Keyboard with adjustable feedback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11094483-B2
Application number	US-201916446239-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2019
Priority date	Mar 21, 2019
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

Keyboards, input devices, and related systems include key mechanisms with keycaps and actuators that provide adjustable feedback in response to user input. The actuators are controllable to provide variable tactile force or audible feedback that is dependent upon the user input. Encoders are able to transduce a location or relative position of a keycap as it is being pressed over time, and a signal is provided to actuators to cause them to provide feedback corresponding to the position of the keycap as it moves. The feedback can change the feel or sound of the keycap based on the keycap positions, time of operation, velocity, user identity, and other factors. Thus, the feel or sound of a keyboard or related input device can be adjusted electronically for efficient testing and increased user customization and feedback modes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A keyboard, comprising:
a set of key mechanisms, each key mechanism including:
a keycap to receive an input force applied by a user input;
a rotary encoder to transduce a position of the keycap based on translation of the keycap causing rotation of at least a portion of the rotary encoder, the rotary encoder configured to output an electronic signal corresponding to the position of the keycap;
a linkage connecting the keycap to the rotary encoder, the linkage being connected to the keycap via a pivot joint; and
an actuator to apply an output force to the keycap, the output force being dependent upon the electronic signal from the encoder.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 , further comprising a controller receiving the electronic signal from the rotary encoder and being in electronic communication with the actuator, wherein the controller is configured to control the output force based on a function of the position of the keycap relative to a support surface.

3. The keyboard of claim 2 , wherein the function is modifiable by a user.

4. The keyboard of claim 2 , wherein the function comprises a first configuration corresponding to a first velocity of the keycap relative to the support surface and a second configuration corresponding to a second velocity of the keycap relative to the support surface, the first configuration being different from the second configuration.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric portion.

6. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a magnetic body to apply a magnetic force to the keycap based on a function of the position of the keycap.

7. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a damping component configured to apply a damping force to the keycap in response to a rate of displacement of the keycap.

8. A computer interface system, comprising:
a processor;
a keyboard in electronic communication with the processor, the keyboard including:
an actuator; and
a keycap linked to the actuator; and

a memory device in electronic communication with the processor, the memory device storing instructions, wherein, upon receipt of the instructions from the memory device, the processor is configured to:
provide a first signal to the actuator, the first signal causing the actuator to apply a first feedback force to the keycap;
receive a user input; and
provide a second signal to the actuator in response to receiving the user input, the second signal causing the actuator to apply a second feedback force to the keycap, the second feedback force being different from the first feedback force;
wherein the first feedback force limits displacement of the keycap past a first displacement value, and the second feedback force limits displacement of the keycap past a second displacement value, the first displacement value being different from the second displacement value.

9. The computer interface system of claim 8 , further comprising a position sensor, wherein the user input is a displacement of the keycap sensed by the position sensor.

10. The computer interface system of claim 8 , wherein the user input is received via an electronic user interface element.

11. The computer interface system of claim 8 , wherein the keyboard generates a first sound when the actuator applies the first feedback force, and the keyboard generates a second sound when the actuator applies the second feedback force, the first sound being different from the second sound.

12. The computer interface system of claim 8 , wherein the user input comprises a keycap velocity indicator, and wherein the second feedback force is greater than the first feedback force when the keycap velocity indicator exceeds a threshold velocity value.

13. The computer interface system of claim 8 , wherein the user input is a force applied to the keycap, wherein the second feedback force comprises a higher resistance to movement of the keycap than the first feedback force.

14. The computer interface system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to detect a user identity by receiving the user input, wherein the second feedback force corresponds to the user identity.

15. The computer interface system of claim 8 , wherein the first feedback force is different from the second feedback force due to having at least one of a different click ratio, a different tactile peak force magnitude, a different tactile peak force displacement, a different bottom-out force, a different bottom-out displacement, a different tactile bottom force magnitude, a different tactile bottom force displacement, a different stiffness at full travel, a different pre-load weight, a different drop stroke length, or a different key profile hysteresis.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Poncella John A
• Greenberg Daniel A
• Matzinger Thomas R

Classifications

• H01H2231/002

  Calculator, computer · CPC title

• H01H13/85 Primary

  characterised by tactile feedback features · CPC title

• H01H2215/03

  Sound · CPC title

• H01H2215/028

  alterable · CPC title