Abstract:
An interface is provided for a device having a touch screen such as a smart phone or tablet computer that extends the touch screen input to areas outside the touch screen area. The interface has a housing which attaches to the device. One or more input controls are mounted on the housing. The controls can be joysticks, buttons, touch pads, levers, triggers, keyboards, etc. Conductive pads are connected to the housing and and capacitively interact with the touch screen. The interface contains circuitry that transmits an electrical or capacitive signal from the user&#39;s manipulation of the controls to the conductive pads in order to activate selected areas of the touch screen. The housing may be made in multiple pieces to connect to different sides of the touch screen device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to the field of portable electronic devices with a touch screen, such as mobile phones, smart phones, tablet PCs and PDAs. More specifically, the present invention relates to the field of interaction with these devices through a remote input that activates a touch screen input. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Touch screens are becoming the predominant way humans interact with mobile phones, smart phones, tablet PCs and PDAs. While touch screens have improved the user interface with customizable and flexible input screens which utilize tapping, swiping and multi-touch gestures, touch screens still largely continue to limit users holding a phone in a portrait orientation to a single input i.e. their forefinger or when the phone is held in a landscape orientation a dual input i.e. their left and right thumbs. This makes controlling programs designed to operate on console gaming units and PCs difficult. 
         [0003]    A further limitation of a smart phone touch screen is, that on a small screen, thumbs and fingers used for inputting obscure a substantial area of the screen. The input device such as a finger, thumb, or stylus is large when compared to the resolution of the data displayed. Some touch screen improvements compound this problem. For instance, high resolution screens allow more information to be displayed, unfortunately that means a finger covers more information. It also makes it more difficult to precisely locate an input, inserting an editing cursor between small letters in small words on a small screen with a big finger is difficult. 
         [0004]    More specifically, touch screens have substantial limitations for videogame players who are used to the remote input devices currently available for console games. These remote input devices or gamepads allow the user to simultaneously, quickly and easily move, jump, shoot, and do more. The raised and sometimes textured buttons on current remote input devices provide tactile feedback enabling the user to easily position their fingers on the buttons. Touch screens, on the other hand are flat and featureless requiring the user to look at their fingers to confirm they are in the proper place thereby distracting from their game play or other use of the device. 
         [0005]    Touch screen devices also have limitations for traditional PC users who cannot use the inputs they are accustomed to when interacting with a touch screen. For general PC operation most users are accustomed to moving a cursor on the screen with a mouse then using left and right mouse “clicks” for selecting and initiating inputs. Particularly useful is the ability to use the mouse to precisely locate a cursor and then have quick access to context-sensitive menus with a right-click. For entering text and advanced gaming, most PC users are accustomed to standard QWERTY keyboards where they can use multiple fingers and simultaneous inputs for shift, number lock, function keys, macros and other required inputs. 
         [0006]    Additionally, single-handed operation of a touch screen smart phone while the user is holding the phone is difficult. Phone manufacturers have attempted to overcome this limitation with speech recognition. There still remains significant limitations for those with handicaps that necessitate single-handed operation and for those users who only have one hand available, i.e. they are driving, or for when a spoken input is not appropriate or possible such as in classrooms. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, the present invention addresses these deficiencies by providing an enhanced user interface for devices with touch screen inputs through a novel mobile controller or multi-touch off-screen input device which greatly expands the user interface with touch screen devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    One object of the current invention is to create a novel mobile game platform. A typical game platform includes a computer (such as a Xbox 360™ or Playstation™), a screen (the TV), a tactile controller and game software. When the mobile controller embodiment of the invention is combined with a mobile touch screen device, which contains a computer and touch screen, a mobile game platform is created. 
         [0009]    A further object of the present invention is to overcome the limitations of a touch screen interface by attaching mechanical and electrical devices to a touch screen enabled mobile device. The invention translates the off screen movements of the user&#39;s fingers as applied to tactile mechanical switches arranged like a typical gaming console controller to capacitance pads that interact with the touch screen thereby providing multiple inputs. In this manner, the invention would simulate the play action of a console game controller while playing games on a touch screen device. A still further advantage is that the housing of the mobile controller provides an ergonometric grip and added security against dropping the device. A further advantage of the invention is that it allows the mobile controller to be readily attached and detached from a smart phone or mobile tablet. 
         [0010]    The invention&#39;s mobile controller additional inputs would greatly benefit gamers playing videogames. The current input limitations of touch screens greatly impair game play and have largely prevented the migration of most popular console and PC games to smart phones. For instance, the addition of switched inputs would allow a user to fire a weapon and jump in shooter games or, in role-playing games to rapidly and easily choose submenus and items. The addition of joysticks or thumb pads would allow the user to simultaneously move in multiple axis, pan the camera and aim a weapon. 
         [0011]    A further advantage of the invention is that it can be incorporated into a mobile device case and utilize a moveable input lever that can be stowed or locked into the case or a detachable mechanism when not in use. The design further allows the user to quickly and readily deploy the movable input levers into an active configuration when the user wants to interface with the device. The case can include readily detachable controls to minimize the controls interfering with normal phone usage. Further, the case can incorporate a screen protector with transparent conductors thereby eliminating any overlay of the device housing on the touch screen. 
