PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11917354-B2
Application Number: US-202217897149-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Force-activated earphone

Abstract:
An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An earphone, comprising:
 a speaker housing; 
 a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; 
 a stem extending from the speaker housing; 
 a flexible member disposed within the stem, the flexible member including a portion that is not in direct contact with the stem; 
 a touch sensor disposed within the stem; 
 a strain gauge that is configured to detect movement of the flexible member; and 
 a controller that uses one or more signals from the strain gauge or the touch sensor to determine inputs to the earphone. 
 
     
     
       2. The earphone of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the strain gauge is operable to provide a force signal in response to a force applied to a portion of the stem; and 
 the touch sensor is operable to provide a touch signal in response to a touch to the portion of the stem. 
 
     
     
       3. The earphone of  claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor is operable to provide touch signals corresponding to a touch moving along the stem. 
     
     
       4. The earphone of  claim 1 , wherein the strain gauge is operable to provide force signals corresponding to forces applied to opposing sides of the stem. 
     
     
       5. The earphone of  claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor is a capacitance touch sensor. 
     
     
       6. The earphone of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member comprises metal. 
     
     
       7. An earphone, comprising:
 a speaker housing; 
 a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; 
 a stem extending from the speaker housing; 
 a flexible member disposed within the stem; 
 a touch sensor disposed within the stem; 
 a strain gauge that is configured to detect movement of the flexible member; and 
 a controller that uses one or more signals from the strain gauge or the touch sensor to determine inputs to the earphone; wherein the strain gauge is coupled to a support that extends through a central axis of the stem. 
 
     
     
       8. An earphone, comprising:
 a speaker housing; 
 a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; 
 a stem extending from the speaker housing; 
 a mounting member disposed within the stem, the mounting member including a portion that is not in direct contact with the stem; 
 a touch sensor coupled to the mounting member; 
 a strain gauge that is configured to detect movement of the mounting member; and 
 a controller that determines one or more inputs using a touch or a force applied to the stem. 
 
     
     
       9. The earphone of  claim 8 , wherein the touch sensor comprises a circuit board. 
     
     
       10. The earphone of  claim 8 , wherein the strain gauge comprises a circuit board. 
     
     
       11. The earphone of  claim 8 , wherein the mounting member is operable to flex when the force is applied to the stem. 
     
     
       12. The earphone of  claim 8 , wherein the touch sensor comprises a flexible circuit. 
     
     
       13. The earphone of  claim 8 , wherein the strain gauge comprises a flexible circuit. 
     
     
       14. The earphone of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is operable to distinguish:
 a direction in which the force is applied; or 
 a duration that the force is applied. 
 
     
     
       15. An earphone, comprising:
 a speaker housing; 
 a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; 
 a stem extending from the speaker housing; 
 a touch sensor coupled to the stem; 
 a strain gauge coupled to the touch sensor; and 
 a controller that determines one or more inputs using the strain gauge or the touch sensor wherein the strain gauge is configured to detect a force applied to the stem through the touch sensor. 
 
     
     
