Method and apparatus for controlling a skin texture surface on a device
First Claim
1. A portable electronic device comprising:
- a controllable skin texture surface comprised of a flexible skin structure located over an actuation structure;
control logic, operatively coupled to the actuation structure of the controllable skin texture surface, operative to change a tactile configuration of at least a portion of the controllable skin texture surface in response to at least any one of;
a received wireless signal, a battery level change condition, an incoming call, information from a proximity sensor, sound sensor, light sensor, data representing a user of the device and data representing completion of a user authentication sequence; and
wherein the control logic is operative to control the controllable skin texture surface to change the tactile configuration of a non-user interface portion of the portable electronic device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable electronic device (100) includes a controllable skin texture surface (104) and control logic (200) that is operative to change a tactile configuration of at least a portion of the controllable skin texture surface (104) in response to at least any one (i.e., one or more) of: a received wireless signal, a battery level change condition, an incoming call, information from a proximity sensor, sound sensor, light sensor, data representing a user of the device, or data representing completion of a user authentication sequence. The controllable skin texture surface (104) may form part of a non-user interface portion or a user interface portion, such as a function key, keypad or other operational element of the device. In one example, a portable electronic device employs a controllable skin texture surface that includes a mechanical skin texture surface actuation structure and a flexible skin structure that moves in response to mechanical movement caused by the mechanical skin texture surface actuation structure to change a tactile configuration of at least a portion of the controllable skin texture surface of the device.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A portable electronic device comprising:
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a controllable skin texture surface comprised of a flexible skin structure located over an actuation structure; control logic, operatively coupled to the actuation structure of the controllable skin texture surface, operative to change a tactile configuration of at least a portion of the controllable skin texture surface in response to at least any one of;
a received wireless signal, a battery level change condition, an incoming call, information from a proximity sensor, sound sensor, light sensor, data representing a user of the device and data representing completion of a user authentication sequence; andwherein the control logic is operative to control the controllable skin texture surface to change the tactile configuration of a non-user interface portion of the portable electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 14)
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5. A handheld wireless device comprising:
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a wireless telephone subsystem; a display operatively coupled to the wireless telephone subsystem; a controllable skin texture surface comprised of a flexible skin structure located over an actuation structure; control logic, operatively coupled to the actuation structure of the controllable skin texture surface, operative to change a tactile configuration of at least a portion of the controllable skin texture surface in response to at least any one of;
a received wireless signal, a low battery condition indication, an incoming call, a proximity sensor, sound sensor, light sensor, data representing a user of the device and data representing completion of a user authentication sequence; andwherein the control logic is operative to control the controllable skin texture surface to change the tactile configuration of a non-user interface portion of the handheld wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification