Configurable buttons for electronic devices

• US 8,717,199 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2013
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Filson, John Benjamin, Lynch, Stephen Brian, Sanford, Emery, Moolsintong, Pinida Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARRIES, DRU M
• Application Number:
  US13/909,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20130271302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20
• US Class Current: 341/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards, H01H13/88
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/03 Avoiding erroneous switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/12 Push-buttons

Abstract

Configurable buttons for electronic devices such as portable electronic devices are provided. A configurable button may have a button member that moves relative to a device housing when it is desired to activate a switch. The button may have an associated touch sensor. The touch sensor may detect when a user'"'"'s finger touches a particular portion of the button member. Contact with only this portion of the button member is generally inadvertent, so an actuator may be used to prevent or otherwise restrict motion of the button relative to a device housing. This prevents inadvertent activation of the button when a user is manipulating portions of an electronic device such as clip or lid, but does not intend to depress the button.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one input element;

at least one sensor that detects when at least one object is proximate to at least a portion of the at least one input element;

at least one control mechanism that prevents all operation of the at least one input element when the at least one control mechanism determines that the at least one object is proximate to a first portion of the at least one input element, but not to a second portion of the at least one input element for a purpose other than the operation of the at least one input element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operation of the at least one input element involves movement of the at least one input element.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein prevention of the operation of the at least one input element includes preventing movement of at least a portion of the at least one input element.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein prevention of the operation of the at least one input element includes preventing movement of the at least one input element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein prevention of the operation of the at least one input element includes ignoring input received from the at least one input element.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one control mechanism enables the operation of the at least one input element when the at least one control mechanism determines that the object is no longer proximate to the portion of the at least one input element.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one control mechanism enables the operation of the at least one input element when the at least one control mechanism determines that the object is no longer proximate to the portion of the at least one input element for the purpose other than the operation of the at least one input element.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one control mechanism includes at least one solenoid.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor detects that the object is proximate to the portion of the at least one input element when the object contacts the portion of the at least one input element.

10. A method for configuring at least one input element, comprising:

detecting, utilizing at least one sensor, that at least one object is proximate to at least a portion of at least one input element; and

preventing all operation of the at least one input element, utilizing at least one control mechanism, when the at least one control mechanism determines that the at least one object is proximate to a first portion of the at least one input element, but not to a second portion of the at least one input element for a purpose other than the operation of the at least one input element.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the operation of the at least one input element involves movement of the at least one input element.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said operation of preventing operation of the at least one input element further comprises preventing movement of at least a portion of the at least one input element.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said operation of preventing operation of the at least one input element further comprises preventing movement of the at least one input element.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said operation of preventing operation of the at least one input element further comprises ignoring input received from the at least one input element.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising enabling the operation of the at least one input element, utilizing the at least one control mechanism, when the at least one control mechanism determines that the object is no longer proximate to the portion of the at least one input element.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising enabling the operation of the at least one input element, utilizing the at least one control mechanism, when the at least one control mechanism determines that the object is no longer proximate to the portion of the at least one input element for the purpose other than the operation of the at least one input element.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one control mechanism includes at least one solenoid.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said operation of detecting, utilizing at least one sensor, that an object is proximate to at least a portion of at least one input element detects that the object is proximate to the portion of the at least one input element when the object contacts the portion of the at least one input element.