Dual stiffness suspension system
First Claim
1. A device having a dual stiffness suspension system comprising:
- a housing component;
a touch element;
a haptic actuator for moving the touch element relative to the housing component and thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the touch element; and
at least one dual stiffness suspension system that couples the touch element and the housing component together such that the touch element is movable relative to the housing component, the at least one dual stiffness suspension system having a first element of a first stiffness and a second element of a second stiffness, the first stiffness being stiffer than the second stiffness, wherein the at least one dual stiffness suspension system is configured to limit movement between the touch element and the housing component in at least a first direction due to the first element of the dual stiffness suspension system while also being configured to allow movement of the touch element relative to the housing component in a second direction opposing the first direction due to the second element of the dual stiffness suspension system, and wherein the first element is disposed adjacent to and contacts a first surface of a portion of the housing component and the second element is disposed adjacent to and contacts a second opposing surface of the portion of the housing component such that the first and second elements are axially aligned with each other.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices disclosed herein include a housing component, a touch screen, a haptic actuator for moving the touch screen relative to the housing component, and at least one dual stiffness suspension system that couples the touch screen and housing component together such that the touch screen is movable relative to the housing component. The dual stiffness suspension system has a first element of a first stiffness and a second element of a second stiffness which is stiffer than the first stiffness. The dual stiffness suspension system is configured to limit movement between the touch screen and the housing component in a first direction due to the first element of the dual stiffness suspension system while also being configured to allow movement of the touch screen relative to the housing component in a second opposing direction due to the second element of the dual stiffness suspension system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device having a dual stiffness suspension system comprising:
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a housing component; a touch element; a haptic actuator for moving the touch element relative to the housing component and thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the touch element; and at least one dual stiffness suspension system that couples the touch element and the housing component together such that the touch element is movable relative to the housing component, the at least one dual stiffness suspension system having a first element of a first stiffness and a second element of a second stiffness, the first stiffness being stiffer than the second stiffness, wherein the at least one dual stiffness suspension system is configured to limit movement between the touch element and the housing component in at least a first direction due to the first element of the dual stiffness suspension system while also being configured to allow movement of the touch element relative to the housing component in a second direction opposing the first direction due to the second element of the dual stiffness suspension system, and wherein the first element is disposed adjacent to and contacts a first surface of a portion of the housing component and the second element is disposed adjacent to and contacts a second opposing surface of the portion of the housing component such that the first and second elements are axially aligned with each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device having a dual stiffness suspension system comprising:
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a housing component; a touch element; a haptic actuator for moving the touch element relative to the housing component and thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the touch element; and at least one dual stiffness suspension system that couples the touch element and the housing component together such that the touch element is movable relative to the housing component, the at least one dual stiffness suspension system having a first element formed from a first elastomeric material having a first stiffness and a second element formed from a second elastomeric material having a second stiffness, the first stiffness being stiffer than the second stiffness, wherein the first element of the dual stiffness suspension system is configured to limit movement between the touch element and the housing component in at least a first direction while the second element of the dual stiffness suspension system is configured to allow movement of the touch element relative to the housing component in a second direction opposing the first direction, and wherein the first element is disposed adjacent to and contacts a first surface of a portion of the housing component and the second element is disposed adjacent to and contacts a second opposing surface of the portion of the housing component such that the first and second elements are axially aligned with each other. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A device having a dual stiffness suspension system comprising:
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a housing component; a touch element; a haptic actuator for moving the touch element relative to the housing component and thereby provide a haptic effect along a first axis of the device to a user of the touch element; and at least one dual stiffness suspension system that couples the touch element and the housing components together such that the touch element is movable relative to the housing component, the at least one dual stiffness suspension system having a first element of a first stiffness and a second element of a second stiffness, the first stiffness being stiffer than the second stiffness, wherein the at least one dual stiffness suspension system is configured to limit movement between the touch element and the housing component in at least a first direction due to the first element of the dual stiffness suspension system while also being configured to allow movement of the touch element relative to the housing component in a second direction due to the second element of the dual stiffness suspension system, wherein the first direction and the second direction oppose each other and extend along the first axis of the device, wherein the at least one dual stiffness suspension system includes a support mount having a post and a base plate, with a first end of the post being coupled to an underside surface of the touch element and a second end of the post being coupled to the base plate, and wherein the post of the support mount extends through a channel formed through a portion of the housing component as well as through the first and second elements of the at least one dual stiffness suspension system such that the first element is sandwiched between the touch element and the portion of the housing component and the second element is sandwiched between the portion of housing component and the base plate, the channel being sized to limit movement between the touch element and the housing component along at least a second axis of the device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification