Center button isolation ring

• US 20070080952A1
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Moolsintong, Jan, Lynch, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,880,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2025/048 having a separate central push, slide or tumbler button which is not integral with the operating part that surrounds it
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

Selection button isolation arrangements for use with electronic devices are presented including: a selection pad forming a substantially planar surface disposed about a first axis, the selection pad having a pad top surface, the pad top surface configured to receive a user input, the selection pad configured to actuate a number of switches; a selection button substantially co-located with and disposed about the first axis for actuating a selection button switch, the selection button configured to receive a user input; and an annular isolation ring disposed about the first axis having a standoff for mechanically isolating the selection button such that the selection button switch is not actuated by the first user input. In some embodiments, the user input indicators are selected from the group consisting of: a menu selection, a play selection, a pause selection, a forward search selection, a backward search selection, and a stop selection.

Claims

1. A selection button isolation arrangement for use with an electronic device comprising:

a selection pad forming a substantially planar surface disposed about a first axis, the selection pad having a pad top surface, the pad top surface configured to receive a first user input, the selection pad configured to actuate a plurality of switches;

a selection button substantially co-located with and disposed about the first axis for actuating a selection button switch, the selection button configured to receive a second user input; and

an annular isolation ring disposed about the first axis having a standoff for mechanically isolating the selection button such that the selection button switch is not actuated by the first user input.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the selection pad comprises:

a base layer for providing mechanical support, the base layer configured with a plurality of actuator nubs for actuating the plurality of switches; and

a finish surface layer forming the pad top surface for providing a plurality of user input indicators.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein the plurality of user input indicators are selected from the group consisting of:

a menu selection, a play selection, a pause selection, a forward search selection, a backward search selection, and a stop selection.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the selection button comprises:

a button actuator nub for actuating the selection button switch; and

an indent for providing a capturing element such that the annular isolation ring captures the selection button.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the annular isolation ring is mechanically integrated with the selection pad.

6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a portable music device.

7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the portable music device is an IPOD®

.

8. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the annular isolation ring is non-contiguous.

9. A selection button isolation arrangement for use with an electronic device comprising:

a selection pad forming a substantially planar surface, the selection pad having a pad top surface, the pad top surface configured to receive a first user input, the selection pad configured to actuate a plurality of switches;

a selection button substantially coplanar with the selection pad for actuating a selection button switch wherein the selection button is proximate to at least one of the plurality of switches, the selection button configured to receive a second user input; and

an isolation barrier for mechanically isolating the selection button such that the selection button switch is not actuated by the first user input.

10. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the selection pad comprises:

a base layer for providing mechanical support, the base layer configured with a plurality of actuator nubs for actuating the plurality of switches; and

a finish surface layer forming the pad top surface for providing a plurality of user input indicators.

11. The arrangement of claim 10 wherein the plurality of user input indicators are selected from the group consisting of:

a menu selection, a play selection, a pause selection, a forward search selection, a backward search selection, and a stop selection.

12. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the selection button comprises:

a button actuator nub for actuating the selection button switch; and

an indent for providing a capturing element such that the isolation barrier captures the selection button.

13. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the isolation barrier is non-contiguous.

14. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the selection pad is formed into a shape selected from the group consisting of:

a triangle, a quadrilateral, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon, a free form shape, and an ovate shape.

15. A selection button isolation arrangement for use with a portable electronic music device comprising:

a selection pad forming a substantially planar surface disposed about a first axis, the selection pad having a pad top surface, the pad top surface configured to receive a first user input, the selection pad configured to actuate a plurality of switches wherein the selection pad comprises,

a base layer for providing mechanical support, the base layer configured with a plurality of actuator nubs for actuating the plurality of switches, and

a finish surface layer forming the pad top surface for providing a plurality of user input indicators;

a selection button substantially co-located with and disposed about the first axis for actuating a selection button switch, the selection button configured to receive a second user input wherein the selection button comprises,

a button actuator nub for actuating the selection button switch, and

an indent for providing a capturing element such that the annular isolation ring captures the selection button; and

an annular isolation ring disposed about the first axis having a standoff for mechanically isolating the selection button such that the selection button switch is not actuated by the first user input.

16. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein the plurality of user input indicators are selected from the group consisting of:

a menu selection, a play selection, a pause selection, a forward search selection, a backward search selection, and a stop selection.

17. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein the annular isolation ring is mechanically integrated with the selection pad.

18. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein the portable electronic music device is an IPOD®

.

19. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein the annular isolation ring is non-contiguous.