ELECTRONIC DEVICE HOUSING AS ACOUSTIC INPUT DEVICE

• US 20110037734A1
• Filed: 08/17/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kerr, Duncan, King, Nicholas Vincent, Pance, Aleksandar, Bilbrey, Brett
• Granted Patent: US 8,441,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1636 Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves

Abstract

There are provided systems, devices and methods for related to an electronic device housing having input functionality. Specifically, in one embodiment, the electronic device includes a housing and one or more acoustic transducers positioned within the housing each operative to generate an electrical signal in response to detecting a sound resulting from an impact with the housing. Additionally, the electronic device includes a microprocessor coupled to the one or more acoustic transducers and configured to receive the electrical signals generated by the one or more acoustic transducers. The microprocessor operative to interpret the generated electrical signals as input to the electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

one or more acoustic transducers positioned within the housing, each operative to generate an electrical signal in response to detecting sound resulting from an impact with the housing; and

a microprocessor coupled to the one or more acoustic transducers and configured to receive the electrical signals generated by the one or more acoustic transducers, the microprocessor operative to interpret a generated electrical signal as input to the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a digital signal processor coupled to the microprocessor and configured to process the generated electrical signals.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 further comprising one or more acoustic transducers configured to sense noise generated internal to the housing, the digital signal processor using the sensed noise to filter the generated electrical signals.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 further comprising one or more acoustic transducers configured to sense noise generated external to the housing, the digital signal processor using the sensed noise to filter the generated electrical signals.

5. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein the digital signal processor is configured to filter the generated electrical signals using a noise profile of the device stored in a memory of the device.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a pressure sensor, a touch sensor, a light sensor, a proximity sensor or an accelerometer coupled to the microprocessor and configured to operate simultaneously with the one or more acoustic transducers.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 comprising a memory coupled to the microprocessor, the memory storing a noise profile for the device, the noise profile being filtered out of the electrical signals generated by the acoustic transducers.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a light source or a haptic actuator coupled to the microprocessor and configured to operate in conjunction with the one or more acoustic transducers to provide output.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a display configured to display output content, wherein the one or more acoustic transducers are configured to sense interactions on the display.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises at least one acoustically isolating member located internal to the housing.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 wherein the at least one acoustically isolating member comprises a partition or a foam member.

12. A method of manufacturing an electronic device implementing acoustic transducers with a housing of the electronic device to sense input, the method comprising:

configuring one or more acoustic transducers located within a housing to generate an electrical signal in response to detecting a sound on the housing;

coupling the one or more acoustic transducers to a microprocessor; and

programming the microprocessor to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more acoustic transducers as input, wherein the interpretation includes determining the origin of acoustic interactions based on a timing differential between the generated electrical signals.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

generating a noise profile for the electronic device;

storing the noise profile on a memory of the electronic device;

providing a digital signal processor configured to filter the generated electrical signals with the noise profile.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

providing at least one acoustic noise transducer within the housing;

configuring the at least one acoustic noise transducer to sense sounds originating from outside the housing;

coupling a digital signal processor to the at least one acoustic noise transducer and the microprocessor; and

programming the digital signal processor to filter the electrical signals generated by the one or more acoustic transducers with electrical signals generated by the at least one noise transducer.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

coupling at least one proximity sensor within the housing to the microprocessor;

configuring the at least one proximity sensor to generate electrical signals when objects are proximately located to the housing; and

programming the device to actuate the acoustic transducers upon receiving an electrical signal from the at least one proximity sensor.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

providing at least one of a light source or a haptic actuator within the housing; and

configuring the microprocessor to operate the at least one of the light source or the haptic actuator in response to interpreting the generated electrical signals as input.

17. An electronic device comprising:

a panel having an external surface and an internal surface;

a plurality of acoustic transducers positioned in the housing proximate to the internal surface, the plurality of acoustic transducers being distributed under the panel;

a microprocessor coupled to the plurality of acoustic transducers, the plurality of acoustic transducers configured to generate electrical signals correlative to sounds originating on the external surface, the microprocessor being configured to interpret the electrical signals as input to the device; and

one or more output devices configured to provide an output in response to the input.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 wherein the one or more output devices comprises at least one light source configured to be seen through a microperforation in the external surface.

19. The electronic device of claim 17 comprising:

one or more acoustic noise transducers configured to sense noise interference; and

a digital signal processor coupled to the plurality of acoustic transducers, the digital signal processor filtering the generated electrical signals of the one or more acoustic transducers with noise signals sensed by the one or more acoustic noise transducers.

20. The electronic device of claim 17 comprising:

at least one additional sensor comprising a pressure sensor, a touch sensor, a light sensor, a proximity sensor or an accelerometer, the at least one additional sensor being coupled to the microprocessor and configured to provide input to the device; and

at least one of a haptic actuator, light source or acoustic transducer, wherein the at least one of the haptic actuator, light source or acoustic transducer is configured to provide output in response to the input from the at least one additional sensor.