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

Abstract

A touchscreen-controller and data-entry ensemble are attached conterminously or proximately to a touchscreen device. A touchscreen-controller attachment device has one or more input ends and one or more output ends. The input and output ends may be opposite ends of unitary elements and/or may be remote from one another and connected by wire or wirelessly. Each input end of a unitary conductive element is connected to a respective output end and the plurality of output ends, residing in an attachment base, are in a position of contact with or in close proximity to the soft buttons, keys or controller(s) of a touchscreen. The output ends thus activate the touchscreen when the input ends are manipulated. A base maintains the input and/or output ends in fixed position during use. Input and output elements can be spring-mounted. New controllers offer the user haptic ability.

1 . A touchscreen controller attachment device, comprising:
 one or more input ends;   one or more output ends;   wherein each input end is communicatively connected with an output end;   wherein the output ends are configured to be affixed in a position in contact with or in close proximity to a touchscreen;   wherein the output ends comprise actuating elements configured to activate the touchscreen when one or more of the input ends is manipulated and the output ends are in the position.   
     
     
         2 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 1 , further comprising a base housing one or more of the output ends, wherein the base is affixable to the touchscreen and, when affixed to the touchscreen, positions the housed output ends in contact with or in close proximity to the touchscreen. 
     
     
         3 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 2 , wherein the base is removably attachable to the touchscreen. 
     
     
         4 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 2 , wherein the base comprises a plurality of channels, and wherein each of the plurality of channels is shaped and adapted to house a removable output end. 
     
     
         5 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 at least one vibration motor in haptic association with the one or more input ends, wherein the at least one vibration motor provides haptic feedback when activated.   
     
     
         6 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 5 , wherein one or more of the one or more input ends are housed in a handheld controller, and wherein the haptic feedback is provided though the handheld controller. 
     
     
         7 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 5 , wherein the haptic feedback is provided in response to control of an actionable-object as actuated by control signals input through the input ends. 
     
     
         8 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the actuating elements are conductive elements. 
     
     
         9 . The touchscreen controller device of  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the input ends comprise conductive elements. 
     
     
         10 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 1 , wherein each pair of input and output ends are opposite ends of a unitary element. 
     
     
         11 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one spring chamber extending through the base, the at least one spring chamber containing the unitary element; and   a spring located within the at least one spring chamber, wherein the spring enters an active position upon application of pressure on the input end of the unitary element, and wherein the spring enters a resting position upon deapplication of pressure on the input end of the unitary element, wherein the output end of the element is contactable to the touchscreen when the spring is in the active position and in the resting position is not in contact with the touchscreen.   
     
     
         12 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the input end of the unitary element protrudes from the base and the base permits 360 degree movement of the input and output ends of the unitary element for joystick operation.   
     
     
         13 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 1 , wherein the input ends are remote from the output ends and connected to the output ends by wire, wirelessly, or both. 
     
     
         14 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 13 , wherein two or more of the input ends are configured in a fixed position with respect to one another. 
     
     
         15 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 at least one conductive cable, the at least one conductive cable having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is communicatively coupled to one of the input ends, and wherein the second end is communicatively coupled to one of the output ends.   
     
     
         16 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a remote base housing the two or more input ends,   a transceiver communicatively coupled wirelessly with the remote base; and   at least one conductive connector, the at least one conductive connector having a first end and a second end, where the first end is communicatively coupled with the transceiver, and wherein the second end is communicatively coupled with one or more of the output ends.   
     
     
         17 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more output ends are contactually alignable with at least a portion of a soft button displayed on the touchscreen. 
     
     
         18 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 17 , wherein each pair of input and output ends are opposite ends of a unitary element, and wherein at least one of the one or more input ends extends beyond the outer border of the soft button with which a corresponding output end is contactually aligned, thereby extending the area which can be contacted to activate the soft button. 
     
     
         19 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more output ends contacts the touchscreen upon an application of pressure on the input end. 
     
     
         20 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a suspension device shaped and adapted to house a touchscreen device;   an adjustable stem member having a first end and a second end; and   at least one slotted groove shaped and adapted to house the first end of the adjustable stem member,   wherein the second end is attachable to an attachment device.   
     
     
         21 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 20 , wherein the attachment device is at least one of a magnification device and a base housing one or more of the output ends, wherein the base is affixable to the touchscreen and, when affixed to the touchscreen, positions the housed output ends in contact with or in close proximity to the touchscreen. 
     
     
         22 . A touchscreen controller device, comprising one or more input ends configured to communicate wirelessly with a remote touchscreen device, with the assistance of an intermediary transceiver device configured to wirelessly bridge the input ends and the remote touchscreen device or by direct pairing, as a method to control an actionable-object displayed on a touchscreen of the touchscreen device. 
     
     
         23 . A data entry attachment device, comprising the touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the actuating elements are conductive elements and one or more of the input ends are conductive keys of a data entry controller, and wherein each conductive key is communicatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of conductive elements via one or more conductive wires. 
     
     
         24 . The touchscreen controller attachment of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the input ends are input keys of a data entry controller and wherein at least one of the actuating elements is communicatively connected with at least two input keys, whereby activation of either input key activates the coupled actuating element. 
     
     
         25 . A touchscreen device controller system, comprising the touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 11  and further comprising an AV cable output configured to connect to a touchscreen device, thereby allowing touchscreen device output to be viewed on a television screen and freeing both touchscreen device input and output from the constraints of the touchscreen device. 
     
     
         26 . A touchscreen device controller system, comprising the touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 1  and further comprising an AV cable output configured to connect to a touchscreen device, thereby allowing touchscreen device output to be viewed on a television screen. 
     
     
         27 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 5 , further comprising a user device or transceiver that communicates haptic directives to the at least one vibration motor. 
     
     
         28 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the actuating elements exert pressure on the touchscreen when activated. 
     
     
         29 . The touchscreen controller device of  claim 16 , wherein the transceiver comprises an innate capacitive source and capacitive manager and wherein one or more of the output ends are conductive elements, whereby the one or more conductive element output ends can be engaged without direct user contact via a conductive path by drawing from the innate capacitive source. 
     
     
         30 . The touchscreen controller attachment device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuating elements are further configured to control an actionable-object on the touchscreen by manipulation of one or more of the input ends.