Protective case for an electronic device and an input method using the same

• US 10,437,393 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2015
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Liu, Jie, Xu, Xingong, Park, Jae-sun
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bogale, Amen Woldesenbet
• Application Number:
  US14/689,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20150301655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• 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 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1636 Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

A protective case for an electronic device and an input method using the same, the protective case includes a front cover for covering a touch screen of the electronic device, and a conductive layer for generating a touch input, wherein the conductive layer at least includes a first conductive layer provided on the front cover. The protective case according to present disclosure may perform operation on the touch screen.

Claims

1. A protective case for protecting an electronic device, the protective case comprising:

a front cover for covering a touch screen of the electronic device;

a conductive layer for generating a touch input on the touch screen; and

a protective layer,

wherein the conductive layer comprises at least one first conductive layer disposed at the front cover, and a groove is formed in an internal surface of the front cover,

wherein the first conductive layer is disposed between the protective layer and the internal surface of the front cover,

wherein the first conductive layer comprises a plurality of conductive regions and a connecting wire for electrically connecting conductive regions adjacent to each other from among the plurality of conductive regions,

wherein a support plate is formed on the internal surface of the front cover, and the first conductive layer is formed on the support plate, each of the conductive regions of the first conductive layer comprising a plurality of portions,

wherein the front cover comprises a non-conductive material layer, a base layer, and the support plate, the base layer being disposed between the non-conductive material layer and the support plate, and

wherein a key is embedded in the non-conductive material layer and the base layer such that at least two portions of the plurality of portions are electronically connected to each other when the key is pressed.

2. The protective case of claim 1, wherein a region of the front cover where the first conductive layer is located is partially or entirely elastic.

3. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the conductive layer has an area that is greater than an area of a predetermined first region.

4. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the conductive layer further comprises a second conductive layer that is disposed at a position different from that of the first conductive layer.

5. The protective case of claim 1, wherein an area of each of the plurality of conductive regions is less than an area of the at least one first conductive layer.

6. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the plurality of portions comprise a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, and

wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the connecting wire are arranged at a first side of the support plate, and the third portion is arranged at a second side of the support plate which is opposite to the first side.

7. The protective case of claim 6, wherein the first portion and the third portion are electrically connected to each other, and the second portion is electrically connected to the connecting wire.

8. The protective case of claim 6, wherein the key is arranged above the first portion, and the first portion and the second portion are electrically connected to each other via the key when the key is pressed.

9. The protective case of claim 1, wherein a visible identifier is provided on the key.

10. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the front cover is partially or entirely transparent.

11. The protective case of claim 1, further comprising:

a rear cover, connected to the front cover with a ridge, for covering rear areas of the electronic device.

12. A protective case for protecting an electronic device, the protective case comprising:

a front cover for covering a touch screen of the electronic device; and

a conductive layer for generating a touch input on the touch screen,

wherein the conductive layer comprises at least one first conductive layer disposed at the front cover, and a groove is formed in an internal surface of the front cover,

wherein the first conductive layer comprises a plurality of conductive regions and a connecting wire for electrically connecting conductive regions adjacent to each other from among the plurality of conductive regions,

wherein a support plate is formed on the internal surface of the front cover, and the first conductive layer is formed on the support plate, each of the conductive regions of the first conductive layer comprising a plurality of portions,

wherein the front cover comprises a non-conductive material layer, a base layer, and the support plate, the base layer being disposed between the non-conductive material layer and the support plate,

wherein a key is embedded in the non-conductive material layer and the base layer such that at least two portions of the plurality of portions are electronically connected to each other when the key is pressed,

wherein at least one from among the plurality of conductive regions comprises a protrusion disposed in the groove that is formed in the internal surface of the front cover,

wherein at least one conductive region has an arc-shaped surface, and the groove comprises;

an arc portion formed as an arc shape matching with the arc-shaped surface of the at least one conductive region;

horizontal extension portions extending outwards from an edge of the arc portion; and

vertical extension portions extending outwards from an end portion of the horizontal extension portions, and

wherein an inlet of the groove is covered by an insulating layer, and the insulating layer is hollowed to cover the protrusion included in the groove and coupled to the horizontal extension portions and the vertical extension portions.

13. The protective case of claim 12, wherein the connecting wire is located between the insulating layer and the horizontal extension portions, and the horizontal extension portions are provided in a hole for connecting the connecting wire.

14. The protective case of claim 12, further comprising a protective layer disposed in a hollowed position of the insulating layer.

15. The protective case of claim 12, wherein an area of the protrusion is greater than a predetermined threshold area that is a minimum contact area on the touch screen for the conductive layer to generate the touch input.

16. A protective case for protecting an electronic device, the protective case comprising:

a front cover for covering a touch screen of the electronic device; and

a conductive layer for generating a touch input on the touch screen,

wherein the conductive layer comprises at least one first conductive layer disposed at the front cover, and a groove is formed in an internal surface of the front cover,

wherein the first conductive layer comprises a plurality of conductive regions and a connecting wire for electrically connecting conductive regions adjacent to each other from among the plurality of conductive regions,

wherein a support plate is formed on the internal surface of the front cover, and the first conductive layer is formed on the support plate, each of the conductive regions of the first conductive layer comprising a plurality of portions,

wherein the front cover comprises a leather layer, a base layer, and the support plate, the base layer being disposed between the leather layer and the support plate, and

wherein a key is embedded in the leather layer and the base layer such that at least two portions of the plurality of portions are electronically connected to each other when the key is pressed.