公开(公告)号：US20230015526A1

公开(公告)日：2023-01-19

申请号：US17951011

申请日：2022-09-22

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Alex J. Lehmann ,  Chang Zhang ,  Dayu Qu ,  Kenneth M. Silz ,  Paul X. Wang ,  Qiliang Xu ,  Zheng Gao ,  Scott J. McEuen ,  Reza Nasiri Mahalati

IPC: G06F3/04886 ,  G06F3/04883 ,  G06F3/01

Abstract: An input device for an electronic device includes an enclosure and a top member defining an input surface having multiple differentiated input regions. The input device further includes a first force sensing system associated with a first area of the top member and including a first group of the differentiated input regions, and a second force sensing system associated with a second area of the top member and including a second group of the differentiated input regions. The input device further includes a touch sensing system configured to determine which input region from the first group of the differentiated input regions corresponds to the first force input and to determine which input region from the second group of the differentiated input regions corresponds to the second force input.

公开(公告)号：US11372151B2

公开(公告)日：2022-06-28

申请号：US16919425

申请日：2020-07-02

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Qiliang Xu ,  Dinesh C. Mathew ,  Adam T. Garelli ,  Richard G. Huizar ,  Genie Kim ,  Robert J. Lockwood ,  Robert Y. Cao

IPC: F21V8/00 ,  G06F1/16 ,  G06F3/0354 ,  G06F3/02 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/0488 ,  G04G21/00 ,  G06F3/044 ,  H01H13/14 ,  H01H13/20 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/04883 ,  G06F3/04886

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an electronic device having an illuminated body that defines a virtual or dynamic trackpad. The electronic device includes a translucent layer defining a keyboard region and a dynamic input region along an external surface. A keyboard may be. positioned within the keyboard region and including a key surface and a switch element (e.g., to detect a keypress). A light control layer positioned below the translucent layer and within the dynamic input region may have a group of illuminable features. The electronic device may also include a group of light-emitting elements positioned below the optical diffuser. One or more of the light control layer or the group of light-emitting elements may be configured to illuminate the dynamic input region to display a visible boundary of an active input area. At least one of a size or a position of the visible boundary may be dynamically variable.

公开(公告)号：US11360560B2

公开(公告)日：2022-06-14

申请号：US16786895

申请日：2020-02-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Kathleen A. Bergeron ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Qiliang Xu ,  Zheng Gao ,  Paul X. Wang

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/0354 ,  G06F3/038

Abstract: An input device, such as a stylus, can include a piezoelectric device for providing haptic feedback and/or detecting user input. The piezoelectric device can be coupled to an inner surface of a housing of the stylus. The piezoelectric device can provide haptic feedback with a force to the housing when an electric voltage is applied to the piezoelectric device. The haptic feedback can provide information to the user relating operation of the stylus with an external device. The piezoelectric device can also produce an electric voltage when an input force is applied to an outer surface of the housing and transmitted to the piezoelectric device. The electric voltage can be used to detect tactile input from a user.

公开(公告)号：US20220155890A1

公开(公告)日：2022-05-19

申请号：US17649516

申请日：2022-01-31

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Qiliang Xu ,  Richard G. Huizar

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/0362 ,  G06F3/02 ,  G06F1/16 ,  F21V33/00 ,  G09F13/08 ,  G09F13/06

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an electronic device having a hidden or concealable input region. In one aspect, an embodiment includes an enclosure having a wall that defines an input region having an array of microperforations. A light source may be positioned within a volume defined by the enclosure and configured to propagate light through the array of microperforations. A sensing element may be coupled with the wall and configured to detect input received within the input region. The array of microperforations are configured to be visually imperceptible when not illuminated by the light source. When illuminated by the light source, the array of microperforations may display a symbol.

公开(公告)号：US11281305B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-22

申请号：US16720548

申请日：2019-12-19

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Chia Chi Wu ,  Qiliang Xu ,  Zheng Gao ,  Daniel D. Sunshine ,  Aidan N. Zimmerman

IPC: G06F3/02 ,  G06F1/16 ,  H03K17/98 ,  H03K17/96

Abstract: A keyboard may be provided that has keys overlapped by a touch sensor. The keyboard may have key sensor circuitry for monitoring switching in the keys for key press input. The keyboard may also have touch sensor circuitry such as capacitive touch sensor circuitry that monitors capacitive electrodes in the touch sensor for touch sensor input such as multitouch gesture input. The keyboard may include an outer layer of fabric that overlaps the keys. The fabric may have openings that are arranged to form alphanumeric characters. Light sources may emit light that passes through the openings and illuminates the alphanumeric characters. The touch sensor may have signal lines that are not visible through the openings. The signal lines may be transparent, may be covered by a diffuser, or may circumvent the openings so that they do not overlap.

