fingers would be disposed when grabbing the handheld controller, areas corresponding to where the thumbs and adjoining palm areas would be disposed when grabbing the handheld controller, areas corresponding to where the lower part of the user&#39;s fingers would be disposed when grabbing the handheld controller, the select hand ventilation areas comprising select areas where air moves therethrough to the user&#39;s hand to cool the user&#39;s hand during use of the handheld controller and including multiple ventilation holes therein to allow air to move from an inside of the handheld controller housing to an outside of the handheld controller housing; means for manipulating objects on a video screen; and an internal fan assembly within the handheld controller to move air through the select hand ventilation areas from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing.  
         [0006]     Implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above may include one or more of the following. The select hand ventilation areas include at least one spacer to space the user&#39;s hands from the multiple ventilation holes. The internal fan assembly is a multi-speed fan assembly and further including a multi-position switch carried by the housing to control the multi-speed fan assembly. The handheld controller housing includes a central section with the internal fan assembly located therein. The handheld controller housing includes a central section with a top and a bottom, and the handheld controller housing includes a fan intake in the bottom of the central section where air is drawn from outside the handheld controller into the housing and to the internal fan assembly.  
         [0007]     A further aspect of the invention involves a handheld controller for manipulating objects on a video screen. The handheld controller includes a handheld controller housing including a right handgrip and a left handgrip where a user grips the handheld controller with a right hand and a left hand, respectively; more than one hand ventilation area where air moves through the ventilation area to the user&#39;s hand to cool the user&#39;s hand during use of the handheld controller, the more than one hand ventilation area including multiple ventilation holes therein to allow air to move from an inside of the handheld controller housing to an outside of the handheld controller housing, wherein the more than one hand ventilation area includes at least one spacer to space the user&#39;s hands from the multiple ventilation holes; means for manipulating objects on a video screen; and an internal fan assembly within the handheld controller to move air through the multiple ventilation holes from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing.  
         [0008]     Implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above may include one or more of the following. The internal fan assembly is a multi-speed fan assembly and further including a multi-position switch carried by the housing to control the multi-speed fan assembly. The handheld controller housing includes a central section with the internal fan assembly located therein. The handheld controller housing includes a central section with a top and a bottom, and the handheld controller housing includes a fan intake in the bottom of the central section where air is drawn from outside the handheld controller into the housing and to the internal fan assembly.  
         [0009]     Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a review of the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments set forth below. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a handheld controller.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a right side elevational view of the handheld controller illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the handheld controller illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the handheld controller illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the handheld controller illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the handheld controller illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is an exploded bottom perspective view of the handheld controller illustrated in  FIG. 1  with a lower housing member of the handheld controller separated from an upper housing member.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is an exploded bottom perspective view of the upper housing member of the handheld controller illustrated in  FIG. 1  with some of the internal components of the handheld controller shown removed from the upper housing member.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is an exploded bottom perspective view similar to  FIG. 8  and shows a main printed circuit board and plastic analog component mount of the handheld controller removed from the upper housing member.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is an exploded bottom perspective view similar to  FIGS. 8 and 9  and shows a plastic analog component mount, analog stick printed circuit board, and numerous input members of the handheld controller removed from the upper housing member. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     With reference to  FIGS. 1-10 , and initially to  FIGS. 1-6 , an embodiment of a handheld controller  20  that is used to manipulate objects on a video screen and is ventilated to keep a user&#39;s hand dry and prevent perspiration will now be described.  
         [0021]     The handheld controller  20  includes a housing  22  with a lower housing member  30  and an upper housing member  40  that house electronics for operation of the handheld controller  20  and an internal fan. The handheld controller  20  includes a right handgrip  50 , a left handgrip  60 , and a plurality of input members  70  in a central section  80  of the handheld controller  20 , generally between the handgrips  50 ,  60 .  
         [0022]     Each handgrip  50 ,  60  includes an outer palm grip  90  and an inner finger grip  100 . The outer palm grip  90  corresponds to where a user would place one&#39;s palms while holding the handheld controller  20  and the inner finger grip  100  corresponds to where a user would place one&#39;s fingers (other than the thumbs) while holding the handheld controller  20 . In the embodiment shown, each grip  90 ,  100  is made of rubber and includes ventilation holes  110  and cross-shaped protruding grip members  120 .  
