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cageymaru
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- Apr 10, 2003
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Nintendo has patented a case that will convert a smartphone into a Game Boy. The smartphone's display will be truncated by a window on the case to simulate the display on original Game Boy handhelds. The buttons on the casing will be able to communicate with the touchscreen through electrostatic capacitance. The design incorporates 3 layers where the top layer is where the user inputs commands, the second layer is electrically connected to the top layer and makes the touch panel react, and finally the third layer is the returning portion which changes the state of the key top to not operated. More information can be found here.
Although the examples so far indicate that the cover is used for smartphones, Nintendo took care to put in that while it is an example of electronic equipment, it does not have to be limited to this, and "may be attached to other electronic equipment such as a tablet terminal that does not have a telephone function".
Either way, it seems that some sort of Game Boy emulation may be in the works at Nintendo, either for smartphones, tablets, or the Nintendo Switch. If this case is used for the Switch, we imagine that it would provide a pretty nifty way to utilize the Handheld mode touchscreen functionality.
Although the examples so far indicate that the cover is used for smartphones, Nintendo took care to put in that while it is an example of electronic equipment, it does not have to be limited to this, and "may be attached to other electronic equipment such as a tablet terminal that does not have a telephone function".
Either way, it seems that some sort of Game Boy emulation may be in the works at Nintendo, either for smartphones, tablets, or the Nintendo Switch. If this case is used for the Switch, we imagine that it would provide a pretty nifty way to utilize the Handheld mode touchscreen functionality.
