Information handling system variable feel input device
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorJason S. Morrison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable information handling system keyboard includes plural keys that each have a programmable variable-feel response to an end user experience with key interactions in real time. In one example embodiment, a magnetic-rheological fluid is disposed in a chamber of the key to pass through openings formed in a piston that moves downward with a keypress and upward in response to a biasing mechanism, such as a spring disposed in the chamber. Current applied to a coil around the chamber creates a magnetic field that varies the viscosity of the fluid so that key compression and range of motion associated with an input as well as key movement to a raised position are programmable to adjust based upon a sensed key position and movement.
Claims19
An information handling system comprising:
- a housing;
- a processor disposed in the housing and operable to execute instructions that process information;
- a memory disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the instructions and information;
- and
- a keyboard coupled to the housing, the keyboard having plural keys, each key having a key housing, a piston, a biasing device and a fluid having a selective viscosity, the key housing defining a chamber, the piston disposed in the chamber with the fluid and biased to an elevated position by the biasing device, each key operable to accept a predetermined press as a key input, selection of viscosity of the fluid in the chamber adjusting a compressive load of the key in response to compression of the fluid in the piston at the key input.
A method for managing input device feel, the method comprising:
- inserting an input device member into a chamber having a magneto-rheological fluid;
- applying a magnetic field at the chamber based at least upon a position of the input device member;
- forming the input device member as a piston sized to fit in the chamber and having openings that pass through the magneto-rheological fluid;
- and
- adjusting the magnetic field to control resistance of the piston through the magneto-rheological fluid based upon resistance of magneto-rheological fluid passing through the openings.
A keyboard key comprising:
- a housing forming a chamber;
- a piston disposed in the chamber and having openings;
- a position sensor operable to detect the piston position;
- a magneto-rheological fluid disposed in the chamber and operable to pass through the openings with a variable resistance based upon a magnetic field applied at the chamber when the piston compresses the magneto-rheological fluid in the chamber in response to an end user input press at the keyboard key;
- a coil disposed at the housing and operable to generate the magnetic field;
- and
- a controller interfaced with the position sensor and the coil, the controller adjusting current applied to the coil based upon positions sensed by the position sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.