       16. The earphone of  claim 15 , wherein the strain gauge is laminated to the touch sensor. 
     
     
       17. The earphone of  claim 15 , wherein the touch sensor is coupled to the stem via a mounting member. 
     
     
       18. The earphone of  claim 15 , wherein the strain gauge comprises piezoresistive material. 
     
     
       19. The earphone of  claim 15 , wherein the touch sensor and the strain gauge are components of a same module. 
     
     
       20. The earphone of  claim 19 , wherein the touch sensor and the strain gauge are positioned on opposing sides of the same module.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/176,310, filed Feb. 16, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/539,515, filed Aug. 13, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,070,904, which is a nonprovisional of and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/734,389, filed Sep. 21, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully disclosed herein. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to earphones. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to force-activated earphones. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Earphones are often used to provide audio output to users of electronic devices without overly disturbing people around them. For example, headsets for personal electronic devices (such as computing devices, digital media players, music players, transistor radios, and so on) typically include a pair of earphones. These earphones are usually configured with ear cups that go over the user&#39;s ears or with ear pieces or speakers that insert into the user&#39;s ear canal in order to form an acoustic chamber with the user&#39;s ear. The earphones typically produce acoustic waves that are transmitted into that acoustic chamber through one or more acoustic ports. In this way, the user can hear the audio output without overly disturbing people in the environment around the user. 
     Many such earphones include no input devices. Instead, such earphones may be controlled using input devices incorporated into external electronic devices to which the earphones may be wired or wirelessly coupled. 
     Other earphones may include one or more input devices. For example, earphones may be configured with one or more buttons, dials, switches, sliders, and so on. Such input devices may be used to activate (e.g., provide input to) the earphone. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to force-activated electronic devices, such as earphones. A non-binary amount of a force applied to a force input surface defined by a housing of the earphone is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between first and second force electrodes. A spring member disposed within the housing biases the first force electrode towards the housing and allows it to move towards the second force electrode when the force is applied. In some implementations, the earphone may detect touch on a touch input surface defined by the housing. In various examples of such an implementation, the earphone may determine the non-binary amount of the force upon detection of the touch. In a particular embodiment, the first and second force electrodes may be implemented using separate sections of a single flexible circuit. This flexible circuit may flex to allow the first force electrode to move toward the second force electrode when the force is applied. This flexible circuit may also flex to allow the first force electrode to move away from the second force electrode when the force is no longer applied. 
     In various embodiments, an electronic device includes a housing defining a force input surface, a first force electrode disposed within the housing, a second force electrode disposed within the housing, a spring member biasing the first force electrode toward the housing and allowing the first force electrode to move toward the second force electrode when an input force is applied to the force input surface, and a controller. The controller is operative to determine a non-binary amount of the input force using a change in a capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. 
     In some examples, the electronic device further includes a touch sensor disposed within the housing. In some implementations of such examples, the housing defines a touch input surface and the spring member includes a first arm that biases the touch sensor toward the touch input surface and a second arm that biases the first force electrode toward the force input surface. In various examples, the capacitance is a mutual capacitance. 
     In various examples, the spring member is at least one of metal or plastic. In numerous examples, the spring member has an M-shaped cross section. 
     In some examples, the housing defines an additional force input surface. In some implementations of such examples, a third force electrode is disposed within the housing adjacent to the additional force input surface and a fourth force electrode is disposed within the housing. In such implementations, the controller is operative to determine the non-binary amount of the input force using the capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode and an additional capacitance between the third force electrode and the fourth force electrode. 
     In numerous examples, the controller is operative to determine an additional force applied to an area of the housing other than the force input surface using an additional change in the capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The area may be orthogonal to the force input surface and the additional change in the capacitance may be opposite the change in the capacitance. 
     In some embodiments, an earphone includes a housing, a spring member disposed within the housing that moves when a force is applied to the housing, a touch sensor coupled to the spring member that is configured to detect a touch on the housing, a force sensor coupled to the spring member, and a controller. The controller uses the force sensor and the touch sensor to determine an amount of the force. 
     In some examples, the touch is on a first area of the housing and the force is applied to a second area of the housing. In various such examples, the first area is located opposite the second area. In some such examples, the first area and the second area are both positioned approximately 90 degrees from a user&#39;s head during use of the earphone. 
     In various examples, the touch sensor is inoperable to detect touches on the second area. In some examples, the controller is operative to interpret the force as multiple different kinds of input. 
     In numerous embodiments, an earphone includes a housing, a flexible circuit disposed in the housing, and a controller disposed in the housing. The housing includes a speaker and a stem extending from the speaker and defining a touch input surface and a force input surface opposite the touch input surface. The flexible circuit includes a first circuitry section, a second circuitry section, and a third circuitry section. The flexible circuit flexes to allow the second circuitry section to move toward the third circuitry section when a force is applied to the force input surface and away from the third circuitry section when the force is no longer applied. The controller is operative to determine a touch to the touch input surface using a first change in a first mutual capacitance detected using the first circuitry section and a non-binary amount of the force using a second change in a second mutual capacitance detected using the second circuitry section and the third circuitry section. 
     In some examples, the controller uses the second circuitry section and the third circuitry section to determine the non-binary amount of the force upon determining the touch. In numerous examples, the earphone further includes an antenna disposed within the housing. The flexible circuit may be mounted to the antenna. In some examples, the speaker defines an acoustic port and the touch input surface and the force input surface are substantially orthogonal to the acoustic port. 
     In various examples, the controller determines an amount of time that the force is applied. In some examples, the controller interprets the force as a first input if the non-binary amount of the force is below a force threshold and a second input if the non-binary amount of the force at least meets the force threshold. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements. 
         FIG.  1 A  depicts a block diagram illustrating example functional relationships between example components that may be implemented in an electronic device. 
         FIG.  1 B  depicts an example implementation of the electronic device of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  1 C  depicts a user using the example electronic device of  FIG.  1 B . 
         FIG.  1 D  depicts the electronic device of  FIG.  1 C  forming an acoustic chamber with an ear canal of the user. 
         FIG.  2 A  depicts an example cross-sectional view of the electronic device of  FIG.  1 A , taken along line A-A of  FIG.  1 B . 
         FIG.  2 B  depicts the electronic device of  FIG.  2 A  when a force is applied to the input surfaces. 
         FIG.  3 A  depicts a first side of an example flexible circuit that may be used to implement the electronic device depicted in  FIG.  2 A . 
         FIG.  3 B  depicts a second side of the example flexible circuit of  FIG.  3 A . 
         FIG.  4    depicts the assembly of the electronic device of  FIG.  2 A  with the housing removed. 
         FIG.  5    depicts an example stack up that may be used to implement the touch sensor depicted in  FIG.  2 A . 
