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Nintendo Patent Reveals Accessory That Turns A Wii Remote Into A Touchpad

By Spencer . November 3, 2011 . 1:34pm

Nintendo Patent Reveals Accessory That Turns A Wii Remote Into A Touchpad Nintendo Patent Reveals Accessory That Turns A Wii Remote Into A Touchpad

Wii U’s defining feature is a giant touchpad controller. While one player controls Samus’ spaceship, other players may have tiny touch screens of their own. A Japanese patent application filed by Nintendo reveals an accessory you slide on to a Wii remote and turns it into a touchpad.

 

The magic of mirrors makes the device work. When you touch the pad an infrared LED turns on and the amplified beams from the LED bounce off the mirror and are interpreted by the controller as position data. If you don’t touch the pad, the remote works just like a standard Wii remote.

 

Nintendo Patent Reveals Accessory That Turns A Wii Remote Into A Touchpad Nintendo Patent Reveals Accessory That Turns A Wii Remote Into A Touchpad

 

Nintendo proposes their accessory can be used as an in-game drawing pad or to add a mouse pointer interface to a video game.


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  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_6PKEF4I5XI4FI6XBFWEFLC7HP4 Tôn thất Thiên vũ

    Even more Gimmick now…

    • Hinataharem

      Don’t start.

  • Christopher Cates

    So I guess this is leading up to a slightly less expensive way to have a second touchscreen controller for the Wii U.

  • http://www.genkaibreak.com Code

    rar, I know this is probably just a dead-end patent, but I feel like it highlights the feelings I have that Nintendo doesn’t appear to know entirely what they’re doing T3T; I’ve been a Nintendo fan forever, and still am; and I want Nintendo to come out swinging and prove me wrong. But ever since 3DS and WiiU I’ve been feeling like Nintendo direction has become convoluted by the notion they have to always be the innovator T3T; 

    • kylehyde

      Many patents of strange devices appear everyday, just because the patent exist doesn’t mean that is going to become in a real thing.

      • http://www.genkaibreak.com Code

        Exactly why I said it’s a dead-end patent o3o’

    • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

      Maybe! It was filed recently though, if that means anything. As a long time reader, I’m sure you know I always think it’s interesting to see what ideas R&D departments are kicking around (and can’t talk about) even if they don’t make into stores. 

      • http://www.genkaibreak.com Code

        Yep yep exactly, it was more just contemplating Nintendo’s current state of affairs well looking at this o3o Honestly this one seems a little out there if you ask me >w<'

        • Joanna

          Hm, I find most of the dead-end patents are rather silly and weird. Like that horse back riding patent awhile back. Or those odd designs on the Move. I’m pretty much on the same boat as Spencer. I’m intrigued about the sorts of weird ideas that R&D departments come up with.

  • Suicunesol

    Oh, I see it now. Creative design, but it looks much too unwieldy. While it doesn’t look too heavy, I don’t like how the screen is positioned as an extension.

  • SirRichard

    Nintendo experiment with touch technology and IR, Sony experiments with biometrics. The differences between the hardware manufacturers are sort of interesting.

    • kylehyde

      Don’t forget that nintendo experimented with biometrics too (vitality sensor).

      • darkraiders

        Sony didn’t release any original patents for years actually i don’t remember if Sony already released a original patent on any consoles they have released until now.

        • danhese

          Ok this is just hilarious, SCE alone has thousands of patents for everything they have done. Try searching patent sites because some are published there while some are kept secrete.

          Here’s a patent for PS Move filed on July 21 2000 http://goo.gl/DtZIV

          Heres a patent for a tablet controller filed Dec 31 2009 http://goo.gl/Aqx4Z

        • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

          We just posted a Sony Computer Entertainment filed patent this week… There are dozens of them, they’re just not covered. 

      • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

        And before that the Tetris 64 bio sensor – the long lost, but released grandfather of the Vitality Sensor.

        http://www.ncsx.com/www/ncs110998/bio_sensor_0.jpg

        • danhese

          That wasn’t created by Nintendo, it was an accessory made by another company, the publishers of the game just like how Power Glove was made by Mattel.

      • SirRichard

        I had entirely forgotten about that.

    • James Beatty

      Nintendo has been working with biometrics for a long time. 

    • danhese

      Actually, they all experiment in everything but a few make it out of that experimental phase. They patent everything for future purposes just in case they decide they want to make an actual product for release.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/Kamek20xxExtra?feature=mhee Michael Stevens

    Well……I’m still getting this, because at least Nintendo is full of creative people. :) If you want to play video games in a fun, different, and unique (not too unique, if that makes sense) way, then Nintendo is always there to back you up! Good luck, guys! X)

  • James Beatty

    That’s….cool. Don’t know how it could work though. 

  • Okuni-chan

    Even with the pictures… It’s still a bit hard to visualize how I would be holding this comfortably. Also does this means if I want to do the multiplayer stuff in games I’d have to buy controllers for the controllers o_O?

    • Joanna

      It’s just a patent. I don’t think this one will see the light of day like the majority of them.

      • Okuni-chan

        Haha yeah. I guess it’s more of if it did come out is the way I was thinking if that makes sense >_<. 

  • Draparde

    maybe i’m just looking at it wrong. but those pictures confuse me. 

    Though the idea of having extra touch screens for use with the Wii U rather than useing more controllers could be a good idea. 

  • theworldofnoboundries

    Well seeing this is Nintendo, i will said that even through the picture. I can only see picture of complicated abomination.

    Well at least i can believe that the handling of the controller won’t be difficult seeing how Wii U controller is also nice.

  • http://twitter.com/DanijoEX DanijoEX

    Hard to say…I can’t seem to grasp the concept of these “unique” patents but I’m not saying anything bad about it. Besides, Nintendo is always trying to be creative and that’s one thing I like about them.

  • http://twitter.com/nextgencontrol …. ….

    WHAT THE F#@$?….All i want for the Wii-U is a new controller the PS3 Move controller with a 360 Kinect like cam for for added precision and fidelity…i DON’T want some f#@$ touchscreen (If i wanted to spend $100′s of dollars just to play games on a touchpad i would buy an Iphone 4s)!!!.

  • http://www.facebook.com/erick.masters Erick Masters

    PPFF… a great Implement for a Great Console… HAHAHAHAHAHAH
    JAJAJAJA no mames… otro expansor para ese armatoste tan arcaico…

  • http://www.facebook.com/wahyudilestadi Wahyudi Lestadi

    with that screen … how can I swing a wiimote as a sword without making it crash my TV?

    • Christ

      exactly. this reminds me of the extra directional button that can be attached to 3DS. this creativity is more like a bad design patch

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