         [0023]     In a manner described in more detail below, during use of the handheld controller  20 , air flows through the ventilation holes  110 , from inside the housing  22  to outside the housing  22 , to cool the user&#39;s hands. The ventilation holes  110  in the outer palm grip  90  correspond to where a user&#39;s palm would contact the outer palm grip  90  for air cooling of the user&#39;s palm. The ventilation holes  110  in the inner finger grip  100  correspond to where an upper part of the user&#39;s fingers would contact the inner finger grip  100  for air cooling of the upper part of the user&#39;s fingers.  
         [0024]     In alternative embodiments of the ventilation holes  110  of the handheld controller  20 , the ventilation holes  110  may have a different shape and/or configuration than that shown in  FIGS. 1-6 .  
         [0025]     In alternative embodiments, the handgrips  50 ,  60  may each have no grips  90 ,  110 , only one of the two types of grips  90 ,  110 , or at least the two types of grips  90 ,  110 . In further embodiments, the grip members  120  may have a different configuration. Important aspects of the grip members  120  are that they provide a location for a user&#39;s fingers to engage and grip the handgrips  50 ,  60  without slippage and they space the user&#39;s fingers and palms from the ventilation holes  110  so that the fingers and palms do not block the ventilation holes  110 , allowing the fingers and palms to be efficiently and effectively air cooled.  
         [0026]     Between the grips  90 ,  100 , additional ventilation holes  130  are disposed in both a bottom of the lower housing member  30  and a top of the upper housing member  40  in the handgrips  40 ,  50  for emitting air from the inside of the housing  22  to the outside of the housing  22  to cool the user&#39;s hands. The additional ventilation holes  130  in the upper side of the handgrips  50 ,  60  correspond to where the thumbs and adjoining palm areas would be located during use of the handheld controller  20  for air cooling of the thumbs and adjoining palm areas. With reference to  FIG. 5 , the additional ventilation holes  130  in the bottom side of the handgrips  50 ,  60  correspond to where a lower part of the user&#39;s fingers would be located during use of the handheld controller  20  for air cooling of the lower part of the user&#39;s fingers.  
         [0027]     The input members  70  in a top side of the central section  80  include pressure-sensitive action buttons  140 , a right rubberized analog stick  150 , a left rubberized analog stick  160 , a cross-shaped directional pad  170 , a fan level switch  180 , a select button  190 , a mode indicator LED  200 , a start switch  210 , and a digital/analog mode button  220 .  
         [0028]     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the input members  70  in a rear end of the central section  80  include a left pressure-sensitive shoulder action button  230 , a right pressure-sensitive shoulder action button  240 , a left pressure-sensitive trigger-shaped action button  250 , and a right pressure-sensitive trigger-shaped action button  260 . The housing  22  includes a controller cord cutout  270  where a controller cord connects the handheld controller  20  to a system port of a system (e.g., video game system such as, but not limited to, XBOX® by Microsoft Corporation, PLAYSTATION® II by Sony Corporation, GAMECUBE® by Nintendo Corporation) for supplying power for the internal fan and other electronic components of the handheld controller  20  and two-way communication of electrical signals.  
         [0029]     With reference to  FIG. 5 , a fan air intake grill  280  is disposed in a bottom side of the central section  80 . Air is drawn into the housing  22  by an internal fan through the openings in the fan air intake grill  280 . A filter may be disposed underneath the openings in the fan air intake grill  280 , the ventilation holes  110 , and the additional ventilation holes  130  to prevent dirt and other debris from entering the inside of the housing  80 . Positioning the fan air intake grill  280  and fan  300  in the location shown inhibits the user from hearing fan noise, directs air towards the grip ends, causes air to travel across the circuit boards allowing for cooler operation and a longer anticipated operational life.  
         [0030]     With reference to  FIGS. 7-10 , and initially  FIGS. 7 and 8 , some of the internal components of the handheld controller  20  will now be described.  FIG. 7  is an exploded bottom perspective view of the handheld controller  20  and shows the lower housing member  30  of the handheld controller  20  separated from the upper housing member  40 .  FIG. 8  is an exploded bottom perspective view of the upper housing member  40  of the handheld controller  20  with some of the internal components of the handheld controller  20  shown removed from the upper housing member  40 . The internal components shown removed include a fan assembly  290  with a bearingless, brushless fan  300 , vibration motors  310  for causing a vibration sensation in the handheld controller  20  upon receiving certain electrical signals, and carbon button contacts  320  that are operatively associated with trigger button posts  322 . Outer palm grips  90 , inner finger grips  100 , and shoulder action buttons  230 ,  240  are shown removed from the handheld controller  20 . Additional components shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  include lower screw posts  330 , middle screw posts  340 , upper screw posts  350 , fan mount posts  352 , motor balance  360 , motor mount  370 , trigger button post guide  380 , button contacts  390  for shoulder action buttons  230 ,  240 , printed circuit board  400 , plastic analog component mount  410  with cutout  412  to improve air distribution in the interior cavity of the housing  22 , and ribbon  420  connecting analog stick printed circuit board  430  ( FIGS. 9, 10 ) to main printed circuit board  440 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 9  shows the main printed circuit board  400  and the plastic analog component mount  410  of the handheld controller  20  removed from the upper housing member  40  and  FIG. 10  shows the plastic analog component mount  410  separated from the analog stick printed circuit board  430 , and numerous components of input members  70  of the handheld controller  20  removed from the upper housing member  40 . Some of the components of input members  70  shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  include button contacts  440  for select button  190 , start switch  210 , and digital/analog mode button  220 ; switch contacts  450  for fan level switch  180 ; the cross-shaped directional pad  170 ; and carbon button contact  460  for the action buttons  140 .  
