Patent Publication Number: US-2016228766-A1

Title: Game controller button extender with bias adjuster

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62,112,230 (entitled Game Controller Button Extender with Bias Adjuster, filed Feb. 5, 2015) which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Buttons for game controllers are used to control many different aspects of an unlimited number of electronic games. Some buttons are resistive, and operate to provide electrical signals representative of the amount of pressure or depth of depression by a user. The signals may be used to simulate a trigger in a shooting game, a gas pedal in a driving game, or a myriad of other elements of an electronic game that may be designated to respond to interaction with the button. Some clip on trigger enhancements are available, but merely provide an enhancement to the size and shape of the buttons they clip on to. 
     SUMMARY 
     A game controller button extender includes a trigger body having a top portion of the trigger body with a back shaped to mate with a game controller button. A bottom front portion of the trigger body extends away from the top back portion forming a front surface of the trigger body. An opening formed in the top portion of the trigger body is positioned to hold an adjustable depth protrusion extending away from the back of the top portion to contact a surface of the game controller adjacent the game controller button, such that the game controller button is biased as a function of a distance the protrusion extends away from the top portion of the trigger body. 
     A method includes adhering an extender to a button of an electronic game controller, adjusting a length of an adjustable length protrusion coupled to the extender to extending into a fixed surface of the electronic game controller to bias the button, and wherein while adjusting the length of the adjustable length protrusion, viewing an effect of the length on an aspect of the electronic game controlled by the button of the electronic game controller to obtain a desired biasing of the button. 
     A game controller extended button includes a body coupled to provide user input to the game controller. An arcuate surface of the body extends out from the game controller. An opening formed in a top portion of the body is positioned to hold an adjustable depth protrusion extending away from the back of the top portion to contact a surface of the game controller adjacent the button, such that the game controller extended button is biased as a function of a distance the protrusion extends away from the top portion of the body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an extender for coupling to a game controller button according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an extender coupled to a game controller button according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a back side of an extender for coupling to a game controller button according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a back view of an extender for coupling to a game controller button according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an extender for coupling to a game controller button according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of an extender for coupling to a game controller button according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a side cross section view of extender taken along lines  6 - 6  from  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of a portion  8  of the cross section view of  FIG. 7  according to an example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which may be practiced. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following description of example embodiments is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. 
     A game controller extender couples to a button on an electronic game controller and includes an adjustable depth protrusion, such as a screw, to adjust a biasing of the game controller button. In one embodiment, the extender snaps into retentive contact with or is otherwise adhered to the button with the protrusion positioned to extend above the button to contact a fixed portion of the game controller. The length of the protrusion may be adjusted to partially depress the button, providing a user with the ability to adjust the amount of movement of the extender used to perform an action in the electronic game. 
     Where the button is a resistive based button used to simulate a trigger or gas pedal in the game, the protrusion allows adjusting the amount of pressure used to perform the desired action. 
     The extender may take different shapes, including a shape that is coextensive with the shape of the button but effectively extends the button outward and provides a concave surface for interaction with a finger of the user. In further embodiments, the extender further extends at least partially orthogonal to the direction of movement of the button, providing a larger range of motion to a user utilizing the further extension. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view  100  of an extender  110  for coupling to a game controller  115  button  120 . The extender  110  may be a molded plastic piece, or 3D printed, or otherwise formed, and includes a body  125  having a top portion  130  of the body  125  having a back shaped to mate with the game controller button  120 . A bottom front portion  135  extending away from the top back portion forming a front surface  140  of the body  125 . An opening  145  is formed in the top portion  130  of the body positioned to hold an adjustable depth protrusion  150 , which when installed in the opening  145  extends away from the back of the top portion  130  to contact a surface  155  of the game controller  115  adjacent the game controller button  120 , such that the game controller button  120  is biased as a function of a distance the protrusion extends away from the top portion  130  of the body  125 . In various embodiments, the game controller button has a range of motion into an opening in the surface of the game controller. The term adjacent is used to signify that the protrusion extends in a manner to contact the surface near the opening, or at least such that it can function to bias or depress the button depending on the length the protrusion extends from the extender  110 . 
     In one embodiment, the opening  145  comprises a threaded hole extending through the top portion and the adjustable depth protrusion  150  comprises a screw having a flat surface to contact the game controller surface. The opening may include a separate threaded portion formed of plastic, metal, or other stiff material suitable for being retained in the opening and providing mating threads for the protrusion. The opening in further embodiments may include a clip or other mechanism for adjusting a non-threaded protrusion, such as a ribbed rod, or piston, or other type of adjustable length mechanism. 
     In one embodiment, the bottom portion  135  covers the game controller button  120  and has a surface area coextensive with a surface of the game controller button  120 . In a further embodiment, the bottom portion  135  extends away from the surface of the game controller button, forming a concave surface trigger portion  160  suitable for interaction with a finger of a user. The trigger portion may be angled away from the controller button  120  in a manner that provides good tactile feel for a user without interfering with expected gripping styles of the game controller  115 . For instance, one side  165  of the game controller  115  may be gripped in the palm of a user, with an index or middle finger used to contact the controller button  120  via the extender  110 . The range of motion of the trigger portion  160  should not interfere with other fingers while handling the game controller  115 . The trigger may form an angle from the direction of motion of the button  120  that ranges from orthogonal to the direction of motion to several degrees beyond orthogonal to move the trigger further away from the button and side  165  of the game controller. 
