KR101478092B1 - Mobile communication device case with game controller - Google Patents

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention is a mobile communication device case having a game controller function, comprising: a body portion having a storage portion for removably storing a mobile communication device; A control unit electrically connected to the key input unit and the external communication unit to control the key input unit and the external communication unit; and a game control function provided in the body unit, And a function expanding structure unit that can expand the functions of the mobile communication device.

Description

[0001] MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE CASE WITH GAME CONTROLLER [0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a mobile communication device case having a game controller function, and more particularly, to a mobile communication device case having a function of assisting driving of various game applications.

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of mobile communication devices, such as smart phones, smart pads, and tablet PCs, which combine the functions of personal portable terminals and PCs, have become popular. Accordingly, various applications that can be utilized in such mobile communication devices are being actively developed, and such applications can be easily found in application markets such as the Android market and the App store.

One of the most popular fields in applications for mobile communication devices is games. However, as a user who uses a game application, there are many emotional inconveniences in using an action-type game rather than a simple game such as a puzzle due to hardware restriction of a mobile communication device. In other words, the sound and graphics performance of the mobile communication device is gradually developing, but the mobile communication device itself is gradually becoming smaller and thinner, and recently, a mobile communication device in which the physical buttons are minimized by using the touch screen, , It has been difficult for a game user to realistically control and enjoy various genre game applications by only a key or a button attached to a mobile communication device.

In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable to provide a multi-directional input switch or a control stick (miniaturized joystick) for game control to the mobile communication terminal either integrally or separately, It will have an adverse effect.

On the other hand, there are many cases in which a case is attached to a mobile communication device. Such a case is mainly made of a material such as plastic, synthetic rubber or metal, and a cover type or a wallet type is used in the form.

However, the conventional mobile communication device case is only used for a physical protection function such as an external shock or scratch prevention, or for an accessory, and a smart additional function for supplementing and enhancing other functions, I did not.

Accordingly, it is required to develop a mobile communication terminal case capable of providing or supplementing control functions of various game applications.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2002-0091542 (published on December 06, 2002) Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2012-0083690 (Publication date 2012. 07. 26)

In order to solve the above problems, a technical object of the present invention is to provide a case of a mobile communication device capable of receiving a mobile communication device and assisting driving of various game applications.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication device case having a game controller function, including: a body portion having a storage portion for removably storing the mobile communication device; A control unit electrically connected to the key input unit and the external communication unit to control the key input unit and the external communication unit; And a function expanding structure unit formed in the body part and capable of expanding a game control function.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the function expanding structure unit may include a plurality of coupling holes arranged in a matrix form in the body portion, and a coupling hole detachably coupled to the coupling hole.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the key input unit may include at least one of a direction key input unit, a function key input unit, a volume control key input unit, and a power key input unit.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the receiving unit may be formed on a front surface of the body part so as to recognize the display unit of the mobile communication device while accommodating the mobile communication device.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the body portion may have a gun shape.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus may further include a sensor unit including at least one of a voice sensor, a position sensor, an acceleration sensor, an infrared sensor, and a pressure sensor.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the position sensor is a 3-axis geomagnetic sensor, and the acceleration sensor may be a 3-axis acceleration sensor.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling member may include a socket for detachably coupling the outer member to the coupling hole of the body portion using an elastic force.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer member may include at least one of a speaker, a vibrating implement, a light emitting portion, and a plate-shaped member.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mobile communication device case having a function of storing mobile communication devices and assisting in driving various game applications.

According to the present invention, a key input unit or a sensor unit having various functions and shapes for game control can be provided. Also, it is possible to easily combine the outer member capable of expanding the game control function with the mobile communication device by using the coupling hole and the coupling hole. Accordingly, the user can drive the game application more realistically in the mobile communication device. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a function inherent in the case for preventing physical damage such as external impact or scratching.

