Housing as an I/O device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10739868-B2
Application number	US-201916289014-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2019
Priority date	Aug 17, 2009
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a housing for an electronic device as an input/output (I/O) device. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device and one or more sensors obscured by a panel of the housing. The one or more sensors being configured to sense via the panel of the housing. The electronic device further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors. One or more output devices are communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device having exterior surfaces and a rectangular periphery defined by first and second opposing edges and third and fourth opposing edges, the electronic device comprising:
a housing that forms the exterior surfaces and that includes a housing wall, wherein the housing wall extends continuously along the third edge from the first edge to the second edge to form an uninterrupted exterior surface;
an output device enclosed in the housing;
at least one sensor enclosed in the housing adjacent an interior surface of the housing wall, wherein the at least one sensor is covered by the housing wall, and wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect squeezing of the housing; and
a controller enclosed in the housing and communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, wherein the controller is configured to control an output provided by the output device in response to the at least one sensor detecting squeezing of the housing.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a strain gauge sensor.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of: a pressure sensor, a touch sensor, and a proximity sensor.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a speaker.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a display.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a haptic actuator.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a light source.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Pance Aleksandar
• King Nicholas Vincent
• Kerr Duncan
• Bilbrey Brett

Classifications

• G06F1/1671

  Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop (G06F1/1666 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1656

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title

• G06F1/1616 Primary

  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 · CPC title

• G06F3/0238 Primary

  Programmable keyboards (key guide holders G06F3/0224) · CPC title

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title