Synaptics Corporation

Advanced Input Devices, Inc.

Doug Krumpelman

Chris Weber

Joseph Kurth Reynolds

Tom R Vandermeijden

Yeh-Cheng Tan

Kirk Hargreaves

Jeffrey Alan Small

Peter R Bokma

James T Clark

Christopher Weber

A method may include obtaining, using a first set of resulting signals from various proximity sensor electrodes, positional information regarding a location of an input object in a sensing region. The method may include obtaining, using a second set of resulting signals from various force sensor electrodes, force information regarding an input force that is applied to an input surface. The method may include loading, using a loading actuator and in response to the positional information or the force information, energy in a spring element coupled to a buckling element. The spring element may apply a compression force to the buckling element based on the energy in the spring element. The method may include generating, using a buckling actuator and in response to the positional information or the force information, a haptic event by applying a force to the buckling element to trigger the haptic event.

Haptic tactile feedback with buckling mechanism

A processing system includes a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module is coupled to sensor electrodes and is the sensor module configured to drive the sensor electrodes with sensing signals at a first resonance frequency of the pen. The determination module is configured to obtain, concurrently with the driving of the sensor electrodes, a measurements that are based on effects of the sensing signals, and a resonance of the pen in a sensing region. The determination module is further configured to determine positional information of the pen in the sensing region based on the measurements, and report the positional information.

Pen with inductor

A passive pen includes a pen body, and a tip disposed at a first end of the pen body. The tip capacitively couples to the pen body, and the capacitive coupling is configured to change the tip from a first ground mass state to a second ground mass state.

Passive pen with ground mass state switch

Keyboards with planar translation effecting mechanisms formed by laminated key guides are disclosed. A key assembly for a keyboard includes a keycap having a touch surface for receiving a press force that moves the keycap from an unpressed position toward a pressed position, the unpressed position and pressed position separated in a press direction and a second direction orthogonal to the press direction. A base is included having a laminated key guide contacting a portion of the keycap to provide a planar translation effecting mechanism to guide the keycap in the press direction and the second direction as the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position.

Keyboards with planar translation mechanism formed from laminated substrates

A laptop computer comprising a keyboard including a bezel having a plurality of key openings and a plurality of key holding features configured adjacent to the plurality of key openings on a bottom side of the bezel. The laptop computer also includes a plurality of keycaps having a touch surface for receiving a press force, each keycap positioned within a respective one of the plurality of key openings. The laptop computer also includes a chassis having a plurality of planar-translation effecting mechanisms each supporting a respective one of the plurality of keycaps such that, in response to receiving the press force, the respective keycap moves in a press direction and a second direction orthogonal to the press direction from an unpressed position toward a pressed position.

Retractable keyboard keys

Key stabilization techniques for a key assembly or keyboard are provided. In one embodiment, a key assembly includes a keycap having a touch surface for receiving a press force that moves the keycap from an unpressed position toward a pressed position. The key assembly also includes a base having a planar-translation effecting mechanism supporting the keycap to guide the keycap in the press direction and the second direction as the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position. A key stabilization mechanism positioned in the keycap, the base or both the keycap and the base configured to the stabilize the keycap so that the touch surface remains substantially planar while the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the press position to resist tilt of the keycap and rotation of the keycap about an axis in the press direction as keycap moves toward the pressed position.

Stabilization techniques for key assemblies and keyboards

The key assembly comprises a keycap having a touchsurface for receiving a press force that moves the keycap from an unpressed position toward a pressed position. The keycap has first and second ramp contacting features comprising first and second angular protrusions. The first and second angular protrusions have first and second protrusion angles relative to first and second side portions of the keycap (respectively). The key assembly also has a base having first and second ramps that contact the first and second ramp contacting features and guide the keycap in the press direction and the second direction as the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position. The base has first and second angular features configured to contact the first and second angular protrusions of the first and second ramp contacting features (respectively) to resist rotation of the keycap as the keycap moves toward the pressed position.

Anti-tilt and rotation techniques for a touchsurface assembly having translating keys

A keyboard includes a bezel having a plurality of key openings and a plurality of key holding features configured adjacent to the plurality of key openings on a bottom side of the bezel. A plurality of keycaps are positioned within the plurality of key openings. A chassis is included that has a plurality of planar-translation effecting mechanisms each supporting a respective one of the plurality of keycaps to guide the respective keycap in a press direction and a second direction as the keycap moves from the unpressed position toward the pressed position. The keypad or keyboard includes a key retraction mechanism configured to move the chassis relative to the bezel wherein the key holding features of the bezel limit movement of the keycaps in the second direction during movement of the chassis relative to the bezel, while the planar-translation effecting mechanisms move the plurality of keycaps toward a retracted position.

The present disclosure provides a switch assembly including a lens having a hollow interior, a display at least partially received within the hollow interior of the lens, an actuator moveably engageable by the lens, and an elastomeric switch activatable by the actuator in response to movement of the lens. The elastomeric switch may include a circuit assembly, a sealing switch layer disposed over the circuit assembly, and an elastomeric switch member formed within the sealing switch layer that is actuatable by the movement of the lens for engagement with the circuit assembly.

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Hayden, ID, United States of America

Doug Krumpelman