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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 03, 2017
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2012
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Craig C. Leong, San Jose, CA (US);
James J. Niu, San Jose, CA (US);
Keith J. Hendren, San Francisco, CA (US);
John M. Brock, San Francisco, CA (US);
Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., Saratoga, CA (US);
Brad Patton, Cupertino, CA (US);
Omar Sze Leung, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
An input device configured to communicate with a computing device includes at least one keycap, a support mechanism operably connected to the keycap and configured to move the keycap from a first position to a second position, a feature plate operably connected to the support mechanism, and a sensing member. The sensing member is configured to detect at least one of a change of position of the at least one keycap, a speed of the at least one keycap, an amount of force applied to the at least one keycap, or a location of a finger. The sensing member may be a capacitive sensor. In some embodiments, the input device may not include the support mechanism and the sensing member may be configured to detect the location of a finger regardless whether or not the keycap moves.