Electronic device having force-based modifiable graphical elements and method of operating same

Abstract

There is described a method of operating an electronic device having a housing and a user interface mounted to the housing. The user interface includes force sensor(s) on an edge of the housing and a display screen. The method includes displaying, on the display screen, a graphical element having an edge portion; receiving an input from the force sensor(s) on the edge, the input being a measured value of a force applied on the force sensor(s); and in response to said input received, modifying the graphical element on the display screen in a manner to move, to a destination position, the edge portion depending on a direction of movement of the edge portion, the destination position of the edge portion depending on an amplitude of the measured value.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method of operating an electronic device having a housing and a user interface mounted to the housing, the user interface including at least one force sensor on a first edge of two opposite edges of the housing and a display screen, the computer-implemented method comprising:
 displaying, on the display screen, a graphical element having a first edge portion;   receiving a first input from the at least one force sensor on the first edge, the first input resulting from a force applied on the at least one force sensor on the first edge; and   in response to said first input received, modifying the graphical element displayed on the display screen including moving the first edge portion of the graphical element in the direction of the force applied and away from the first edge, to a destination position.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21  wherein the modifying further comprises deforming the first edge portion from a straight edge into a curved edge, a peak of the curved edge reaching the destination position. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22  wherein the straight edge represents a relaxed state, and the curved edge represents a stressed state, and the deformation resembles a shape of a real-world elastic material receiving the force. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21  further comprising modifying the graphical element back to an initial configuration upon determining that the applied force has been released from the at least one force sensor on the first edge. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21  wherein the user interface further has at least a second force sensor on a second edge of the two opposite edges of the housing, the second force sensor being disposed at a position along the second edge opposite a position of the first force sensor along the first edge; further comprising receiving a second input from the second force sensor on the second edge resulting from a corresponding second force, and moving a second edge portion of the graphical element from an initial position adjacent a second edge of the display screen, in the direction of the second force and away from the second edge, to a second destination position. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 25  wherein the first edge portion and the second edge portion are moved simultaneously. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 26  further comprising activating a function of the electronic device after both the first edge portion and the second edge portion have reached their corresponding destination positions. 
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21  wherein said receiving a first input includes measuring a first measured value of a force applied on the at least one force sensor on the first edge, and the destination position depends on an amplitude of the first measured value. 
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 28  wherein the destination position of the first edge portion reaches a maximal recessed destination position when the amplitude of the first measured value exceeds a given amplitude threshold. 
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29  further comprising activating a target function of the electronic device when the amplitude of the first measured value exceeds the given amplitude threshold. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21  wherein the user interface includes a plurality of force sensors having associated locations along the first edge, said receiving including receiving a plurality of first inputs from the plurality of force sensors on the first edge, the plurality of first inputs resulting from one or more forces applied on at least one of the plurality of force sensors on the first edge. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 31  wherein the plurality of first inputs are a plurality of first measured values of the one or more forces applied on a corresponding one of the plurality of force sensors on the first edge. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 32  wherein the first edge portion has a width extending along the first edge and adjacent a location associated with a maximal one of amplitudes of the plurality of first measured values. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 33  further comprising determining a location offset between the location associated with the maximal one of the amplitudes of the plurality of first measured values and a location of a graphical button displayed on the display screen. 
     
     
         35 . An electronic device comprising:
 a housing having a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge;   a user interface mounted to the housing, the user interface including at least one force sensor on the first edge of the housing and a display screen;   a processor housed within the housing and in communication with the user interface, the processor being configured to execute steps of:
 displaying, on the display screen, a graphical element having a first edge portion; 
 receiving a first input from the at least one force sensor on the first edge, the first input resulting from a force applied on the at least one force sensor on the first edge; and 
 in response to said first input received, modifying the graphical element displayed on the display screen including moving the first edge portion of the graphical element in the direction of the force applied and away from the first edge, to a destination position. 
   
     
     
         36 . The electronic device of  claim 35  wherein the modifying further comprises deforming the first edge portion from a straight edge into a curved edge, a peak of the curved edge reaching the destination position. 
     
     
         37 . The electronic device of  claim 36  wherein the straight edge represents a relaxed state, and the curved edge represents a stressed state, and the deformation resembles a shape of a real-world elastic material receiving the force. 
     
     
         38 . The electronic device of  claim 35  further comprising modifying the graphical element back to an initial configuration upon determining that the applied force has been released from the at least one force sensor on the first edge. 
     
     
         39 . The electronic device of  claim 35  wherein the user interface further has at least a second force sensor on a second edge of the two opposite edges of the housing, the second force sensor being disposed at a position along the second edge opposite a position of the first force sensor along the first edge; the processor being further configured to execute steps of receiving a second input from the second force sensor on the second edge resulting from a corresponding second force, and moving a second edge portion of the graphical element from an initial position adjacent a second edge of the display screen, in the direction of the second force and away from the second edge, to a second destination position. 
     
     
         40 . The electronic device of  claim 39  wherein the first edge portion and the second edge portion are moved simultaneously.