Sensing capacitance changes of a housing of an electronic device
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsAleksandar Pance, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Kerr, Brett Bilbrey
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that allow measurement of a user's interaction with the housing of an electronic device. Some embodiments may measure the electrical characteristics of a housing of an electrical device, where the housing is capable of being temporarily deformed by the user's interaction. By measuring the electrical characteristics of the housing, such as the housing's capacitance, the user's interaction with the housing can be measured in a manner that is independent of the user's electrical characteristics and/or in a manner that may allow the pressure applied to the housing to be quantified.
Claims24
An input-output device, comprising:
- a metal surface;
- and
- one or more sensors disposed adjacent the metal surface, wherein the one or more sensors is configured to detect a deflection of the metal surface above a deflection threshold and indicate an input to the input-output device, wherein the deflection threshold is configurable by user input.
An electronic device comprising:
- a housing comprising a first region having a first thickness and a second region having a second thickness;
- a mounting surface coupled to the housing, the mounting surface comprising a terminal that is located on the mounting surface so that the terminal is substantially aligned with the second region of the housing;
- a processing unit coupled to the mounting surface;
- wherein the processing unit measures an electrical characteristic of the terminal with respect to the housing;
- and
- an illumination source, wherein the housing comprises micro-perforations and wherein light from the illumination source passes through the micro-perforations in the housing.
An electronic device comprising:
- a housing comprising an exterior that is substantially flat and an interior comprising first and second areas with differing thicknesses;
- a mounting surface coupled to the housing, the mounting surface comprising an illumination source aligned with the second area;
- and
- a processing unit coupled to the mounting surface;
- wherein the processing unit illuminates the illumination source as the exterior of the housing is stressed.
An electronic device comprising:
- a housing comprising an input mechanism integrated into the housing;
- a processing unit coupled to the housing, wherein the input mechanism is activated by stressing a portion of an exterior of the housing;
- and
- a proximity detector, wherein the act of stressing the portion of the exterior of the housing occurs without physical contact from a user when the proximity detector detects the presence of a user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.