         FIG.  6    depicts an example stack up that may be used to implement the force sensor depicted in  FIG.  2 A . 
         FIG.  7    depicts a first alternative example of the electronic device of  FIG.  2 A . 
         FIG.  8    depicts a second alternative example of the electronic device of  FIG.  2 A . 
         FIG.  9    depicts a third alternative example of the electronic device of  FIG.  2 A . 
         FIG.  10    depicts a fourth alternative example of the electronic device of  FIG.  2 A . 
         FIG.  11    depicts a flow chart illustrating an example method for operating a device that includes a force sensor. This method may be performed using the electronic device of  FIGS.  1 A- 2 B . 
         FIG.  12    depicts a flow chart illustrating an example method for assembling an electronic device. The method may assemble the electronic device of  FIG.  2 A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims. 
     The description that follows includes sample systems, methods, apparatuses, and products that embody various elements of the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that the described disclosure may be practiced in a variety of forms in addition to those described herein. 
     Earphones that include mechanical input devices (such as buttons, dials, switches, sliders, and so on) disposed on, or accessible through, a housing surface may be challenging to operate as a user may not be able to see the mechanical input devices while the earphones are worn. Some earphones may attempt to solve this by using input mechanisms that detect one or more taps from a user. However, though a user may be able to activate (e.g., provide input to) the earphone more easily by tapping than by locating a button to press, tapping the earphone may conduct sound. This may be unpleasant to the user. This may also disrupt audio output produced by the earphone. Further, in implementations where the earphone includes one or more microphones, the tapping may be picked up by a microphone. 
     The following disclosure relates to force-activated electronic devices, such as earphones. Embodiments may estimate or determine non-binary amounts of force applied to a force input surface on a housing by measuring a change in capacitance between first and second force electrodes. A spring member within the housing biases the first force electrode towards the housing while allowing it to move towards the second force electrode when the force is applied. In this way, the earphone can be activated by a force without requiring or using external mechanical input devices and/or without tapping. 
     In some implementations, an earphone may detect a touch on a touch input surface of the housing. In some embodiments, the earphone may determine a non-binary amount of input force upon detection of the touch. In this way, the earphone may improve power usage over implementations where force determination is performed more frequently. For example, the earphone may be a battery powered device and the improved power usage may improve battery life. In other implementations, the earphone may use signals from both a touch sensor and a force sensor to determine applied force by only using force detected when a touch is also detected. 
     In a particular embodiment, the first and second force electrodes may be implemented as separate sections of a single flexible circuit. This flexible circuit may flex to allow the first force electrode to move toward the second force electrode when the force is applied. This flexible circuit may also flex to allow the first force electrode to move away from the second force electrode when the force is no longer applied. 
     In certain embodiments, an earphone may detect touch on a first side of a stem and force on the other side of the stem. The sides where touch and force are detected may be opposite and substantially orthogonal with respect to each other (oriented 180 degrees) such that a user may simultaneously contact both sides when squeezing the stem between the user&#39;s fingers. The earphone may determine a force and use the force if a touch is detected, potentially ignoring the determined force if a touch is not detected. In this way, the earphone may use the touch and force detection of the two sides together to control operation of the earphone. 
     In some examples, the two sides may be oriented substantially perpendicular (90 degrees) from the user&#39;s head or other body part when in use to prevent or mitigate interference between the user&#39;s head and one or more sensors used to detect touch and/or force. For example, this orientation may prevent the two sides from touching the user&#39;s head or face during use of the earphone. The user&#39;s head or face touching the two sides could be falsely interpreted as input. As such, this orientation may reduce false inputs by preventing the user&#39;s head or face from touching the two sides during use. 
     However, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, the sides may be configured in other arrangements. For example, the two sides may be positioned 45 degrees away from each other and respectively 135 degrees away from the user when the user is wearing the earphone. 
     These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 9   . However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. 
       FIG.  1 A  depicts a block diagram illustrating example functional relationships between example components that may be used to implement an electronic device  101 . The electronic device  101  may include a controller  132  that is operative to interpret various touches to and/or forces exerted upon the electronic device  101  as input. For example, the electronic device  101  may be an earphone with one or more input surfaces defined on a housing. The controller  132  may use one or more touch sensors  130  and/or force sensors  131  to detect touches on one or more of the input surfaces, force applied to one or more of the input surfaces, and so on. For example, the electronic device  101  may include one or more mutual capacitance touch sensors, self-capacitance touch sensors, mutual capacitance force sensors, self-capacitance force sensors, strain gauges, optical sensors, pressure sensors, proximity sensors, switches, temperature sensors, dome switches, displacement sensors, and so on. 
     The electronic device  101  may also include an antenna  106 , one or more non-transitory storage media  180  (which may take the form of, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium; optical storage medium; magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory; random access memory; erasable programmable memory; flash memory; and so on), and/or one or more other components. The controller  132  may execute instructions stored in the non-transitory storage medium  180  to perform various functions, such as using the touch sensor  130  to detect touch, using the force sensor  131  to detect applied force, using the antenna  106  to communicate with an associated device, and so on 
       FIG.  1 B  depicts an example implementation of the electronic device  101 . As illustrated, in some implementations, the electronic device  101  may be an earphone. In this example, the electronic device  101  is a wireless earphone. However, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, the electronic device  101  may be any kind of electronic device, such as a mobile computing device, a stylus, and so on. Various configurations are possible and contemplated. 
     The electronic device  101  may include a housing including a speaker  102  and a stem  103 . The stem  103  may define the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b . A user may be able to touch, press, hold, squeeze, and/or otherwise interact with one or more of the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b . This may allow the user to activate and/or otherwise provide touch, force, and/or other input to the electronic device  101 . 
     The speaker  102  may define an acoustic chamber in cooperation with an ear of a user. In some implementations, the speaker  102  may also include a microphone acoustic port  105 . 
     As illustrated, the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  may be defined on opposite sides (i.e., located opposite each other) of the stem  103 . This positioning of the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  with respect to each other may allow force to be applied by squeezing the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b . As described above with respect to  FIG.  1 A , the electronic device  101  may include a number of different sensors for detecting touch on and/or force applied to one or more of the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b.    
     For example, the electronic device  101  may detect a non-binary amount of force applied to one or more input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b . The amount of the force detected may be non-binary because the electronic device  101  is operative to determine an amount of the force that is applied within a range of force amounts rather than only a binary detection of whether or not force is applied. The electronic device  101  may interpret the applied force as a first input if the amount of the force is less than a force threshold. However, the electronic device  101  may interpret the force as a second input if the amount of the force at least meets the force threshold. 
