Apple Inc.

John A Porcella

Robert L Coish

John Schooley Camp

Kyle J Nekimken

Michael A Damianakis

Daniel A Greenberg

Thomas R Matzinger

Matthew B Frazer

Keyboards, input devices, and related systems include key mechanisms with keycaps and actuators that provide adjustable feedback in response to user input. The actuators are controllable to provide variable tactile force or audible feedback that is dependent upon the user input. Encoders are able to transduce a location or relative position of a keycap as it is being pressed over time, and a signal is provided to actuators to cause them to provide feedback corresponding to the position of the keycap as it moves. The feedback can change the feel or sound of the keycap based on the keycap positions, time of operation, velocity, user identity, and other factors. Thus, the feel or sound of a keyboard or related input device can be adjusted electronically for efficient testing and increased user customization and feedback modes.

Keyboard with adjustable feedback

An item such as a fabric-based item or other item may have one or more actuators. An actuator may have a conductive strand of material. A control circuit may supply a current to the conductive strand that induces a length change in the conductive strand due to ohmic heating and associated thermal expansion effects. The control circuit may be used to activate the actuator in response to user input that is supplied to an associated input device such as a switch, capacitive sensor, force sensor, light-based sensor, or other input component. The fabric-based item may include fabric such as woven fabric or knit fabric. Strands of conductive material may serve as signals paths for supplying current to conductive strands in actuators. Magnetic-field-based actuators may be formed by coiling conductive strands around tubular support structures such as piping in fabric-based items.

Items with wire actuators

A feedback or a user-perceived feedback of an input device is modified using one or more output devices. The output devices include one or more speakers and/or one or more actuators. The output (e.g., acoustic and/or haptic) produced using the output device may enhance, amplify, mask, obscure, or cancel an inherent sound or tactile feedback produced by the input device.

Modification of user-perceived feedback of an input device using acoustic or haptic output

A device with an enhanced keyboard is disclosed. One embodiment may take the form of a laptop computer with an auxiliary display embedded within a lower portion of the computer. A further embodiment of the auxiliary display renders contextual information based on information on a main computer display and inputs received from an input device such as a set of keys, mouse, or trackpad.

Auxiliary text display integrated into a keyboard device

An assembly includes a first structure, a second structure, a hinge that connects the first structure to the second structure for rotation of the first structure relative to the second structure around an axis, and a motion control component. The motion control component applies a feedback force to the hinge in response to an external force that is applied to the first structure. A magnitude of the feedback force is determined based on a current angular position of the first structure relative to the second structure.

Hinge with feedback

Clutch assemblies that can provide variable break-away torques are described. An exemplary multi-state clutch assembly can include a shaft, a first frictional element frictionally engaged with the shaft and a second frictional element that can provide variable friction. When the second frictional element provides a low friction, second frictional element can be rotatable relative to the first frictional element, which can remain stationary relative to the shaft. When the second frictional element provides a high friction, it can be secured to the first frictional element. Hence, the first and second frictional elements can be locked together and be rotatable relative to the shaft. Tightening or loosening the second frictional element can vary the overall break-away torque provided by the clutch assembly. The multi-state clutch assembly can be in communication with a sensor or a switch that can respond to a user to change the friction of the clutch assembly.

Multi-state clutch assembly

This application relates to computing devices that can incorporate thermal haptic feedback devices for providing feedback in the form of a temperature change. The thermal haptic feedback device can be incorporated into a watch, and a portion of the watch can change temperature when a notification is to be provided to a user. The thermal haptic feedback device can also be incorporated into a surface of a mobile phone and allow a user to receive notifications regarding incoming calls and messages using a temperature change of the surface. The thermal haptic feedback device can also change temperature based on information received from external computing devices.

Growing community of inventors

Campbell, CA, United States of America

John A Porcella