Abstract:
An accessory for a hand-held video game device having an external power supply outlet and a headphone outlet, including a case capable of forming a mechanical connection with the hand-held device, a rechargeable battery, a power jack electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery and adapted for insertion into the external power supply of the hand-held device for powering the device, an audio connector jack adapted for insertion into the headphone outlet of the hand-held device for receiving audio signals from the hand-held device, an amplified stereo speaker system adapted to be powered by the rechargeable battery and receive audio signals from the hand-held device through the audio connector jack when the audio connector jack is inserted into the headphone outlet, and a vibration mechanism electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery and adapted to cause movement sensations in the accessory, the vibration mechanism adapted to be actuated by the audio signals.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/540,628, filed Mar. 31, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/205,660, filed Dec. 2, 1998, now abandoned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to accessories for hand-held video game devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the more popular hand-held video game devices today is the Nintendo® Game Boy® device. Several separate accessories are available for use with the Nintendo® Game Boy® device, including speakers that connect to the device through the headphone outlet, a force feed back accessory that creates a force feed back effect in the hand of the user in response to electrical back signals received from the Nintendo® device, and a rechargeable battery pack that is inserted into the existing battery compartment of the Game Boy® device for powering the device. 
     A problem with these accessories is that they are separate accessories and, often, only one of these accessories can be used at a time. If a user wants to take advantage of the features of a particular accessory, the user may have to remove a previously attached accessory and replace it with a new one, or add the additional accessory. Having to constantly switch back and forth between accessories is time-consuming, and increases wear and tear on associated adapters and contacts. Additionally, having to buy multiple accessories is expensive, and multiple accessories are more difficult to store and keep track of than a single accessory. 
     A need, therefore, exists for a single accessory for a hand-held video game device that provides a force feed back effect, amplified stereo sound, and a rechargeable battery pack. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first aspect of the invention involves an accessory for a handheld video game device having an external power supply outlet and a headphone outlet. The accessory includes a case capable of forming a mechanical connection with the handheld video game device, a rechargeable battery, a power jack electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery and adapted for insertion into the external power supply outlet of the hand-held video game device for powering the hand-held video game device, an audio connector jack adapted for insertion into the headphone outlet of the hand-held device for receiving audio signals from the hand-held video game device, an amplified stereo speaker system adapted to be powered by the rechargeable battery and receive audio signals from the hand-held video game device through the audio connector jack when the audio connector jack is inserted into the headphone outlet, and a vibration mechanism electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery and adapted to cause a movement sensation in the accessory, the vibration mechanism adapted to be actuated by the audio signals. 
     A second aspect of this invention involves an accessory for a handheld video game device having a battery compartment with battery contacts, and a headphone outlet. The accessory includes a case capable of forming a mechanical connection with the handheld video game device, a rechargeable battery, at least one electrical contact electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery and adapted to come into contact with the battery contacts of the hand-held video game device for powering the hand-held video game device, an audio connector jack adapted for insertion into the headphone outlet of the hand-held device for receiving audio signals from the hand-held video game device, an amplified stereo speaker system adapted. to be powered by the rechargeable battery and receive audio signals from the hand-held video game device through the audio connector jack when the audio connector jack is inserted into the headphone outlet, and a vibration mechanism electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery and adapted to cause a movement sensation in the accessory, the vibration mechanism adapted to be actuated by the audio signals. 
     Implementations of the first and second aspects of the invention may include one or more of the following. At least one switch mechanism is adapted to allow a user of the accessory to turn on and turn off the vibration mechanism. A vibration control mechanism is adapted to allow a user of the accessory to control the vibration level of the vibration mechanism. At least one switch mechanism is adapted to allow a user of the accessory to turn on and turn off the amplified stereo speaker system. The accessory further includes a volume control mechanism adapted to allow a user of the accessory to control the volume level of the amplified stereo speaker system. The accessory may further include a motor and a weight driven by the motor that causes a vibration sensation in the accessory, or a solenoid and a weight connected to the solenoid such that when the solenoid is activated the weight is moved to cause a vibration sensation in the accessory. Moreover, the accessory may include a vibration mechanism that vibrates at a level proportionate to a characteristic of the audio signals, an external power supply outlet adapted for electrical communication with an external power source for charging the rechargeable battery, and a headphone outlet adapted to receive an audio connector jack of a pair of a headphone. Finally, the accessory may include an external ergonomically designed grip for improved control and comfort during game play, including a grip is made of a plastic material. 
