How Game Controllers Change Button Functions Using Plug-in Accessories
A system for game controllers that automatically changes what a button does when you physically attach a hardware accessory to the controller.
Original patent title: “Game controller function remapping via external accessory”
A system for game controllers that automatically changes what a button does when you physically attach a hardware accessory to the controller. Granted to Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC in 2020 with 19 claims and 2 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a game controller that detects when an external piece of hardware is plugged into it. When the accessory is attached, the controller's internal software, called a control mapping machine, automatically changes the function of existing buttons. For example, a standard 'A' button might perform a jump action normally, but when a specific accessory is attached, that same 'A' button could trigger a different action, like reloading a weapon or opening a menu. The system relies on the controller recognizing the accessory and sending updated signals to the connected console or PC.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover software-based button remapping that occurs purely through console settings menus.
- Does not cover wireless accessory connections that do not involve a physical interface on the controller.
- Does not cover mapping changes that occur without the presence of an additional hardware control on the accessory.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in making the controller 'aware' of its own physical state—specifically, that the mapping logic is tied to the physical presence of an accessory rather than a user-selected software profile.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Xbox Elite Controller back-paddle attachments
Modular gaming controller grips
Customizable eSports controller add-ons
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology allows for modular hardware design, enabling gamers to expand their controller's capabilities without buying an entirely new device. It is particularly relevant for professional gaming and accessibility, where users need custom layouts that can be swapped quickly. By automating the mapping change upon physical connection, it removes the need for manual configuration.
Filed
January 25, 2016
Granted
January 28, 2020
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Microsoft is the primary assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more → and has integrated similar modular concepts into their Xbox Elite controller line. Other peripheral manufacturers in the gaming space, such as Scuf Gaming and Razer, also explore modular controller designs that rely on similar detection logic.
Market impact
This patent supports the trend toward modular hardware in the gaming industry, where consumers prefer upgrading specific components of a controller rather than replacing the entire unit. It helps standardize how hardware accessories communicate their presence to the host device, simplifying the user experience for custom controller configurations.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a game controller that detects when an external piece of hardware is plugged into it. When the accessory is attached, the controller's internal software, called a control mapping machine, automatically changes the function of existing buttons. For example, a standard 'A' button might perform a jump action normally, but when a specific accessory is attached, that same 'A' button could trigger a different action, like reloading a weapon or opening a menu. The system relies on the controller recognizing the accessory and sending updated signals to the connected console or PC.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in making the controller 'aware' of its own physical state—specifically, that the mapping logic is tied to the physical presence of an accessory rather than a user-selected software profile.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover software-based button remapping that occurs purely through console settings menus.
- Does not cover wireless accessory connections that do not involve a physical interface on the controller.
- Does not cover mapping changes that occur without the presence of an additional hardware control on the accessory.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
10/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
13/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$86K – $275K
Midpoint $172K · 9.6 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
19 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Miller, J. O. (2020). How Game Controllers Change Button Functions Using Plug-in Accessories (U.S. Patent No. 10,543,427). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10543427/joy-con-motion-controls
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US10543427"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Consumer Electronics
US 7657849 · 2010 · Apple Inc
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
US 7479949 · 2009 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Understand Your Finger Swipes and Scrolls
US 4528643 · 1985 · FPDC Inc
How Stores Make Custom Products On-Demand with Remote Approval
US 7469381 · 2008 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Show and Snap Back When You Scroll Past an Edge
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Game Controllers Change Button Functions Using Plug-in Accessories cover?
A system for game controllers that automatically changes what a button does when you physically attach a hardware accessory to the controller.
Who owns patent US 10543427?
Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC owns this patent, granted in 2020.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on January 28, 2040, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10543427 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology allows for modular hardware design, enabling gamers to expand their controller's capabilities without buying an entirely new device. It is particularly relevant for professional gaming and accessibility, where users need custom layouts that can be swapped quickly. By automating the mapping change upon physical connection, it removes the need for manual configuration.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover software-based button remapping that occurs purely through console settings menus.
Same assignee
More from Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
Patent monitoring