INPUT INTERFACE INCLUDING PUSH-SENSITIVE MECHANICAL SWITCH IN COMBINATION WITH CAPACITIVE TOUCH SENSOR
An input interface for an electronic device is disclosed. The input interface includes a touch-sensitive switch supported by a board member. The input interface further includes a push-sensitive switch supported by a circuit board. The board member and circuit board will typically be generally planar and included within substantially parallel layers of the input interface. The touch-sensitive switch and push-sensitive switch form a switch pair that may be associated with a display control function invoked upon actuation of both of the switches.
1 . An electronic device, comprising:
a housing having at least one outside edge;
an input interface disposed along at least a portion of the one outside edge, the input interface including at least one touch-sensitive switch and at least one push-sensitive switch; and
a processor for receiving and processing first input signals generated by the at least one touch-sensitive switch and second input signals generated by the at least one push-sensitive switch, the first and second input signals being generated in response to user input.
2 . The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to interpret the successive generation of one of the first input signals and one of the second input signals as a control operation relative to information displayed by a display of the electronic device.
3 . The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the processor, in response to the generation of one of the first input signals, sends a turn-on instruction to a light-emitting element of the input interface.
4 . The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the processor, in response to the generation of one of the first input signals, sends a turn-on instruction to a backlight element of a display of the electronic device.
5 . The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the light-emitting element is located proximate a portion of the input interface associated with a display control function applicable to a display of the electronic device.
6 . The electronic device of claim 5 wherein the processor initiates implementation of the display control function when one of the second input signals is generated within a predefined period subsequent to the one of the first input signals.
7 . The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the at least one touch-sensitive switch is located in a first horizontal layer of the input interface and the at least one push-sensitive switch is located in a second horizontal layer of the input interface displaced from the first horizontal layer along a vertical axis.
8 . The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the at least one touch-sensitive switch and the at least one push-sensitive switch are proximately located relative to a longitudinal axis of the input interface and comprise a first switch pair, the input interface including a second touch-sensitive switch and a second push-sensitive switch comprising a second switch pair.
9 . The electronic device of claim 8 wherein the input interface further includes a plurality of touch-sensitive switches positioned substantially along the longitudinal axis between the first switch pair and the second switch pair.
10 . The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the at least one touch-sensitive switch comprises a capacitive touch switch.
11 . An input interface for an electronic device, the input interface comprising:
a first touch-sensitive switch supported by a board member;
a circuit board; and
a first push-sensitive switch supported by the circuit board.
12 . The input interface of claim 11 further including a light emitting element at least partially supported by the board member.
13 . The input interface of claim 12 further including an enclosure layer and a light diffusing element, the light diffusing element being interposed between the board member and the enclosure layer.
14 . The input interface of claim 11 wherein the first touch-sensitive switch and first push-sensitive switch are located proximate a portion of the input interface associated with a first control function.
15 . The input interface of claim 14 further including:
a second touch-sensitive switch supported by the board member; and
a second push-sensitive switch supported by the circuit board.
16 . The input interface of claim 15 wherein the second touch-sensitive switch and the second push-sensitive switch are located proximate a portion of the input interface associated with a second control function.
17 . The input interface of claim 11 further including a light emitting element located proximate the first touch-sensitive switch on the board member.
18 . A method of controlling a display interface of an electronic device using an input interface of the device, the method comprising:
generating, upon touching by a user of a surface of the input interface, a first input signal;
generating, upon application by the user of a pushing force to the surface of the input interface, a second input signal; and
providing a first control signal to the display interface in response to the first input signal and the second input signal.
19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the touching and the pushing force are applied proximate a first location of the input interface.
20 . The method of claim 19 further including:
generating, upon touching by a user of a second location on the surface of the input interface, a third input signal;
generating, upon application by the user of a pushing force proximate the second location of the surface of the input interface, a fourth input signal; and
providing a second control signal to the display interface in response to the third input signal and the fourth input signal.
21 . The method of claim 18 further including illuminating a portion of the input interface in response to the first input signal.
22 . The method of claim 18 wherein the providing includes generating the first control signal only if the second input signal is generated within a predetermined time period subsequent to the generating of the first input signal.
23 . An electronic device, comprising:
a housing having a display frame portion and at least one outside edge;
an input interface including:
a touch-sensitive scroll bar disposed along at least a portion of the display frame portion, and
at least one touch-sensitive switch and at least one push-sensitive switch proximate a first location on the at least one outside edge; and
a processor for receiving and processing input signals generated by the touch-sensitive scroll bar, at least one touch-sensitive switch, and at least one push-sensitive switch in response to user input.
24 . The electronic device of claim 23 wherein the processor is configured to interpret the successive generation of one of input signals from the at least one touch-sensitive switch and the at least one push-sensitive switch as a control operation relative to information displayed by a display of the electronic device bordered by the display frame portion.