Tactile switch for a mobile electronic device

{
  "publication_number": "US9892876B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Tactile switch for a mobile electronic device",
  "abstract": "A tactile switch on a mobile electronic device having a housing is provided. The tactile switch is comprised of a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing, a switch mechanism, and at least one pathway coupled to the pressure sensitive interface and extending from the pressure sensitive interface to the switch mechanism. The switch mechanism is at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface. The pathway is formed in an interior portion of the housing. The tactile switch further includes a viscous fluid substantially filling the pathway. The tactile switch is configured such that when pressure is applied to the pressure sensitive interface, the viscous fluid exerts pressure on the switch mechanism, causing the switch to make an electrical contact.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A tactile switch on a mobile electronic device having a housing, comprising: a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing; a switch mechanism, the switch mechanism being at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface; at least one pathway coupled to the pressure sensitive interface and extending from the pressure sensitive interface to the switch mechanism, the pathway being formed in an interior portion of the housing; a viscous fluid substantially filling the at least one pathway; and a vibration device mechanically coupled to the at least one pathway; the tactile switch being configured such that when pressure is applied to the pressure sensitive interface, the viscous fluid exerts pressure on the switch mechanism, causing the switch to make an electrical contact; and wherein the vibration device transmits vibration to the pressure sensitive interface via the viscous fluid when the switch mechanism makes the electrical contact.",
    "2. The tactile switch of claim 1, wherein the switch mechanism is mechanical.",
    "3. The tactile switch of claim 1, wherein the at least one pathway is molded into the interior portion of the housing.",
    "4. The tactile switch of claim 1, wherein the viscous fluid is a hydraulic fluid.",
    "5. The tactile switch of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive interface comprises more than one pressure sensitive interface; wherein the at least one pathway comprises one pathway corresponding to each pressure sensitive interface; the tactile switch further comprising additional switch mechanisms corresponding to each pressure sensitive interface.",
    "6. The tactile switch of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive interface has a shape, the shape conforming to a contour of the exterior portion of the housing where the pressure sensitive interface is located.",
    "7. The tactile switch of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive interface comprises a first portion coupled to a first pathway of the at least on pathway and a second portion coupled to a second pathway of the at least one pathway, and wherein the vibration device transmits vibration to the first portion via the viscous fluid in the first pathway upon the first portion being pressed and to the second portion via the viscous fluid in the second pathway upon the second portion being pressed when the electrical contact is made with the switch mechanism.",
    "8. The tactile switch of claim 7, wherein the vibration is transmitted to the pressure sensitive interface at a first frequency and/or a first amplitude upon pressure being applied to the first portion and at a second frequency and/or a second amplitude upon pressure being applied to the second portion.",
    "9. The tactile switch of claim 1, wherein the vibration device is selected from a solenoid and a vibrator.",
    "10. The tactile switch of claim 1, wherein the switch mechanism is a solid state pressure sensor.",
    "11. The tactile switch of claim 10, wherein the pressure sensitive interface is differentially sensitive to different pressures applied to the pressure sensitive interface.",
    "12. A tactile switch on a mobile electronic device having a housing, comprising: a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing, the pressure sensitive interface comprising a first portion and a second portion; a switch mechanism, the switch mechanism being at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface; a first pathway substantially filled with viscous fluid, the first pathway coupled to the first portion of the pressure sensitive interface and extending from the first portion to the switch mechanism, and a second pathway substantially filled with viscous fluid, the second pathway coupled to the second portion of the pressure sensitive interface and extending from the second portion to the switch mechanism; a first vibration device mechanically coupled to the first pathway, the first vibration device configured to transmit vibration to the first portion of the pressure sensitive interface via the first pathway in response to pressure applied to the first portion, and a second vibration device mechanically coupled to the second pathway, the second vibration device configured to transmit vibration to the second portion of the pressure sensitive interface via the second pathway in response to pressure applied to the second portion; wherein pressure applied to the pressure sensitive interface causes the switch mechanism to make an electrical contact.",
    "13. The tactile switch of claim 12, wherein the switch mechanism is mechanical.",
    "14. The tactile switch of claim 12, wherein the switch mechanism is a solid state pressure sensor.",
    "15. The tactile switch of claim 12, wherein the first pathway and/or the second pathway is molded into an interior portion of the housing.",
    "16. The tactile switch of claim 12, wherein the pressure sensitive interface is directionally sensitive to different pressures applied to the pressure sensitive interface, the first pathway corresponding to a first direction of pressure applied to the pressure sensitive interface and the second pathway corresponding to a second direction of pressure applied to the pressure sensitive interface.",
    "17. The tactile switch of claim 12, wherein the viscous fluid is a hydraulic fluid.",
    "18. The tactile switch of claim 12, wherein the pressure sensitive interface comprises more than one pressure sensitive interface; and wherein the at least one pathway comprises one pathway corresponding to each pressure sensitive interface; the tactile switch further comprising additional switch mechanisms corresponding to each pressure sensitive interface.",
    "19. The tactile switch of claim 12, wherein the first vibration device transmits vibration to the first portion of the pressure sensitive interface when pressure applied to the first portion causes the switch mechanism to make the electrical contact and/or the second vibration device transmits vibration to the second portion of the pressure sensitive interface when pressure applied to the second portion causes the switch mechanism to make the electrical contact.",
    "20. The tactile switch of claim 12, wherein the vibration is transmitted to the pressure sensitive interface at a first frequency and/or a first amplitude upon pressure being applied to the first portion and at a second frequency and/or a second amplitude upon pressure being applied to the second portion."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to mobile electronic devices such as smart phones and handheld computers, and particularly to button switches on such devices.\n\nGenerally speaking as electronic devices become more mobile, portable, and smaller, these handheld electronic devices employ touch screens and touch gestures to operate features of the device. However, the need for traditional tactile button, or mechanical approach has not completely been eliminated.\n\nImplementing traditional mechanical approach presents challenges. Often, an electronic device's internal components are competing for space which makes the mechanical approach particularly difficult to implement. The positioning of the input tactile buttons can lead to additional challenges such as RF interference or decreased durability.\n\nTherefore, a need exists for tactile buttons for human input on handheld and portable electronic devices which have flexible positioning with respect to the switch or operation of the button controls, and which are efficient in the space they occupy within the device.\n\nAccordingly, in one aspect, the present invention embraces a tactile switch on a mobile electronic device.\n\nIn an exemplary embodiment, a tactile switch on a mobile electronic device having a housing, includes a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing, a switch mechanism, and at least one pathway coupled to the pressure sensitive interface and extending from the pressure sensitive interface to the switch mechanism. The switch mechanism is at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01H 35/245",
    "G06F 3/0202",
    "H01H 11/04",
    "H01H 13/20",
    "H01H 13/85",
    "H01H 2215/05",
    "H01H 2221/038",
    "H01H 2231/022",
    "H01H 3/24",
    "H01H 35/30",
    "H01H 35/34",
    "H03K 17/9625",
    "Y10T 29/49105"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "H01H 35/26",
    "H01H 35/24",
    "H01H 35/30",
    "H01H 35/34"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Hand Held Products Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "John Spencer Bandringa"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-06-16",
  "publication_date": "2018-02-13",
  "grant_date": "2018-02-13",
  "priority_date": "2015-06-16",
  "application_number": "US-201514740320-A",
  "family_id": "56894690",
  "cited_by_count": 59,
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