         [0032]     The above shown, described electronics are used to translate movement of the input members  70  into signals for manipulating objects on a video screen in a well-known manner.  
         [0033]     In an alternative embodiment of the handheld controller  20 , the handheld controller  20  and the system may include wireless transmission devices (e.g., RF, infrared transmitter/receiver) for wireless communication therebetween. In such an embodiment, the handheld controller  20  includes its own on-board power supply (e.g., rechargeable battery/batteries).  
         [0034]     The handheld controller  20  will now be described in use. When the handheld controller  20  is connected to a system port of a system (e.g., video game system such as, but not limited to, XBOX® by Microsoft Corporation, PLAYSTATION® II by Sony Corporation, GAMECUBE® by Nintendo Corporation) by a cord, to activate the fan assembly  290 , the user switches the fan level switch  180  to a position “I”, the low fan speed position, or a position “II”, the high fan speed position. In position “I” or position “II”, power delivered from a system port and through the cord is used to run the motor/fan  300  of the fan assembly  290  at the designated speed level. The fan assembly  290  draws air from outside the handheld controller  20  through the gaps in the fan air intake grill  280  and through the fan assembly  290 . Air is then blown through the housing  22  and into the handgrips  50 ,  60 .  
         [0035]     Air under pressure exits the handgrips  50 ,  60  through the ventilation holes  110 ,  130 . Because the ventilation holes  110  in the outer palm grip  90  correspond to where a user&#39;s palm contacts the outer palm grip  90 , air exiting the ventilation holes  110  in the outer grip  90  cools the user&#39;s palm. Because the ventilation holes  110  in the inner finger grip  100  correspond to where an upper part of the user&#39;s fingers contact the inner finger grip  100 , air exiting the ventilation holes  110  in the inner finger grip  100  cools the upper part of the user&#39;s fingers. Not only do the grip members  120  provide a location for a user&#39;s fingers to engage and grip the handgrips  50 ,  60  without slippage, but the grip members  120  also space the user&#39;s fingers and palms from the ventilation holes  110  so that the fingers and palms do not block the ventilation holes  110 , increasing the cooling effect on the fingers and palms in these areas. Because the additional ventilation holes  130  in the upper side of the handgrips  50 ,  60  correspond to where the thumbs and adjoining palm areas would be located during use of the handheld controller  20 , air exiting the ventilation holes  130  in this area cools the thumbs and adjoining palm areas of the user&#39;s hands. Because the additional ventilation holes  130  in the bottom side of the handgrips  50 ,  60  correspond to where a lower part of the user&#39;s fingers would be located during use of the handheld controller  20 , air exiting the ventilation holes  130  in this area cools the lower part of the user&#39;s fingers.  
         [0036]     Although not shown, adjacent the ventilation holes  130 , the handheld controller  20  may include one or more spacers to space the user&#39;s hand from the holes  130  in a manner similar to that described above for the grip member  120 .  
         [0037]     Providing select, defined ventilation areas in one or more of the outer palm grip area of the handgrips  50 ,  60 , the inner finger grip area of the handgrips  50 ,  60 , the area of the handgrips  50 ,  60  in the upper side corresponding to where the thumbs and adjoining palm areas would be located, and the area of the handgrips  50 ,  60  in the lower side corresponding to where the lower part of the user&#39;s fingers would be located during use of the handheld controller  20 , maximizes the flow rate through the holes  110 ,  130 , compared to locating ventilation holes through the entire surface of the handgrips  50 ,  60 , to inhibit the development of perspiration in the entire front (i.e., palm side) of the user&#39;s hands.  
         [0038]     It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that still further changes and modifications in the actual concepts described herein can readily be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.