Bend switch for wired headset

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9412537-B2
Application number	US-201113338992-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2011
Priority date	Jan 5, 2007
Publication date	Aug 9, 2016
Grant date	Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

This is directed to a bend switch constructed from two substantially co-linear elongated bodies having opposing contact surfaces. In an open switch position, the contact surfaces remain apart, preventing electrical coupling. To close the switch, a user can bend the elongated bodies relative to each other to cause the contact surfaces to meet, thus creating an electrical coupling. Each elongated body can have several independent conductive portions. The bend switch can include a movable space member placed between the elongated bodies to maintain the contact surfaces a predetermined distance apart in the open switch position. The movable space member can include preferred or non-preferred bending orientations, equilibrium positions, and/or a potentiometer for closing the switch. The bend switch can control one or more functions (e.g., microphone, volume, or playback controls) of an electronic device (e.g., portable media device or cellular telephone) coupled to the bend switch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A switch comprising: a first body having a first contact surface; a second body having a second contact surface; and a member operative to maintain a distance between the first contact surface and the second contact surface absent any external factor applied to the switch, wherein the first body and the second body are co-linear absent any external factor applied to the switch, wherein the distance prevents an electrical connection between the first and second contact surfaces, and wherein the first body is operative to move with respect to the second body for creating the electrical connection between the first and second contact surfaces, the member further comprising: a space member fixed and coupled with the first contact surface and second contact surface, the space member operative for rotational movement with respect to at least one of the first and second contact surfaces.

2. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the member comprises a sleeve positioned about at least a portion of each one of the first and second bodies.

3. The switch of claim 1 , wherein: the member comprises a sleeve; and the first body and the second body are positioned co-linearly within the sleeve.

4. The switch of claim 3 , wherein the first body is positioned in at least one of a frictional and fixed relationship with respect to the sleeve.

5. The switch of claim 4 , wherein the second body is positioned in at least one of a frictional and fixed relationship with respect to the sleeve.

6. The switch of claim 3 , wherein the sleeve is shrunk around the first body and the second body.

7. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the space member comprises a ball and socket joint.

8. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the space member comprises: a ball portion that is movably retained within a socket of the first body; and a connector portion coupled to the ball portion, wherein the connector portion is fixed to the second body.

9. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the space member comprises a hinge.

10. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the space member comprises at least one of a pivot hinge, a continuous hinge, a concealed hinge, and a living hinge.

11. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the space member comprises at least one preferred bending orientation.

12. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the space member comprises at least one non-preferred bending orientation.

13. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the space member is operative to move with respect to at least one of the first and second contact surfaces when the first body moves with respect to the second body.

14. The switch of claim 13 , wherein the space member comprises at least one equilibrium position.

15. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the space member comprises at least one spring.

16. The switch of claim 15 , further comprising a wire that passes through the spring.

17. The switch of claim 15 , wherein: the first body comprises a first inner structure; the second body comprises a second inner structure; and the switch further comprises a wire that extends from the first inner structure, through the spring, and into the second inner structure.

18. The switch of claim 16 , wherein the wire is electrically coupled to the first contact surface.

19. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the switch further comprises a wire extending from the first body, through the space member, and into the second body.

20. The switch of claim 19 , wherein: the space member comprises an insulator; and the wire conducts an electrical signal.

21. The switch of claim 20 , wherein the wire is electrically coupled to the first contact surface.

22. The switch of claim 1 , wherein: the first body comprises an inner structure; and a microphone is positioned at least partially within the inner structure.

23. The switch of claim 22 , wherein the microphone is electrically coupled to the first contact surface.

24. The switch of claim 23 , wherein: the member comprises a space member positioned at least partially between the first and second contact surfaces; and the switch further comprises a wire extending from the microphone, through the space member, and into the second body.

25. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the member comprises at least one magnet.

26. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the member comprises at least one magnet positioned at least partially between the first and second contact surfaces.

27. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the member comprises: a first magnet about at least a portion of the first body; and a second magnet about at least a portion of the second body.

28. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the first contact surface comprises at least a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion that is electrically isolated from the first conductive portion.

29. The switch of claim 28 , wherein: the first body is operative to move with respect to the second body in a first manner for creating the electrical connection between the first conductive portion and the second contact surface; and the first body is operative to move with respect to the second body in a second manner for creating the electrical connection between the second conductive portion and the second contact surface.

30. The switch of claim 1 , wherein: the member comprises a space member positioned at least partially between the first and second contact surfaces; the first contact surface comprises at least a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion that is electrically isolated from the first conductive portion; the first body is operative to move with respect to the second body in a first manner for creating the electrical connection between the first conductive portion and the second contact surface; the first body is operative to move with respect to the second body in a second manner for creating the electrical connection between the second conductive portion and the second contact surface; the space member is operative to move in a third manner with respect to at least one of the first and second contact surfaces when the first body moves in the first manner; and the space member is operative to move in a fourth manner with respect to at least one of the first and second contact surfaces when the first body moves in the second manner.

31. The switch of claim 30 , wherein the space member is operative to prefer moving in the third manner over the fourth manner.

32. The switch of claim 31 , wherein: a first center axis of the first body and a second center axis of the second body are co- linear absent any external factor applied to the switch; the space member is offset from the first center axis and the second center axis when the first center axis and the second center axis are co-linear.

33. The switch of claim 32 , wherein the space member is a rod.

34. The switch of claim 1 , further comprising a potentiometer positioned between the first and second bodies.

35. The switch of claim 34 , wherein the potentiometer is operative to vary of a control signal strength based on an angle to which the first body is moved with respect to the second body.

36. The switch of claim 34 , wherein the potentiometer is operative to vary of a control signal strength on an angle from a first plane defined by at le

Assignees

• Daniels Eric B
• Hankey M Evans
• De Iuliis Daniele
• Nishibori Shin
• Russell-Clarke Peter
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Daniels Eric B
• Hankey M Evans
• De Iuliis Daniele
• Nishibori Shin
• Russell-Clarke Peter

Classifications

• H01H25/04

  Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick · CPC title

• H04M1/6058

  involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone · CPC title

• H01H17/02 Primary

  Details · CPC title