FR3019057A1 - CONTROL INPUT DEVICE FOR GAME LEVER AND GAME LEVER PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a joystick control input device (100) comprising: a support (102) provided with at least one means (1041-104 2) for fixing said support (102) to a chassis or a hull of a joystick, - at least one control button (1081-1082, 1121-1122) disposed on said support (102) to allow a user to enter at least one control, and - at least one communication means for communicating the input command (s) to said joystick and / or to a remote device. It also relates to a joystick provided with at least one such control device.

Description

The present invention relates to a joystick control input device. It also relates to a game joystick equipped with a joystick control input device and a game joystick equipped with such a device. such a control button. The field of the invention is the field of control input devices for a game console or a computer, such as a joystick.

STATE OF THE ART Most electronic / computer games are controlled by command entry devices, also known as joysticks, responsible for transmitting the actions of a player to the game console or computer running the game. To do this, the joystick has several sensor elements / sensors actuated by control buttons. Most controllers have buttons for entering directional controls, such as directional keys or joysticks.

Electronic / computer games have more and more different commands. Therefore, to allow a user to enter each of the commands, the number of joystick control buttons increases. Thus, players in this field have developed game joysticks with buttons on the front and the top face but also on the back of a joystick. For example, the US patent published under No. 8,641,525 B2 discloses a joystick having pallets disposed on the rear face of the handle and which can be controlled by the fingers of a user holding the handle.

However, these joysticks have disadvantages. When an electronic / computer game does not include a command associated with the buttons disposed on the rear face of the controller, the latter constitute an inconvenience for holding the controller. In addition, having the control buttons on the back side of a controller requires the controller to be changed for each of the control buttons, which may be inconvenient, especially when the number of buttons is large. . In addition, this disadvantage is increased when the handle has detachable parts on its rear face, such as a cover for batteries or batteries.

In addition, when a button does not work or works poorly, repair or replacement requires direct manipulation of the controller, especially the opening of the rear shell of the controller, which is a source of degradation of the controller. Finally, the back shell of a joystick having a limited area, the number of buttons that can be placed there is limited. An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. Another object of the invention is to provide a control input device for a joystick for increasing the number of control buttons, and which does not interfere with the use of the joystick, when it is not used. Another object of the invention is to provide a control input device for a joystick with less risk of degradation for the joystick during a repair operation or replacement of a control button. Finally, another object of the invention is to provide a control input device for increasing the number of control buttons on a joystick, with few modifications of the joystick. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention proposes to achieve at least one of the aforementioned objects by a joystick control input device comprising: a support provided with at least one means for fixing said support on a chassis or hull of a joystick, - at least one control button disposed on said support to allow a user to enter at least one command, and - 3 - - at least one communication means for communicating the command (s) input (s) to said joystick and / or to a remote device. Thus, the invention provides a control device that attaches to a joystick and has one or more control buttons for inputting commands. Thus, the device according to the invention makes it possible to increase the number of control buttons of a joystick. In addition, the device according to the invention is fixed on a hull or a chassis of a joystick. Thus, the joystick is very little modified. In addition, since the device according to the invention is independent of the joystick, it can be removed from the joystick when it is no longer used. Therefore, it does not present discomfort for the user when the latter does not use it. Furthermore, when a control button present on the control device is damaged or degraded replacement or repair does not require disassembly of the frame or the hull of the controller. Finally, the shape of the support, the number of control buttons and the position of each control button on the support can be adapted to each joystick and to each user, without modifying the shell of the joystick. Thus, the user can customize his joystick quickly and easily, without changing the shell of the controller. According to the invention, the remote apparatus to which the commands can be transmitted by the device according to the invention may be an electronic / computer device running the game for which the commands are input, such as a game console or a game console. Preferably, the at least one communication means may comprise a wired connection means provided for connection, in particular being soldered, to the remote control and / or the remote device. . Such a wired connection can be made via an interface or a USB, RS232, HDMI, etc. type connection port. provided on the remote controller or device. Preferentially, such a wired connection port is a connection port already provided on the remote controller or device, thus causing no hardware modification of the remote controller or device.

