Nintendo Patent Application - Accessory and Information Processing System

[georly]

Know what else this does? It makes it REALLY cheap for third party accessories and customization of the hardware... Have big hands and need big spaced out buttons? Mad Catz got you.

Oh good call. It'll be super easy to reverse engineer the IR part, I assume, and won't require violating nintendo patents on proprietary connectors. Now they can sell you mario and zelda controller grips instead of limited edition consoles.

maybe the back plate is also customizeable like the N3DS faceplates.

well this lines up with the rumors
i wonder how responsive this tech is

If it's anything like the circle pad pro, it's perfectly fine. Then again, I don't think any super-duper twitch based games ever used it though. I assume the 'normal' controller when playing in docked mode does bluetooth or something though.

 

[dity]

Didn't take too long

When have patent illustrations ever been indicative of a final product?

I'll wait...

Will people ever learn patent designs =/= actual designs? They're meant to showcase CONCEPTS

Cool, and that concept looks like a screen with the end of a Wiimote stuck onto it. And the Wiimote was pretty lame to hold sideways.

 

[CrAzY FiNgErS]

The only thing that concerns me is how well these sensors replicate traditional button presses and analog and d-pad movement. If there is the slightest bit of lag or not reading your inputs correctly this will be a bad idea.

 

[J@hranimo]

It looks uncomfortable. ��

Didn't know patent pictures = final product design.

edit: I see others have gone in on you already so nvm! lol

Bring on the NX Reveal!

 

[UnemployedVillain]

Cool, and that concept looks like a screen with the end of a Wiimote stuck onto it. And the Wiimote was pretty lame to hold sideways.

I'm getting headaches reading this

 

[10k]

It has begun.

 

[cw_sasuke]

The future is here.

 

[Chubby Rain]

When have patent illustrations ever been indicative of a final product?

I'll wait...

Some people will never learn, it happens every patent thread.

 

[random25]

There it is.

Now to see how the actual thing looks like...

 

[DooMAGE]

The only thing that concerns me is how well these sensors replicate traditional button presses and analog and d-pad movement. If there is the slightest bit of lag or not reading your inputs correctly this will be a bad idea.

Circle pad works great, no lags

 

[dity]

Didn't know patent pictures = final product design.

lol, did I say it was?

I'm getting headaches reading this

lol

 

[James Scott]

Reminder that patents are simplified versions of an idea, not meant to look comfortable or refined. Basically the idea is that you'll be able to attach and detach controllers

 

[Kouriozan]

Know what else this does? It makes it REALLY cheap for third party accessories and customization of the hardware... Have big hands and need big spaced out buttons? Mad Catz got you.

Now that sounds amazing.

 

[darkness_s]

This doesn't fit the Eurogamer rumor. This patent seems to use an infrared to communicate with the controllers, meaning that they wouldn't work when they are detached from the console.

 

[foltzie1]

I'm curious how an analog stick with a button press would work with this concept.

I have some ideas, but seeing the actual implementation will be fun.

 

[alf717]

Hope the NX isn't going to be an accessorizing nightmare.

 

[Rösti]

Another drawing I find quite interesting:

[0048] FIG. 3 is a back view showing a non-limiting example portable device;

 

[Ashby]

Damn I wonder if the NX is gonna be a legitimate tablet. So far it's looking to be a straight up Nvidia Shield tablet with detachable controllers.

 

[Calm Mind]

touché

 

[RootCause]

I wonder if the adapters connect through wifi direct.

 

[Fourth Storm]

There it is?! Time to dig in!

 

[Dystify]

If you remove the inside of this controller you could potentially place it in your own custom made controller. But knowing Nintendo whatever they offer will be very comfortable to hold anyway, so this is probably unnecessary...

 

[UnemployedVillain]

This doesn't fit the Eurogamer rumor. This patent seems to use an infrared to communicate with the controllers, meaning that they wouldn't work when they are detached from the console.

