Connector for video game controller, and video game controller including the same

Abstract

A connector for a video game controller including electrical circuitry and a plurality of buttons. The connector includes: a plurality of contacts for receiving and transmitting electrical signals; and a plurality of pins electrically coupled to the plurality of contacts for communicating the electrical signals with the electrical circuitry of the video game controller. The plurality of contacts includes at least one contact for receiving an electrical signal that corresponds to pressing one of the plurality of buttons from among the plurality of electrical signals.

1 . A connector for a video game controller comprising electrical circuitry and a plurality of buttons, the connector comprising:
 a plurality of contacts for receiving and transmitting a plurality of electrical signals; and   a plurality of pins electrically coupled to the plurality of contacts for communicating the electrical signals with the electrical circuitry of the video game controller,   wherein the plurality of contacts comprises at least one contact for receiving an electrical signal that corresponds to pressing one of the plurality of buttons from among the plurality of electrical signals.   
     
     
         2 . A mating connector for mating with the connector of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . A video game accessory comprising the mating connector of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         4 . An auxiliary video game controller comprising the mating connector of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The auxiliary video game controller of  claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary video game controller is configured to interface with the video game controller via an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I 2 C) data bus interface. 
     
     
         6 . A video game controller comprising:
 electrical circuitry;   a plurality of buttons; and   a connector comprising:
 a plurality of contacts for receiving and transmitting a plurality of electrical signals; and 
 a plurality of pins electrically coupled to the plurality of contacts for communicating the electrical signals with the electrical circuitry, 
 wherein the plurality of contacts comprises at least one contact for receiving an electrical signal that corresponds to pressing one of the plurality of buttons from among the plurality of electrical signals. 
   
     
     
         7 . The video game controller of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of electrical signals comprises at least one of power, ground, a motor drive signal, a directional movement signal, a button press signal or a data signal. 
     
     
         8 . The video game controller of  claim 6 , wherein the connector further comprises a case having a cavity and a contact mount in the cavity, wherein the plurality of contacts comprises primary contacts on the contact mount. 
     
     
         9 . The video game controller of  claim 8 , wherein the connector further comprises a protruding member attached to the case and the plurality of contacts comprises secondary contacts on the protruding member. 
     
     
         10 . The video game controller of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the secondary contacts is configured to receive a button press signal. 
     
     
         11 . The video game controller of  claim 8 , wherein an insulation is on one of inner surfaces of the case, and the plurality of contacts comprises additional contacts on the insulation. 
     
     
         12 . The video game controller of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the additional contacts is configured to receive a motor drive signal to initiate vibration. 
     
     
         13 . A video game accessory comprising a mating connector for mating with a connector for a video game controller comprising electrical circuitry and a plurality of buttons, the connector for the video game controller comprising:
 a plurality of contacts for receiving and transmitting a plurality of electrical signals; and   a plurality of pins electrically coupled to the plurality of contacts for communicating the electrical signals with the electrical circuitry of the video game controller,   wherein the plurality of contacts comprises at least one contact for receiving an electrical signal that corresponds to pressing one of the plurality of buttons from among the plurality of electrical signals.   
     
     
         14 . The video game accessory of  claim 13 , further comprising means for duplicating a function of the one of the plurality of buttons and providing the electrical signal that corresponds to pressing the one of the plurality of buttons to the video game controller. 
     
     
         15 . The video game accessory of  claim 13 , further comprising a controller mount configured to support the video game controller. 
     
     
         16 . The video game accessory of  claim 15 , further comprising a holding member to secure the video game controller when the video game controller is supported by the controller mount. 
     
     
         17 . The video game accessory of  claim 15 , further comprising a grip and a trigger. 
     
     
         18 . The video game accessory of  claim 15 , further comprising a key pad comprising a plurality of keys. 
     
     
         19 . The video game accessory of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of keys comprises alphanumeric keys. 
     
     
         20 . The video game accessory of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a button on the video game accessory; and   means for assigning the electrical signal that corresponds to pressing the one of the plurality of buttons to the button on the video game accessory.