Portable electronic device having a pliable or flexible portion
A portable electronic device or handheld computer is disclosed. The device has a housing and computing electronics supported by the housing. A pliable sensor that is supported by the housing is also disclosed. The pliable sensor provides input from the hand of a user by applying pressure to the pliable sensor.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A mobile computing device, comprising:
a housing;
a touch screen display;
a sensor; and
a processor, coupled to the touch screen display and the sensor;
wherein the sensor is configured to receive an input via the touch screen display and provide tactile feedback.
3 . The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein the mobile computing device is a handheld device.
4 . The mobile computing device of claim 2 , further comprising cellular telephone electronics.
5 . The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein the sensor is incorporated into the touch screen display.
6 . The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein the sensor sends signals to the processor based on the input.
7 . The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein the tactile feed back is a protrusion formed in the sensor.
8 . The mobile computing device of claim 2 , wherein the protrusion is provided at a location based in the location of the input on the touch screen display.
9 . A cellular telephone comprising:
a housing;
a processor including cellular telephone electronics and disposed within the housing; and
a sensor configured to provide signals to the processor based on a force applied to the sensor by a user and to provide tactile feedback to the user in response to the force.
10 . The cellular telephone of claim 9 , further comprising a touch screen.
11 . The cellular telephone of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is coupled to the touch screen.
12 . The cellular telephone of claim 11 , wherein the tactile feedback is a protrusion formed in the sensor.
13 . The cellular telephone of claim 9 , further comprising a personal information manager application.
14 . The cellular telephone of claim 9 , wherein the sensor is incorporated into the housing.
15 . The cellular telephone of claim 9 , wherein the tactile feedback is a protrusion formed in a location determined based in the location of the force.
16 . A mobile computing device, comprising:
a housing;
computing electronics;
a display coupled to the computing electronics and the housing; and
a force sensor coupled to the computing electronics and at least a portion of the surface of the housing to define an input device for the portable computer;
wherein the force sensor is configured to deform in response to a tactile input, and provide inputs to the computing electronics based on the location of the tactile input on the force sensor; and
wherein the computing electronics are configured to provide an alphanumeric character on the display in response to the tactile input.
17 . The mobile computing device of claim 16 , wherein the force sensor is configured to provide a button in response to the tactile input.
18 . The mobile computing device of claim 16 , wherein the display is configured to provide a plurality of visual user interfaces, and the processor is configured to permit a user to navigate through the plurality of visual user interfaces by the user providing the tactile input.
19 . The mobile computing device of claim 16 , wherein the computing electronics comprise cellular telephone electronics.
20 . The mobile computing device of claim 16 , wherein the mobile computing device is a handheld computer.
21 . The mobile computing device of claim 20 , wherein the display is a touch screen display.