US 11,709,557 B1
Multipurpose controller device
Paul X. Wang, Cupertino, CA (US); Ryan P. Brooks, Menlo Park, CA (US); and Pol Pla I Conesa, Belmont, CA (US)
Assigned to APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 14, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/994,480.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/906,009, filed on Sep. 25, 2019.
Int. Cl. A63F 9/24 (2006.01); G06F 3/041 (2006.01); G06F 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 3/041 (2013.01) [G06F 3/0202 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A controller device comprising:
a front segment comprising:
a first housing supporting a first force sensor and multiple second force sensors;
a first attachment element on the first housing;
a first communication interface on the first housing;
a first top input region at a first end of the front segment and comprising:
a top base element configured to move against the first force sensor; and
a touch sensor configured to detect contact at the top base element;
a first bottom input region at a second end of the front segment and comprising:
a bottom base element; and
input features on the bottom base element, each of the input features being above a corresponding one of the second force sensors such that a force applied to one of the input features moves the bottom base element against the corresponding one of the second force sensors; and
a first middle input region between the first top input region and the first bottom input region, the first middle input region comprising multiple first buttons; and
a rear segment comprising:
a second housing supporting a third force sensor and multiple fourth force sensors;
a second top input region at a first end of the rear segment and over the third force sensor;
a second bottom input region at a second end of the rear segment and over the multiple fourth force sensors;
a second middle input region between the second top input region and the second bottom input region, the second middle input region comprising multiple second buttons;
a second attachment element opposite the second housing and configured to facilitate releasable attachment to the first attachment element; and
a second communication interface opposite the second housing and configured to facilitate communication with the first communication interface.