Method and apparatus for controlling a skin texture surface on a device

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a controllable skin texture surface comprised of a flexible skin structure located over an actuation structure;

control logic, operatively coupled to the actuation structure of the controllable skin texture surface, operative to change a tactile configuration of at least a portion of the controllable skin texture surface in response to at least any one of: a received wireless signal, a battery level change condition, an incoming call, information from a proximity sensor, sound sensor, light sensor, data representing a user of the device and data representing completion of a user authentication sequence; and

wherein the control logic is operative to control the controllable skin texture surface to change the tactile configuration of a non-user interface portion of the portable electronic device.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the control logic is operative to control the controllable skin texture surface to change the tactile configuration of the at least portion of the controllable skin texture surface by causing the controllable skin texture surface to pulsate.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the controllable skin texture surface is comprised of at least one of the following structures:

a mechanical actuation structure that is operatively coupled to a flexible skin structure that moves in response to moving of the mechanical actuation structure;

a hydraulic actuation structure that is operatively coupled to a flexible skin structure that moves in response to movement of fluid in the hydraulic actuation structure;

an expandable gas actuation structure that is operatively coupled to a flexible skin structure that moves in response to movement of gas in the expandable gas actuation structure; and

a shape memory alloy actuation structure that is operatively coupled to a flexible skin structure that moves in response to movement of a metal alloy in the shape memory alloy actuation structure.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the control logic is operative to control the controllable skin texture surface to change the tactile configuration of a user interface key of the portable electronic device.

5. A handheld wireless device comprising:

a wireless telephone subsystem;

a display operatively coupled to the wireless telephone subsystem;

a controllable skin texture surface comprised of a flexible skin structure located over an actuation structure;

control logic, operatively coupled to the actuation structure of the controllable skin texture surface, operative to change a tactile configuration of at least a portion of the controllable skin texture surface in response to at least any one of: a received wireless signal, a low battery condition indication, an incoming call, a proximity sensor, sound sensor, light sensor, data representing a user of the device and data representing completion of a user authentication sequence; and

wherein the control logic is operative to control the controllable skin texture surface to change the tactile configuration of a non-user interface portion of the handheld wireless device.

6. The handheld wireless device of claim 5 wherein the controllable skin texture surface is comprised of a skin texture surface actuation structure that is comprised of a movable ramp structure and a flexible skin structure that moves in response to moving of the movable ramp structure to change a tactile configuration of at least a portion of the controllable skin texture surface.

7. The handheld wireless device of claim 6 wherein the movable ramp structure comprises a plurality of ramps and a cam structure operatively coupled to the plurality of ramps and operative to move at least one of the plurality of ramps in response to mechanical movement of a portion of the device.

8. The handheld wireless device of claim 6 wherein the movable ramp structure is comprised of a plurality of individual sliding elements each comprising a plurality of ramps.

9. The handheld wireless device of claim 6 wherein the flexible skin structure is comprised of a layer of flexible material having a plurality of defined changeable skin texture elements each having a portion configured to engage with the movable ramp structure.

10. The handheld wireless device of claim 8 wherein the cam structure comprises ramp control elements operatively positioned to cause movement of the plurality of individual sliding ramp elements in response to movement of the cam structure.

11. The handheld wireless device of claim 9 wherein the flexible skin structure is comprised of a plate structure that comprises openings that receive the portions configured to engage with the movable ramp structure.

12. The handheld wireless device of claim 6 wherein the movable ramp structure comprises a plurality of ramps and a cam structure operatively coupled to the plurality of ramps and operative to move at least one of the plurality of ramps, and wherein the device comprises a motor coupled to engage with the cam structure and moves the cam structure in response to an electronic control signal.

13. The handheld wireless device of claim 7 comprising a movable housing portion that is operatively coupled to the cam structure such that movement of the housing portion causes movement of the cam structure.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the controllable skin texture surface is located on a face of the device and wherein the control logic is operative to provide a visual change in the controllable skin texture surface in addition to a change in tactile configuration.