Modification of user-perceived feedback of an input device using acoustic or haptic output

• US 10,649,529 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2016
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Nekimken, Kyle J., Porcella, John A., Camp, John S., Damianakis, Michael A., Coish, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Afroza
• Application Number:
  US15/357,956
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/85 characterised by tactile feedback features
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/006 Only mechanical function
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/028 alterable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/03 Sound
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/05 electromechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/052 piezoelectric

Abstract

A feedback or a user-perceived feedback of an input device is modified using one or more output devices. The output devices include one or more speakers and/or one or more actuators. The output (e.g., acoustic and/or haptic) produced using the output device may enhance, amplify, mask, obscure, or cancel an inherent sound or tactile feedback produced by the input device.

Claims

1. A keyboard, comprising:

a key configured to actuate in response to a key press, the key including a key stack, comprising;

a key cap;

a key mechanism coupled to the key cap and configured to move the key cap between a rest position and a depressed position in response to the key press; and

a switch positioned beneath the key cap and configured to be activated in response to the key press; and

an output device configured to produce a feedback output comprising at least one of an acoustic output or a haptic output that is initiated in advance of the activation of the switch, wherein;

the key stack is configured to produce at least one of a sound or a tactile response as the key actuates; and

the feedback output combines with the at least one of the sound or the tactile response produced by the key stack to produce a single feedback stimulus.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein:

the key stack is configured to produce the sound;

the feedback output is the acoustic output; and

the acoustic output combines with the sound produced by the key stack to produce the single feedback stimulus, which includes a user-perceived single audio feedback event.

3. The keyboard of claim 2, wherein the acoustic output reduces a perceptibility of the sound produced by the key stack.

4. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein:

the key stack is configured to produce the tactile response;

the feedback output is the haptic output; and

the haptic output combines with the tactile response produced by the key stack to produce the single feedback stimulus.

5. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the sound or the tactile response is produced, at least in part, by the key mechanism.

6. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the sound or the tactile response is produced by components of the key stack interacting with one another.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a processing device;

a keyboard operably coupled to the processing device and comprising a key stack, the key stack comprising;

a key cap;

a key mechanism configured to actuate the key cap between a rest position and a depressed position in response to receiving a user input; and

a switch beneath the key cap and configured to be activated when the key mechanism is in the depressed position; and

an output device;

wherein;

the key stack is configured to produce at least one of a sound or a tactile response that is initiated prior to the activation of the switch;

the processing device is configured to determine at least one of an acoustic output or a haptic output that, when combined with the at least one of the sound or the tactile response, produces a single feedback event; and

the output device is configured to produce the at least one of the acoustic output or the haptic output in response to the user input to produce the single feedback event.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein:

the key stack is configured to produce the sound; and

the output device is configured to produce the acoustic output to produce the single feedback event.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the acoustic output has an amplitude greater than the sound; and

the acoustic output has a frequency that is between 2000 Hz and 5000 Hz.

10. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the sound or the tactile response is produced, at least in part, by the key mechanism.

11. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the sound or the tactile response and the at least one of the acoustic output or the haptic output occur simultaneously.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

an input device having a movable key that is configured to actuate between a first position and a second position in response to a user input, the movable key comprising a key stack configured to produce a first sound as the movable key actuates, the key stack comprising;

a key cap;

a key mechanism coupled to the key cap; and

a switch beneath the key cap and configured to be activated when the movable key is in the second position; and

an output device configured to initiate a second sound prior to the movable key reaching the second position, wherein the second sound, combined with the first sound, results in a single feedback stimulus that is perceptible to a user.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the second sound enhances a perceptibility of the first sound.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the second sound reduces a perceptibility of the first sound.

15. A method for operating an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving typing activity at a keyboard of the electronic device;

determining an identity of a user of the electronic device based on characteristics of the typing activity received at the keyboard, the characteristics comprising one or more of typing speed, force applied to the keyboard, or pauses between inputs;

retrieving an input device profile associated with the user in response to determining the identity of the user;

receiving a key press at the keyboard resulting in an activation of a key switch, the key press causing a key stack of the keyboard to produce a sound;

determining, using the input device profile, an acoustic output that modifies the sound to produce a single feedback stimulus when combined with the sound produced by the keyboard a; and

prior to the activation of the key switch, producing the acoustic output using an audio output device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the acoustic output is completed before the activation of the key switch.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the sound is produced, at least in part, by a key mechanism of the key stack; and

the acoustic output is produced by a speaker of the electronic device.

18. A method for operating an electronic device, comprising:

determining that an audio output device is operably connected to the electronic device;

retrieving an input-device profile associated with the audio output device, the input-device profile specifying a feedback output for modifying at least one of a sound or a tactile response produced by a key stack of a keyboard of the electronic device;

receiving a key press at the keyboard resulting in an actuation of a switch, the key press causing the key stack of the keyboard to produce the at least one of the sound or the tactile response as the key stack actuates; and

based on the input-device profile, initiating an output that corresponds to the feedback output, the output being initiated prior to the actuation of the switch and combining with the at least one of the sound or the tactile response to produce a single feedback stimulus.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the key stack produces the sound; and

the feedback output is an acoustic output selected to modify the sound to produce the single feedback stimulus.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the key stack produces the tactile response; and

the feedback output is a haptic output selected to modify the tactile response to produce the single feedback stimulus.