It seems less likely that Microsoft’s Kinect motion-based, controller-less gaming system will replace the company’s use of normal game controller, as Redmond recently had a patent for a new controller approved. 

 

According to IGN, the US Patent and Trademark Office this week approved a patent that Microsoft filed earlier this year. This patent indicates that Redmond might be working on a new ‘dual-mode’ Xbox 360 controller, which can be used as both a standard wired controller as well as a wireless game controller.

 

This is nothing new; Sony’s PS3 controller can also be used wirelessly and plugged into the console when its battery is running low. Unlike Sony’s controller however, the new design would power and charge the controller and also directly communicate with the console, meaning players will be able to seamlessly switch from one mode to the next without any interruption to the game that they are playing.

 

According to Microsoft’s approved patent, the dual-mode controller “operates in both a wired mode and a wireless mode, and is able to switch between these two modes without permanent disruption to an ongoing game. During a transition from one mode to another, a host gaming system detects when the controller is physically disconnected (for wired mode to wireless mode) or connected (for wireless mode to wired mode). Upon detection, the host gaming system stores the game data and user information and establishes a new communication link with the controller. The host gaming system subsequently reassociates the game data and user information with the game controller as it begins operating in the new mode. This allows the player to continue game play without interruption.”