Patent Application
20150104609
The invention is directed to a cover device for a portable or mobile device, in particular for mobile phones and tablets, having a section configured to allow touch identification technology—such as fingerprint identification—already built into the portable device to work properly. An independent screen protector, or a case with screen protection, is provided that features a thinner zone/area to allow for touch identification (e.g., fingerprint scanning) on portable of mobile device (e.g., a phone or tablet device). This includes inserting a thin piece of film over just the button area, applying a thin film over the entire screen protector except over the screen area, and using forming tools to thin out the button area.
It is noted that citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.
Some portable devices now have touch identification technology built into the device so that a user can log into, or turn on, the device without having to enter a password or passcode. For example, the iPhone 5s now has a feature built into it called Touch ID, which includes a fingerprint identity sensor. With the iPhone 5s, a user can simply put a finger on the Home button and click, and the iPhone 5s unlocks.
With portable devices—especially mobile phones such as the iPhone 5s—it is advantageous to provide full coverage of the front surface of the device. Current cases with screen protection and individually sold screen protectors either feature a die cut hole around buttons (such as the Home button on an iPhone device) or they feature a formed piece of film or rubber overmold to cover the buttons. But in portable devices with touch identification technology, current films either prevent the touch identification sensors from operating properly—including films for iPhones and the like—or simply omit coverage, and thus protection from areas where sensors may be located. As such, those films and rubber coverings do not allow for features such as fingerprint scanners (such as Apple's Touch ID) to work with the devices. In the case of the iPhone 5s, when current films are placed over the fingerprint sensor prevent, the sensor is prevented from accurately reading your fingerprint.
It is noted that in this disclosure and particularly in the claims and/or paragraphs, terms such as “comprises”, “comprised”, “comprising” and the like can have the meaning attributed to it in U.S. Patent law; e.g., they can mean “includes”, “included”, “including”, and the like; and that terms such as “consisting essentially of” and “consists essentially of” have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. Patent law, e.g., they allow for elements not explicitly recited, but exclude elements that are found in the prior art or that affect a basic or novel characteristic of the invention.
It is an object of the current invention to provide full film coverage for the front of a portable device, while still allowing any touch identification technology (e.g., a fingerprint sensor) to operate and function properly. This object has been achieved by ensuring that the portion of the protective film which covers the touch identification sensor is thin enough to allow the sensor to properly register a user's touch so that the portable device can be operated.
It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements which are conventional in this art. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements are desirable for implementing the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein.
The present invention will now be described in detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments.
Films with a thickness of 0.3 mm and greater are too thick to allow touch identification sensors to operate. Even films as thin as 0.15 mm, and some as thin as 0.12 mm, still prevent touch identification sensors from working. As such, the second film is configured with a thickness of less than 0.15 mm. Preferably the thickness of the second film is at least 0.04 mm and less than 0.12 mm. More preferably, the second film has a maximum thickness of 0.10 mm.
The second film can be made of any suitable transparent or sufficiently translucent film. Examples include clear plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”), polycarbonate (“PC”), polypropylene (“PP”), and acetate film.
PET films having thicknesses of 0.04 mm, 0.08 mm, and 0.10 mm were tested on the fingerprint identity sensor of the iPhone 5s, and all three films allowed the sensor to operate properly while still providing adequate protection for the area of the fingerprint identity sensor.
In addition, the portions 9 of the second film 11 which do not correspond to the touch identification sensor of the mobile device can be configured to be tinted or colored. For example these non-sensor areas can have a printed design or pattern—so long as a portion 13 of the second film 11 which corresponds to the sensor is clear, or sufficiently translucent to allow the touch identification sensor to function properly.
The above embodiments can be used to create individual screen protector devices, or can be incorporated into mobile device cases—including waterproof cases. In terms of an individual screen protector, the above embodiments provide both screen and button/sensor protection, while also allowing any sensors—including those incorporated into buttons—to sense fingerprints. In terms of a case with screen protection, it allows the case to be waterproof and to seal off front screen side buttons while allowing activation of a button's integrated touch identification sensor.
While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following claims.
This application is related to pending U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/880,804, filed Sep. 20, 2013, and titled “PROTECTIVE COVER FOR A PORTABLE OR MOBILE DEVICE,” the entirely of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61880804 | Sep 2013 | US |
