Patent ID: 9207810
Filing Date: 2015-12-08
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computing device, comprising: a plurality of optical fibers positioned substantially along at least a portion of at least one side adjacent to a face of the computing device, the plurality of optical fibers being separate from a touch screen of the computing device, each of the plurality of optical fibers being twisted and having at least one respective designated region exposed to contact by a finger of a user, each designated region corresponding to a respective location on the computing device; at least one infrared (IR) light emitting diode (LED) positioned to direct IR radiation into the plurality of optical fibers such that at least a portion of the IR radiation that is incident on an internal surface of the at least one designated region of a first optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers undergoes total internal reflection (TIR) when the at least one designated region of the first optical fiber is not in contact with a finger of a user; at least one IR detector operable to detect IR radiation transmitted through the plurality of optical fibers; and a processor configured to execute instructions to analyze the IR radiation to determine a change in intensity for the first optical fiber, the change in intensity being measured based at least in part on a twisting and an orientation of the first optical fiber with respect to the computing device, the change in intensity being indicative of a user contact with the at least one designated region, the at least one designated region associated with the user contact being indicative of input to be provided to the computing device.