Fabric covered electronic device with touch sensor

Abstract

The present invention is entitled "Fabric-covered electronic device with touch sensor." An electronic device, such as a speaker device, may have a curved housing characterized by a vertical longitudinal axis. A fabric layer may cover the curved housing. A touch sensor may be used to detect touch input on the fabric layer. The touch sensor may include capacitive touch sensor electrodes, including drive lines and sense lines. In some arrangements, the touch sensor is formed by conductive strands in the fabric layer. In other arrangements, the touch sensor is formed by conductive traces on a substrate. The substrate may be formed by portions of the curved housing, or may be formed by a layer separate from the housing. Light-emitting components and / or fabrics having different visual properties may be used to mark where touch-sensitive areas of the fabric are located. The touch-sensitive areas may be shaped as media control symbols.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with application number 201910428351.5, application date May 22, 2019, and invention name “Fabric-covered electronic device with touch sensor”. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly to electronic devices having fabrics. Background Art

[0003] Electronic devices such as audio devices may include fabric. For example, the housing of a speaker may be covered with a layer of fabric. Openings may be provided in the fabric to allow sound to be emitted from within the device.

[0004] Enhancing the functionality of a speaker can be challenging. For example, integrating input and output devices into a speaker with a fabric layer can be difficult. If you are not careful, users may find it cumbersome to provide input to and receive output from the speaker. Summary of the invention

[0005] An electronic device such as a touch and / or voice controlled speaker device may have a housing characterized by a vertical axis. The housing may have a cylindrical shape including an upper end and a lower end having a surface area with a compound curvature. The housing may be covered by a fabric layer such as a knitted fabric layer having diamond shaped openings.

[0006] A touch sensor may be used to detect touch input on the fabric layer. The touch sensor may include capacitive touch sensor electrodes, including drive lines and sense lines. In some arrangements, the touch sensor is formed by conductive strands in the fabric layer. In other arrangements, the touch sensor is formed by conductive traces on a substrate. The substrate may be formed by portions of a curved housing, or may be formed by a separate layer. Light emitting components and / or fabrics having different visual properties may be used to mark where touch sensitive areas of the fabric are located. The touch sensitive areas may be shaped as media control symbols. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device having a housing covered with a fabric layer according to an embodiment.

[0008] Figure 2 is covered with an exemplary material layer according to an embodiment Figure 1 A cross-sectional side view of a portion of a device.

[0009] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a portion of an exemplary layer of a warp knitted fabric according to an embodiment.

[0010] Figure 4It is shown how a fabric layer according to an embodiment may have openings such as diamond-shaped openings.

[0011] Figure 5 is available according to the implementation scheme Figure 1 Schematic diagram of an illustrative touch sensor for use in an electronic device of the type shown in .

[0012] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary touch sensor having electrodes formed of a conductive material on a substrate according to an embodiment.

[0013] Figure 7 is a top view of an exemplary touch sensor having electrodes formed from conductive strands according to an embodiment.

[0014] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrative electronic device having a touch sensor under a fabric layer in accordance with an embodiment.

[0015] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrative electronic device having a touch sensor integrated with a fabric layer according to an embodiment.

[0016] Fig.10 , Fig.11 , Fig.12 , Fig.13 , Fig.14 and Fig.15 is a side view of an illustrative electronic device having touch sensors in various locations according to an embodiment.

[0017] Fig.16 is a side view of an exemplary electronic device having a touch-sensitive area shaped like a media control symbol according to an embodiment.

[0018] Fig.17 is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary electronic device having a light emitting component illuminating a touch sensitive area according to an embodiment.

