Housing as an I/O Device

Abstract

There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a housing for an electronic device as an input/output (I/O) device. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and I/O device and one or more sensors obscured by a panel of the housing. The one or more sensors being configured to sense via the panel of the housing. The electronic device further includes a processing unit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors. One or more output devices are communicatively coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide an output in response to the one or more sensors generating an electrical signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device having an exterior surface, a first end, and a second end, the electronic device comprising:
 a housing that includes a unitary housing wall, wherein the unitary housing wall forms the exterior surface and extends from the first end to the second end;   one or more strain gauges enclosed in the housing and positioned adjacent an interior surface of the unitary housing wall; and   a controller enclosed in the housing and communicatively coupled to the one or more strain gauges, wherein the controller is configured to interpret generated electrical signals from the one or more strain gauges as input to the electronic device and generate an output signal based on the input.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface is a single, continuous exterior surface that extends from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface is unbroken between the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the exterior surface used for input to the one or more strain gauges is continuous and formed of the same material as another portion of the exterior surface that is not used for input. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one output device communicatively coupled to the controller to receive the output signal. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device defined in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one output device comprises a speaker. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device defined in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one output device comprises a display. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device defined in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one output device comprises a haptic actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device defined in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one output device comprises a light source. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the unitary housing wall is a plastic housing wall. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the unitary housing wall is a metal housing wall. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the unitary housing wall is a glass housing wall. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the unitary housing wall has a uniform appearance in a first portion that overlaps the one or more sensors and a second portion that does not overlap the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         14 . An electronic device having an exterior surface, a first end, and a second end, the electronic device comprising:
 a housing that includes a housing wall, wherein the housing wall forms the exterior surface and extends from the first end to the second end;   a display enclosed in the housing, wherein the display has a surface normal;   one or more strain gauges enclosed in the housing and positioned adjacent an interior surface of the housing wall, wherein the one or more strain gauges are configured to detect pressure input in a direction that is orthogonal to the surface normal of the display; and   a controller enclosed in the housing and communicatively coupled to the one or more strain gauges, wherein the controller is configured to generate an output signal based on input from the one or more strain gauges.   
     
     
         15 . The electronic device defined in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a speaker, wherein the controller is configured to change a volume of the speaker in response to the at least one sensor detecting squeezing of the housing.   
     
     
         16 . The electronic device defined in  claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to provide the output signal to the display. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device defined in  claim 14 , wherein the housing wall is a single housing wall that extends continuously between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         18 . An electronic device having an exterior surface, a first end, and a second end, the electronic device comprising:
 a housing configured to function as an integrated housing and input device, wherein the housing includes an end-to-end housing wall between the first and second ends that forms the exterior surface;   at least one strain gauge that is formed within the housing adjacent to an interior surface of the housing wall, that is obscured by the housing wall, and that is configured to sense pressure input on the housing;   a processing unit that is formed within the housing, that is communicatively coupled to the at least one strain gauge, and that is configured to interpret electrical signals generated by the at least one strain gauge; and   at least one output device that is formed within the housing, that is communicatively coupled to the processing unit, and that is configured to provide an output in response to the at least one strain gauge generating an electrical signal.   
     
     
         19 . The electronic device defined in  claim 18 , wherein the at least one output device comprises a speaker that is configured to provide the output in response to the at least one strain gauge generating the electrical signal. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device defined in  claim 18 , wherein the at least one output device comprises a display that is configured to provide the output in response to the at least one strain gauge generating the electrical signal.