Adaptive enclosure for a mobile computing device

Abstract

A device includes an enclosure and logic. The enclosure includes a plurality of capacitive touch sensor arrays disposed at least on two of a top side, a bottom side, a left side, a right side, a front side, and a back side of the device. The enclosure also includes a first display on the front side of the device. The logic receives touch interaction information from the plurality of capacitive touch sensor arrays and initiates an action based at least in part on the touch interaction information.

We claim: 
     
         1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A device to receive a user input, comprising:
 an enclosure including
 a front face of the device, 
 a back face of the device, 
 a sensor; and 
   circuitry configured to process touch interaction information received from the sensor, and to initiate an action based at least in part on the touch interaction information, wherein the touch interaction information includes a gesture relative to the back face of the device.   
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the touch interaction information includes at least a double tap on the back side of the device. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the action controls an application. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the action captures an image. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the action is to play or pause media. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the action is to launch an application. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the action is to control an audio volume. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of a tilt sensor or an accelerometer. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the device includes a customizable user interface, at least in part based on the touch interaction information. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the action is to go back to a previous page while browsing. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the image is captured by a camera through the back face of the device. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the touch interaction information is received via a display on the front face of the device. 
     
     
         37 . A device that receives an input from a user, the device comprising:
 an enclosure including
 a front face of the device, 
 a back face of the device, 
 means for sensing; and 
   means for initiating an action, at least in part based on touch interaction information received from the means from sensing, the touch interaction information indicating a gesture relative to the back face of the device.   
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the touch interaction information indicates at least a double tap on the back side. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the action is defined by controlling an application. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the action is defined by capturing a picture. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the action involves at least one of playing or pausing media. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the action includes launching an application. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the action includes controlling a media volume. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the means for sensing is at least one of a tilt sensor or an accelerometer. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the device includes a custom interface for a user, based at least in part on the touch interaction information. 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the action is defined by going back to a previous page while browsing. 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 means for capturing a picture, wherein the image is to be captured, by the means for capturing, through the back face of the device.   
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 means for displaying an image, the means for displaying being on at least the front face of the device, wherein the touch interaction information is to be received via the means for displaying.   
     
     
         49 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor of a device, cause the device to perform a method comprising:
 processing touch interaction information received from a sensor included in an enclosure of the device, the enclosure including a front face and a back face; and   initiating an action based at least partially on the touch interaction information, the touch interaction information indicating a gesture relative to the back face of the device.   
     
     
         50 . The medium of  claim 49 , wherein the touch interaction information is defined by at least a double tap on the back side of the device. 
     
     
         51 . The medium of  claim 49 , wherein the action is for controlling an application. 
     
     
         52 . The medium of  claim 49 , wherein the action causes an image to be captured. 
     
     
         53 . The medium of  claim 49 , wherein the action causes media to be paused or played. 
     
     
         54 . The medium of  claim 49 , wherein the action causes an application to be launched. 
     
     
         55 . The medium of  claim 49 , wherein the action is for controlling an audio volume. 
     
     
         56 . The medium of  claim 49 , wherein the sensor is defined by at least one of a tilt sensor or an accelerometer. 
     
     
         57 . The medium of  claim 49 , wherein the device is to include a customizable user interface, based at least partially on the touch interaction information. 
     
     
         58 . The medium of  claim 49 , wherein the action involves going back to a previous page while browsing. 
     
     
         59 . The medium of  claim 52 , wherein the image is captured through the back face of the device by a camera included in the enclosure. 
     
     
         60 . The medium of  claim 49 , the touch interaction information received via a display at least partially on the front face of the device. 
     
     
         61 . The medium of  claim 49 , the method further comprising:
 suppressing a touch on the front face, based at least in part on a determination that the touch is within a distance, defined by an average fingertip size, from a top face, a bottom face, a left face, or a right face of the device.   
     
     
         62 . The medium of  claim 49 , the method further comprising:
 displaying a plurality of buttons in a vertical column on a right side of a display at least partially on the front face of the device, based at least in part on a determination that a right hand is holding the device.   
     
     
         63 . The medium of  claim 49 , wherein the action causes a cursor to be displayed. 
     
     
         64 . The medium of  claim 49 , wherein the action is the same as an action initiated based on a gesture relative to the front face of the device. 
     
     
         65 . The medium of  claim 55 , wherein the audio volume is controlled, without overlaying a video, while a display at least partially on the front face of the device displays the video.