[0019] Fig.18 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device having a touch-sensitive fabric area that is visually distinct from non-touch-sensitive fabric areas in accordance with an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 402,115 filed on May 2, 2019 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 727,131 filed on September 5, 2018, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0021] Items (such as Figure 1 The article 10) may include a fabric. For example, the fabric may be used to form Figure 1 The article 10 may be an electronic device or an accessory for an electronic device, such as a voice-controlled electronic device (sometimes referred to as a digital assistant or voice-controlled speaker); a laptop computer; a computer monitor containing an embedded computer; a tablet computer; a cellular phone; a media player; or other handheld or portable electronic device; a smaller device, such as a wristwatch device, a pendant device, a headset or earpiece device, a device embedded in glasses, or other devices worn on the user's head; or other wearable or miniature devices; a television; a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer; a gaming device; a navigation device; an embedded system, such as a system in which the fabric-based article 10 is installed in a kiosk, car, airplane, or other vehicle; other electronic device, or a device that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices. If desired, article 10 may be a removable housing for an electronic device, a strap, a wristband or headband, a removable cover for a device, a case or bag having straps or other structures for receiving and carrying electronic devices and other items, a necklace or armband, a wallet, sleeve, pocket, or other structure into which an electronic device or other item may be inserted, a portion of a chair, sofa, or other seat (e.g., a cushion or other seat structure), a portion of clothing or other wearable item (e.g., a hat, belt, wristband, headband, shirt, pants, shoes, etc.), or any other suitable fabric-based item. Figure 1 In the exemplary configuration of the present invention, the article 10 is a voice-controlled and / or touch-sensitive electronic device, such as a speaker with Internet access. If desired, other types of devices can be combined with the fabric.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, article 10 may include a housing such as housing 12. Housing 12 may have a Figure 1The housing 12 may be a cylindrical shape with rounded upper and lower ends of the type shown, or other suitable shapes (e.g., a pyramidal shape, a conical shape, a box shape such as a rectangular box shape, a spherical shape, etc.). The housing 12 may include a support structure formed of metal, polymers, ceramics, glass, wood, other materials, and / or combinations of these materials. The shape of the housing 12 may be selected to form a housing suitable for the type of article 10 in which the housing is used.For example, in a scenario where item 10 is a voice-controlled electronic device, housing 12 may be cylindrical, pyramidal, box-shaped, conical, spherical, or other shapes suitable for encapsulating one or more speakers; in a configuration where item 10 is a laptop computer, housing 12 may have upper and lower thin box-shaped portions that are connected to hinges and can accommodate a display and a keyboard, respectively; in a configuration where item 10 is a computer monitor including an embedded computer, housing 12 may have an elongated box shape with an optional curved rear housing wall that can hold the display and be mounted on a stand; in a configuration where item 10 is a tablet computer, a cellular phone, a media player, or other handheld device, housing 12 may have an elongated box shape with an optional curved rear housing wall that can hold the display and be mounted on a stand; In a configuration where item 10 is a portable electronic device, housing 12 may have a rectangular profile and a thin depth; in a configuration where item 10 is a smaller device such as a watch device or a hanging device, housing 12 may have a thin profile and a rectangular, square, hexagonal, triangular, oval, or circular profile; in a configuration where item 10 is an earphone or headphone device, housing 12 may have a shape configured to fit on or in a user's ear; in a configuration where item 10 is a pair of glasses or other device worn on a user's head, housing 12 may have a head-worn shape; in a configuration where item 10 is a jacket or other clothing item (e.g., a hat, belt, wristband, headband, shirt, pants, shoes, etc.), housing 12 may have a thin profile and a rectangular, square, hexagonal, triangular, oval, or circular profile; in a configuration where item 10 is an earphone or headphone device, housing 12 may have a shape configured to fit on or in a user's ear; in a configuration where item 10 is a pair of glasses or other device worn on a user's head, housing 12 may have a head-worn shape; ), housing 12 may be formed of a fabric layer or other material configured to allow article 10 to be worn on the body of a user; in a configuration where article 10 is a television, a computer monitor that does not include an embedded computer, a gaming device, or a navigation device, housing 12 may have a rectangular profile, a profile with curved sides and / or straight edges, a box shape, a cylindrical shape, and / or other suitable shapes; in a configuration where article 10 is a kiosk, housing 12 may form a base or other shape suitable for a kiosk; in a configuration where article 10 forms part of an automobile, aircraft, or other vehicle, housing 12 may form a dashboard, console, door, window, seat, body panel, or other portion of the vehicle. other parts; in a configuration where article 10 is a removable housing for an electronic device, housing 12 may have a sleeve shape or other structure with a groove for accommodating an electronic device; in a configuration where article 10 is a band, wristband, necklace, or headband, housing 12 may have a strip shape; in a configuration where article 10 forms a case, bag, or wallet, housing 12 may have a surface that forms a wall of a case and / or a side of a bag or wallet and / or a strap and / or other structure for a case or bag; and in a configuration where article 10 is part of a piece of furniture, housing 12 may be configured to form part of a chair, sofa, or other seat (e.g., a cushion or other seat structure). Figure 1 In the exemplary configuration of the present invention, the housing 12 has a cylindrical shape, which is suitable for items such as voice-activated speakers and / or touch-activated speakers with Internet access. If desired, the housing 12 can have other shapes and can be incorporated into other items. Figure 1 The configuration of is presented as an example.

[0023] Article 10 may include fabric 14. Fabric 14 may form all or part of a housing wall or other layer in an electronic device, may form the outermost layer of article 10, may form one or more internal covering layers, may form an internal structure in an electronic device, or may form other fabric-based structures. Article 10 may be soft (e.g., article 10 may have a fabric surface for producing a light touch), may have a rigid feel (e.g., the surface of article 10 may be formed of a rigid fabric), may be rough, may be smooth, may have ribs or other patterned textures, and / or may be formed as part of a device having a portion formed of a non-woven structure of plastic, metal, glass, crystalline material, ceramic, or other material. In an exemplary configuration, some or all of the upper surface of housing 12 (such as portion 12P) may be formed of a rigid polymer or other non-woven structure, and the side wall surface of housing 12 may be covered with fabric 14. Portion 12P may include a touch sensor, a light emitting device (e.g., a light emitting diode that backlights button icons and / or produces other visual output for a user), and / or other input-output components. If desired, fabric 14 may cover some or all of portion 12P. Fabric 14 may be used as a decorative cover for article 10, overlap audio components (microphone and / or speaker), be sound-permeable, and / or be incorporated into other portions of article 10.

[0024] Fabric 14 may include entangled strands of material, such as strands 16. Fabric 14 may, for example, include a warp knit fabric formed by warp knitting of strands 16, and / or may include a woven fabric, a fabric having woven strands of material, etc. Strands 16 may be monofilament strands (sometimes referred to as fibers or monofilaments), or may be strands of material formed by entangled multiple monofilaments of material together (sometimes referred to as yarns).