     A third aspect of the invention is a method for connecting an accessory to a hand-held video game device, the accessory having an electronics-enclosing case, a power jack and an audio connector jack, and the device having an external power supply outlet and a headphone outlet. The method includes mechanically locking the accessory to the device, and inserting the power and the audio connector jacks of the accessory into the external power supply and the headphone outlets of the device, respectively, to secure electrical and audio connections between the accessory and the device. 
     A fourth aspect of the invention is a method for connecting an accessory to a hand-held video game device, the accessory having an electronics enclosing case, at least one electrical contact adapted to come into contact with a battery contact of the device, and an audio connector jack, and the device having an external power supply outlet and a headphone outlet. The method includes mechanically locking the accessory to the device, placing the battery contact of the device in electrical communication with the at least one electrical contact of the accessory, and inserting the audio connector jack of the accessory into the external power supply and the headphone outlets of the device, respectively, to secure the audio connection between the accessory and the device. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will be evident from reading the following detailed description, which is intended to illustrate, but not limit, the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an accessory for a hand-held video game device. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an accessory for a hand-held video game device. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear side-elevation view of the accessory illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the accessory illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the components of the accessory illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an accessory  100  for use with a hand-held video game device such as, but not by limitation, the NINTENDO® GAME BOY® hand-held video game device will now be described. The accessory  100  is adapted to be mechanically coupled to a lower portion of a hand-held video game device. The accessory  100  includes a case or housing  102  having a first member  104  and a second member  108 . The case  102  houses accessory electronics to be described. The hand-held video game device preferably includes a battery compartment cover that covers a battery compartment in which a number of batteries can be inserted to provide power to the hand-held video game device during normal use. The battery compartment may include a pair of slots at a top portion of the battery compartment and a groove or slot located at a lower portion of the, battery compartment. The top portion and lower portion slots of the device are adapted to mechanically secure the battery compartment cover. Preferably, the accessory  100  is used with the battery compartment cover removed from the hand-held video game device. 
     The second case member  108  includes a rear wall  114  with two flat tabs  116  extending therefrom. that are adapted to slide into the slots at the top portion of the battery compartment of the hand-held video game device. A detent clip  120  protrudes inwardly from the rear wall  114  and is adapted to snap into the existing slot or groove at the lower portion of the battery compartment of the hand-held video game device. 
     A tab  124  is slidably mounted to a front wall  128  of the first member  104 . of the case  102  and is adapted to slide along an elongated aperture  132 . A power jack  136  and an audio connector jack  140  are connected to an internal portion of the tab  124  for simultaneously slidable movement through apertures  144  and  148 , respectively, of the first member  104  with corresponding slidable movement of the tab  124 . When the accessory  100  is attached to the hand-held video game device, slidable movement of the tab  124  to a completely forward position causes the power jack  136  and an audio connector jack  140  to mate with the external power supply outlet and headphone outlet on the bottom of the hand-held video game device. 
     With reference to FIG. 2, in an alternative embodiment, a single audio jack  140  adapted to mate with the headphone outlet on the bottom of the hand-held video game device may be connected to the tab  124  for slidable movement therewith. In this embodiment, the accessory  100  may include a pair of electrical contacts  152  mounted to a pair of generally battery-shaped protrusions  156 . When the accessory  100  is attached to the hand-held video game device, the pair of generally battery-shaped protrusions  156  replace the batteries in the battery compartment, and the pair of electrical contacts  152  communicate with a corresponding pair of electrical contacts in the battery compartment for electrically coupling a rechargeable battery of the accessory  100  to the hand-held video game device for powering the device. 
     With reference back to FIG. 1, the case  102  may include speaker holes  160  behind which speakers (not shown) are mounted. The second member  108  of the case  102  may also include an ergonomic rubber grip  164 . 
     A force feed back mechanism is also mounted in the case  102 . The force feed back mechanism preferably includes a motor  168  (FIG. 5) with a weight  172  mounted off-center on a motor shaft  176 . When the motor  168  is activated, the shaft  176  rotates the off-center weight  172 , causing a vibration sensation in the accessory  100 . Other force feed back mechanisms may be used. For example, instead of a motor, a solenoid may be used to create the vibration sensation. 
     The case  102  also houses a pair of rechargeable batteries  180  (FIG.  5 ). Although two rechargeable batteries  180  are described, the number of rechargeable batteries  180  may vary. An external power port  184  (FIGS. 4 and 5) located on a bottom  186  (FIG. 4) of the case  102  is in electrical communication with the rechargeable batteries  180  and is adapted to received a jack of an Ac adapter for charging the batteries  180 . It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that rechargeable or renewable energy sources other than rechargeable batteries may be used. For example, one or more renewable fuel cells may be used. 
