Haptic keyboard assemblies and methods

• US 8,599,047 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Schlosser, James William, Peterson, Cody George, Huska, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Warren, David S.
• Application Number:
  US13/458,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20130180839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 341 21- 34, 345/156, 345/157, 846/15, 846/53
• US Class Current: 341/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/85 characterised by tactile feedback features
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/05 electromechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/052 piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96015 Constructional details for touch switches

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.

Claims

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.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical contact comprises a first and second electrical contact, the first electrical contact configured to cause the user-engageable portion to move in a first direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction effective to cause the switch to close, the second electrical contact configured to cause the user-engageable portion to move in a second direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction effective to cause the switch to close.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the distances which the user engagable surface moves in the first and second directions that are generally orthogonal to the direction effective to cause the switch to close are different.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the first direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction effective to cause the switch to close is generally in a direction opposite of the second direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction effective to cause the switch to close.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises an electro-active polymer.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrically-deformable material is translucent, the assembly further comprising a lighting mechanism to light to provide light from one side of the user-engageable portion through the translucent electrically-deformable material to another side of the user-engageable portion.

7. An assembly comprising:

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.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one electrical contact comprises a first and second electrical contact, the first electrical contact configured to cause the actuator to move in a first direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction effective to cause the switch to close, the second electrical contact configured to cause the actuator to move in a second direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction effective to cause the switch to close.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the distances which the actuator moves in the first and second directions that are generally orthogonal to the direction effective to cause the switch to close are different.

10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the first direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction effective to cause the switch to close is in a generally opposite direction of the second direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction effective to cause the switch to close.

11. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the actuator is coupled to an electrically-deformable material, the electrically deformable material responding to an electrical impulse provided by the one or more contacts to thereby cause the actuator to move in a direction that is generally orthogonal to the direction effective to cause the switch to close.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises an electro-active polymer.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the electrically-deformable material is translucent.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the electrically-deformable material is configured to be driven in a single phase mode.

15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the electrically-deformable material is configured to be driven in a dual phase mode.

16. The assembly of claim 11, 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.

17. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the actuator comprises a detent structure having a protruding knob and the user-engageable portion has a plurality of indents configured to accept the protruding knob, the assembly configured to impart a snapover effect when the user-engageable portion is depressed, the snapover effect generated from the actuator moving relative to the user-engageable portion thereby moving the knob from one indent to another.

18. A computer-implemented method comprising:

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.