Haptic Feedback in Apple Touchpads

Haptic button assemblies for electronic devices that provide tactile feedback when pressed. The assemblies have a movable input member with a sensor to detect button presses. When a press is detected, an electrical current is passed through a coil to generate a magnetic force that laterally translates the input member to provide a haptic output. This allows customized feedback sensations compared to traditional button mechanisms.

Source

Enhancing user interactions with electronic devices by generating tactile outputs in response to device orientation relative to objects and modifying the outputs as the distance changes. The device also provides tactile feedback indicative of AR planes, data sharing, and hovering over objects. This reduces cognitive burden, saves power, and enhances device usability. The device can also block access to personal information if desired.

Source

Compact, electrically efficient linear resonant actuator (LRA) designs suitable for haptic feedback in small electronic devices. The actuators have a movable mass with magnet sections and coils around it. The magnets have poles facing each other along the axis. Flexures suspend the mass and allow linear motion. The compactness comes from features like axisymmetric mass, axial magnet polarization, ferritic spacers, ferritic tube, and scalability by varying dimensions and coil number.

Source

Ring input devices with modulated friction to improve user experience. The ring has a rotating outer band and inner band. The outer band friction is adjusted dynamically based on the item being manipulated. This can provide tactile feedback like detents, prevent rotation at ends, or increase friction at beginnings. It can also prevent rotation completely. The friction modulation can be electromagnetic.

Source

A reluctance haptic engine for electronic devices that provides a haptic output when a user interacts with the device. The engine uses a core and an attractor plate separated by a gap. Applying an electrical current to the core creates a magnetic force that pulls the attractor plate and moves the device's input structure, providing a haptic output. The gap maintains tension to resist the force. This opposing force reduces the user's input force, giving a more noticeable haptic feedback. The engine's core and attractor plate are connected to the input structure.

Source

Improved user interfaces and methods for interacting with controls on electronic devices with displays, touchscreens, and off-display buttons. The interfaces provide visual, haptic, and audio feedback during interactions with a control to enhance usability and reduce errors. When a control is activated by a press on an off-display button, it is initially displayed without changing the control value. If a second press is detected within a threshold time, the control value is adjusted. This prevents accidental changes by requiring a second input. The control appearance changes when the value is adjusted. This provides visual feedback without altering the value. The interface also provides a lightweight way to check control values without changing them by showing the initial display after an off-display press.

Source

Displaying selectable options in a computer-generated environment like virtual reality that provides an intuitive and realistic way to interact with menus and options. The method involves overlaying the menu options onto the virtual environment instead of presenting them as separate floating windows. The options appear as objects in the environment that can be physically interacted with using the user's body movements and controllers. This immersive and immersive approach provides a more natural and intuitive way to select options in a virtual environment compared to traditional menus.

Source

Dual function transducer that can be used as both an electroacoustic transducer (e.g., loudspeaker) and a tactile transducer (e.g., shaker). The transducer has a single magnet motor assembly that accommodates both the loudspeaker components (e.g., piston and voice coil) and shaker components (e.g., shaker coil) so that both functions can be achieved using a single transducer. The magnetic system design enables the utilization of two functions by directing the magnetic field into two or more sets of high magnetic field density. One set will be utilized by the vibration function, and the other set by the loudspeaker function. This allows both functions to be achieved using a single transducer with space savings compared to separate components.

Source

Controlling the force output of reluctance actuators used in haptic feedback devices without directly measuring the force. The control uses feedback based on electrical parameters like current, voltage, and magnetic flux during actuation. A correlator component determines input parameters for the actuator based on desired force. During actuation, measurements of electrical parameters are used to estimate force and update the correlator. This allows accurate force control without force sensors on the actuator.

Source

A consistent haptic feedback experience across different types of electronic devices with varying haptic hardware. It provides an abstraction layer called "sharpness" to map haptic events to the specific device's haptic actuators. The layer allows uniform haptic feedback across devices while varying the actual haptic output based on the device's hardware. This involves converting a single sharpness value into a device-specific haptic waveform and intensity. It enables consistent, scalable haptics across devices with varying haptic actuators.

