Homebrew Does Nintendo have a patent for 3DS circle pad?

[grey72]

Well not the circle pad per se but completely flat sticks that sit flush with the chassis. I ask because I'm yet to see something like the 3ds' circle pad and IMO it's a pretty good design to not be used by other companies

 

[smileyhead]

Didn't the PSP have one of those?

 

[AkikoKumagara]

The PSP analog nub was similar, yeah. The biggest difference between the two other than size is one is convex (psp) and the other concave (3ds family).

 

[grey72]

any reason we don't see a similar design elsewhere?

 

[smileyhead]

My guess is there are not a lot of new portable consoles that would use it, since the Circle Pad is just a more compact version of a joystick and for places where you don't need the joystick to be compact (like on home consoles) they use full-sized ones.

 

[Redhorse]

Psp go has a good one, IIRC many people changed out their 3DS circle pads with those of the PSP?

 

[Clydefrosch]

I wish the switch lite had those.
and I wish some chinese manufacturer would make joycon-stick replacements in the circlepad style

 

[Ryccardo]

Not patented in the USA (though the "omni-reach shoulder buttons" are)