Three-dimensional contact-sensitive feature for electronic devices
View Patent ↗An electronic device is formed at least partially from a deflectable material that generates an electrical signal in response to contact. The first material is integrated with a display module to provide a shaped feature on the exterior surface of the display module. The shaped feature detects contact with an external object on one or more contact points, where contact with the contact points corresponds to a defined input for a processor of the electronic device.
1. An electronic device comprising:
a processor; and
a digitizer pad formed at least partially from a first material, the first material being deflectable to generate an electrical signal, the first material integrated with the digitizer pad to provide a shaped feature on an exterior surface of the digitizer pad, the shaped feature being deflectable to detect contact with an external object on one or more contact points, the first material signaling an input for the processor corresponding to the external object contacting the one or more contact points.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first material detects a position of the external object contacting the shaped feature, the position corresponding to a function performed by the processor in response to being signaled the input.
3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the input to the processor causes the processor to implement a configuration for an image provided on the digitizer pad.
4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the shaped feature includes a recess accessible from the exterior surface of the electronic display.
5. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the one or more contact points include a first contact point positioned to identify an input for scrolling the image on the digitizer pad in a first direction.
6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the one or more contact points include a second contact point positioned to identify an input for scrolling the image on the digitizer pad in a second direction.
7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises a conductive paste.
8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more contact points include a first contact point positioned to identify a selection entered from a user of the electronic device.
9. The electronic device of claim 4 , further comprising a cap positioned within the recess, the cap being moveable by the external object to contact the one or more contact points.
10. The electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising a gel volume positioned within the recess between the cap and the one or more contact points.
11. The electronic device of claim 4 , further comprising a gel volume positioned within the recess to be intermediate to the external object contacting the one or more contact points.
12. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a display having a display surface formed on an exterior panel of the electronic device, wherein at least a portion of the digitizer pad overlays the display to detect contact made on the display surface.
13. An electronic device comprising:
a processor; and
a housing formed at least partially from a first material, the first material having a characteristic of generating an electrical signal in response to a contact by an external object, the first material being formed to provide a shaped feature on an exterior surface of the housing, the shaped feature including one or more contact points to detect contact from the external object, the first material signaling an input to the processor corresponding to the external object contacting the one or more contact points.
14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the housing detects a position of the external object contacting the shaped feature, the position corresponding to a function performed by the processor in response to being signaled the input.
15. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the shaped feature includes a recess accessible from the exterior surface of the housing.
16. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the first material comprises a conductive paste.
17. An electronic device comprising:
a housing formed at least partially from a first material having a characteristic of generating an electrical signal in response to a contact by an external object, the first material signaling an input for the processor when the housing is contacted at a contact point; and
a gel volume positioned over the contact point of the housing; and
an end piece attached to the gel volume, the end piece being moveable to displace an interior mass of the gel volume so as to deflect the contact point.
18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the end piece extends away from a surface of the housing providing the contact point.
19. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the gel volume is positioned over a planar surface of the housing.
20. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the housing is formed from a first layer, an air gap, and a second layer spaced from the first layer by the air gap, the first layer and the second layer being formed from the first material.