Apparatus for enabling a smartphone into a remote controller for a radio-controlled instrument

1 . An apparatus ( 100 ) for enabling a smartphone to function as a remote controller for a radio-controlled instrument, the apparatus comprises:

a fixing support assembly, configured for rigidly clamping a smartphone;

a steering assembly ( 110 ), set over the fixing support assembly, configured for maneuvering a first capacitive tip (S- 11 ) over a screen surface of the smartphone for providing steering control over the radio-controlled instrument; and

a throttle assembly ( 112 ), set over the fixing support assembly, configured for maneuvering a second capacitive tip (T- 10 ) over the screen surface of the smartphone for providing throttle control over the radio-controlled instrument;

characterized in that,

the steering assembly ( 110 ) and the throttle assembly ( 112 ) are configured to transmit a capacitive effect from fingers of the user to the screen of the smartphone in order to remotely control the radio-controlled instrument and aids in receiving haptic return and precision;

wherein the fixing support assembly comprises:

an assembly base structure (A- 1 ) made of molded non-conductive plastic;

a set of rubber tips (A- 2 , A- 3 ) for protecting contacts of the assembly base structure with the screen surface of the smartphone by increased adherence;

a pair of hooks (A- 4 , A- 5 ) extensively slidable in opposite direction over the assembly base structure (A- 1 ), by means of slider tension springs (A- 6 ) for rigidly clamping the smartphone on two different sides of either horizontal sides or vertical sides of the smartphone, wherein the pair of hooks are made of molded non-conductive plastic;

a pair of hook tips (A- 7 ) secured on the pair of hooks for protective contact with the smartphone and avoid pressing on buttons of the smartphone; and

a rubber band (A- 8 ) arranged for strapping the smartphone over surface opposite to the screen of the smartphone.

2 . An apparatus ( 100 ) for enabling a smartphone to function as a remote controller for a radio-controlled instrument, the apparatus comprises:

a fixing support assembly, configured for rigidly clamping a smartphone;

a steering assembly ( 110 ), set over the fixing support assembly, configured for maneuvering a first capacitive tip (S- 11 ) over a screen surface of the smartphone for providing steering control over the radio-controlled instrument; and

a throttle assembly ( 112 ), set over the fixing support assembly, configured for maneuvering a second capacitive tip (T- 10 ) over the screen surface of the smartphone for providing throttle control over the radio-controlled instrument;

characterized in that,

the steering assembly ( 110 ) and the throttle assembly ( 112 ) are configured to transmit a capacitive effect from fingers of the user to the screen of the smartphone in order to remotely control the radio-controlled instrument and aids in receiving haptic return and precision;

wherein the steering assembly comprises:

a steering joystick (S- 4 ) having a first joystick tip (S- 5 ) on top of the steering joystick, wherein the steering joystick (S- 4 ), made of conductive plastic, is capable of being rotated left and right as per control of a user and automatically retracts to a rest position upon release by the user, and the first joystick tip (S- 5 ), made of aluminium, has a shape to adapt to a finger of the user;

a pair of steering torsion springs (S- 2 , S- 3 ) are configured to have increased pressure on one of the pair of steering torsion springs (S- 2 , S- 3 ) when the steering joystick (S- 4 ) is rotated in either of the left or right by the user, and to retract to the rest position instantaneously when released by the user;

a first joystick spring (S- 7 ), made of spring steel, is configured to push a first sliding pin (S- 8 ) down and make the first capacitive tip (S- 11 ) stay stuck on the screen surface, wherein the first sliding pin (S- 8 ), made of metal, is configured to move freely vertically by means of a first joystick sleeve (S- 9 ) that is made of conductive plastic, and allow the capacitive tip (S- 11 ) to follow the screen surface when the steering joystick (S- 4 ) is rotating;

a steering hood (S- 1 ), made of molded non-conductive plastic, is a housing for the pair of steering torsion springs, and a rotation axis of the steering joystick (S- 4 );

a first conductive pin (S- 6 ), made of metal, is configured to conduct charge from the first joystick tip (S- 5 ) to the first joystick spring (S- 7 );

a first joystick piston (S- 10 ), made of metal, is configured to hold the first capacitive tip (S- 11 ) and link the first capacitive tip (S- 11 ) to the first sliding pin (S- 8 ); and

a first holding ring (S- 12 ) is configured to press the first capacitive tip (S- 11 ) on the first joystick piston (S- 10 ) and hold the first capacitive tip (S- 11 ) firmly.