     In some examples, the electronic device  101  may determine other information about touch or applied force. For example, the electronic device  101  (or controller or other processing unit thereof) may also determine an amount of time that a force is applied. The electronic device  101  may interpret force that is applied for an extended period of time as a different input than a force that is applied and then immediately released. In such an example, the electronic device  101  may interpret an applied force as multiple different kinds of input depending on the amount of the force that is applied, the amount of time that the force is applied, the direction that force is applied, and/or other aspects of the applied force. 
     In some implementations, the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  may be indents in the stem  103 . This may provide a physical cue to guide a user to the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b . However, it is understood that this is an example. In other implementations, the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  may be otherwise configured without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. By way of illustration, in other implementations, the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  may be raised portions of the stem  103 , ridges on the stem  103 , and so on without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     For example, in some implementations, the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  may be configured as protrusions from the stem  103 . In other implementations, the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  may be physically contiguous with other sections of the stem  103  but may be indicated by a different color than the other sections of the stem  103 . In still other implementations, the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  may be visually indistinguishable from other sections of the stem  103 . Various configurations are possible and contemplated. 
     In some examples, the electronic device  101  may include both a force sensor and a touch sensor. For example, the force sensor may be positioned adjacent one of the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  and the touch sensor may be positioned adjacent the other of the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b . As such, the electronic device  101  may be operative to determine both touch and force to the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b.    
     In various examples, the electronic device  101  may use the force sensor to determine a non-binary amount of force applied only upon detection of a touch. This may prevent false readings, as objects other than a user could exert force on the housing. This may also reduce power consumption as compared to operating the force sensor more often or continuously. In examples where the electronic device  101  is powered by one or more batteries and/or is otherwise portable, this reduced power consumption may conserve the life of batteries and/or other components. 
     In other examples, the electronic device  101  may use the force sensor and a touch sensor to determine the amount of the force. For example, the electronic device  101  may use the force sensor regardless whether or not touch is detected, but may only use signals from the force sensor when a touch is detected. 
     In still other examples, force sensors may be positioned adjacent to both input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b . Force sensors may be operated at different power levels. The higher the power level at which a force sensor is operated, the higher a signal to noise ratio of force data from a force sensor may be. Conversely, the lower the power level at which a force sensor is operated, the lower the signal to noise ratio of the force data may be, resulting in less accurate force data due to higher noise. Higher signal to noise ratio is desirable whereas higher power is not. As force data from two force sensors may be evaluated in this example to determine non-binary amounts of applied force, the force sensors may operate in a manner that is less accurate but uses less power. This may be due to the ability to combine the force data for a higher signal to noise ratio despite the lower powered operation of the individual force sensors. The use of the multiple sets of force data may make up for the less accurate but lower powered operation of either force sensor individually. 
     In yet other examples, multiple force sensors may be used for other purposes than increasing signal to noise ratios by averaging their data. For example, data from multiple force sensors may enable determination of force vector information. In other words, multiple force sensors may enable determination of both magnitude and direction of force. This force vector information may be used to discriminate between intentional application of force to provide input and accidental application of force, such as a user adjusting a position of the electronic device  101 . Various configurations are possible and contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated, the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  may be substantially orthogonal to the microphone acoustic port  105 . This may prevent the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  from touching a user&#39;s head during use of the electronic device  101 . 
       FIG.  1 C  depicts a user  190  using the example electronic device  101  of  FIG.  1 B . As shown, the user may touch and exert force on the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  simultaneously by squeezing the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  between the user&#39;s finger and thumb. As also shown, the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  are positioned to prevent contact with the user&#39;s head during use of the electronic device  101 . 
       FIG.  1 D  depicts the electronic device  101  forming an acoustic chamber  191  with an ear canal  192  of the user  190 . The acoustic chamber  191  may be defined by the speaker  102  of the electronic device  101  at one side of the ear canal  192  of the user  190  and by the eardrum  193  of the user  190  at the other side of the ear canal  192  of the user  190 . The electronic device  101  may transmit sound waves into the acoustic chamber  191  through an output acoustic port  121 . In this way, the user  190  may be able to hear the sound waves without overly disturbing people in the environment around the user  190 . 
       FIG.  2 A  depicts an example cross-sectional view of the electronic device  101 , taken along line A-A of  FIG.  1 B . An assembly  170  disposed within the stem  103  may include a flexible circuit  108 , a spring member  109 , an attachment spring member  107 , an antenna  106 , and a controller  132 . 
     The flexible circuit  108  may form a touch sensor  130  adjacent the input surface  104   a  and a force sensor  131  adjacent the input surface  104   b . As such, the input surface  104   a  may be a touch input surface and the input surface  104   b  may be a force input surface. 
     In various implementations, force applied to the force input surface may be determined or estimated upon detection of a touch to the touch input surface. This may reduce power consumption over implementations where force detection is constantly or more frequently performed. 
     In other examples, the force sensor  131  and touch sensor  130  may be used to determine the amount of the force. For example, the force sensor  131  may be operated regardless whether or not touch is detected, but signals from the force sensor  131  may only be used when the touch sensor  130  detects a touch. This may ensure that a user intentionally applied the force. 
     The flexible circuit  108  may include multiple circuitry sections that are connected to each other. For example, as shown, the flexible circuit  108  may include a first circuitry section  111 , a second circuitry section  113 , and a third circuitry section  112 . The touch sensor  130  may be formed by the first circuitry section  111 . The force sensor  131  may be formed by the second circuitry section  113  and the third circuitry section  112 . 
     The flexible circuit  108  may be able to flex, bend, or otherwise deform to allow the second circuitry section  113  to move toward the third circuitry section  112  when a force is applied to the housing, such as the force input surface. This may reduce a gap  114  (which may be an air gap or otherwise be filled with a dielectric material such as silicone) between the second circuitry section  113  and the third circuitry section  112 . The flexible circuit  108  may also be able to flex, bend, or otherwise deform to allow the second circuitry section  113  to move away from the third circuitry section  112  when the force is no longer applied.  FIG.  2 B  depicts the electronic device  101  of  FIG.  2 A  when a force is applied to the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b.    
     With reference to  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , a spring member  109  may be disposed within the stem  103 . The spring member  109  may bias the second circuitry section  113  toward the force input surface of the stem  103 . In other words, the spring member  109  may maintain the second circuitry section  113  at an initial position (shown) in the absence of force, allow the second circuitry section  113  to move when force is applied that moves the stem  103 , and allows the second circuitry section  113  to return to the initial position when the force is no longer applied. The spring member  109  may also bias the first circuitry section  111  toward the touch input surface of the stem  103 . 
