Housing as an I/O device
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- a housing wall having at least one exposed surface and an interior surface;
one or more sensors positioned proximate to the interior surface of the housing wall to sense interactions of the wall via the exposed surface and generate electrical signals based on the interactions;
a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors for interpreting the generated electrical signals as input to the electronic device and generating an output signal; and
a housing, wherein the housing wall forms part of the housing, wherein the housing forms an enclosure around the electronic device, and wherein the housing encloses the one or more sensors positioned proximate to the interior surface of the housing wall and the controller communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a housing for an electronic device as an input/output (I/O) device. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device and one or more sensors obscured by a panel of the housing. The one or more sensors being configured to sense via the panel of the housing. The electronic device further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors. One or more output devices are communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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a housing wall having at least one exposed surface and an interior surface; one or more sensors positioned proximate to the interior surface of the housing wall to sense interactions of the wall via the exposed surface and generate electrical signals based on the interactions; a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors for interpreting the generated electrical signals as input to the electronic device and generating an output signal; and a housing, wherein the housing wall forms part of the housing, wherein the housing forms an enclosure around the electronic device, and wherein the housing encloses the one or more sensors positioned proximate to the interior surface of the housing wall and the controller communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 27)
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13. An electronic device comprising:
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a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device; one or more sensors formed within the housing, obscured by a panel of the housing, and configured to sense via the panel of the housing; a processing unit formed within the housing, communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors, and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors; and one or more output devices formed within the housing, communicatively coupled to the processing unit, and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electronic device housing configured to operate an input/output (I/O) device, the housing comprising:
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one or more walls configured to house an electronic device, the one or more walls being externally exposed and comprising microperforated material; a proximity sensor positioned within an interior of the housing and proximate to the one or more walls and configured to detect an object located at a distance via the one or more walls; a processor coupled to the proximity sensor and configured to process electrical signals generated by the proximity sensor; and at least one light emitting diode positioned within the interior of the housing and proximate to the one or more walls, the at least one light emitting diode actuated by the processor in response to the electrical signals generated by the proximity sensor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of operating an electronic device, the electronic device having one or more surfaces configured to provide housing I/O functionality, the method comprising:
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operating a proximity sensor to determine when objects are proximately located to the one or more housing I/O surfaces of the device, the proximity sensor being obscured at least in part by the housing of the electronic device and the proximity sensor sensing through the housing of the electronic device; and actuating one or more output devices in response to the proximity sensor generating a signal indicating an object being proximately located to the one or more housing I/O surfaces, the one or more output devices being obscured by the housing of the electronic device and providing output via the housing of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification