Illuminated game controller

Abstract

An electronic game controller which includes a body having a transparent outer surface, a front face and a rear surface, controls disposed on the front face of the body, a graphic panel disposed under the transparent outer surface of the front face, the graphic panel comprising first, second and third discrete graphic elements, an opaque housing within the body, the opaque housing defining a cavity substantially open to the graphic panel, first, second and third light sources disposed within the cavity, the first light source disposed beneath the first discrete graphic element, the second light source disposed beneath the second discrete graphic element, and the third light source disposed beneath the third discrete graphic element, an electronic circuit operably connected to the light sources for selectively activating and deactivating the light sources, and means for interfacing the electronic game controller with an electronic game system.

1 . An electronic game controller comprising:
 a body having a transparent outer shell, a front face and a rear surface;   controls disposed on the front face of the body;   a graphic panel disposed under the transparent outer surface of the front face, the graphic panel comprising first, second and third discrete graphic elements;   an opaque housing within the body, the opaque housing defining a cavity substantially open to the graphic panel;   first, second and third light sources disposed within the cavity, the first light source disposed beneath the first discrete graphic element, the second light source disposed beneath the second discrete graphic element, and the third light source disposed beneath the third discrete graphic element;   an electronic circuit operably connected to the first, second and third light sources for selectively activating and deactivating the first, second and third light sources; and   means for interfacing the electronic game controller with an electronic game system.   
   
   
       2 . The electronic game controller of  claim 1  wherein the first light source comprises an LED light source. 
   
   
       3 . The electronic game controller of  claim 2  wherein the first light source comprises an LED rope. 
   
   
       4 . The electronic game controller of  claim 1  wherein the first light source is spaced beneath the first discrete graphic element at least 0.25 inches. 
   
   
       5 . The electronic game controller of  claim 1  further comprising a first opaque baffle disposed in the cavity and configured to substantially isolate the second discrete graphic element from light from the first light source. 
   
   
       6 . The electronic game controller of  claim 1  wherein the body defines a perimeter edge of a perimeter between the front face and the rear surface of the body that is at least 0.25 inch from the opaque housing such that the perimeter of the body is transparent along at least 80% of the perimeter edge. 
   
   
       7 . The electronic game controller of  claim 6  wherein the transparent portion of the perimeter is free from mechanical fasteners. 
   
   
       8 . The electronic game controller of  claim 1  wherein the electronic circuit is configured such that a first input triggers a first predetermined sequence for the activation of first, second and third light sources where each of the first, second and third light sources is activated and deactivated during the first predetermined sequence. 
   
   
       9 . The electronic game controller of  claim 8  wherein the electronic circuit is configured such that a second input triggers a second predetermined sequence for the activation of first, second and third light sources where each of the first, second and third light sources is activated and deactivated during the second predetermined sequence. 
   
   
       10 . The electronic game controller of  claim 1  further comprising an on/off switch operably connected to the first, second and third light sources. 
   
   
       11 . The electronic game controller of  claim 1  further comprising a detachable neck attached to the body, the detachable neck having a set of controls operably connected to the electronic circuit, the body and the neck forming a guitar shape. 
   
   
       12 . An electronic game controller comprising:
 a body having a transparent outer shell, a front face and a rear surface;   controls disposed on the front face of the body;   a graphic panel disposed under the transparent outer surface of the front face, the graphic panel comprising first, second and third discrete graphic elements;   an opaque housing within the body, the opaque housing defining a cavity substantially open to the graphic panel;   first, second and third light sources disposed within the cavity, the first light source disposed beneath the first discrete graphic element, the second light source disposed beneath the second discrete graphic element, and the third light source disposed beneath the third discrete graphic element;   a detachable neck attached to the body, the detachable neck having a set of controls operably connected to the electronic circuit, the body and the neck forming a guitar shape   an electronic circuit operably connected to the first, second and third light sources for selectively activating and deactivating the first, second and third light sources; and   means for interfacing the electronic game controller with an electronic game system,   wherein the electronic circuit is configured such that a first input triggers a first predetermined sequence for the activation of first, second and third light sources where the first input includes substantially simultaneous signals from the body controls and from the neck controls.   
   
   
       13 . The electronic game controller of  claim 12  wherein the electronic circuit is configured such that a second input triggers the activation of only the first light source where the second input includes substantially simultaneous signals from the body controls and from the neck controls. 
   
   
       14 . The electronic game controller of  claim 13  wherein the electronic circuit is configured such that a third input triggers a predetermined sequence for the activation of first, second and third light sources where each of the first, second and third light sources is activated and deactivated during the predetermined sequence where the third input includes substantially simultaneous signals from the body controls and from the neck controls. 
   
   
       15 . The electronic game controller of  claim 12  wherein the first and second discrete graphic elements form an image of a heart and wherein the electronic circuit is configured to control the first and second light sources by repeating, in sequence the steps of activating the first light source for a predetermined amount of time, deactivating the first light source and activating the second light source for a second amount of time shorter than the first and deactivating the first second light source to simulate a heart beat. 
   
   
       16 . An electronic game controller comprising:
 a body having a transparent outer shell, a front face and a rear surface;   controls disposed on the front face of the body;   a graphic panel disposed under the transparent outer surface of the front face, the graphic panel comprising first, second and third discrete graphic elements;   an opaque housing within the body, the opaque housing defining a cavity substantially open to the graphic panel;   first, second and third light sources disposed within the cavity, the first light source disposed beneath the first discrete graphic element, the second light source disposed beneath the second discrete graphic element, and the third light source disposed beneath the third discrete graphic element;   a detachable neck attached to the body, the detachable neck having a set of controls operably connected to the electronic circuit, the body and the neck forming a guitar shape   an electronic circuit operably connected to the first, second and third light sources for selectively activating and deactivating the first, second and third light sources; and   means for interfacing the electronic game controller with an electronic game system,   wherein the electronic circuit is configured to activate the first, second and third light sources individually, simultaneously and in predetermined sequences.   
   
   
       17 . The electronic game controller of  claim 16  wherein the electronic circuit is configured to activate the first, second and third light sources in response to inputs from the body controls and the neck controls. 
   
   
       18 . The electronic game controller of  claim 16  wherein the electronic circuit is configured to activate the first, second and third light sources in response to substantially simultaneous inputs from the body controls and the neck controls. 
   
   
       19 . The electronic game controller of  claim 18  wherein the neck controls include first, second, third, fourth and fifth buttons and wherein the electronic circuit is configured to activate the first, second and third light sources in response to substantially simultaneous inputs from the body controls and from two buttons of the neck controls. 
   
   
       20 . The electronic game controller of  claim 19  further including at least one discrete graphic element that is always lit when the electronic game controller is powered.