The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 08, 2013
Filed:
Sep. 11, 2012
Perry Allan Faubert, Kitchener, CA;
Jason Tyler Griffin, Waterloo, CA;
Perry Allan Faubert, Kitchener, CA;
Jason Tyler Griffin, Waterloo, CA;
Blackberry Limited, Waterloo, CA;
Abstract
A portable electronic device includes a housing with a base. A touch-sensitive input assembly is spaced from and moveable relative to the base and a stopping arrangement limits movement of the touch-sensitive input assembly in the direction of the base. An actuating arrangement including a piezoelectric actuator for selectively receiving an applied voltage to thereby apply a force to the touch-sensitive input assembly. An accelerometer and functional components are housed within the housing. The functional components include a memory and a processor operably connected to the memory, the touch-sensitive input assembly, the piezoelectric actuator, and the accelerometer to monitor signals from the accelerometer and, if a fall is detected, apply a negative voltage to the piezoelectric actuator causing reverse bending of the piezoelectric actuator to permit the stopping arrangement to limit movement of the touch-sensitive input assembly and thereby limit force exerted on the piezoelectric actuator.