[0025] The strands 16 may be formed of polymers, metals, glass, graphite, ceramics, magnetic materials, natural materials (such as cotton or bamboo), or other organic and / or inorganic materials, and combinations of these materials. Conductive coatings such as metal coatings may be formed on non-conductive materials. For example, the plastic strands in the fabric 14 may be coated with metal to make them conductive. Reflective coatings such as metal coatings may be applied to make the strands reflective. Strands formed of white polymers (e.g., light scattering particles in polymers) and / or coated with white polymers may help reflect light in some configurations. If desired, the strands may be formed of bare metal wires or metal wires entangled with insulating monofilaments (as an example). Bare metal strands and polymer strands covered with conductive coatings may be provided with insulating polymer sheaths. In a certain configuration, the strands 16 may include optical fibers (e.g., lossy optical fibers having surface roughening or other features that allow the strands to guide light while emitting part of the guided light outward). Optical waveguide strands (e.g., lossy optical fibers formed of glass, transparent polymers, etc.) can be provided with light from a light source such as a light emitting diode to display information (e.g., a desired light pattern). In some cases, it may be desirable for the lossy fiber to appear black or colored when illuminated by an external light so that the lossy fiber can match the appearance of other fibers. In these cases, the lossy fiber may include areas where the exterior of the fiber is colored but only slightly leaks light rather than completely leaking light, and other areas that emit light due to roughening of the fiber surface or local adjustments to the fiber's cladding in that area (e.g., local cladding thinning).

[0026] If desired, an article such as article 10 may include control circuitry 20. Control circuitry 20 may include a microprocessor, a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit, a digital signal processor, a baseband processor, and / or other controller, and may include memory such as random access memory, read-only memory, a solid state drive, and / or other storage and processing circuitry.

[0027] The control circuit 20 may collect information from sensors and other circuits in the input-output device 18, and may provide output using the input-output device 18. The input-output device 18 may include, for example, an audio device, such as a microphone and a speaker. The microphone may collect audio input (e.g., sound through the fabric 14, such as voice commands for controlling the operation of the article 10). The speaker may generate audio output (e.g., sound through the fabric 14). The sensors in the input-output device 18 may include touch sensors, force sensors, capacitive sensors, optical sensors, proximity sensors, strain gauges, temperature sensors, moisture sensors, gas sensors, pressure sensors, magnetic sensors, position and orientation sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes and / or compasses), and / or other sensors. Light-emitting diodes, displays, and other visual output devices may be used to provide visual output to the user. As an example, the visual output device may be used to form an illuminated button, a display displaying an image, a visual feedback area displaying a static and / or dynamic light pattern to indicate to the user that the command has been received and / or is being processed by the control circuit 20, etc. Buttons, joysticks, tactile output components, and / or other input-output components may be provided in input-output device 18 to collect input from a user and provide output to the user. Wireless circuits (e.g., wireless LAN circuits, cellular phone circuits, etc.) in circuit 20 may be used to support wireless communications with external devices.

[0028] Input-output devices 18 in article 10 may include one or more touch sensors, such as touch sensor 50. Touch sensor 50 may be formed from capacitive touch sensor electrodes or other touch sensor structures (e.g., piezoelectric touch sensor structures, resistive touch sensor structures, acoustic touch sensor structures, force-based touch sensor structures, light-based touch sensor structures, etc.). In one exemplary configuration, which may sometimes be described herein as an example, article 10 may include a touch sensor formed from strands of conductive material in a fabric layer (see, e.g., Figure 1 The conductive strands in the fabric touch sensor may include horizontal strands of material that overlap with vertical strands of material to form a grid of touch sensor electrodes that intersect at an array of cross-locations. For example, this type of fabric touch sensor may overlap some or all of housing 12 and thus serve as an overall touch surface to which a user can provide touch input (multi-touch gestures, single-finger pointer control input for a screen cursor where article 10 has a display, swipes, clicks, and other touch commands). In general, article 10 may include any suitable input-output device (e.g., buttons, capacitive touch sensors or other touch sensors, etc.).

[0029] If desired, light emitting devices (e.g., lasers or light emitting diodes) may be arranged in an array of pixels to form a display or other light-based output device. As one example, light emitting devices may be formed beneath one or more covering layers (e.g., fabric) on article 10. If desired, light emitting devices may be used to indicate where touch sensor 50 is located on housing 12 and / or may be used to provide feedback to a user in response to touch input on touch sensor 50.

[0030] Light emitting device and / or touch sensor 50 may be formed only in annular upper region 12W-1 extending around the upper edge of article 10, may be formed only in upper portion 12P, may be formed only on sidewall surface 12W-2, and / or may be formed on one or more other portions of article 10 (e.g., on some or all of outer sidewall 12W-2). In general, a surface of article 10 (such as a surface of housing portion 12P) and a sidewall of article 10 may be provided with any suitable input-output device 18. As an example, sidewall locations in article 10 (e.g., upper sidewall regions associated with region 12W-1 and / or sidewall regions associated with region 12W-2) may be provided with light emitting devices (e.g., to form an array of pixels for displaying images including text, static image content, dynamic image content, icons, etc.), may be provided with sensors (e.g., force sensors, touch sensors, proximity sensors, gesture sensors, arrays of accelerometers for collecting touch / tap inputs, dome switches or other pressure-activated switches, etc.), and / or other input-output devices 18. These sidewall locations in article 10 may partially or completely wrap around the perimeter of article 10 (e.g., light emitting devices, sensors, and / or other components may be provided on sidewall regions that wrap around a longitudinal axis 22 (such as a vertical axis 22) of article 10 and extend along some or all of the circumference of article 10) and / or may extend vertically along article 10 (e.g., parallel to the longitudinal axis 22 of article 10). Some or all of the surface of article 10 may be covered with one or more material layers, including one or more fabric layers and / or other layers, such as polymer layers, metal layers, etc. If desired, the light emitting device in article 10 may emit infrared light that is invisible to the user but can be detected by external sensors and devices to support light-based communication between article 10 and external devices. Article 10 may also include an infrared light detector to support infrared light-based communication and sensing.

