Housing as an I/O Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023236628-A1
Application number	US-202318194223-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 31, 2023
Priority date	Aug 17, 2009
Publication date	Jul 27, 2023
Grant date	—

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 . Apparatus comprising:
a housing having a surface; a pressure sensor configured to detect a press on a portion of the surface; and a haptic feedback device configured to provide haptic feedback through the portion of the surface in response to the pressure sensor detecting the press on the portion of the surface.

2 . The apparatus defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
a display coupled to the housing.

3 . The apparatus defined in claim 1 , wherein the portion of the surface is smooth.

4 . The apparatus defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one light source configured to emit light through the portion of the surface.

5 . The apparatus defined in claim 4 , wherein the at least one light source is configured to display a symbol.

6 . The apparatus defined in claim 5 , wherein the portion of the surface comprises apertures that allow light from the at least one light source to pass through the portion of the surface.

7 . The apparatus defined in claim 6 , wherein the at least one light source is operable in a first state in which the light is emitted through the apertures and a second state in which light is not emitted through the apertures and the apertures are imperceptible to the naked eye.

8 . Apparatus comprising:
a housing having a surface with an input area, wherein the input area includes apertures; at least one light source operable in a first state in which light is not emitted and the input area is hidden and a second state in which light is emitted through the apertures and the input area is visible; and a sensor configured to detect touch input to the input area.

9 . The apparatus defined in claim 8 , wherein the sensor is a touch sensor.

10 . The apparatus defined in claim 8 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

11 . The apparatus defined in claim 8 , wherein the sensor is a capacitive sensor.

12 . The apparatus defined in claim 8 , further comprising:
a haptic actuator that is configured to provide haptic feedback at the input area in response to the touch input.

13 . The apparatus defined in claim 8 , wherein the surface with the input area comprises plastic.

14 . The apparatus defined in claim 8 , wherein the surface with the input area comprises glass.

15 . The apparatus defined in claim 8 , wherein, while the at least one light source is in the first state, the apertures are imperceptible to the naked eye.

16 . Apparatus comprising:
a housing having a surface; a touch sensor configured to detect a touch input on a portion of the surface; and a haptic feedback device configured to provide haptic feedback through the portion of the surface in response to the touch sensor detecting the touch input on the portion of the surface.

17 . The apparatus defined in claim 16 , further comprising:
a display coupled to the housing.

18 . The apparatus defined in claim 16 , further comprising:
at least one light source configured to emit light through the portion of the surface.

19 . The apparatus defined in claim 18 , wherein the at least one light source is configured to display a symbol.

20 . The apparatus defined in claim 19 , wherein the portion of the surface comprises apertures that allow light from the at least one light source to pass through the portion of the surface and wherein the at least one light source is operable in a first state in which the light is emitted through the apertures and a second state in which light is not emitted through the apertures and the apertures are imperceptible to the naked eye.

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

• G06F3/016

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• G06F3/03547

  Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface · CPC title