Haptic feedback assembly

• US 9,939,901 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2015
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Patel, Dhaval Chandrakant, Harley, Jonah A., Augenbergs, Peteris K., Davis, Derryk C., McEuen, Scott J., Brock, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ABDULSELAM, ABBAS I
• Application Number:
  US14/792,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20160091972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• 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 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• 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: H01F 7/126 Supporting or mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10409 Screws
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/325 by abutting or pinching, i.e. without alloying process; mechanical auxiliary parts therefor adaptations of leads inserted in holes for press-fit connections H05K3/308

Abstract

A haptic feedback assembly includes interconnections for mechanically and electrically securing a haptic actuator in a track pad assembly so as to securely and efficiently provide haptic feedback to a user.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a track pad associated with said housing, said track pad including;

a touch assembly that may be contacted by a user of said electronic device;

a force assembly associated with said touch assembly;

an actuator mechanically interconnected to said force assembly by a mechanical fastener; and

an electronic circuit board mechanically and electrically connected to the actuator by the mechanical fastener;

whereby an electrical signal may be conducted from the electronic circuit board to the actuator through the mechanical fastener to provide haptic feedback to said user.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1 wherein said mechanical fastener is a screw.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2 further including a washer positioned between said screw and said actuator.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3 wherein said washer is a plastic ring press fit into said actuator.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4 wherein said plastic ring is pliable.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1 wherein said touch assembly is associated with said force assembly by at least one flexible pad.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6 wherein said flexible pad is a foam pad.

8. The electronic device according to claim 6 wherein said flexible pad is a gel pad.

9. A track pad comprising:

a force assembly;

a touch assembly associated with said force assembly by at least one flexible pad;

an attraction plate mechanically attached to said force assembly;

an actuator electromagnetically associated with said attraction plate; and

an electronic board electrically and mechanically connected to said actuator by a mechanical fastener such that the electronic board sends an electrical signal to the actuator through the mechanical fastener to cause the attraction plate to move toward the actuator.

10. The track pad according to claim 9 wherein said mechanical fastener includes solder and the electronic board is soldered to said actuator at one or more solder points.

11. The track pad according to claim 9 wherein the mechanical fastener includes a screw.

12. The track pad according to claim 9 wherein said flexible pad is formed from gel.

13. The track pad according to claim 9 further comprising a stiffener adjacent the force assembly.

14. The track pad according to claim 9 further comprising at least one force sensor mounted on the force assembly.

15. The track pad according to claim 9 wherein the force assembly is H-shaped.

16. The track pad according to claim 9 wherein the force assembly is rectangular with diagonal cross-beams extending between opposing corners.