It should be understood that the effects of the present invention are not limited to the above effects and include all effects that can be deduced from the detailed description of the present invention or the configuration of the invention described in the claims.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating functional units of a mobile communication device and its case according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing functional units of a key input unit of the mobile communication device case according to FIG. 1;
3 is a diagram schematically showing a functional unit of the sensor unit of the mobile communication device case according to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a functional unit of the function expanding structure of the mobile communication device case according to FIG. 1;
5 is a perspective view illustrating a mobile communication device case according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a perspective view showing a rear surface of the mobile communication device case according to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a view showing various types of plate-like members that can be coupled to the case of the mobile communication device according to FIG.
8 is a perspective view illustrating a mobile communication device case according to another embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a perspective view illustrating a mobile communication device case according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In order to clearly illustrate the present invention, parts not related to the description are omitted, and similar parts are denoted by like reference characters throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification, when a part is referred to as being "connected" to another part, it includes not only "directly connected" but also "indirectly connected" . Also, when an element is referred to as "comprising ", it means that it can include other elements, not excluding other elements unless specifically stated otherwise.

The present invention relates to a mobile communication device case having a game controller function. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing functional units of a mobile communication device and its case according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing functional units of a key input unit of a mobile communication device case according to FIG. FIG. 3 is a view schematically showing functional units of the sensor unit of the mobile communication device case according to FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing functional units of the function expansion structure unit of the mobile communication device case according to FIG.

1, the mobile communication device 10 includes an application driver 11, an input unit 12, a display unit 13, an audio unit 14, and a sensor unit 15. The application driving unit 11 executes and stores various applications including a game application. The mobile communication device 10 collectively refers to a portable electronic device having a communication function and a driving function of various applications and may be any name such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a smart pad, a PMP, a tablet PC, Can also be called. The configuration of the mobile communication device 10 is well known and its detailed description is beyond the scope of the present invention and will not be described.

The mobile communication device case 100 may include a control unit 110, a key input unit 120, a sensor unit 130, an external communication unit 140, and a function expansion structure unit 150.

First, the controller 110 is electrically connected to the key input unit 120, the sensor unit 130, the external communication unit 140, and the function expansion unit 150, and exchanges command signals and data with the key input unit 120, the sensor unit 130, The control unit 110 may include, for example, a microcontroller and a memory, although not shown.

The control unit 110 receives information necessary for operating and executing a game application that is currently executed or scheduled to be executed from the application driving unit 11 of the mobile communication device 10 through the external communication unit 140, To the application driving unit 11, the game control information received from the key input unit 120, the sensor unit 130,

The key input unit 120 receives a command signal necessary for game control from the user. 2, the key input unit 120 may include at least one of a direction key input unit 121, a function key input unit 122, a volume control key input unit 123, and a power key input unit 124.

The direction key input unit 121 has a key input function for adjusting the direction of the game character in the game application, or moving the menu key. The direction key input unit 121 may be implemented in various ways, for example, a multi-direction input key, or a control stick (see FIGS. 5 and 9).

The function key input unit 122 has a key input function for starting, stopping, stopping, restarting, selecting a menu, and performing specific operations in a game application. The function key input unit 122 may have various forms such as a circular button, a square button, a control wheel, and a trigger button.

In addition, the volume control key input unit 123 has a key input function for adjusting the height of the game sound, and the power key input unit 124 has a key input function for turning on / off the power of the mobile communication apparatus case 100 I have.

The sensor unit 130 may include various sensors for improving game performance. 3, the sensor unit 130 may include at least one of a voice sensor 131, a position sensor 132, an acceleration sensor 133, an infrared sensor 134, and a pressure sensor 135 have.

Generally, mobile communication devices that have been recently commercialized include position sensors, acceleration sensors, and the like. However, the mobile communication device often does not include a sensor necessary for real-time driving of a game application. Accordingly, the mobile communication device case 100 may be equipped with various sensors as described above to improve the game performance. For example, in an action type game or a multi-cooperative type game (a game in which a plurality of users simultaneously play a game), it is possible to move a game character or execute an instruction through the voice sensor 131. [ In addition, in a game in which driving such as a gun or a cannon is reproduced, it is possible to track a target or control the explosion size of a gun / gun through an infrared sensor or a pressure sensor.