         [0012]    A further object of the invention is that it can be incorporated into a transparent screen overlay or screen protector and provide off-screen tactile inputs to the touch screen on mobile devices, automatic teller machines, medical devices and other equipment with a touch screen thereby replacing hardwired switches and other controls. By replacing these controls with a removable touch screen these devices can be simplified, lowered in cost, easily be upgraded and the number and the placement of user inputs readily modified. 
         [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to overcome these limitations with the addition of touch pads and external buttons integral to the phone that are located on the side of the phone that enable the user to use the fingers that are naturally used in gripping the phone as additional inputs. When using the phone in the portrait orientation a user generally nestles the phone in their palm and lightly holds the corners between their thumb and forefinger. External buttons or touch pads positioned on or near the corners of the phone in a portrait orientation in what would then be the upper corners could create additional inputs where user naturally holds the phone. Additionally, the user could use their other thumb to activate buttons on the bottom of the smart phone. When the phone is held in the landscape orientation the user generally positions their forefingers on the sides of the phone with the phone resting on their index fingers and held between the tips of their fingers. Switches can be incorporated that are readily activated with a motion of the forefinger similar to pulling a trigger. In both instances their natural grip provides easy access to two or more of the external buttons. 
         [0014]    These additional inputs would greatly benefit texting. The current limitation of using two thumbs to operate a QWERTY keyboard forces users to abbreviate, avoid capitalization and omit punctuation. With the present invention the functionality of the on the screen QWERTY keyboard could be expanded by using a remote touch pad as a shift key or to bring up a number and punctuation display or multiple off screen touch pads for screen navigation. 
         [0015]    If the user needs to edit text inserting an edit cursor is difficult with a large finger in small text field. With the present invention when an edit cursor is inserted the button keys could now operate individually to zoom in on the cursor or move the cursor. If the user is looking at a map, a button or combination of buttons could be used to zoom in, to zoom out or pan the screen. This would be particularly helpful for single-handed operation by those with a permanent or temporary disability or when the user is driving. 
         [0016]    Additionally, an improvement in the functionality of a touch screen device would be to program a button to simulate a “right click” on a mouse thereby activating the context driven submenus and help screens available in most PC programs. 
         [0017]    A further object of the invention is to improve the flexibility of all touch screen devices by providing a removable and replaceable transparent touch screen overlay that incorporates off screen inputs thereby simplifying mechanical and software design and eliminating the cost, permanence and maintenance of fixed switches and controls used in addition to touch screen of the device. 
         [0018]    A further object of the invention is to improve the functionality of touch screen devices by expanding their capability with a touch screen that includes additional touch sensitive area off the screen that can be signaled by the invention. 
         [0019]    The embodiments described herein provide a user interface for devices with a touch screen display that expands the capabilities of a touch screen device to a mobile game platform, a PC configured with a keyboard, and improves the overall user experience. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, not by way of limitation, and the following figures relate to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures in the drawing in which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a detachable embodiment of the invention attached to a smart phone. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of invention in use. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is an isometric exploded view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a front isometric view of a mechanical and electrical embodiment of the invention incorporated into a smart phone case. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a front isometric view of several configurations of pistol grip embodiment of the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a suction or adhesive applied semi-permanent embodiment of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a front isometric view of a game pad embodiment of the invention that adapts to existing application inputs. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a front isometric view of a game pad embodiment of the invention optimized for multiple uses of a smart phone. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of a detachable two handled embodiment of the invention attached to a tablet PC. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of the inputs and outputs of a multiple switch handle. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is an isometric exploded view of one of the handles shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a front isometric view of a screen protector embodiment of the invention attached to a smart phone with handles similar to those in  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  is a front isometric view of the invention incorporated into the construction of a touch screen device with additional input accessories. 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  is an isometric view of a mobile controller incorporated into a single device with adjustable features to accommodate all smart phones and smart phones in cases. 
           [0035]      FIG. 15  is a isometric view of a smart phone with additional capacitive inputs coupled to a smart phone case with custom user inputs. 
           [0036]      FIG. 16  is a front perspective view of the invention adapted to provide capacitive input from a multi-key device such as a QWERTY keyboard onto a touch screen enabled tablet PC. 
           [0037]      FIG. 17  is a front perspective view of a detachable two handled embodiment of the invention with joysticks attached to a tablet PC. 
           [0038]      FIG. 18  is an isometric view of the inputs and outputs of a handle in  FIG. 17 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 19  is an isometric exploded view of one of the handles shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 20  is an isometric exploded view of the printed electronics in  FIG. 19 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 21  is an exploded front isometric view of a smart phone case embodiment of the invention that expands the functionality of smart phone into those of a hand-held game player. 
           [0042]      FIG. 22  is an exploded front isometric view of the screen protector of  FIG. 21 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 23  is an isometric view of a smart phone case embodiment of the invention with detachable handles. 
           [0044]      FIG. 24  is an exploded isometric view of a handle in  FIG. 23 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 25  is an exploded isometric view of a rotary input embodiment of the invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 26  is a front isometric view of the invention in  FIG. 25  attached to a tablet PC. 
