Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that relates to a variety of game controller accessories that could be magnetically attached to an iPhone or iPad and include a foldable carrying case as presented in our cover graphic.

Apple's invention provides accessories that can improve one or more functionalities of an electronic device, can readily attach to an electronic device, can be easy to use, and can have a small and efficient form factor.

An illustrative embodiment of the present invention can provide a gaming accessory that can improve the game playing functionality of an electronic device, such as a phone, tablet, wearable computing device, or other computing device.

This gaming accessory can provide a physical interface for controlling game activities on the electronic device such that a screen of the electronic device remains at least largely unobstructed during game play. The gaming accessory can include a tray, panel, or base and one or more game controllers that can attach to the tray, panel, base (generally referred to herein as a tray or base), or electronic device such that the game controllers are positioned on one or more sides of the electronic device. Each game controller can include one or more user-interface controls. The game controllers can be readily grasped during game play thereby improving the game playing functionality.

These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide gaming accessories that readily attach to an electronic device. A gaming accessory can include an attachment feature that can attach the gaming accessory to a surface of an electronic device. The attachment feature can include a magnet. The attachment feature can also or instead include multiple magnets. The attachment feature can also or instead include a magnet array. The magnet array can be arranged in a circular pattern. The magnet array in the gaming accessory can be magnetically attracted to a corresponding magnetic array in the electronic device.

These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide a gaming accessory having a fixed magnet array. In this arrangement it can be desirable to limit a strength of a magnetic field generated by the fixed magnetic array at a contacting surface of the gaming accessory in order to protect information that might be magnetically stored, for example on credit cards, transit passes, or elsewhere. But it can also be desirable to increase the magnetic field to improve the attachment of the gaming accessory to the electronic device.

Accordingly, the magnetic field can be increased when the gaming accessory is or is about to be attached to the electronic device. For example, an electromagnet can be used. Current through the electromagnetic can be increased in order to increase magnetic attraction.

Also, or instead, the magnet array of a gaming accessory can be a moving magnet array. This moving magnet array can move from a first position away from a contacting surface to a second position near the contacting surface when the gaming accessory is or is about to be attached to the electronic device. When the gaming accessory is removed from the electronic device, the moving magnet array can return to the first position away from the contacting surface.

These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide gaming accessories that are easy to use. For example, these gaming accessories can include one or more game controllers that support user-interface controls such as a directional joystick, D-pad, button array, shoulder button, or other user-interface controls.

These and other embodiments of the present invention can provide gaming accessories arranged as a folio for an electronic device. This folio configuration can provide a small and efficient form factor for a gaming accessory. The folio can include a back panel or tray to support the electronic device. The back panel or tray can substantially cover a back side of the electronic device.

Below are a series of game controller accessory patent figures illustrating a variety of features such as a built-in projector, folding mechanism and more.

We ask that sites using our graphics limit to taking only one group of figures. 

This is a master patent that greatly details this invention that over time could add multiple features. To dig down into the details, review Apple's patent application 20220096923.

Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.