U.S. Pat. No. 11,607,605

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS.1through5thereof, a new touch screen device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral10will be described.

As best illustrated inFIGS.1through5, the touch screen game controller assembly10generally comprises a game controller12that is electronically coupled to a gaming console13to control video game play. The game controller12has a top side14and a forward side16, and the game controller12may be structured in the style of a Sony PlayStation® game controller, a Microsoft Xbox game controller or any other gaming console13manufacturer. A control circuit18is coupled to the game controller12and the control circuit18is in electrical communication with the gaming console13. The gaming console13may be a Sony PlayStation®, a Microsoft Xbox or any other electronic gaming system. The game controller12may be a wireless game controller that has a transmitter in electrical communication with the gaming console13.

A direction touch screen20is coupled to the game controller12and the direction touch screen20responds to touch during the video game play. The direction touch screen20is electrically coupled to the control circuit18. The direction touch screen20is positioned on the top side14of the game controller12, and the direction touch screen20is positioned adjacent to an intersection between the top side14and the forward side16. The direction touch screen20displays indicia comprising an up arrow24, a down arrow26, a left arrow28and a right arrow30. Each of the up24, down26, left28and right30arrows is assigned respective control functions by the video game data stored in the gaming console13. Additionally, each of the up24, down26, left28and right30arrows may have the appearance of direction buttons on existing game controller direction pads.

A button touch screen32is coupled to the game controller12and the button touch screen32responds to touch during the video game play. The button touch screen32is electrically coupled to the control circuit18. The button touch screen32is positioned on the top side14of the game controller12and the button touch screen32is positioned adjacent to an intersection between the top side14and the forward side16. Additionally, the direction20and button32touch screens are on opposite sides of the game controller12with respect to each other. The button touch screen32displays indicia comprising a triangle button34, a circle button36, an X button38and a square40button. Each of the triangle34, circle36, X38and square40buttons is assigned respective control functions by the video game data stored in the gaming console13. Moreover, each of the triangle34, circle36, X38and square40buttons may have the appearance of control buttons on existing game controller direction pads.

A select touch screen42is coupled to the game controller12and the select touch screen42responds to touch during the video game play. The select touch screen42is electrically coupled to the control circuit18and the select touch screen42is positioned on the top side14of the game controller12. The select touch screen42is positioned between the direction20and button32touch screens. Additionally, the select touch screen42is assigned respective control functions by the video game data stored in the gaming console13.

A start touch screen44is coupled to the game controller12and the start touch screen44responds to touch during the video game play. The start touch screen44is electrically coupled to the control circuit18and the start touch screen44is positioned on the top side14of the game controller12. Additionally, the start touch screen44is positioned between the direction20and button32touch screens. The start touch screen44is assigned respective control functions by the video game data stored in the gaming console13. Each of the direction20, button32, select42and start44touch screens may comprise a touch sensitive LCD screen or other similar electronic display.

A first dome46is coupled to the game controller12and the first dome46touched during video game play. The first dome46is comprised of a touch sensitive material such that the first dome46can sense the user's fingers. The first dome46is electrically coupled to the control circuit18and the first dome46is positioned on the top side14of the game controller12. Additionally, the first dome46is positioned beneath the select touch screen42and the direction touch screen20. The first dome46is assigned respective control functions by the video game data stored in the gaming console13.

A second dome48is coupled to the game controller12and the second dome48is touched during video game play. The second dome48is comprised of a touch sensitive material such that the second dome48can sense the user's fingers. The second dome48is electrically coupled to the control circuit18and the second dome48is positioned on the top side14of the game controller12. The second dome48is positioned beneath the start touch screen44and the button touch screen32. Additionally, the second dome48is assigned respective control functions by the video game data stored in the gaming console13. Each of the first46and second48domes may comprise an electronic touch pad that is capable of determining where they are being touched. Additionally, the control circuit18translates touch data from each of the first46and second48domes into a signal that is the same as the signal received from manual video game controls.

A first front touch screen50is coupled to the game controller12and the first front touch screen50responds to touch during the video game play. The first front touch screen50is electrically coupled to the control circuit18and the first front touch screen50is positioned on the front side of the game controller12. Additionally, the first front touch screen50is aligned with the direction touch screen20. The first front touch screen50displays indicia comprising an L1 button52and an L2 button54. Additionally, each of the L152and L254buttons is assigned respective control functions by the video game data stored in the gaming console13.

A second front touch screen56is coupled to the game controller12and the second front touch screen56responds to touch during the video game play. The second front touch screen56is electrically coupled to the control circuit18and the second front touch screen56is positioned on the front side of the game controller12. The second front touch screen56is aligned with the button touch screen32and the second front touch screen56displays indicia comprising an R1 button58and an R2 button60. Each of the R158and R260buttons is assigned respective control functions by the video game data stored in the gaming console13. Each of the first50and second56front touch screens may comprise a touch sensitive LCD screen or the like.

In use, the game controller12is gripped during video game play in the conventional manner of using a video game controller12. Each of the direction20, button32, select42, start44, first front50and second front56touch screens are selectively touched to control functions of the video game play. The video game performs the same responses to the direction20, button32, select42, start44, first front50and second front56touch screens as compared to push button game controllers. Additionally, each of the first46and second48domes is touched with respective user's thumbs during game play and the video game performs the same responses as compared to thumb sticks on video game controllers. In this way the problems associated with sticking buttons or thumb sticks is eliminated with touch screen technology.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.