×

Input mechanism with deformable touch-sensitive material

  • US 10,296,047 B2
  • Filed: 08/04/2015
  • Issued: 05/21/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A case for an electronic device, comprising:

  • a body defining an interior volume configured to receive the electronic device therein;

    a user input region having an area comprising;

    a first layer of a first deformable material having a first hardness; and

    a second layer of a second deformable material positioned below the first layer and having a second hardness that is different from the first hardness, wherein a touch force on the user input region causes an electrical resistance of the first layer to change by a first amount and an electrical resistance of the second layer to change by a second amount different from the first amount; and

    a connector configured to operatively couple the user input region to the electronic device;

    a first electrode pair in contact with the first deformable material and configured to be operatively coupled to a sensing circuit configured to detect a change to the electrical resistance of the first layer; and

    a second electrode pair in contact with the second deformable material and configured to be operatively coupled to the sensing circuit configured to detect a change to the electrical resistance of the second layer, wherein the user input region is at least partially surrounded by another area greater than the user input region area formed from the first or second deformable material.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×