FORCE SENSING BEZEL TOUCH INTERFACE

• US 20180210598A1
• Filed: 07/15/2016
• Published: 07/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interlink Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Interlink Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: LU, Chee Wai, NG, Hock Cheng, LEE, Cheng Seong, CHAN, Wai Jye
• Granted Patent: US 10,324,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04142 the force sensing means being located peripherally, e.g. disposed at the corners or at the side of a touch sensing plate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A handheld device includes an electronic display having an active area for presenting visual content and a bezel disposed around the electronic display. The bezel may have an opening allowing a person to view the active area. The handheld device also includes a force sensing system having a force sensing element that is disposed below an external surface of the bezel. The force sensing system may be configured to a sense a force on the bezel and to generate a sensor signal indicative of the force. The handheld device may further include a processor operable to receive the sensor signal and to execute a function based on the sensor signal.

Claims

1. A handheld device, comprising:

an electronic display having an active area for presenting visual content;

a bezel disposed around the electronic display, the bezel having an opening allowing a person to view the active area;

a force sensing system having a first force sensing element that is disposed below an external surface of the bezel, the force sensing system being configured to a sense a first force on the bezel and to generate a sensor signal indicative of the first force; and

a processor operable to receive the sensor signal and to execute a function based on the sensor signal.

2. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the electronic display comprises an external surface that is substantially planar, wherein the bezel includes at least one curved surface.

3. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the bezel is disposed around at least two sides of the electronic display.

4. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the first force sensing element is disposed on a first side of the electronic display, the handheld device comprising a second force sensing element disposed on a second side of the electronic display, wherein the first side and the second side are on opposite sides of the electronic display.

5. The handheld device of claim 4, wherein the first force sensing element is configured to sense the first force, wherein the second force sensing element is configured to sense a second force, wherein the sensor signal is generated based on the first force and the second force.

6. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the first force is produced from a user input, wherein the user input includes touching the bezel.

7. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the force sensing system is configured to detect a first location of the first force on the bezel, wherein the sensor signal is indicative of the first force and the first location.

8. The handheld device of claim 7, wherein the force sensing system is configured to detect a third force at a second location on the bezel, wherein the force sensing system is configured to generate a second sensor signal indicative of the third force, wherein a second function corresponds to the third force and the second location.

9. The handheld device of claim 1 further comprising a haptic output system having a first haptic element that is disposed below the external surface of the bezel, the haptic output system being configured to generate a haptic output, wherein the processor is further operable to drive the first haptic element to generate the haptic output based on the function.

10. The handheld device of claim 9, wherein the haptic output comprises at least one of a vibration or a pulse.

11. The handheld device of claim 1 further comprising an interposer disposed between an internal surface of the bezel and the first force sensing element, the interposer being configured to mechanically transfer force between the bezel and the first force sensing element.

12. The handheld device of claim 11, wherein a first surface of the interposer includes at least one curve to correspond with at least one curve in the bezel, wherein the interposer includes a protrusion being configured to contact the first force sensing element.

13. The handheld device of claim 1 further comprising a housing being disposed opposite of the active area of the electronic display.

14. A handheld device, comprising:

an electronic display having an active area for presenting visual content;

a bezel disposed around the electronic display, the bezel having an opening allowing a person to view the active area;

a force sensing system having a force sensing element that is disposed below an external surface of the bezel, the force sensing system being configured to a sense a force on the bezel and to generate a sensor signal indicative of the force;

a haptic output system having a haptic element that is disposed below the external surface of the bezel, the haptic output system being configured to generate a haptic output; and

a processor operable to receive the sensor signal, to execute a function based on the sensor signal, and to drive the haptic element to generate the haptic output based on the function.

15. The handheld device of claim 14, wherein the electronic display comprises an external surface that is substantially planar, wherein the bezel includes at least one curved surface.

16. The handheld device of claim 14, wherein the bezel is disposed around at least two sides of the electronic display.

17. The handheld device of claim 14, wherein the force sensing element is disposed on a first side of the electronic display, the handheld device comprising a second force sensing element disposed on a second side of the electronic display, wherein the first side and the second side are on opposite sides of the electronic display.

18. The handheld device of claim 17, wherein the second force sensing element is configured to sense a second force, wherein the sensor signal is additionally generated based on the second force.

19. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a force sensing element, a force on a bezel that surrounds an electronic display of a handheld device;

computing force sensing data to determine a user input type based on the force, wherein the user input type includes at least one of a touch or a swipe on the bezel;

determining output function based on the user input type, wherein the output function pertains to a computer-based function; and

activating the output function via the electronic display.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing a haptic output that corresponds to the function via the bezel.