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;
a housing having an exterior surface; and
an input area provided on the exterior surface of the housing and formed at least partially from a contact-sensitive material, the contact-sensitive material being integrated on the exterior surface of the housing so that the input area forms a shaped feature on the exterior surface of the housing, the shaped feature being actuatable by contact to cause the contact-sensitive material to generate an electrical signal that is communicatable to the processor as an input.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the contact-sensitive 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 input area.
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 , further comprising the one or more contact points including a first contact point positioned to identify an input for scrolling the image on the input area 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 input area in a second direction.
7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the contact-sensitive 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 the exterior surface of the electronic device, wherein at least a portion of the input area overlays or corresponds to the display to detect contact made on the display surface.
13. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the shaped feature is provided on a display surface.
14. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the shaped feature is unitarily integrated on the exterior surface of the housing.