Actionable-object controller and data-entry device for touchscreen-based electronics

• US 9,411,467 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2015
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chris Argiro
• Original Assignee: Chris Argiro
• Inventors: Argiro, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, DUC Q
• Application Number:
  US14/862,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20160048261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/169, 345173-181
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods are provided for advancing the control of touchscreen-based electronics beyond the traditional control input of a finger. Wired and/or wireless control modalities are disclosed.

Claims

1. A non-traditional controller apparatus for touchscreen devices, comprising:

a touchscreen controller having an interface with one or more conductive input constituents configured for transmitting input directives;

each conductive input constituent having a first end and a second end and a conductive path that remains present between the first end and the second end;

wherein user manipulation of the first end permits a capacitive load of a user to be conveyed such that the associated conductive path to the second end is completed in order to carry out an input;

and a transceiver device;

with said interface being connected to said transceiver device by wire, wirelessly or both;

wherein the transceiver device is configured to wirelessly communicate with a touchscreen device to actuate one or more touchscreen soft inputs when one or more of the linked inputs associated with said interface is/are manipulated; and

wherein manipulation of an input associated with said interface results in correlative engagement of a touchscreen device'"'"'s soft counterpart using said transceiver device and an associative mapping interface.

2. The non-traditional controller apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen controller comprises at least one vibration motor in haptic association with the one or more conductive input constituents, wherein the at least one vibration motor provides haptic feedback in response to a registered manipulation-based input.

3. The non-traditional controller apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one servomechanism in association with the one or more conductive input constituents.

4. The non-traditional controller apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one additional transceiver device is introduced to the controller environment.

5. A non-traditional touchscreen controller apparatus, comprising:

a transceiver device comprising at least one conductive connector and an innate capacitive source and capacitive manager, the at least one conductive connector having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to said transceiver device, and wherein the second end comprises a non-abrasive output end designed to be connected to a soft input of a positioned touchscreen;

wherein a capacitive load of a user in delivering an input to a touchscreen is replaced by said transceiver device being configured to draw from said innate capacitive source and to manage the transfer of said drawn source to said second end through said first end for the capacitive engagement of said soft input;

wherein application of the capacitively engaged second end to a point of contact with said soft input results in the capacitive engagement of said soft input;

wherein said transceiver device comprises at least one of an actuator interface for coupling at least one actuator to the at least one conductive connector in carrying out input gestures comprising at least one of rotation upon said positioned touchscreen;

with said rotation being applied to said at least one conductive connector that results in rotational and/or positional flexibility of the conductive tip of said second end and multi-touch input; and

at least one of a processor and/or microcontroller for managing the associated interface;

wherein said transceiver device is configurable for direct communication with a touchscreen device using wired and/or wireless signals; and

wherein said transceiver device is configurable for registering the presence of haptic events in association with an input directive.

6. The non-traditional touchscreen controller apparatus of claim 5, wherein a trackball rotation input is implemented using said transceiver device and an associated servomechanism of said actuator interface.

7. The non-traditional touchscreen controller apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one actuator is configured to exert point-of-pressure contact of said second end with said associated soft input in order to carry out at least one input directive.

8. The non-traditional touchscreen controller apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one additional transceiver device is introduced to the controller environment.

9. A non-traditional input device for a video-game environment, comprising:

a hand-gripped controller with base incorporating an input interface with one or more conductive input constituents;

each conductive input constituent having a first end and a second end;

the second end being proximately and conductively associated with said base; and

a conductive path that remains present between the first end and the second end;

wherein said first end is not proximate to said second end;

wherein user manipulation of the first end permits a capacitive load of a user to be conveyed such that the associated conductive path to the second end is completed in order to carry out an input;

wherein upon user manipulation of said first end and concurrent basal application of said second end to a point of contact on the touchscreen results in actuation of the touchscreen at said point of contact;

wherein said first end is connected to the second end by wire, wirelessly, or both.

10. The non-traditional input device for a video-game environment of claim 9, comprising a tractable corded length of at least 4 conductive wires in providing for the control input of at least the combination of left, right, upward, and downward navigation buttons.

11. The non-traditional input device for a video-game environment of claim 9, wherein the input interface comprises at least one vibration motor in haptic association with the one or more conductive input constituents, wherein the at least one vibration motor provides haptic feedback in response to a registered manipulation-based input.

12. The non-traditional input device for a video-game environment of claim 9, wherein the input interface comprises a RFID interface configured for operational input.

13. The non-traditional input device for a video-game environment of claim 9, wherein the input interface comprises a NFC interface configured for operational input.

14. The non-traditional input device for a video-game environment of claim 9, wherein said second end seeks user manipulation and is thereby operated by the user in reverse, as supported by said conductive path.

15. A non-traditional touchscreen input device, comprising:

a manipulable input interface of a manipulable controller comprising one or more tactile inputs seeking manipulation by a user;

a manipulable conductive membrane housed in said manipulable controller and subject to contact by the movement of the one or more tactile inputs as they are depressed by said user;

wherein said manipulable conductive membrane will revert to a position of rest following said movement as a depressed input of said manipulable input interface is completed;

wherein the resulting range of motion of said manipulable conductive membrane associated with said movement helps more closely simulate a button and/or key behavior user experience found with traditional input buttons and/or keys;

wherein said manipulable conductive membrane is designed for a point of operable connection to a touchscreen device;

wherein said conductive membrane at least comprises one or more conductive filament members and/or one or more akin simulating conductive means that form one or more serviceable conductive paths that remain present until at least said point of operable connection to said touchscreen device; and

wherein upon said conductive membrane being associatively attached to said point of operable connection and upon manipulation of said tactile inputs of said manipulable input interface by said user, input directives are thereby administered for correlative engagement of a touchscreen device'"'"'s one or more soft counterparts.

16. A non-traditional touchscreen input device, comprising:

a transceiver device;

a manipulable controller comprising one or more input constituents configured for the transmission of input directives;

wherein said manipulable controller is communicatively coupled with said transceiver device and configured to communicate input data by at least one of a wired, RFID, NFC and/or wireless means to said transceiver device for mapping delivery;

wherein said transceiver device is communicatively coupled with a touchscreen device and configured to communicate input data by at least one of a wired, RFID, NFC and/or wireless means to said touchscreen device in acting as a relay agent between one or more soft inputs of said touchscreen device and one or more input command signals of said manipulable controller; and

wherein upon manipulation of the one or more inputs of said manipulable controller said transceiver device correlatively relays said input directives to said touchscreen device thereby engaging control of one or more associated soft inputs.