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.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing defining a sidewall;   an array of strain concentration features distributed along the sidewall, each strain concentration feature configured to concentrate strain at a respective strain concentration point in response to a deformation of the sidewall; and   an array of strain sensors, each strain sensor coupled to a respective one strain concentration point.   
     
     
         22 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the sidewall has a first thickness and each strain concentration feature of the array of strain concentration features has a second thickness. 
     
     
         23 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein at least one strain sensor is adhered to its respective strain concentration point. 
     
     
         24 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein at least one strain concentration feature comprises a rectangular profile. 
     
     
         25 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein at least one strain concentration feature of the array of strain concentration features comprises a curved profile. 
     
     
         26 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the array of strain concentration features is aligned in a row along a length of the sidewall. 
     
     
         27 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the sidewall is adjacent to a display. 
     
     
         28 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein each strain sensor of the array of strain sensors is communicably coupled to a processing unit disposed within the housing. 
     
     
         29 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the housing is formed from metal. 
     
     
         30 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing defining an internal sidewall surface opposite an external sidewall surface;   a strain concentration feature defined on the internal sidewall surface and operable to concentrate strain at a strain concentration point in response to a deformation of the housing caused by a force applied by a user to the external sidewall surface;   a spring structure adjacent to the strain concentration point, the spring structure operable to restore the housing to an undeformed state after the force is removed; and   a strain sensor coupled to the strain concentration point.   
     
     
         31 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein the strain concentration feature has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         32 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein at least a portion of the spring structure is formed from metal. 
     
     
         33 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the strain sensor is a first strain sensor; and   the electronic device further comprises a second strain sensor coupled to the strain concentration feature adjacent to the first strain sensor.   
     
     
         34 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein the strain concentration feature extends along a length of the internal sidewall. 
     
     
         35 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein the strain concentration feature is defined, at least partially, into the internal sidewall. 
     
     
         36 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the strain concentration feature comprises a groove; and   the strain sensor is disposed between edges of the groove.   
     
     
         37 . An electronic device comprising:
 a display;   a housing component surrounding at least a portion of a periphery of the display and comprising a sidewall defining:
 an internal surface; and 
 an external surface opposite the internal surface; 
   a set of strain concentration features distributed in a linear pattern along a length of the internal surface of the sidewall, each respective strain concentration feature configured to deform relative to a respective strain concentration point adjacent to the respective strain concentration feature in response to a deformation of the housing component caused by a force applied by a user to the external surface of the sidewall; and   a strain sensor coupled to at least one strain concentration point.   
     
     
         38 . The electronic device of  claim 37 , further comprising a spring structure adjacent to the at least one strain concentration point, the spring structure operable to restore the housing component to an expanded state after the force is removed. 
     
     
         39 . The electronic device of  claim 37 , further comprising a processor communicably coupled to the strain sensor and configured to determine a magnitude of the force applied by the user to the external surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         40 . The electronic device of  claim 39 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a location along the external surface of the sidewall at which the user applied the force.