Selectively displaced keys for input and output
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsFaizal A. Kotta, Vishal Narayanan Potty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect, an apparatus for receiving input and/or generating output comprises a key assembly. The key assembly comprises a key cover, a magnet, and an electromagnet. The magnet is coupled to the key cover. The electromagnet is operable to displace the key cover based on whether the key assembly is in an active state or an inactive state. In the active state, the electromagnet is operable to raise the key cover to a first position based on generation of a magnetic field. In the inactive state, the electromagnet is operable to lower the key cover to a second position based on cessation of the magnetic field.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a key assembly, comprising:
- a key cover;
- a magnet coupled to the key cover;
- a key base;
- and
- an electromagnet, the electromagnet operable to vibrate the key cover based on whether the key assembly is in an active state or an inactive state, wherein:
- in the active state, the electromagnet is operable to vibrate the key cover based on generation of a magnetic field, and
- in the inactive state, the electromagnet is operable to not vibrate the key cover based on cessation of the magnetic field, and
- wherein whether the key assembly is in the active state or the inactive state is based on input by a user, an application programming interface (API), or an executable application.
A system comprising:
- a plurality of key assemblies, wherein each key assembly in the plurality of key assemblies comprises:
- a key cover;
- a magnet coupled to the key cover;
- a key base;
- and
- an electromagnet, the electromagnet operable to displace and to vibrate the key cover relative to the key base based on whether the key assembly is in an active state or an inactive state, wherein:
- in the active state, the electromagnet is operable to raise the key cover to a first position and to vibrate the key cover based on generation of a magnetic field, and
- in the inactive state, the electromagnet is operable to lower the key cover to a second position and to not vibrate the key cover based on cessation of the magnetic field;
- and
- wherein whether the key assembly is in the active state or the inactive state is based on input by a user, an application programming interface (API), or an executable application;
- and
- wherein the electromagnet in each key assembly of the plurality of key assemblies is operable to displace the key cover and to vibrate the key cover independent of other key covers of the plurality of key assemblies.
A method, comprising:
- displacing and providing haptic feedback, by an electromagnet, to a magnet coupled to a key cover within a key assembly based on whether the key assembly is in an active state or an inactive state, the displacing and providing haptic feedback comprising:
- in the active state, raising the key cover to a first position and providing haptic feedback to the key cover based on generating of a magnetic field, and
- in the inactive state, lowering the key cover to a second position and not providing haptic feedback based on stopping the magnetic field, and
- wherein whether the key assembly is in the active state or the inactive state is based on input by a user, an application programming interface (API), or an executable application.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.