Portable electronic device having a pliable or flexible portion

• US 20080246726A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gettemy, Shawn R.
• Application Number:
  US12/011,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20080246726A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• 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

Abstract

A portable electronic device or handheld computer is disclosed. The device has a housing and computing electronics supported by the housing. A pliable sensor that is supported by the housing is also disclosed. The pliable sensor provides input from the hand of a user by applying pressure to the pliable sensor.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a housing;

a touch screen display;

a sensor; and

a processor, coupled to the touch screen display and the sensor;

wherein the sensor is configured to receive an input via the touch screen display and provide tactile feedback.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 2, wherein the mobile computing device is a handheld device.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 2, further comprising cellular telephone electronics.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 2, wherein the sensor is incorporated into the touch screen display.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 2, wherein the sensor sends signals to the processor based on the input.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 2, wherein the tactile feed back is a protrusion formed in the sensor.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 2, wherein the protrusion is provided at a location based in the location of the input on the touch screen display.

9. A cellular telephone comprising:

a housing;

a processor including cellular telephone electronics and disposed within the housing; and

a sensor configured to provide signals to the processor based on a force applied to the sensor by a user and to provide tactile feedback to the user in response to the force.

10. The cellular telephone of claim 9, further comprising a touch screen.

11. The cellular telephone of claim 10, wherein the sensor is coupled to the touch screen.

12. The cellular telephone of claim 11, wherein the tactile feedback is a protrusion formed in the sensor.

13. The cellular telephone of claim 9, further comprising a personal information manager application.

14. The cellular telephone of claim 9, wherein the sensor is incorporated into the housing.

15. The cellular telephone of claim 9, wherein the tactile feedback is a protrusion formed in a location determined based in the location of the force.

16. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a housing;

computing electronics;

a display coupled to the computing electronics and the housing; and

a force sensor coupled to the computing electronics and at least a portion of the surface of the housing to define an input device for the portable computer;

wherein the force sensor is configured to deform in response to a tactile input, and provide inputs to the computing electronics based on the location of the tactile input on the force sensor; and

wherein the computing electronics are configured to provide an alphanumeric character on the display in response to the tactile input.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 16, wherein the force sensor is configured to provide a button in response to the tactile input.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 16, wherein the display is configured to provide a plurality of visual user interfaces, and the processor is configured to permit a user to navigate through the plurality of visual user interfaces by the user providing the tactile input.

19. The mobile computing device of claim 16, wherein the computing electronics comprise cellular telephone electronics.

20. The mobile computing device of claim 16, wherein the mobile computing device is a handheld computer.

21. The mobile computing device of claim 20, wherein the display is a touch screen display.