[0031] Figure 2 A cross-sectional side view of a portion of article 10 is shown in FIG. Figure 2In the example of , article 10 includes interior components, such as one or more speakers 32 in interior 24 of article 10. Wall structure 28 (e.g., sidewall structure) can separate interior 24 from exterior 26. A user of article 10 (e.g., user 34) can view the exterior of article 10 in direction 36 and can hear sound that has been emitted from speakers 32 and has passed through wall structure 28.

[0032] Wall structure 28 may include a housing formed by one or more rigid support structures (e.g., metal housing walls, plastic housing walls, housing walls formed from other materials, and / or combinations of these materials). Figure 2 As shown, for example, the wall structure 28 may include the housing 12 (e.g., a housing wall, such as a housing sidewall and / or other housing wall structure). The housing 12 may have an acoustic opening 30 to allow sound to pass through the housing 12. The opening 30 may be circular, square, diamond-shaped, or may have other suitable shapes. The lateral dimension of the opening 30 may be at least 0.1 mm, at least 1 mm, at least 5 mm, at least 15 mm, less than 30 mm, less than 60 mm, or other suitable dimensions.

[0033] Covering layer 38 may overlap the outer surface of housing 12. Covering layer 38 may have openings 40. As an example, the outermost layer of covering layer 38 may be used as a decorative layer (e.g., a layer that provides a desired color, texture, etc. to article 10). The inner covering layer (e.g., layer 38 interposed between the outermost layer and housing 12) may include an adhesive layer to attach the layers together, a cushioning layer (e.g., a foam and / or fabric layer that provides a soft touch to layer 38), a component layer (e.g., a touch sensor 50, a substrate with electrodes, metal traces forming interconnects, an integrated circuit, a light-emitting component, and / or other circuits), a light-modifying layer (e.g., a diffuser layer, a reflective layer, a layer for hiding internal components from view, etc.), a component hiding layer, or other layers (such as a sound-transparent layer that blocks light and / or blocks moisture, dust, and other environmental contaminants), and / or other covering layer structures. If desired, layer 38 may include a coating (e.g., one or more layers of a liquid polymer that may be applied in liquid form and cured to form a solid coating, a coating of a metal or other material deposited using physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, and / or electrochemical deposition, and / or other coatings.

[0034] The one or more layers 38 may include the fabric 14. The fabric 14 may overlap some or all of the exterior of the shell 12, for example (e.g., the fabric 14 may overlap the exterior of the shell 12). Figure 1 The fabric 14 may also be used to form straps, covers, wearable articles, and / or other structures of the article 10.

[0035] A warp knitting machine or other equipment (eg, weaving equipment, braiding equipment, weft knitting equipment, etc.) may be used to entangle strands 16 to form fabric 14. In general, fabric 14 may be any suitable type of fabric (eg, woven, knitted, braided, etc.). Figure 3 1. An exemplary layer of warp knitted fabric 14 is shown in FIG. 1. Exemplary strand 16' among strands 16 has been highlighted to illustrate the zigzag path taken by each strand in fabric 14.

[0036] During the process of forming fabric 14 (e.g., during knitting), if desired, a warp knitting machine or other fabric manufacturing equipment forming fabric 14 can be directed to positioners in the equipment to incorporate openings into fabric 14. As an example, the equipment can be directed to form a knitted fabric or other fabric that includes diamond-shaped openings or other suitably shaped openings, such as Figure 4 The opening 42 in the warp knitted fabric 14 is shown. In the configuration where the fabric 14 forms a layer 38, the opening 42 can be used as Figure 2 The opening 40.

[0037] Touch sensor 50 may be incorporated into article 10 to create a touch-sensitive area on article 10 for receiving touch input from a user. Touch sensor 50 may be located on a portion of housing 12 covered by fabric 14 and / or may be located on a portion of housing 12 not covered by fabric 14. Touch sensor 50 may be formed from conductive strands in fabric 14 and / or may be formed from conductive traces on a substrate. For example, housing 38 and / or Fig.12 One or more of layers 38 of article 10 may serve as a substrate for touch sensor 50. Touch sensor 50 may be integrated with fabric 14, may be covered by fabric 14, and / or may be located in a portion of article 10 that does not overlap fabric 14. Touch sensor 50 may, for example, be formed Figure 2 One of the layers 38.

[0038] Touch sensor 50 may sense touch and / or force using capacitive touch electrodes, soft piezoelectric polymers, microelectromechanical systems (MEM) force sensors, strain gauges, resistive force sensors, optical sensors that measure changes in skin color due to changes in pressure, other optical sensors, and / or other force sensing components.

[0039] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary arrangement of touch sensor 50 for device 10. Figure 5 As shown, device 10 may include touch sensor control circuitry 66 (e.g., forming Figure 1 A touch sensor control circuit which is a part of the control circuit 20 .

[0040] Conductive lines 62 may be used as capacitive electrodes in capacitive touch sensor 50 (e.g., a touch sensor grid). Conductive lines 62 may be formed from patterned traces (e.g., transparent conductive materials such as indium tin oxide, other thin film materials, other conductive materials such as metals, etc.) on housing 12 and / or fabric 14, may be formed from strands of conductive material in fabric 14, may be formed from patterned traces on a layer separate from fabric 14 and housing 12, such as a layer of polymer or other material, and / or may be formed from other conductive structures that form capacitive touch sensor electrodes.

