Unibody contact features on a chassis shell of a mobile device

Abstract

Several embodiments include a mobile device. The mobile device can include a circuit board configured to interconnect one or more electronic components and a chassis shell adapted to form an outer perimeter of the mobile device and to enclose the circuit board. The chassis shell can have an integral unibody that includes a contact feature integral to the chassis shell. A sensor system can be in contact with the chassis shell on an opposite side of the contact feature. The contact feature enables the sensor system to detect touch events when a user interacts with the contact feature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile device, comprising:
 a circuit board configured to interconnect one or more electronic components;   a display;   a chassis shell adapted to form an outer perimeter of the mobile device, to hold the display, and to enclose the circuit board, wherein the chassis shell includes a unibody contact feature integral to the chassis shell; and   a sensor system in contact with the chassis shell on an opposite side of the unibody contact feature, wherein the unibody contact feature enables the sensor system to detect touch events when a user interacts with the unibody contact feature.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is an optical sensor system and the unibody contact feature is a transparent or semi-transparent portion of the chassis shell. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is a resistive touch sensor and the unibody contact feature includes an electrically conductive portion and an electrically non-conductive portion. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is a capacitive touch sensor and the unibody contact feature includes an electrically conductive portion and an electrically non-conductive portion. 
     
     
         5 . A mobile device, comprising:
 a circuit board configured to interconnect one or more electronic components;   a chassis shell adapted to form an outer perimeter of the mobile device and to enclose the circuit board, wherein the chassis shell includes a contact feature integral to the chassis shell; and   a sensor system in contact with the chassis shell on an opposite side of the contact feature, the sensor system comprising one or more sensors, wherein the contact feature enables the sensor system to detect touch events when a user interacts with the contact feature.   
     
     
         6 . The mobile device of  claim 5 , wherein the contact feature includes a co-mold feature composed a non-conductive material that electrically isolates an inner metallic button surrounded by the co-mold feature. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile device of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor system is an optical sensor system, a capacitive touch sensor system, a resistive touch sensor system, a tactile touch sensor system, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile device of  claim 5 , wherein the contact feature is a cantilever feature formed from a cut line on the chassis shell. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the cantilever feature is a first cantilever feature and the sensor is a first sensor, and wherein the cut line forms a second cantilever feature over a second sensor of the sensor system. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the cantilever feature is in direct contact with the sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor system is a tactile sensor system configured to detect mechanical force exerted by the cantilever feature when an external force pushes against the cantilever feature. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the cut line includes at least a curved portion. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the cantilever feature is spaced part from the sensor system. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor system is an optical sensor system capable of detecting movement of the cantilever feature when an external force bends the cantilever feature, and wherein the sensor system is configured to detect a user interaction event in response to detecting a preset pattern in a movement pattern of the cantilever feature. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor system is an optical sensor system capable of detecting dimming of light through the cut line, and wherein the sensor system is configured to detect a user interaction event in response to detecting a preset pattern in the dimming of light through the cut line. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein a hinge region of the cantilever feature has a cross section smaller than a partially floating region of the cantilever feature; and wherein the hinge region attaches the partially floating region to rest of the chassis shell aside from the cantilever feature. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the cut line has a serpentine shape and the cantilever feature is a scalloped protrusion. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 8 , wherein the cut line and the cantilever feature have spiral shapes. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile device of  claim 18 , wherein the spiral shapes include a rectangular spiral shape.