Dynamically stabilized magnetic array

• US 10,095,270 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2017
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Stryker, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Danny
• Application Number:
  US15/633,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20170300087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 361139, 361144, 361160
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/1543 using electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1673 Arrangements for projecting a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1675 Miscellaneous details related to the relative movement between the different enclosures or enclosure parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0231 Magnetic circuits with PM for power or force generation
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0247 Orientating, locating, transporting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0252 PM holding devices H01F7/021, H01F7/0215, H01F7/0226 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/04 : Means for releasing the attractive force
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/06 : Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets electric coils H01F5/00; devices for holding workpieces using electric force B23Q3/15; load-engaging elements for lifting articles electromagnetically B66C1/06; electromagnetic couplings F16D27/00; magnetic brakes F16D63/002; electromagnetically operated valves F16K11/24, F16K31/00; analysing materials by magnetic means G01N27/72, G01N27/80; electromagnets for winding mechanical clocks G04C1/02; electromagnetic relays H01H51/00; windings for salient poles of dynamo-electric machines H02K3/18; electromagnets for telegraphic communication H04L; for arc lamps H05B31/28
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/20 : without armatures cores H01F3/00; coils H01F5/00 ; shaping metal by applying magnetic forces B21D26/14; electromagnets specially adapted for NMR applications G01R33/381
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 15/00 : Holding or levitation devices using magnetic attraction or repulsion, not otherwise provided for electric or magnetic devices for holding work on machine tools B23Q3/15 ; monorail vehicle propulsion or suspension B60L13/00; sliding or levitation devices for railway systems B61B13/08; material handling devices associated with conveyors incorporating devices with electrostatic or magnetic grippers B65G47/92; separating thin or filamentary articles from piles using magnetic force B65H3/16; delivering thin or filamentary articles from magnetic holders by air blast or suction B65H29/24; bearings using magnetic or electric supporting means F16C32/04; relieving bearing loads using magnetic means F16C39/06; magnets H01F7/00; dynamo-electric clutches or brakes H02K49/00 ; electric furnaces with simultaneous levitation and heating H05B6/32
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/95 : using a magnetic detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 : Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/97 : using a magnetic movable element
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96038 : Inductive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96062 : with tactile or haptic feedback

Abstract

This application relates to devices and accessories that include or are configured to react with a mixture of electromagnets and permanent magnets. In particular the permanent magnets are configured to maintain persistent connections between components while the electromagnets are configured to pulse or activate periodically to maintain the connections or fix alignment of the various connections in certain circumstances.

Claims

1. A consumer electronic product, comprising:

a housing arranged to carry components including a display assembly, the display assembly overlaid by a protective cover, comprising;

a substrate layer;

a display layer that is capable of presenting visual content and separated from the substrate layer, wherein the display layer is capable of moving towards the substrate layer;

a first array of magnetic elements carried on a surface of the substrate layer facing the display layer; and

a second array of magnetic elements carried on a surface of the display layer facing the substrate layer,

wherein when an externally applied force is applied to the protective cover, a portion of the display layer moves towards the substrate layer such that a magnetic circuit is formed between the first and second arrays of magnetic elements, thereby providing a tactile feedback at the portion of the display layer.

2. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1, wherein the display layer is capable of providing a visual change of the portion of the display layer in response to the externally applied force.

3. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1, wherein a touch sensor is coupled to the display layer.

4. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic circuit formed provides an attractive force when an extent of the display layer moving towards the substrate layer exceeds a threshold amount.

5. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic circuit formed provides a repulsive force that increases with an extent of the display layer moving towards the substrate layer.

6. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1, wherein the tactile feedback is variable based on an application setting.

7. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1, wherein the first array of magnetic elements comprises an electromagnet or an electro permanent magnet.

8. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 7, wherein the tactile feedback is variable based on an amount of current supplied to the electromagnet or the electro permanent magnet.

9. A display assembly carried by a consumer electronic product, comprising:

a display layer that is capable of presenting visual content;

a substrate layer;

a touch sensor coupled to the display layer, the touch sensor capable of detecting touch events; and

a tactile feedback unit coupled to the display layer and capable of providing a tactile feedback, the tactile feedback unit comprising a magnetic element carried by the display layer and an electromagnet carried by the substrate layer, the electromagnet capable of being activated to form a magnetic circuit with the magnetic element,

wherein when a touch event is detected at the display layer, the electromagnet is activated to form the magnetic circuit with the magnetic element that provides the tactile feedback.

10. The display assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the display layer is depressible.

11. The display assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the display layer is capable of presenting an input element that corresponds to a key in a virtual keyboard presented on the display layer.

12. The display assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the display layer is capable of providing a visual change in accordance with the detection of the touch event.

13. The display assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the force is an attractive force that draws the display layer to the substrate layer.

14. The display assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the force is a repulsive force that increases with an extent of depression of the display layer.

15. The display assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the tactile feedback unit is capable of providing variable tactile feedbacks.

16. The display assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein the variable tactile feedbacks are based on an application setting.

17. A method for operating an input device, the input device comprising a substrate layer, a display layer separated from the substrate layer, a first magnetic element carried by the substrate layer, and a second magnetic element carried by the display layer, the second magnetic element forming a magnetic circuit with the first magnetic element, the method comprising:

displaying an input element on the display layer;

detecting a change in a strength of the magnetic circuit caused by a depression of the display layer at the input element; and

activating an electromagnet to provide a tactile feedback at the input element when the change in the strength of the magnetic circuit exceeds a threshold value.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising varying, based on an application setting, an amount of current supplied to the electromagnet when the electromagnet is activated.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein activating the electromagnet forms a second magnetic circuit between the electromagnet and the second magnetic element, and the second magnetic circuit provides an attractive force.

20. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising providing a visual change of the input element when the electromagnet is activated.