     The spring member  109  may be a torsion spring and/or any other kind of spring. The spring member  109  may be formed of metal, plastic, a combination thereof, and so on. The spring member  109  may include a first arm  110   a  and a second arm  110   b  such that the spring member  109  may have an M-shaped cross section. The first arm  110   a  may bias the first circuitry section  111  toward the touch input surface of the stem  103 . The second arm  110   b  may bias the second circuitry section  113  toward the force input surface of the stem  103 . In other implementations, the spring member  109  may be shaped otherwise, such as embodiments where the spring member  109  has a C-shaped cross section, a U-shaped cross section, and so on. 
     Various portions of the flexible circuit  108  may be coupled or connected to the spring member  109 . For example, adhesive may couple the flexible circuit  108  to the spring member  109 , the first circuitry section  111  to the first arm  110   a , the second circuitry section  113  to the second arm  110   b , and so on. 
     As shown, the first circuitry section  111  is positioned between the first arm  110   a  and an internal surface  171  of the stem  103 . As also shown, the second arm  110   b  is shown positioned between the second circuitry section  113  and the internal surface  171  of the stem  103 . However, these are examples. In various implementations, these positions may be reversed and/or otherwise changed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     This configuration of the flexible circuit  108  and the spring member  109  may allow the touch sensor  130  and/or the force sensor  131  to be disposed within the stem  103  without being laminated and/or otherwise affixed to the stem  103 . This may simplify manufacture of the electronic device  101 . 
     The flexible circuit  108  may be coupled to an attachment spring member  107  (the spring member  109  being a movement spring member since the spring member  109  facilitates movement rather than attaching the flexible circuit  108 ) or other attachment member, such as using adhesive. The attachment spring member  107  may clamp or otherwise attach around an antenna  106 . The antenna  106  may be an assembly including an antenna carrier with an antenna resonator made of conductive material (such as gold, silver, copper, alloys, or the like) disposed thereon. The antenna  106  may be held in place by the stem  103 . By being coupled to the antenna  106 , other elements (such as the attachment spring member  107 , the flexible circuit  108 , and the spring member  109 ) may be held in place as well. 
     Although the above illustrates and describes the attachment spring member  107  as attached around the antenna  106 , it is understood that this is an example. In other implementations, the attachment spring member  107  and/or other elements (such as the flexible circuit  108 , the spring member  109 , and so on) may be attached to other components without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in some implementations, the electronic device  101  may include a battery pack. In such an implementation, the attachment spring member  107  may be attached to the battery pack. 
     With respect to  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , a controller  132  or other processor or processing unit (or other control circuitry) may also be disposed in the stem  103 . The controller  132  may be electrically and/or otherwise communicably coupled to various portions of the flexible circuit  108 . The controller  132  may receive and/or evaluate touch data from the touch sensor  130 , receive and/or evaluate force data from the force sensor  131 , determine one or more touches using the touch data, determine a non-binary amount of applied force using the force data (and/or other information about the force, such as a duration that the force is applied), and so on. The controller  132  may be connected to a non-transitory storage medium that may store instructions executable by the controller  132 . 
     In various implementations, the controller  132  may only use the force sensor  131  to detect a force applied to the stem  103  or other portion of the housing (such as the input surface  104   b ) when the touch sensor detects a touch on the stem  103  or other portion of the housing (such as the input surface  104   a ). In some examples, the touch is on a first area of the housing and the force is applied to a second area of the housing. In various examples, the first area is located opposite the second area. In numerous examples, the first area and the second area are both positioned approximately 90 degrees from a user&#39;s head during use of the earphone. In various examples, the touch sensor  130  is inoperable to detect touches on the second area. In numerous examples, the controller  132  is operative to interpret the force as multiple different kinds of input. 
     Although the above illustrates and describes inputs as touches on and/or force applied to the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b , it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, the electronic device  101  may be operable to detect touches on and/or force applied to other portions of the housing without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     For example, the stem  103  may move when force is applied to areas orthogonal to the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b . This may cause the gap  114  to increase instead of decrease. Regardless, this may change the capacitance between the second circuitry section  113  and the third circuitry section  112 . The non-binary amount of this force may thus be determined using the force data represented by the change in the mutual capacitance. 
     In some implementations, this change may be opposite the change in the mutual capacitance resulting from force exerted on the input surface  104   b . As such, the location that the force is exerted may be determined based on the change in the mutual capacitance. Various configurations are possible and contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The flexible circuit  108  may be a flexible printed circuit board (e.g., a “flex”). In some implementations, the flexible circuit  108  may be formed of conductive material such as copper, silver, gold, or other metallic traces formed on a dielectric, such as polyimide or polyester. 
     The first circuitry section  111  that forms the touch sensor  130  may include one or more touch electrodes. For example, the first circuitry section  111  may include a touch drive electrode and a touch sense electrode. A touch on the touch input surface may be determined using a change in mutual capacitance of the touch drive electrode and the touch sense electrode. By way of another example, the first circuitry section  111  may include a single touch electrode and a touch to the touch input surface may be determined using a change in the self-capacitance of the single touch electrode. 
     The second circuitry section  113  that forms the force sensor  131  may include a first force electrode and the third circuitry section  112  may include a second force electrode. For example, in some implementations, the first force electrode may be a force drive electrode and the second force electrode may be a force sense electrode. In other implementations, these may be reversed. Changes in mutual capacitance between the second circuitry section  113  and the third circuitry section  112  (such as between first and second force electrodes respectively included in the second circuitry section  113  and the third circuitry section  112 ) may be used to determine a non-binary amount of the force. 
     As such, in some implementations, both the touch sensor  130  and the force sensor  131  may be capacitance sensors. Both may be mutual capacitance sensors. However, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, one or more of the touch sensor  130  and the force sensor  131  may be a self-capacitance sensor and/or another kind of sensor without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     For example,  FIG.  3 A  depicts a first side of an example flexible circuit  108  that may be used to implement the electronic device  101  depicted in  FIG.  2 A .  FIG.  3 B  depicts a second side of the example flexible circuit  108  shown in  FIG.  3 A .  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  illustrate how a single sheet or other structure of dielectric material (such as polyimide, polyester, and so on) may be configured to form the first circuitry section  111 , the second circuitry section  113 , and the third circuitry section  112 ; components such as the controller  132 , the touch drive electrode  117 , the touch sense electrode  118 , the first force electrode  120 , and the second force electrode  119  may be coupled thereto; and conductive material such as metal traces may be added thereto to connect such components. This single sheet or other structure may then be bent, folded, and/or otherwise deformed to configure the flexible circuit  108  as shown in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 B . 
     For example, the flexible circuit  108  may be folded along line C-C so that the first circuitry section  111  that includes the touch drive electrode  117  and the touch sense electrode  118  is positioned approximately perpendicular to a central portion of the flexible circuit  108 . Similarly, the flexible circuit  108  may be folded along lines D-D and F-F so that the second circuitry section  113  that includes the first force electrode  120  and the third circuitry section  112  that includes the second force electrode  119  are positioned approximately perpendicular to the central portion of the flexible circuit  108 . The flexible circuit  108  may then be folded along line E-E so that the second circuitry section  113  that includes the first force electrode  120  and the third circuitry section  112  that includes the second force electrode  119  are positioned approximately parallel to each other. Finally, the flexible circuit  108  may be folded along line B-B to position the controller  132  over the central portion of the flexible circuit  108 . This may result in a configuration similar to that shown in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 B  and  FIG.  4   . 
