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US 2026/0038748 A1Published application
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for non-mechanical buttons
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics International N.V.
InventorArnaud DELEULE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for non-mechanical buttons are provided. For example, an apparatus of a switch may be provided that includes a cavitied body of transparent material with a plurality of cavities sized to accept a first object and one or more sensors, including a first sensor positioned to detect the first object entering one of the cavities. The switch may generate an output signal associated with a switch state based on the first object detected.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a cavitied body comprising a transparent material with a first surface including one or more cavities, wherein the transparent material is transparent at at least a first wavelength of light;
- a first sensor configured to radiate light at the first wavelength of light and to detect light at the first wavelength of light, wherein the first sensor is positioned to radiate light towards at least one of the one or more cavities, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a first object entering at least a first cavity of the one or more cavities based on one or more reflections of the light radiated;
- and
- wherein the apparatus is configured to generate an output signal associated with a state based on the first object being detected.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- providing an apparatus with a cavitied body comprising a transparent material with a first surface including one or more cavities, wherein the transparent material is transparent at a first wavelength of light;
- radiating, with a first sensor of the apparatus, light pulses at the first wavelength of light, including with the first sensor positioned to detect a first object entering at least a first cavity of the one or more cavities based on one or more reflections;
- and
- generating an output signal associated with a switch state based on the first object detected.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.