Tactile switch for a mobile electronic device
AssigneeHand Held Products, Inc.
InventorJohn Spencer Bandringa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tactile switch on a mobile electronic device having a housing is provided. The tactile switch is comprised of a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing, a switch mechanism, and at least one pathway coupled to the pressure sensitive interface and extending from the pressure sensitive interface to the switch mechanism. The switch mechanism is at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface. The pathway is formed in an interior portion of the housing. The tactile switch further includes a viscous fluid substantially filling the pathway. The tactile switch is configured such that when pressure is applied to the pressure sensitive interface, the viscous fluid exerts pressure on the switch mechanism, causing the switch to make an electrical contact.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing a tactile switch mechanism on a mobile electronic device having a housing, the method comprising steps of:
- forming at least one pathway in an interior portion of the housing;
- substantially filling the at least one pathway with a viscous fluid;
- forming a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing;
- providing a switch mechanism at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface;
- coupling the at least one pathway and the switch mechanism such that, when pressure is applied to the pressure sensitive interface, the viscous fluid exerts pressure on the switch mechanism causing the switch mechanism to make an electrical contact;
- and
- mechanically associating a vibration device to the at least one pathway such that vibration is transmitted to the pressure sensitive interface via the viscous fluid when the switch mechanism makes the electrical contact.
A method of manufacturing a tactile switch mechanism on a mobile electronic device having a housing, the method comprising steps of:
- forming a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing, the pressure sensitive interface comprising a first portion and a second portion;
- forming a first pathway and a second pathway in an interior portion of the housing;
- substantially filling the first pathway and the second pathway with a viscous fluid;
- providing a switch mechanism at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface;
- coupling the first pathway and the switch mechanism such that, when pressure is applied to the first portion of the pressure sensitive interface, the viscous fluid exerts pressure on the switch mechanism causing the switch mechanism to make an electrical contact;
- coupling the second pathway and the switch mechanism such that when pressure is applied to the second portion of the pressure sensitive interface, the viscous fluid exerts pressure on the switch mechanism, causing the switch mechanism to make an electrical contact;
- mechanically associating a first vibration device to the first pathway such that vibration is transmitted to the first portion of the pressure sensitive interface via the viscous fluid when the switch mechanism makes the electrical contact;
- and
- mechanically associating a second vibration device to the second pathway such that vibration is transmitted to the second portion of the pressure sensitive interface via the viscous fluid when the switch mechanism makes the electrical contact.
A method of actuating a tactile switch on a mobile electronic device having a housing, the method comprising:
- causing a switch mechanism of the tactile switch to make an electrical contact when pressure is applied to a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing, wherein the switch mechanism is provided at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface, and wherein a viscous fluid exerts pressure on the switch mechanism;
- and
- transmitting vibration from a vibration device to the pressure sensitive interface through at least one pathway when the switch mechanism makes the electrical contact, wherein the at least one pathway is substantially filled with the viscous fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.