     In one embodiment, the controller  115  may be a Sony PlayStation® controller, but may be any other type of controller in further embodiments. While the extender may be described as an add-on piece to a controller button, in some embodiments, the controller button may also include an integrated structure to provide an adjustable length protrusion. The integrated structure may include an adjustable length protrusion and may modify the profile of the button to have a similar profile to that described herein. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the extender  110  coupled to the game controller  115 . The protrusion  150  is shown installed in the opening  140  and is pressing against surface  155  of the game controller  115 . In one embodiment, the protrusion is a screw with a hex head for adjusting a protrusion depth. The tip of the screw may be a flat surface in one embodiment to avoid marring the surface  155 . In addition, the opening may be positioned to form an angle to the surface  155  that is substantially orthogonal to the surface to minimize marring. Still further, the tip may be in the shape of a cone, or may including a nylon or other soft material tip  170  to further minimize marring. 
     In use, multiple surfaces may be used by a user in a two finger action mode. One finger, such as forefinger may be used to actuate the extender via front surface  140 , while a second finger, such as a middle finger, may alternately be used to actuate the extender via trigger portion  160 . Such a mode may increase the speed at which a user may actuate the button  120 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a back side  300  of the extender  110 . The back side  300  includes one or more ribs  310  positioned along a length of the back side of the extender  110  to provide reinforcement for increasing the structural integrity and strength of the extender  110 . In one embodiment, the rib runs longitudinally along a center of the extender  110 . The rib or ribs in one embodiment provide an additional stiffness to the extender such that there is minimal bending of the extender  110  during use. The rib in one embodiment may be a single rib extending from the near the top portion  130  as indicated at  320  to a far end  325  of the trigger portion  160 . The top portion of the rib may be recessed within the back of the extender  110  to allow for attachment to a game controller button. In further embodiments, multiple ribs may be used, including one or more longitudinal ribs as shown, and may also include any manner of cross hatching ribs. 
     One or more lips  330  may be included on the back side  300  to form snap fit portions of the extender  110 . The ridges or rib  310  may be recessed into the back portion  300  to provide a cavity to allow the back portion  300  to fit over the button  120  such that the lips  330  snap into place behind a back of the button  120 , into one or more recesses in button  120 , or over a ridge or ridges on button  120  to be adhered to the button  120 . Releasing the extender may be easily accomplished by either using the optional trigger portion to pry the extender off the button, or removing the protrusion  150  and using a hex wrench as a lever to pry the extender off the button. 
     In one embodiment, lip  330  extends over only a portion of the back side  300  of the extender  110 , or over multiple selected portions depending on the amount of retentive force desired to either operate the button using the extender, or remove the extender. The lips  330  in one embodiment may include a top lip at the top portion  130  and two side lips on the bottom portion sides to snap onto a corresponding bottom of the button. The arcuate shape of the trigger portion  160  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Such shape may provide an enhanced ergonomic feel to a user. 
       FIG. 4  is a back view of an extender  400  illustrating an opening  410  for an adjustable length protrusion, and a back rib  415  for reinforcing the extender  400 . The back of extender  400  includes a top edge  420 , side edges  425 ,  430 , and bottom edges  435 ,  440 , which are shorter edges that partially extend in from sides  425 ,  430 . The bottom edges  435  and  440  may include lip portions  445 ,  450  that serve as protrusions that snap onto the controller button  120 . 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the extender  400 . From this view, the profile of the extender  400  is illustrated with a top portion having a bump  510  for positioning the opening  410  appropriately to contact a desired portion of the game controller body when the extender is snapped onto the bottom, or otherwise adhered to the button. The bump and opening may be easily modified for many different configurations of controller buttons and controller bodies to ensure the protrusion contacts the controller body at a position to minimize marring and/or optimize leverage and biasing adjustment of the button via the extender and adjustable length protrusion. A profile of the surface of the extender  400  extends in an arcuate shape from the top portion  520  to a bottom portion  525 . The profile is a concave surface, with the bottom portion  525  extending further away from the button than the top portion. The concave surface may provide an ergonomic feel to the user. 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of the extender  400 , and may include a logo or other symbol indicated at  610 . 
       FIG. 7  is a side cross section view of extender  400  taken along lines  6 - 6  from  FIG. 6 . A circle  8  identifies a portion of extender  400  in  FIG. 7  which is shown in an enlarged cross section in  FIG. 8 . 
     In one embodiment, the length of the adjustable length protrusion may be adjusted using a suitable tool, such as a screwdriver wherein the protrusion is a screw, or a hex wrench wherein the head of the screw is adapted to fit a hex wrench. The adjustment may be performed while the electronic game is active to observe an effect of the biasing of the button in the game. The ability to adjust the length of the protrusion provides the ability to have enhanced, custom tailored sensitivity that can dramatically affect the gaming experience. 
     A method of using the extender may include adhering the extender to a button of an electronic game controller and adjusting a length of an adjustable length protrusion coupled to the extender to extending into a fixed surface of the electronic game controller to bias the button. While adjusting the length of the adjustable length protrusion, the effect of the length on an aspect of the electronic game controlled by the button of the electronic game controller may be viewed to obtain a desired biasing of the button. 
     In further embodiments, the extender may be integrated with the button and formed as a single injection molded piece. Such an integrated extender would obviate the use of lips to form a snap fit with an existing button, as the button itself would be formed with an adjustable length protrusion. In one embodiment, a game controller extended button includes a body coupled to provide user input to the game controller. The button body thus includes the button and may be installed in the game controller in the same manner as the button. An arcuate surface of the body extends out from the game controller. An opening formed in a top portion of the body of the button is positioned to hold an adjustable depth protrusion extending away from the back of the top portion to contact a surface of the game controller adjacent to the button, such that the game controller extended button is biased as a function of a distance the protrusion extends away from the top portion of the body. 
     EXAMPLES 
     1. A game controller button extender comprising:
         a trigger body;   a top portion of the trigger body having a back shaped to mate with a game controller button;   a bottom front portion extending away from the top back portion forming a front surface of the trigger body; and   an opening formed in the top portion of the trigger body positioned to hold an adjustable depth protrusion extending away from the back of the top portion to contact a surface of the game controller adjacent the game controller button, such that the game controller button is biased as a function of a distance the protrusion extends away from the top portion of the trigger body.       

