Switch assembly and associated handheld electronic device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A handheld electronic device comprising:
- a housing;
a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory supported on the housing;
an input apparatus in communication with the processor apparatus and comprising a switch assembly supported on the housing;
an output apparatus in communication with the processor apparatus and comprising a display supported on the housing;
the switch assembly comprising a substrate, a capacitive sensing system, and at least a first switch;
the substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite one another;
the capacitive sensing system comprising a series of at least three contacts disposed on the first surface; and
the at least first switch being disposed on the second surface and being engageable with an engagement structure to provide an input to the processor apparatus,wherein the housing has a receptacle formed therein, at least a portion of the switch assembly being disposed in the receptacle, and wherein the housing further comprises a membrane that extends across at least a portion of the receptacle and that substantially encloses the at least portion of the switch assembly within the receptacle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved switch assembly for use in a handheld electronic device comprises a capacitive sensing system employing a capacitive slider input device to detect navigational inputs, and further provides a pair of switches mounted to the slider on an underside thereof to provide selection or escape inputs as desired.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A handheld electronic device comprising:
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a housing; a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory supported on the housing; an input apparatus in communication with the processor apparatus and comprising a switch assembly supported on the housing; an output apparatus in communication with the processor apparatus and comprising a display supported on the housing; the switch assembly comprising a substrate, a capacitive sensing system, and at least a first switch; the substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite one another; the capacitive sensing system comprising a series of at least three contacts disposed on the first surface; and the at least first switch being disposed on the second surface and being engageable with an engagement structure to provide an input to the processor apparatus, wherein the housing has a receptacle formed therein, at least a portion of the switch assembly being disposed in the receptacle, and wherein the housing further comprises a membrane that extends across at least a portion of the receptacle and that substantially encloses the at least portion of the switch assembly within the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13)
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11. A handheld electronic device comprising:
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a housing; a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory supported on the housing; an input apparatus in communication with the processor apparatus and comprising a switch assembly supported on the housing; an output apparatus in communication with the processor apparatus and comprising a display supported on the housing; the switch assembly comprising a substrate, a capacitive sensing system, and at least a first switch; the substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite one another; the capacitive sensing system comprising a series of at least three contacts disposed on the first surface; and the at least first switch being disposed on the second surface and being engageable with an engagement structure to provide an input to the processor apparatus, wherein the switch assembly is disposed adjacent a side of the display, the processor apparatus being structured to interpret certain inputs from the series of contacts as navigational inputs and to interpret an input resulting from an actuation of the at least first switch as at least one of a selection input and an escape input, and wherein the input apparatus comprises a pair of additional switch assemblies disposed adjacent a pair of opposite sides of the display, the side extending between the pair of opposite sides, the processor apparatus being structured to interpret certain inputs from the series of contacts of the at least first switch assembly as navigational inputs along a first navigational direction on the display and to interpret certain inputs from a series of contacts of either of the pair of additional switch assemblies as navigational inputs along a second navigational direction on the display. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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14. A handheld electronic device comprising:
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a housing; a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory supported on the housing; an input apparatus in communication with the processor apparatus and comprising a switch assembly supported on the housing; an output apparatus in communication with the processor apparatus and comprising a display supported on the housing; the switch assembly comprising a substrate, a capacitive sensing system, and at least a first switch; the substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite one another; the capacitive sensing system comprising a series of at least three contacts disposed on the first surface; and the at least first switch being disposed on the second surface and being engageable with an engagement structure to provide an input to the processor apparatus, wherein the switch assembly is disposed adjacent a side of the display, the processor apparatus being structured to interpret certain inputs from the series of contacts as navigational inputs and to interpret an input resulting from an actuation of the at least first switch as at least one of a selection input and an escape input, and wherein the input apparatus comprises another switch assembly disposed adjacent another side of the display, the side and the another side intersecting at a corner of the display, the processor apparatus being structured to interpret certain inputs from the series of contacts of the at least first switch assembly as navigational inputs along a first navigational direction on the display and to interpret certain inputs from a series of contacts of the another switch assembly as navigational inputs along a second navigational direction on the display.
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Specification