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Microsoft patents detachable controllers for mobile, portable devices

Vanillalite

Vanillalite

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
7,709
Windows Latest

Spotted by us, the patent titled 'Charging device for removable input modules' was filed by Redmond-based Microsoft in 2017 and published by USPTO on July 9, 2019. The patent applications and drawings detail a removable controller for mobile/handheld devices (such as smartphones, tablet computers, portable games consoles).


Controllers-patent.jpg


Input-controllers-patent.jpg
 
Hero of Legend

Hero of Legend

Member
Oct 26, 2017
13,615
How can this be patented? It's literally the Joy-Cons, complete with the connecting "grip" in the last image. What's stopping Nintendo from stepping in?
 
Razmos

Razmos

Unshakeable One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 28, 2017
15,890
They forgot their homework and had to copy Nintendo's
 
NippleViking

NippleViking

Member
May 2, 2018
4,491
I could have sworn we saw this months/years ago from MS, no? Also I eagerly await all the witty comments about 'MS copying', despite there being similar products on mobile for over 5 years now.
 
zedox

zedox

Member
Oct 28, 2017
5,215
Hero of Legend said:
How can this be patented? It's literally the Joy-Cons, complete with the connecting "grip" in the last image. What's stopping Nintendo from stepping in?
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Because Nintendo may be for a specific device while MS' solution is for any type of device...it all really depends on the wording of each companies patents.
 
Toni

Toni

Banned
Nov 13, 2017
1,983
Orlando, Florida
Sony has been patenting this for years. I really hope they nail a comfortable and capable final design and release it alongside Dualshock 5 for PSVR 2.

If done right, I think this is the next step for controllers.
 
Zyrox

Zyrox

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
4,630
I dub them...the Fun-Pads*.
*Original name do not steal
 
TheLastOne

TheLastOne

Member
Oct 25, 2017
455
I assume they're considering something like this to be a companion to their streaming service, so you can use this modular controller well with whatever device you plan to play on.
 

Everywhere

Banned
Jun 12, 2019
2,104
Someone would copy Nintendo sooner or later. Let's hope Microsoft's version brings some improvements, if it ever hits the market anyway.
 
rainz

rainz

Member
Nov 1, 2017
396
Will be nice to stream xbx games to my phone when the gf is hogging the TV!
 
Eoin

Eoin

Member
Oct 27, 2017
7,103
Hero of Legend said:
How can this be patented? It's literally the Joy-Cons, complete with the connecting "grip" in the last image. What's stopping Nintendo from stepping in?
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You can't patent concepts. Something like "controller device that attaches to a screen" is vague and unpatentable.

Patents should be for specific working things, and only devices that copy multiple specific elements of a patent would be considered to be breaching a patent.
 
Dan Thunder

Dan Thunder

Member
Nov 2, 2017
14,071
I can see the logic of having one controller that can be used across all Xbox/Xcloud platforms but I just don't know how good they'll be. Balancing a tablet with a controller on each side isn't the most ergonomic solution, plus I imagine it'd knack after a bit.
 
Wandu

Wandu

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Oct 27, 2017
2,163
Skittzo

Skittzo

Member
Oct 25, 2017
41,037
Hero of Legend said:
How can this be patented? It's literally the Joy-Cons, complete with the connecting "grip" in the last image. What's stopping Nintendo from stepping in?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Patent expert here. This is not currently a granted patent, just an application. Edit: nevermind, this has been patented. The OP confused me for a sec.

But it can most definitely get patented if some of the specific features in the claims are different enough from Nintendo's joycon patents.


EDIT2: The real answer here is that this patent application is a continuation of another application filed in 2014, which I believe is before Nintendo's joycon patents were filed.
 
Sunny

Sunny

Member
Oct 25, 2017
376
would it be possible for sony to make a phone that can dual boot. one partion for android and the other for w/e the hell vita uses?
 
christocolus

christocolus

Member
Oct 27, 2017
14,932
Considering how good MS has become at creating sturdy hardware and comfy peripherals, I would expect them to create something amazing for mobile play.
 
Ravage

Ravage

Banned
Oct 31, 2017
1,536
Toni said:
Sony has been patenting this for years. I really hope they nail a comfortable and capable final design and release it alongside Dualshock 5 for PSVR 2.

If done right, I think this is the next step for controllers.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Yeah I could have sworn I saw SIE patents for this concept years ago.

I'm strangely confident that DS5 will incorporate this design especially since they need a break-apart design for proper VR controls.
 
Thatguy

Thatguy

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
6,207
Seattle WA
Surface Go with an Ipega controller:

sIZTbR5.jpg


That controller doesnt fit larger devices though. With this patent you could attach to any size screen. Surface lineup goes up to 15 inches. Thats a MONSTER portable.

I love it
 
Tribes of Trusty

Tribes of Trusty

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,727
Thatguy said:
Surface Go with an Ipega controller:

sIZTbR5.jpg


That controller doesnt fit larger devices though. With this patent you could attach to any size screen. Surface lineup goes up to 15 inches. Thats a MONSTER portable.

I love it
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I have an Ipega Red Knight (9087) and while the concept is super cool the high input lag makes it very very disappointing
 
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