U.S. Patent no. 10,286,307: Game controller with removable faceted finger pad
Issued May 14, 2019, to Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
Priority Date June 4, 2015
Summary:
U.S. Patent No. 10,286,307 (the ‘307 Patent) relates to game controllers. A game controller may be used to control an object or move a character in a video game. Different games may require different types of controls for optimal gameplay. The ‘307 Patent describes a finger pad for a game controller that can be easily replaced with different types of control pads depending on the game being played. The game controller is customizable and includes one or more finger manipulatable controls that can be swapped out without using tools. Some controls may be better used in a fighting game as opposed to a shooting game. Different players may also prefer different configurations. The ‘307 Patent increases the accessibility of video games.
Abstract:
A finger pad for a game controller includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side includes a finger interface. The finger interfaces includes a plurality of planar facets. The planar facets are sized and shaped for manual manipulation by a finger. The second side includes a mounting interface.
Illustrative Claim:
1. A removable finger pad for a game controller, the removable finger pad comprising: a first side including a finger interface, the finger interface including: a center planar facet having an up edge parallel to a left-right axis, a right edge parallel to an up-down axis, a down edge parallel to the left-right axis, and a left edge parallel to the up-down axis, wherein the left-right axis is perpendicular to the up-down axis; a cardinal-up planar facet sharing the up edge with the center planar facet and extending at a ramp angle from the center planar facet; a cardinal-right planar facet sharing the right edge with the center planar facet and extending at the ramp angle from the center planar facet; a cardinal-down planar facet sharing the down edge with the center planar facet and extending at the ramp angle from the center planar facet; and a cardinal-left planar facet sharing the left edge with the center planar facet and extending at the ramp angle from the center planar facet; and a second side opposite the first side, the second side including a mounting interface configured to mate with a mounting platform of the game controller to removably affix the removable finger pad to the mounting platform.