Gaming peripheral with built-in audio support

Abstract

Various embodiments described herein are directed toward gaming peripherals with built-in audio support. The gaming peripheral may include a plurality of input mechanisms configured to control a video game. The video game may be controlled via the plurality of input mechanisms in a first mode. Handheld input devices applicable to some embodiments may include, without limitation, computer controllers, video game console controllers, and handheld video gaming devices. Input mechanisms applicable to various embodiments may include, for example, control sticks (e.g., joysticks or analog sticks operable by a user's finger, such as a thumbstick), buttons, switches, and directional pads. The gaming peripheral may include a designated input mechanism that, when engaged, reconfigures the gaming peripheral into a second mode causing at least one of the plurality of input mechanisms, when actuated, to adjust audio attributes of the video game without interrupting play of the video game.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A gaming peripheral comprising:
 a body;   a plurality of input mechanisms configured to control a video game, wherein the video game is controlled via the plurality of input mechanisms in a first mode; and   a designated input mechanism that, when engaged, reconfigures the gaming peripheral into a second mode causing at least one of the plurality of input mechanisms, when actuated, to adjust audio attributes of the video game without interrupting play of the video game.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming peripheral is communicatively coupled to a game console over a wired or wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of input mechanisms control the video game in the first mode of the gaming peripheral and the one or more of the plurality of input mechanisms adjust the audio attributes of the video game in the second mode of the gaming peripheral. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming peripheral includes at least one of a gamepad, a joystick, a paddle, a trackball, a throttle quadrant, and a steering wheel. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of input mechanisms include at least one of a button, a switch, an analog stick, a digital stick, a directional pad, a lever, and a sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 2 , wherein adjusting the audio attributes includes causing the video game to alter the audio attributes of the video game. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the audio attributes includes causing a headset to alter the audio attributes of the headset. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 7 , wherein the headset is communicatively coupled to the gaming peripheral over a wired or wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 1 , wherein the audio attributes include at least one of a volume attribute associated with the video game, a volume attribute associated with a chat, a game-chat balance attribute, and a mute attribute associated with the chat. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 9 , wherein the game-chat attribute defines a volume associated with play of the video game relative to the volume associated with a chat. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a light source configured to indicate a current state of the mute attribute.   
     
     
         12 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 11 , wherein the light source includes a light-emitting diode. 
     
     
         13 . A gaming peripheral comprising:
 a body;   a plurality of input mechanisms configured to control a video game, wherein the video game is controlled via the plurality of input mechanisms in a first mode; and   a designated input mechanism that, when engaged, reconfigures the gaming peripheral into a second mode causing at least one of the plurality of input mechanisms, when actuated, to adjust audio attributes of the video game without interrupting play of the video game, wherein adjusting the audio attributes includes causing a headset to alter the audio attributes of the headset.   
     
     
         14 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 13 , wherein the gaming peripheral is communicatively coupled to a game console over a wired or wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of input mechanisms control the video game in the first mode of the gaming peripheral and the one or more of the plurality of input mechanisms adjust the audio attributes of the video game in the second mode of the gaming peripheral. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 13 , wherein the gaming peripheral includes at least one of a gamepad, a joystick, a paddle, a trackball, a throttle quadrant, and a steering wheel. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of input mechanisms include at least one of a button, a switch, an analog stick, a digital stick, a directional pad, a lever, and a sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 13 , wherein the headset is communicatively coupled to the gaming peripheral over a wired or wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 13 , wherein the audio attributes include at least one of a volume attribute associated with the video game, a volume attribute associated with a chat, a game-chat balance attribute, and a mute attribute associated with the chat. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming peripheral of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a light source configured to indicate a current state of the mute attribute.