     With reference to FIG. 5, a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the internal components of the accessory  100  is shown. The power port  184  is coupled to a logic device  188 , which in turn is coupled to the rechargeable batteries  180 . The logic device  188  may regulate the amount of power sent to the rechargeable batteries  180  during recharge and the amount of power distributed during discharge. The logic device  188  may also regulate distribution of power to other components of the accessory  100 , and regulate the power provided to the power jack  136 . 
     The logic device  188  is connected to the audio jack  140 , and receives audio signals from the hand-held video game device  300  and regulates those signals for output to the force feed back mechanism (depicted in FIG. 5 as motor  168 , shaft  176  and weight  172 ), the audio amplifier  192  and speakers  196 . The duration and speed of the motor  168  varies with the length and intensity of the audio signals to create the force feed back felt in the accessory  100 , causing the length and intensity of the force feed back to be proportional to the length and intensity of such signals. Increasing the volume of the hand-held video game device  300  increases the movement generated by the force feed back mechanism. A vibration switch  200  on the bottom  186  of the case  102  (FIG. 4) allows the user to turn on and off the vibration feed back and provide vibration without sound. The accessory  100  also includes a vibration sensitivity control switch  204  on the bottom  186  of the case  102  (FIG. 4) electrically connected to the vibration switch  200  and the motor  168 . The vibration sensitivity control switch  204  allows the user to adjust the level of vibration for any set level of volume. The vibration sensitivity control switch  204  may include a variable resistor. The accessory  100  further includes a headphone jack  208  located on the bottom  186  of the case  102  (FIG.  4 ). 
     The process for connecting the accessory  100  to the device will now be described. The user of the accessory  100  first removes the battery compartment cover of the video game device  300  and removes the batteries from the compartment. The user must also make certain that the accessory&#39;s  100  tab  124  (FIG. 1) is slid towards the bottom  186  of the accessory  100  such that the power jack  136  and the audio connector jack  140  do not protrude from the apertures  144  and  148 . The user may then place the two flat tabs  116  of the accessory  100  (FIG. 1) into the pair of slots located at the top portion of the battery compartment of the video game device  300  and pivot the accessory  100  about the two flat tabs  116  towards the video game device until the detent clip  120  enters the slot located at the lower portion of the battery compartment. The detent clip  120  should “click”, indicating that the clip  120  has entered the slot and is mechanically locked into place. The user may secure the electrical and audio connections by sliding the tab  124  along the elongated aperture  132  away from the bottom  186  of the accessory  100  and towards the video game device, causing the power jack  136  and the audio jack  140  to simultaneously slide through the apertures  144 ,  140 , respectively. Both jacks  136  and  140  will mate with the external power supply outlet and headphone outlet, respectively, on the bottom of the hand-held video game device. This mating of the jacks  136  and  140  with the video game device not only electrically connects the accessory  100  to the device, but also adds further strength to the mechanical connection between the accessory  100  and the device. 
     The process for connecting the alternate embodiment of the accessory  100  illustrated in FIG. 2 (i.e., without the power jack  136 ) to the device will now be described. As with the previous method of use, the user should remove the battery compartment cover and batteries from the video game device. The user mechanically connects the accessory  100  to the device using the two flat tabs  116  and the detent clip  120  as described above. When the accessory  100  is mechanically connected to the device, the pair of generally battery-shaped protrusions  156  replace the batteries in the battery compartment, and the pair of electrical contacts  152  communicate with a corresponding pair of electrical contacts in the battery compartment for electrically coupling the rechargeable batteries  180  of the accessory  100  to the hand-held video game device for powering the device. The user connects the audio of the device to the accessory  100  by sliding the tab  124  along the elongated aperture  132  away from the bottom  186  of the accessory  100  and towards the video game device. Sliding the tab  124  causes the audio jack  140  to slide through the aperture  140  and into the headphone outlet on the bottom of the hand-held video game device. The physical connection of the audio jack  140  with the video game device adds further strength to the mechanical connection between the device and the accessory  100  and electrically connects the accessory  100  to the audio of the device. 
     It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that still further changes and modification 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. For example, logic, or variable logic, could be included to control the movement created by the force feed back, by modifying the volume signal received from the game device, or the signal driving the force feed back. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited except as is required by the lawful scope of the following claims.