Haptic keyboard assemblies and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An assembly comprising:
- a user-engageable portion configured to operate as a keyboard element on a keyboard;
a switch configured to close in response to a keypress at the user-engageable portion; and
at least one electrical contact configured to cause an actuator that is mechanically or physically coupled to the user-engageable portion to move in response to the switch closing, the movement being in a direction that is generally orthogonal to a direction effective to cause the switch to close;
wherein the actuator is coupled to an electrically-deformable material, the electrically deformable material responding to an electrical impulse provided by the at least one electrical contact to thereby cause the user-engageable portion to move in the direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction effective to cause the switch to close; and
wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises a first magnet, the user-engageable portion has a second magnet, and the first magnet moves away from the second magnet when the electrically deformable material responds to the electrical impulse.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments provide keyboards that provide haptic feedback to a user of the keyboard. In at least some embodiments, movement of an actuator and/or a user-engageable portion in a direction generally orthogonal to a direction of the keypress when the switch is closed provides a user with haptic feedback, which simulates a snapover movement.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An assembly comprising:
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a user-engageable portion configured to operate as a keyboard element on a keyboard; a switch configured to close in response to a keypress at the user-engageable portion; and at least one electrical contact configured to cause an actuator that is mechanically or physically coupled to the user-engageable portion to move in response to the switch closing, the movement being in a direction that is generally orthogonal to a direction effective to cause the switch to close; wherein the actuator is coupled to an electrically-deformable material, the electrically deformable material responding to an electrical impulse provided by the at least one electrical contact to thereby cause the user-engageable portion to move in the direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction effective to cause the switch to close; and wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises a first magnet, the user-engageable portion has a second magnet, and the first magnet moves away from the second magnet when the electrically deformable material responds to the electrical impulse. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An assembly comprising:
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a user-engageable portion configured to operate as a keyboard element on a keyboard, the user-engageable portion having a second magnet; a switch configured to close in response to a keypress at the user-engageable portion; an actuator having a first magnet; and at least one electrical contact configured to cause the actuator to move relative to the user-engageable portion in a direction that is generally orthogonal to a direction effective to cause the switch to close, the movement of the actuator providing haptic feedback at the user-engageable portion when the switch is closed; wherein either or both of the first and second magnets are moved in response to the switch closure. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving an input associated with a switch closure of a switch associated with a user-engageable portion of a keyboard key, the user-engageable portion having a second magnet; responsive to receiving said input, causing movement of the user engageable portion by deformation of an electrically-deformable material having a first magnet thereby moving an actuator relative to the user-engageable portion in a direction generally orthogonal to a direction effective to cause switch closure such that the first magnet moves away from the second magnet due to the deformation of the electrically deformable material.
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Specification