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First Claim
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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.
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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.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An electronic device with an invisible input, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An invisible input, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification