COVER FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH A COVER

• US 20160124561A1
• Filed: 01/13/2016
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Suurpaa, Kalle, Kujala, Antti
• Granted Patent: US 9,952,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

The invention relates to a cover comprising a decoration 11 which is visible to a user when the cover is connected to an electronic device. In order to enhance the functions provided by such a cover, it is proposed that the cover further comprises contact sensitive means 22, 23 arranged such that they generate an electrical signal when a part 12 of the decoration 11 associated to the contact sensitive means 22, 23 is touched, and connection means 24, 25 for electrically connecting the contact sensitive means 22, 23 to processing means. The invention relates equally to an electronic device with such a cover.

Claims

1. A cover comprising:

a user interactive decoration in said cover, which user interactive decoration is visible to a user;

a contact sensitive component in said cover arranged such that it generates an electrical signal when a part of said user interactive decoration associated to said contact sensitive component is touched; and

a connection component in said cover configured to connect said cover to an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprising at least one processor configured to be provided with said electrical signal generated by said contact sensitive component to at least realize a specific function, wherein said user interactive decoration associated to said contact sensitive component result in a generation of different signals used as an input device for specific functions provided by the electronic device.

2. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said contact sensitive component comprises a pressure sensitive film.

3. The cover according to claim 2, wherein said pressure sensitive film is an electromechanical film.

4. The cover according to claim 2, wherein said pressure sensitive film comprises at least one force sensitive resistor.

5. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said contact sensitive component comprises at least one capacitive sensor.

6. The cover according to claim 5, wherein different parts of said user interactive decoration associated to said contact sensitive component result in a generation of different signals by said contact sensitive component when touched.

7. The cover according to claim 5, wherein one or more selected parts of said user interactive decoration are associated to one or more functions enabled by a processor to which said contact sensitive component can be connected via said connection component.

8. The cover according to claim 5, wherein said user interactive decoration comprises at least one light emitting diode which is controllable by a processing component.

9. The cover according to claim 5, wherein said user interactive decoration comprises at least one electro-luminance pattern, which is controllable by a processing component.

10. The cover according to claim 1, wherein one or more selected parts of said user interactive decoration are associated to one or more functions enabled by a processor to which said contact sensitive component can be connected via said connection component.

11. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said user interactive decoration comprises at least one light emitting diode which is controllable by a processing component.

12. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said user interactive decoration comprises at least one electro-luminance pattern, which is controllable by a processing component.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a connection component configured to connect said electronic device to a cover and to receive electrical signal generated by a contact sensitive component of said cover to at least realize a specific function, wherein said cover comprises a user interactive decoration associated to said contact sensitive component to result in a generation of different signals used as an input device for specific functions provided by the electronic device; and

at least one processor configured to provide at least one specific function of a plurality of specific functions based on said electrical signal generated by said contact sensitive component.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13 comprising a data connection to said cover and a processing component configured to process data received by said contact sensitive component of said cover.

15. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein said contact sensitive component of said cover comprises a pressure sensitive film.

16. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein said pressure sensitive film is an electromechanical film.

17. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein said pressure sensitive film comprises at least one force sensitive resistor.

18. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein said contact sensitive component comprises at least one capacitive sensor.

19. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein one or more selected parts of said user interactive decoration are associated to one or more functions enabled by a processor to which said contact sensitive component can be connected via said connection component.