Trackpad actuator configurations for input device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12585353-B2
Application number	US-202418956841-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2024
Priority date	May 2, 2024
Publication date	Mar 24, 2026
Grant date	Mar 24, 2026

Abstract

Input devices for electronic devices including trackpads, such as keyboard, and systems that include input devices in communication with electronic devices are disclosed. In an example, an input device includes a trackpad including a touch surface, and an actuator configured to supply haptic feedback to the trackpad. The actuator is disposed outside of a periphery of the touch surface in a view perpendicular to the touch surface. The actuator is disposed to a side of the touch surface in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the touch surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An input device comprising:
a trackpad comprising a touch surface; an actuator configured to supply haptic feedback to the trackpad, the actuator being disposed outside of a periphery of the touch surface in a view perpendicular to the touch surface, the actuator being disposed to a side of the touch surface in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the touch surface; a back wall opposite the touch surface; and a beam plate between the trackpad and the back wall, the beam plate at least partially attached to the back wall by an adhesive material.

2 . The input device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to supply the haptic feedback to the trackpad by generating a magnetic field that attracts an attraction plate of the trackpad.

3 . The input device of claim 2 , wherein the attraction plate extends from within the periphery of the touch surface in the view perpendicular to the touch surface to outside of the periphery of the touch surface in the view perpendicular to the touch surface.

4 . The input device of claim 2 , wherein the attraction plate is rigidly fixed to a touch assembly of the trackpad, the touch assembly comprising the touch surface.

5 . The input device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of keys; and a touch assembly, the touch assembly comprising the touch surface and a logic board disposed within the periphery of the touch surface in the view perpendicular to the touch surface, the logic board being connected to the plurality of keys and the actuator.

6 . The input device of claim 1 , further comprising a housing comprising the back wall, wherein:
the trackpad is positioned in an opening in a top wall of the housing; and the actuator is attached to an inner surface of the top wall of the housing by an adhesive layer.

7 . The input device of claim 1 , wherein:
the actuator comprises an electromagnetic actuator comprising a coil surrounding a core; and the core comprises three or fewer laminated layers of silicon steel.

8 . A keyboard comprising:
a keyboard housing; and a trackpad in the keyboard housing, the trackpad comprising:
a touch assembly disposed in an opening in a top case of the keyboard housing; and
an actuator attached to an inner surface of the top case of the keyboard housing by a first adhesive layer, the actuator configured to apply a force to the touch assembly to supply haptic feedback to the touch assembly.

9 . The keyboard of claim 8 , further comprising a second adhesive layer attached to the actuator opposite the first adhesive layer.

10 . The keyboard of claim 9 , wherein the second adhesive layer is separated from a back case of the keyboard housing by a gap.

11 . The keyboard of claim 8 , wherein:
the trackpad further comprises a beam plate between the touch assembly and a back case of the keyboard housing; and the beam plate is at least partially attached to the back case of the keyboard housing by an adhesive material.

12 . The keyboard of claim 8 , wherein the trackpad further comprises a beam plate comprising:
a first C-shaped beam plate portion attached to the keyboard housing; and a second C-shaped beam plate portion attached to the keyboard housing and separated from the first C-shaped beam plate portion.

13 . The keyboard of claim 8 , wherein:
the trackpad further comprises an attraction plate rigidly fixed to the touch assembly; and the actuator is configured to apply a force to the attraction plate to supply the haptic feedback to the touch assembly.

14 . The keyboard of claim 8 , further comprising a spacebar, wherein the actuator is configured to apply a magnetic field to the touch assembly in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the spacebar.

15 . The keyboard of claim 8 , wherein the keyboard housing comprises:
a key portion comprising a plurality of keys; a first edge proximal the trackpad opposite the key portion; a second edge angled to and contiguous with the first edge; and a palm rest portion between the trackpad and the second edge and between the key portion and the first edge, wherein the actuator is attached to the keyboard housing in the palm rest portion of the keyboard housing.

16 . The keyboard of claim 8 , wherein the actuator is positioned outside a periphery of the touch assembly.

17 . A keyboard comprising:
a trackpad; a capacitor bank; an electrical interface connected to the capacitor bank and operable to supply power to the capacitor bank at up to a first rate; and an actuator connected to the capacitor bank, operable to provide haptic feedback to the trackpad, and configured to draw power from the capacitor bank at a second rate greater than the first rate.

18 . The keyboard of claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of keys, wherein:
the trackpad comprises a touch assembly; the touch assembly comprises a logic board; and the logic board comprises a single controller for both the actuator and the plurality of keys.

19 . The keyboard of claim 17 , further comprising a key area comprising a plurality of keys, the capacitor bank being disposed between the electrical interface and the key area.

20 . The keyboard of claim 17 , wherein:
the trackpad comprises a strain gauge to detect input provided to an input surface of the trackpad; the keyboard is configured to output a signal to the electrical interface based on the input detected via the strain gauge; and the actuator is configured to provide the haptic feedback in response to the input detected via the strain gauge.

21 . The keyboard of claim 17 , wherein the electrical interface is configured to:
transfer power from an external device to the capacitor bank; transfer data between the keyboard and the external device; and provide magnetic coupling to the external device.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Ponkala Joonas I
• Brooks Ryan P
• Mceuen Scott J
• Appel Austin
• Tsao Henry N
• Wright James E
• Owen-Elia Christopher I
• Bose Sanju
• Widder Anna C

Classifications

• G06F3/04164

  Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads · CPC title

• G06F3/0213

  Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick (for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033) · CPC title

• G06F1/26

  Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) · CPC title

• G06F3/016

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• G06F3/0202

  Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device · CPC title