Electronic Device with Physical Alert

Abstract

An electronic device (100) includes an actuation element (106) configured to alter an actuation element profile (108) of the actuation element (106) with respect to a housing (102) in response to a device event (110). Altering the actuation element profile (108) may include distally extending or changing the form factor of the actuation element (106). Device events, for example where the electronic device (100) is a radiotelephone (300), may include receipt of an incoming communication (310). When such an event occurs, the actuation element profile (108) of a call activation key (306) is altered. In response to the actuation element profile (108) being altered, a user (620) is alerted to the incoming communication (310). Shape memory alloy elements such as martensite, actuation element profile drivers such as electromagnetic driver (700), or actuation element profile motors such as a cam and follower motor (800) a may additionally be used to alter the actuation element profile (108).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.