Source

Detecting skin-to-skin contact and gestures between body parts using sensors on fingers. The system involves placing sensors on fingers to detect contact and gestures between those fingers or other body parts. It uses criteria like amplitude thresholds and waveform analysis to accurately distinguish between skin-to-skin contact and proximity events. This prevents false positives when the fingers are close but not touching. The sensors can be rings worn on fingers or integrated into devices like gloves.

Source

Electronic devices with a force-sensing display that can measure the force applied to the display. The force sensor is integrated in-plane with the display, encapsulated between the glass layers, and surrounded by the display frame. This allows measuring the force applied to the display while maintaining the touch sensitivity. The force sensor can estimate the force by detecting changes in capacitance when a force is applied. The encapsulation and enclosure prevent external interference with the force sensor.

Source

Adaptive haptic feedback in electronic devices that autonomously adjusts user alerts based on the device's environment and operating conditions. The device monitors its own haptic output and measures parameters like vibration frequency. It then compares these to targets based on factors like location and user input. If the measured values deviate, it adjusts the haptic control signal to bring them back to target. This allows optimizing and adapting haptic feedback for different scenarios like indoors vs outdoors, or adjusting vibration frequency based on user input.

Source

Touch input device for electronic devices that can be implemented in electronic devices to receive user input during operation of the electronic device. The input device uses ultrasonic touch sensing that allows user inputs to be detected through conductive materials like metal enclosures. It generates ultrasound signals using a piezoelectric layer like PVDF. When a user touches the metal housing, the ultrasound signal reflects and is detected by the same piezoelectric layer. An array of electrodes on opposing sides of the piezoelectric layer are operated to generate and detect ultrasound signals. This allows ultrasonic touch sensing through conductive materials like metal enclosures.

Source

Localized haptic feedback modules for electronic devices like laptops and smartphones that provide tactile feedback when touching input areas like touchpads and keyboards. The modules attach directly to the input surface and deform it using piezoelectric actuators. This allows localized vibrations without the whole device vibrating. The modules can have spacers to suspend them inside the input surface and deform it when actuated. They can also have touch sensors to detect input locations. Multiple modules can coordinate haptic feedback.

Source

Rotary reluctance motor-based torque feedback mechanism for electronic triggers that provides tactile feedback similar to mechanical springs when no power is applied, but can quickly modify the torque profile when power is applied to emulate different triggers. The mechanism uses asymmetric poles fixed around a rotating magnet. Applying power to the coils of the poles generates forces on the magnet that rotate it and provide torque to the trigger. By carefully shaping the poles and magnet segments, the torque versus angle profile can be optimized to match different triggers. This allows customizable torque feedback for electronic triggers that approximates the feel of mechanical triggers.

Source

Embedding micro-machined ultrasonic transducers (MUTs) in a flexible band of a wearable device to enable advanced interaction and sensing features. The MUTs, driven by on-board electronics, can detect touch, gestures, physiological signals, and transfer data. The MUTs have piezoelectric layers sandwiched between electrodes and supported by a base material with cavities. This allows flexible band integration without rigid housing. The MUTs can also beamform ultrasound for improved transmission and reception. The flexible band MUTs can detect touch, gestures, body signals, and communicate data.

Source

A compact and efficient haptic actuator for providing tactile feedback in electronic devices like phones. The actuator uses a small angular movement of an imbalanced mass around a pivot point. A spring limits the angular displacement to prevent full rotation. An electric coil attached to the mass moves it in response to an input signal. The spring stores and releases energy during the angular motion to change direction. This angular resonance generates a haptic output with limited angular rotation that approximates linear motion. It requires fewer components compared to linear actuators like LRAs.

Source

Enhancing user interactions with devices like smartphones to subscribe to content services and access content items more efficiently. The techniques involve using touch gestures instead of menus and forms to streamline the subscription and access processes. For subscribing, a press gesture with increased contact intensity initiates subscription signup. For accessing content, a press gesture with increased contact intensity plays content via the service. This reduces inputs, time, and power compared to traditional methods.

