Sensor configurations in a user input device

• US 20080087476A1
• Filed: 08/06/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher, Prest, Christopher D., Dinh, Richard H.
• Application Number:
  US11/882,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20080087476A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 178/18.01
• 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: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• 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

Abstract

Method and device relate to improved sensor configurations in a user device are disclosed. A device implements the improved sensor configurations includes a switch configured to detect a force applied by a user, one or more touch sensors configured to detect an angular position of the user input which are peripherally located relative to the switch, and a processor configured to generate a signal for performing a task selected from a plurality of predefined tasks in accordance with the force and the angular position of the user input.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

at least one touch sensor configured to detect an angular position associated with a first user input,

a plurality of switches associated with a plurality of input functions, each switch being configured to detect a second user input, wherein the at least one touch sensor is peripherally located with respect to the plurality of switches, and

a processor configured to generate a signal associated with performing a task in accordance with the first and second user inputs.

2-28. -28. (canceled)