     2. The game controller button extender of example 1 wherein the back of the top portion comprises ridges to provide a snap fit retentive mating with the game controller button. 
     3. The game controller button extender of any of examples 1-2 and further comprising the adjustable depth protrusion. 
     4. The game controller button extender of example 3 wherein the opening comprises a threaded hole extending through the top portion and the adjustable depth protrusion comprises a screw having a flat surface to contact the game controller surface. 
     5. The game controller button extender of example 4 wherein the threaded opening is positioned such that the adjustable depth screw contacts the surface of the game controller substantially orthogonal to the surface. 
     6. The game controller button extender of any of examples 1-5 wherein the button the back of the top portions mates with is a pressure sensitive button. 
     7. The game controller button extender of example 6 wherein the adjustable protrusion applies more biasing pressure to the pressure sensitive button the deeper the protrusion extends out the back of the top portion of the button. 
     8. The game controller button extender of any of examples 1-7 wherein the bottom portion extends away from the top back portion and beyond a surface of the game controller button and is shaped to be receptive to a user finger. 
     9. The game controller button extender of example 8 wherein the bottom portion has a shape of a trigger. 
     10. The game controller button extender of any of examples 1-9 wherein the trigger body covers the game controller button and has a surface area coextensive with a surface of the game controller button. 
     11. The game controller button of example 10 wherein the bottom portion of the trigger body extends away from the surface of the game controller button, forming a concave surface suitable for interaction with a finger of a user. 
     12. A method comprising:
         adhering an extender to a button of an electronic game controller;   adjusting a length of an adjustable length protrusion coupled to the extender to extending into a fixed surface of the electronic game controller to bias the button; and   wherein while adjusting the length of the adjustable length protrusion, viewing an effect of the length on an aspect of the electronic game controlled by the button of the electronic game controller to obtain a desired biasing of the button.       

     13. A game controller extended button comprising:
         a body coupled to provide user input to the game controller;   an arcuate surface of the body extending out from the game controller; and   an opening formed in a top portion of the body positioned to hold an adjustable depth protrusion extending away from the back of the top portion to contact a surface of the game controller adjacent the button, such that the game controller extended button is biased as a function of a distance the protrusion extends away from the top portion of the body.       

     14. The game controller extended button of example 13 and further comprising the adjustable depth protrusion. 
     15. The game controller extended button of example 14 wherein the opening comprises a threaded hole extending through the top portion and the adjustable depth protrusion comprises a screw having a flat surface to contact the game controller surface. 
     16. The game controller extended button of example 15 wherein the threaded opening is positioned such that the adjustable depth screw contacts the surface of the game controller substantially orthogonal to the surface. 
     17. The game controller extended button of any of examples 13-16 wherein the button is a pressure sensitive button. 
     18. The game controller extended button of example 17 wherein the adjustable protrusion applies more biasing pressure to the pressure sensitive button the deeper the protrusion extends out the back of the top portion of the button. 
     19. The game controller extended button of any of examples 13-18 wherein a bottom portion extends away from the top portion and is shaped to be receptive to a user finger. 
     20. The game controller extended button of example 19 wherein the bottom portion has a shape of a trigger. 
     21. The game controller extended button of example 20 wherein the bottom portion extends away from the surface of the game controller button, forming a concave surface suitable for interaction with a finger of a user. 
     Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. For example, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.