Apple Inc.

Xiaonan Wen

James E Pedder

Michael Vosgueritchian

John Stephen Smith

Qiliang Xu

Tingjun Xu

Alex Joseph Lehmann

Sinan Filiz

Xianwei Zhao

Ming Yu

Xiaofan Niu

Shan Wu

Cheng Kai Chen

Stephen Robert McClure

Wei Lin

Derek William Wright

Kevin M Robinson

Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov

Graham Butler Myhre

Yu Horie

Soyoung Kim

Igor Stamenov

Shingo Yoneoka

Victoria C Chan

Elmar Gehlen

Siddharth Shankar Hazra

Sudirukkuge T Jinasundera

Yuan Li

Prithu Sharma

Peng Lv

An electronic device is disclosed which includes a conductive layer for providing haptic feedback at an input surface of the electronic device. The conductive layer includes conductive particles within an organic compound, such as an epoxy. When the conductive layer is activated it may provide frictional or other tactile feedback at the input surface.

Electronic device having a piezoelectric body for friction haptics

An electronic device includes an input device. The input device has an input/output module below or within a cover defining an input surface. The input/output module detects touch and/or force inputs on the input surface, and provides haptic feedback to the cover. In some instances, a haptic device is integrally formed with a wall or structural element of a housing or enclosure of the electronic device.

Electronic device having a touch sensor, force sensor, and haptic actuator in an integrated module

A notebook computer may include a display portion, a base portion, a hinge mechanism movably coupling the display portion to the base portion, an optical sensing system configured to capture an image of an object, an actuation system comprising a shape-memory alloy member coupled to the base portion and the display portion and configured to move the display portion relative to the base portion, and a processing system. The processing system may be configured to determine a target position for the display portion based at least in part on a location of the object in the image and cause the actuation system to actuate the hinge mechanism to move the display portion, relative to the base portion, from an initial position to the target position.

Self-actuating hinge mechanism for electronic device

An electronic device includes an electrostatic conductive layer for providing haptic feedback at an input surface of the electronic device. The electrostatic conductive layer is included in a cover assembly positioned over a display. The cover assembly includes a cover sheet, a touch sensor, and the electrostatic conductive layer. The electrostatic conductive layer is driven by an electric field, which electric field is produced by the touch sensor. When the electrostatic conductive layer is activated, it may provide frictional or other tactile feedback at the input surface.

Electronic device having an electrostatic conductive layer for providing haptic feedback

A lens module in a head-mounted device may include a fluid-filled chamber, a semi-rigid lens element that at least partially defines the fluid-filled chamber, and at least one actuator configured to selectively bend the semi-rigid lens element. The semi-rigid lens element may become rigid along a first axis when the lens element is curved along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Six actuators that are evenly distributed around the periphery of the semi-rigid lens element may be used to control the curvature of the semi-rigid lens element. The semi-rigid lens element may initially be planar or non-planar. For example, the semi-rigid lens element may initially have a spherically convex surface and a spherically concave surface. A tunable spherical lens may be incorporated into the lens module to offset a parasitic spherical lens power from the semi-rigid lens element.

Electronic device with a tunable lens

Electronic device having a hybrid conductive coating for electrostatic haptics

One or more strain sensors can be included in an electronic device. Each strain sensor includes a strain sensitive element and one or more strain signal lines connected directly to the strain sensitive element. The strain sensor(s) are used to detect a force that is applied to the electronic device, to a component in the electronic device, and/or to an input region or surface of the electronic device. A strain sensitive element is formed or processed to have a first gauge factor and the strain signal line(s) is formed or processed to have a different second gauge factor. Additionally or alternatively, a strain sensitive element is formed or processed to have a first conductance and the strain signal line(s) is formed or processed to have a different second conductance.

Strain sensors in an electronic device

One or more transparent transistor force sensitive structures can be included in an electronic device. The transistor force sensitive structures(s) is used to detect a force that is applied to the electronic device, to a component in the electronic device, and/or to an input region of the electronic device. As one example, the one or more transparent transistor force sensitive structures may be included in a display stack of a display in an electronic device.

Transparent force sensitive structures in an electronic device

An electronic device may have layers of glass for forming components such as a display. A display cover glass layer may overlap an array of pixels. A touch sensor may be formed under the display cover glass layer. Conductive structures such as transparent conductive electrodes or other conductive layers of material may be formed on the outer surface of the display cover glass layer. The electrodes on the outer surface of the display cover glass layer may be coupled to metal contacts and other circuitry on the inner surface of the display cover glass layer using conductive vias. Vias may be provided with barrier layers, opaque coatings, tapers, and other structures and may be formed using techniques that enhance compatibility with chemical strengthening processes.

Electronic device display vias

Transparent strain sensors in an electronic device

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Xiaonan Wen