Apple is granted a Patent for Gaming Accessories Designed for iDevices

Apple has been granted a patent today for their invention relating to portable electronic devices and, more particularly, to a structure which enables touch-sensitive areas of a touchscreen to be activated. The patent describes iDevice accessories that cover both gamepad and joystick attachment structures that could be attached and removed quickly.

Although the patent generally notes that Apple's invention could apply to such things as automated teller machines (ATMs), point-of-sale payment devices and the like, the fact is that a gaming application may be the true focus of this accessory patent. The gaming angle is also one that Apple is protecting under their patents.

Attachable Gamepad & Joystick Controllers

Apple states that when a touchscreen is capacitive, engaging or activating a touch area of the touchscreen may occur substantially without actual physical contact being made with the touch area. A capacitive touchscreen may sense when an object, e.g., a finger or a surface of a button attachment structure, is in relatively close proximity to the touch area. When the object is sensed, the touch area may be engaged or activated.

While a plurality of button attachment structures has been described as being used with a joystick actuator, a single button attachment structure that includes a plurality of button actuation areas may instead be used with a joystick actuator. Further, the number of button attachment structures and the number of button actuation areas associated with a button attachment structure may vary widely.

Apple's patent FIG. 8 shown below is a diagrammatic representation of a portable electronic device with a touchscreen on which a button attachment structure that includes multiple buttons is attached. Translation: It's a gamepad being described.

Multiple button attachment structures, or a single button attachment structure which includes more than one button actuation area, may be used with a joystick arrangement to provide input to a portable electronic device. Apple's patent FIG. 9 noted further below is a diagrammatic representation of an assembly which includes a plurality of button attachment structures and a joystick arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of Apple's granted patent.

Apple's patent describes that the joystick accessory noted above as patent point # 1016, includes an assembly that with a capacitive sensor over which a coverglass is positioned. A plurality of button attachment structures are coupled to a top surface of the coverglass.

A joystick actuator which may be formed from a material such as rubber or plastic that will include a shaft portion and various contact points as noted above in patent figure 9.

The joystick actuator also includes a pivot point and an attachment portion which is arranged to effectively secure the joystick actuator to a top surface of coverglass.

Apple credits Stephen Lynch, John Filson and Fletcher Rothkopf as the inventors of granted patent 8,462,133 titled "Clickable and tactile buttons for a touch surface," which was originally filed in Q3 2008 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

UPDATE JUNE 14, 2013

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple has developed new software specifications to help other companies make game controllers that work with its iPads, iPhones, iPod Touches and Macs, according to documentation sent to developers seen by The Wall Street Journal. Apple said the specifications are designed to ensure that all controllers “have consistent sets of control elements that both players and game designers can rely on." This is exactly what our opening summary stated in our Tueday report noted above, two days prior to the Wall Street Journal's report published today.

The document states that controller specifications and related software support will be included in iOS 7, a forthcoming version of Apple’s mobile operating system unveiled at its annual developer conference Monday. They will also be included in OSX 10.9, or Mavericks, a new revision of the Mac operating system. 

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