Patent ID: 8310457

Claim:
A portable electronic device comprising: a housing including a base; a touch-sensitive input assembly spaced from and moveable relative to the base; a stopping arrangement to limit movement of the touch-sensitive input assembly in the direction of the base; an actuating arrangement comprising a piezoelectric actuator disposed between the touch-sensitive input assembly and the base to selectively receive an applied voltage to thereby apply a force to the touch-sensitive input assembly; an accelerometer housed within the housing; and functional components in the housing comprising a memory and a processor operably connected to the memory, the touch-sensitive input assembly, the piezoelectric actuator, and the accelerometer to execute a program stored in the memory to apply a reverse voltage to the piezoelectric actuator, if a fall is detected based on signals from the accelerometer, to cause reverse bending of the piezoelectric actuator to permit the stopping arrangement to limit movement of the touch-sensitive input assembly and thereby limit force exerted on the piezoelectric actuator between the touch-sensitive input assembly and the base.