Illuminated device enclosure with dynamic trackpad

• US 10,732,676 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Xu, Qiliang, Mathew, Dinesh C., Garelli, Adam T., Huizar, Richard G., Kim, Genie, Lockwood, Robert J., Cao, Robert Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ritchie, Darlene M
• Application Number:
  US15/965,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20190073003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0076 Stacked arrangements of multiple light guides of the same or different cross-sectional area
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• 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 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1673 Arrangements for projecting a virtual keyboard
• 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 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• 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 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 : by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 : Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/20 : Driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 : characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/06 : Reflector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 : Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2233/07 : Cap or button on actuator part

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to an electronic device having an illuminated body that defines a virtual or dynamic trackpad. The electronic device includes a translucent layer defining a keyboard region and a dynamic input region along an external surface. A keyboard may be. positioned within the keyboard region and including a key surface and a switch element (e.g., to detect a keypress). A light control layer positioned below the translucent layer and within the dynamic input region may have a group of illuminable features. The electronic device may also include a group of light-emitting elements positioned below the optical diffuser. One or more of the light control layer or the group of light-emitting elements may be configured to illuminate the dynamic input region to display a visible boundary of an active input area. At least one of a size or a position of the visible boundary may be dynamically variable.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

an upper portion, comprising;

an upper enclosure defining an opening; and

a display positioned at least partially within the opening and configured to depict a graphical output; and

a lower portion pivotally coupled with the upper portion, the lower portion comprising;

a lower enclosure having a translucent layer that defines, along an upper surface of the lower enclosure;

an active input area;

light-extraction features positioned within the active input area, the light-extraction features defined by a first surface texture along the upper surface of the lower enclosure; and

a peripheral area at least partially surrounding the active input area and having a second surface texture different from the first surface texture;

a keyboard positioned along the upper surface of the lower enclosure and configured to receive a keypress;

a light-emitting element positioned along a side of the translucent layer and configured to propagate light through the translucent layer to the light-extraction features to illuminate the active input area; and

a processing unit configured to modify the graphical output in response to the keypress and modify the graphical output in response to an input received along the active input area when the active input area is illuminated.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the translucent layer comprises an internal reflection region in the peripheral area;

the internal reflection region channels light from the light-emitting element to the light-extraction features;

the light-extraction features are configured to extract light from the translucent layer, thereby illuminating the active input area; and

the active input area defines a trackpad of the electronic device positioned along a side of the keyboard.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein an exterior surface of the translucent layer is substantially unilluminated along the internal reflection region.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic device further comprises a group of light-emitting elements arranged below the translucent layer; and

the group of light-emitting elements are configured to depict a visual output on the translucent layer.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the visual output comprises a visual indication of at least one of a position or a magnitude of the input received within the active input area.

6. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the visual output corresponds to at least one of:

a location of an internal charging assembly;

a power button;

a wireless signal;

or

a battery depletion level.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the translucent layer is a first translucent layer;

the light-emitting element is a first light-emitting element;

the first translucent layer is configured to channel light from the first light-emitting element toward a first portion of the active input area;

the electronic device further comprises;

a second light-emitting element; and

a second translucent layer vertically stacked below the first light-emitting element and optically coupled with the second light-emitting element; and

the second translucent layer is configured to channel light from the second light-emitting element toward a second portion of the active input area.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein:

the first and second portions of the active input area at least partially overlap one another;

the first and second light-emitting elements are selectively illuminable; and

the first portion of the active input area is illuminated differently than the second portion of the active input area based on the selective illumination of the first and second portions.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a translucent layer defining;

a dynamic input region along an external surface of the electronic device; and

a localized region within the dynamic input region having a surface texture distinct from an adjacent portion of the external surface;

a keyboard positioned adjacent to the dynamic input region and comprising a key surface and a switch element configured to detect a keypress;

a light control layer positioned below the translucent layer within the dynamic input region and having a group of light passages;

an optical diffuser positioned below the light control layer; and

a group of light-emitting elements positioned below the optical diffuser and configured to propagate light through the optical diffuser, the light control layer, and the translucent layer, wherein;

one or more of the light control layer or the group of light-emitting elements are configured to illuminate the dynamic input region to display a visible boundary of an active input area; and

at least one of a size or a position of the visible boundary is dynamically variable.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein:

the light control layer comprises a polarizing layer; and

the group of light passages are configured to change polarity to selectively pass light from the group of light-emitting elements to display the visible boundary of the active input area.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein:

the group of light passages comprises a group of microperforations; and

the group of microperforations are configured to be visually imperceptible when not illuminated by the group of light-emitting elements.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein:

when illuminated by the group of light-emitting elements;

a first subset of the group of light passages defines a first visible boundary of the active input area; and

a second subset of the group of light passages defines a second visible boundary of the active input area.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein:

the electronic device further comprises a sensing element positioned within an interior of the electronic device;

the sensing element is configured to detect;

a first input within the first visible boundary when the first subset of the group of light passages is illuminated; and

a second input within the second visible boundary when the second subset of the group of light passages is illuminated.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein:

the electronic device further comprises a display configured to depict a graphical output of the electronic device;

the graphical output of the display is manipulated in a first manner in response to an input received within the visible boundary; and

the graphical output is manipulated in a second manner in response to an auxiliary input outside of the visible boundary.

15. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein:

the electronic device further comprises an enclosure having an upper portion pivotally coupled with a lower portion; and

a visual output of the dynamic input region is visually perceptible when the upper and lower portions are arranged in a closed position.

16. An electronic device, comprising:

an enclosure;

a display positioned at least partially within an upper portion of the enclosure;

a keyboard coupled to a lower portion of the enclosure;

a translucent layer defining;

at least a portion of an exterior surface of the lower portion of the enclosure;

a dynamic input region along a side of the keyboard; and

a textured surface defining an active input area, the active input area within the dynamic input region and designated by a visible boundary;

a group of first light-emitting elements positioned below the translucent layer, optically coupled with the translucent layer, and configured to depict a visual output within the dynamic input region;

a second light-emitting element optically coupled with the translucent layer along a side of the translucent layer and configured to direct light through the translucent layer to be redirected through the textured surface; and

a sensing element positioned within the enclosure and configured to detect an input along the active input area when the visible boundary is illuminated.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein:

the visual output is displayed in response to the detected input and corresponds to an illumination of at least one of;

a region of the detected input within the active input area;

a boundary of the detected input;

or

an entire active input area.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the visual output corresponds to an illumination of at least one of:

an interior periphery of the active input area that is visually distinct from a center of the active input area;

or

an edge of the active input area that is visually distinct from the center of the active input area.

19. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein:

the detected input is a gesture across the dynamic input region; and

the visual output corresponds to an illumination of a path of travel of the gesture.

20. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein:

the sensing element comprises a capacitive-based force sensor; and

the electronic device further comprises a haptic structure configured to produce a tactile output along the active input area in response to the detected input.