Input controls using pressure sensors
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsBryan D. Keen, Nicholas G. Merz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An input control for controlling various features of an electronic device is described. The input control can be positioned along an exterior surface of the electronic device and cover an opening leading into the electronic device. A pressure sensor can then be positioned within the electronic device and adjacent to the covered opening. The pressure sensor is able to measure a pressure of a volume of air positioned between the pressure sensor and the input control. When movement of the input control changes the pressure of the volume of air, the sensor readings from the pressure sensor can be used to register a user input. The input control can take many forms including rocker buttons, slider switches and input regions.
Claims20
A portable electronic device, comprising:
- a device housing comprising a housing wall defining an opening extending therethrough;
- an input control coupled to an exterior-facing surface of the housing wall and covering a first end of the opening, the input control being configured to receive a user input;
- and
- a pressure sensor coupled to an interior-facing surface of the housing wall and covering a second end of the opening such that the input control and pressure sensor cooperatively enclose an interior volume, the pressure sensor being configured to characterize a pressure change within the interior volume resulting from movement of the input control.
A portable electronic device, comprising:
- a device housing comprising sidewalls that cooperatively define a front opening, one of the sidewalls defining a side opening extending therethrough;
- a touch screen display assembly disposed within the front opening;
- an input control positioned at least partially within a recess defined by an exterior-facing surface of the sidewall defining the side opening, the input control covering a first end of the side opening;
- and
- a pressure sensor coupled to an interior-facing surface of the sidewall and covering a second end of the side opening such that the input control and the pressure sensor cooperatively enclose an interior volume, the pressure sensor being configured to characterize user inputs received by the input control by monitoring pressure changes within the interior volume resulting from a movement of the input control.
A portable electronic device, comprising:
- a device housing comprising a housing wall defining a first opening and a second opening extending therethrough;
- an input control coupled to an exterior-facing surface of the housing wall and covering a first end of the first opening and a first end of the second opening, the input control being configured to receive a user input;
- a pressure sensor coupled to an interior-facing surface of the housing wall and covering a second end of the first opening such that the input control and the pressure sensor cooperatively enclose a first interior volume;
- and
- a bracket coupled to the interior facing surface and enclosing a second interior volume, the pressure sensor being configured to characterize pressure changes within both the first interior volume and the second interior volume resulting from movement of the input control.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.