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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
First Claim
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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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