WO2008103100A1

WO2008103100A1 - A game controller

Info

Publication number: WO2008103100A1
Application number: PCT/SE2008/000121
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Hensing
Original assignee: Gameset Scandinavia Ab
Priority date: 2007-02-20
Filing date: 2008-02-15
Publication date: 2008-08-28
Also published as: SE0700410L

Abstract

A handheld game controller that have a multitude of buttons each designated to correspond to a particular game event, such as poker game events like, raise, fold check etc is disclosed. The game controller can be provided with a scrolling wheel for user-friendly input of the amount to bet.

Description

A GAME CONTROLLER TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a device for playing an electronic game on a video screen.

BACKGROUND

Video gaming is an activity that is increasing rapidly. The games range over a wide range from simple built-in PC-computer games to advanced on-line games. All video games require some kind of input device, and the most common are a conventional keyboard, a computer mouse or some kind of generic video game controller.

Electronic poker gaming is one particular activity that has become increasingly popular over the last few years. In particular so-called on-line poker where a number of players connect from remote locations to a central server hosting a number of poker tables, and where real money is involved has gained popularity. On-line poker games as well as other electronic poker games are traditionally played using a regular keyboard and or a computer mouse as input device.

Furthermore, US patent Application No. US 2005/0164789, describes a video gaming system where a number of hand controllers are connected to a video game. Each hand controller is provided with a graphical interface. Also each hand controller can comprise buttons for commands typical for the game of poker.

The hand controller as described in US patent Application No. US 2005/0164789 is however not suitable for many applications. Moreover, the hand controller described in US patent Application No. US 2005/0164789 is relatively expensive to manufacture and not user friendly for command input.

Hence there is a need for a hand controller that is inexpensive to manufacture and that provides a user friendly input interface.

SUMMARY It is an object of the present invention to provide a more comfortable device for electronic poker playing and other electronic games that is custom fitted for playing on a video screen, and particularly for on-line poker playing.

It as another object of the present invention to provide a device that is provided with control buttons and switches particularly well suited for poker playing where fast action is often desired.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a handheld on-line poker-playing controller that is designed to provide for easy and intuitive raise of the pot.

These objects and others are obtained by the device as set out in the appended claims by a handheld game controller that have a multitude of buttons each designated to correspond to a particular game event, such as poker game events like, raise, fold check preferably located at an essentially straight line on the game controller. The game controller is further provided with a scrolling wheel for user-friendly fast input of the amount to bet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in more detail by way of non-limiting examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a general view of a handheld game controller Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the controller in Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a top view of a scroll wheel, and Fig. 4 is a side view of the scroll wheel in Fig. 3

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In Fig. 1, a general view of a handheld game controller 101 is shown. The game controller 101 as shown in Fig. 1 is designed to play an electronic game on a video screen for example using a computer that may in turn be connected to the Internet. The controller can be connected to the computer via a wire or via a wireless interface. The game controller 101 comprises a hollow plastic casing 103 designed to provide maximum comfort for a user playing with the aid of the controller 101. The controller 101 is provided with a number of keys, preferably located as a first keypad or set of keys 102 on the topside thereof, and hence facing the user when in use. In a preferred embodiment each of the keys are designed to provide a specific function relating to a game of poker. For example, as shown in Fig 1 there can be provided four keys 105, 107, 109 and 111. The keys are preferably labeled:

F providing the function "Fold". When a user presses the button he folds.

C providing the function "Check" or "Call". If the user wants to call the C button is pressed.

Depending on the circumstances, i.e. if some one has raised this will or will not involve placing more money into the pot.

R providing the function "Raise". When the user wants to raise the pot, this button is pressed.

It can either provide a fixed amount raise or be used together with another control button, such as the scroll wheel described below.

B providing the function "Bet pot". When this button is pressed the player bets an amount equal to the current amount in the pot.

Each key is designed to generate its corresponding action and when released and pressed again the action will be preformed again. The keys 105, 107, 109 and 111 are located to provide maximum comfort to the user. This can, for example, be obtained by locating at least three or four of the keys to be manipulated by one hand in an essentially straight line. This will result in a minimum movement of the finger used to press the keys 105, 107, 109 and 111, usually the thumb. If more keys are provided they too can be provided along the essentially straight line and adjacent to each other. If one or more keys provide for an action that is less common or that will result in jeopardizing a relatively large amount of money, such a button can be located off the essentially straight line. In this example the "B" button 111 has been located off the line on which the other three buttons 105, 107 and 109 are located. This is because pressing the B button could result in a significant amount being placed in the pot. An additional button that can be provided is, for example, "All-in".

