PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10386980-B2
Application Number: US-201815970571-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Electronic device having display and surrounding touch sensitive surfaces for user interface and control

Abstract:
An electronic device has a display and has a touch sensitive bezel surrounding the display. Areas on the bezel are designated for controls used to operate the electronic device. Visual guides corresponding to the controls are displayed on the display adjacent the areas of the bezel designated for the controls. Touch data is generated by the bezel when a user touches an area of the bezel. The device determines which of the controls has been selected based on which designated area is associated with the touch data from the bezel. The device then initiates the determined control. The device can have a sensor for determining the orientation of the device. Based on the orientation, the device can alter the areas designated on the bezel for the controls and can alter the location of the visual guides for the display so that they match the altered areas on the bezel.

Claims:
What is claimed: 
     
       1. A handheld computing device, comprising:
 a touch screen; 
 a housing supporting the touch screen and having a plurality of surfaces surrounding the touch screen, the plurality of surfaces non-planar with respect to the touch screen; 
 a plurality of sensors, including one or more sensors located along each of at least two different surfaces on opposite sides of the touch screen; and 
 a processor communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, the processor capable of
 detecting a presence of at least one object at one or more of the sensors located along at least one of the two different surfaces on opposite sides of the touch screen, and 
 initiating an operation based on the detected object. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The handheld computing device of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the presence of the at least one object comprises detecting a force of the at least one object upon at least one of the two different surfaces, and wherein initiating the operation comprises initiating the operation when the detected force exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
       3. The handheld computing device of  claim 2 , the processor further capable of:
 detecting the force of at least two objects upon both of the two different surfaces at least partially overlapping in time; and 
 initiating the operation based on the detected force of the at least two objects. 
 
     
     
       4. The handheld computing device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two different surfaces on opposite sides of the touch screen are located on different sides of the housing. 
     
     
       5. The handheld computing device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sensors are force sensors. 
     
     
       6. The handheld computing device of  claim 2 , the processor further capable of initiating different operations when the detected force exceeds different thresholds. 
     
     
       7. The handheld computing device of  claim 2 , the processor capable of generating a visual guide on the touch screen associated with one or more of the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
       8. The handheld computing device of  claim 7 , wherein the visual guides are superimposed over images on the touch screen. 
     
     
       9. The handheld computing device of  claim 7 , wherein the visual guides appear only when the force of the at least one object is detected upon at least one of the two different surfaces. 
     
     
       10. The handheld computing device of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the presence of the at least one object comprises detecting a touch of the at least one object upon at least one of the two different surfaces, and wherein initiating the operation comprises initiating the operation upon detecting the touch. 
     
     
       11. The handheld computing device of  claim 10 , the processor further capable of determining a duration of the detected touch, and initiating a particular operation based on the determined duration. 
     
     
       12. The handheld computing device of  claim 10 , the processor further capable of determining motion of the at least one object across at least one of the two different surfaces, and initiating the operation based on the determined motion. 
     
     
       13. The handheld computing device of  claim 10 , the processor capable of generating a visual guide on the touch screen associated with one or more of the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
       14. The handheld computing device of  claim 13 , wherein the visual guides are superimposed over images on the touch screen. 
     
     
       15. The handheld computing device of  claim 13 , wherein the visual guides appear only when the touch is detected upon at least one of the two different surfaces. 
     
