Sharp which was once pushed to the brink of bankruptcy in the year 2016, after investments from Foxconn has been reviving gradually. The company is already indulged in manufacturing of TVs and OLED display panels, it may soon dip its toes in the gaming hardware industry suggests two patents that the company has recently filed with JPO (Japan Patent Office).
While mobile gaming has advanced to a level where it could compete with gaming consoles, users still tend to complain about the lack of physical controls that conventional game controllers offer. This is exactly what Sharp is aiming to solve with the devices whose patents have recently been filed.
Going by the illustration, Sharp is conceptualising a tablet-like handheld game console that features an edge-to-edge display. Besides, it supports modular physical controls like a d-pad which can be attached via magnet. The patents show two different design that the company could possibly implement, out of which, the first one has a rectangular game controller while the second design has a curved game controlled.
Editor’s Pick: Chinese student who scammed Apple of nearly $ 1 million sentenced to 3 years in federal prison
The benefit of having a curved edge cannot be divulged from the patent itself, however, it might have something to do with improved position retention when attached to the main body of the gaming console. Unlike the Nintendo Switch, Sharp’s console lacks any slots for installing a game cartridge. Therefore, it is possible that the device runs on Android allowing users to choose from a wide library of apps the platform offers. Or it could be the company’s take on cloud gaming which is rapidly gaining popularity.
Whether or not Sharp plans to launch a real-life device based on these patents, it is hard to tell. Therefore, we would recommend taking this concept with a grain of salt until more details are revealed either via official or unofficial channels.
Readers interested in check the official patent filing can do so by clicking here (1, 2).
(via)
UP NEXT: Xiaomi HiFi Hybrid Earphones presale now live on JD.com for ¥699 (~$98)
