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US 10,853,614 B2Granted
Input devices incorporating biometric sensors
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsRobert Y. Cao, Michael K. McCord, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A button assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The button assembly integrates a biometric sensor below a top surface of the button. The button assembly is positioned relative to a secondary display of an electronic device. The secondary display can be positioned relative to a keyboard, such as above a top row of keys of the keyboard.
Claims20
A laptop computing device comprising:
- an upper portion comprising a primary display;
- a hinge;
- a lower portion coupled to the upper portion by the hinge, and comprising:
- a keyboard comprising multiple rows of depressible keys;
- a cover defining a first top surface and positioned within an aperture that is positioned between the keyboard and the hinge;
- a secondary display positioned within the aperture and below the cover and configured to present a set of visual indicia, each visual indicia of the set of visual indicia corresponding to one of a set of commands or functions;
- and
- a touch input sensor positioned within the aperture and below the cover, the touch input sensor configured to detect a touch input along the first top surface of the cover;
- and
- a depressible power button positioned within the aperture and adjacent to the cover and defining a second top surface that is substantially flush with the first top surface, the depressible power button comprising a fingerprint sensor below the second top surface and configured to change a power state of the laptop computing device in response to detecting a fingerprint of an authorized user.
7 more elements
A laptop computing device comprising:
- an upper portion having a primary display;
- a lower portion pivotally coupled to the upper portion and comprising:
- a housing defining a top housing surface and an aperture formed into the top housing surface;
- a keyboard comprising multiple rows of depressible keys and positioned at least partially within the housing;
- a touch-sensitive display positioned within the aperture and defining a top display surface, the touch-sensitive display configured to display a set of indicia and to detect a touch input along the top display surface;
- and
- a depressible power button positioned within the aperture and abutting the touch-sensitive display, the depressible power button defining a button top surface that is flush with the top display surface and the top housing surface, the depressible power button comprising a fingerprint sensor and configured to depress in response to a finger press, the depressible power button configured to authenticate a user.
4 more elements
A laptop computing device comprising:
- an upper portion having a primary display;
- and
- a lower portion pivotally coupled to the upper portion by a hinge and comprising:
- a housing defining an aperture extending in a direction that is parallel to the hinge;
- a keyboard positioned at least partially within the housing on a side of the aperture that is opposite to the hinge;
- a secondary display positioned within the aperture and configured to display a set of visual indicia that corresponds to functions of the keyboard, the secondary display configured to detect touch input;
- and
- a depressible power button positioned within the aperture and adjacent to the secondary display to define a smooth continuous surface, the depressible power button configured to pivot in response to a finger press and comprising a fingerprint sensor that is configured to obtain biometric data corresponding to a fingerprint in response to a finger touch on the depressible power button.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.