           [0047]      FIG. 27  is an exploded isometric view of a spring clip embodiment of the invention. 
           [0048]      FIG. 28  is a front isometric view of the invention in  FIG. 27  attached o a smart phone. 
           [0049]      FIG. 29  is an exploded isometric view of the invention adapted to a screen protector with integral switches. 
           [0050]      FIG. 30  is a front view of the invention in  FIG. 29 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0051]    This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. There are numerous models of smart phones and tablets PCs of different sizes with varied placement of screens, controls and lenses, the best interface with these devices results in different preferred embodiments of the invention. For the purpose of disclosing the invention and illustrating the capabilities of the mechanical and electrical multi-touch input device several embodiments are described in detail. One skilled in the art can see numerous possible combinations of the embodiments shown and several additional mechanical and electrical means, derivative of the present invention, that can be used to translate the user&#39;s finger input to capacitive charge inputs on a touch screen, including: buttons, switches, wires, ribbons, transparent conductors, moveable conductive pads, conductive adhesives and any other means used to connect and disconnect the user&#39;s capacitance to the touch screen. 
         [0052]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the first embodiment of the invention described utilizes a mechanical assembly that readily attaches to a smart phone  20  or smart phone case  21 . The mechanism has two finger levers  51  that the user can tap with their index fingers. These finger levers connect the user&#39;s capacitance to a stylus lever  61  that is positioned on the touch screen  22  most typically in the upper right and left corners. The users tapping motions thereby couple the user capacitance to the touch screen thereby activating touch screen inputs that can fire a gun, cause a character to jump or any other program input. 
         [0053]    The multi-touch input device  10  includes two finger levers  51  a right-hand lever and a left-hand lever mounted to a frame  31 . The frame attaches to a smart phone  20  and/or a smart phone in a case with a spring powered clamp assembly  40 . The clamp assembly is comprised of a latch  41  that allows the user to release the clamp and a latch clamp  42  that can be adjusted to accommodate smart phones of different thicknesses and is secured to the frame with latch screws  46 . 
         [0054]    To attach the multi-touch input device  10  to a smart phone  20  the user turns the clamp screw  43  out as required to open the latch clamp  42  wide enough to accommodate the smart phone and then loosens the side clamp screws  33  slightly and slides the side clamps  32  to their fully extended position. The user now positions the multi-touch input device on the smart phone in a centered position. The side clamps are slid in until they contact the smart phone. The smart phone is removed and the side clamp screws tightened thereby securing the side clamps in the proper position for the user&#39;s device. 
         [0055]    With the latch clamp  42  open and the smart phone  20  fully inserted the user tightens the latch screw  43  until it firmly clamps the smart phone between the latch clamp  42  and the side clamp front plates  35 . This contact is evidenced by the latch  41  moving off its stop in the frame  31  into the frame slightly. The smart phone is now firmly clamped by the force of the latch springs  44 . The user can now quickly and easily release the smart phone by depressing on the latch  41  thereby compressing the latch springs and opening the latch clamp. 
         [0056]    The user can easily reinsert the smart phone  20  into the multi-touch input device  10  by depressing the latch  41  thereby holding the latch clamp  42  open and then inserting the smart phone into the device using the side clamps  32  to guide it to a centered position. When the smart phone is firmly in contact with device the user releases the latch and the latch clamp secures it in place. 
         [0057]    To move the active components of the multi-touch input device  10  from its stowed configuration to its operating configuration the user holds the smart phone  20  in the landscape position as they normally would. They use their thumbs to depress the stylus levers  61  and move them from their latched position parallel to the finger lever  51  away from the phone and free of the stylus latch plate  36  on the frame  31 . The user then allows the stylus to rise upwards powered by the lever spring  54 . The user then releases the stylus levers and moves them utilizing the force of the stylus spring  65  into their operating position normal to the finger lever  51 . The moveable operating components of the multi-touch input device  10  are comprised of a finger lever  51  which is attached to the frame  31  with a lever screw  52  and is spaced from the frame by lever washer  53 . The lever compression spring  54  acts on the lever holding it in the open position which is adjusted by the lever limit screw  55 . The stylus lever  61  sits on a stylus washer  64  and is attached to the lever by a stylus screw  62  seated on a stylus screw washer  63 . A torsion spring  65  acts on the stylus to rotate it into a fully open position normal to the finger lever contacting the touch screen  22 . 
         [0058]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , when the user is holding the smart phone  20  as they normally hold it in the landscape position their forefingers can easily tap on the finger lever  51  and their capacitance is coupled to the conductive pad  66 . This allows the user to use an intuitive forefinger trigger motion to create an input into the smart phone that fires a gun, operates the shift key, or any additional input programmed into the phone. 
         [0059]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , the second embodiment of the invention described utilizes a mechanical assembly combined with a capacitive link that is compactly integrated into a smart phone case  70 . Moveable stylus levers  71  move from a stowed position in a recessed pocket  72  in the case when released by button  73 . Conductive pads  74  capacitively couple to the smart phone screen  22  and are coupled by the device to the touch pad  24 . The components themselves do not have enough capacitance to activate the touch screen but when the user touches a conducting pad the user&#39;s capacitance is electrically coupled to the screen. The user simply taps the touch pad with their finger and their electric charge is coupled to the screen thereby providing an input to the smart phone. The touch pad inputs may be located on any surface or location of the smart phone case that is convenient to the user. 