It's why I always say we never get the full picture. Even from this patent I have a few questions:

1. What does the screen do without the controls? Or does it essentially become a tablet (we don't actually know if the handheld is small like usual or essentially tablet sized now)
2. What do you do with these control parts? They're effectively useless when not attached, although I guess the same could be same of the nunchuk, and people didn't have an issue with that, but that was only 1 part

 

[Herbspiceguy]

All the hand gesture input stuff makes me think it's going to make you look like you're constantly using sign language.

 

[LegendofLex]

This doesn't fit the Eurogamer rumor. This patent seems to use an infrared to communicate with the controllers, meaning that they wouldn't work when they are detached from the console.

Unless the controller pieces have both bluetooth and IR functionality, and IR communication is used only when they're attached to the portable to improve battery life (IR is less power-hungry than bluetooth).

 

[wwm0nkey]

Well, there it is

 

[RootCause]

Damn I wonder if the NX is gonna be a legitimate tablet. So far it's looking to be a straight up Nvidia Shield tablet with detachable controllers.

The shield tablet k1 is amazing with the shield controller(wifi direct).
By the way, NVidia had a device go through the fcc a couple of months ago. Its expected to be the the shield tablet x1. But nothing still, I hope that's the case. I'd love to get a shield X1.

 

[TyMiles2012]

Another drawing I find quite interesting:

NX with included vibrator confirmed.

 

[cw_sasuke]

Another drawing I find quite interesting:

We just had a rumor about NX having GPS integrated as well...hmm.

 

[Dark_3nergy]

Well, there it is

Yes...there it is

A. White. Box.

Bad sarcasm aside, there is a lot of interesting trinkets going into this device. GPS? Projector?

 

[georly]

Circle Pad Pro still had some electrical components and required a battery.

So this patent is specifically for emitting IR without the use of a battery? Or am i misunderstanding?

 

[Rösti]

We just had a rumor about NX having GPS integrated as well...hmm.

Yes, I thought about the GPS rumor.

[0082] The GPS receiver 17 receives a signal from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, and the portable device 1 can calculate the position of the portable device 1 itself by receiving the signal. For example, when a predetermined operation is performed at a particular position (e.g., a gesture input or a button input using the infrared camera 4, shaking the portable device 1, etc., to be described later), the portable device 1 may display an object associated with the particular position. For example, where a game is played on the portable device 1, and the portable device 1 is at a particular position, an object associated with the particular position may appear in the game.

 

[G.ZZZ]

Incoming latency unplayable games Kappa

 

[Dystify]

It's why I always say we never get the full picture. Even from this patent I have a few questions:

1. What does the screen do without the controls? Or does it essentially become a tablet (we don't actually know if the handheld is small like usual or essentially tablet sized now)
2. What do you do with these control parts? They're effectively useless when not attached, although I guess the same could be same of the nunchuk, and people didn't have an issue with that, but that was only 1 part

1. Plug it into the docking station?

2. Well in reality the controller parts won't look like the ones in the patent. Eurogamer said you can use them as individual controllers, but if they don't have any energy by themselves maybe you need to plug them into something that powers them.

 

[Graphics Horse]

Using infrared lights, sensors and reflectors to detect the physical movement of the buttons seems like the most insane, over-engineered way of going about this. Is there some advantage of doing it like this is isn't apparent?

Doesn't need physical connections or a battery in the controllers, but yeah it sounds messy.
Am hoping they go for NFC if they want to do something like that.
Edit: darkness_s points it out better, was assuming you'd have electronics to use detached, but maybe that's not a feature.

 

[darkness_s]

Unless the controller pieces have both bluetooth and IR functionality, and IR communication is used only when they're attached to the portable to improve battery life (IR is less power-hungry than bluetooth).

Well, the patent controller uses movable parts that are read by an infrared camera, it doesn't seem to have any electronics at all. The patent's purpose seems to have of a means of communicating with very cheap interchangeable controllers.

