# US 8,786,568 B2 · Disappearing button or slider

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- Number: US 8,786,568 B2
- Document ID: US8786568B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/888,579
- Filed: 2013-05-07
- Published: 2013-09-19
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-10-24
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Omar S. Leung; David T. Amm
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786568B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/1616: {with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position}
- F21V 11/14: with many small apertures
- G06F 1/169: {the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes (G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033)}
- G06F 3/0202: {Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device}
- G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface}
- G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers}
- G06F 3/044: by capacitive means
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- G06F 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable}
- Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An input device receives an input that is a deflection based capacitive sensing input. Deflection of a metal frame of the input device causes a change in capacitance that is used to control a function of an electrical device. The input appears invisible because it is made of the same material as the housing it is contained in. Invisible backlit holes may make the input selectively visible or invisible to the user.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device, comprising:
a frame having selectively visible holes formed in a top face and an interior wall formed within the frame, the interior wall separated from the top face by an interior space;
a capacitive reference on an inner surface of the top face in the area of the selectively visible holes;
a capacitor plate disposed on a surface of the interior wall opposite to the capacitive reference;
a light source disposed in the interior space configured to shine through the selectively visible holes when lit; and
a capacitive sensor electrically connected to the capacitive reference and to the capacitor plate,
wherein deformation of the frame caused by pressure thereon in the area of the selectively visible holes causes a change in capacitance between the capacitive reference and the capacitor plate that is detected by the capacitive sensor and converted to an electrical signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric medium disposed in the interior space wherein the dielectric medium comprises at least one of air, foam, rubber, or a dielectric gel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the top face includes a first portion including the selectively visible holes that comprises at least one of a button or a switch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive reference comprises conductive paint.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the conductive paint is printed on the inner surface of the top face.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the capacitor plate comprises conductive paint.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the conductive paint is printed on the surface of the interior wall.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises aluminum.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the top face includes a first portion with the selectively visible holes and a second portion without the selectively visible holes that is flush with the first portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the light source is illuminated based at least on ambient lighting conditions, change in capacitance between the capacitive reference and the capacitor plate, detected motion, detected sound, or detected heat.

### Claim 11

A method for configuring an electronic device with a selectively visible input, comprising:
forming a frame having a top face with selectively visible holes formed therein, an interior wall within the frame and separated from the top face, and an interior space between the top face and the interior wall;
disposing a dielectric medium in the interior space, a capacitive reference on an inner surface of the top face in an area of the selectively visible holes, a capacitor plate on a surface of the interior wall opposite to the capacitive reference, and a light source in the interior space that shines through the selectively visible holes when illuminated; and
electrically connecting a capacitive sensor to the capacitive reference and the capacitor plate wherein deformation of the frame caused by pressure from an object placed thereon in the area of the selectively visible holes causes a change in capacitance between the capacitive reference and the capacitor plate that is detected by the capacitive sensor and converted to an electrical signal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the dielectric medium comprises at least one of air, foam, rubber, or a dielectric gel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the top face includes a first portion including the selectively visible holes that comprises at least one of a button or a switch.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the capacitive reference comprises conductive paint.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the conductive paint is printed on the inner surface of the top face.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the capacitor plate comprises conductive paint.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the conductive paint is printed on the surface of the interior wall.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the frame comprises aluminum.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the top face includes a first portion with the selectively visible holes and a second portion without the selectively visible holes that is flush with the first portion.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the light source is illuminated based at least on ambient lighting conditions, change in capacitance between the capacitive reference and the capacitor plate, detected motion, detected sound, or detected heat.