Although not shown, the position sensor 132 may be a 3-axis geomagnetic sensor, and the acceleration sensor 133 may be a 3-axis acceleration sensor. The three-axis geomagnetic sensor and the three-axis acceleration sensor can sense the current position and movement direction of the mobile communication device case 100. That is, when the mobile communication device case 100 is referred to as a game controller, it is possible to recognize the position of the game controller in the three-dimensional space and the pitch angle, yaw angle and roll angle to reflect the game control operation of the user in the game application do.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the mobile communication device case 100 includes an external communication unit 140. The external communication unit 140 exchanges signals and data with the external communication unit 16 in the mobile communication device 10 so that the application driving unit 11 and the control unit 110 of the mobile communication device case 100 are electrically connected do. The external communication unit 140 may be any type of wireless connection such as Bluetooth or wired connection through a USB connector.

The function expanding structure unit 150 is provided in the mobile communication device case 100 and is coupled to an outer member having various functions necessary for performing a game function. Referring to FIG. 4, the function expanding structure 150 may couple one or more of the speaker 151, the vibration implementing unit 152, and the light emitting unit 153 to the mobile communication device. Further, the function expanding structure unit 150 may couple the plate-shaped member to the mobile communication device. Details of the function expanding structure unit 150 will be described later.

Next, an embodiment of a mobile communication device case according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a mobile communication device case according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a rear surface of the mobile communication device case according to FIG. Fig. 3 is a view showing various types of plate members.

5 includes a body portion 101, a power key 104, a function key 105, a direction key 106, and a volume control key 107. The body portion 101, the power key 104,

The body part 101 forms the body of the mobile communication device case 100 and may be formed of a material such as synthetic resin or the like and may have a rectangular shape, an elliptical shape, or a curved surface shape combined with them. Of course, the mobile communication device case 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is not limited to these materials and shapes.

In the body portion 101, a storage portion 102 for detachably storing the mobile communication device 10 is formed.

The receiving portion 102 may have a groove shape formed inside the body portion 101 so that the mobile communication device 10 can be inserted. 5, the receiving portion 102 may be formed on the front surface of the body portion 101 so that the user can recognize the display portion (screen) of the mobile communication device while housing the mobile communication device . This also applies to the mobile communication device case 100 according to another embodiment shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

A coupling hole (103) is formed in the housing part (102). 5 and 6, the coupling holes 103 are arranged along a plurality of rows and columns, that is, in a matrix, and coupling holes 190 are detachably coupled to the coupling holes 103 .

The coupling hole 103 and the coupling hole 190 together form a function expanding structure 150 of the mobile communication device case 100 (see FIG. 1). Referring to FIG. 6, the coupling member 190 couples the outer members 160 and 170 to the coupling hole 103, wherein the outer members 160 and 170 are members having various functions Quot; For example, the outer members 160 and 170 may be a speaker, a vibrating unit, a light emitting unit, or a plate-like member, and a plurality of outer members 160 and 170 may be provided.

The combination of the outer members 160 and 170 and the mobile communication device case 100 will be described in detail as follows. The outer members 160 and 170 are provided with coupling holes having the same shape as the coupling holes 103 provided in the body 101 and the outer members 160 and 170 and two coupling holes 103 provided in the body 101 And the coupling member 190 is inserted inward. The coupling member 190 may include a socket for detachably coupling the outer member 160 and 170 to the coupling hole 103 of the body portion 101 by using an elastic force.

As shown in Fig. 7, plate members 180a, 180b, 180c, and 180d may be used as outer members. These plate members 180a, 180b, 180c, and 180d may be resin or metal members having a plurality of coupling holes formed therein. The plate members 180a and 180b themselves may serve as figures or supports, And also functions as a member for engaging with the case 100. Also, a plurality of plate members 180a, 180b, 180c, and 180d may be combined to form various structures.

Although various types of plate members 180a, 180b, 180c, and 180d are shown in FIG. 7, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, unlike FIG. 7, it is also possible that a coupling hole having two or more different diameters is formed in the plate-like member.

5, the mobile communication device case 100 may include a power key 104, a function key 105, a direction key 106, and a volume control key 107, The function key input unit 122, the direction key input unit 121, and the volume control key input unit 123 (see FIG. 2). In Fig. 5, the function key 105 is composed of three buttons 105a, 105b and 105c, which are used for inputting a specific action or command during a game.

