Hand-held communication device with auxiliary input apparatus, and method

A hand-held communication device (100), such as a cellular telephone or a personal digital assistant (PDA), comprises a sensor assembly (200) and an auxiliary input interface (300). Auxiliary input interface (300) is situated along one or more exterior surfaces (110) of device (100) and is electrically coupled to processing circuitry within device (100). Sensor assembly (200) is removably attached to the one or more exterior surfaces (110) of device (100). Sensor assembly (200) preferably includes multiple pressure sensors for receiving tactile inputs from a user, and multiple outputs for coupling to auxiliary input interface (300). Sensor assembly (200) provides signals at the multiple outputs in response to tactile inputs from the user. In one form, during an assignment procedure, tactile inputs from the user are assigned to predefined functions of the device and/or one or more software applications installed in the device. Subsequently, during normal operation of the device (100), each of the specific tactile input results in the execution of one or more predefined functions. Sensor assembly (200) is preferably realized by a combination that includes an elastomeric connector (210) and a top portion having a flexible shroud (250) and multiple conductive strips (270, 272, . . . , 284) that are configured for contacting conductive regions (220, 222, . . . , 232) of elastomeric connector (210).