[0041] like Figure 5 As shown, the touch sensor 50 includes a touch sensor circuit 66 coupled to a set of horizontal lines 62 and a set of perpendicular vertical lines 62. The touch sensor circuit 66 can provide a drive signal D to one of the sets of lines 62 (e.g., Figure 5 ), and corresponding sensing signals S may be collected on another set of these line groups 62 (e.g., Figure 5 64). The capacitive coupling between the drive lines and the sense lines changes when a user's finger is present at the drive line to sense line intersection. Thus, touch sensor circuitry 66 may process the drive signals and the sense signals to determine which intersection of horizontal and vertical lines 62 is overlapped by a user's finger or other external object. When a touch input is detected in this manner, touch sensor circuitry 66 may provide information about the touch input to a processor or other control circuit in device 10 or other devices using a path such as path 64.

[0042] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side view showing an exemplary arrangement for touch sensor 50 in which signal line 62 is formed of conductive lines on a substrate such as substrate 52. Substrate 52 may be part of fabric 14, may be part of housing 12, or may be a substrate separate from fabric 14 and housing 12 (e.g., a substrate formed of a polymer, glass, ceramic, fabric, and / or other suitable material). Signal line 62 may be formed of a transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide, or may be formed of other conductive materials such as metals.

[0043] Figure 7 is a top view showing an exemplary arrangement for touch sensor 50 in which signal lines 62 are formed from strands of conductive material in fabric 14. Figure 7 As shown, the fabric 14 may include warp threads 80 and weft threads 82. The warp threads 80 extend along a first dimension of the fabric 14 (e.g., Figure 7 The weft yarns 82 extend perpendicularly along a second dimension of the fabric 14 (e.g., Figure 7Some of the warp threads 80, such as thread 80I, may be insulated, and some of the threads 80, such as thread 80C, may be conductive and thus may function as vertically extending electrodes 62 in touch sensor 50. Some of the weft threads 82, such as thread 82I, may be insulated, and some of the threads 82 may be conductive, such as thread 82C, and thus may function as horizontally extending electrodes 62 in touch sensor 50. Figure 7 The fabric 14 has a plain weave, but in general, the fabric 14 may have any suitable construction (eg, the fabric 32 may have a basket weave, may be woven, may be interwoven, or may have any other suitable fabric construction).

[0044] Figure 8 and 9 An exemplary configuration of touch sensor 50 in device 10 is shown. Figure 8 In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the touch sensor 50 is interposed between the housing 12 and the fabric 14 . Figure 8 The touch sensor 50 may be formed of a substrate (eg, Figure 6 The conductive traces 62 on the substrate 52 of the touch sensor 50 are formed. If desired, the housing 12 can be used as a substrate for the traces 62 of the touch sensor 50, or the traces 62 of the touch sensor 50 can be formed on a substrate separate from the housing 12.

[0045] exist Fig. 9 In an embodiment, the touch sensor 50 is integrated into the fabric 14. For example, the traces 62 of the touch sensor 50 may be formed on a substrate (e.g., Figure 6 Alternatively, the traces 62 of the touch sensor 50 may be formed by conductive portions of the fabric 14 (e.g., Figure 7 In arrangements where touch sensor 50 is integrated into fabric 14, one or more additional layers of fabric 14 or other material may be used to cover touch sensor 50, if desired.

[0046] The touch sensor 50 may be formed Figure 2 One of the layers 38 of . Similar to Figure 2 38, touch sensor 50 may include one or more openings, such as opening 40, to allow sound from speaker 32 to pass through wall structure 28 of device 10. Opening 40 may be formed by a substrate of touch sensor 50 (e.g., in a substrate of touch sensor 50 made of, for example, Figure 6 ) and / or may be formed by traces 62 on a substrate such as substrate 52 of the embodiment of the present invention and / or may be formed by traces 62 on a substrate such as substrate 52 ... Figure 7 In the arrangement formed by the conductive strands in the fabric 14).

[0047] Fig.10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 show exemplary locations of touch sensor 50 on device 10. Fig.10 In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , touch sensor 50 extends across the entire surface of housing 12 , including top 12P, upper wall region 12W- 1 , and lower wall region 12W- 2 .

[0048] exist Fig.11 In the embodiment of FIG. 5 , touch sensor 50 extends only across top portion 12P and upper wall region 12W- 1 . If desired, lower wall region 12W- 2 may be free of touch sensors.

[0049] exist Fig.12 In the embodiment of the present invention, touch sensor 50 is located on top 12P and selects a portion of lower wall area 12W-2. The portion of housing 12 covered by touch sensor 50 (sometimes referred to as the touch-sensitive area or touch-sensitive area of ​​article 10) can have any suitable shape. Fig.12 In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , touch sensor 50 forms a vertical touch-sensitive area that extends downward along a side of housing 12 (eg, parallel to the longitudinal axis of article 10 ).

[0050] exist Fig.13 In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the touch sensor 50 is located on the top portion 12P and selects a portion of the lower wall area 12W- 2 . Fig.13 Touch sensor 50 may form a horizontal touch-sensitive area that extends partially or completely around the circumference of housing 12 (e.g., around the longitudinal axis of article 10).