In the case the hand-held controller is designed to generate input control signal to another video game, other than poker, the number of buttons as well as the labels of the buttons will, of course, correspond to that particular game. The controller 101 can also comprise a second set of keys 112 comprising the keys 113, 115 117 and 119. The keys 112 can be labeled 1, 2, 3 and 4, and correspond to a number of different poker tables. The provision of the keys 112 will provide a quick and easy way to switch between different poker tables.

The controller 101 preferably also comprises a scroll wheel 121. The scroll wheel is particularly suited for playing a game where the user is betting something, for example money, in a game. In the example as described herein it is assumed that the game played is a game of poker, but other games where betting is an integral part of the game will also benefit from the use of a scroll wheel 121.

The scroll wheel 121 is used to set the size of a bet at each betting instance. An incremental turning of the scroll wheel preferably corresponds to one incremental raising of a bet if the scroll wheel is turn in one direction. In a corresponding manner, turning of the scroll wheel in the opposite direction will result in a decrement of the bet. To illustrate, if a player wants to place a bet of $ 10 and each increment is $ 1, he will turn the scroll wheel past 10 steps of the scroll wheel before he presses the "Raise" key. If by mistake he turns the wheel 11 steps he will have to turn the wheel back 1 step before pressing the "Raise" key. The scroll wheel 121 can be designed to give any desired output. For example rapid turning of the wheel may correspond to increments higher than one in any suitable sequence. When the correct amount is entered, and this will preferably be shown on the video screen, the user presses the raise button 109 whereby the amount is placed into the pot.

In order to provide maximum user comfort the scroll wheel is located on one of the side surfaces of the hollow plastic casing, in particular the front side, for easy accessible manipulation by a user holding the controller, preferably the index finger. With this configuration of the buttons and the scroll wheel the wheel can be manipulated with, for example, the right index finger, while buttons are pressed using the thumb(s).

Furthermore, the controller 101 is preferably provided with USB cable 120 for attachment to and communication with a computer or some other suitable connection means such as a wireless connection. The commands given by the keys and scroll wheel are transmitted to the computer and interpreted by the computer in accordance with suitable software. Also the controller can be provided with a key lock 125. The key lock, when activated, will lock all keys so that no key is pressed accidentally when the key lock is ON.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the controller 101. Inside the hollow plastic casing 103 a board 123 with electrical components is provided for transforming the commands as given by a player using the keys and the scroll wheel into electronic signals that can be transmitted to the computer using the USB cable 120. The board 123 is located in essentially the same plane as the scroll wheel 121.

Fig. 3 is a top view of a sector of the scroll wheel 121. The scroll wheel 121 has a perimeter with equally spaced slots 131 (holes). The material between the slots 131 form reflecting bars 133 along the perimeter of the scroll wheel. The surface of the bars 133 are, at least on the side facing the board 123, covered with a light reflecting material.

The arrangement as shown in Fig. 3, enables a light detector arrangement comprising a light source 135 and a light detector 137 used to detect the movement of the scroll wheel to be located on the same side of the scroll wheel 121. Thus both the light source and light detector 137 can be located on the board 123. In order for the detector arrangement to be able to detect the turning direction of the scroll wheel there are provided a pair of corresponding light sources and light detectors for enabling quadrature decoding of the signal caused by the turning of the scroll wheel.

Fig. 4 is a view of the scroll wheel and the detector arrangement from the side inside the hollow casing 103.

The invention, as described herein, has been described herein mainly using the game of poker as an exemplary game for which the controller can be used. Other video and on-line games and the like can of course also benefit from the features as described herein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A hand-held electronic game controller for interaction with a computer, the controller comprising:

- a casing, and

- a plurality of keys located in the casing for interaction with a user and adapted to generate a number of game control signals, where at least a subset of the plurality of keys is adapted to generate events signals in the game of poker, characterized by:

- a scroll wheel located in the casing for interaction with a user and adapted to generate at least one game control signal.

2. The controller according to claim 1, characterized in that the subset of keys adapted to generate events signals in the game of poker are located on the topside of the casing and that the scroll wheel is located on the side of the casing.

3. The controller according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the scroll wheel is provided with a sequence of bars and intermediate indentations and where the bars are covered with a light reflecting material.

4. The controller according to any of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that at least three of said subset of keys adapted to generate event signals in the game of poker are located in an essentially straight line adjacent to each other.

5. The controller according to claim 4 , characterized in that at least one key of said subset of keys adapted to generate event signals in the game of poker is located spaced apart from said keys being located in an essentially straight line adjacent to each other.

6. The controller according to claim 5 ,characterized in that said at least one key being located spaced apart is a key corresponding to betting an amount equal to the current amount in the pot.

7. The controller according to any of claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the scroll wheel is adapted to generate a signal indicative of an amount to place in the pot.