Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080224879 | Mounted shock sensor - This application is directed to a shock sensor mounted in an electronic device. The shock sensor includes both active and passive shock detection methods that allow a technician to determine whether the electronic device was subjected to a shock event that exceeded an impact threshold level. The shock sensor may include shock detection contacts that form an electrical circuit that remains open in the absence of a shock event that exceeds an impact threshold level. In response to a significant shock event, a movable component or substance of the shock sensor may move from a first position to a second position, thereby closing the electrical circuit formed by the shock detection contacts. The change in circuit may be detected and used to provide active indication of whether the electronic device has been subjected to a substantial shock event. In addition, the shock sensor may be observed to passively determine whether the electronic device has been subjected to a substantial shock event. | 09-18-2008 |
20090019949 | Resistive force sensor with capacitive discrimination - A resistive force sensor with capacitive discrimination is disclosed. According to an example of the disclosure, a sensor is directed to detect resistance and capacitance in an alternating fashion, the resistance indicating a force being applied to an input area of a device, and the capacitance indicating a proximity of a body part to the input area of the device, and the detected resistance and capacitance are utilized to determine whether the body part has pressed the input area of the device. | 01-22-2009 |
20090020343 | Resistive force sensor with capacitive discrimination - A resistive force sensor with capacitive discrimination is disclosed. According to an example of the disclosure, a sensor is directed to detect resistance and capacitance in an alternating fashion, the resistance indicating a force being applied to an input area of a device, and the capacitance indicating a proximity of a body part to the input area of the device, and the detected resistance and capacitance are utilized to determine whether the body part has pressed the input area of the device. | 01-22-2009 |
20090040115 | Antennas for handheld electronic devices - Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include antenna structures. An antenna may be located in an upper right corner of the handheld device as the handheld device is operated in a portrait mode. When the handheld device is rotated counterclockwise and operated in a landscape mode, the antenna is located in an unobstructed upper left corner of the device. The antenna may be formed from a strip of conductor. A proximal end of the strip of conductor may be connected to a transmission line. A distal end of the strip of conductor may be routed away from housing surfaces by bends formed in the strip. A printed circuit board in the handheld electronic device may have a hole. The distal end of the strip of conductor may be located adjacent to the hole. | 02-12-2009 |
20090067141 | ASSEMBLY OF A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - This invention is directed to several mechanical features of an electronic device. The electronic device may include a spring for simultaneously grounding several components. The electronic device may include several interlocking fences for protecting electronic device components from RF radiation. The electronic device may include an antenna assembly that includes distinct components for functional and aesthetic purposes. The electronic device may include a window for permitting RF transmissions. The electronic device may include a metal frame for stiffening the electronic device. The electronic device may include a bezel used for aesthetic purposes and to support numerous electronic device components. The electronic device may include a flexible housing operative to elastically deform to assemble the electronic device. The electronic device may include an unsupported button. | 03-12-2009 |
20090205444 | MOUNTED SHOCK SENSOR - This application is directed to a shock sensor mounted in an electronic device. The shock sensor includes both active and passive shock detection methods that allow a technician to determine whether the electronic device was subjected to a shock event that exceeded an impact threshold level. The shock sensor may include shock detection contacts that form an electrical circuit that remains open in the absence of a shock event that exceeds an impact threshold level. In response to a significant shock event, a movable component or substance of the shock sensor may move from a first position to a second position, thereby closing the electrical circuit formed by the shock detection contacts. The change in circuit may be detected and used to provide active indication of whether the electronic device has been subjected to a substantial shock event. In addition, the shock sensor may be observed to passively determine whether the electronic device has been subjected to a substantial shock event. | 08-20-2009 |
20090266699 | Switch structures for use on printed circuit boards - An electrical contact area on a printed circuit board (“PCB”), that would otherwise be subject to abrasion and possibly also corrosion, can be protected by covering it with another, more durable contact structure that is bonded to the first-mentioned contact area using an anistropic conductive adhesive (“ACA”). The more durable contact structure may include a member of PCB material or the like with electrically connected electrical contacts on its upper and lower surfaces. At least the upper one of these contacts (which is exposed for the service that involves possible abrasion and/or corrosion) may be given high durability by plating it with hard gold. The lower of these contacts is adhered to the main PCB via the above-mentioned ACA. | 10-29-2009 |
20100079403 | Clickable and Tactile Buttons for a Touch Surface - Methods and apparatus for provide physical buttons for use on a touch surface are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus includes a display arrangement and a first button attachment structure. The display arrangement includes a first surface which has a first touch-sensitive area. The first touch-sensitive area is capable of sensing touch. The first button attachment structure includes a first attachment area and a first button actuation area. The first attachment area is mounted on the first surface such that the first button actuation is aligned at least partially over the first touch-sensitive area. The first button actuation area is arranged to deform when a force is applied to the first button actuation area to engage the first touch-sensitive area. | 04-01-2010 |