Alternatively, or in addition, the at least one communication means may comprise a wireless communication means communicating with the controller and / or with the remote device. Such wireless communication can be achieved by Bluetooth or Wifi directly with the remote controller or device, or via a gateway. According to a first version, the communication means can be arranged to communicate only with the controller. In this case, the commands entered by the user via the command button (s) are transmitted to the joystick by the communication means. It is then the controller that transmits this or these commands to the remote device, if any. In this version, the controller provides a gateway between the controller and the remote device, and all commands entered through the device according to the invention are transmitted to the controller. According to a second version, the communication means can be configured to carry out a communication with the remote device directly, that is to say without going through the controller, said device further comprising a module, called gateway, arranged for: - Receive from said controller at least one command entered on said joystick via control buttons of the joystick, and - transmit to said remote device said command entered on the joystick, possibly after processing the command. In this case, the control device according to the invention provides a bridge between the controller and the remote device. The commands entered by the device are transmitted directly to the remote device without going through the controller. In addition, the commands entered by a user in the joystick are transmitted by the joystick to the control device according to the invention, which then transmits them at least in part to the remote device.

According to a third version, the controller and the remote device can communicate with the remote device independently. In this case, the remote device performs the interpretation of all commands received on the one hand from the controller and on the other hand the control device according to the invention. Furthermore, the device according to the invention may further comprise an electrical connection provided for supplying said device from a battery of the controller. Such an electrical connection can be an independent wire connection. Preferably, such an electrical connection can be combined with the communication means, for example in the form of a USB connection which provides both a means of communication and a power supply means.

Alternatively, or in addition, the device according to the invention may comprise at least one battery, preferably rechargeable, for supplying at least a portion of the components of said device. Such a battery may optionally be used as the primary battery, or as a secondary battery or backup battery for the controller. Advantageously, the control input device according to the invention may further comprise at least one connector, said replica, reproducing a connector of the joystick and connected to said joystick. For example, if the controller comprises a connector of a given type, for example USB, and the support at least partially covers such a connector, then the device according to the invention can comprise a connector of the same type, for example USB, which replicates the controller connector. Of course, this replica connector is connected to the controller either through the controller connector or other means. Thus, the connection features to / from the joystick are retained. In a nonlimiting manner, such a replica connector replicates for example a connector for charging a battery of the controller, a connector allowing the controller to communicate wiredly with a remote device, or a connector for modifying, removing , add or update a configuration relating to the controller, for example by connecting to a computer. In a similar manner, the device according to the invention may comprise a button, called a replica, reproducing a functional button of the joystick. Such a button may be a reset button, or a reset button of the joystick configuration, etc. Alternatively or additionally, the joystick control input device may include at least one access opening to at least one button or at least one connector of the joystick. Such an opening keeps the original connector / button provided on the controller and avoid having to provide a button / connector replica or condemn the connector / original button on the controller. In addition, the control input device according to the invention may comprise at least one management module for assigning or modifying a command associated with at least one command button. Advantageously, the management module may be equipped with an integrated storage means 25. Alternatively the device according to the invention may comprise a storage means accessible by the management module for reading and writing. The operation of such a management module is as follows. For a given command button, and regardless of the type of button, the user selects the command to be executed when it triggers this button. The management module memorizes the button in association with the command. As soon as the user presses this command button, the management module transmits data relating to the stored action, either to the controller or directly to the remote device, wired or wireless. The device according to the invention may further comprise a connector, for example of the USB type, making it possible to connect it to a remote device, such as a computer or a console, to update, modify, delete or add an internal configuration of the control device, for example a configuration of the module and / or a configuration of the communication means or a configuration of a command associated with a command button. Furthermore, the control input device according to the invention may comprise at least one means for displaying data relating to a command associated with at least one command button, and more generally data relating to the operation of the device. according to the invention.

The at least one fastening means may comprise at least one opening, said fixing, provided to accommodate a screw provided to be fixed on the handle. The at least one fastening opening is advantageously arranged on the support.

Preferably, the at least one fixing opening can be positioned facing an existing fastening opening provided on the handle, in particular on a shell of the handle, so as to come opposite said existing fastening opening when the device, in particular the support, is positioned on the handle. Thus, it is possible to use an existing fixing aperture on the handle and to avoid having to make a new fastening opening. In this case, the device according to the invention, and in particular the support of the device according to the invention, can be fixed on the handle, and in particular on the shell of the handle using an identical fixing screw (s). ) the existing fixing screws on the handle, or a fixing screw (s): - of the same width, and - and longer (s); the existing fixing screw (s) on the handle. Of course, other fastening means may be used, such as fixing means by gluing, clipping, etc.. For example, the device according to the invention may comprise connection means replacing a battery / battery cover of the handle and clipping on the handle instead of the battery / battery cover. The at least one control button of the device according to the invention may be a button chosen from the following list: a two-state switch, for example of the "on / off" type, a control button with progressive control, - a directional pad, - a joystick.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a joystick comprising at least one control input device according to the invention. In a particularly preferred version, the control input device may be arranged on the side of a rear face of said controller. In this preferred version of the controller according to the invention, and according to a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, the control device may comprise: at least two so-called upper control buttons, positioned so that when the joystick is held by a user, each of said control buttons: ^ is on the side of a front face of said handle, ^ is accessible by an index of a hand of the user; and 30 - at least two control buttons, called pallets, in an elongated form and positioned so that when the lever is held by a user, each of said control buttons: ^ is on the side of the rear face of said joystick, and - 9 - - is accessible by the middle finger, and / or the ring finger and / or the little finger of a hand of the user.

