ELECTRONIC DEVICE HOUSING WITH INTEGRATED USER INPUT CAPABILITY
First Claim
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 increasing levels of deformation of the housing towards said rigid base but without touching thereof at the user input zone caused by applying progressively increasing levels of force onto said zone, said increasing deformation causing a progressively increasing change in capacitance between said first and said second conductive layers, said progressively increasing change in capacitance being detected by said capacitance measuring circuit and transmitted as a progressively increasing user input signal to said electronic device.
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Accused Products
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 progressively increasing levels of force applied by the user onto the housing and send a user input signal to the electronic device.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A housing for an electronic device with integrated user input capability comprising:
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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 increasing levels of deformation of the housing towards said rigid base but without touching thereof at the user input zone caused by applying progressively increasing levels of force onto said zone, said increasing deformation causing a progressively increasing change in capacitance between said first and said second conductive layers, said progressively increasing change in capacitance being detected by said capacitance measuring circuit and transmitted as a progressively increasing user input signal to said electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A housing for an electronic device with integrated dual user input capability comprising:
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a non-conductive housing body having a deformable user input zone having a conductive inside surface as a first conductive layer, said first conductive layer is non-continuous defining areas of its presence and absense, 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 and forming a capacitance sensor therebetween, said sensor is responsive to deformation of the housing towards said rigid base but without touching thereof 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 first user input signal to said electronic device, said capacitance measuring circuit is further adapted to provide a second user input signal by detecting a location and change in capacitance of said second conductive layer when a ground electrode object is placed in the vicinity thereof but without deforming of said housing, whereby said housing of said electronic device is providing a dual user input capability of a force-sensing capacitance sensor responsive to housing deformation and the presence a ground electrode object without housing deformation.
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Specification