         [0060]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , the third embodiment of the invention described utilizes a mechanical assembly combined with the capacitive link that is compactly integrated into a pistol shaped assembly  80 . The assembly is comprised of a handle  81  designed for the user to grasp modeled after a gun, gaming controller, joystick or other, a trigger  82  as a user input which is protected by a trigger guard  83 , that is mounted to a frame  84  that reacts against a clamp  85  to hold a tablet PC or iPad™ type device  25 . The assembly  80  can easily be reconfigured to clamp the tablet  25  on the on the bottom with the handles  81  in a vertical position or on the side with the handles in a horizontal position. A moveable stylus  86  touches the screen  22  and is electrically coupled to a contact that closes when the user pulls the trigger thereby coupling the user&#39;s capacitance to the stylus. A variation of this embodiment could include a multi-touch input  87  such as a touch pad, hat switch, thumb stick or other input coupled to a multi-pad array  88 . The invention provides a handle, trigger, hat switch or other multi-touch input for use with mobile tablets such as an iPad™ that allows the user to remotely activate the touch screen with their forefinger or other fingers and additionally allows the user to more easily grip or hold a mobile tablet. 
         [0061]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , this embodiment of the invention has no moving parts and is not incorporated into a smart phone case. The invention is attached to a smart phone by adhesives, suction or other suitable means. A capacitive link  90  comprised of insulating and conducting materials is applied to a smart phone. A touch pad  93  remote from a touch screen is used to electrically signal a capacitive touch screen  22 . A capacitive pad  91  is attached with an adhesive, suction, magnets, spring clips or other means to the screen  22  where the input is desired, a remote touch pad  93  is similarly attached to the mobile device  20  at a location convenient to the user, a conductive wire, film or other conductor  92  connects the two pads. Alternately, the capacitive pad and touch pad and conductor are separate or paired components that are overlapped or connected when applied thereby electrically connecting them in any configuration. 
         [0062]    When the user touches the remote touch pad their capacitance is coupled to the screen thereby signaling a touch screen or touch pad to which is attached. A multi-circuit touch pad link  96  incorporates multiple electrically isolated touch pads  93  on a single remote touch pad  95 . The multi-circuit touch pad is connected by a multi-conductor film or cable  97  to a multiple input capacitance pad  98  capable of providing multiple separate distinct input signals to the screen. This input would allow the user to interface with common controls such as a hat switch and thumb stick thereby providing simultaneous remote access to common inputs such as up, down, left, and right. This capacitive link embodiment of the invention would work with any smart phone in any case and can be applied and removed as needed. 
         [0063]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , a game pad embodiment of the invention that adapts to existing application inputs is described that incorporates touch switches  101 , a hat switch  102 , a thumb stick  103  or any other type of input device into a smart phone case  21 . They can be located to the side or below the screen or any other suitable location. These inputs are coupled by a conductor  104  to capacitive coupling pads  105  or multiple input pads  106  that can be placed on the touch screen  22  of the smart phone  20  at any location. These input pads are attached by suction, adhesion, magnets, springs, clamps or any other means. The conductors are wires, coiled wire, films, plated conductive paths, or any other conductor and are fixed, flexible, retractable or moveable by any means. The user can now interface with the smart phone just as they would with a console gaming station and the invention can interface with any existing software. 
         [0064]    With reference to  FIG. 8 , an embodiment is described that incorporates touch switches  101 , a hat switch  102 , a thumb stick  103  or any other type of input device into a smart phone case  21 . They can be located to the side or below the screen or any other suitable location. The cover  108  of this smart phone case embodiment is shown partially cutaway to illustrate that these inputs are coupled by a wire, conductive film, or any other conductor  104  to an array of capacitive coupling pads that minimally overlay the touch screen  22  along an edge. Software would be programmed to optionally take advantage of these additional inputs and to fit on the modified screen area. A small amount of screen area would be covered but, the overall utility of the smart phone would be enhanced. A further variation on this embodiment would have a movable capacitive pad array that the user could position on or off the screen as they desire thereby allowing access to the full screen area when needed. 
         [0065]    Referring to  FIGS. 9-11 , an easily attachable mobile tablet handle embodiment of the invention is described. The first embodiment described is comprised of two multi-touch input device handle assemblies  210  that readily attach to either side of a mobile device  209 . Each handle roughly approximates one half of a typical console game controller. The handle assemblies are installed on a mobile tablet or smart phone by a means that is readily attachable and detachable such as a clamp. When installed on the device a portion of the handle  210  overlays the touch screen  206  and communicates with the touch screen using a capacitive link or circuit. The user operates controls  219  on the handles similar to those found in standard console style gamepads. The invention&#39;s controls operate switches that connect the user&#39;s capacitance, the capacitance of the device&#39;s frame or a standalone capacitor to capacitive pads positioned on the touch screen thereby selectively transferring electrical charge to the mobile device. The invention allows the user to operate the touch screen device without touching the screen. 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the handles  210 , right and left, are attached to a mobile tablet  209 . The handles are designed to easily attach to most mobile tablets and smart phones. The handles provide an ergonometric grip and an improved method for holding a tablet and incorporate gaming console style controls  219  that switch a remote capacitive link that provides console controller style gaming input through the touch screen  206  of the mobile device. 