     
       16. A method of controlling a handheld computing device, comprising:
 detecting a presence of at least one object at one or more sensors located along each of at least two different surfaces on opposite sides of a touch screen and non-planar with respect to the touch screen; and 
 initiating an operation based on the detected object. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 detecting a force of the at least one object upon at least one of the two different surfaces; and 
 initiating the operation when the detected force exceeds a threshold. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 detecting the force of at least two objects upon both of the two different surfaces at least partially overlapping in time; and 
 initiating the operation based on the detected force of the at least two objects. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 detecting a touch of the at least one object upon at least one of the two different surfaces; and 
 initiating the operation upon detecting the touch. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising determining a duration of the detected touch, and initiating a particular operation based on the determined duration.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/724,753, filed May 28, 2015 (U.S. Publication No. 2015-0261362, published on Sep. 17, 2015), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/486,710, filed Jun. 17, 2009 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,047,009, issued Jun. 2, 2015), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/426,078, filed Jun. 23, 2006, (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,656,393, issued on Feb. 2, 2010), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/367,749, filed Mar. 3, 2006 (U.S. Publication No. 2006-0197753, published on Sep. 7, 2006), which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/658,777, filed Mar. 4, 2005 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/663,345, filed Mar. 16, 2005, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     This application is also related to the following applications, which are all herein incorporated by reference: (1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/188,182, filed on Jul. 1, 2002; (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/722,948, entitled “Touch Pad for Handheld Device,” filed on Nov. 25, 2003; (3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/643,256, entitled “Movable Touch Pad with Added Functionality,” filed on Aug. 18, 2003; (4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/654,108, entitled “Ambidextrous Mouse,” filed on Sep. 2, 2003; (5) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,862, entitled “Multipoint Touch Screen,” filed on May 6, 2004; (6) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/903,964, Untitled “Gestures for Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed on Jul. 30, 2004; (7) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/038,590, entitled “Mode-Based Graphical User Interfaces for Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed on Jan. 18, 2005; and (8) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/057,050, entitled “Display Actuator,” filed on Feb. 11, 2005, (9) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/115,539, entitled “Hand-Held Electronic Device with Multiple Touch Sensing Devices,” filed Apr. 26, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to an electronic device having a display and a surrounding touch sensitive bezel for user interface and control. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     There exist today many types of hand-held electronic devices, each of which utilizes some sort of user interface. The user interface typically includes an output device in the form of a display, such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), and one or more input devices, which can be mechanically actuated (e.g., switches, buttons, keys, dials, joysticks, joy pads) or electrically activated (e.g., touch pads or touch screens). The display is typically configured to present visual information such as text and graphics, and the input devices are typically configured to perform operations such as issuing commands, making selections, or moving a cursor or selector of the electronic device. Each of these well-known devices has considerations such as size and shape limitations, costs, functionality, complexity, etc. that must be taken into account when designing the hand-held electronic device. In most cases, the user interface is positioned on the front face (or front surface) of the hand-held device for easy viewing of the display and easy manipulation of the input devices. 
       FIGS. 1A-1F  are diagrams of various hand-held electronic devices including for example a telephone  10 A ( FIG. 1A ), a PDA  10 B ( FIG. 1B ), a media player  10 C ( FIG. 1C ), a remote control  10 D ( FIG. 1D ), a camera  10 E ( FIG. 1E ), and a Global Positioning System (GPS) module  10 F ( FIG. 1F ). In each of these devices  10 , a display  12 , which is secured inside the housing of the device  10  and which can be seen through an opening in the housing, is typically positioned in a first region of the electronic device  10 . Each of these devices is also include one or more input devices  14 , which are typically positioned in a second region of the electronic device  10  next to the display  12 . 
     To elaborate, the telephone  10 A typically includes a display  12  such as a character or graphical display, and input devices  14  such as a number pad and in some cases a navigation pad. The PDA  10 B typically includes a display  12  such as a graphical display, and input devices  14  such as a stylus based resistive touch screen and buttons. The media player  10 C typically includes a display  12  such as a character or graphic display and input devices  14  such as buttons or wheels. The iPod® media player manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. is one example of a media player that includes both a display and input devices disposed next to the display. The remote control  10 D typically includes an input device  14  such as a keypad and may or may not have a character display  12 . The camera  10 E typically includes a display  12  such as a graphic display and input devices  14  such as buttons. The GPS module  10 F typically includes a display  12  such as graphic display and input devices  14  such as buttons, and in some cases a joy pad. 
     Such prior art devices  10 A- 10 F often employ a user interface in conjunction with the display  12  and input device  14 . In one example,  FIG. 2A  shows an electronic device  20 , such as a portable media player. The electronic device  20  has a display  24  and an input device  26  according to the prior art. The display  22  can show various forms of information (e.g., menu items, song titles stored in memory, etc.) of a user interface. The display  24  and input device  26  used in conjunction with the user interface allows the user to make selections (e.g., select a song), to operate functions of the device (e.g., play, stop, or pause a song, etc.), and to perform other functions. In this device  20 , the input devices  26  is a “click wheel,” such as used on an iPod® media player manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. 
     The electronic device  20  has a housing  22  that contains the display  24  and the input device  26 . The input device  26  typically requires a number of components, such as pressure pads, printed circuit board, integrated circuits, etc. Accordingly, the housing  22  for the electronic device  20  must typically be extended or enlarged beyond the size of the display  24  so that the electronic device  20  can accommodate the components of the input device  26 . Consequently, due to the required components for the input device  26 , the size of the housing  22  may in some cases be larger than is actually required to house just the display  24  and any other necessary components (i.e., processor, memory, power supply, etc.) for the device  20 . In addition, placement of the display  22  and the input device  26  typically accommodate only one orientation of the device  20  when held by a user. 
     In another example,  FIG. 2B  shows another electronic device  30  having a display  34  and an input device  36  according to the prior art. The electronic device  30  can be a laptop computer or the like, and the input device  36  can be a touch pad used to control functions of the device  30 , such as moving a cursor, making selections, etc. The touch pad  36  is positioned on a housing  32  of the device  30  in conjunction with conventional components of a keyboard  38  and other physical inputs. The touch pad  36  can be categorized as either “resistive” or “capacitive.” In the resistive category, the touch pad  36  is coated with a thin metallic electrically conductive layer and a resistive layer. When the touch pad  36  is touched, the conductive layers come into contact through the resistive layer causing a change in resistance (typically measured as a change in current) that is used to identify where on the touch pad  36  the touch event occurred. In the capacitive category, a first set of conductive traces run in a first direction on the touch pad  36  and are insulated by a dielectric insulator from a second set of conductive traces running in a second direction (generally orthogonal to the first direction) on the touch pad  36 . The grid formed by the overlapping conductive traces creates an array of capacitors that can store electrical charge. When an object (e.g., a user&#39;s finger) is brought into proximity or contact with the touch pad  36 , the capacitance of the capacitors at that location changes. This change can then be used to identify the location of the touch event. 
     In yet another example,  FIG. 2C  illustrates an electronic device  40  having a touch screen display  44  according to the prior art as an input device. The electronic device  40  is a Personal Digital Assistant or the like. The touch screen display  44  is positioned on a housing  42 , and the electronic device  40  typically has some physical controls  46  on the housing  42 . A stylus  48  is used to touch locations of the touch screen display  44  to perform various functions. The stylus  48  is typically used like a mouse and arrow, and the display  44  can show various menu items and other user interface features. Touching a menu item on the display  44  with the stylus  48  can generate a pop-up or window  45  in which the user can then make a selection with the stylus  48 . The pop-ups or windows  45  overlay the content being displayed and tend to obscure it. 
     Recently, traditionally separate hand-held electronic devices have begun to be combined in limited ways. For example, the functionalities of a telephone have been combined with the functionalities of a PDA. One problem that has been encountered is in the way inputs are made into the device. Each of these devices has a particular set of input mechanisms or devices for providing inputs into the device. Some of these input mechanisms are generic to all the devices (e.g., power button) while others are not. The ones that are not generic are typically dedicated to a particular functionality of the device. By way of example, PDAs typically include a touch screen and a few dedicated buttons while cell phones typically include a numeric keypad and at least two dedicated buttons. 
     Thus, it is a challenge to design a device with limited input mechanisms without adversely affecting the numerous possible functions that the device can perform. As will be appreciated, it is preferable not to overload the electronic devices with a large number of input mechanisms as this tends to confuse ‘the user and to take up valuable space, i.e., “real estate.” In the case of hand-held devices, space is at a premium because of their small size. At some point, there is not enough space on the device to house all the necessary buttons and switches, etc. This is especially true when considering that all these devices need a display that typically takes up a large amount of space on its own. To increase the number of input devices beyond some level, designers would have to decrease the size of the display. However, this will often leave a negative impression on the user because the user typically desires the largest display possible. Alternatively, to accommodate more input devices designers may opt to increase the size of the device. This, too, will often leave a negative impression on a user because it would make one-handed operations difficult, and at some point, the size of the device becomes so large that it is no longer considered a hand-held device. 