Other advantages and characteristics will appear on examining the detailed description of non-limiting embodiments, and the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a first exemplary embodiment of a device of FIG. control input according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a first exemplary embodiment of a joystick according to the invention equipped with the device of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a second exemplary embodiment of a control input device according to the invention; and FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a second exemplary embodiment of a joystick according to the invention equipped with the device of FIG. 3.

It is understood that the embodiments which will be described in the following are in no way limiting. It will be possible, in particular, to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention with respect to the state of the art. This selection comprises at least one feature preferably functional without structural details, or with only a part of the structural details if it is this part that is only sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art. In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described are combinable with each other if nothing stands in the way of this combination at the technical level. In the figures and in the following description, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a first example of a control input device for joystick according to the invention. The control input device 100 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a support 102 intended to be fixed on a rear shell of a joystick. To do this, the device 100 comprises two attachment apertures 1041-1042 which are positioned to be next to existing or original fastening openings on the back shell of the controller. Thus, a fastening aperture 104 is disposed at each of the lateral edges 10611062 of the device 100. Therefore, the device 100 can be removably attached to the back shell of the controller using the original fastening screws of the controller, fastening screws of the same width but longer than the original screws. The handle 100 further comprises two control buttons 1081-108, said upper, arranged on the side of the upper edge 110 of the device 100, each side of one of the lateral edges 1061-1062 of the device 100. Each of the upper control buttons 1081-1082 is a command button accessible by the index of a hand of the user when the one holds the joystick equipped with the device 100. In the example shown in FIGURE 1, each upper control button 108 is a button progressive control whose control depends on the pressure distance of the control button 108. The handle 100 further comprises two control buttons 1121-1122, called pallets, arranged on the support 102 in two guides / rail 11411142 provided for this purpose on the support 102. Each pallet 1121-1122 is disposed on the side of one of the lateral edges 1061-1062 of the device 100. Each of the pallets 1121-1122 is a control button in an elongated form, allowing access by the middle finger, the ring finger or the little finger of a hand of the user when he holds the joystick equipped with the device 100. In the example shown in FIGURE 1, each pallet 112 is a command button two-state "ON" "OFF". Each pallet 112 is fixed to the support in the guide / rail 114 by two fixing screws. The handle 100 also comprises a communication means, not visible in FIG. 1, for communicating the commands made by the user, for example by means of the control buttons 108 and 112, to the joystick or directly to the apparatus remote computer / computer running the game, such as a console, a computer, etc. Such a means of communication may be a wired means connecting the device 100 to the remote controller or device, for example wires connected to a management module of the controller or a wire coming to connect to the remote device through a connector, such as a USB connector. Alternatively, such a communication means may be a wireless means connecting the device 100 to the controller or the remote device, for example through a wireless connection of the Bluetooth or WIFI type.

In addition, the device 100 includes a management module 116 for assigning a command to at least one of the control buttons 108, 112. The management module 116 is in the form of a chip provided with an internal memory for storing a command button 108, 112 with a user-selected action. The management module is also arranged to delete, add or modify one or more functions associated with one or more command buttons 108, 112. A screen 118 is arranged on the support 102 to display information / data relating to the operation of the device 100, for example to the function assigned to a command button, etc.

The control input device 100 is further provided with a connector 120, for example of the USB type, making it possible to connect it to a remote device such as a console or a computer, to add / modify / delete a software configuration. of an element of the device 100, such as, for example, the management module 116. This connector 120 may also constitute a means of communication for transmitting data relating to the actions entered by the user to a remote device executing a game. 122 allows a reset or reset of the configuration of the device 100. An access opening 124 provides physical and visual access to an original control knob of the controller, such as a reset button on the controller. Similarly, an access opening 126 makes it possible to have visual access to a portion of the shell of the handle, for example to identify the handle or else not to hinder the operation of an infrared detection means of the joystick or an infrared controller communication means with a remote device. Finally, the device 100 comprises a connector or wired interface 128 which takes over / replicate an original interface of the joystick. The wired connector 128 is intended to be connected on one side to the original interface of the controller and the other to have an interface identical to the original interface of the controller. Such an interface may be a USB type interface for loading the controller.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation of a first example of a controller according to the invention equipped with the control input device 100 of FIGURE 1.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the handle 200 includes the device 100 on its back shell. The device 100 is fixed on the back shell of the controller thanks to the original fixing openings of the handle using fastening screws of width identical to the original fixing screws of the handle but longer than the latter.