Source

Haptic actuator design with a field member having a unique magnet configuration to improve haptic feedback quality. The field member has a frame with multiple side-by-side permanent magnets having alternating polarizations. Each magnet segment has at least one non-vertical transition zone between adjacent segments. This magnet arrangement allows more complex force profiles and better haptic feedback compared to traditional magnets with only vertical polarization transitions.

Source

Electrostatic haptic feedback on touchscreens that provides variable friction feedback without requiring moving parts like motors. The feedback is achieved by coating the touchscreen surface with a hybrid conductive layer containing conductive particles in an organic matrix. When an electric field is applied to the layer, the particles interact to create variable friction, simulating tactile sensations. The touchscreen itself can drive the field to provide haptics without additional components.

Source

Integrating force sensing and haptic feedback into a device enclosure without needing openings. The enclosure has flexible regions on the inside surface that can deform when a force is applied. Haptic actuators like piezoelectric elements are attached to the rigid support structures adjacent to the flexible regions. When the actuator is activated, it bends the support structure, transmitting the force through the enclosure wall to provide haptic feedback. Applying a force to the enclosure surface deforms the flexible region, which is detected by the actuator for force sensing.

Source

Double helix actuator for haptic feedback in devices like smartphones that provides higher force density compared to traditional linear actuators. The double helix actuator has a coil wound around a movable mass inside a magnetic structure. The coil is wound in a helix shape with alternating windings. The coil windings follow the magnetic fields of magnets on the cover and base, maximizing force generation. The double helix actuator also produces torque in addition to linear force.

Source

Determining back electromagnetic force (bEMF) in haptic actuators using coils with two windings connected in series or parallel without needing to measure coil resistance or current. For series-connected coils, bEMF is computed based on the voltages across each winding and the ratio of turns. For parallel-connected coils, bEMF is computed based on the voltage across both coils, the current through each coil, and a current ratio. This allows independent bEMF measurement without requiring precise resistance or current sensing.

Source

Haptic system with improved accuracy and reduced latency for haptic feedback. It uses an impedance estimator to quickly and accurately estimate the resistance and inductance of the driving coil in a reluctance haptic actuator. The estimator adds an amplitude-modulated calibration signal to the haptic drive signal during pre-warming. The calibration signal has high amplitude during pre-warming to lift SNR, then low amplitude during playback to avoid power penalty. The estimator down-converts the voltage and current during pre-warming, fits to a model, and provides the coil parameters to the driver for optimized playback.

Source

Efficient and discreet methods for managing output of time using electronic devices like smartwatches. The techniques involve providing non-visual time indications like audible alerts, vibrations, or tactile feedback without requiring display interaction. When a user requests time, the device determines criteria like input type, display configuration, and output devices. It then outputs time discreetly via appropriate non-visual means. This reduces time, power, and cognitive burden compared to displaying time. It also helps low vision users, deaf users, and those in loud environments. The device can also alert when time reaches predefined intervals.

Source

Modular system for providing localized haptic feedback on electronic devices using inertial actuators. The system involves separating the input device from the device housing using a dampener and attaching an inertial actuator directly to the input device. This allows shaking the input device for localized haptic feedback while minimizing housing vibrations. The dampener isolates the input device from the housing to prevent global shaking.

Source

Head-mounted device with a rotatable crown that provides tactile input and localized haptic feedback. The crown module attaches to the headset frame and has a shaft inside that rotates when the crown is turned. Sensors detect rotation and torque applied to the crown. Haptic feedback devices inside the module provide localized vibrations when activated. This allows tactile input and feedback without the entire headset vibrating against the user's head.

Source

Force sensing using ultrasound to detect forces applied through a user's digit (like a finger) on a surface. A transducer coupled to the digit transmits ultrasound into the digit. Reflections from bones and the opposite digit surface are received and timed. Force estimates are made based on the time of flight or distance traveled by the ultrasound waves. This allows independent force sensing that can complement capacitive touch screens.

Source

Force and touch sensors for electronic devices that use self-mixing interferometry of laser diodes to detect force or touch on input surfaces or displays. The sensors utilize optical waveguides and laser diodes to detect force at multiple points on the surface. Light is inserted into the waveguide near the surface and reflects back. Self-mixing interference of the reflected light with the existing light in the diode alters its operational parameter. By detecting this change, the force location can be determined based on the known waveguide length.