     Therefore, what is needed in the art is an improved user interface that works for multi-functional hand-held devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An electronic device has a display and has a touch sensitive bezel surrounding the display. Areas on the bezel are designated for controls used to operate the electronic device. Visual guides corresponding to the controls are displayed on the display adjacent the areas of the bezel designated for the controls. Touch data is generated by the bezel when a user touches an area of the bezel. The device determines which of the controls has been selected based on which designated area is associated with the touch data from the bezel. The device then initiates the determined control. The device can also have a sensor for determining the orientation of the device. Based on the orientation, the device can alter the areas designated on the bezel for the controls and can alter the location of the visual guides for the display so that they match the altered areas on the bezel if the orientation of the device has changed. 
     The foregoing summary is not intended to summarize each potential embodiment or every aspect of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, preferred embodiments, and other aspects of subject matter of the present disclosure will be best understood with reference to a detailed description of specific embodiments, which follows, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1A-1F  are diagrams of various electronic devices according to the prior art. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates an electronic device having a display and user controls according to the prior art. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates an electronic device having a display and a touch pad according to the prior art. 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates an electronic device having a touch screen display according to the prior art. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a substantially full screen hand-held device with a limited number of buttons according to certain teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  is a front view of the hand-held device of  FIG. 3A  with at least one button. 
         FIG. 3C  is a diagram of a graphical user interface separated into a standard region and a control region for the electronic device of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 3D  illustrates an exemplary media player interface for the electronic device of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of an electronic device having a display and a touch sensitive bezel according to certain teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  schematically illustrates components of the electronic device of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a process of operating the touch sensitive bezel in flow chart form. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a process of operating the electronic device in flow chart form. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a process of operating the electronic device having an orientation sensor in flow chart form. 
         FIGS. 9A-9B  illustrate an electronic device with an orientation sensor in two different orientations. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment of an electronic device capable of disregarding certain types of touch data. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment of an electronic device having a touch sensitive bezel around the display and having addition touch sensitive pads incorporated throughout various sides of the housing for the device. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates some other possible bezel arrangements for an electronic device according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13A  illustrates an embodiment of a touch sensitive bezel having a plurality of conductive pads, a control module, and sensors according to certain teachings of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 13C  is an alternative embodiment of  FIG. 13A . 
         FIG. 13B  illustrates a circuit diagram of portion of the control module for the touch sensitive bezel of  FIG. 13A . 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an embodiment of a touch sensitive bezel having force detection and location layers according to certain teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 15 through 19  illustrate an embodiment of a multimedia device having a touch sensitive bezel and a user interface according to certain teachings of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     While the subject matter of the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. The figures and written description are not intended to limit the scope of the inventive concepts in any manner. Rather, the figures and written description are provided to illustrate the inventive concepts to a person skilled in the art by reference to particular embodiments, as required by 35 U.S.C. § 112. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/426,078, which has been incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses electronic devices capable of configuring user inputs based on how the devices are to be used. The electronic devices may be multi-functional hand-held devices. The electronic devices have a user interface that requires no (or at most only a few) physical buttons, keys, or switches so that the display size of the electronic devices—can be substantially increased. Preferably, the electronic devices eliminate such physical buttons, keys, or switches from a front surface of the electronic device so that additional surface area becomes available for a larger display on the electronic device. Ultimately, this strategy allows the electronic device to house a substantially full screen display. As used herein, a full screen display is a display that consumes, or at least dominates, a surface (e.g., a front surface) of the electronic device. 
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a multi-functional hand-held device  50  having a housing  52  and a substantially full screen display  60 . To accommodate the full screen display  60 , the multi-functional hand-held device  50  is preferably configured with a limited number of physical buttons. Because a limited number of physical buttons are provided, the display  60  of the hand-held device  50  preferably uses a touch screen as the primary input mechanism for the electronic device  50 . The touch screen of the display  60  is a transparent touch sensing mechanism that is positioned over or incorporated into the display  60 . Typically, the touch screen display  60  works in conjunction with a graphical user interface (GUI) presented on the display  60 . For example, the GUI may present an on-screen button or user control on the display  60 , and the touch screen display  60  may detect when a user presses the on-screen button (e.g., places their finger or stylus over the on-screen button). Aspects of the touch screen display  60  and GUI for the electronic device  50  are described in greater detail below. 
     The hand-held device  50  may be constructed with only cross-functional physical buttons, i.e., there are no buttons dedicated to individual device functionalities. These types of buttons may include power buttons and hold switches. In another embodiment, the hand-held device  50  may not include any physical buttons at all. In some embodiments, the physical buttons are limited to only the sides  56  and back surface  58  of the hand-held device  50 . In other embodiments, the physical buttons of the handheld device  50  are limited to the upper and lower portion of the sides  56  so that there are no buttons in the regions of the sides  56  where a user would physically support the device  50  (i.e., holding region). In still other embodiments, the physical buttons may be located on the front surface  54 , but only in the bezel  55  surrounding the display  60 . In some embodiments, the buttons may be located on only the top and bottom surfaces  57  of the device  50 . 
     As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 3A , there are no physical buttons on the front surface  54  of the housing  52  so that the front surface  54  can be used almost entirely for the display  60 . Further, because the side surfaces  56  are used for grasping the device  50 , it may be preferred to leave the sides surfaces  56  free from buttons to prevent accidental actions in the event a user inadvertently presses a button while supporting the device  50 . Although the top and bottom surfaces  57  would not typically be used to hold the device  50 , these surfaces  57  are not ideal locations for buttons that are often actuated because it would be awkward to reach these buttons when operating the device  50  with one hand. Instead, the top surface  57  may be reserved for buttons that have limited action and generic functions that are cross-functional, for example, power and hold switches. The top and bottom surfaces  57  are also well suited for placement of I/O and communication ports. The top surface  57  may, for example, include a headset/microphone jack and an antenna, and the bottom surface  57  may include power and data ports. 
     In some cases, it may be desirable to place buttons in the upper or lower regions of the side surfaces  56  out of the way of the grasping hand of the user. This may be particularly well suited when the housing  52  of the device  50  is elongated more than the standard width of a user&#39;s grasping hand. As shown in  FIG. 3B , the hand-held device  50  includes a button  53  in the upper region on the right side surface  54  of the housing  52 . Because the button  53  is in the upper region, it tends to be out of the way of the grasping hand and therefore accidental activation is substantially eliminated. In one embodiment, the upper button  53  may be configured to switch the functionality of the multi-functional device  50 . For example, by pressing the button  53 , a new device functionality is activated, and the current device functionality is deactivated. Although the term “button” is used, it should be appreciated that the button  53  may correspond to a dial, wheel, switch, or the like. 
     As discussed above, the touch screen display  60  typically works in conjunction with a GUI presented on the display  50 . The GUI shows user controls on the touch screen display  60 , which in turn responds to user touches made in regions of the touch screen display  60  corresponding to the displayed user controls. The entire touch screen display  60  or only a portion may be used to show the user controls. Referring to  FIG. 3C , for example, a GUI  70  for the electronic device  50  of  FIG. 3A  is separated into a standard region  72  and a control region  74  on the touch screen display  60 . The standard region  72 . represents what would normally be displayed on the display  60  when using the electronic device  50 . That is, any standard GUI screens associated with the device  50  are displayed in the standard region  72 . For example, when the device  50  is operated with a PDA functionality, a main menu (window with a set of icons), calendar, address book or date book may be displayed in the standard region  72 . 
     On the other hand, the control region  74  virtually represents those physical controls  76  that would normally be physically placed on a particular type of electronic device. That is, the virtual controls  76  displayed in the control region  74  essentially mimic physical controls for a particular type of device. For example, when the device  50  is operated with a PDA functionality, the control region  74  may include virtual representations of a hand writing recognition area, a navigation pad, and the standard function buttons. The standard and control regions  72  and  74  can be positioned at any position on the display  60  (top, bottom, sides, center, etc.). For example, as shown in  FIG. 3C , the control regions  72  and  74  may be positioned vertically relative to one another (one on top of the other) on the display  60 . 
