Deformable controller for electronic device

Abstract

A deformable controller for an electronic device, such as a portable electronic device, is disclosed. A user can interact with the controller to cause it to “deform” and thereby provide user input to control the electronic device. The controller can be malleable and symmetrical, and user interaction with the controller can be provided with substantially arbitrary orientation. In one embodiment, the controller is an in-line controller with a cable that couples to the electronic device. In one particular implementation, the portable electronic device can be a portable media player and the controller can remotely control media playback functions for the portable media player.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A deformable controller for a portable electronic device, said controller comprising:
 a deformable outer shell; and   a plurality of electrical contacts internal to said deformable outer shell.   
     
     
         2 . A deformable controller as recited in  claim 1 , wherein through a rolling or twisting user interaction with the deformable outer shell, a user can request at least one of a plurality of predetermined functions associated with the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . A deformable controller as recited in  claim 2 , wherein through a pressing user interaction with the deformable outer shell, a user can request at least one other function associated with the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . A deformable controller as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least a plurality of the electrical contacts are flexible outer contacts molded at least in part onto an inner surface of said deformable outer shell. 
     
     
         5 . A deformable controller as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a first of the electrical contacts is a central electrical contact provide in a center region of said deformable outer shell, and a plurality of the electrical contacts are outer electrical contacts adhered to said deformable outer shell. 
     
     
         6 . A deformable controller as recited in  claim 5 , wherein during a rolling or twisting user interaction with said deformable outer shell, electrical connection is made between the central electrical contact and one or more of the outer electrical contacts. 
     
     
         7 . A deformable controller as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the rolling or twisting user interaction provided with said deformable outer shell can be performed at any arbitrary position about a central axis. 
     
     
         8 . A deformable controller as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said deformable outer shell is provided about the central axis. 
     
     
         9 . A deformable controller as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said deformable controller is connected to a cable along the central axis. 
     
     
         10 . A deformable controller as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said deformable outer shell has a symmetrical outer shape. 
     
     
         11 . A deformable controller as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said deformable controller is connected to a cable along a central axis, and
 wherein the rolling or twisting user interaction provided with said deformable outer shell is isolated from the cable such that the rolling or twisting user interaction of said deformable outer shell does not impose rolling or twisting of the cable.   
     
     
         12 . A deformable controller as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said controller further comprises:
 a microphone integral or coupled to said deformable outer shell.   
     
     
         13 . A deformable controller as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said controller further comprises:
 a plurality of electrically resistive elements, each of the resistive elements being electrically connected to at least one of said electrical contacts.   
     
     
         14 . A deformable controller as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said controller further comprises:
 at least one tactile feedback element provided internal to said deformable outer shell.   
     
     
         15 . A method for commanding a portable electronic device, said method comprising:
 receiving at least one input signal from a deformable controller, the at least one input signal being produced in response to user manipulation of the deformable controller;   determining whether the at least one input signal corresponds to a rolling action from the user manipulation; and   initiating, on the portable electronic device, a predetermined command that corresponds to the rolling action if it is determined that the at least one input signal corresponding to the rolling action.   
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined command is initiated in accordance with a direction and a magnitude, and
 wherein the direction and the magnitude are determined based on the least one input signal from the deformable controller.   
     
     
         17 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the deformable controller is an in-line controller that is in-line with a cable adapted to extend from the portable electronic device to a headset. 
     
     
         18 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the rolling action is provided by a user through placing the deformable controller between two fingers of the user and inducing a rolling or twisting movement of the deformable controller by the two fingers of the user. 
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the portable electronic device supports media playback, and
 wherein the rolling action initiates the predetermined command at the portable electronic device which causes an attribute of media playback to be altered upward/downward or forward/backward in accordance with a quantity dependent on an amount of rotation induced by the rolling action.   
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said method further comprises:
 determining whether the at least one input signal corresponds to a press action from the user manipulation; and   initiating, on the portable electronic device, another command that corresponds to the press action if it is determined that the at least one input signal corresponds to the press action.   
     
     
         21 . A method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said determining of whether the at least one input signal corresponds to a press action comprises:
 determining whether the press action requests performance of a second predetermined command or a third predetermined command.   
     
     
         22 . A portable media system, comprising:
 a portable media player adapted to play back one or more media items; and   a cable having at least one ear piece at a first end, a connector at a second end, and an in-line controller adhered to said cable,   wherein the in-line controller is adapted to be deformed by user interaction therewith to signal said portable media player to invoke one or more of a plurality of media playback commands.   
     
     
         23 . A portable media system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the user interaction comprises a rolling or twisting action. 
     
     
         24 . A portable media system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein at least a plurality of the electrical contacts are flexible outer contacts molded at least in part onto an inner surface of said deformable outer shell.