Parallel motion trackpad

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021263556-A1
Application number	US-202016797971-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 21, 2020
Priority date	Feb 21, 2020
Publication date	Aug 26, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An input device includes a touch plate having a central axis and a top surface with three outer points evenly spaced away from the central axis. A touch sensor is used to detect a user touch on the top surface at the first outer point, and a support mechanism supports the touch plate and is configured to translate the touch plate at the second and third outer points upon application of the user touch and translation of the touch plate at the first outer point. Translation of the three outer points is substantially equal along the central axis.

First claim

1 . A trackpad device, comprising:
a touch plate having a central axis and a top surface, the central axis being perpendicular to the top surface, the top surface having a first outer point, a second outer point, and a third outer point each evenly spaced away from the central axis on the top surface; a touch sensor to detect a user touch on the top surface at the first outer point; and a support mechanism supporting the touch plate, wherein the support mechanism is configured to translate the touch plate at the second and third outer points upon application of the user touch and translation of the touch plate at the first outer point, wherein translation of the first, second, and third outer points is substantially equal along the central axis.

2 . The trackpad device of claim 1 , further comprising a switch to transduce movement of the touch plate along the central axis.

3 . The trackpad device of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third outer points are positioned in corners of the top surface of the touch plate.

4 . The trackpad device of claim 1 , wherein a first downward force required to translate the touch plate at the first outer point is substantially equal to a second downward force required to translate the touch plate at the second outer point and equal to a third downward force required to translate the touch plate at the third outer point.

5 . The trackpad device of claim 1 , further comprising a base, wherein the support mechanism comprises at least two arm portions each being pivotally connected to the touch plate, pivotally connected to the base, and connected to each other at a central pivot.

6 . The trackpad device of claim 5 , wherein the at least two arm portions are each pivotally connected to the touch plate at an outer end of the respective arm portion and the at least two arm portions are each pivotally connected to the base between the outer ends and the central pivot.

7 . A computer input device, comprising:
a substrate; a trackpad mechanism coupled to the substrate and comprising:
a trackpad plate;
a hinge mechanism movably supporting the trackpad plate above the substrate and comprising at least two arm portions, each of the at least two arm portions including:
a first rotatable connection to the substrate;
a second rotatable connection to the trackpad plate; and
a third rotatable connection to another arm portion of the at least two arm portions;
wherein the first rotatable connection is positioned between the second and third rotatable connections;
wherein the second rotatable connection is positioned at an outer portion of the trackpad plate; and
wherein the third rotatable connection is positioned at a central portion of the trackpad plate; and

a touch sensor to sense a position of a user touch on the trackpad plate.

8 . The computer input device of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third rotatable connections comprises a living hinge.

9 . The computer input device of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third rotatable connections comprises a pivot hinge.

10 . The computer input device of claim 7 , wherein the second rotatable connection defines a first axis of rotation of the hinge mechanism relative to the trackpad plate and each of the at least two arm portions include a fourth rotatable connection to the substrate, wherein the first and fourth rotatable connections are aligned along a second axis of rotation that is parallel to the first axis of rotation.

11 . The computer input device of claim 7 , wherein the hinge mechanism comprises at least two layers of material attached to each other.

12 . The computer input device of claim 7 , wherein the outer portion of the trackpad plate is a corner of the trackpad plate.

13 . The computer input device of claim 7 , further comprising a deflectable switch configured to be actuated upon translation of the trackpad plate relative to the substrate.

14 . The computer input device of claim 7 , wherein the trackpad plate comprises a rigid frame attached to the trackpad plate and the second rotatable connection of each of the at least two arm portions is a connection to the rigid frame.

15 . An input device, comprising:
an enclosure having an outer edge; a keyboard in the enclosure; a trackpad in the enclosure between the keyboard and the outer edge, the trackpad including:
a touch surface having a keyboard-side portion adjacent to the keyboard an outer-side portion adjacent to the outer edge;
a touch sensor to detect an object at the touch surface; and
a hinge mechanism;
wherein application of a downward force at the keyboard-side portion or the outer-side portion of the touch surface induces vertical displacement of the keyboard-side portion of the touch surface equal to vertical displacement of the outer-side portion of the touch surface via the hinge mechanism.

16 . The input device of claim 15 , wherein the keyboard-side portion is oriented parallel to the outer-side portion of the touch surface.

17 . The input device of claim 15 , wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a pair of centrally-joined wings.

18 . The input device of claim 15 , wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a set of parallel pivot portions connecting the hinge mechanism to the enclosure.

19 . The input device of claim 15 , wherein vertical displacement of the touch surface induces a force feedback having a click ratio.

20 . The input device of claim 15 , wherein a switch is positioned between the hinge mechanism and the touch sensor.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Degner Brett W
• Matzinger Thomas R
• Hamel Bradley J
• Brooks Ryan P
• Krahn Scott J
• Roy Arka P

Classifications

• G06F3/0338

  with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks · CPC title

• G06F3/0414 Primary

  using force sensing means to determine a position · CPC title

• G06F1/169 Primary

  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 title

• G06F3/03547 Primary

  Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface · CPC title

• G06F2203/04105

  Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position · CPC title