     In another example,  FIG. 3D  is a diagram of a GUI  80  that can be used with the electronic device  50  when operated in a music player functionality. Again, the GUI  80  is divided into a standard region  82  and a control region  84 . Located inside the control region  84  are a virtual scroll wheel  86  and five virtual buttons  88 . Additional details on a virtual scroll wheel  86  are provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/038,590, entitled “Mode-Based Graphical User Interfaces for Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed on Jan. 18, 2005, which has been incorporated herein by reference. 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 3A-3D , the electronic device  50  includes the touch screen display  60 . In additional embodiments, the electronic device  50  according to certain teachings of the present disclosure may incorporate one or more touch sensitive surfaces (not shown) on the housing  52  of the electronic device  50  itself. These touch sensitive surfaces (not shown) can provide a large surface for tracking touch inputs or can provide small-dedicated areas, such as touch buttons, for performing dedicated functions. Furthermore, the one or more touch sensitive surfaces can be used in addition to or in the alternative to the touch screen display  60  discussed in the embodiment of  FIGS. 3A-3D . 
     The touch sensitive surfaces may be located on any surface of the housing  52 , any side of the housing  52 , any portion of any side of the housing  52 , or at dedicated locations on the surface of the housing  52 . For example, the touch sensitive surfaces may be located on the sides  56  or back surface  58  of the housing  52  and may even be located at the bezel ( 55 ;  FIGS. 3A-3B ) located at the front surface  54  of the housing  52 . In all of these cases, a large portion of the front surface  54  of the housing  52  is saved for the display  60  so that the viewing area of the hand-held electronic device  50  can be maximized. 
     The touch sensitive surfaces of the housing  52  may take the form of one or more touch panels that are positioned within the housing  52 . The touch sensitive surfaces may be alternatively or additionally be provided directly by the housing  52 . That is, the touch sensing components of the touch sensitive surfaces may be integrated into, incorporated into, or disposed underneath the housing  52  such that the housing  52  itself is touch sensitive and forms part of the touch sensitive surfaces (rather than using a separate touch panel). Similar to a touch screen, such touch sensitive surfaces recognize touches and the positions of the touches on the surfaces. The electronic device  50  has circuitry (not shown), which can include a controller or the like, and the circuitry interprets the touches and thereafter performs actions based on the touch events. Touch sensitive surfaces can be constructed in the same manner as a touch screen, except the surfaces need not be substantially transparent. By way of example, the touch sensitive surfaces for the electronic device  50  may generally correspond to the touch sensitive housing described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/115,539, entitled “Hand-Held Electronic Device with Multiple Touch Sensing Devices,” filed Apr. 26, 2005, which has been incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Having a display  60  that encompasses almost the entire front surface  54  of the housing  52  of the electronic device  50  has several advantages discussed herein. In addition, having one or more touch sensitive surfaces on various portions of the housing  52  that allows a user to control the electronic device  50  can also provide several advantages discussed herein. As alluded to above, one or more touch sensitive surfaces can be located on the bezel  55  (i.e., the portion of the front surface  54  of the housing  52  that surrounds the display  60 ). Turning then to  FIG. 4 , an embodiment of an electronic device  100  having a touch sensitive bezel  120  according to certain teachings of the present disclosure is illustrated. As will be discussed in more detail below, the touch sensitive bezel  120  is used for user interface and control of the electronic device  100  and is used in conjunction with a graphical user interface operating on the device  100 . 
     The electronic device  100  includes a housing  102  and a display  110 . The housing  102  holds the display  110 , which can be any conventional display known and used in the art for electronic devices. Some common examples for the display  110  include a Liquid Crystal display (LCD), an electroluminescent display, and a touch screen display. The housing  102  also holds the touch sensitive bezel  120 , which is positioned substantially around the perimeter of the display  110 . (In the present embodiment, the bezel  120  is positioned entirely around the perimeter of the display  110  so that the bezel  120  essentially frames the display  110 .) The housing  102  of the electronic device  100  also contains electronic components that provide a number of operations and features, such as memory access, communications, sound, power, etc. In addition, the electronic device  100  houses electronic components (discussed in more detail below) that are used to control operation of the display  110  and the bezel  120 . 
     In one example, the electronic device  100  can be a picture frame having memory for storing digital pictures and for viewing on the display  110 . In another example, the electronic device  100  can be a digital media device having the display  110 , the touch sensitive bezel  120 , and lacking most or all buttons or similar physical controls on the housing  52 . In other examples, the electronic device  100  can be an electronic game, a personal digital assistant, a multimedia device, a cellular telephone, a portable video player, a portable navigation device, or the like. 
     The bezel  120  is touch sensitive and is used to obtain touch data from the user in response to touch events made by the user on the bezel  120 . The electronic device  100  uses the touch data obtained with the bezel  120  to perform various operations and functions related to user interface and user control of the device  100 . For example, the touch data obtained with the bezel  120  can control what is displayed with the device  100 , what files are played, what the volume level is, what the settings for the display  110  are, etc. 
     A number of techniques can be used to obtain touch data with the touch sensitive bezel  120 . In one embodiment, at least a portion of the bezel  120  includes a multi-touch input surface capable of generating touch data for a plurality of touch events made by the user simultaneously at different locations of the bezel  120 . For example, the bezel  120  can include a capacitive sensor array and data acquisition circuitry for detecting when a user touches areas or location s on the bezel  120 . The capacitive sensor array and data acquisition circuitry can be similar to those disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/949,060, filed Sep. 24, 2004 and entitled “Raw Data Track Pad Device and System,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. An example of such an embodiment for the bezel  120  is discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . During operation, the multi-touch input surface of the bezel  120  can be used to generate touch data that can be recognized as touch gestures discussed in more detail later. 
     In another embodiment, at least a portion of the bezel  120  includes a plurality of resistive or capacitive sensors and an integrated circuit for analyzing resistive or capacitive values caused by a user touching the bezel  120 . An example of an embodiment for such a bezel  120  is discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 13A and 13B . In yet another embodiment, at least a portion of the bezel  120  includes force detection layers as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/278,080, filed Mar. 30, 2006 and entitled “Force Imaging Input Device and System,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. An example of such an embodiment for the bezel  120  is discussed below with reference to  FIG. 14 . 
     During operation of the device  100 , areas or location s of the bezel  120  are designated. for various user controls of the device  100 . In one embodiment, particular user controls designated for areas of the bezel  120  may be indicated directly on the bezel  120  itself using graphics, words, or the like. In such an embodiment, the user controls/having indications directly on the bezel  120  may be fixed and may be those user controls that a user would typically use when operating the device  100  in any of the possible modes or functionalities of the device  100 . In another embodiment, particular user controls designated for areas of the bezel  120  may not have any visual indications appearing directly on the bezel  120  itself. Instead, the designated user controls may be in a logical or predetermined location on the bezel  120  that the user may know or expect. 
     In yet another embodiment, the electronic device  100  has user interface software or an application for displaying icons, menu items, pictures, or words (referred to herein as “visual guides”)  180  on the display  110 . The visual guides  180  correspond to the user controls designated for areas or locations of the bezel  120  and are shown on the display  110  adjacent designated areas on the bezel  120 . By way of example, the visual guides  180  in  FIG. 4  include “Menu,” “Power,” “Left,” “Select,” “Right,” etc. It will be appreciated that the visual guides  180  and their arrangement depicted in  FIG. 4  are only exemplary. More or fewer visual guides  180  may be provided, and the size of the visual guides  180  can be larger or smaller than the scale depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the visual guides  180  are preferably located near the perimeter of the display  110  so that the majority of the display  110  can be dedicated to showing content or the like. Preferably and as shown in  FIG. 4 , the visual guides  180  are superimposed over visual data (e.g., content, text, a picture, video, etc.) shown on the display  110 . The visual guides  180  can be displayed consistently on the display  110  while the electronic device  100  is operating. Alternatively, the visual guides  180  may not be shown in most circumstances during operation and can be displayed only after the user touches a predetermined portion of the bezel  120  or makes some user configured preference, or moves the device  100 . 
     During operation, the user can touch designated areas (e.g., outlined area— 121 ) on the bezel  120  to initiate user controls for the electronic device  100 . Some examples of possible user controls include menu operations, cursor operations, and data entry operations. The user interface software operating on the display  110  shows the visual guides  180  in positions adjacent the areas  121  on the bezel  120  designated to perform the user controls so the user may know the general area of the bezel  120  designated for the corresponding user control indicted by the adjacent visual guide  180 . The designated areas  121  can be arbitrarily positioned and sized around the bezel  120  depending on the context or content of what is being displayed. The number of distinct areas  121  that can be designated depends on the size of the display  110  and the bezel  120  and depends on what type of touch sensitive sensors are used for the touch sensitive bezel  120 . In one example, one edge of the bezel  120  that is about 4 to 5-inches in length may accommodate about one-hundred distinct areas that can be designated for user controls. 
     In a further embodiment, the electronic device  100  may be capable of rotation and may have an orientation sensor (discussed in more detail below) for determining the orientation of the device  100 . Based on the sensed orientation, the areas  121  on the bezel  120  designated for the user controls can be altered or relocated to match the current orientation of the device  110 . Likewise, the user interface software operating on the device  100  can alter the location of the visual guides  180  to match the current position of the areas  121  on the bezel  120  designated for the user controls. 
     Now that details related the electronic device  100 , display  110 , and bezel  120  for user interface and control have. been discussed above in  FIG. 4 , we now turn to a more detailed discussion of components for an electronic device of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , components of an embodiment of an electronic device  200  according to certain teachings of the present disclosure are schematically illustrated. Some of the components of the electronic device  200  are not shown in  FIG. 5  but will be apparent to one skilled in the art. For example, the electronic device  200  may include a housing and conventional components, such as power circuitry, a central processing unit, memory, and the like. In one example of a conventional component, for instance, the memory can store data, software, etc. and can include random access memory, read-only memory, or both. 