公开(公告)号：US11221677B2

公开(公告)日：2022-01-11

申请号：US16882150

申请日：2020-05-22

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Steven J. Taylor ,  Brenton A. Baugh ,  Paul X. Wang ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Ivan S. Maric ,  Zheng Gao ,  Qiliang Xu

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/0354 ,  G06F3/038 ,  G06F3/041

Abstract: According to some embodiments, an accessory device for interacting with an electronic device having a touch sensitive surface, is described. The accessory device can include a housing having walls suitable for carrying a processor capable of providing instructions and an interface unit extending through an opening at a distal end of the housing, where the interface unit is capable of interacting with the touch sensitive surface. The accessory device can further include a sensor in communication with the processor and the interface unit, where the sensor is capable of (i) detecting a stimulus generated by the interaction between the interface unit and the touch sensitive surface, and (ii) responding by providing a feedback parameter to the processor that responds by providing a feedback instruction. The accessory device can further include a feedback component that responds to the feedback instruction by transmitting a feedback force to the walls of the housing.

公开(公告)号：US20210325993A1

公开(公告)日：2021-10-21

申请号：US17360970

申请日：2021-06-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Qiliang Xu ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Ming Yu ,  Xianwei Zhao ,  Xiaonan Wen ,  Shan Wu ,  Xiaofan Niu

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/045 ,  G06F3/044

Abstract: An electronic device includes an input device. The input device has an input/output module below or within a cover defining an input surface. The input/output module detects touch and/or force inputs on the input surface, and provides haptic feedback to the cover. In some instances, a haptic device is integrally formed with a wall or structural element of a housing or enclosure of the electronic device.

公开(公告)号：US11150734B2

公开(公告)日：2021-10-19

申请号：US16802145

申请日：2020-02-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Alex J. Lehmann ,  Juan Pu ,  Paul X. Wang ,  Qiliang Xu ,  Zheng Gao

IPC: G06F3/02 ,  H01L41/09 ,  G06F3/041 ,  H01L41/113 ,  G06F3/0354 ,  G06F3/01

Abstract: Disclosed herein are structures, devices, methods and systems for providing haptic output on an electronic device. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes a display portion, a housing pivotally coupled with the display portion and comprising a glass sheet that defines an input surface of the electronic device. The input surface can define a keyboard having a set of key regions arranged along the glass sheet. The electronic device may also include a haptic mechanism positioned beneath a key region of the set of key regions that includes a substrate defining a beam structure having first and second fixed ends, a spacer positioned along a first side of the beam structure and a piezoelectric element positioned along a second side of the beam structure. The piezoelectric element can be configured to deflect the beam structure to provide haptic output along the input surface.

公开(公告)号：US11127547B1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-21

申请号：US15809951

申请日：2017-11-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Qiliang Xu ,  David L. Christensen ,  Zheng Gao

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  H01H13/85 ,  G06F1/16 ,  G06F3/02

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to deformable haptic structures used within an electronic device. The haptic structures may provide input and output for the electronic device. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a keyboard having a housing and a keycap positioned within an opening of the housing. The keyboard may include a haptic structure coupled with the housing and the keycap. The haptic structure may include a compliant layer and a pair of electrodes separated by the compliant layer. The pair of electrodes may be configured to compress the compliant layer in response to an input signal. The compression of the compliant layer caused by the pair of electrodes may move the keycap relative to the housing.

公开(公告)号：US11109797B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-07

申请号：US15942499

申请日：2018-03-31

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Qiliang Xu ,  Richard G. Huizar

IPC: A61B5/024 ,  A61B5/026 ,  A61B5/021 ,  A61B5/08 ,  G06F1/16 ,  G06F1/3287 ,  G06F1/3231 ,  A61B5/00 ,  A61B5/1455 ,  A61B5/0205 ,  A61B5/145

Abstract: An electronic device includes a translucent layer that forms a portion of an exterior of the electronic device, an opaque material positioned on the translucent layer that defines micro-perforations, and a processing unit operable to determine information about a user via the translucent layer. The processing unit may be operable to determine the information by transmitting optical energy through a first set of the micro-perforations into a body part of the user, receiving a reflected portion of the optical energy from the body part of the user through a second set of the micro-perforations, and analyzing the reflected portion of the optical energy.