Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Thomas Joseph Longo

David Michael Lane

Eugene Lee

Andrew William Hill

James H Wise

Young Soo Kim

Christopher H Kujawski

Ralf Groene

Jan Raken

James Iming Tsai

Scott Douglas Bowers

Michael Gordon Oldani

Tianyu Zhao

David Paul Platt

Michael Francis Deily

Yajing Liu

Timothy Carlyle Shaw

David Otto Whitt, Iii

James David Holbery

Ivan Andrew McCracken

Siyuan Ma

Lincoln Matthew Ghioni

Brian David Bitz

John Jacob Nelson

Yazan Aldehayyat

Rahul R Marwah

David John Huston

Benjamin Patrick Sullivan

Federico Zannier

Anteneh Detamo

Colin Roman Donahue

David Otto Iii Whitt

Ivan Andrew Mccracken

Rahul Marwah

Iii Whitt David Otto

Computing devices and methods for producing vibrations in computing devices are disclosed. In one example, a computing device comprises a chassis that includes a trackpad comprising a printed circuit board. A haptic actuator assembly comprises at least one conductive coil formed on or affixed to the printed circuit board, and at least one magnet rigidly affixed to the chassis. The magnet is spaced from and not mechanically coupled to the at least one conductive coil. A memory stores instructions executable by a processor to receive a haptic event requests, determine that the trackpad is not in use, and at least on condition of receiving the haptic event request and determining that the trackpad is not in use, cause a driver signal to be sent to the conductive coil(s) to cause the at least one magnet to produce user-perceptible vibrations in the chassis beyond the trackpad.

Computing device with haptic trackpad

Supplementing the movement stroke of a trackpad with a haptic response is one way to restore some or all of a reduced trackpad feel and overall performance caused by a reduction in the movement stroke. However, incorporating haptic responses in a clickable trackpad may interfere with accurate force measurement using physical movement of the trackpad as a proxy. The following describes haptic trackpads with anisotropic compliant spacers. The disclosed haptic trackpads permit selective haptic responses to a user, while also permitting accurate force measurement using displacement of a sensing surface caused by the user's finger(s) as a proxy.

Haptic trackpad with anisotropic compliant spacer

Low-profile keysets and input devices having such low-profile keysets are described. In one example, the input device includes a support structure having a first and second surface; a bezel having a first and second surface, wherein the first surface of the bezel is adjacent to the first surface of the support structure, and the bezel comprises at least one opening; at least one key cap positioned within the at least one opening of the bezel, wherein each key cap is configured to move between a first and second position to trigger a function of the input device; and a fabric cover layer positioned adjacent to the second surface of the bezel, such that the bezel and the at least one key cap are positioned between the fabric cover layer and the support structure, the fabric cover layer is only adhered to the second surface of the bezel.

Low-profile keysets and input devices

The description relates to devices, such as user-serviceable dimensionally-constrained devices. One example can include a first portion and a corresponding second portion. The example can also include a gap reduction assembly positioned along edges of the first portion and the second portion that biases the first and second portions toward one another. The example can also include an alignment assembly that laterally aligns corners of the first portion and the second portion and a locking assembly that locks the aligned corners of the first portion and the second portion against one another.

User-serviceable dimensionally-constrained device

Mechanical key design for keyboards often includes rubber or metal dome switches along with scissor mechanisms that offer a desirable feel and overall performance or achieve the key travel necessary to meet shrinking overall keyboard thickness specifications, but not both. Haptic feedback devices offer a user sensory feedback signifying a selection has been made without any physical travel of a keypad, but also may not offer the user a desirable feel and overall performance. The following describes in detail keys or push buttons that offer the user a desirable feel and performance, while meeting shrinking overall keyboard thickness specifications.

Push button with haptic feedback

User expectations demand that keypad layout and size, as well as keypad performance and illumination remain the same or improve over time. In various implementations, the keyboards disclosed and detailed herein incorporate an array of thermoset bare die light emitting diodes in an effort to more evenly distribute light through a keyboard structure without increasing keyboard thickness, as compared to prior art designs.

Multi-stage cure bare die light emitting diode

Low-profile input devices

Aspects described herein generally relate to a haptic feedback mechanism including a shape memory alloy (SMA) material coupled to a mass and a surface, where contraction of the SMA material causes the mass to move from a first position to a second position causing one of compression or decompression of a spring element coupled to the mass, and where loosening of the SMA material causes the mass the move from the second position toward the first position by the other one of compression or decompression of the spring element. The haptic feedback mechanism also includes a heat source configured to selectively apply heat to, and remove heat from, the SMA material to achieve a modulation of contracting and loosening of the SMA material to cause a vibration of the mass.

Shape memory alloy actuated haptic feedback

Input device attachment techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a device includes a portion (e.g., an input portion or cover) is configured to be positioned over a display device of a computing device to cover the display device. The device also includes a spine (e.g., a mid-spine) that is physically attached to the portion in a manner that supports rotational movement of the portion in relation to the display device. The physical attachment of the spine is configured to be removable using a magnetic coupling between the spine and a surface of the computing device that includes the display device.

Input device attachment

Techniques for fabric adhesion to an apparatus are described. According to one or more embodiments, an apparatus is laminated with fabric utilizing one or more fabric layers. In at least some embodiments, multiple adhesive zones are defined on a fabric layer. Each adhesive zone, for instance, has a particular set of properties, such as a particular location on a fabric layer, a particular adhesive thickness, a particular adhesive type, and so forth. In at least some embodiments, different adhesive zones differ from one another based on one or more of their respective properties and thus enable different fabric characteristics to be specified at different adhesive zones.

Fabric adhesion to an apparatus

Input device attachment techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an input device includes an input portion configured to generate signals to be processed by a computing device and a mid-spine that is physically attached to the input portion and configured to form a removable physical coupling to be secured to a first side of the computing device that includes a display device. The input device also includes a connection portion that is physically attached the mid-spine and is configured to form a removable physical coupling to be secured to a second side of the computing device that is different than the first side and form a communicative coupling to the computing device to communicate the generated signals from the input portion.

Input device for an electronic tablet

Growing community of inventors

Redmond, WA, United States of America

Thomas Joseph Longo