     The electronic device  200  includes a housing (not shown), a display  210 , display circuitry  212 , a capacitive sensor array  220 , data acquisition circuitry  230 , and processing circuitry  240 . The display  210  is positioned on the housing (not shown) and has a perimeter. The capacitive sensor array  220  is also positioned on the housing (not shown) and is positioned substantially around the perimeter of the display  210  so that the capacitive sensor array  220  forms part of a bezel for the display  210 . The data acquisition circuitry  230  is coupled to the capacitive sensor array  220  and is used to acquire touch data from the array  220 . The processing circuitry  240  is coupled to the data acquisition circuitry  230  and to the display  210 . 
     As will be explained in more detail below, the processing circuitry  240  is configured to obtain touch data from the data acquisition circuitry  230 , determine if at least one user control is invoked by the obtained touch data, and initiate at least one operation for the electronic device  200  based on the determined user control. The processing circuitry  240  includes a processor  250  and includes one or more software/firmware components that operate on the processor  250 . These components include a display driver  251 , a sensor driver  253 , and system and/or user applications  260 . 
     The applications  260  have one or more user controls  262  that a user can invoke by touching one or more areas of the capacitive sensor array  220  in order to change or control operation of the electronic device  200 . To determine which user control  262  is invoked, the processing circuitry  240  designates one or more areas  221  of the capacitive sensor array  220  for the one or more user controls  262  of the applications  260 . Then, when a user touches one or more areas  221  of the capacitive sensor array  220 , the data acquisition circuitry  230  provides touch data to the processing circuitry  240 . The capacitive sensor array  220  and data acquisition circuitry  230  is preferably capable of generating touch data that describes more than one simultaneously touched areas  221  on the bezel  220  so that the touch data can cover instances when the user touches one area only, touches more than one area simultaneously, or makes a pattern or gesture of touches on the array  220 . 
     In turn, the processing circuitry  240  compares the obtained touch data to the one or more designated areas and determines which of the user controls  262  has been invoked by the user. The comparison of obtained touch data to the designated areas  221  may involve different levels of processing. In one level of processing, the processing circuitry  240  compares the location (e.g., rows and columns) that the obtained touch data occurred on the array  220  to the designated areas  221  for the user controls. If the obtained touch data occurs in the designated area  221  for a satisfactory time period or over an average extent of the area  221 , for example, then the processing circuitry  240  determines that the corresponding user control has been invoked. 
     In other levels of processing, the obtained touch data can include one or more location s (e.g., rows and columns) being touched on the array  220 , can include touch data obtained over an interval of time, can include changes in touch data over time, and can include other “aggregate” forms of touch data. In this level of processing, the processing circuitry  240  recognizes “touch gestures” from the touch data and determines which control is invoked by the “touch gesture.” Some examples of “touch gestures” include a single “tap” at a location of the array  220 , two or more sequential taps made at substantially the same location of the array  220  within predefined intervals of one another, touch events occurring substantially simultaneously at two or more location s of the array  220 , sliding touches of one or more fingers by the user over the surface of the array  220 , sustained touch at one location of the array  220  in conjunction with sliding or tapping touches at other location s of the array  220 , and other combinations of the above. 
     To recognize such “touch gestures,” one or more areas  221  of the array  220  are associated with a control  262 , and touch gestures involving one or more touches on those areas  221  are associated with the control  262 . The touch gesture can be a single momentary tap, a sustained touch, two or more sequential taps, a sweep of a finger,” and any other possible touch arrangement. To then determine if the control  262  has been invoked, the processing circuitry  240  determines if the touch data includes those areas  221  associated with the control  262  and determines from the touch data if the touch gesture associated with the control  262  has occurred on those areas  221 . 
     Turning from discussion of the capacitive sensor array  220 , the processing circuitry  240  is also operatively connected to the display  210  by display circuitry  212 . The display driver  251  is used to configure visual data (e.g., content, screens, user interface elements, visual guides, etc.) and to send or present the visual data to the display circuitry  212 . The electronic device  200  preferably presents one or more visual guides  280  along the perimeter of the display  210 . In addition, the one or more visual guides  280  are preferably displayed at location s on the display  210  adjacent to corresponding areas  221  of the capacitive sensor array  220  designated for the one or more user controls  262  associated with the one or more visual guides  280 . 
     Given the overview of the electronic device  200  discussed above, we now turn to a more detailed discussion of the components of the electronic device  200  of the present embodiment. The capacitive sensor array  220  includes a plurality of rows and columns of capacitive sensors, and the array  220  may or may not be symmetrical. The rows and columns of the array  220  are positioned around the perimeter of the display  210 . 
     The data acquisition circuit  230  includes multiplexer (“MUX”) circuitry coupled to the sensor array  220 . In particular, two multiplexer circuits  232 - 1  and  232 - 2  (referred to as the MUX- 1  and MUX- 2  circuits) are coupled to the rows of the sensor array  220 . Each row in the sensor array  220  can be electrically coupled to a reference voltage Vcc through the MUX- 1  circuit  232 - 1  and can be electrically coupled to a storage capacitor  236  through the MUX- 2  circuit  232 - 2 . While not shown in detail, each column of sensor array  220  can be similarly coupled to a reference voltage Vcc and to a storage capacitor using column MUX circuits  234 . Thus, a user touching a location or area  221  of the sensor array  220  can alter the capacitance measured at affected rows and columns of the array  220 . 
     During operation, the MUX circuits  232  and  234  are responsible for coupling and stimulating successive elements of the sensor array  220  (e.g., rows, columns, or individual pixels—that is, an element at the intersection of a row and column) to the storage capacitor  236  in a controlled/sequenced manner and indicating that a measurement cycle has begun to the scan circuit  238 . When the charge on storage capacitor  236  reaches a specified value or threshold, the scan circuit  238  records the time required to charge the storage capacitor  236  to the specified threshold. Consequently, the scan circuit  238  provides a digital value that is a direct indication of the capacitance of the selected element of the sensor array  220 . 
     The sensor driver  240  obtains measured capacitance data from the acquisition circuitry  230 . In turn, the sensor driver  240  processes the measured capacitance data and configures a corresponding control, command, operation, or other function designated by the row and column location of the capacitance data. Depending on what application, content, or the like is currently operating, the system application  260  and/or user application  262  implements the corresponding user control  262 . Implementation may affect what is currently being displayed on the display  210 . Consequently, the display driver  214  may operate the display circuitry  212  coupled to the display  210  in response to an implemented control  262 . For example, a new menu may be presented on the display  210  in response to an implemented user control  262 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the electronic device  200  can also include one or more sensors  270  coupled to the processing circuitry  240 . The one or more sensors  270  can include a Mercury switch, an acceleration sensor, inclinometer sensor, an electronic compass, a light sensor, a motion sensor, or an orientation sensor. In one embodiment, the orientation sensor  270  is a 3-G accelerometer similar to what is used in gyro remotes or used in hard drives to detect free fall. The accelerometer  270  detects gravity and generates orientation data that can indicate which edge of the display  210  is “up,” “down,” “north,” or other direction. The processing circuitry  240  coupled to the accelerometer  270  determine the orientation of the electronic device  200  from the orientation data obtained from the sensor  270 . The determined orientation can then be used to designate or alter the location of the areas  221  on the array  220  to match the orientation of the device  200 . In addition, the determined orientation can then be used to designate or alter the location of the visual guides  280  on the display  210  to match the newly designated areas  221  on the array  220 . Furthermore, the determined orientation can then be used to rotate or flip the content shown on the display  210  to match the orientation of the device  200 . Details related to how the electronic device  200  can use orientation data are discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9A-9B . 
     In another embodiment, the one or more sensors  270  can include one or more ambient light sensors for detecting the level of ambient light around the device  200 . Preferably, the device  200  includes at least two such ambient light sensors  270  for redundancy. Based on the level of ambient light detected, the electronic device  200  can automatically adjust the contrast and/or brightness of the display  210  accordingly. In yet another embodiment, the one or more sensors  270  can include a motion sensor, such as a passive pyroelectric sensor. The motion sensor  270  can be used to detect motion of the electronic device  200  from a stationary state so that the device  200  can “wake up” (e.g., turn on or come out of a standby mode) or can show previously hidden visual guides  280  on the display  210  in response to being moved. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a process  300  of operating the electronic device having the capacitive sensor array  220  of  FIG. 5  for the touch sensitive bezel is illustrated in flow chart form. For better understanding, element numerals for components of  FIG. 5  are concurrently provided in the discussion that follows. During operation, the MUX- 1  circuitry  232 - 1  couples a first row of the sensor array  220  to the reference voltage Vcc for a specified period of time (Block  302 ) and then isolates or disconnects that row from Vcc (Block  304 ). Next, the MUX- 2  circuitry  232 - 2  couples the same row to the storage capacitor  236  for a specified period of time, or until the voltage on storage capacitor  236  reaches a specified threshold (Block  306 ). 
     While the MUX- 2  circuitry  232 - 2  couples the selected sensor row to the storage capacitor  236 , a determination is made whether the storage capacitor&#39;s voltage reaches a specified threshold (Block  308 ). If so (i.e., the “Yes” prong of Block  308 ), the digital value corresponding to the time it took to charge the storage capacitor  236  to the specified threshold is recorded by the scan circuit  238  (Block  310 ). If the storage capacitor&#39;s voltage does not reach the specified threshold during the time that the MUX- 2  circuitry  232 - 2  couples the selected sensor row to the storage capacitor  236  (i.e., the “No” prong of Block  308 ), then the acts of block  302 - 308  are repeated. 