         [0067]      FIG. 10  more clearly illustrates the inputs and outputs of the invention. Handle  210  is designed to clamp onto the tablet and houses the input and output controls. When touched by the user surface contact pads  237  electrically couple the user&#39;s capacitance to a corresponding capacitive screen pad  232 . Controls  219  located on the top of the handle are generally operated by the thumb and may be configured as multiple buttons, a directional control or any other suitable pattern of input buttons. Shoulder button  218  is located at the end of the handle where the forefinger naturally wraps around the handle. These buttons operate switches that electrically connect the grounding pads  233  which contact the housing of the mobile device or the electrically conductive surface of the handle  210  that is gripped by the user, or a capacitor to capacitive screen pads  232  that are positioned over the touch screen. The user thereby selectively couples this capacitance charge to the screen pads simulating a finger tap to the touch screen and thereby providing an input to the touch screen of the tablet and the software operating on the tablet. 
         [0068]      FIG. 11  is an exploded isometric view of the handle more clearly illustrating the components that comprise the handle. The top half of each handle  210  is comprised of a top housing  211  with openings for the control switches and a top cover  212  that is secured to the top handle with fasteners  222 . The bottom half of handle  210  is comprised of a bottom handle  216  and a bottom cover  215  that is secured to the bottom handle with fasteners  223 . Springs  221  act on the underside of the top latch of bottom handle  216  and react against the bottom latch  217  which is secured to the top cover  212  with fasteners  224 . These springs acting through the top and bottom halves of the housing and the friction pads  213  and  214  effectively and securely clamping the device onto a tablet or smart phone. Controls  219  are operated by the user and act upon silicone snap disk  235  to move a carbon pill  236  into contact with the printed circuit board  231  bridging circuits that connect to the grounding pads  233 , conductive surfaces of the handle  210 , or a capacitor and to individual capacitive screen pad  232 . Shoulder button  218  switches a micro switch  234  that also connects a capacitive charge to a corresponding capacitive screen pad  232 . Electrically conductive surface contact pads  237  couple the user&#39;s capacitance electrically to a corresponding capacitive screen pad  232  directly without a switch when the user contacts the surface contact pad  237 . 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , additional embodiments of the invention are comprised of a screen protector  250  with conductive electrical circuits that is applied to a smart phone or tablet  208 . The screen protector is comprised of a clear film  251  with a visually transparent conductor such as indium titanium oxide (“ITO”), nanometer copper lines, or any other transparent conductor selectively plated onto the film. Transparent capacitive screen pads  252  are positioned over the clear film  251 , conductive traces  254  electrically connect the screen pads  252  to transfer pads  253 , controls  219  and covers  243  and  244  not located on the visible touch screen thereby effectively removing the user&#39;s fingers from obscuring the screen while they are inputting into it. The capacitive transfer screen protector may be used by itself or in conjunction with accessory components. 
         [0070]    Referring to specifically  FIG. 12 , the second embodiment a conductive trace  254  couples the screen pads  252  electrically with remote transfer pads  253  that are coupled capacitively or electrically to capacitive screen pads  232  in handles  210  with controls  219  similar to those described in the first embodiment. Handles  210 , with controls  219  and capacitive switching circuits and output pads as previously described in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , are easily attached and removed from a protective case  240 . When a handle is attached to the smart phone case, output capacitive screen pads  232  are positioned over the transfer pads  253 . This arrangement of pads now transfers electrical charge through control circuits operated by the user to the output pads which interact with the transfer pads  253  on the screen protector. The electric charge is thereby conducted to the screen pads  252  which capacitively interact with the smart phone screen signaling the touch screen to respond as if it had been tapped directly by the user. This embodiment of the invention allows a user to remotely signal a touch screen and operate a touch screen controlled device without obscuring the screen with their fingers. 
         [0071]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , another embodiment is described that couples the screen input capacitive screen pads  254  electrically to transfer pads  253  located off the visible touch screen which the user may touch to directly input to the touch screen. A smart phone  208  is housed in a protective case  240  comprised of a shell  241  with shoulder button touch pads  242  that connect capacitively or electrically with a transfer pad  253  on the touch screen protector  250  thereby allowing the user to tap touch pad  242  with their forefinger and signal the smart phone. Membrane switch covers  243  may optionally be placed over the transfer pads  253  on the protective screen and provide a more tactile interface for the user. Conductive surfaces on the membrane pad transfer electrical charge to the transfer pads  253 . To make the user interface more like a console style game controller optional switch covers  244  may be placed over the screen protector. The switch covers are electrically or capacitively coupled to the transfer pads. In a manner similar to the invention as described in  FIGS. 10 and 11  the user interacts with the controls  219  which operate electromechanical switches closing circuits that conduct the capacitance to the transfer pads, through the conductive trace, to the screen pad and to the touch screen. Electrical charge is thereby transferred through the invention and interacts with the touch screen as a user&#39;s finger tap would. 