20110004330 | Media Playback Queuing for Playback Management - Management or coordination of playback of digital media assets by an electronic device (e.g., a computing device), that supports media playback is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the electronic device can be controlled such that a user is able to schedule playback of distinct digital media assets. | 01-06-2011 |
20110012845 | TOUCH SENSOR STRUCTURES FOR DISPLAYS - An electronic device may have a touch screen display. The display may have a touch sensor structure that determines the location at which external objects touch the display. The touch sensor structure may have a clear substrate on which conductive capacitive touch sensor electrodes are formed. The electrodes may be formed from a transparent conductive material such as indium-tin oxide. The clear substrate may be formed from a flexible material such as a polymer. The polymer may be a clear polyimide. Copper traces or other conductive traces may be used to route sensor signals from the capacitive touch sensor electrodes to processing circuitry in the electronic device. | 01-20-2011 |
20110100124 | MOUNTED SHOCK SENSOR - This application is directed to a shock sensor mounted in an electronic device. The shock sensor includes both active and passive shock detection methods that allow a technician to determine whether the electronic device was subjected to a shock event that exceeded an impact threshold level. The shock sensor may include shock detection contacts that form an electrical circuit that remains open in the absence of a shock event that exceeds an impact threshold level. In response to a significant shock event, a movable component or substance of the shock sensor may move from a first position to a second position, thereby closing the electrical circuit formed by the shock detection contacts. The change in circuit may be detected and used to provide active indication of whether the electronic device has been subjected to a substantial shock event. In addition, the shock sensor may be observed to passively determine whether the electronic device has been subjected to a substantial shock event. | 05-05-2011 |
20120185771 | MEDIA PLAYBACK QUEUING FOR PLAYBACK MANAGEMENT - Management or coordination of playback of digital media assets by an electronic device (e.g., a computing device), that supports media playback is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the electronic device can be controlled such that a user is able to schedule playback of distinct digital media assets. | 07-19-2012 |
20130019207 | Removable Clip With User InterfaceAANM Rothkopf; Fletcher R.AACI Mountain ViewAAST CAAACO USAAGP Rothkopf; Fletcher R. Mountain View CA USAANM Dabov; TeodorAACI San FranciscoAAST CAAACO USAAGP Dabov; Teodor San Francisco CA US - Various embodiments of removable user interfaces, electronic computing devices, and systems are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a body having a bend and a user interface area, a connector adapted to couple to a corresponding connector on an electronic device, and a plurality of conductive elements. The bend enables the user interface area to wrap around a portion of the electronic device when the connector is coupled to the corresponding connector on the electronic device. In another embodiment, a portable electronic system includes a removable user interface and an electronic computing device having a display surface, where the removable user interface is couplable to the electronic computing device such that the removable user interface is disposed over at least a part of the display surface. | 01-17-2013 |
20130286582 | ASSEMBLY OF A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - This invention is directed to several mechanical features of an electronic device. The electronic device may include a spring for simultaneously grounding several components. The electronic device may include several interlocking fences for protecting electronic device components from RF radiation. The electronic device may include an antenna assembly that includes distinct components for functional and aesthetic purposes. The electronic device may include a window for permitting RF transmissions. The electronic device may include a metal frame for stiffening the electronic device. The electronic device may include a bezel used for aesthetic purposes and to support numerous electronic device components. The electronic device may include a flexible housing operative to elastically deform to assemble the electronic device. The electronic device may include an unsupported button. | 10-31-2013 |
20140069696 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING MULTI-LAYER FLEX CIRCUITS TO SUBSTRATES - Multi-layer ACF flex circuits can be bonded to multiple, separate and distinct circuits on substrates. The multi-layer ACF bonds are formed by aligning each of multiple circuits with a separate portion of a multi-layer ACF flex circuit and then forming ACF bonds using a single or multiple thermodes. The selection of single or multiple thermodes depends on the required thermal profile for each of the ACF bonds. The multiple ACF bonds may also be formed to a single multi-layer ACF flex circuit independently such that realignment may occur after individual bonds have already been formed. | 03-13-2014 |
20140071081 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ROUTING CABLES IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Systems and methods for routing cables in an electronic device are provided. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include a touch sensor having a number of traces, a display component, and a mechanical button, each of which may be coupled to a circuit board via a single flexible circuit cable. This may save valuable space within the electronic device. | 03-13-2014 |
20140195909 | Media Playback Queuing for Playback Management - Management or coordination of playback of digital media assets by an electronic device (e.g., a computing device), that supports media playback is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the electronic device can be controlled such that a user is able to schedule playback of distinct digital media assets. | 07-10-2014 |