# US 2019/0172341 A1 · Remote control device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0172341 A1 - Document ID: US20190172341A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/265,821 - Filed: 2019-02-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-23 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Jeremy D. Bataillou; Keith J. Hendren; Nicholaus Lubinski; Ryan P. Brooks; John M. Brock; Wayne W. Huang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190172341A1 ## CPC - G08C 19/28: using pulse code - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - H01H 13/785: characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers - H01H 2201/036: Variable resistance - H03K 17/9625: {using a force resistance transducer} - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) ## Abstract A remote control device includes a housing and an upper element. The top surface of the upper element can be partitioned to include different frictionally engaging surfaces. At least one frictionally engaging surface can be used as an input surface that receives user inputs such as touch or force inputs. An input device, such as a force sensing switch, can be positioned in the housing and used in determining an amount of force applied to the input surface. The bottom surface of the upper element below the second surface can be affixed to the housing in a manner that permits the input surface to bend based on the applied force. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A controller for an external electronic device, the controller comprising: a housing comprising a bottom surface; an upper element having a first surface; an input device configured to receive touch input through the first surface of the upper element; a switch positioned in the housing, a portion of the first surface being deflectable toward the bottom surface to actuate the switch; and a transmitter configured to transmit signals to the external electronic device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, further comprising: a set of buttons provided in a second surface of the upper element, the set of buttons including at least one button having a raised surface relative to the second surface and at least one additional button having a recessed surface relative to the second surface; an orientation sensor in the housing configured to detect an orientation of the controller; a processing device in the housing, the processing device configured to receive a first signal from the switch, a second signal from the input device, and a third signal from the orientation sensor; and wherein the first and second surfaces have a different visual appearance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, further comprising a set of buttons in the second surface, the set of buttons including at least one button having a raised surface relative to the second surface, the set of buttons including at least one button having a recessed surface relative to the second surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, wherein the set of buttons extends through a set of openings in the second surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces each comprise different frictionally engaging textures. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, wherein the upper element is bendable toward the bottom surface to actuate the switch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, further comprising adjoining side surfaces extending from the bottom surface to form an interior cavity, wherein the first surface is deflectable into the interior cavity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, wherein the first surface is deflectable into a space between a bottom-facing surface of the upper element and a set of side surfaces of the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, further comprising an orientation sensor in the housing configured to detect an orientation of the controller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, further comprising a processing device in the housing, the processing device configured to receive a signal from the switch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a cable opening positioned on an opposite side of the second surface relative to the first surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The controller of claim 1, wherein deflecting the first surface decreases an overall thickness of the controller. ### Claim 13 A method, comprising: receiving a touch input at a controller for an electronic device, the controller comprising an upper element, a switch, and a processor; receiving, at the processor, a first signal upon provision of the touch input at a first surface of the upper element; deflecting the first surface toward the switch; and receiving, at the processor, a second signal from the switch upon deflection of the first surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising sending, via the processor, a control signal to the electronic device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 133) The method of claim 133, wherein deflecting the first surface toward the switch comprises deflecting the upper element toward a housing in which the switch is positioned. ### Claim 16 (depends on 133) The method of claim 133, further comprising detecting an orientation of the controller using a gyroscope. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein deflecting the first surface toward the switch comprises deflecting a portion of the first surface that is sensitive to touch input. ### Claim 18 A controller for an external electronic device, the controller comprising: a housing; an upper element coupled with the housing, the upper element having a surface; an input device configured to receive touch input through the surface of the upper element; a switch positioned in the housing, a portion of the surface of the upper element being deflectable to actuate the switch; a transmitter configured to transmit signals to the external electronic device; an orientation sensor in the housing configured to detect an orientation of the housing; and a processing device in the housing to receive a first signal from the switch, a second signal from the input device, and a third signal from the orientation sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The controller of claim 18, wherein the surface of the upper element includes a first area and a second area, the first and second areas having different frictionally engaging textures. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The controller of claim 18, further comprising a set of buttons in the upper element, the set of buttons including at least one button having a raised surface relative to the surface of the upper element, the set of buttons including at least one button having a recessed surface relative to the surface of the upper element.