 

[Trace]

Another drawing I find quite interesting:

Pokemon Go confirmed.

 

[TyMiles2012]

So this patent is specifically for emitting IR without the use of a battery? Neat.

My assumption is when the buttons are pressed, they will have reflectors. I mean, look at how the 3D on the N3DS works. Maybe there's a special camera with an IR light that will detect reflections on exclusive buttons based on the reflection of the button inside of the housing.

 

[LegendofLex]

Well, the patent controller uses movable parts that are read by an infrared camera, it doesn't seem to have any electronics at all. The patent's purpose seems to have of a means of communicating with very cheap interchangeable controllers.

The capability to read the movement of the parts using an infrared camera doesn't use any electronics.

But that doesn't mean the device that supports this capability can't also have basic internal electronics for disconnected use.

I think the #1 benefit of this application is actually that there doesn't need to be a direct circuit between the accessory and the portable that's exposed when not in use, and the accessories don't need to draw a lot of power while in use with the portable. Communication is handled through IR.

If these add-on controls really can work as separate controllers, it'll be really nice to only have to worry about them being charged during TV use and not on the go.

 

[Dead_Pixel]

Another drawing I find quite interesting:

Projector? Interesting...

 

[khaaan]

How responsive would the buttons on this hypothetical infrared button system be?

 

[Plinko]

That's actually hilariously smart.

No controller ports/less expensive.

No controller parts/lighter and less expensive.

No exposed electronics when the controllers are off/less chance of breaking/reduced costs for repairs.

As an electrical engineer I see this as a big boon. The issue ultimately is latency, but with the screens in phones nowadays the tradeoff isn't as great. This is very very clever and fits right in with Nintendo's philosophy of using old tech in creative ways.

Seriously, I'm kind of blown away by the foresight here. This can result in a huge reduction in cost, which we know Nintendo wanted from the beginning.

As you say, the only issue is latency. If there's any delay, it's near worthless. I highly doubt they'd do it, though, if there was.

I'm starting to seriously consider the $149 launch price as viable.

 

[AwakenedCloud]

Another drawing I find quite interesting:

Am I the only one intrigued by the Attitude Detection Section?

 

[Dystify]

How responsive would the buttons on this hypothetical infrared button system be?

Nintendo wouldn't use this if it wasn't responsive. I wouldn't worry about this, personally.

 

[Discomurf]

The patent shows the detection of rotational movement (e.g. turning a knob).

could this be the mouse wheel feature that was rumored?

 

[kami_sama]

So this patent is specifically for emitting IR without the use of a battery? Or am i misunderstanding?

More like reflecting it.
The one emitting it is the console.

 

[Herbspiceguy]

Bad sarcasm aside, there is a lot of interesting trinkets going into this device. GPS? Projector?

Projector? Interesting...

There are projector patents as well: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1204802

 

[J@hranimo]

That's actually hilariously smart.

No controller ports/less expensive.

No controller parts/lighter and less expensive.

No exposed electronics when the controllers are off/less chance of breaking/reduced costs for repairs.

As an electrical engineer I see this as a big boon. The issue ultimately is latency, but with the screens in phones nowadays the tradeoff isn't as great. This is very very clever and fits right in with Nintendo's philosophy of using old tech in creative ways.

=O

I didn't think of ANY of this! And this is going to be stronger than the Wii U? Amazing...

 

[Graphics Horse]

How responsive would the buttons on this hypothetical infrared button system be?

Probably fine if the camera is designed for it. Mice use optics and seem OK, even ball mice used light shone through wheel spokes to measure movement on each axis.

 

[UnemployedVillain]

1. Plug it into the docking station?

2. Well in reality the controller parts won't look like the ones in the patent. Eurogamer said you can use them as individual controllers, but if they don't have any energy by themselves maybe you need to plug them into something that powers them.

Yeah, I realize that, but you would still require some central "power" module as you said to provide energy, interpret the IR blasts, and send them to the station