# US 11,445,054 B2 · Smartphone case having reconfigurable input control features for controlling smartphone apps > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,445,054 B2 - Document ID: US11445054B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/101,214 - Filed: 2020-11-23 - Published: 2021-03-11 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-31 - Applicants: Devan Kosa - Inventors: Devan Kosa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11445054B2 ## CPC - H04M 1/026: {Details of the structure or mounting of specific components} - A63F 13/22: Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment - A63F 13/24: Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles - A63F 13/98: Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers - G06F 1/1626: {with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]} - G06F 1/1656: {Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203)} - G06F 1/1669: {Detachable keyboards} - G06F 1/1671: {Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop (G06F1/1666 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/1684: {Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675} - H04M 1/0254: {comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules} - A63F 2300/1018: Calibration; Key and button assignment - G06F 2200/1633: Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A smartphone case for holding and protecting a smartphone, while also having various features for controlling an app, such as a video game running on the smartphone. The smartphone case includes a case body having a case back, and a case side wall that extends circumferentially around the case back, including four corners. The case side wall also extends above and below a smartphone held by the case, thereby forming a front rim and a back rim. The case side wall also includes corner connectors configured to connect with a swappable input control module. The case back also includes dedicated controls, and at least one recess for storing a swappable control module while not in use. A long side of the case side wall includes a left bumper and a right bumper. An app provides a GUI for assigning the dedicated and swappable controls for an app to be controlled. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A smartphone case for holding and protecting a smartphone, the smartphone case also having features for controlling a video game, the smartphone case comprising: a case body, the case body having: a case side wall that extends circumferentially around the case to form and four corners; and a pair of corner connectors including a first corner connector and a second corner connector, each of said first and second corner connector configured to connect with a swappable control module; and a pair of swappable control modules, each swappable control module configured to connect with a corner connector of the pair of corner connectors, the swappable control modules configured to provide input control information to one or more applications running on the smartphone when the smartphone is held by the case; wherein at least one of the swappable control modules is assigned to control one or more inputs of an app by an application program running on the smartphone when held by the case, the application program configured to: scan the app to identify inputs of the app for assignment and display them using a graphical user interface (GUI), and receive information from a user through the GUI for assigning the one or more of the identified inputs of the app to at least one of the swappable control modules. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The smartphone case of claim 1, further comprising one or more dedicated input control devices each configured to be assigned by a user through the GUI of the application program, wherein the application is further configured to receive information from a user through the GUI for assigning one or more of the identified inputs of the app to at least one of the dedicated input control devices. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The smartphone case of claim 1, wherein at least one long side of the case side wall is configured to be flexed so as to allow insertion of a smartphone into the case. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The smartphone case of claim 1, wherein the dedicated input control devices are accessible to a user at an outward facing surface of the case. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The smartphone case of claim 1, wherein the application program is configured to receive input control information from the at least one of the swappable input control modules and pass it to the one or more assigned inputs of the app. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The smartphone case of claim 5, wherein the application program is configured to receive input control information from the at least one of the dedicated input control devices and pass it to the one or more assigned inputs of the app. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The smartphone case of claim 6, wherein the case body includes a wireless transceiver for transmitting the input control information generated by the at least one swappable control module and the at least one dedicated input control device to the application program. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The smartphone case of claim 7, further including a CPU for receiving the control information from the at least one swappable input control module and the at least one dedicated control device and preparing the received control information for transmission by a Bluetooth transceiver. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The smartphone case of claim 1, wherein a short side of the case sidewall includes an audio jack. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The smartphone case of claim 1, wherein the pair of swappable control modules is selected from: a Joystick; a D-Pad; a 2-Button; and a Single Button. ### Claim 11 A smartphone case for holding and protecting a smartphone, the smartphone case also having features for controlling a video game, the smartphone case comprising: a case body, the case body having: a case side wall that extends circumferentially around the case to form two long sides, two short sides, and four corners; and a pair of corner connectors including a first corner connector and a second corner connector, each of said first and second corner connector configured to connect with a swappable control module; a pair of swappable control modules, each swappable control module configured to connect with a corner connector of the pair of corner connectors, the swappable control modules configured to provide input control information to one or more applications running on the smartphone when the smartphone is held by the case wherein each corner connector includes: at least one snap-in receptacle, a plurality of corner conductors, and at least one magnetic surface; wherein a magnetic surface is located between each pair of corner conductors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The smartphone case of claim 11, wherein a magnetic surface is located on an inner surface of the at least one snap-in receptacle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The smartphone case of claim 11, wherein each swappable control module includes: a plurality of snap-in tabs, each snap-in tap being configured to engage with a snap-in receptacle; a plurality of module conductors, each module conductor being configured to engage with a corner conductor; and a plurality of magnetic surfaces, each magnetic surface being configured to engage with a corresponding magnetic surface of a corner connector. ### Claim 14 A smartphone case for holding and protecting a smartphone, the smartphone case also having features for controlling a video game, the smartphone case comprising: a case body, the case body having: a case side wall that extends circumferentially around the case to form two long sides, two short sides, and four corners; and a pair of corner connectors including a first corner connector and a second corner connector, each of said first and second corner connector configured to connect with a swappable control module; and a pair of swappable control modules, each swappable control module configured to connect with a corner connector of the pair of corner connectors, the swappable control modules configured to provide input control information to one or more applications running on the smartphone when the smartphone is held by the case; wherein the case body includes at least one recess for storing a swappable control module while not in use. ### Claim 15 A smartphone case for holding and protecting a smartphone, the smartphone case also having features for controlling a video game, the smartphone case comprising: a case body, the case body having: a case side wall that extends circumferentially around the case to form two long sides, two short sides, and four corners; and a pair of corner connectors including a first corner connector and a second corner connector, each of said first and second corner connector configured to connect with a swappable control module; each corner connector including at least one snap-in receptacle, a plurality of corner conductors, and at least one magnetic surface; wherein the case body includes at least one recess for storing a swappable control module while not in use. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The smartphone case of claim 15, further including a plurality of swappable control modules, each swappable control module including: a plurality of snap-in tabs, each snap-in tap being configured to engage with a snap-in receptacle; a plurality of module conductors, each module conductor being configured to engage with a corner conductor; and a plurality of magnetic surfaces, each magnetic surface being configured to engage with a corresponding magnetic surface of a corner connector. ### Claim 17 A smartphone case for holding and protecting a smartphone, the smartphone case also having features for controlling a video game, the smartphone case comprising: a case body, the case body having: a case side wall that extends circumferentially around the case to form two long sides, two short sides, and four corners, and a pair of corner connectors including a first corner connector and a second corner connector each of said first and second corner connector configured to connect with a swappable control module; each corner connector including at least one snap-in receptacle, a plurality of corner conductors, and at least one magnetic surface; wherein the case body includes: a D-Pad; an A-button; and a B-button.