Remote control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11610476-B2
Application number	US-202016886286-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2020
Priority date	Aug 23, 2013
Publication date	Mar 21, 2023
Grant date	Mar 21, 2023

Abstract

A remote control device includes a housing and an upper element. The top surface of the upper element can be partitioned to include different frictionally engaging surfaces. At least one frictionally engaging surface can be used as an input surface that receives user inputs such as touch or force inputs. An input device, such as a force sensing switch, can be positioned in the housing and used in determining an amount of force applied to the input surface. The bottom surface of the upper element below the second surface can be affixed to the housing in a manner that permits the input surface to bend based on the applied force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A controller for an external electronic device, comprising:
a housing having a bottom wall;
an upper element mounted to the housing having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface having a different frictionally engaging texture relative to the second surface;
a switch positioned in the housing between the bottom wall and the first surface;
a circuit positioned in the housing and connected to the switch; and
a wireless communication device configured to electronically communicate with an external electronic device;
wherein the first surface is deflectable toward the bottom wall to actuate the switch.

2. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is deflectable by bending relative to the second surface.

3. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the second surface comprises a smoother texture than the first surface.

4. The controller of claim 1 , wherein a set of openings extends through the upper element.

5. The controller of claim 4 , wherein a set of buttons extends through the set of openings, the set of buttons having different surface shapes relative to each other or different textures relative to each other.

6. The controller of claim 4 , wherein the set of openings extends through the first and second surfaces.

7. The controller of claim 1 , further comprising a connector port in the housing and positioned adjacent to the second surface relative to the first surface.

8. The controller of claim 1 , further comprising an opening in the upper element for an audio device.

9. The controller of claim 1 , further comprising a touch sensor configured to receive touch input at the first surface.

10. A remote control, comprising:
an enclosure having an upper element, the upper element including a single outer surface including a first outer surface portion and a second outer surface portion;
a first input device positioned in the enclosure and configured to sense orientation of the enclosure;
a second input device positioned in the enclosure and configured to sense movement of the first outer surface portion of the upper element relative to the second outer surface portion of the upper element;
a logic board positioned in the enclosure and connected to the first and second input devices;
a transmitter configured to transmit signals to an external electronic device.

11. The remote control of claim 10 , wherein the first outer surface portion is positioned on the upper element opposite the second outer surface portion.

12. The remote control of claim 10 , wherein the first outer surface portion comprises a first end and a second end, the first end being bendable relative to the second end.

13. The remote control of claim 12 , wherein the first end and second end comprise different textures.

14. The remote control of claim 10 , wherein the second input device comprises a dome switch.

15. The remote control of claim 10 , further comprising a set of buttons extending through, and deflectable relative to, the first single outer surface.

16. The remote control of claim 10 , wherein the first outer surface portion comprises a trackpad connected to the logic board.

17. A remote controller for an external electronic device, comprising: a housing; a single upper element attached to the housing and including an end having a touch-sensing input surface, wherein the upper element is configured to bend at the touch-sensing surface relative to the housing; a touch sensor configured to detect a sliding touch input at the touch-sensing input surface; a set of buttons extending through the upper element; a substrate positioned in the housing and connected to the touch sensor and the set of buttons; an input/output device connected to the substrate to transmit electronic signals via a wired or wireless connection.

18. The remote controller of claim 17 , wherein a switch is positioned below the touch-sensing input surface and is compressible by the touch-sensing input surface.

19. The remote controller of claim 17 , wherein each button of the set of buttons comprises a different outer surface characteristic selected from a group consisting of: texture, shape, curvature, vertical protrusion or recession relative to the upper element, and illumination.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Bataillou Jeremy D
• Hendren Keith J
• Lubinski Nicholaus
• Brooks Ryan P
• Brock John M
• Huang Wayne W

Classifications

• G08C17/02

  using a radio link · CPC title

• G08C19/28 Primary

  using pulse code · CPC title

• H01H2201/036

  Variable resistance · CPC title

• H01H13/785

  characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers · CPC title

• H03K17/9625

  using a force resistance transducer · CPC title