[0051] exist Fig.14 In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the touch sensor 50 is located on the top portion 12P and selects a portion of the lower wall area 12W- 2 . Fig.14 The touch sensor 40 may form a touch-sensitive area having a shape corresponding to a user input control function, such as an audio playback control symbol (e.g., a play symbol, a pause symbol, next and previous track symbols, increase and decrease volume symbols, etc.) and / or other control symbols (e.g., a menu symbol, a power symbol, a sleep symbol, etc.). The control circuit 20 may take appropriate action based on the touch input to a given touch-sensitive area (e.g., in response to a touch input on a touch-sensitive area shaped like a play symbol, audio may be played using the speaker 32).

[0052] exist Fig.15 In the embodiment of the present invention, the touch sensor 50 is only located on the top 12P of the housing 12. If desired, the upper wall area 12W-1 and the lower wall area 12W-2 may be free of touch sensors. In other arrangements, the touch sensor 50 may be located on other parts of the housing 12, and the top 12P may be free of touch sensors. Figure 10-15 The embodiments are merely illustrative.

[0053] Fig.16 shows how the touch sensors 50 can be located in discrete touch-sensitive areas on the housing 12 (e.g., similar to Fig.14 A touch-sensitive area on device 10, such as touch-sensitive area 96, may have any suitable shape. Fig.16 In an embodiment, the touch sensitive area 96 has a shape of a plus sign (e.g., for increasing the volume) and a minus sign (e.g., for decreasing the volume). The touch sensor 50 may include a touch sensor electrode 94 (e.g., composed of Figure 5 Touch sensor electrodes 94 may be located in touch-sensitive area 96 of article 10 .

[0054] The location of the touch-sensitive area 96 may be static or dynamic. In a static arrangement, the location of the touch-sensitive area 96 remains fixed. For example, the capacitive touch sensor electrodes 94 may be located in an area that is always touch-sensitive. In a dynamic arrangement, the location of the touch-sensitive area 96 may change. For example, the control circuit 20 may selectively activate and deactivate portions of the touch sensor 50 to produce touch-sensitive areas 96 and non-touch-sensitive areas. When the control circuit 20 activates the touch sensors 50 in the non-touch-sensitive areas, those areas may become touch-sensitive areas 96. When the control circuit 20 deactivates the touch sensors 50 in the touch-sensitive areas 96, those areas may become non-touch-sensitive areas. If desired, the control circuit 20 may selectively activate and deactivate certain touch sensor electrodes 94 to achieve a touch-sensitive area 96 having a desired shape (e.g., a media control symbol or a symbol corresponding to any other suitable user input function).

[0055] Fig.17 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a side wall of article 10, showing layer 38 over housing 12 in touch-sensitive area 96. Layer 38 may include layer 54 (e.g., an acoustically transparent component hiding layer between layer 14-2 and housing 12), layer 14-2 (e.g., a fabric spacer layer or other layer), adhesive layer 38A, and a touch sensor layer 50 (e.g., Figure 5-16 ) and layer 14 - 1 (eg, a decorative fabric layer).

[0056] Layer 14-1 may be an outer decorative fabric layer such as Figure 4 The opening 42 may be configured to allow sound to pass through the layer 14-1. Fig.17 As shown, an additional cover layer 38 may be interposed between the outer layer 14 - 1 and the shell 12 .

[0057] Layer 54 may be a component hiding layer, such as a perforated polymer layer or a fabric layer formed from polymer strands or other material strands. Layer 54 may help hide internal components in article 10, such as speaker 32 ( Figure 2 ) is not visible to user 34. The polymer of layer 54 may be provided with light scattering particles and / or may be coated with a reflective coating (e.g., a polymer coating with light scattering particles, a metal coating, etc.) so that layer 54 serves as a reflective acoustically transparent component hiding layer that reflects light (e.g., a layer with a visible light reflectivity of at least 50%, at least 70%, at least 85%, less than 99.9%, etc.).

[0058] The fabric spacer layer 14-2 may be formed of a cushioned fabric layer (e.g., an outer fabric layer, an opposing inner fabric layer, and a spacer layer formed by spacer strands extending back and forth between the outer fabric layer and the inner fabric layer). The fabric spacer layer 14-2 may be sufficiently porous to allow sound to pass through, or may be provided with openings (such as, Figure 4 An opening 42) is provided to allow sound to pass through.

[0059] Layer 44 may be interposed between outer adhesive layer 38A and inner adhesive layer 38A. Adhesive layer 38A may have openings to allow sound to pass through. Outer adhesive layer 38A may be used to attach layer 14-1 to layer 44. Inner adhesive layer 38A may be used to attach layer 44 to spacer fabric layer 14-2.

[0060] Layer 44 may be a flexible printed circuit and may include a light emitting component that emits light 90. For example, layer 44 may have a light emitting device (component 48) configured to emit light 90 inwardly toward housing 12 and / or outwardly toward user 34. The density of light emitting devices 48 in layer 44 may be sufficient to form a display configured to display images, such as images containing text, graphics, dynamic images, to user 34. In some configurations, the density of light emitting devices 48 on some or all of layer 44 may be low so that the light emitting devices are primarily used to display diffuse fixed or dynamic light patterns (e.g., abstract light patterns of one or more colors) used as visual indications or visual feedback. For example, control circuit 20 may illuminate light emitting devices 48 to indicate where touch sensitive areas 96 are located on article 10, to indicate which touch sensitive areas 96 are active, and / or to provide visual feedback after a touch input to touch sensor 50. Light emitting devices 48 may be located only in touch sensitive areas 96, may be located only in non-touch sensitive portions of article 10, or may be located in touch sensitive areas 96 and non-touch sensitive areas of article 10.