       FIG.  4    depicts the assembly  170  of the electronic device  101  of  FIG.  2 A , including the antenna  106 , with the housing removed.  FIGS.  2 A- 2 B  illustrate the portions of the spring member  109 , the first arm  110   a , the first circuitry section  111 , the second arm  110   b , and the second circuitry section  113  that contact the stem  103  as substantially flat. However, it is understood that this is an example and is depicted in this fashion for the purposes of simplicity and clarity. In various implementations, various features (such as one or more protrusions, domes, and/or other features) may be configured on or between one or more of these components without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Various configurations are possible and contemplated. 
       FIG.  5    depicts an example stack up that may be used to implement the touch sensor  130  depicted in  FIG.  2 A . The orientation of the stack up may correspond to the position of the stem  103 , the first circuitry section  111 , and the first arm  110   a  illustrated in  FIG.  2 A . The stack up may include the stem  103 , the first circuitry section  111 , adhesive  115 , and the first arm  110   a . The first circuitry section  111  may include one or more touch drive electrodes  117  and touch sense electrodes  118  positioned on or within a dielectric  116  (such as polyimide, polyester, and so on). 
     A touch of a user on the stem  103  may alter a capacitance between the touch drive electrode  117  and the touch sense electrode  118 . As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , a controller  132  may be electrically connected to the touch drive electrode  117  and the touch sense electrode  118  and may monitor the capacitance between the touch drive electrode  117  and the touch sense electrode  118  to determine when a touch occurs using changes in the capacitance. 
     The touch drive electrode  117  and the touch sense electrode  118  are illustrated as having a particular configuration and orientation with respect to each other. The configuration and orientation of the touch drive electrode  117  and the touch sense electrode  118  with respect to each other may affect the capacitance between the touch drive electrode  117  and the touch sense electrode  118  and how that capacitance changes when a user touches the stem  103 . The touch drive electrode  117  and the touch sense electrode  118  may be arranged in a variety of different configurations and orientations to obtain specific properties with respect to the capacitance between the touch drive electrode  117  and the touch sense electrode  118  and how that capacitance changes when a user touches the stem  103 . 
       FIG.  6    depicts an example stack up that may be used to implement the force sensor  131  depicted in  FIG.  2 A . The orientation of the stack up may correspond to the position of the stem  103 , the second arm  110   b , the second circuitry section  113 , the third circuitry section  112 , the attachment spring member  107 , and the antenna  106  in  FIG.  2 A . The stack up may include the antenna  106 , the attachment spring member  107 , adhesive  115 , the third circuitry section  112 , the gap  114 , the second circuitry section  113 , adhesive  115 , the second arm  110   b , and the stem  103 . The second circuitry section  113  may include one or more first force electrodes  120  positioned on or within a dielectric  116  (such as polyimide, polyester, and so on). The third circuitry section  112  may include one or more second force electrodes  119  positioned on or within a dielectric  116  (such as polyimide, polyester, and so on). In some implementations, the first force electrode  120  may be a force drive electrode and the second force electrode  119  may be a force sense electrode. In other implementations, the first force electrode  120  may be a force sense electrode and the second force electrode  119  may be a force drive electrode. 
     Force exerted by a user on the stem  103  may alter the gap  114  between the first force electrode  120  and the second force electrode  119 . Altering the gap  114  between the first force electrode  120  and the second force electrode  119  may alter a capacitance between the first force electrode  120  and the second force electrode  119 . As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , a controller  132  may be electrically connected to the first force electrode  120  and the second force electrode  119  and may monitor the capacitance between the first force electrode  120  and the second force electrode  119  to determine or estimate a non-binary amount of the force that is applied using the changes in the capacitance. 
     The first force electrode  120  and the second force electrode  119  are illustrated as having a particular configuration and orientation with respect to each other. The configuration and orientation of the first force electrode  120  and the second force electrode  119  with respect to each other may affect the capacitance between first force electrode  120  and the second force electrode  119  and how that capacitance changes when a user applies force to the stem  103 . The first force electrode  120  and the second force electrode  119  may be arranged in a variety of different configurations and orientations to obtain specific properties with respect to the capacitance between the first force electrode  120  and the second force electrode  119  and how that capacitance changes when a user applies force to the stem  103 . 
       FIGS.  2 A- 6    illustrate and describe touch sensors  130  and force sensors  131  having particular configurations and particular manners of operation. However, it is understood that these are examples and that other implementations are possible and contemplated. For example, the touch sensor  130  may be replaced with one or more proximity sensors without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     By way of another example, in some implementations, one or more strain gauges may be laminated and/or otherwise coupled or attached to internal areas of the housing adjacent one or more of the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b . An applied force may cause strain in or on the housing. The strain gauges may detect the strain. Such strain data may be evaluated to determine a non-binary amount of the force exerted. 
     By way of yet another example, in some implementations, one or more touch or force sensors (and/or one or more touch sensing electrodes of such a touch or force sensor) may be laminated and/or otherwise coupled or attached to internal areas of the housing (and/or embedded within the housing) adjacent one or more of the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b . The housing may deform from an initial position when a force is applied and return to the initial position when the force is removed. As such, the housing may function as the spring member  109  in some embodiments. The touch or force sensors may detect the deformation and output signals that may be used to determine a touch and/or an amount of the applied force. 
     In some examples, one or more switches, such as one or more dome switches, may be positioned adjacent to the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b . Applied force may deform the housing, which may collapse the domes and close the switch. Output from the switches may be used to determine a non-binary amount of the applied force. 
     In various examples, one or more optical sensors may be disposed in the housing. The optical sensors may detect movement of the housing caused by the application of force. In such an example, output from the optical sensors may be evaluated to determine a non-binary amount of a force that is applied. 
     In numerous examples, one or more temperature sensors may be used to detect temperature changes of the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b . When the user  190  exerts different amounts of force on the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b , the body of the user  190  may change the temperature of the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b . For example, body heat of the user  190  may thermally conduct to the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  when the user  190  exerts force on the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b , raising the temperature of the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b . This thermally conducted heat may increase the temperature of the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  higher the more force the user  190  exerts. As such, a non-binary amount of the force may be determined based on the temperature changes detected by the temperature sensors. 
     In some examples, one or more pressure sensors may be disposed within the housing. The pressure sensor may measure the pressure of an internal cavity defined within the housing. Force applied to one or more of the input surfaces  104   a ,  104   b  may change the pressure of the internal cavity. The electronic device  101  may determine a non-binary amount of the force based on pressure changes detected by the pressure sensor. 