Source

A compact shaker module for electronic devices like smartphones that can generate low frequency audio and vibrations despite space constraints. The shaker has a frame attached to the device housing, a movable component inside, and two flat springs connecting them. One spring is parallel to the frame, the other perpendicular. This configuration allows the module to move the component back and forth to mimic low frequency sound and vibration without needing much space.

Source

Efficient and intuitive user interface design for touchscreens that reduces user inputs, conserves power, and improves operability. The UI uses techniques like tactile feedback, visual previews, and input thresholds to provide feedback, prevent errors, and enable complex actions with single contacts. It aims to make touchscreen interaction faster and more efficient by reducing the number and nature of inputs required.

Source

Interface pressure sensor for electronic devices with a rigid outer module enclosure and an inner module with a pressure sensor and infill. The inner module infill fills the inner volume and encloses the pressure sensor. The outer module provides mechanical resistance against shear forces. This allows normal force input to be transmitted to the pressure sensor and converted into a force measurement. The outer module also protects the inner module from lateral forces. The infill encapsulation material fills the inner module and provides a sensing surface. Pressure applied to the sensing surface is converted into a force measurement. The inner module configuration allows precise force measurement with a small sensing area.

Source

Haptic engine module for electronic devices like smartphones, laptops, and smartwatches with improved haptic feedback. The haptic engine has a housing containing coils, magnets, and a moving mass. The coils are adjacent in a long direction perpendicular to the vibration direction. Magnets with opposite polarizations are placed on the moving mass and arranged so their fluxes project onto the coils. This allows compact haptic actuators for devices with extreme aspect ratios like touchbars without sacrificing force generation. Exciting the coils with currents in opposite directions creates a Lorentz force on the moving mass. The magnets enhance the magnetic field perpendicular to the coils, increasing force.

Source

A haptic actuator design with improved force output and reduced size compared to conventional haptic actuators. The actuator has a housing, a stator in the housing, and a field member with a magnet inside. The magnet has side-by-side magnetic segments with alternating polarizations and non-vertical transition zones between segments. This allows the magnet to move more freely within the housing when the stator is activated, increasing force output. Flexures connect the magnet frame to the housing to permit reciprocal movement.

Source

Enhancing user interactions with devices like smartphones and tablets to more efficiently edit time and date fields. The technique involves detecting press gestures with increased contact intensity above a threshold. When a user presses a time or date field with sustained contact above a certain intensity, it is interpreted as a confirmation press. This reduces the need for multiple taps to select and edit fields. The technique also allows scrolling through time or date options by swiping with varying intensities, where lower intensities scroll slowly and higher intensities scroll faster. This provides a customizable scrolling speed based on touch intensity.

Source

Electronic devices with actuators that provide tactile feedback without bulky or uncomfortable components. The actuators use fabric materials with integrated magnets that vibrate in response to electrical signals. This allows haptic feedback like vibrations to be provided in a more sleek and comfortable way compared to traditional actuators with moving parts. The fabric actuators can be integrated into touchscreens, keyboards, or other input devices to provide tactile feedback when pressed.

Source

Earphone with force-sensing user interface that allows controlling device functions by squeezing or pinching the earphone instead of using buttons or touchpads. The earphone has a deformable input section with a pressure sensor containing an incompressible elastic material. Applying force to the deformable section compresses the elastic material, reducing its volume and increasing pressure inside. The pressure sensor detects the force-induced pressure change.

Source

Enhancing user interfaces for downloading episodes of a content series and for viewing upcoming episodes on devices like smartphones, tablets, and TVs. The interface provides features like swipe-to-download multiple episodes at once, tap-to-mark episodes as watched, and gesture-based fast-forwarding through upcoming episodes. The goal is to improve efficiency and convenience for users interacting with content on devices.