[0061] If desired, control circuitry 20 may use light emitting device 48 to indicate which control function is associated with touch sensitive area 96. Light emitting device 48 may be used to display audio playback control symbols (e.g., a play symbol, a pause symbol, next and previous track symbols, increase and decrease volume symbols, etc.) and / or other control symbols (e.g., a menu symbol, a power symbol, a sleep symbol, etc.). For example, if touch sensitive area 96 is associated with an increase volume function, control circuitry 20 may use light emitting device 48 to display a plus symbol (e.g., by selectively turning on a light associated with the volume up symbol). Fig.16 The touch sensor electrodes 94 overlap the light emitting device 48).

[0062] If desired, one or more of the layers 38 may function as a diffuser layer for diffusing light 90 from the light emitting device 48. For example, the emitted light 90 may be diffused by the strands of material in the fabric spacer layer 14-2 as the light 90 is transmitted inwardly toward the housing 12 and as the light 90 is transmitted outwardly again from the housing 12 to the user 34 after reflecting from a reflective structure (such as, layer 54). If desired, optional additional light diffuser layers may be included in the layer 38. For example, one or more light diffuser layers may be located between the housing 12 and the layer 54, between the layers 14-2 and 54, between the layers 14-2 and 44, between the layers 44 and 14-1, and / or in other locations in the layer 38. In one exemplary configuration, a diffuser formed of a frosted polymer film may be inserted between the housing 12 and the layer 54. Fig.17 The invention also provides a method for providing a plurality of interfaces between the plurality of layers 38 of the present invention to facilitate diffusing the light 90 as it passes through the diffuser layer. In another exemplary configuration, the layer 38 does not include a frosted polymer film.

[0063] exist Fig.17 In the embodiment of the present invention, touch sensor 50 is located between fabric layer 14-1 and light emitting layer 44. However, this is merely exemplary. Touch sensor 50 may be integrated into a fabric layer in layer 38 (e.g., may be formed by conductive strands in fabric layer 14-1, fabric layer 14-2, component hidden layer 54, and / or a separate fabric layer in layer 38) or touch sensor 50 may be formed by conductive traces on a substrate in layer 38 (e.g., traces on fabric layer 14-1, light emitting layer 44, fabric layer 14-2, component hidden layer 54, housing 12, and / or a separate substrate in layer 38).

[0064] Generally speaking, light diffusing materials, component hiding materials, dust shielding materials, one or more additional flexible substrates with electronic components, adhesives and / or coating structures (e.g., reflective coatings, coatings such as white ink, metal, etc.) may be located in the Fig.17The flexible mesh substrate may be coupled to an outward-facing surface and / or an inward-facing surface at one or more, two or more, or three or more of the interfaces between layers 38 of the present invention and may be coupled to an outward-facing surface and / or an inward-facing surface at each of these interfaces. If desired, the flexible mesh substrate such as layer 44 may include antenna traces (e.g., metal traces for forming patch antennas, inverted-F antennas, loop antennas, inductive power transmission coils, monopoles, dipoles, etc.), metal traces for forming capacitive sensor electrodes, and / or signal interconnect traces, and / or other metal traces. The flexible mesh substrate layers in layer 38 such as layer 44 may also include electronic components, such as for forming Figure 1 If desired, multiple layers such as layer 44 may be located at Fig.17 In the stack of layer 38.

[0065] Where the touch sensitive area 96 has dynamic (e.g., adjustable) visual output capability Fig.17 The embodiment of is merely illustrative. If desired, a static visual output may be used to mark the touch sensitive area 96. This type of arrangement is Fig.18 As shown in Fig.18 As shown, a portion of outer fabric layer 14, such as area 14C, may be used to mark touch-sensitive area 96. Area 14C may be visually distinct from surrounding portions of fabric 14. For example, area 14C of fabric layer 14 may have different color lines, may have a different fabric structure, may have a different texture, may have a different reflectivity, or may have other features that are different from surrounding portions of fabric 14 (e.g., different from portions of fabric 14 that do not overlap touch-sensitive area 96 of article 10).

[0066] If desired, one or more tactile output components may be located in the touch-sensitive area 96 of the fabric 14. For example, Fig.18 As shown, tactile output component 92 can overlap with touch sensor 50 in area 96. Tactile output component 92 can be a vibrator, an actuator, or other suitable component configured to provide tactile feedback to the user. Tactile output component 92 can be used to provide tactile feedback to the user in response to the touch input on fabric 14 in area 96, and / or tactile output component 92 can be used to raise or lower a local portion of fabric 14 so that the user knows where touch-sensitive area 96 is located on article 10. Tactile output component 92 can be located only in touch-sensitive area 96 and / or can be located in other parts of article 10.

[0067] According to an embodiment, an electronic device is provided, including a cylindrical housing, a speaker in the cylindrical housing configured to emit sound, a fabric layer covering most of the cylindrical housing, the fabric layer having an opening through which sound passes, and a touch sensor for detecting touch input on the fabric layer.

[0068] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes control circuitry for controlling a speaker in response to a touch input on the fabric layer.

[0069] According to another embodiment, a touch sensor includes drive lines and sense lines.

[0070] According to another embodiment, the drive and sense lines include conductive traces on a substrate.

