Input element with integrated functionality
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsAlbert Wang, Yuta Kuboyama
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic device is disclosed. In some examples, the electronic device includes an input element configured to move in a first direction in response to an input at the input element. The input element can include circuitry configured to perform a first functionality, and process data resulting from the performance of the first functionality and output the processed data from the input element. In some examples, the electronic device includes a processor electrically coupled to the circuitry and configured to process the movement of the input element as an input to the electronic device, and receive the processed data and perform an action based on the processed data.
Claims26
An electronic device comprising:
- a mechanical input element operatively coupled to the electronic device having a portion that protrudes outside of a housing of the electronic device configured to move in a first direction in response to an input at the mechanical input element, the mechanical input element including circuitry configured to:
- perform a first measurement using a first sensor included within the portion of the mechanical input element that protrudes outside of the housing of the electronic device;
- and
- process data resulting from the performance of the first measurement and output the processed data from the mechanical input element;
- and
- a processor electrically coupled to the circuitry and configured to:
- process the movement of the mechanical input element as an input to the electronic device and perform a first action based on the movement of the mechanical input element;
- and
- receive the processed data resulting from the performance of the first measurement and perform a second action based on the processed data, the second action different from the first action.
An electronic device comprising:
- a mechanical input element operatively coupled to the electronic device configured to move in a first direction in response to an input at the mechanical input element, the mechanical input element comprising a volume that protrudes outside of a housing of the electronic device that includes a first circuitry enclosed within the volume configured to:
- perform a first measurement using a first sensor included within the volume that protrudes outside of the housing of the electronic device;
- and
- output data based on the measurement using the first sensor with the first circuitry;
- and
- a processor electrically coupled to the circuitry and configured to:
- process the movement of the mechanical input element as an input to the electronic device and perform a first action based on the movement of the mechanical input element;
- and
- process the data resulting from the first measurement using the first sensor and received from the first circuitry and perform a second action based on the processed data, the second action different from the first action.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
- processing movement of a mechanical input element as an input to an electronic device, the mechanical input element operatively coupled to the electronic device having a portion that protrudes outside of a housing of the electronic device configured to move in a first direction in response to an input at the mechanical input element and performing a first action based on the movement of the mechanical input element;
- and
- receiving processed data from the mechanical input element and performing second action, different from the first action, based on the processed data, wherein the mechanical input element includes circuitry configured to:
- perform a first measurement using a first sensor included within the portion of the mechanical input element that protrudes outside of a housing of the electronic device;
- and
- process data resulting from the first measurement using the first sensor and output the processed data from the mechanical input element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.