         [0072]    Referring to  FIG. 14 , another embodiment is shown that combines the functions of the two handles into a single smart phone game controller  220  designed to readily and easily attach to a smart phone or a smart phone in a case. The controller  220  communicates with a smart phone through a surface contact pads  237  utilizing capacitive pads or through transparent conductors as mentioned earlier. The function of the handles described in the previous embodiments have been combined into a single controller  220  that clamps onto a smart phone  208  or a smart phone housed in a protective case  240 . The housing incorporates finger controls  219  and shoulder buttons  218  the user presses to connect the user&#39;s capacitance to capacitive screen pads housed in surface contact pads  237  positioned over the smart phone touch screen  206 . The screen head may contain output pads as described in  FIGS. 10 and 11  or it may be comprised of a transparent film with transparent conductors as described in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . The construction and function of the switching and capacitance components contained within the controller  220  is similar to that described in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0073]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , an embodiment that incorporates the invention directly into a smart phone is shown. The invention eliminates the need for capacitive pads overlaying a touch screen by incorporating additional capacitive inputs into the smart phone itself. These capacitive inputs  269  receive inputs from a “smart” case  271  designed with custom user inputs  277 . A preferred embodiment of the invention creates these additional inputs by extending the ITO film  263  or the conductive metal traces of a typical mutual capacitance touch screen assembly beyond the LCD screen area to adjacent areas on the ends or sides of the phone. 
         [0074]    The smart phone  260  shown is comprised of a back cover  261 , electronic components  262  with a screen  268 , a unique ITO film layer  263 , a mask  264  concealing the non-screen areas of the ITO layer, a glass screen cover  265 , a front bezel or cover  266 . The ITO layer  263  uniquely extends beyond the visible LCD screen area  268  thereby providing additional capacitive inputs  269  to sense touch capacitance on the ends and sides of the phone. This assembly creates an open architecture smart phone that communicates through remote capacitive links with a custom cover comprised of a case  271  with user inputs  277  that are capacitively coupled to the ITO capacitive sensing layer located on off capacitive inputs  269 . Additional control pads  272  and  273  integrate temporarily or permanently with the case. The controls on these pads are capacitively or electrically coupled with the case through capacitive couplings or electrical contacts  278  positioned on the pads and capacitive couplings or electrical contacts positioned on the case  279 . These components together allow a user to operate touch pads, console style game controls or other buttons and their inputs are communicated through the case  271  to the smart phone through the smart phone&#39;s capacitive inputs  269 . 
         [0075]    An advantage of this arrangement in a smart phone is the simplicity and low cost of a single input panel and a single mutual capacitance controller. However the same goal can be accomplished with multiple input devices. This arrangement creates an open architecture smart phone that can be coupled with a great variety of smart phone cases configured to provide customized user inputs that communicate with the additional inputs of the smart phone. These cases may incorporate touch pads, electrical mechanical switches and other features, such as those described in other embodiments. 
         [0076]    Referring to  FIG. 16 , a keyboard interface embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment the invention is adapted to provide a capacitive input from a multi-key device such as a keyboard or numeric pad. This embodiment of the invention  280  holds a mobile tablet  209  for comfortable viewing by the user. A screen head  281  containing capacitive pads  232  overlaps the touch screen  206  of the mobile tablet. User inputs from a multi-keyed device such as a keyboard  285  are input into the mobile tablet using capacitive links as described in the previous embodiments. 
         [0077]    Referring to  FIGS. 17-20 , an easily attachable mobile tablet handle embodiment of the invention is described. The handles  310  roughly approximate one half of a typical hand-held game player in function. The handle assembly is installed on a mobile tablet  309  or smart phone by a means that is readily attachable and detachable such as a clamp or suction. When installed on the device a portion of the housing  310  overlays the touch screen  306  and communicates with the touch screen through a capacitive link. The user operates controls  319  and  318  on the handles similar to those found in standard console style gamepads. The invention&#39;s controls operate digital encoders and switches that connect the user&#39;s capacitance, the capacitance of the device&#39;s frame or a standalone capacitor to capacitive pads positioned on the touch screen thereby selectively transferring electrical flux to the mobile device. The invention allows the user to operate the touch screen device without touching the screen. 
         [0078]    Referring to  FIG. 17 , the handles  310 , right and left, are attached to a mobile tablet  309 . The handles are designed to easily attach to most mobile tablets and smart phones. The handles provide an ergonometric grip and an improved method for holding a tablet and incorporate gaming console style controls  319  and  318  that switch a remote capacitive link that provides console controller style gaming input through the touch screen  306  of the mobile device. 
         [0079]      FIG. 18  more clearly illustrates the inputs and outputs of the invention. Housing  310  is designed to clamp onto the tablet and houses the input and output controls. A bottom cover  316  interlocks with and extends through top cover  311 . By pressing down with the users thumb on the top of bottom cover  316  and pressing the user&#39;s fingers on the top of latch  317  the user can separate the top and bottom sections of the handle and when released the top and bottom will clamp tablet  309 . 
