Variable response key and keyboard

• US 10,234,960 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2017
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bharadwaj, Shravan
• Primary Examiner(s): Rayan, Mihir K
• Application Number:
  US15/490,115
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0216 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1664
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

An electronic device can include a key and/or a keyboard system. In one embodiment, magneto-rheological materials are employed to provide a variable response keyboard of an electronic device.

Claims

1. An input device configured to receive an input force, the input device comprising:

an input surface;

a variable response material adjacent the input surface;

a magnetic field source adjacent the variable response material and positioned between the input surface and the variable response material; and

a controller configured to control the magnetic field source;

wherein the magnetic field source is configured to generate a magnetic field to adjust one or more material properties of the variable response material, thereby varying a response of the input surface to the input force.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the variable response material is a magneto-rheological elastomer.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the one or more material properties comprise at least one of stiffness, travel distance, or damping.

4. The input device of claim 3, wherein a value of each of the one or more material properties is user-defined.

5. The input device of claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor operative to detect proximity of an object to the input surface.

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein the response of the input surface comprises a movement of the input surface in a direction in which an object is traveling toward the input surface.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein the variable response material is one of a group of magneto-rheological materials adjacent the input surface.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the input surface is a surface of a trackpad.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field source is an electromagnet.

10. A keyboard input device, comprising:

a group of rigid keycaps having input surfaces, the keycaps each being configured to travel in response to an input force, the keycaps each being spaced apart from each other; and

a variable response material disposed below each keycap, the variable response material associated with multiple input force response profiles for each input surface;

wherein, when variable response material of a particular keycap of the group of rigid keycaps is subject to a magnetic field;

a material property of the variable response material changes; and

an input force response profile of the input surface of the particular keycap changes.

11. The keyboard input device of claim 10, wherein:

the variable response material is a magneto-rheological material.

12. The keyboard input device of claim 10, wherein an elasticity of the variable response material decreases when the variable response material is subject to the magnetic field.

13. The keyboard input device of claim 10, wherein the material property is height.

14. The keyboard input device of claim 10, further comprising:

a first electromagnet disposed adjacent a first side of the variable response material; and

a second electromagnet disposed adjacent a second, non-opposing side of the variable response material.

15. The keyboard input device of claim 10, further comprising:

a first set of electromagnets configured to subject the variable response material to a first magnetic field;

a second set of electromagnets configured to subject the variable response material to a second magnetic field; and

a proximity sensor configured to detect a proximity of an object adjacent the input surface;

wherein;

the material property is a stiffness;

the variable response material is a magneto-rheological material;

the stiffness decreases when subject to the first magnetic field; and

the stiffness increases when subject to the second magnetic field.

16. An input device comprising:

a group of input surfaces;

a group of variable response materials, each of the group of variable response materials corresponding to one of the group of input surfaces and defining a unique input force response profile;

a controller; and

a magnetic field source controllable by the controller, the magnetic field source in magnetic communication with the group of variable response materials;

wherein

the controller is configured to adjust the unique input force response profile of each of the group of input surfaces by varying an electromagnetic field produced by the magnetic field source.

17. The input device of claim 16, wherein:

the group of variable response materials comprise a magneto-rheological material;

the magnetic field source is an electromagnet;

each of the group of input surfaces is an input node; and

each of the unique input force response profiles defines an elasticity and a damping for a unique one of the group of variable response materials.

18. The input device of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust each unique input force response profile by adjusting at least one of the elasticity or the damping.

19. The input device of claim 16, wherein the group of input surfaces are disposed on a sphere.

20. The input device of claim 16, wherein each of the group of variable response materials affixes a corresponding one of the group of input surfaces to a corresponding substrate.