Handheld electronic device
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsJacob Barton, Kevin Y. Chung, Shayla A. Schoensee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic device may include an input button assembly including an input member positioned along a side exterior surface of a housing component and defining a first input region proximate a first end of the input member and a second input region proximate a second end of the input member, the input member configured to receive a user input. The input button assembly may further include a beam structure at least partially within the enclosure and coupled to the input member, the beam structure configured to be deflected as a result of the user input, a first strain sensing element at a first location of the beam structure, and a second strain sensing element at a second location of the beam structure.
Claims20
An electronic device comprising:
- an enclosure comprising:
- a front cover defining a front exterior surface of the electronic device;
- and
- a housing component coupled to the front cover and defining a side exterior surface of the electronic device;
- an input button assembly comprising:
- an input member positioned along the side exterior surface of the housing component and defining a first input region proximate a first end of the input member and a second input region proximate a second end of the input member, the input member configured to receive a user input;
- a beam structure at least partially within the enclosure and coupled to the input member, the beam structure configured to be deflected as a result of the user input;
- a first strain sensing element at a first location of the beam structure;
- and
- a second strain sensing element at a second location of the beam structure;
- and
- a processing system within the enclosure and configured to determine whether the user input was applied to the first input region or the second input region based at least in part on at least one of a first signal from the first strain sensing element or a second signal from the second strain sensing element.
A portable electronic device comprising:
- a touchscreen display;
- wireless communication circuitry;
- a battery;
- and
- an enclosure enclosing the touchscreen display, the wireless communication circuitry, and the battery, the enclosure comprising:
- a front cover positioned over the touchscreen display and defining a front exterior surface of the enclosure;
- and
- a housing component coupled to the front cover and defining an opening along a side exterior surface of the enclosure;
- and
- an input button assembly comprising:
- a beam structure at least partially within the enclosure and comprising:
- an actuation segment comprising an electromagnetic element and positioned proximate a middle of the beam structure;
- a first compliant segment positioned proximate a first end of the beam structure;
- and
- a second compliant segment positioned proximate a second end of the beam structure;
- and
- an input member positioned at least partially in the opening and configured to impart a force on the beam structure as a result of an input applied to the input member;
- a sensing system configured to detect a deflection of at least one of the first compliant segment or the second compliant segment;
- and
- a processing system within the enclosure and configured to, in accordance with a determination that an output of the sensing system satisfies a condition, cause the electromagnetic element to deflect the beam structure, thereby moving the input member to produce a haptic output.
An electronic device comprising:
- a housing component defining a side surface of the electronic device;
- a front cover coupled to the housing component;
- a display positioned below the front cover;
- an input button assembly comprising:
- a beam structure positioned within the electronic device;
- an input member positioned along the side surface of the electronic device and configured to:
- move inward a first distance in response to a force input applied to the input member;
- and
- cause a first deflection of the beam structure in response to the force input;
- and
- a haptic actuation system configured to, in accordance with a determination that the first deflection satisfies a condition, cause a second deflection of the beam structure, the second deflection configured to move the input member inward a second distance greater than the first distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.