Remote control device

Abstract

A remote control device includes a housing and an upper element. The top surface of the upper element can be partitioned to include different frictionally engaging surfaces. At least one frictionally engaging surface can be used as an input surface that receives user inputs such as touch or force inputs. An input device, such as a force sensing switch, can be positioned in the housing and used in determining an amount of force applied to the input surface. The bottom surface of the upper element below the second surface can be affixed to the housing in a manner that permits the input surface to bend based on the applied force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A remote control device, comprising:
 a housing comprising a bottom surface coupled to adjoining side walls extending up from the bottom surface to form an interior cavity;   an upper element connected to the housing and configured to cover the interior cavity, wherein only a portion of a bottom surface of the upper element is connected to the housing to permit the upper element to bend based on an applied force; and   a force sensing switch disposed in the interior cavity, wherein the force sensing switch comprises:
 a dome switch disposed over a top surface of a deflectable beam; and 
 a strain gauge disposed over a surface of the deflectable beam. 
   
     
     
         2 . The remote control device as in  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the upper element comprises at least two different frictionally engaging surfaces, wherein at least one frictionally engaging surface comprises a textured surface and the force sensing switch is positioned under the textured surface. 
     
     
         3 . The remote control device as in  claim 1 , wherein only a bottom surface of the upper element under the second surface is affixed to the housing so that the first textured surface bends in response to an applied force. 
     
     
         4 . The remote control device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a processing device operatively connected to the dome switch. 
     
     
         5 . The remote control device as in  claim 4 , wherein the strain gauge is operatively connected to the processing device. 
     
     
         6 . The remote control device as in  claim 5 , further comprising at least one additional strain gauge disposed over a surface of the deflectable beam, wherein each additional strain gauge is operatively connected to the processing device. 
     
     
         7 . The remote control device as in  claim 1 , wherein the upper element comprises a glass upper element. 
     
     
         8 . The remote control device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a trim extending out from the sidewalls into the interior cavity, wherein only a bottom surface of the upper element under the second surface is affixed to the trim so that the first textured surface bends based on an applied force. 
     
     
         9 . The remote control device as in  claim 1 , wherein the upper element includes a second textured surface and an input device is disposed in the interior cavity below the second textured surface. 
     
     
         10 . The remote control device as in  claim 9 , wherein the input device comprises a trackpad. 
     
     
         11 . The remote control device as in  claim 9 , wherein the input device comprises a touchscreen display assembly and the second textured surface comprises a transparent upper element glass. 
     
     
         12 . The remote control device as in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more input buttons disposed in respective openings formed through the upper element. 
     
     
         13 . The remote control device as in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more microphones disposed in the interior cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The remote control device as in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more fasteners formed on an underside of the glass upper element below the first textured surface, the one or more fasteners being configured to mechanically engage with the housing. 
     
     
         15 . A method of producing a remote control device, comprising:
 providing a force sensing switch in an interior cavity of a housing; and   providing an upper element over the interior cavity, the upper element comprising at least one textured surface and a second surface, the force sensing switch being located below a first textured surface.   
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein providing an upper element over the interior cavity comprises affixing only a bottom surface of an upper element under the second surface to the housing so that the first textured surface bends based on an applied force. 
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing an input device in the interior cavity of the housing below a second textured surface; and   providing a processing device in the interior cavity operatively connected to the force sensing switch and the input device.   
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein providing a force sensing switch in an interior cavity of a housing comprises:
 providing a dome switch and a deflectable beam, wherein the dome switch is disposed over a top surface of the deflectable beam and the dome switch includes a deformable structure configured to deform when a force is applied to the first textured surface; and   providing a strain gauge over a surface of the deflectable beam.   
     
     
         19 . A method of producing a glass upper element for a remote control device, the method comprising:
 applying a first masking material to a top surface of the glass upper element to define a first surface not covered by the first masking material and a second surface covered by the first masking material;   producing a first textured surface by etching the first surface;   removing the first masking material; and   forming one or more openings through the glass upper element, at least one opening being configured to receive an input button.   
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 19 , wherein the at least one opening being configured to receive the input button is formed through the second surface of the glass upper element. 
     
     
         21 . The method as in  claim 19 , further comprising forming at least one fastener on an underside of the glass upper element below the first textured surface. 
     
     
         22 . The method as in  claim 19 , wherein producing a first textured surface by etching the first surface comprises producing a first textured surface by sandblasting the first surface. 
     
     
         23 . The method as in  claim 19 , wherein producing a first textured surface by etching the first surface comprises producing a first textured surface by chemically etching the first surface. 
     
     
         24 . The method as in  claim 19 , further comprising:
 prior to forming the one or more openings,
 applying a second masking material to an area of the second surface of the glass upper element to define a third surface not covered by the second masking material; 
 producing a second textured surface by etching the third surface; and 
 removing the second masking material. 
   
     
     
         25 . A method for producing a roughness in a surface of a glass upper element of a remote control device, the method comprising:
 producing the roughness in a portion of the surface of the glass upper element by abrasively etching the portion with a mixture of glass beads and a liquid; and   polishing the portion to modify the roughness in the portion of the surface of the glass upper element.   
     
     
         26 . A remote control device, comprising:
 a housing comprising a bottom surface coupled to adjoining side walls extending up from the bottom surface to form an interior cavity;   an upper element connected to the housing and configured to cover the interior cavity, wherein only a portion of a bottom surface of the upper element is connected to the housing to permit the upper element to bend based on an applied force; and   a force sensing switch disposed in the interior cavity, wherein the force sensing switch comprises:
 a deflectable beam; 
 a dome switch disposed over a top surface of the deflectable beam; and 
 an electrode disposed under a bottom surface of the deflectable beam, wherein the bottom surface of the deflectable beam and the electrode form a capacitive sensing element.