Patent ID: 8436816

Claim:
An electronic device with a selectively visible input, comprising: a frame having a top face; selectively visible holes formed in the top face; a capacitive reference on an inner surface of the top face in the area of the selectively visible holes; an interior wall formed within the frame and separated from the top face; an interior space formed between the top face and the interior wall; a dielectric medium disposed in the interior space; a capacitor plate disposed on a surface of the interior wall opposite to the capacitive reference; a light source disposed in the interior space configured to shine through the selectively visible holes when lit; and a capacitive sensor electrically connected to the capacitive reference and to the capacitor plate, wherein deformation of the frame caused by pressure from an object placed thereon in the area of the selectively visible holes causes a change in capacitance between the capacitive reference and the capacitor plate that is detected by the capacitive sensor and converted to an electrical signal.