PROVIDING A PRELOAD APPARATUS IN A TOUCH SENSITIVE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
First Claim
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
- a housing comprising at least a first portion and a second portion;
a base chassis attached to the first portion of the housing;
a touch input component moveable with respect to the base chassis;
a force transducer between the base chassis and the touch input component, wherein the force transducer has a characteristic that is variable relative to an amount of total force of the touch input component against the base chassis;
a spring coupled to the touch input component, wherein the spring exerts a preload force against the second portion of the housing, thereby causing the touch input component to be forced against the force transducer by a corresponding initial force; and
wherein the spring provides electrostatic grounding between the touch input component and the base chassis.
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Abstract
A spring component used in an electronic device provides a preload force used to urge a touch input component against a force transducer. The spring also provides an electrostatic grounding between the touch input component and other components of the electronic device. The use of the spring in an electronic device achieves both grounding and preloading and provides improvements in touch sensitive electronic devices.
58 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
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a housing comprising at least a first portion and a second portion; a base chassis attached to the first portion of the housing; a touch input component moveable with respect to the base chassis; a force transducer between the base chassis and the touch input component, wherein the force transducer has a characteristic that is variable relative to an amount of total force of the touch input component against the base chassis; a spring coupled to the touch input component, wherein the spring exerts a preload force against the second portion of the housing, thereby causing the touch input component to be forced against the force transducer by a corresponding initial force; and wherein the spring provides electrostatic grounding between the touch input component and the base chassis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A spring comprising:
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a mounting portion configured to mount the spring to a first component; a grounding portion comprising a conductive grounding arm that provides electrostatic grounding between the first component and a second component; and a preload portion comprising at least one preload arm that provides a preload force in a direction opposite from the grounding portion. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification