Handheld electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024256003-A1
Application number	US-202318243548-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 7, 2023
Priority date	Jan 27, 2023
Publication date	Aug 1, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic device may include an input button assembly including an input member positioned along a side exterior surface of a housing component and defining a first input region proximate a first end of the input member and a second input region proximate a second end of the input member, the input member configured to receive a user input. The input button assembly may further include a beam structure at least partially within the enclosure and coupled to the input member, the beam structure configured to be deflected as a result of the user input, a first strain sensing element at a first location of the beam structure, and a second strain sensing element at a second location of the beam structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device comprising:
an enclosure comprising:
a front cover defining a front exterior surface of the electronic device; and
a housing component coupled to the front cover and defining a side exterior surface of the electronic device;
an input button assembly comprising:
an input member positioned along the side exterior surface of the housing component and defining a first input region proximate a first end of the input member and a second input region proximate a second end of the input member, the input member configured to receive a user input;
a beam structure at least partially within the enclosure and coupled to the input member, the beam structure configured to be deflected as a result of the user input;
a first strain sensing element at a first location of the beam structure; and
a second strain sensing element at a second location of the beam structure; and
a processing system within the enclosure and configured to determine whether the user input was applied to the first input region or the second input region based at least in part on at least one of a first signal from the first strain sensing element or a second signal from the second strain sensing element.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the user input causes the input member to move inwards a first distance; and the processing system is further configured to determine whether an output of a sensing system including the first strain sensing element and the second strain sensing element satisfies a condition; and the electronic device further comprises a haptic actuation system integrated with the input button assembly and configured to, in accordance with a determination that the output of the sensing system satisfies the condition, cause the input member to move inwards a second distance greater than the first distance.

3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein:
the electronic device further includes a ferromagnetic structure set apart from the beam structure by a gap; the haptic actuation system comprises a conductive coil coupled to the beam structure; and the haptic actuation system energizes the conductive coil to cause the beam structure to be deflected towards a ferromagnetic structure, thereby causing the input member to move inwards the second distance.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is configured to:
in accordance with a determination that the user input was applied to the first input region, increase an audio output volume of the electronic device; and in accordance with a determination that the user input was applied to the second input region, decrease an audio output volume of the electronic device.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the beam structure comprises:
an actuation segment comprising an electromagnetic element;
a first compliant segment on a first side of the actuation segment; and
a second compliant segment on a second side of the actuation segment;
the first strain sensing element is coupled to the first compliant segment; and the second strain sensing element is coupled to the second compliant segment.

6 . The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the actuation segment comprises a ferrous member and a conductive coil surrounding the ferrous member.

7 . The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the beam structure is rigidly coupled to the housing component at a first end of the beam structure via a first fastener and at a second end of the beam structure by a second fastener.

8 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the beam structure is coupled to the input member via a third fastener extending through the beam structure on a first side of the actuation segment and via a fourth fastener extending through the beam structure on a second side of the actuation segment.

9 . A portable electronic device comprising:
a touchscreen display; wireless communication circuitry; a battery; and an enclosure enclosing the touchscreen display, the wireless communication circuitry, and the battery, the enclosure comprising:
a front cover positioned over the touchscreen display and defining a front exterior surface of the enclosure; and
a housing component coupled to the front cover and defining an opening along a side exterior surface of the enclosure; and
an input button assembly comprising:
a beam structure at least partially within the enclosure and comprising:
an actuation segment comprising an electromagnetic element and positioned proximate a middle of the beam structure;
a first compliant segment positioned proximate a first end of the beam structure; and
a second compliant segment positioned proximate a second end of the beam structure; and

an input member positioned at least partially in the opening and configured to impart a force on the beam structure as a result of an input applied to the input member;
a sensing system configured to detect a deflection of at least one of the first compliant segment or the second compliant segment; and a processing system within the enclosure and configured to, in accordance with a determination that an output of the sensing system satisfies a condition, cause the electromagnetic element to deflect the beam structure, thereby moving the input member to produce a haptic output.

10 . The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:
the condition is a first condition; and the processing system is configured to:
in accordance with the determination that the output of the sensing system satisfies the first condition, cause the electromagnetic element to deflect the beam structure a first distance; and
in accordance with a determination that the output of the sensing system satisfies a second condition different from the first condition, cause the electromagnetic element to deflect the beam structure a second distance greater than the first distance.

11 . The portable electronic device of claim 10 , wherein:
the first condition is indicative of the input member being depressed a third distance; and the second condition is indicative of the input member being depressed a fourth distance greater than the third distance.

12 . The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the sensing system further comprises:
a first strain sensing element coupled to the first compliant segment; and a second strain sensing element coupled to the second compliant segment.

13 . The portable electronic device of claim 12 , wherein:
the input is a first input; and the processing system is further configured to determine a swipe direction of a second input applied to the input member based at least in part on a first signal from the first strain sensing element and a second signal from the second strain sensing element, the second input including a swipe gesture extending along a surface of the input member.

14 . The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein causing the electromagnetic element to deflect the beam structure causes the beam structure to move the input member in a same direction as the input applied to the input member.

15 . The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:
the input button assembly further includes a ferromagnetic structure; and causing the electromagnetic element to deflect the beam structure includes causing the electromagnetic element to be magnetically attracted to the ferromagnetic structure.

16 . An electronic device comprising:
a housing component defining a side surface of the electronic device; a front cover coupled to

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Barton Jacob
• Chung Kevin Y
• Schoensee Shayla A

Classifications

• H04M1/22

  Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials · CPC title

• H04M1/0283

  for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate · CPC title

• G06T2207/10028

  Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds · CPC title

• G06F1/169 Primary

  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) · CPC title

• H04N23/90 Primary

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title