         [0080]    A digital encoder operated by a thumb control  319  located on the top of the handle is generally operated by the thumb and translates the users up/down and left/right thumb motions into digital positional information on orthogonal axis. Trigger button control  318  is located at the end of the handle where the forefinger naturally wraps around the handle and uses a novel mechanical configuration to provide a good tactile experience for the user while translating the users pulling and sideways forefinger movements into dual on/off inputs. These inputs selectively switch on and off circuits that connect a conductive pad that is conductively or capacitively coupled with the device&#39;s case to conductors  338  that are positioned on the touch screen. The user thereby selectively couples electrical flux to the screen pads simulating a finger tap and swipe to the touch screen and thereby providing an input to the touch screen of the tablet and the software operating on the tablet. 
         [0081]    Referring to  FIGS. 19 and 20 ,  FIG. 19  is an exploded isometric view of the handle more clearly illustrating the components that comprise the handle. The top half of each housing  310  is comprised of a top cover  311  with openings for the user thumb control  319  and a top assembly  312  that is secured to the top handle with fasteners  322 . The bottom half of housing  310  is comprised of a bottom cover  316  and a bottom assembly  315  that is secured to the bottom handle with fasteners  323 . Springs  321  act on the underside of the top latch of bottom cover  316  and react against the bottom of latch  317  which is secured to the top assembly  312  with fasteners  324 . These springs, acting through the top and bottom halves of the housing and the friction pads  313 , effectively and securely clamp the device onto a tablet or smart phone. A thumb control  319  extends through a post  320  to a stylus tip  339  that shorts electrical traces in flex assembly  330 . A garter type spring  325  opposes the users thumb movements and returns the thumb pad to the center. The garter spring  325  and post  320  are held in position by thumb pad cover  314  which is secured to the top cover  311  by fasteners  326 . Flex assembly  330  is mounted to the top assembly  312  and the flex assembly&#39;s ground pads  304  are mounted to the bottom assembly  315 . Conductors  338  are mounted to the stylus tip  339  which interfaces with ramped features on top assembly  312  and springs  327  so that the stylus tip, with the attached conductive pads, is pressed into contact with the touch screen when the handle is attached and is retracted into the handle housing when it is detached to protect the conductors from damage. The trigger button control  318  is operated by the user and acts upon metal domes  337  to connect the ground pad to electrical conductors  338  placed over the touch screen. A spring  328  acts on a slide  329  to oppose the user&#39;s rotational movement of the trigger and returns the trigger to its normal centered position. 
         [0082]    Referring to  FIG. 20 , the flex assembly  330  is comprised of a top layer  331  and bottom layer  332  with multiple conductors running from the encoder input area to conductors positioned over the touch screen. A spacer  333  separates the top and bottom layers from a middle layer  334  with conductive shorting pads  335  that are electrically connected to a capacitive source pad  336 . Force applied by the user on the thumb control  319  forces stylus tip  339  into the flex assembly  330  and the flexes the top and bottom layers into the shorting pads thereby connecting the capacitive ground pad to selective conductors in an array of conductors  338  positioned over the screen. The users thumb movements thereby change the capacitance of finely pitched conductors overlaying the screen thereby emulating the sliding motion and changing position of a user&#39;s finger moving across the touch screen. 
         [0083]    Referring to  FIGS. 21 and 22 , another embodiment is described that an embodiment of the invention is shown that expands the functionality of smart phone into those of a hand-held game player such as a Sony Vita or Nintendo 3DS. The invention  340  is incorporated in a smart phone case comprised of top cover  341  and bottom cover  351 . The digital encoder and trigger control switches communicate with a smart phone  308  through a screen protector  360  utilizing circuits  369 . 
         [0084]    The game controller  340  is housed in top cover  341  containing the mechanical components of two digital encoders each comprised of a thumb pad  342  located on the top of the handle operated by the users thumb and translates the users up/down and left/right thumb motions into digital positional information on orthogonal axis. The thumb pad  342  extends through a post  343  to a stylus tip  344  that moves across switching circuits in screen protector  360 . A garter type spring  345  opposes the users thumb movements and returns the thumb pad to the center. The garter spring  345  and post  343  are held in position by thumb pad cover  346  which is secured to thumb pad  342 . 
         [0085]    The bottom cover assembly  350  is comprised of a bottom cover  351  which contains two finger wheels  352  that the user can roll in clockwise and counterclockwise directions thereby providing dual finger inputs. The rotary motion of the finger wheels is translated into linear motion by link  353 . This link connects the finger wheel  352  to a shuttle  354  with ramped features  355  that translates left/right motion into up/down motion on springs  356 . These actuators press on domes  364  to close circuits  367  on screen protector  360 . Springs  356  oppose the user&#39;s finger motion on finger wheels  352  and return the finger wheels to their normal centered position. 