     In various examples, force may be determined using self-capacitance of a force electrode. By way of illustration,  FIG.  7    depicts a first alternative example of the electronic device  101  of  FIG.  2 A . The electronic device  701  may include a stem  703  of a housing that defines a touch input surface  704   a  and a force input surface  704   b . The electronic device  701  may also include a flexible circuit  708  with a first circuitry section  711  that forms a touch sensor  730  and a second circuitry section  712  that forms a force sensor  731 . The electronic device  701  may additionally include a spring member  709  with a first arm  710   a  that biases the first circuitry section  711  toward the touch input surface  704   a  and a second arm  710   b.    
     The second circuitry section  712  may include a force electrode. The force sensor  731  may monitor the self-capacitance of that force electrode. The second arm  710   b  may function as a ground that affects the self-capacitance depending on the size of the gap  714  between the second circuitry section  712  and the second arm  710   b . A non-binary amount of force applied to the force input surface  704   b  may be determined using changes in the self-capacitance of the force electrode. 
     Additionally, the electronic device  701  may include an antenna assembly  706 , an attachment spring  707  that is coupled to the antenna assembly  706  and the flexible circuit  708 . Moreover, the electronic device  701  may include a controller  732  that is electrically and/or otherwise communicably coupled to the flexible circuit  708 . 
     In still other implementations, one or more of the components of the electronic device  701  may be changed. For example, in some implementations, the touch sensor  730  may be replaced with a proximity sensor. In such implementations, the force sensor  731  may be operated upon detection of proximity using the proximity sensor. 
     In other examples, the touch sensor  730  may be replaced with another force sensor. The force sensor may be similar to the force sensor  731 , the force sensor  131  of  FIGS.  2 A- 2 B  (such as using third and fourth force electrodes that move with respect to each other when force is applied or removed where a non-binary amount of force may be determined based on changes in mutual capacitance between the third and fourth force electrodes), and/or otherwise configured. In such cases where multiple force sensors are used, touch or proximity may not be used to trigger operation of a force sensor. In such examples, the two force sensors may be operated more frequently. In some implementations, the two force sensors may be operated at a lower power that yields less accurate measurements. The less accuracy of the measurement may be compensated for by using the additional force data supplied from having multiple force sensors. 
     In some implementations, the touch input surface  704   a  and the force input surface  704   b  may be reversed. One or more of the touch sensor  730  or the force sensor  731  may be more sensitive to interference from proximity to a user&#39;s neck or other body part. As such, the respective sensor may be located so as to be as far from that body part as is possible to minimize interference. Various configurations are possible and contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG.  8    depicts a second alternative example of the electronic device  101  of  FIG.  2 A . In this example, an electronic device  801  may electrically connect a flexible circuit  808  to a spring member  809  and an attachment spring member  807 . An insulator  840  may separate and/or electrically isolate the spring member  809  and the attachment spring member  807  from each other. Movement of a first arm  810   a  and a second arm  810   b  with respect to the attachment spring member  807  changes a capacitance between the spring member  809  and the attachment spring member  807 . In this example, the electronic device  801  may determine amounts of force applied using changes in capacitance between the spring member  809  and the attachment spring member  807 . As such, the spring member  809  and the attachment spring member  807  may function as electrodes of a force sensor. 
     In some implementations of this example, the attachment spring member  807  may be used as a drive force sensor and the spring member  809  may be used as a sense force electrode. However, in other examples, the roles of these electrodes may be reversed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG.  9    depicts a third alternative example of the electronic device  101  of  FIG.  2 A . In this example electronic device  901 , a controller  932  may be electrically connected to an attachment spring member  907  via a flexible circuit  908 . The controller  932  may be operative to monitor a self-capacitance of the attachment spring member  907 . A spring member  909  may also be coupled to the controller  932 , such as via a laser weld  941  so as to be operable as a ground for the attachment spring member  907 . Movement of a first arm  910   a  and a second arm  910   b  with respect to the attachment spring member  907  changes the self-capacitance of the attachment spring member  907 . In this example, the electronic device  901  may determine amounts of force applied using changes in the self-capacitance of the attachment spring member  907 . 
     Although this example uses the spring member  909  as a ground for the self-capacitance of the attachment spring member  907 , it is understood that this is an example. In other implementations, the spring member  909  may be electrically connected to the controller  932  such that the controller  932  is operable to monitor a mutual capacitance between the spring member  909  and the attachment spring member  907 . 
       FIG.  10    depicts a fourth alternative example of the electronic device  101  of  FIG.  2 A . In this example electronic device  1001 , a spring member  1009  may allow a flexible circuit  1008  to move with respect to an attachment spring member  1007  when force is applied. The flexible circuit  1008  may be electrically coupled to the attachment spring member  1007 , which may be electrically isolated from the spring member  1009  by an insulator  1040 . Movement of a first arm  1010   a  and a second arm  1010   b  of the spring member  1009  may change a capacitance between the attachment spring member  1007  and circuitry included in the flexible circuit  1008 . The capacitance may be used to determine an amount of applied force. As such, the attachment spring member  1007  and/or one or more portions of the flexible circuit  1008  may form a force sensor and/or a touch sensor. 
     In other implementations, the insulator  1040  may be omitted. In such other implementations, the spring member  1009  may be coupled to the attachment spring member  1007  via a controller and flexible circuit similar to how the controller  932  and flexible circuit  908  of  FIG.  9    connect the spring member  909  and the attachment spring member  907 . Various configurations are possible and contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     In various implementations, an earphone includes a housing, a flexible circuit disposed in the housing, and a controller disposed in the housing. The housing includes a speaker and a stem extending from the speaker and defining a touch input surface and a force input surface opposite the touch input surface. The flexible circuit includes a first circuitry section, a second circuitry section, and a third circuitry section. The flexible circuit flexes to allow the second circuitry section to move toward the third circuitry section when a force is applied to the force input surface and away from the third circuitry section when the force is no longer applied. The controller is operative to determine a touch to the touch input surface using a first change in a first mutual capacitance detected using the first circuitry section and a non-binary amount of the force using a second change in a second mutual capacitance detected using the second circuitry section and the third circuitry section. 
     In some examples, the controller uses the second circuitry section and the third circuitry section to determine the non-binary amount of the force upon determining the touch. In numerous examples, the earphone further includes an antenna disposed within the housing. The flexible circuit may be mounted to the antenna. In some examples, the speaker defines an acoustic port and the touch input surface and the force input surface are substantially orthogonal to the acoustic port. 
     In various examples, the controller determines an amount of time that the force is applied. In some examples, the controller interprets the force as a first input if the non-binary amount of the force is below a force threshold and a second input if the non-binary amount of the force at least meets the force threshold. 
     In some implementations, an electronic device includes a housing defining a force input surface, a first force electrode disposed within the housing, a second force electrode disposed within the housing, a spring member biasing the first force electrode toward the housing and allowing the first force electrode to move toward the second force electrode when an input force is applied to the force input surface, and a controller. The controller is operative to determine a non-binary amount of the force using a change in a capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The capacitance may be a mutual capacitance. 
     In some examples, the electronic device further includes a touch sensor disposed within the housing. In some embodiments of such examples, the housing defines a touch input surface and the spring member includes a first arm that biases the touch sensor toward the touch input surface and a second arm that biases the first force electrode toward the force input surface. 