     Once a digital value corresponding to the capacitance of the selected row has been obtained (Block  310 ), a check is made to see if there are additional rows in the sensor array  220  that need to be sampled. If more rows need to be sampled, the process  300  goes to the next row at Block  314  and repeats the acts of Blocks  302 - 308 . If it is determined at Block  312  that all the rows in the sensor array  220  have been sampled in accordance with Blocks  302 - 308 , a similar sampling process is used to acquire a capacitance value for each column in the sensor array  220  (Block  316 ). Once all rows and all columns have been processed, the entire process  300  is repeated, which can be done at a predetermined interval (Block  318 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a process  400  of operating the electronic device of  FIG. 5  is illustrated in flow chart form. For better understanding, element numerals for components of  FIG. 5  are concurrently provided in the discussion that follows. During operation, areas  221  on the array  220  of the touch sensitive bezel are designated for user controls of the electronic device (Block  402 ). In designating an area  221 , contiguous rows and columns of a portion of the capacitive sensor array  220  are associated with a user control for the electronic device  200 . The electronic device  200  also generates visual guides  280  for the user controls (Block  404 ) and displays the visual guides  280  on the display  210  adjacent the designated areas  221  on the touch sensitive bezel  220  to which the visual guides  280  correspond (Block  406 ). For example, the visual guides  280  are preferably displayed along the perimeter of the display  210  adjacent corresponding rows and columns of the capacitive sensor array  220  associated with the user controls for the electronic device  200 . In this way, the majority of the display  210  can be used to show content. 
     The electronic device  200  then obtains touch data with the capacitive sensor array  220  using the techniques disclosed herein (Block  408 ). The touch data in a basic form includes information of which rows and columns of the capacitive sensor array  220  have been touched (i.e., have exceeded the capacitance threshold). The electronic device  200  performs various forms of processing of the obtained touch data. For example, the touch data can be processed to determine how long the rows and columns have reached a threshold capacitance, to determine how long rows and columns have been below the threshold capacitance since an initial period of being above the threshold, and to determine other forms of information. Furthermore, to facilitate processing, the touch data can be aggregated together into predefined intervals of time and portions of the array  220 . In addition, the touch data obtained at a first instance can be stored and later compared to touch data obtained at a subsequent instance to determine changes in the data overtime, caused by a user&#39;s touch movement on the array  220 , for example. These and other forms of processing of the touch data will be apparent to one skilled in the art with the benefit of the present disclosure. 
     After the touch data has preferably been processed with the techniques described briefly above, the electronic device  200  then compares the information from the touch data to the designations on the array  220  associated with the user controls for the device  200  (Block  410 ). From the comparison, the electronic device  200  determines which user control is invoked by the designated area  221  of the array  220  that the user has touched (Block  412 ). Then, the electronic device  200  initiates the determined user control to affect processing of the device  200  (Block  414 ). Once the user control is implemented, it may be necessary to update the display  210  and the designated user controls (Block  416 ). If the same visual guides  280  and designated user controls can be used, then the process returns to Block  408 , for example, to obtain any new touch data with the array  220 . If, however, new visual guides  280  and designated user controls are needed due to a change in the content of what is displayed or the context of the device&#39;s operation, then the process returns to Block  402  to designate new areas on the array  220  for user controls and proceeds to subsequent steps. 
     One skilled in the art will appreciate that the touch sensitive array  220  around the perimeter of the display  210  of the device  200  can be used to implement various user controls in some ways similar to how a conventional touch pad is used. In a brief example, the information at Block  410  may indicate a “tap” made by the user on the array  220 . This “tap” (i.e., a touch by a finger on the array  220  for a “short” duration of time) may have been performed in designated area  221  of the array  220 . The electronic device  200  determines that the area  221  invoked by the “tap” is designated for performing a “page up” control of what is being displayed on the device  200 . The time duration of the “tap” may indicate the amount or extent of the “page up” control. In response to the user control, the electronic device  200  causes what is being shown on the display  210  to page up as requested by the user. 
     As noted briefly above, the electronic device  200  of  FIG. 5  can include one or more sensors  270 , which can include an accelerometer or other orientation sensor Referring to  FIG. 8 , a process  430  of operating the electronic device of  FIG. 5  having the orientation sensor  270  is illustrated in flow chart form. For better understanding, element numerals for components of  FIG. 5  are concurrently provided in the discussion that follows. Initially, the electronic device  200  obtains orientation data from the sensor  270  (Block  432 ). The electronic device  200  can obtain the orientation data at periodic intervals or at certain points during operation. The electronic device  200  then determines whether the orientation of the device has changed (Block  434 ). If not, the process  500  can end. 
     If the orientation has changed at Block  434 , the electronic device  200  determines how the orientation has changed and alters the designation of areas for user controls of the touch bezel (Block  436 ). In particular, the processing circuitry  240  alters how the one or more areas  221  of the capacitive sensor array  220  are designated for the one or more user controls  262  so that the designation better matches the new orientation of the device  200 . In addition, if the display  210  is showing visual guides  280  for the corresponding areas  221  of the bezel  220 , then the electronic device  200  also alters location of the visual guides  280  on the display  210  so that they match the newly designated area  221  for the user controls on the array  220  (Block  438 ). Then, the process  430  can end until called again during the operation of the electronic device  200 . 
     By way of example,  FIG. 9A  shows an electronic device  450  having content on the display  460 . The device  450  is rectangular and can be oriented in either a “portrait” or a “landscape” orientation. Accordingly, the display  460  can show a picture or other content in either orientation. In some circumstances, the orientation of what is displayed may not match how the device  450  is currently orientated. The user may rotate or changes the orientation of the device  450 , for example, to the orientation shown in  FIG. 9B . The orientation sensor  490  is used to determine the new orientation (i.e., rotation of 90-degrees), and the processing circuitry (not shown) of the device  450  determines that the areas  471  designated on the bezel  470  for certain user controls of the electronic device  450  should be changed. Accordingly, the processing circuitry alters the designation of the areas  471  of the bezel  470  so that they will better match the newly sensed orientation of the device  450 . In addition, because the electronic device  450  can display visual guides  480  relative to the designated areas  471  of the bezel  470 , the processing circuitry also alters location of the visual guides  480  on the display  460  so that their new location s match the new location s of the designated areas  471  of the bezel  470 . 
     For example, the area  471 A of where the “Left” control  480  in  FIG. 9A  will remain on the same side  454  of the device  450  as shown in  FIG. 9B . Yet, the “Left” control  480  is preferably orientated along the new bottom edge  456  of the device  450  so that—it is in a position more amenable to the user. Thus, the old area  471 A is no longer designated for the “Left” control. Instead, a new area  421 B of the bezel  470  is designated for the “Left” control  480 , and the visual guide  480  for the “Left” control is displayed in the appropriate position of the display  470  along the new bottom edge  456  to match the new designated area  471 B. 
     In the example of  FIGS. 9A-9B , orientation data from the orientation sensor  490  is used to alter the designation of the areas  471  for the user controls and the location of visual guides  480 . In other embodiments, the orientation of the content to be displayed may dictate how the designation of the areas  471  for the user controls and the location of visual guides  480  should be for the device  450 . For example, the display  460  of the electronic device  450  in  FIGS. 9A-9B  is rectangular and can be used to show content in “portrait” or “landscape” orientations. Depending then on the desired or required orientation for particular content (e.g., image, screen, user interface, or picture) to be shown on the display  460 , the electronic device  450  can alter the designation of the areas  471  for the user controls and the location of visual guides  480  according to the “portrait” or “landscape” orientations of the content. In other words, when the device  450  is preparing to display particular content, the electronic device  450  can determine the particular orientation for that content. Then, when the device  450  switches to show that new content on the display  460 , the electronic device  450  alters the designation of the areas  471  for the user controls and the location of visual guides  480  if the orientation of the newly displayed content is different from that previously displayed. Thus, the user can naturally rotate the device  450  to better view the newly displayed content in its preferred orientation (e.g., “portrait” or “landscape”), and the visual guides  480  and designated areas  471  will be already matched to the content&#39;s orientation. 
     Turning to  FIG. 10 , the electronic device  500  of the present disclosure can also be configured to discriminate or ignore certain forms of touch data made on the bezel  520 . For example, the housing  502  of the electronic device  500  may be designed to fit mainly around the display  510  and the surrounding bezel  520 . As a result, when a user holds the electronic device  500 , it may be likely that portion of the user&#39;s hand (e.g., one of the user&#39;s fingers or thumb) will maintain consistent contact on portion  522  of the bezel  520 . In this instance, it is desirable that the electronic device  500  ignores such consistent contact made on the bezel  520 . The processing circuitry (not shown) of the device  500  can store information tracking how long touch data has occurred on portions of the bezel  520  and/or how many adjacent, designated areas have had repeated touch data. Then, after a predefined time limit, the processing circuitry can begin to ignore that consistent touch data in the portion  522  of the bezel  520  when determining what user controls the user is implicating. Furthermore, the processing circuitry can designated new location s for areas of the bezel  520  for user controls that are part of the ignored portion  522  of the bezel  520 . In the present example, the areas  524  and “ 526  for the “page up” and page down” user controls on the left side of the bezel  520  have been moved to new location s outside the ignored portion  522 . Likewise, the visual guides  512  associated with the “page up” and page down” user controls have been shifted to new locations adjacent to the newly designated areas  524  and  526 . 
     In previous embodiments of the present disclosure, the touch sensitive bezel of the present disclosure is arranged substantially around the entire perimeter of the display. In one alternative shown in  FIG. 11 , an embodiment of an electronic device  530  can have a touch sensitive bezel  550  around a display  540  just as before. In addition, the electronic device  530  can have one or more additional touch sensitive pads or surfaces  560  incorporated throughout various sides of the housing  532  for the device  530 . These additional touch sensitive pads  560  can be used to detect location caused by a user touching the pads  560  and/or can be used to detect force caused by a user pressing the pads  560 . The additional touch sensitive pads  560  can be positioned along edges of the housing  532  and can be positioned on the back of the housing  530 . 
