Hardware & Devices

Guangzhou Chicken Run Network Technology Co. received 2 patents focused on improving the mobile gaming gamepad experience. The first eliminates the gamepad's internal battery entirely, instead drawing power from an external source while requiring both the host device and that external power to be connected simultaneously before active cooling engages, reducing weight and cost without sacrificing thermal management during play. The second addresses the universal fit problem by using a spring-loaded interface assembly with resilient blocks that automatically push the USB connector toward the phone, accommodating a wide range of device sizes without manual alignment or mechanical redesign.

Motorola received 1 patent describing a system where tactile overlays, essentially physical button guides, are automatically detected and configured on a smartphone's touchscreen while the game itself displays on an external screen such as a TV. This turns the smartphone into a physical game controller with tangible button feedback, sidestepping the lack of tactile response that has long been a limitation of pure touchscreen gaming.

Bob's Space Racers received 2 patents, both targeting the same core goal of removing human attendants from carnival midway games entirely. One patent describes a multi-sensor detection system that validates authorized player attempts, prevents cheating, and handles player instruction, payment, and prize distribution through interactive displays. The other reinforces this approach by combining multi-plane infrared and electronic sensor arrays with a synchronized display that also uses proximity-based detection to draw in new players, covering both operational automation and player engagement without any staff involvement.

Shenzhen Qanba Technology Development received 2 patents centered on customizable and modular arcade-style joystick hardware. The first allows users to independently set the color and on or off state of each button and lever LED group directly through onboard controls, with those settings saved through a power-off memory module, freeing customization from factory-fixed configurations and external software. The second focuses on physical modularity, with a tool-free disassembly system and on-device storage cavities for detachable components and spare parts, solving the common problem of losing pieces during transport while also reducing shipping bulk.

Shenzhen Shimi Network Technology Co. received 1 patent for a system that uses an Apple Watch as a wireless motion controller for HTML5 browser games. Rather than routing motion data through a server, the system processes input locally on the client device, and an adaptive state synchronization mechanism adjusts caching dynamically based on the hardware performance of the device in use.

Goertek received 1 patent for a mobile gamepad that incorporates real-time eye-tracking hardware, allowing gaze direction to serve as a control input alongside traditional physical buttons. The design targets gaming in confined spaces and users with physical disabilities who may find conventional control schemes difficult to operate.

Belkin International received 1 patent for a modular game controller architecture in which individual control modules, such as buttons and joysticks, can be physically removed and repositioned by the user while maintaining electrical connectivity throughout. This goes beyond software-based button remapping by enabling actual physical relocation and substitution of control types to suit different game genres or player preferences.

Fa Teng Technology received 1 patent for a joystick structure that channels light from a centrally positioned multi-LED circuit board directly through a transparent acrylic body, creating a seamless internal glow. The fastening mechanism itself is also transparent, integrating the light-guiding function with the structural assembly into a single unified component rather than treating them as separate systems.

Shenzhen Guli Technology received 1 patent for a simplified joystick mechanism that attaches sensing components directly to rocker assemblies through built-in mounting grooves, removing the intermediate connecting parts that previously required high machining precision. Eliminating those intermediate components reduces both the number of assembly steps and the tolerance errors that accumulate across multiple parts.

Wi-Charge received 1 patent for a long-range optical power beaming system that charges game controllers continuously during play and while at rest, without requiring placement on a charging pad. The beam tracks controller movement using scanning mirrors, addressing the specific problem of controllers running out of power after being set down and forgotten between sessions.

Sony received 5 patents spanning a wide range of controller and accessibility technologies. One automatically adjusts analog stick dead-zones during idle periods, compensating for drift at the operating system level with non-circular dead-zone geometries that preserve sensitivity while correcting unwanted movement. A second converts game subtitle text into Braille patterns delivered through a controller's existing haptic hardware, with video playback speed adjusting to match the user's tactile reading pace. A third uses optical sensors to detect input before physical contact occurs, and allows a single surface to function as buttons, a directional pad, or a joystick depending on software configuration, with layouts that adapt to individual hand sizes. A fourth takes the form of a wearable glove where contact pads can be physically relocated anywhere on the garment using connectors that handle both mechanical attachment and electrical connectivity simultaneously. The fifth enables users to draw their own button layouts directly onto a flat controller surface using conductive ink, with programmable keys that can be remapped to reduce repetitive strain and support accessibility needs.

