# US 11,442,615 B2 · Systems for modifying finger sensations during finger press input events > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,615 B2 - Document ID: US11442615B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/883,876 - Filed: 2020-05-26 - Published: 2020-09-10 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-29 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Paul X. Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442615B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 3/014: {Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves} - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface} - G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus - H03K 17/952: {using inductive coils} - H03K 17/962: {Capacitive touch switches} - H03K 17/9627: {Optical touch switches} - G06F 2203/014: Force feedback applied to GUI - G06F 2203/0331: Finger worn pointing device - H03K 2217/96062: with tactile or haptic feedback - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) ## Abstract A user may provide finger press input to a surface such as a touch sensitive input surface. The input surface may be formed from a two-dimensional touch sensor overlapping a display of an electronic device. The electronic device and an associated device such as a finger-mounted device may form a system for gathering the finger press input from the user. A sensor may be used in monitoring when the finger-mounted device and a user's finger in the device approach the input surface of the electronic device. In response to detection of the finger near the input surface, actuators in the finger-mounted device may squeeze the finger inwardly to cause a finger pad on the finger to protrude outwardly towards the input surface, thereby softening impact between the finger and the input surface. The electronic device may also have an array of components to repel the finger-mounted device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device configured to be worn on a finger of a user as the finger is moved towards a surface, the finger having a fingertip with a fingernail, a finger pad, and side portions that extend from the fingernail toward the finger pad, the electronic device comprising: a body configured to be coupled to the finger, wherein the body has a movable portion; control circuitry; a plurality of vibrators coupled to the body that are configured to be selectively activated by the control circuitry to apply feedback to selected portions of a single one of the side portions of the finger; and a component that is configured to apply additional feedback to the finger by moving the movable portion toward the finger. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising an actuator coupled to the body that is configured to apply additional feedback to the side portions of the finger. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of: an electromagnetic actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric actuator, an electroactive polymer actuator, a vibrator, a linear actuator, a rotational actuator, and an actuator that bends a bendable member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the actuator is configured to move toward the finger to apply a force to the side portion of the finger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising: a proximity sensor on the body configured to detect proximity of the finger to the surface, wherein the plurality of vibrators are configured to apply the feedback in response to the detected proximity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic device defined in claim 5 wherein the proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of: an optical proximity sensor and a capacitive proximity sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the body is configured to be coupled to the fingertip, covering the fingernail and the side portions of that fingertip and leaving the finger pad of that fingertip exposed. ### Claim 8 A finger-mounted device configured to cover a fingernail and edge portions of a finger while leaving a finger pad of the finger exposed, the finger-mounted device comprising: a body coupled to the finger, wherein the body has a top portion that covers the fingernail and first and second side portions that extend from the top portion; a plurality of actuators in each of the first and second side portions of the body; and control circuitry that is configured to apply feedback to selected portions of an edge portion of the finger with the plurality of actuators, wherein the plurality of actuators are configured to squeeze the finger. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The finger-mounted device defined in claim 8 wherein the plurality of actuators are configured to move the first and second side portions of the body toward the finger to apply the feedback to the selected portions of the edge portion of the finger. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The finger-mounted device defined in claim 9 wherein the control circuitry is configured to selectively apply feedback to selected portions of the finger using different actuators of the plurality of actuators. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The finger-mounted device defined in claim 8 wherein the plurality of actuators are configured to squeeze the finger with the side portions of the body to move the finger pad away from the fingernail. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The finger-mounted device defined in claim 11 wherein the plurality of actuators are configured to squeeze the finger varying amounts as the finger is moved over a surface to create a sensation of texture. ### Claim 13 An electronic device configured to be worn on a finger of a user, the finger having a fingertip with a fingernail, a finger pad, and edge portions that extend between the fingernail and the finger pad, the electronic device comprising: a body having a top portion and first and second side portions that extend from the top portion; first and second actuators in the first side portion of the body that are configured to selectively apply feedback along a length of an edge portion of the finger; and a third actuator in the second side portion of the body, wherein the first and third actuators are configured to move the first and second side portions of the body toward the finger. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the first actuator is a vibrator that is configured to vibrate to apply the feedback to the edge portion of the finger. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are adjustable flap actuators that selectively apply force along the edge portion of the finger. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the first and third actuators are configured to move the first and second side portions of the body toward the finger to move the finger pad away from the fingernail.