Text Input Device and Adapter Mechanism

Abstract

A text input device for attachment to a game controller includes a small-sized housing, a plurality of text entry keys disposed on the upper face, and an attachment interface. The housing including a plurality of conformal structures laterally extending from a central portion of the housing, each of said conformal structures including a concave curved surface sized to conform to a portion of a game controller handle.

1 . A text input device, comprising: 
 a housing having a width not exceeding  8  inches and further having an upper face;    a plurality of text entry keys disposed on the housing upper face; and    the housing including a plurality of conformal structures laterally extending from a central portion of the housing, each of said conformal structures including a concave curved surface sized to conform to a portion of a game controller handle.    
   
   
       2 . The text input device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said conformal structures includes a concave curved surface sized to conform to a portion of a grip-shaped game controller handle.  
   
   
       3 . The text input device of  claim 1 , wherein exposed portions of the housing include a compressible material.  
   
   
       4 . The text input device of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment interface formed on the housing and displaced from the upper housing face.  
   
   
       5 . The text input device of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment interface comprises one or more protrusions from the housing.  
   
   
       6 . The text input device of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more protrusions are positioned on a lower region of the housing relative to the upper face.  
   
   
       7 . The text input device of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical connector coupled to the housing, wherein the electrical connector is at least partially movable with respect to the housing.  
   
   
       8 . The text input device of  claim 7 , wherein 
 the electrical connector is coupled to the housing at a location situated between two of the concave curved surfaces, and    the electrical connector and the two concave curved surfaces are positioned such that all are simultaneously visible when the text input device is not attached to a game controller and the text input device is viewed from a perspective in which the upper face is not visible.    
   
   
       9 . The text input device of  claim 7 , further comprising an attachment interface formed on the housing and displaced from the upper housing face.  
   
   
       10 . The text input device of  claim 9 , wherein the attachment interface comprises one or more protrusions from the housing.  
   
   
       11 . The text input device of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more protrusions are positioned on a lower region of the housing relative to the upper face.  
   
   
       12 . The text input device of  claim 8 , wherein each of said conformal structures includes a concave curved surface sized to conform to a portion of a grip-shaped game controller handle.  
   
   
       13 . The text input device of  claim 12 , wherein exposed portions of the housing include a compressible material.