     Any user controls designated for areas  562  on these additional touch sensitive pads  560  may be preconfigured and may not be change during operation. In this way, the user may know the functionality of the various pads  560  and can use the areas  562  to control features of the device  530  without the need of any visual guides  542  on the display  540 . Alternatively, the user may be able to designate any user controls for these additional touch sensitive pads  560  using setup and configuration operations of the device  530 . In yet another alternative, user controls for areas  562  of these additional pads  560  can be designated and re-designated by the electronic device  530  during operation in much the same way disclosed herein for areas  552  on the bezel  550 . For example, areas  562  on the pads  560  can be designated for user controls similar to the areas  552  that can be designated on the bezel  550 , and visual guides  542  can be displayed around the perimeter of the display  540  adjacent to corresponding areas  562  on the additional pads  560  in the same way that the visual guides  542  are displayed adjacent designated areas  552  of the bezel  550 . 
     In  FIG. 11 , for example, the area  552  on the bezel  550  can be designated to adjust values, and the areas  562  of the adjacent side pad  560  can be designated to select various attributes of the display  540 . Because the device  530  can be hand-held, the user can selected from the various attributes—by touching an area  562  on the side pad  560  with the hand used to hold the device  530 , and the user can then adjust the value for the selected attribute by touching the area  552  on the bezel  550  with a finger of the other hand. The side pad  560  can be either a large surface for tracking touch inputs or can includes a plurality of small dedicated surfaces, such as touch buttons, for performing dedicated functions. In yet an another alternative, the additional pads  560  can also be force sensitive so that a predetermined amount of force or pressure caused by a user touch is required to invoke the user control associated with the touched areas  562  of the pads  560 . 
     In additional alternatives shown in  FIG. 12 , a touch sensitive bezel  590  according to the present disclosure can be arranged in a housing  572  around at least a portion of a display  580  of an electronic device  570 . In general, the bezel  590  can include one or more discrete touch sensitive surfaces positioned in the housing  572  adjacent one or more sides of the display  580 . On device  570 A, for example, the bezel  590  has a plurality of discrete touch sensitive surfaces positioned in the housing  572  adjacent each side of the display  580 . On device  570 B, for example, the bezel  590  has a first and second touch sensitive surface positioned in the housing  572  adjacent three sides of the display  580  and has a second touch sensitive surface positioned in the housing  572  adjacent one side of the display  580 . On device  570 C, for example, the bezel  590  has first and second touch sensitive surfaces positioned in the housing  572  adjacent opposing sides of the display  580 . These and other alternative arrangements are possible for touch sensitive bezels according to the present disclosure. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the touch sensitive bezel of electronic device  200  has been described as having capacitive sensor array  220  that is used with data acquisition circuitry  230 . As alluded to above, however, a touch sensitive bezel for an electronic device according to the present disclosure can include other forms of touch sensitive circuitry. Referring to  FIG. 13A , another embodiment of a touch sensitive bezel  620  for an electronic device  600  is illustrated. Only portion of the touch sensitive bezel  620  is illustrated in  FIG. 13A , and the housing, display, and other components of the electronic device  600  are not shown for illustrative purposes. In the present embodiment, the touch sensitive bezel  620  includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)  622  formed into a ring or frame shape and defining an inner opening  624  in which components of the display (not shown) for the electronic device are positioned. A plurality of conductive pads  626  are formed on the PCB  622 , and each pad  626  is interconnected by a resistive element (not shown) according to details discussed below. The PCB  622  in this embodiment can have dimensions of approximately 8 by 10-inches and can have about 100 pads  626  formed around its perimeter. 
     The touch sensitive bezel  620  also includes a control module  630 , which is housed in the electronic device and is shown here relative to the PCB  622  for illustrative purposes. The control module  630  is connected to the pads  626  of the PCB  622  by connections (not shown). The control module  630  has a plurality of components, including an infrared sensor, communication circuitry, accelerometer/inclinometer sensor, and other components. A suitable infrared sensor is an RE200B pyroelectric passive infrared sensor. A suitable accelerometer/inclinometer sensor is a KXP84 IC. 
     The electronic device  600  can also have a plurality of ambient light sensors  604  and a plurality of infrared (IR) modules  606 , which are also shown here relative to the control module  630  for illustrative purposes. A suitable ambient light sensor is an ISL29001 light-to-digital sensor. The ambient light sensors  604  can be positioned in various location s on the housing of the electronic device and behind the display. The ambient light sensors  604  detect the level of ambient light near the display so that the electronic device can adjust the contrast, brightness, or backlighting of the display accordingly. 
     In  FIG. 13B , a schematic diagram of components  632  comprising portion of the control module  630  of  FIG. 13A  is illustrated. The components  632  in this portion include a QT510 Interacted Circuit  634  available from Quantum Research Group, Ltd. The QT510 IC  634  is connected at three approximately equidistant points  636 A, B, and on the pad element  620 , which is shown here schematically. Operation and arrangement of QT510 IC  634  and the pad element  620  is similar to that used for the QWheel™ available from Quantum Research Group, Ltd. However, in at least one exception, the QWheel™ has 18 pads formed into a concentric wheel with resistors of about 15K positioned between each pad and a total resistance of about 270 k. In contrast, the present embodiment of the pad element  620  has about 100 pads formed as a frame for the display of the device. The 100 pads are interconnected by about 100 resistors. Each resistor has a resistance of about 2.67 k so that the pad element  620  has a total resistance of about 270 k. 
     In an additional embodiment, the operation and arrangement of IC  634  and the pad element  620  of the present disclosure can use techniques disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0032680, entitled “A Method of Increasing Spatial Resolution of Touch Sensitive Devices,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, to expand the detected sensitivity of the pad element  620 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13A , the pads  626  are formed on PCB  622 . In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 13C , pads  628  can be formed as layers on a surface of a display  610  for the electronic device  600 . For example, techniques associated with Indium oxide doped with tin oxide (referred to herein as ITO techniques) can be used to deposit the pads  626  as transparent conductive thin layers on the surface of the display  620 . In this way, the touch sensitive bezel of the device  600  is essentially the perimeter of the display  610 , and the housing  602  is practically consumed by the display  610 . In addition, a touch sensitive wheel  650  having a plurality of pads  652  can also be deposited as on the display  610  using ITO techniques to provide additional user controls of the electronic device  600 . 
     In  FIG. 14 , an embodiment of an electronic device  700  having a touch sensitive bezel  720  capable of force and location detection is illustrated. Portion of the touch sensitive bezel  720  is illustrated in a detailed cutaway. In this embodiment, the bezel  720  includes a force detector combined with a location detector so that the bezel  720  can provide both location and force detection. The bezel  720  includes a cosmetic layer  730 , a substrate  740 , a dielectric spring layer  750 , and a base or support layer  760 . The substrate  740  has a plurality of conductive drive paths  742  on a “top” side and has a plurality of conductive sense paths  744  on the “bottom” side. The dielectric spring layer  750  has alternating, or spatially offset, raised structures  752  on both sides of the layer  750 . The base layer  760  has a plurality of conductive drive paths  762 . The drive paths  742  on the substrate  742  are laid down in a first direction to form rows as are the drive paths  762  on the base layer  760 . The sense paths  744  on the bottom side of the substrate  740  are laid down in a second direction to form columns. 
     To sense location, the device  700  uses many of the same techniques discussed above with reference to the capacitive sensor array of  FIG. 5 . During operation, for example, data acquisition circuitry (not shown) of the device  700  drives the plurality of drive paths  742  (one at a time) during a first time period. During this same time period, the sense paths  744  on the other side of the substrate  740  are interrogated to obtain data representing the location of one or more touches to the cosmetic layer  730 . For example, a user&#39;s finger placed in proximity to various rows and columns of the drive paths  742  and sense paths  744  on the top and bottom of the substrate  740  alters their capacitive relationship when processed by the data acquisition circuitry. 
     To sense force, circuitry of the device  700  drives the drive paths  762  on the base layer  760  (one at a time) during a second time period. During this same time, the sense paths  744  on the bottom side of the substrate  740  are again interrogated to obtain data representing the strength or intensity of force applied to cosmetic layer  730  by a user&#39;s touch. For example, when a force is applied by a user&#39;s finger on the cosmetic layer  730 , the spring layer  750  deforms moving the sense paths  744  on the bottom of the substrate  740  closer to the drive paths  762  on the top of the base layer  760 . A resulting change in mutual capacitance is then used to generate data indicative of the strength or intensity of an applied force. Additional details related to the layers and other aspects of this embodiment are disclosed in incorporated U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/278,080. 
     Using force and location detection, the bezel  720  of the present embodiment can provide additional user interface and controls. For example, a user&#39;s finger in  FIG. 7  is shown touching an area  721  of the bezel  720  designated for a “page down” operation (as indicated by the adjacent visual guide  780 ). The electronic device  700  uses the sensed location on the bezel  720  to determine which control is invoked by the user&#39;s touch. In addition, the force applied by the user&#39;s touch is obtained using the force detection features of the bezel  700 . The sensed force can be used to determine the desired speed or extent with which to perform the “page down” operations, for example. 
     Given all of the previous discussion of the present disclosure, we now turn to an embodiment of an electronic device that incorporates one or more of the aspects and features discussed above. In  FIGS. 15 through 19 , an embodiment of a multimedia device  800  having a housing  802 , a display  810 , a touch sensitive bezel  820 , and a user interface  900  according to certain teachings of the present disclosure is illustrated in a number of stages of operation and use. The multimedia device  800  in  FIGS. 15 through 19  is meant to be exemplary. It will be appreciated that the user interface  900 , available features and functions, user controls, screens, designations of the bezel  820 , and various other details provided in the discussion that follows may be altered depending on the implementation and desired results. 
