HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING VIRTUAL KEYPAD INPUT DEVICE, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

摘要

An improved handheld electronic device having a virtual keypad input devic e includes a case, and further includes an input apparatus and a processor apparatus disposed on the case. The input apparatus includes a number of vibrational sensors th at sense the vibrational results of a contact with the case. The processor apparatus executes a routine that determines from the vibrational results a location on the case where th e contact was made. Depending upon the location of the contact, the routine can interpret the contact as an input to the processor. The exemplary contact with the case can be in the nature of a touching or tapping contact or other contact with the case.