3 . The apparatus ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the steering joystick (S- 4 ), the first joystick tip (S- 5 ), the pair of steering torsion springs (S- 2 , S- 3 ), the first joystick spring (S- 7 ), the first sliding pin (S- 8 ), the first joystick sleeve (S- 9 ), the first conductive pin (S- 6 ), and the first joystick piston (S- 10 ) are made of conductive materials so as to allow transmission of the capacitive effect from fingers of the user to the screen of the smartphone.

4 . The apparatus ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein upon having the steering joystick (S- 4 ), moving in a left or right direction by the user for achieving desired movement in the radio-controlled instrument, a detected contact on the screen surface of the smartphone slides right or left, so that such movement can be calibrated in an application of the smartphone so as to enable the smartphone application to identify the desired action of the user in real time and operate the radio-controlled instrument accordingly.

5 . An apparatus ( 100 ) for enabling a smartphone to function as a remote controller for a radio-controlled instrument, the apparatus comprises:

a fixing support assembly, configured for rigidly clamping a smartphone;

a steering assembly ( 110 ), set over the fixing support assembly, configured for maneuvering a first capacitive tip (S- 11 ) over a screen surface of the smartphone for providing steering control over the radio-controlled instrument; and

a throttle assembly ( 112 ), set over the fixing support assembly, configured for maneuvering a second capacitive tip (T- 10 ) over the screen surface of the smartphone for providing throttle control over the radio-controlled instrument;

characterized in that,

the steering assembly ( 110 ) and the throttle assembly ( 112 ) are configured to transmit a capacitive effect from fingers of the user to the screen of the smartphone in order to remotely control the radio-controlled instrument and aids in receiving haptic return and precision;

wherein the throttle assembly comprises:

a throttle joystick (T- 3 ) having a second joystick tip (T- 4 ) on top of the throttle joystick (T- 3 ), wherein the throttle joystick (T- 3 ), made of conductive plastic, is capable of being rotated up and down as per control of the user and automatically retracts to a rest position upon released by the user, and the second joystick tip (T- 4 ), made of aluminium, has a shape to adapt to a finger of the user;

a throttle torsion spring (T- 2 ) is configured to receive increased pressure when the throttle joystick (T- 3 ) is rotated in either of the up or down direction by the user, and to retract to the rest position instantaneously when released by the user;

a second joystick spring (T- 6 ), made of spring steel, is configured to push a second sliding pin (T- 7 ) down and make the second capacitive tip (T- 10 ) stay stuck on the screen surface, wherein the second sliding pin (T- 7 ), made of metal, is configured to move freely vertically by means of a second joystick sleeve (T- 8 ) that is made of conductive plastic, and allow the capacitive tip (T- 10 ) to follow the screen surface when the throttle joystick (T- 3 ) is rotating;

a throttle hood (T- 1 ), made of molded non-conductive plastic, is a housing for the throttle torsion spring, and a rotation axis of the throttle joystick (T- 3 );

a second conductive pin (T- 5 ), made of metal, is configured to conduct charge from the second joystick tip (T- 4 ) to the second joystick spring (T- 6 );

a second joystick piston (T- 9 ), made of metal, is configured to hold the second capacitive tip (T- 10 ) and link the second capacitive tip (T- 10 ) to the second sliding pin (T- 7 ); and

a second holding ring (T- 11 ) is configured to press the second capacitive tip (T- 10 ) on the second joystick piston (T- 9 ) and hold the second capacitive tip (T- 10 ) firmly.

6 . The apparatus ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the throttle joystick (T- 3 ), the second joystick tip (T- 4 ), the throttle torsion spring (T- 2 ), the second joystick spring (T- 6 ), the second sliding pin (T- 7 ), the second joystick sleeve (T- 8 ), the second conductive pin (T- 5 ), and the second joystick piston (T- 9 ) are made of conductive materials so as to allow transmission of the capacitive effect from fingers of the user to the screen of the smartphone.

7 . The apparatus ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 5 , wherein upon having the throttle joystick (T- 3 ) moving in upward direction by the user for achieving increased throttle in the radio-controlled instrument, a detected contact on the screen surface of the smartphone slides down, so that such movement can be calibrated in an application of the smartphone so as to enable the smartphone application to easily identify the desired action of the user and operate the radio-controlled instrument accordingly.