     In various examples, the spring member is at least one of metal or plastic. In numerous examples, the spring member has an M-shaped cross section. 
     In some examples, the housing defines an additional force input surface. In some embodiments of such examples, the earphone further includes a third force electrode disposed within the housing adjacent to the additional force input surface and a fourth force electrode disposed within the housing. In such embodiments, the non-binary amount of the input force is determinable using the capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode and an additional capacitance between the third force electrode and the fourth force electrode. 
     In numerous examples, the controller is operative to determine an additional force applied to an area of the housing other than the force input surface using an additional change in the capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The area may be orthogonal to the force input surface and the additional change in the capacitance may be opposite the change in the mutual capacitance. 
       FIG.  11    depicts a flow chart illustrating an example method  1100  for operating a device that includes a force sensor. This method may be performed using the electronic device  101  of  FIGS.  1 A- 2 B . 
     At  1110 , a controller determines whether or not a touch is detected. The controller may determine whether or not a touch is detected using one or more touch sensors. If so, the flow proceeds to  1120 . Otherwise, the flow returns to  1110  where the controller again determines whether or not a touch is detected. 
     At  1120 , after the touch is detected, the controller detects force data using a force sensor. The flow then proceeds to  1130  where the controller determines or estimates a non-binary amount of the force from the force data. The flow then returns to  1110  where the controller again determines whether or not a touch is detected. 
     Although the example method  1100  is illustrated and described as including particular operations performed in a particular order, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, various orders of the same, similar, and/or different operations may be performed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     For example, in some implementations, an action may be performed using the determined non-binary amount of the force. In some examples, the controller may interpret the determined non-binary amount of the force as an input. The controller may perform one or more actions according to the input corresponding to the determined non-binary amount of the force. 
     In various implementations, an earphone includes a housing, a spring member disposed within the housing that moves when a force is applied to the housing, a touch sensor coupled to the spring member, a touch sensor coupled to the spring member that is configured to detect a touch on the housing, a force sensor coupled to the spring member, and a controller that uses the force sensor and the touch sensor to determine an amount of the force. 
     In some examples, the touch is on a first area of the housing and the force is applied to a second area of the housing. In various such examples, the first area is located opposite the second area. In some such examples, the first area and the second area are both positioned approximately 90 degrees from a user&#39;s head during use of the earphone. 
     In various examples, the touch sensor is inoperable to detect touches on the second area. In some examples, the controller is operative to interpret the force as multiple different kinds of input. 
       FIG.  12    depicts a flow chart illustrating an example method  1200  for assembling an electronic device. The method  1200  may assemble the electronic device of  FIG.  2 A . 
     At  1210 , an attachment spring member may be coupled to an antenna. At  1220 , a flexible circuit may be coupled to the attachment spring member. At  1230 , the flexible circuit may be coupled to a movement spring member. At  1240 , the movement spring member may be deformed. For example, the movement spring member may be deformed so that the assembly produced by  1210 - 1230  can fit into an opening in a housing. At  1250 , the assembly produced by  1210 - 1240  is inserted into a housing. At  1260 , the housing is sealed. 
     For example, sealing the housing may include coupling a cap to an opening in a housing into which the assembly produced by  1210 - 1240  is inserted. The opening may be in an end of a stem of a housing. The electronic device may be an earphone with a housing that includes the stem and a speaker. 
     Although the example method  1200  is illustrated and described as including particular operations performed in a particular order, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, various orders of the same, similar, and/or different operations may be performed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     For example, the method  1200  is illustrated and described as deforming the movement spring member and then inserting the assembly produced by  1210 - 1240  into a housing. However, in some implementations, insertion of the assembly into the housing may deform the movement spring member sufficiently to allow insertion. In such implementations, a separate operation to deform the movement spring member may be omitted. 
     As described above and illustrated in the accompanying figures, the present disclosure relates to force-activated electronic devices, such as earphones. A non-binary amount of a force applied to a force input surface defined by a housing is determinable using a change in capacitance between first and second force electrodes. A spring member disposed within the housing biases the first force electrode towards the housing and allows it to move towards the second force electrode when the force is applied. In some implementations, an earphone may detect touch on a touch input surface defined by the housing. In various examples of such an implementation, the earphone may determine the non-binary amount of the force upon detection of the touch. In other implementations, the earphone may use signals from both a touch sensor and a force sensor to determine applied force. In a particular embodiment, the first and second force electrodes may be implemented using separate sections of a single flexible circuit. This flexible circuit may flex to allow the first force electrode to move toward the second force electrode when the force is applied. This flexible circuit may also flex to allow the first force electrode to move away from the second force electrode when the force is no longer applied. 
     In the present disclosure, the methods disclosed may be implemented using one or more sets of instructions or software readable by a device. Further, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods disclosed are examples of sample approaches. In other embodiments, the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearranged while remaining within the disclosed subject matter. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not necessarily meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented. 
     The described disclosure may be provided as a computer program product, or software, that may include a non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program a computer system (or other electronic devices) to perform a process according to the present disclosure. A non-transitory machine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing information in a form (e.g., software, processing application) readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). The non-transitory machine-readable medium may take the form of, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium (e.g., floppy diskette, video cassette, and so on); optical storage medium (e.g., CD-ROM); magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM and EEPROM); flash memory; and so on. 
     The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20220827
Publication Date: 20240227
Grant Date: 20240227
Priority Date: 20180921
Inventors: HARJEE, Nahid
TWEHUES, BRIAN R.
SONGATIKAMAS, TEERA
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1016", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1066", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04104", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1091", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2201/10", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K17/962", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K17/975", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K2017/9613", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K2217/96076", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K2217/960775", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2201/10", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2460/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1016", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1066", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K17/962", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K17/975", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2460/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2201/10", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K2017/9613", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K2217/96076", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K2217/960775", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04104", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1016", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1066", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04104", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 69885647