TACTILE SWITCH FOR A MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20160372282A1
• Filed: 06/16/2015
• Published: 12/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Bandringa, John Spencer
• Granted Patent: US 9,892,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/04 of switch contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/20 Driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/85 characterised by tactile feedback features
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/05 electromechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/038 Fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/245 actuated by the deformation of a body of elastic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/30 Means for transmitting pressure to pressure-responsive operating part, e.g. by capsule and capillary tube
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/34 actuated by diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

A tactile switch on a mobile electronic device having a housing is provided. The tactile switch is comprised of a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing, a switch mechanism, and at least one pathway coupled to the pressure sensitive interface and extending from the pressure sensitive interface to the switch mechanism. The switch mechanism is at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface. The pathway is formed in an interior portion of the housing. The tactile switch further includes a viscous fluid substantially filling the pathway. The tactile switch is configured such that when pressure is applied to the pressure sensitive interface, the viscous fluid exerts pressure on the switch mechanism, causing the switch to make an electrical contact.

Claims

1. A tactile switch on a mobile electronic device having a housing, comprising:

a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing;

a switch mechanism, the switch mechanism being at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface;

at least one pathway coupled to the pressure sensitive interface and extending from the pressure sensitive interface to the switch mechanism, the pathway being formed in an interior portion of the housing;

a viscous fluid substantially filling the pathway; and

the tactile switch being configured such that when pressure is applied to the pressure sensitive interface, the viscous fluid exerts pressure on the switch mechanism, causing the switch to make an electrical contact.

2. The tactile switch of claim 1, wherein the switch mechanism is mechanical.

3. The tactile switch of claim 1, wherein the switch mechanism is a solid state pressure sensor.

4. The tactile switch of claim 1, wherein the pathway is molded into the interior portion of the housing.

5. The tactile switch of claim 3, wherein the pressure sensitive interface is differentially sensitive to different pressures applied to the pressure sensitive interface.

6. The tactile switch of claim 1, wherein the viscous fluid is a hydraulic fluid.

7. The tactile switch of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive interface comprises more than one pressure sensitive interface;

wherein the at least one pathway comprises one pathway corresponding to each pressure sensitive interface;

the tactile switch further comprising additional switch mechanisms corresponding to each pressure sensitive interface.

8. The tactile switch of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive interface has a shape, the shape conforming to a contour of the exterior portion of the housing where the pressure sensitive interface is located.

9. The tactile switch of claim 1, further comprising a vibration device to transmit vibration to the exterior housing when the electrical contact is made with the switch mechanism.

10. The tactile switch of claim 9, wherein the vibration is transmitted to the pressure sensitive interface.

11. The tactile switch of claim 9, wherein the vibration device is selected from a solenoid and a vibrator, the vibration device being activated by the switch making the electrical contact.

12. A tactile switch on a mobile electronic device having a housing, comprising:

a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing;

a switch mechanism, the switch mechanism being at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface;

means for transferring pressure from the pressure sensitive interface to the switch mechanism, such that pressure applied to the pressure sensitive interface causes the switch mechanism to make an electrical contact.

14. The tactile switch of claim 12, wherein the switch mechanism is mechanical.

15. The tactile switch of claim 12, wherein the switch mechanism is a solid state pressure sensor.

17. The tactile switch of claim 15, wherein the pressure sensitive interface is differentially sensitive to different pressures applied to the pressure sensitive interface.

20. The tactile switch of claim 12, further comprising a vibration device to transmit vibration to the exterior housing when the electrical contact is made with the switch mechanism.

13. The tactile switch of 12, wherein the means for transferring pressure comprises,

at least one pathway coupled to the pressure sensitive interface and extending from the pressure sensitive interface to the switch mechanism, the pathway being formed in an interior portion of the housing;

and

viscous fluid substantially filling the pathway.

16. The tactile switch of claim 13, wherein the pathway is molded into the interior portion of the housing.

18. The tactile switch of claim 13, wherein the viscous fluid is a hydraulic fluid.

19. The tactile switch of claim 13, wherein the pressure sensitive interface comprises more than one pressure sensitive interface;

and wherein the at least one pathway comprises one pathway corresponding to each pressure sensitive interface;

the tactile switch further comprising additional switch mechanisms corresponding to each pressure sensitive interface.