The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Apr. 20, 2021

Filed:

Apr. 30, 2020
Applicant:

Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);

Inventors:

Brett W. Degner, Menlo Park, CA (US);

Daniel D. Sunshine, Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Ron A. Hopkinson, Campbell, CA (US);

Christiaan A. Ligtenberg, San Carlos, CA (US);

William F. Leggett, San Jose, CA (US);

Patrick Kessler, San Francisco, CA (US);

Assignee:

Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 3/0354 (2013.01); G06F 3/044 (2006.01); G06F 1/16 (2006.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01); G06F 3/0488 (2013.01); G06F 3/041 (2006.01); G06F 3/02 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 3/0447 (2019.05); G06F 1/169 (2013.01); G06F 1/1662 (2013.01); G06F 3/016 (2013.01); G06F 3/017 (2013.01); G06F 3/0213 (2013.01); G06F 3/03547 (2013.01); G06F 3/041 (2013.01); G06F 3/0445 (2019.05); G06F 3/04886 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04102 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04106 (2013.01);
Abstract

A dynamic input surface for an electronic device and a method of reconfiguring the same is disclosed. The input surface has a partially-flexible metal contact portion defining an input area, and a group of indicators. The indicators may be group of holes extending through the contact portion. The group of holes may be selectively illuminated based on a gesture performed on the contact portion. A size of the input area may be dynamically varied based on the gesture. Additionally, the group of indicators indicates a boundary of the input area.


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