Mobile Electronic Device with Squeeze Detection

Abstract

A force sensing compliant enclosure for an electronic device may include at least one deformable housing wall. At least one strain concentration portion may be located on the deformable housing wall where strain caused by application of a force that deforms the deformable housing wall is greater than at other portions of the deformable housing wall. The strain concentrating portion may have a second thickness that is thinner than other portions of the deformable housing wall. One or more sensors may be positioned in the strain concentration portion and may sense strain caused by the application of the force that deforms the deformable housing wall.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A smart phone, comprising:
 a housing, comprising:
 an internal wall surface forming an interior perimeter of the housing; 
 a first indentation defined by the internal wall surface wherein the first indentation has a first middle portion at which the first indentation is thinnest; and 
 a second indentation defined by the internal wall surface wherein the second indentation has a second middle portion at which the second indentation is thinnest, the first and second indentations disposed on opposite sides of the interior perimeter of the housing; 
   a display coupled to the housing;   a first group of strain gauges positioned in the first indentation at the first middle portion;   a second group of strain gauges positioned in the second indentation at the second middle portion; and   a processing unit communicably coupled to the first and second groups of strain gauges that is operable to receive data from the first and second groups of strain gauges and determine that force is exerted on the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The smart phone of  claim 1 , wherein the first group of strain gauges are spaced equidistant from each other. 
     
     
         3 . The smart phone of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit determines the force using data from multiple of the first group of strain gauges. 
     
     
         4 . The smart phone of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit determines the force using data from both the first group of strain gauges and the second group of strain gauges. 
     
     
         5 . The smart phone of  claim 1 , wherein the first group of strain gauges comprises a row of strain gauges positioned in the first indentation. 
     
     
         6 . The smart phone of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is metal. 
     
     
         7 . The smart phone of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit determines a user input is received using the determined force. 
     
     
         8 . A cellular telephone, comprising:
 a housing, comprising:
 an internal wall surface forming an interior perimeter of the housing; 
 a first groove defined by the internal wall surface wherein the first groove has a first middle at which the first groove is thinnest; and 
 a second groove defined by the internal wall surface wherein the second groove has a second middle at which the second groove is thinnest; 
   a display coupled to the housing;   a first set of strain gauges positioned in the first groove;   a second set of strain gauges positioned in the second groove; and   a processing unit operable determine that force is exerted on the housing using data received from the first and second sets of strain gauges.   
     
     
         9 . The cellular telephone of  claim 8 , wherein the processing unit launches an application using the data. 
     
     
         10 . The cellular telephone of  claim 8 , wherein the processing unit wakes the cellular telephone out of a sleep mode using the data. 
     
     
         11 . The cellular telephone of  claim 8 , wherein the first groove is positioned perpendicular to the display. 
     
     
         12 . The cellular telephone of  claim 8 , wherein the processing unit determines an amount of the force using the data. 
     
     
         13 . The cellular telephone of  claim 8 , wherein a thickness of the first groove is thinner than another portion of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The cellular telephone of  claim 8 , wherein the first set of strain gauges is positioned parallel to the second set of strain gauges. 
     
     
         15 . A mobile computer, comprising:
 a housing, comprising:
 an internal wall surface forming an interior perimeter of the housing; and 
 a notch positioned on the internal wall surface wherein the notch is thinnest at a middle of the notch; 
   a display coupled to the housing;   sensors located at the notch; and   a processing unit operable determine that force is exerted on the housing using strain detected using the sensors.   
     
     
         16 . The mobile computer of  claim 15 , wherein the processing unit is operable to alter information presented on the display using the detected force. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile computer of  claim 15 , wherein the processing unit is operable to determine whether the force exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile computer of  claim 15 , wherein the sensors each comprise parallel plates. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile computer of  claim 15 , wherein the sensors comprise a series of seven sensors. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile computer of  claim 15 , wherein the sensors include a flex circuit.