Source

An electronic device with a transparent cover assembly that provides electrostatic haptic feedback on the input surface. The cover assembly has a hybrid conductive coating containing both conductive and non-conductive particles in an organic matrix. An electrostatic charge can be applied to the coating to create friction feedback on the input surface.

Source

Dual function transducer that can be used as both an electroacoustic transducer (e.g., loudspeaker) and a tactile transducer (e.g., shaker). The transducer has a single magnet motor assembly that accommodates both the loudspeaker components (e.g., piston and voice coil) and shaker components (e.g., shaker coil) so that both functions can be achieved using a single transducer. The magnet motor assembly has a first magnet plate, a second magnet plate, and a center plate between them. Coils (voice coil for loudspeaker, shaker coil for vibration) are positioned around the center plate in channels between the plates. This allows both functions to be driven independently or together using the same motor assembly.

Source

Reducing size of haptic actuators in mobile phones without compromising effectiveness. The technique involves using a smaller mass in the actuator that still provides noticeable haptic feedback. This is achieved by increasing the force generated by the actuator. The increased force allows a smaller mass to move enough to provide a perceptible haptic output. This reduces the overall size of the haptic actuator inside the mobile phone.

Source

Driving a haptic actuator with closed-loop control using sensors to accurately move a magnet and coil for haptic feedback. The haptic actuator has a coil and a magnet. Sensors like strain gauges, inductance sensors, or capacitive sensors are used to measure the relative movement between the coil and magnet. A processor drives the coil based on the sensor feedback to provide precise haptic feedback. This closed-loop control improves haptic fidelity by compensating for variations in magnet strength and coil inductance.

Source

A haptic actuator design that provides tactile feedback with improved force and vibration characteristics. The actuator uses a coil with a loop shape suspended by a spring inside a slotted opening in a magnet assembly. The coil and magnets can move relatively to generate vibrations when current is applied to the coil. This allows adjusting the force and vibration amplitude by varying the coil current. The loop shape of the coil reduces magnetic field interference and improves force density compared to a simple flat coil. The slotted opening in the magnet assembly allows for controlled movement between the coil and magnets.

Source

Haptic actuator design for providing tactile feedback with improved force output and reduced size. The actuator has a spool with coils, a tubular bearing inside the spool opening, and a shaft sliding in the bearing. A field member with magnets surrounds the coils. This configuration enables high force density and compact size compared to conventional haptic actuators with linear motion.

Source

Improved touchpads for computers that have better sensitivity and gesture recognition. The touchpad has a rigid element with touch sensors and force sensors. The force sensors detect how hard the user is pressing. This allows differentiating between light taps, medium presses, and hard clicks. It also enables detecting button presses and releases. The force sensor signals are processed to interpret gestures and button actions. The rigid element prevents lateral movement. This prevents misclicks. The force sensors transmit motion to the element to simulate button clicks. The user can customize trigger settings.

Source

A haptic actuator design with improved reliability and reduced cost for providing tactile feedback in haptic devices. The actuator has a housing, coil, magnet, and flexure assembly. The magnet is mounted on a frame with endcaps, and the flexures connect the frame ends to the housing. This allows the magnet to move within the housing when the coil is energized, providing haptic feedback. The endcaps and flexures are overmolded for added durability and assembly ease. The overmolded endcaps prevent the magnet from falling out during assembly, and the overmolded flexures provide a more secure connection and reduce the risk of delamination between the flexure and housing.

Source

Electronic devices with a touch sensor that can provide localized haptic feedback in addition to touch input. The touch sensor is positioned below the device's touch interface, like a display glass, and has shifted circuitry to isolate it from the device's power and ground. This allows using a high-resistivity conductive layer on the interface surface. When the touch sensor detects an input, it generates a local voltage difference between the shifted source and ground. This voltage couples through the resistive layer to the user's finger on the interface surface, providing a localized haptic feedback effect.

Source

Laptop computer with discrete tactile areas that provide separate haptic feedback in specific locations while avoiding interference between areas. The laptop has input areas with adjacent discrete tactile areas. Each area has a dedicated haptic actuator to generate localized tactile output. This allows targeted feedback without affecting the other area. The tactile output can be used for notifications, warnings, and other system status indications.

Source