Deformable controller for electronic device
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorKyle Yeates
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A deformable controller for an electronic device, such as a portable electronic device, is disclosed. A user can interact with the controller to cause it to “deform” and thereby provide user input to control the electronic device. The controller can be malleable and symmetrical, and user interaction with the controller can be provided with substantially arbitrary orientation. In one embodiment, the controller is an in-line controller with a cable that couples to the electronic device. In one particular implementation, the portable electronic device can be a portable media player and the controller can remotely control media playback functions for the portable media player.
Claims24
A deformable controller for a portable electronic device, said controller comprising:
- a deformable outer shell;
- and
- a plurality of electrical contacts internal to said deformable outer shell.
A method for commanding a portable electronic device, said method comprising:
- receiving at least one input signal from a deformable controller, the at least one input signal being produced in response to user manipulation of the deformable controller;
- determining whether the at least one input signal corresponds to a rolling action from the user manipulation;
- and
- initiating, on the portable electronic device, a predetermined command that corresponds to the rolling action if it is determined that the at least one input signal corresponding to the rolling action.
A portable media system, comprising:
- a portable media player adapted to play back one or more media items;
- and
- a cable having at least one ear piece at a first end, a connector at a second end, and an in-line controller adhered to said cable,
- wherein the in-line controller is adapted to be deformed by user interaction therewith to signal said portable media player to invoke one or more of a plurality of media playback commands.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.