Device having side sensor

• US 8,351,993 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Nunes, Trevor Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US12/900,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20120088553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/556, 455/566, 455/575, 345156-184
• US Class Current: 455/566
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A method of input and device are provided. The device includes a housing having a front face exposing a display, a back face opposing the front face, and a plurality of sides. The sides include a first side and a second side. The device includes a controller and a first sensing layer located within the housing along the first side. The first sensing layer includes a first position sensing layer extending longitudinally along the first side. The first position sensing layer is coupled to the controller to provide position input. The first sensing layer also includes a first pressure sensing layer. The first pressure sensing layer is coupled to the controller to provide pressure input.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a housing, the housing having a front face exposing a display, a back face opposing the front face, a plurality of sides connecting the back face to the front face, the plurality of sides including at least a first side and a second side, the first side and the second side each having an internal surface facing toward an interior of the housing and the first side and second side each having an external surface opposing the internal surface, the external surface being level across the length of the housing;

a controller located within the housing; and

a first sensing layer located within the interior of the housing adjacent the internal surface of the first side, the first sensing layer including;

a first position sensing layer extending longitudinally adjacent the internal surface of the first side and being coupled to the controller to provide position input to the controller; and

a first pressure sensing layer being coupled to the controller to provide pressure input to the controller,

the first side being configured for movement between a rest position and an actuating position when pressure is applied to the external surface of the first side, the first side applying greater force to the first pressure sensing layer in the actuating position than in the rest position.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first side is constructed of a semi-rigid material which permits the first side to bend when pressure is applied to the first side in order to enter the actuating position.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the first side is comprised of a semi-rigid plastic.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the position input identifies a location of any portion of the first sensing layer engaged by direct or indirect contact.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first position sensing layer is a capacitive sensor or a resistive sensor.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first position sensing layer extends along at least half of the first side.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first position sensing layer is located between the first side and the first pressure sensing layer.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first pressure sensing layer comprises:

a point pressure sensor and an elongate pressure distribution strip disposed between the point pressure sensor and the first side.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second sensing layer located within the interior of the housing adjacent the internal surface of the second side, the second sensing layer including;

a second position sensing layer extending longitudinally adjacent the internal surface of the second side and being coupled to the controller to provide position input to the controller; and

a second pressure sensing layer being coupled to the controller to provide pressure input to the controller,

the second side being configured for movement between a rest position and an actuating position when pressure is applied to the external surface of the second side, the second side applying greater force to the second pressure sensing layer in the actuating position than in the rest position.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to:

monitor pressure input received from the first pressure sensing layer and the second pressure sensing layer;

determine, from the pressure input, whether both of the pressure sensing layers are simultaneously activated; and

in response to determining that both pressure sensing layers are simultaneously activated, performing a predetermined action.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine whether an unanswered telephone call has been received at the mobile device; and

in response to determining that both pressure sensors are simultaneously activated while an unanswered telephone call has been received at the mobile device;

cause the telephone call to be answered.

12. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine whether the pressure input is within a first range;

determine whether the pressure input is within a second range;

perform a first predetermined action if the pressure input is within the first range; and

perform a second predetermined action if the pressure input is within the second range.

13. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

in a document viewing mode, determine, from the position input, whether a finger has been slid along the first side, and if so, cause the document to be scrolled.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine, from the position input, whether the finger has been slid along the first side in a first direction and, if so, cause the document to be scrolled in the first direction; and

determine, from the position input, whether the finger has been slid along the first side in a second direction and, if so, cause the document to be scrolled in the second direction.

15. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine from the position input whether the first position sensing layer is engaged at a first location, and if so, perform a first function;

determine from the position input whether the first position sensing layer is engaged at a second location, and if so, perform a second function.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein, when the controller is operating in a media control mode, the first function is a PLAY function which causes media to be played on the display and the second function is a STOP function which causes media playback on the display to be stopped.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to:

display, on the display, at a location adjacent to the first location, a first indicator which identifies the first function; and

display, on the display, at a location adjacent to the second location, a second indicator which identifies the second function.