US 12,145,052 B2
Game controller for a mobile device with flat flex connector
Maneet Singh Khaira, Vancouver, WA (US); Atsushi Shirata, Neyagawa (JP); Gregory Robert Cerny, Palo Alto, CA (US); Wei-Jun Wang, Menlo Park, CA (US); and Jon Lake, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to Backbone Labs, Inc., Vancouver, WA (US)
Filed by Backbone Labs, Inc., Vancouver, WA (US)
Filed on Oct. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/504,283.
Application 17/504,283 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/808,339, filed on Mar. 3, 2020, granted, now 11,389,721.
Prior Publication US 2022/0032178 A1, Feb. 3, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A63F 13/23 (2014.01); A63F 13/214 (2014.01); A63F 13/24 (2014.01); A63F 13/92 (2014.01)
CPC A63F 13/24 (2014.09) [A63F 13/214 (2014.09); A63F 13/23 (2014.09); A63F 13/92 (2014.09); A63F 2300/1043 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A game controller for a mobile device, the game controller comprising:
a first handle comprising:
a first guide portion comprising a first main surface and a first support surface, wherein the first support surface is configured to contact and support a mobile device above the first main surface of the first guide portion; and
a user-accessible, first hardware interface;
a first electronic circuit within the first handle the first electronic circuit coupled to the first hardware interface;
a second handle comprising:
a second guide portion comprising a second main surface and a second support surface, wherein the second support surface is configured to contact and support the mobile device above the second main surface of the second guide portion; and
a user-accessible, second hardware interface;
a second electronic circuit within the second handle, the second electronic circuit coupled to the second hardware interface;
a bridge coupling the first handle to the second handle, the bridge being in sliding engagement with the first handle and the second handle;
a flat, flexible cable configured to conduct an electrical signal between the first handle and the second handle; and
an electronic controller in the second handle, the electronic controller configured to receive an electrical signal from the second electronic circuit within the second handle and to receive an electrical signal from the first electronic circuit within the first handle via the flat, flexible cable.