Input/output device with a dynamically adjustable appearance and function

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10114489-B2
Application number	US-201615261954-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2016
Priority date	Feb 6, 2013
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

A computing device is disclosed. The computing device may include a display, a processor in communication with the display and an enclosure connected to the display. The computing device may also include an input/output (I/O) device in communication with the processor. The I/O device may also be connected to the enclosure. Additionally, the I/O device may include a modifiable display that may substantially match the appearance of the enclosure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computing device comprising:
an upper portion;
a main display positioned in the upper portion;
a lower portion rotatably coupled to the upper portion;
a keyboard positioned in the lower portion;
an input device positioned within the lower portion along a side of the keyboard and comprising a touch-sensitive display; and
a processor in communication with the main display and the touch-sensitive display and configured to:
cause the input device to:
dynamically display a set of virtual keys and a first set of symbols associated with the set of virtual keys;
display a second set of symbols distinct from the first set of symbols in response to the computing device changing an active software application; and
display a transition graphic during a transition between displaying the first set of symbols and the second set of symbols.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein a first virtual key of the set of virtual keys defines a slide input region configured to receive a sliding touch input along the slide input region.

3. The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising a light source positioned below and operably coupled to the touch-sensitive display.

4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the transition graphic is displayed in place of a portion of the first set of symbols.

5. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein a respective transition graphic is displayed in place of each symbol of the first set of symbols.

6. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the transition graphic is a dynamic transition graphic linking the first set of symbols to the second set of symbols.

7. An input/output device comprising:
an enclosure;
a set of keys positioned at least partially within the enclosure;
a display positioned within the enclosure above the set of keys and configured to dynamically display a set of symbols corresponding to a set of touch input regions; and
an array of touch sensors positioned above the display and configured to detect a touch in a respective region of the set of touch input regions;
wherein the input/output device is configured to:
communicate with a processor in communication with an additional display;
display a first symbol in a first touch input region of the set of touch input regions;
display a second symbol in response to an input along the input/output device; and
display a transition graphic during a transition between displaying the first symbol and the second symbol.

8. The input/output device of claim 7 , wherein the input is a touch along the set of touch input regions.

9. The input/output device of claim 7 , wherein the first touch input region defines a slide key that provides a dynamically variable input that varies in accordance with a touch position along a length of the slide key.

10. The input/output device of claim 7 , wherein
the set of touch input regions is a first set of touch input regions;
the input/output device is further configured to transition the first set of touch input regions to a second set of touch input regions distinct from the first set of touch input regions in response to the input along the input/output device.

11. The input/output device of claim 7 , wherein the additional display is rotatably coupled to the input/output device.

12. The input/output device of claim 7 , wherein the array of touch sensors comprises capacitive touch sensors.

13. The input/output device of claim 7 , wherein the input/output device is configured to wirelessly communicate with the processor.

14. The input/output device of claim 13 , wherein a surface of the display is non-planar.

15. The input/output device of claim 7 , further comprising a force sensor coupled to the display and configured to measure an amount of force applied to a surface of the display by a touch along the input/output device.

16. The input/output device of claim 15 , further comprising a haptic actuator configured to provide haptic feedback at the surface of the display in response to the touch exerting an amount of force that exceeds a threshold.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Ligtenberg Chris
• Abraham Euan S
• Qi Jun
• Drzaic Paul S
• Chiu Po-Wen
• Hopkinson Ron
• Goldberg Michelle
• Yin Victor H
• Andre Bartley K
• Silvanto Mikael
• Turullols Erin

Classifications

• G09G2310/068

  Application of pulses of alternating polarity prior to the drive pulse in electrophoretic displays · CPC title

• G06F3/0219

  Special purpose keyboards · CPC title

• G02F2201/44

  Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers · CPC title

• G06F1/1616

  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 title

• G06F1/1671

  Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop (G06F1/1666 takes precedence) · CPC title