Tactile switch for a mobile electronic device
AssigneeHand Held Products, Inc.
InventorJohn Spencer Bandringa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tactile switch on a mobile electronic device having a housing is provided. The tactile switch is comprised of a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing, a switch mechanism, and at least one pathway coupled to the pressure sensitive interface and extending from the pressure sensitive interface to the switch mechanism. The switch mechanism is at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface. The pathway is formed in an interior portion of the housing. The tactile switch further includes a viscous fluid substantially filling the pathway. The tactile switch is configured such that when pressure is applied to the pressure sensitive interface, the viscous fluid exerts pressure on the switch mechanism, causing the switch to make an electrical contact.
Claims20
A tactile switch on a mobile electronic device having a housing, comprising:
- a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing;
- a switch mechanism, the switch mechanism being at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface;
- at least one pathway coupled to the pressure sensitive interface and extending from the pressure sensitive interface to the switch mechanism, the pathway being formed in an interior portion of the housing;
- a viscous fluid substantially filling the at least one pathway;
- and
- a vibration device mechanically coupled to the at least one pathway;
- the tactile switch being configured such that when pressure is applied to the pressure sensitive interface, the viscous fluid exerts pressure on the switch mechanism, causing the switch to make an electrical contact;
- and
- wherein the vibration device transmits vibration to the pressure sensitive interface via the viscous fluid when the switch mechanism makes the electrical contact.
A tactile switch on a mobile electronic device having a housing, comprising:
- a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing, the pressure sensitive interface comprising a first portion and a second portion;
- a switch mechanism, the switch mechanism being at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface;
- a first pathway substantially filled with viscous fluid, the first pathway coupled to the first portion of the pressure sensitive interface and extending from the first portion to the switch mechanism, and a second pathway substantially filled with viscous fluid, the second pathway coupled to the second portion of the pressure sensitive interface and extending from the second portion to the switch mechanism;
- a first vibration device mechanically coupled to the first pathway, the first vibration device configured to transmit vibration to the first portion of the pressure sensitive interface via the first pathway in response to pressure applied to the first portion, and a second vibration device mechanically coupled to the second pathway, the second vibration device configured to transmit vibration to the second portion of the pressure sensitive interface via the second pathway in response to pressure applied to the second portion;
- wherein pressure applied to the pressure sensitive interface causes the switch mechanism to make an electrical contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.