1 and 5, the mobile communication device case 100 includes a body portion 101 having a receiving portion 102 for detachably storing the mobile communication device 10, 101, a key input unit 120 for receiving commands for game control from a user, an external communication unit 140 for exchanging signals with the mobile communication device 10, a key input unit 120 and an external communication unit 140 A control unit 110 that is electrically connected to the key input unit 120 and the external communication unit 140 and a function expansion unit 150 that is formed on the body unit 101 and can expand a game control function, .

Next, another embodiment of the mobile communication device case according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a mobile communication device case according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a mobile communication device case according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, the mobile communication device case 200 may have a gun shape. In other words, the mobile communication device case need not have a thin plate shape or a shape similar to that of the mobile communication device as shown in Fig.

The mobile communication device case 200 has a body 210, a power key 220, a trigger 221, and a light emitting unit 230. A user using the game may move the mobile communication device case 200 while grasping the grip part 211 and move the trigger part 221 ) Can be pulled to perform the operation function in the game realistically such as shooting a bullet. In addition, a light emitting portion 230 is provided at a muzzle portion of the mobile communication device case 200 having a total shape, so that light can be emitted when the trigger portion 221 is pulled. Although not shown, a motor may be provided in the body 210 to cause a feeling of hitting when the trigger portion 221 is pulled.

Meanwhile, a housing part 212 for detachably storing the mobile communication device may be provided on the upper side of the body part 210, and the shape and position of the housing part 212 are limited to those shown in the drawings no.

9 includes a body 310, function keys 320a, 320b and 320c, a control stick 330, a volume control key 340 and a power key 341 .

The body part 310 is formed with a storage part 311 for detachably storing the mobile communication device 10 and a coupling hole 313 is formed in the storage part 311. Compared with the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, it can be seen that the storing direction of the mobile communication apparatus is different.

In addition, while the direction key 106 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5 is a cross-shaped multi-directional input key, the control stick 330 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 9 is formed of a multi-directional input key in the form of a small joystick.

As described above, the mobile communication device case according to the embodiment of the present invention has a physical protection function for protecting the mobile communication device from external impact or scratching, a decoration function for accessory, You will have game control assistant / extensions that provide a realistic gaming environment. In addition, it is also possible to provide a key input unit or a sensor unit having various forms and functions. In particular, various outer members can be easily combined with each other by using a function expanding structure including a coupling hole and a coupling hole.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes only and that those of ordinary skill in the art can readily understand that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the present invention. will be. It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. For example, each component described as a single entity may be distributed and implemented, and components described as being distributed may also be implemented in a combined form.

The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be construed as being included within the scope of the present invention.

10: Mobile communication device
100: Mobile communication device case
110:
120: key input unit
130:
140: External communication unit
150: function expansion structure

Claims (9)

A mobile communication device case having a game controller function,
A body portion having a housing portion for detachably storing the mobile communication device;
A key input unit attached to the body and receiving a command for game control from a user,
An external communication unit for exchanging signals with the mobile communication device,
A control unit electrically connected to the key input unit and the external communication unit to control the key input unit and the external communication unit;
And a function expanding structure unit formed in the body unit and capable of expanding a game control function,
Wherein the function expanding structure unit includes a plurality of engagement holes arranged in a matrix form on the body portion and a coupling hole detachably coupled to the engagement hole,
Wherein the coupling member detachably couples an outer member having a function necessary for performing a game to the coupling hole.
delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the key input unit includes at least one of a direction key input unit, a function key input unit, a volume control key input unit, and a power key input unit.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the housing part is formed on a front surface of the body part so as to recognize the display part of the mobile communication device while housing the mobile communication device.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the body portion has a shape of a gun.
The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a sensor portion including at least one of a voice sensor, a position sensor, an acceleration sensor, an infrared sensor, and a pressure sensor.
The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the position sensor is a 3-axis geomagnetic sensor and the acceleration sensor is a 3-axis acceleration sensor.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the coupling member includes a socket for detachably coupling the outer member to the coupling hole of the body portion using an elastic force.
9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the outer member includes at least one of a speaker, a vibrating implement, a light emitting portion, and a plate-shaped member.

Images