Input devices incorporating biometric sensors

• US 10,089,512 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Cao, Robert Y., McCord, Michael K., Lancaster-Larocque, Simon R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Md Saiful A
• Application Number:
  US15/261,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20170090593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 751 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• 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 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/52 : the contact returning to its original state immediately upon removal of operating force, e.g. bell-push switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/86 : characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/08 : composed of different parts
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 : with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 : portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02

Abstract

A button assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The button assembly integrates a biometric sensor below a top surface of the button. The button assembly is positioned relative to a secondary display of an electronic device. The secondary display can be positioned relative to a keyboard, such as above a top row of keys of the keyboard.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a set of keys extending at least partially through at least one aperture defined by the housing;

a touch-sensitive display disposed at least partially within an opening defined by the housing and along a side of the set of keys; and

a power button disposed at least partially within the opening and abutting the touch-sensitive display, wherein;

the power button is configured to capture a biometric input when a user of the portable electronic device presses the power button; and

the power button is configured to depress in a cantilevered manner such that the power button does not transfer a load to the touch-sensitive display.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive display includes one or more of:

a force sensor or a touch sensor.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power button is configured to change a power state of the electronic device upon determining that the biometric input matches a previously-obtained biometric input.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power button comprises a fingerprint sensor.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power button is offset from the touch-sensitive display by a gap.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power button comprises:

a fingerprint sensor; and

a compressible dome switch positioned below the fingerprint sensor.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power button comprises a bumper configured to impact a surface of the housing when the power button is pressed by a user.

8. A laptop computing device comprising:

a housing defining an aperture comprising a sidewall;

a touch-sensitive display disposed within the aperture opposite the sidewall;

a pivoting button extending at least partially through the aperture adjacent to the touch-sensitive display, the pivoting button configured to pivot against the housing and toward the sidewall of the aperture away from the touch-sensitive display when the pivoting button is pressed by a user; and

a biometric sensor positioned below an exterior surface of the pivoting button.

9. The laptop computing device of claim 8, wherein:

the biometric sensor comprises a fingerprint sensor; and

the pivoting button is configured to function as a power button of the laptop computing device.

10. The laptop computing device of claim 8, wherein the exterior surface of the pivoting button is flush with a top surface of the touch-sensitive display.

11. The laptop computing device of claim 8, wherein:

the housing comprises a hinge; and

the display area extends parallel to the hinge.

12. A button assembly for a laptop computing device, the button assembly comprising:

a button cap comprising;

a frame;

a cover attached to the frame and forming an external surface of the button cap;

a bumper extending from an edge of the frame and configured to pivot against a housing of the laptop computing device in response to a button press;

a spring plate coupled to an interior surface of the housing below a through-hole in the housing, the spring plate coupled to a standoff extending from the button cap through the through-hole; and

a biometric sensor coupled to a bottom surface of the cover.

13. The button assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the spring plate comprises;

an inner tongue coupled to the interior surface adjacent the through-hole; and

an outer tongue coupled to the standoff; and

the spring plate is configured to constrain motion of the button cap in at least one direction.

14. The button assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the button assembly comprises an electrical switch positioned between the biometric sensor and the housing; and

the electrical switch is configured to operate as a power button of the laptop computing device.

15. The button assembly of claim 12, wherein the button cap is positioned adjacent an input component of the laptop computing device.

16. The button assembly of claim 15, wherein the input component comprises a touch-sensitive display.

17. The button assembly of claim 16, wherein a top surface of the button cap is substantially flush with a top surface of the input component.

18. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting one or more inputs to a button operable in;

an unrestricted mode in which a first function of the electronic device is executed in response to each detected input to the button; and

a restricted mode in which a second function of the electronic device, different from the first function, is executed in response to the each detected input to the button only if the each detected input is provided by one of a limited set of users;

in response to the each detected input when the button is in the unrestricted mode, executing the first function after the each detected input; and

in response to the each detected input when the button is in the restricted mode;

obtaining biometric data from a biometric sensor positioned below the button;

upon determining that the obtained biometric data matches template data associated with at least one user of the limited set of users, executing the second function; and

upon determining that the obtained biometric data does not match any template data associated with the limited set of users, rejecting the input.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the first function comprises turning on the electronic device; and

the second function comprises authorizing an electronic purchase.