Apparatuses, methods, and systems for an electronic device with a detachable user input attachment

• US 10,042,480 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2010
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Krahenbuhl, John Henry, Lundell, Louis Jerome, Slaby, Jiri
• Primary Examiner(s): Sadio, Insa
• Application Number:
  US12/756,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20110248947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,043 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-183, 178 1803
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

An electronic device (100) is configured to be operable with the user input attachment (102) so as to provide a user with the option of using a touch sensitive display (101) alone, or in conjunction with the control device or keypad having physical keys to enhance the tactile user experience. The electronic device (100) includes a touch sensitive display (101) and the controller (104) it is operable with a touch sensitive display (101). When the user input attachment (102) is coupled to the touch sensitive display (101), and identification module (106) is configured to identify the user input attachment (102) by way of a temporal signature signal (110). Once identified, and adaptation module (107) is configured to reconfigure the electronic device (100) in response to the user input attachment (102) being attached.

Claims

1. A passive user input attachment for an electronic device having a touch sensitive surface, the passive user input attachment comprising:

a plurality of conductive pads disposed along the passive user input attachment configured to deliver a temporal signature signal to the touch sensitive surface when the plurality of conductive pads are attached to the touch sensitive surface;

one or more user actuation components disposed along the passive user input attachment, each user actuation component being configured to cause an electromagnetic field perturbation at the touch sensitive surface upon actuation of a user actuated component; and

a mechanical coupling configured to retain the passive user input attachment against at least a portion of the touch sensitive surface.

2. The passive user input attachment of claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling comprises arms extending distally from the passive user input attachment that are configured to wrap about the electronic device.

3. The passive user input attachment of claim 2, wherein the arms are collapsible.

4. The passive user input attachment of claim 1, wherein the passive user input attachment comprises a keypad portion and a personality piece, wherein the plurality of conductive pads are disposed along the keypad portion opposite the one or more user actuation components, further wherein the personality piece comprises the mechanical coupling.

5. The passive user input attachment of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of conductive pads is coupled to one or more passive second order circuits comprising one or more of an inductor, a resistor, or a capacitor, wherein the one or more passive second order circuits is configured to cause the temporal signature signal.

6. The passive user input attachment of claim 4, wherein the keypad portion comprises at least one of:

a QWERTY keypad;

a Braille keypad;

a numeric keypad;

a game controller keypad;

one or more slider controllers;

one or more touch pads;

or

a navigational device.

7. The passive user input attachment of claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling is configured to retain the passive user input attachment against either a first major face of the electronic device or a second major face of the electronic device.

8. The passive user input attachment of claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling is configured as a sleeve.

9. The passive user input attachment of claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling comprises one of a static charge coupling, a suction coupling, a magnetic attraction coupling, a gravity coupling, or combinations thereof.

10. The passive user input attachment of claim 1, wherein the passive user input attachment comprises a plurality of passive user input attachment elements, each being capable of attachment to the touch sensitive surface simultaneously.

11. The passive user input attachment of claim 10, wherein the plurality of passive user input attachment elements are configured to couple to distal ends of the electronic device to simulate a gaming controller.

12. The passive user input attachment of claim 1, wherein when the passive user input attachment is attached to the touch sensitive surface, the plurality of conductive pads are disposed atop at least the portion of the touch sensitive surface, wherein the one or more user actuation components are not disposed atop the touch sensitive surface.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch sensitive surface comprising an electromagnetic field sensor;

a controller operable with the touch sensitive surface;

a passive user input attachment, attachable to and removable from the touch sensitive surface, and configured to deliver a temporal signature signal to the touch sensitive surface when attached;

an identification module, operable with the controller, and configured to identify the passive user input attachment from the temporal signature signal; and

a retention device configured to maintain a physical connection between the passive user input attachment and the touch sensitive surface when the passive user input attachment is removed from the touch sensitive surface.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the retention device comprises one of a mechanical coupling or a lanyard.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the retention device comprises a groove and one or more attachment detents.

16. A user input attachment for an electronic device having a touch sensitive surface and one or more of an electroluminescent layer or light emitting diode backlight, the user input attachment comprising:

a plurality of conductive pads disposed along the user input attachment configured to deliver a temporal signature signal to the touch sensitive surface when the plurality of conductive pads are attached to the touch sensitive surface;

one or more user actuation components disposed along the user input attachment, each user actuation component being configured to cause an electromagnetic field perturbation at the touch sensitive surface through one or more of the plurality of conductive pads upon actuation of the user actuation component; and

one or more light transport elements configured to pass light from the one or more of the electroluminescent layer or the light emitting diode backlight through the user input attachment.

17. The user input attachment of claim 16, wherein the one or more light transport elements comprise one or more light pipes disposed within the one or more user actuation components.

18. The user input attachment of claim 17, wherein the one or more user actuation components is configured as a popple dome, wherein the user input attachment comprises a mechanical support configured to connect one or more of the plurality of conductive pads with additional conductive elements.

19. The user input attachment of claim 16, wherein the one or more light transport elements comprise a light pipe layer passing beneath or over the one or more user actuation components.

20. The user input attachment of claim 19, wherein the light pipe layer passes about an end of the user input attachment.