Bagira Systems received 1 patent for a self-contained laser tag and shooting simulation system housed in a ruggedized portable case. The system includes built-in displays, weapon tracking, and multiplayer networking, bringing together everything that traditionally required a dedicated facility installation into a single deployable unit.

Plan C received 1 patent for a handheld water-filled game in a flexible, pliable pouch rather than a rigid enclosure. The larger transparent play field holds floating game pieces that move when the player pumps liquid using bulb mechanisms, and the soft front panel can be deformed by touch, adding direct physical interaction with the play area that rigid predecessors could not offer.

Georgia Tech Research received 1 patent for an ultra-wideband localization system capable of tracking handheld devices with sub-millimeter precision across large surfaces, targeting applications including whiteboard interfaces, medical instruments, and gaming controllers. The system uses a unidirectional UWB messaging protocol combined with orientation, contact, and position sensor fusion, with cables of varying lengths and attenuation characteristics used to distinguish multipath signals, and interpolation of RF pulse peaks to achieve high-resolution time measurements without requiring touchscreen infrastructure.

Guangdong K-Silver Industrial received 1 patent for a thumbstick that lets players adjust joystick resistance in real time by turning an externally accessible knob on the gamepad body. Unlike designs that require physical spring replacement to change feel, this mechanism provides instant, tool-free adjustment with clear directional indicators and multiple selectable resistance levels.

Voyetra Turtle Beach received 2 patents addressing controller performance and input customization. One embeds performance tracking directly into the controller hardware, monitoring physical input patterns and controller manipulation in real time to correlate with in-game behavior. The other integrates customizable response curve editing into the controller's hardware and firmware, allowing per-input tuning of stick sensitivity, trigger feel, and button behavior with full curve editing and profile storage at the device level rather than relying on platform-level remapping tools.

Nintendo received 1 patent for an analog stick mechanism that adds force sensing at the mechanical limit of stick travel, so that the controller can distinguish between a light press and a firm one at any angle. Traditional analog sticks rely on positional displacement alone, and this design supplements that with contact-based pressure measurement through geometry and sensor placement that allows omnidirectional force detection without direct contact between the shaft and the housing opening.

Quanta Computer received 1 patent for a button mechanism that uses a motor-driven rotary system to push back against a player's press with programmable, variable resistance. Unlike passive spring returns, the motor adjusts the opposing force in real time based on game context, enabling effects such as simulating the resistance of pulling a trigger or pressing an accelerator pedal.

Backbone Labs received 2 patents both addressing the challenge of fitting a single mobile game controller to phones of different sizes and form factors. One covers the core adaptability mechanism that maintains a stable physical connection and consistent input responsiveness across varying smartphone shapes without requiring separate hardware designs. The second describes a telescoping grip system that expands to fit different phone sizes while keeping buttons in ergonomic positions, combined with software that automatically detects and maps controls for different games and streaming services.

Qingdao Thunderobot Technology received 1 patent for an adapter that translates between the proprietary controller protocols used by different consoles, including Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox, in real time. The device also adds programmable extension buttons with configurable linear key behavior, conflict resolution rules for determining which input takes priority, and the ability to modify controller instructions as they pass through.

Cheng Uei Precision Industry received 1 patent for a joystick design that uses mechanical buckling structures to allow the analog stick unit to be removed and replaced without tools or soldering. Electrical connectivity is maintained through removable signal feet and location holes, contrasting with traditional designs where the joystick module is permanently soldered to the circuit board.

Guangzhou Zhongtianxin Electronic Technology received 1 patent for a charging and placement station that accommodates different generations of PS5 controllers through an adjustable slider block system. The sliders reposition the charging interfaces to align with port locations that vary between hardware revisions, allowing a single station design to support both old and new controllers without requiring separate products for each version.

Shenzhen Yiqianmi Technology received 1 patent for a gamepad with transparent keys sitting above a reconfigurable display screen. When a player switches between platforms such as PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo, the screen beneath the keys updates automatically to show the correct button layout for that system, removing the need to own multiple controllers or mentally translate between different button mapping conventions.