The controller 200 shown in FIG. 2 is a joystick that connects to the remote device running the game wired through the connector 128.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic representation of a second example of a control input device for joystick according to the invention. The control input device 300 includes all the elements of the control input device 100 shown in FIG. 1 except for the wired connector 128. The wired connector 128 is replaced by an access port 302. the original interface of the controller, such as a USB interface.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of a second example of a controller according to the invention equipped with the control input device of FIGURE 3. In the example shown in FIGURE 4, the joystick 400 comprises the device 300 on its back shell. The device 300 is fixed on the rear shell of the controller thanks to the original fixing openings of the handle using fastening screws of width identical to the original fixing screws of the handle but longer than the latter. The controller 400 shown in FIG. 4 thus comprises a USB interface 402 accessible via the access opening 302, for connecting a USB cable, for charging the controller and / or for establishing communication between the controller and the remote device. . In the examples described the communication between the controller and the remote device running the game can be performed wired or wireless. In all the examples described, the commands entered by the user on the control input device according to the invention are transmitted to the joystick which transmits them to the remote apparatus executing the game.

Alternatively, the commands entered by the user on the input device can be transmitted to the remote device directly by the control input device, without going through the controller, wired or wireless. According to yet another alternative, the control input device can make a gateway, wired or wireless, between the controller and the remote device to transmit to the remote device, wired or wireless, the commands entered on the control input device according to the invention but also the commands entered on the joystick by means of original command buttons. In addition, in all the examples described, the control input device is powered either by a dedicated battery provided in said device, or by a battery of the joystick in which case there is an electrical supply connection between the joystick and the control input device, or by the remote device through a USB type connection for example. Naturally, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described.

Claims (15)

REVENDICATIONS1. A joystick control input device (100; 300) comprising: - a support (102) provided with at least one means (10411042) for attaching said support (102) to a frame or hull of a joystick (200; 300); - at least one control button (1081-1082,1121-1122) disposed on said support (102) to allow a user to enter at least one command, and - at least one communication means for communicating the input command (s) to said joystick (200; 300) and / or to a remote device. 15 2. Device (100; 300) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one communication means comprises a wired connection means provided for connecting to the controller and / or the remote device. 20 3. Device (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one communication means comprises a wireless communication means communicating with the controller and / or with the remote device. 25 4. Device (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication means is configured to perform a communication with the remote device directly, said device further comprising a module, said gateway, arranged to: - receive from said handle (200; 400) at least one command 30 input on said handle (200; 400), and - transmit to said remote device said command entered on the joystick (200; 400) .- 16- 5. Device (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an electrical connection supplying said device from a battery of the joystick. 6. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one connector / button (128), said replica, reproducing a connector / knob of the controller (200) and connected said joystick (200). 7. Device (100, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one access opening (126, 124) to at least one knob / connector of the handle (200; ). 8. Device (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one management module (116) for assigning or modifying a command associated with at least one button control (1081-1082, 1121-1122). 9. Device (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one display means (118) of data relating to a command associated with at least one button control (1081-1082, 1121-1122). 10. Device (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one fastening means comprises at least one opening (1041-1042), said fixing, provided to accommodate a screw provided to attach to the handle (200; 400). 11. Device (100; 300) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the at least one fastening opening (1041-1042) is positioned so as to come opposite an existing fixing opening arranged / provided on a shell or frame of the handle (200; 400). 12. Device (100; 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one control button is a button selected from the following list: - a two-state switch (1121-1122) - a control button with progressive control (1081-1082), - a directional pad, - a joystick. A game controller (200; 400) provided with at least one control input device (100; 300) according to any of the preceding claims. 14. Handle (200; 400) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control device (100; 300) is arranged on the side of a rear face of said handle (200; 400). 15. Handle (200; 400) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control device (100; 300) comprises: - at least two control buttons (1081-1082), said upper 20, positioned so that when the handle (200; 400) is held by a user, each of said control buttons (1081-1082): ^ is on the side of a front face of said handle (200; 400), 25 ^ is accessible by an index a hand of the user; and - at least two control buttons (1121-1122), said pallets, being in an elongate form and positioned so that when the handle (200; 400) is held by a user, each of said control buttons (1121- 1122): 30 ^ is on the back side of said handle (200; 400), and ^ is accessible by the middle finger, and / or the ring finger and / or the little finger of a user's hand .