Apple Inc.

Michael Y Cheung

Paul Xiaopeng Wang

Alex Joseph Lehmann

Seung Wook Kim

Ray Ling Chang

Madeleine S Cordier

Michael J Rockwell

David H Bloom

Kyle J Nekimken

Scott G Johnston

Hongcheng Sun

Ian M Bullock

Aidan N Zimmerman

Ming Yu

A finger-mounted device may include finger-mounted units. The finger-mounted units may each have a body that serves as a support structure for components such as force sensors, accelerometers, and other sensors and for haptic output devices. The body may have sidewall portions coupled by a portion that rests adjacent to a user's fingernail. The body may be formed from deformable material such as metal or may be formed from adjustable structures such as sliding body portions that are coupled to each other using magnetic attraction, springs, or other structures. The body of each finger-mounted unit may have a U-shaped cross-sectional profile that leaves the finger pad of each finger exposed when the body is coupled to a fingertip of a user's finger. Control circuitry may gather finger press input, lateral finger movement input, and finger tap input using the sensors and may provide haptic output using the haptic output device.

Finger-mounted device with sensors and haptics

An electronic device may have rigid members such as links in a strap that are joined by rotating joints. The joints may include friction hinges. In a head mounted device, straps may be folded for storage within an interior region in the housing of the head mounted device. A strap coupled to a wristwatch may have portions that fold to hide components mounted on the strap. A strap with two parallel strap portions may be configured to serve as a support for a cellular telephone or other device with a display. A strap can also be configured to tilt a display that is coupled to the strap to a desired viewing angle relative to a user's wrist. An electronic device may have multiple support structures that are joined by a friction hinge. The support structures may be used to clamp the device on a user's finger.

Hinged wearable electronic devices

A system may have one or more electronic devices that include user input sensors such as force sensors, touch sensors, motion sensors, and other input devices. To provide a user with output, devices may have visual output components such as displays, audio output components, and haptic output components. Haptic output components may be used to apply an apparent force in a given direction relative to a device housing surface such as a sidewall surface or other device surface. Control circuitry in a device may direct a haptic output component to produce the apparent force in a direction perpendicular to the housing surface or tangential to the housing surface. The apparent applied force may be provided as feedback while the control circuitry is directing a display in the device or in an external device to provide a user with visual content based on the user input.

Electronic devices with directional haptic output

Electrical equipment such as a tablet computer cover, a laptop computer, or other equipment may include keys. Each key may have a key member. Coatings such as opaque coating layers may be formed on the key members. Opaque coating layers may be patterned to form symbol-shaped openings associated with key labels. Opaque coating layers may also have recessed peripheral portions and other features to enhance the appearance of the keys. Metal coating layers such as physical vapor deposition metal layers may be incorporated into the keys. Key members may have outer surfaces and opposing inner surface on which patterned coating layers may be formed. Peripheral edge portions of the key members may extend between the outer and inner surfaces and may be coated with metal coating layers to form reflective metal trim structures. Backlight illumination for the keys may be formed form light sources such as light-emitting diodes.

Equipment with keys having trim and illumination

According to some embodiments, a haptic feedback component is configured to generate haptic feedback in accordance with movement of a user. The haptic feedback component includes a frame having a size and shape for receiving an appendage of a user, a flexible beam member coupled to the frame, and a haptic feedback element that is coupled to the flexible beam member, wherein the haptic feedback element actuates in response to receiving an electrical signal so as to cause the flexible beam member to displace from an initial configuration to a modified configuration such as to direct the haptic feedback towards the appendage.

Finger beam for generating haptic feedback

Growing community of inventors

Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Michael Y Cheung