Electronic device housing with integrated user input capability

• US 20070242037A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cheng UEI Precision Industry Company Limited, Wisetouch Co, Ltd
• Original Assignee: Ppst-Midt, Inc.
• Inventors: Son, Jae S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,595,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells

Abstract

An electronic device housing with a seemless user input zone that measures the level of force applied by the user is described. It is particularly advantageous when used with small hand-held consumer electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, game- and media players. A housing for an electronic device includes a seamless user input zone defining a contact force-sensitive deformable area. A capacitance sensor is formed between the conductive inside surface of the housing and the electrode of the rigid base facing that inside surface. Linear support means such as columns support the housing away from the rigid base defining an air gap. Capacitance measurement circuit is deployed to detect the location and force applied by the user onto the housing and send a user input signal to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A housing for an electronic device with integrated user input capability comprising:

a housing body having a deformable user input zone having a conductive inside surface as a first conductive layer,

a rigid base spaced apart from said inside surface of the user input zone of the housing at a predetermined gap distance, said base having a second conductive layer facing said first conductive layer,

a capacitance measuring circuit connected to both said first and second conductive layers,

whereby a capacitance sensor is formed between said first and second conductive layers, said sensor is responsive to deformation of the housing towards said rigid base at the user input zone caused by applying force onto said zone, said deformation causing a change in capacitance between said first and said second conductive layers, said change in capacitance being detected by said capacitance measuring circuit and transmitted as a user input signal to said electronic device.

2. The device as in claim 1 further comprising a linear support means separating said first and second conductive layers and defining the shape of the user input zone.

3. The device as in claim 2, wherein said linear support means are made integral with the housing and protruding therefrom towards said rigid base.

4. The device as in claim 2, wherein said linear support means are made integral with said rigid base and protruding therefrom towards said inside surface of said housing.

5. The device as in claim 2, wherein said linear support means are made from a compressible material.

6. The device as in claim 1 further comprising a compressible dielectric layer filling the space between said first and said second conductive layers.

7. The device as in claim 1, wherein said housing is made from a conductive material.

8. The device as in claim 7, wherein said conductive material is metal.

9. The device as in claim 1, wherein said housing is made from a non-conductive material and said first conductive layer is made by applying a conductive material onto said inside surface.

10. The device as in claim 9, wherein said applying of the conductive material is achieved using a process selected from a group consisting of spraying, coating, painting, etching, vacuum-depositing, and printing.

11. The device as in claim 9, wherein said first conductive layer is continuous.

12. The device as in claim 9, wherein said first conductive layer is non-continuous and said capacitance measuring circuit is adapted to additionally detect a location and change in capacitance of said first conductive layer when a ground electrode object is placed in the vicinity thereof, whereby said electronic device having dual input capability of a touch-sensitive proximity sensor and a force sensing capacitance sensor.

13. The device as in claim 12, wherein said ground electrode object is a finger of the user.

14. The device as in claim 12, wherein said ground electrode object is a conductive pointing device.

15. The device as in claim 1, wherein said second conductive layer having a plurality of buttons, said capacitance measuring circuitry adapted to detect a location of the user input in addition to said change in capacitance and use both as input signals to said electronic device.

16. The device as in claim 1, wherein said housing contains an opening, said user input zone being adjacent to said opening, said first conductive layer being supported only on one side away from said opening and therefore suspended in a cantilever fashion away from said opening.