Disappearing Button or Slider

• US 20100103116A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Amm, David T., LEUNG, Omar S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,436,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/14 with many small apertures
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An input device is disclosed. The input is a deflection based capacitive sensing input. Deflection of a metal fame of the input device causes a change in capacitance that is used to control a function of an electrical device. The input appears invisible because it is made of the same material as the housing it is contained in. Invisible backlit holes may make the input selectively visible or invisible to the user.

Claims

1. An electronic device with an invisible input, comprising:

a frame having a top face;

invisible holes formed in the top face;

a capacitive reference on an inner surface of the top face in the area of the invisible holes;

an interior wall formed within the frame and separated from the top face;

an interior space formed between the top face and the interior wall;

a dielectric medium disposed in the interior space;

a capacitor plate disposed on a surface of the interior wall opposite to the capacitive reference;

a light source disposed in the interior space configured to shine through the invisible holes when lit; and

a capacitive sensor electrically connected to the capacitive reference and to the capacitor plate;

wherein deformation of the frame caused by pressure from an object placed thereon in the area of the invisible holes causes a change in capacitance between the capacitive reference and the capacitor plate that is detected by the capacitive sensor and converted to an electrical signal.

2. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 1 wherein the capacitive reference is a capacitor plate.

3. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 1 wherein the capacitive reference is a ground reference.

4. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 3 wherein the top face of the frame is the ground reference.

5. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 1 wherein the electrical signal is used to command a button signal.

6. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 1 wherein the frame is made of metal.

7. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 1 further comprising supports disposed between the top face and the interior wall.

8. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 1 wherein the light source comes on as a function of an operating state of the electronic device.

9. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 1 further comprising

a second capacitive reference on an inner surface of the top face adjacent to the first capacitive reference;

and

a second capacitor plate disposed on a surface of the interior wall opposite to the second capacitive reference;

wherein the deformation causes a change in capacitance between the second capacitive reference and the second capacitor plate that is detected by the capacitive sensor and converted to a second electrical signal;

wherein a relationship between the electrical signals and the second electrical signal indicates a location of the object.

10. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 9 wherein the location of the object controls a continuous output associated with the electronic device.

11. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 10 wherein the intensity of the continuous output varies from zero to one hundred percent.

12. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 9 wherein the location of the object commands a tracking function associated with the electronic device.

13. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 5 wherein the button signal commands a function of the electronic device that is dependent upon an operating state of the electronic device.

14. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 1 wherein the invisible holes form a hole pattern indicative of the button function.

15. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 1 wherein the invisible holes have a diameter ranging between 20 μ

m and 80 μ

m, inclusive.

16. An invisible input, comprising:

a frame having a top face;

invisible holes formed in the top face;

a capacitive reference on an inner surface of the top face in the area of the invisible holes;

an interior wall formed within the frame and separated from the top face;

an interior space formed between the top face and the interior wall;

a dielectric medium disposed in the interior space;

a capacitor plate disposed on a surface of the interior wall opposite to the capacitive reference;

a light source disposed in the interior space configured to shine through the invisible holes when lit; and

a capacitive sensor electrically connected to the capacitive reference and the capacitor plate;

wherein deformation of the frame caused by pressure from an object placed thereon in the area of the invisible holes causes a change in capacitance between the capacitive reference and the capacitor plate that is detected by the capacitive sensor and converted to an electrical signal.

17. The invisible input as recited in claim 16 wherein the capacitive reference is a capacitor plate.

18. The invisible input as recited in claim 16 wherein the capacitive reference is a ground reference.

19. The invisible input as recited in claim 18 wherein the top face of the frame is the ground reference.

20. The invisible input as recited in claim 16 wherein the electrical signal is used to command a button signal.

21. The invisible input as recited in claim 16 wherein the frame is made of metal.

22. The invisible input as recited in claim 16 further comprising supports disposed between the top face and the interior wall.

23. The invisible input as recited in claim 16 further comprising

a second capacitive reference on an inner surface of the top face adjacent to the first capacitive reference;

and

a second capacitor plate disposed on a surface of the interior wall opposite to the second capacitive reference;

wherein the deformation causes a change in capacitance between the second capacitive reference and the second capacitor plate that is detected by the capacitive sensor and converted to a second electrical signal;

wherein a relationship between the electrical signal and the second electrical signal indicates a location of the object.

24. The invisible input as recited in claim 23 wherein the location of the object controls a continuous output associated with the invisible input.

25. The invisible input as recited in claim 24 wherein the intensity of the continuous output varies from zero to one hundred percent.

26. The invisible input as recited in claim 23 wherein the location of the object commands a tracking function.

27. The invisible input as recited in claim 16 wherein the invisible holes form a hole pattern indicative of the button function.

28. The electronic device with an invisible input as recited in claim 16 wherein the invisible holes have a diameter ranging between 20 μ

m and 80 μ

m, inclusive.