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US 2013/0093576 A1Published application
Tactile indicator for a portable electronic device
AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited
InventorsNorman Miner LADOUCEUR, Jason Tyler GRIFFIN, Steven Henry FYKE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method includes determining a status associated with a function of a portable electronic device; and actuating a tactile status indicator to change a texture at a surface of the portable electronic device for a period of time to indicate the status.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- determining a status associated with a function of a portable electronic device;
- and
- actuating a tactile status indicator to change a texture at a surface of the portable electronic device for a period of time to indicate the status.
A portable electronic device comprising:
- a housing;
- a processor for executing a program stored in memory to determine a status associated with a function of the portable electronic device;
- and
- a tactile status indicator for changing a texture at a surface of the housing for a period of time to indicate the status.
1 more element
A tactile status indicator of a portable electronic device, the tactile indicator comprising:
- a projection movable relative to a housing of the portable electronic device, the projection being at least partly aligned with an opening of the housing;
- a driving mechanism for moving the projection;
- wherein actuation of the tactile status indicator changes a texture at the surface of the portable electronic device for a period of time to indicate a status of a function of the portable electronic device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.