CONFIGURABLE BUTTONS FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20100079309A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Filson, John Benjamin, Lynch, Stephen Brian, Moolsintong, Jan, Sanford, Emery
• Granted Patent: US 8,456,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards, H01H13/88
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/03 Avoiding erroneous switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/12 Push-buttons

Abstract

Configurable buttons for electronic devices such as portable electronic devices are provided. A configurable button may have a button member that moves relative to a device housing when it is desired to activate a switch. The button may have an associated touch sensor. The touch sensor may detect when a user'"'"'s finger touches a particular portion of the button member. Contact with only this portion of the button member is generally inadvertent, so an actuator may be used to prevent or otherwise restrict motion of the button relative to a device housing. This prevents inadvertent activation of the button when a user is manipulating portions of an electronic device such as clip or lid, but does not intend to depress the button.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

a button member that is contacted by an object when operated by a user;

a sensor that detects when the object is present;

an actuator that controls movement of the button member; and

control circuitry that directs the actuator to restrict movement of the button member when the sensor detects that the object is present.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising a portable electronic device housing in which the button member is mounted.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 further comprising:

a button support structure to which the button member is connected, wherein the housing comprises portions that define a groove in which the button support structure is mounted.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises at least one solenoid that is controlled by the control circuitry.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a button support to which the button member is mounted;

a portable electronic device housing in which the button support is mounted; and

a switch that is activated when the button reciprocates relative to the portable electronic device housing, wherein the apparatus comprises a button that includes the button member, the button support, and the sensor.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein at least part of the sensor is mounted between the button member and the button support.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein the button support comprises metal.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a button support connected to the button member; and

a portable electronic device housing for a portable electronic device, wherein the portable electronic device housing comprises a groove in which the button support is mounted and wherein the portable electronic device comprises a media player.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 further comprising a clip that is connected to the portable electronic device housing, wherein the object comprises the user'"'"'s finger, wherein motion of the button support relative the portable electronic device housing is restricted when the finger contacts the button member and is sensed by the sensor.

10. A method for configuring a button, comprising:

with control circuitry in an electronic device, monitoring whether a user'"'"'s finger is present using a sensor associated with the button;

when the user'"'"'s finger is not present, using the control circuitry to direct an actuator to allow the button to move freely; and

when the user'"'"'s finger is present, using the control circuitry to direct the actuator to restrict motion of the button.

11. The method defined in claim 10 wherein the button comprises a button support that is mounted within a portable electronic device housing and wherein monitoring comprises detecting when the user'"'"'s finger touches the button and, when contact between the user'"'"'s finger and the button is detected, using the control circuitry to direct the actuator to restrict the motion of the button relative to the portable electronic device housing.

12. The method defined in claim 10 wherein a clip is mounted to the portable electronic device housing, wherein monitoring whether the user'"'"'s finger is present comprises monitoring when the user'"'"'s finger touches a given portion of the button, and wherein using the control circuitry to direct the actuator to restrict the motion of the button relative to the portable electronic device housing comprises restricting movement of the button relative to the portable electronic device housing when the user'"'"'s finger touches the given portion of the button.

13. The method defined in claim 10 wherein monitoring whether the user'"'"'s finger is present comprises monitoring when the user'"'"'s finger touches a first predetermined portion of the button but does not touch a second predetermined portion of the button and wherein using the control circuitry to direct the actuator to restrict the motion of the button relative to the portable electronic device housing comprises restricting movement of the button relative to the portable electronic device housing when the user'"'"'s finger touches the first predetermined portion of the button but does not touch the second predetermined portion of the button.

14. The method defined in claim 10 wherein a clip is mounted to the portable electronic device housing, wherein monitoring whether the user'"'"'s finger is present comprises monitoring when the user'"'"'s finger touches a first predetermined portion of the button but does not touch a second predetermined portion of the button, and wherein using the control circuitry to direct the actuator to restrict the motion of the button relative to the portable electronic device housing comprises restricting movement of the button relative to the portable electronic device housing when the user'"'"'s finger touches the first predetermined portion of the button but does not touch the second predetermined portion of the button while the user is squeezing the clip to open the clip.

15. A configurable button for an electronic device, comprising:

at least one button member;

at least one touch sensor that detects when the button member is touched by a user of the electronic device; and

an actuator that restricts movement of the button member relative to the electronic device when it is determined using the touch sensor that the user has touched the button member.

16. The configurable button defined in claim 15 wherein the button member comprises glass and wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor.

17. The configurable button defined in claim 15 wherein the touch sensor is mounted under a first top surface region of the button member and detects when the user has touched the first top surface region of the button member without touching a second top surface region of the button member.

18. The configurable button defined in claim 15 wherein the actuator comprises at least one solenoid.

19. The configurable button defined in claim 15 further comprising a button support, wherein at least part of the touch sensor is mounted on the button support and wherein the button member is mounted on at least part of the touch sensor.

20. The configurable button defined in claim 19 wherein the touch sensor is mounted under at least a first portion of the button member and detects when the user has touched the first portion of the button member without touching a second portion of the button member.