         [0086]    A screen protector  360  containing the circuitry of the invention is attached to the face of the smart phone  308 . The screen protector is manufactured using materials and processes similar to the construction of membrane keypads. The screen protector  360  is comprised of a top cover  361  with circuitry on the underside separated from middle layer  363  by top spacers  362 . Middle layers  363  is separated from bottom layer  366  by a bottom spacer  365 . Shunting pads  368  are electrically connected to the case of the smart phone  308 . The movements of stylus tip  344  act to short shunting pads  368  to circuits  369  positioned above and below the shorting pads. The circuits  369  extend to transparent conductors  359  positioned over the touch screen  306  of the smart phone  308 . When these transparent conductors  359  are connected to the smart phone&#39;s case, or the user or an external capacitor, the capacitance sensing controller of the smart phone registers the increase in capacitance at that location just as it senses a user&#39;s touch on the touch screen. 
         [0087]    Referring to  FIGS. 23 and 24 , a smart phone case  308  with removable handles  380  that incorporate moveable capacitive pads  392  is shown. The smart phone  308  is enclosed by a smart phone case  370  that accommodates normal operation of the smart phone and includes attaching features  371  that engage removable handles  380 . The user attaches the handles  380  with tactile inputs that include a circle pad  373  and a trigger  374  and additional inputs as required. The trigger  374  is held in positioned by spring  378 , when activated by the user, the trigger closes a membrane switch in the trigger circuit  391 . Circle pad  373  extends through top cover  381  and is centered in trigger  374  that is centered by a garter spring  375  and retained by cover  376  and screws  377 . The shaft of the circle pad engages moveable horizontal slide  382  which interfaces with moveable horizontal actuator  383 , together they translate the user&#39;s horizontal circle pad motion into vertical motion of capacitive pads  392 . The circle pad also engages moveable vertical slide  384  translating the vertical movement of the circle pad into a vertical movement of the slide and the capacitive pad attached thereto. These movable members  382 ,  383  &amp;  384  reside in a housing  385  which accepts screws  386  that fasten the top cover  381  and screws  387  that fasten the side  388 . Bottom cover  389  is secured to the assembly with screws  390  that attach to side  388 . The horizontal actuator and vertical slide have features that attach to capacitive pads  392 , on circuit  393  with downward and sideways facing conductors that capacitively couple with the touch screen  306  either directly or through transparent conductors  394  that are on optional screen protector  395 . Without the screen protector the capacitive pads  392  must overlay the screen. With the screen protector  395  the handles do not overlay the screen, they overlay the transparent conductors  394  which overlay the touch screen and remotely project the capacitive signals onto the screen. Cover  372  covers and encloses the capacitive pads  392  protecting them. Both circuits  391  and  393  have capacitive source pads  396  that capacitively couple to the case of the smart phone  308  and are connected by an electric circuit to the capacitive pads  396 . 
         [0088]    Referring to  FIGS. 25 and 26 , a rotary input embodiment of the invention is described. A knob type rotary controller  410 , similar in input function to a Pong controller, is shown attached to a mobile tablet  409 . The invention is comprised of a rotatable knob  411  secured to a base  413  by screw  424 . A suction cup  417  incorporated into the base attaches to the mobile tablet. Springs  422  act on suction cup holder  412  whose motion is limited by screws  423  and firmly press the base against the touch screen device. The vacuum in the suction cup is released by deflecting a tab  427  on the base into and under the suction cup. 
         [0089]    Conductive coatings on the knob  411  conduct the user&#39;s rotary input motion and capacitance to a shuttle  414  which operates in a linear slide  418  and is attached to a conductive pad  415  which is secured in place and protected by a cover  416 . Multiple devices might be used by multiple players to play against an opponent on the tablet PC. 
         [0090]    Referring to  FIGS. 27 and 28  a very low cost spring clip embodiment of the invention is described. An easily attachable trigger  430  is shown attached to a smart phone  408 . The conductive pad  435  on the trigger overlays the touch screen  406  preferably in the corners. A user holds the phone as depicted in  FIG. 2  and touches the contact  433  which electrically connects the user to the conductive pad  435  thereby coupling the user&#39;s capacitance to the touch screen. 
         [0091]    A spring  434 , acting on top clip  431  and bottom clip  432  presses the conductive pad  435  and the optional friction pads  436  against the smart phone  408 . The clip is opened by squeezing on the top of the bottom clip and the bottom of the top clip thereby compressing the spring and opening the clamp. 
         [0092]    Referring to  FIGS. 29 and 30 , the invention is shown incorporated into a screen protector  450  shown attached to a smart phone  408 . The top most component is a cosmetic overlay  451  with embossed tactile features  461  that transmit the users input to flexible domes  452  that are located by spacer  453 . The domes short upper circuit  464  on upper layer  454  with circuit  465  on bottom layer  455 . Conductive tab  462  attaches to the smart phone housing  405  and connects with the upper circuit. Transparent conductors  463  positioned over the touch screen  406  connect with the lower circuit. When the dome shorts the circuits the capacitance of the smart phone case is coupled to conductive pads and the touch screen is activated. Protective cover  456  protects the assembly and the smart phone touch screen. Releasable adhesive  457  attaches the screen protector  450  to the smart phone. Adhesives are used as required to bond the layers together.