[0071] According to another embodiment, the base plate is formed by a portion of the housing.

[0072] According to another embodiment, the substrate comprises additional openings through which sound passes.

[0073] According to another embodiment, the drive and sense wires are formed from conductive strands in the fabric layer.

[0074] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes a light emitting layer that overlaps the touch sensor and emits light through the fabric layer.

[0075] According to another embodiment, the touch sensor detects touch input on only a portion of the fabric layer, and the light emitting layer emits light through only a portion of the fabric layer.

[0076] According to another embodiment, the touch sensor detects touch input on only a portion of the fabric layer, the portion of the fabric layer having different characteristics from surrounding portions of the fabric layer, and the different characteristics are characteristics selected from the group consisting of: color, fabric construction, texture, and reflectivity.

[0077] According to an embodiment, an electronic device is provided that includes a curved housing having a longitudinal axis, a fabric covering at least some of the curved housing and extending around the longitudinal axis, a speaker that emits sound through the fabric, a touch sensor that detects touch input on the fabric, and a control circuit that controls the speaker based on the touch input.

[0078] According to another embodiment, the fabric has a touch-sensitive area and a non-touch-sensitive area, the touch sensor detects touch input on the touch-sensitive area of ​​the fabric, and the electronic device includes a light-emitting component that emits light in the touch-sensitive area of ​​the fabric.

[0079] According to another embodiment, the touch sensor includes capacitive touch sensor electrodes formed on a substrate, and the substrate is interposed between the housing and the fabric.

[0080] According to another embodiment, the touch sensor includes signal lines formed from conductive strands in a fabric.

[0081] According to another embodiment, the fabric has a touch-sensitive area and a non-touch-sensitive area, and the touch sensor detects touch input on the touch-sensitive area of ​​the fabric, the fabric having a first color in the touch-sensitive area and a second color in the non-touch-sensitive area, the first color being different from the second color.

[0082] According to an embodiment, an electronic device is provided that includes a speaker, a fabric tube extending around the speaker, and a control circuit, the fabric having an opening through which sound from the speaker passes, and the fabric having a touch-sensitive area that receives touch input, and the control circuit controls the speaker based on the touch input.

[0083] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes a light emitting device that illuminates the touch-sensitive area of ​​the fabric.

[0084] According to another embodiment, the touch-sensitive area is shaped as a symbol representing a media control function and the light-emitting device illuminates the symbol.

[0085] According to another embodiment, the fabric tube has a longitudinal axis and the touch sensitive area is wrapped around the longitudinal axis.

[0086] According to another embodiment, a touch-sensitive area of ​​a textile includes drive and sense lines formed from conductive strands in the textile.

[0087] The foregoing is merely exemplary and various modifications may be made to the embodiments described. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented independently or in any combination.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising: shell; a speaker in the housing, the speaker configured to emit sound; a fabric cover on an outer surface of the housing, wherein the fabric cover has openings for allowing the sound to pass through the fabric cover; a touch sensor having touch sensor electrodes and configured to detect touch input on the fabric covering, wherein the touch sensor has an opening for passing the sound through the touch sensor; and A control circuit is configured to selectively activate and deactivate the touch sensor electrodes to create touch-sensitive areas and non-touch-sensitive areas. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing has a spherical shape. 3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor comprises a substrate and drive lines and sense lines on the substrate.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor comprises a fabric touch sensor having first strands forming drive lines and second strands forming sense lines. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the fabric cover comprises a spacer fabric. 6 . The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the spacer fabric comprises a first warp knitted layer and a second warp knitted layer connected by a spacer layer. 7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a light emitting device configured to illuminate activated touch sensor electrodes.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, further comprising a diffuser that diffuses light from the light emitting device.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the fabric cover has a non-touch sensitive area that is not illuminated.

10. An electronic device comprising: Spherical shell; a spacer fabric on an outer surface of the spherical housing, wherein the spacer fabric has a touch-sensitive area and a non-touch-sensitive area, and the position of the touch-sensitive area on the spacer fabric is configured to be adjusted during operation of the electronic device; a speaker within the spherical housing, the speaker configured to emit sound through the spacer fabric; as well as A light emitting device forms an illuminated symbol on the touch sensitive area of ​​the spacer fabric to distinguish the touch sensitive area of ​​the spacer fabric from a non-touch sensitive area of ​​the spacer fabric. 11 . The electronic device of claim 10 , further comprising capacitive touch sensor electrodes configured to detect touch input on the touch-sensitive areas of the spacer textile. 12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , further comprising a control circuit configured to control the speaker in response to the touch input.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the control circuit is configured to selectively activate and deactivate the capacitive touch sensor electrodes.

14. An electronic device comprising: A shell, wherein the shell is spherical; a speaker, the speaker being in the housing; a fabric cover on the housing, wherein the fabric cover has a touch-sensitive area and a non-touch-sensitive area; a touch sensor configured to detect touch input on the fabric cover, wherein the touch sensor forms a ring around the housing; as well as A control circuit is configured to control the speaker and adjust a position of a touch-sensitive area on the fabric cover in response to the touch input.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the touch sensor comprises drive lines and sense lines on a substrate.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the touch sensor comprises a fabric touch sensor having first conductive strands forming drive lines and second conductive strands forming sense lines.

17. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the touch sensor overlaps some or all of the housing. 18 . The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the touch sensor comprises capacitive touch sensor electrodes, and wherein the control circuit is configured to selectively activate and deactivate the capacitive touch sensor electrodes.

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