     In  FIG. 15 , a menu screen of the user interface  900  is displayed and lists various functions or features  902  (e.g., Music, Photos, Videos, etc.) that are available on the device  800 . An area  822  of the bezel  820  adjacent a battery symbol  906  can be touched at any point during operation to access power settings for the device  800  without the user having to access the settings function  902  on the menu screen  900 . A plurality of areas  824  on one side of the bezel  820  are designated for selection of one of the available functions or features  902 , and visual guides  904  are provided on the perimeter of the bezel  820  adjacent the designated areas  824 . A user touching one of these areas  824  of the bezel  820  accesses a subsequent screen of the user interface  900  for the selected function or feature  902 . It should be noted that the side of the housing  802  may include a touch sensitive pad (similar to pads  560  of  FIG. 11 ) on a side of the housing  802 , and areas (e.g., areas  562  of  FIG. 11 ) of this side pad can be similarly designated. 
     In  FIG. 16 , the user has accessed the photo feature from the previous menu so that the display  810  shows a photo screen  910  listing various available photos  912 . An area  826  on the left side of the bezel  820  is designated for scrolling up and down the list of photos  912 , and a visual scroll guide  916  is provided at the perimeter of the display  810  adjacent the area  826 . A plurality of areas  828  on the right side of the bezel  820  are designated for selecting to open a selected photo  912 , and visual guides  914  for each photo  912  are provided adjacent these areas  828 . An area  830  in the upper corner adjacent a close window icon  914  on the screen  910  is designated on the bezel  820  for closing the current screen  910  to return to the menu screen of  FIG. 15 . 
     In  FIG. 17A , the display  810  shows a screen  920  having a selected photo (e.g., sunrise). A toggle area  831  of the bezel  830  in the lower right corner is designated to access and display additional user controls that are discussed below with reference to  FIG. 17C . A visual guide  921  is provided on the display  810  adjacent this toggle area  831 . A first area  832  on the bezel  820  is designated for moving to a previous photo of those available, and a second area  834  is designated for moving to a subsequent photo. Corresponding visual guides  922  are displayed adjacent these areas  832  and  834  on the bezel  820 . Additional areas  836  and  838  on adjacent sides of the bezel  820  may be designated for any of a number of operations, such as zoom D contrast, brightness, page down, scroll, etc. In the present embodiment, visual guides are not shown adjacent these areas  836  and  838  so that the majority of the display  810  is unobstructed with elements of the user interface, and the screen  920  can primarily display the content (i.e., the sunrise photo). The user controls for which these areas  836  and  838  are designated may be already known or readily apparent to the user. 
     As shown in  FIG. 17A , the device  800  is rectangular and is shown in a vertical (i.e., “portrait”) orientation. The user may rotate the device  800  so that it has a horizontal (i.e., “landscape”) orientation, such as shown in  FIG. 17B . As discussed previously, the device  800  can have an orientation sensor (not shown), such as an accelerometer or an inclinometer, and can determine the orientation of the device  800 . In  FIG. 17B , the device  800  has determined the horizontal or landscape orientation. Based on this determination, the device  800  has adjusted the orientation of the screen  920  showing the photo on the display  810  in a landscape orientation and has readjusted the location of all the areas on the bezel  820  designated for the various user controls. 
     If the user selects the toggle area  831  in the lower right corner, the screen  920  shows additional user controls. In  FIG. 17C , for example, the toggle area  831  has been previously selected so that a new visual guide  925  is provided adjacent the area. In addition, a plurality of areas  840  on the bezel  820  are designated for a number of user controls, which have visual guides  928  shown on the display  810  adjacent the bezel  820 . In this example, the user controls available for viewing photos include contrast, brightness, zoom, and move. A user can select one of these areas  840  to access that corresponding control. Then, while the corresponding control is activated (either by highlighting the corresponding visual guide  928  or while the user continues touching the corresponding area  840 ), the user can adjust values or settings for the selected control using one or more areas  842  and  844  on other portions of the bezel  820 . These areas  842  and  844  have adjacent visual guides  926  showing that they are used to adjust values. By reselecting the toggle area  831  in the lower right hand corner, the user can remove the visual guides  926  and  928  for the user controls from the screen  920 . 
     In  FIG. 18 , an example screen  930  listing songs is shown on the display  810  of the device  800 . A plurality of areas  864  on the right side of the bezel  820  adjacent visual guides  934  for the listed songs can be used to select, highlight, or open the corresponding song. An area  864  on the left side of the bezel  820  adjacent a scroll guide  934  can be used to scroll through the list of songs on the screen  930 . If the user selects or highlights one of the listed songs, the user can select areas  850  to play/pause the song or areas  852 ,  854  to track forward or back from the selected song. These areas  850 ,  852 ,  854  have corresponding visual guides  935 . The user can also select to add the selected song to a play list or can elect to view various play lists by selecting from additional areas  860  and  862  having visual guides  932 . Depending on the amount of area of the display  810  available, one or more user controls  938  (e.g., volume level) can be displayed on the screen  930 , and one or more unused areas  868  of the bezel  820  can be designated for the one or more user controls  938 . 
     In  FIG. 19 , an example “now playing” screen  940  is shown on the display  810  of the device  800 . The screen  940  shows information about the song that is currently being played on the device  800 . As before, the area  850  on the bezel  820  is designated for play/pause user controls, and areas  852  and  854  are designated for previous track and next track, respectively. A plurality of areas  870  and  872  are provided on the sides of the bezel  820  adjacent various visual guides  942  corresponding to various user controls (e.g., time bar for song, equalizer selection, and volume level). In one possibility, the user can select to change the settings or values of any one of these user controls by tapping or holding on the areas  870  or  872  on either side of the adjacent visual guide  942  for a control to advance or reduce the setting or value. In another possibility, the user can select or highlight one of the user controls by tapping or holding on the areas  870  or  872  on either side of the adjacent visual guide  942  for a control, and the user can then advance or reduce the setting or value by sliding over an additional area  874  of the bezel  820  next to the visual guide  944  for adjustability. 
     As shown by the example multimedia device  800  of  FIGS. 15 through 19 , the touch sensitive bezel  820  and the user interface  900  according to certain teachings of the present disclosure can obtain and process various forms of touch data. For example, the touch sensitive bezel  820  can be used to sense touch gestures, such as touch and drag operations, made by the user. Using the touch gestures, a user can perform a number of user controls, such as move portions of an image that are being displayed (e.g., page up or page down), move a curser to drop and drag visual elements displayed (e.g., move a holder or file in a directory window), scroll up and down through a screen, skip through images in an album or series of images, adjust the setting or value of a user control, or perform similar operations. In addition, because the touch sensitive bezel  820  can also be configured to detect force, the pressure that a user applies to a designated area of the bezel  820  can be used to determine the amount, extent, or level of a setting, adjustment, or value of a user control. 
     Furthermore, the touch sensitive bezel  820  according to the present disclosure can be used to obtain touch data corresponding to multiple user controls simultaneously. For example, the user controls of the bezel  820  can be configured so that one side of the bezel  820  controls brightness with a touch and drag motion by the user, while the other side of the bezel  820  controls contrast with a touch and drag motion by the user. Thus, using both of these sides of the bezel  820 , the user can simultaneously adjust both the contrast and the brightness of the display  810  using touch and drag motions on the sides of the bezel  820 . These and other possibilities and combinations will be apparent to one skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure. 
     The foregoing description of preferred and other embodiments shows several different configurations of electronic devices. Certain features, details, and configurations were disclosed in conjunction with each embodiment. However, one skilled in the art will understand (1) that such features, details, and configurations can be used with the various different embodiments, even if such features, details, and configurations were not specifically mentioned in conjunction with a particular embodiment, and (2) that this disclosure contemplates various combinations of the features, details, and configurations disclosed herein. More specifically, the foregoing description of preferred and other embodiments is not intended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of the inventive concepts conceived of by the Applicants. In exchange for disclosing the inventive concepts contained herein, the Applicants desire all patent rights afforded by the appended claims. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims include all modifications and alterations to the full extent that they come within the scope of the following claims or the equivalents thereof.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20180503
Publication Date: 20190820
Grant Date: 20190820
Priority Date: 20050304
Inventors: KING, NICHOLAS
KERR, DUNCAN ROBERT
HERBST, PAUL
HOTELLING, STEVEN P.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F1/169", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04883", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1643", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/0339", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1637", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04101", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04886", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04808", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2200/1612", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1637", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04808", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04886", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04883", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0412", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/169", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/03547", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/0339", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04808", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04883", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1643", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/03547", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/169", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2200/1612", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1626", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/0339", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0412", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04886", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1637", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04101", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0445", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0446", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1626", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0445", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04105", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0446", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1626", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 46124117