Concealable input region for an electronic device having microperforations

• US 10,732,743 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Paul X., Lehmann, Alex J., Xu, Qiliang, Huizar, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Chun-Nan
• Application Number:
  US15/965,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20190025954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1636 Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03542 Light pens for emitting or receiving light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0463 Portable signs, boards or panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/06 using individual cut-out symbols or cut-out silhouettes, e.g. perforated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/08 using both translucent and non-translucent layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/0026 having outer surface of housing of electronic apparatus programmable as display and/or input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/16 : the semiconductor device sensitive to radiation being controlled by the light source or sources

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to an electronic device having a hidden or concealable input region. In one aspect, an embodiment includes an enclosure having a wall that defines an input region having an array of microperforations. A light source may be positioned within a volume defined by the enclosure and configured to propagate light through the array of microperforations. A sensing element may be coupled with the wall and configured to detect input received within the input region. The array of microperforations are configured to be visually imperceptible when not illuminated by the light source. When illuminated by the light source, the array of microperforations may display a symbol.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

an enclosure defining at least a portion of an inner volume and comprising;

a translucent layer defining an input region; and

an opaque masking layer positioned below the translucent layer and defining an array of microperforations, each of the array of microperforations having a width within a range of 30 microns to 80 microns;

a light source positioned within the inner volume and configured to propagate light through the array of microperforations; and

a sensing element positioned within the inner volume and configured to detect input received along the input region, wherein

the array of microperforations are configured to display a symbol when illuminated by the light source.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the translucent layer comprises a glass sheet;

a first side the glass sheet forms an external surface of the enclosure; and

the opaque masking layer is a layer of ink attached to a second side of the glass sheet that is opposite to the first side.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the array of microperforations collectively define at least one of:

an alpha-numeric character or a boundary of the input region.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a separation between each of the array of microperforations is within a range of 80 microns to 500 microns.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the array of microperforations is defined by tapered sidewalls extending through a thickness of the opaque masking layer.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the array of microperforations extend along an angle with respect to a surface along the input region to define a range of viewing angles of the symbol relative to the surface.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the array of microperforations is defined by a curved edge within the opaque masking layer.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensing element includes one or more of:

a tactile dome switch;

an electroactive polymer;

a piezoelectric structure;

a magnetic-based sensor;

a capacitance-based sensor;

or

an optical sensor.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the enclosure includes a metal layer; and

the array of microperforations extend through the metal layer.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the input is a force input; and

a portion of the enclosure is configured to deform in response to the force input.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the enclosure defines a portion of a watch body having a first opening and a second opening;

the electronic device further comprises;

a display positioned within the first opening; and

a crown at least partially positioned within the second opening; and

a graphical output of the display is responsive to;

a rotation or translation of the crown; and

input received along the input region.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the enclosure defines a top surface and has a first opening and a second opening;

the input region is defined along the top surface;

the electronic device further comprises;

a display positioned within the first opening; and

a button positioned within the second opening; and

a graphical output of the display is responsive to;

a mechanical press of the button; and

input received within the input region.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the enclosure includes an upper portion pivotally coupled with a lower portion;

the upper portion defines an opening;

the lower portion includes the input region;

the electronic device further comprises a display positioned within the opening; and

the display is responsive to the input received within the input region.

14. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the symbol is a first symbol;

the light source includes an array of selectively operable light elements configured to illuminate;

the first symbol using a first subset of the array of microperforations; and

a second symbol using a second subset of the array of microperforations, at least one microperforation of the array of microperforations belonging to both the first and second subsets; and

the sensing element is operative to;

trigger a first switch event in response to the detected force input when the first symbol is illuminated; and

trigger a second switch event in response to the detected force input when the second symbol is illuminated.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein:

the electronic device further comprises a display; and

a graphical output of the display is modified;

in a first manner in response to the first switch event; and

in a second manner in response to the second switch event.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein:

the first symbol defines a boundary of the input region;

the second symbol defines a modified boundary of the input region; and

the sensing element is responsive to;

input received within the boundary when the first symbol is displayed; and

input received within the modified boundary when the second symbol is displayed.

17. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensing element is further configured to produce a tactile output along the input region in response to the detected input.