Systems and Methods for Providing Inputs to an Electronic Device with a Button Assmebly
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsWey-Jiun Lin, Jiping Wu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This is directed to systems and methods for providing inputs to an electronic device with a button assembly. In some embodiments, a button assembly may include a button having distinguishable regions, limbs, and a set of switches positioned adjacent the button, where at least one of the switches is activated when one of the regions is actuated. In some embodiments, a button assembly may span a support member of a housing, and may be at least partially secured in an opening of the housing by bracket. In these embodiments, the button assembly may be operative to rotate about an axis in response to a user interaction event to activate a switch.
Claims22
A button assembly comprising:
- a button having a center region, a first end region extending from a first side of the center region, and a second end region extending from a second side of the center region that is opposite the first side;
- a first limb coupled to the button proximate the first side of the center region;
- a second limb coupled to the button proximate the second side of the center region;
- and
- a plurality of switches positioned adjacent the button, at least one of the plurality of switches being actuatable when one of the center region, the first end region, and the second region is depressed.
An electronic device comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of switches disposed within the housing;
- and
- a button secured to the housing and comprising a plurality of regions, each region of the plurality of regions being positioned adjacent to a respective switch of the plurality of switches, the button being configured to:
- displace with respect to the housing in a first manner when an external force is applied to a first region of the plurality of regions;
- and
- displace with respect to the housing in a second manner when the external force is applied to a second region of the plurality of regions.
A method of integrating a button assembly with an electronic device, the button assembly comprising a plurality of switches and a button having a first end region, a second end region, and a center region disposed between the first end region and the second end region, the electronic device comprising a housing having an aperture, the method comprising:
- positioning the plurality of switches within the housing adjacent to the aperture;
- aligning each of the first end region, the second end region, and the center region with a respective switch of the plurality of switches;
- and
- securing the button to the housing.
21-32. (canceled)
A button assembly comprising:
- a housing having an opening and a plurality of retention features positioned within the opening;
- a button positioned within the opening, the button being partially retained by the plurality of retention features;
- and
- a bracket having a first planar region and a second planar region, the first planar region interfacing with a first portion of the button assembly along a first plane, and the second planar region interfacing with a second portion of the button assembly along a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.