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US 12,253,884 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 display;
- a lower portion coupled to the upper portion;
- and
- a depressible power button positioned at least partially in the lower portion and comprising:
- a cap defining an entirety of an upper exposed surface of the depressible power button, the cap configured to receive a touch input and a press input;
- a grounding element positioned below the cap and configured to detect the touch input;
- a biometric sensor positioned below the cap and configured to detect the touch input;
- a compressible switch positioned below the biometric sensor and configured to detect the press input;
- and
- a spring element positioned below the cap and configured to resist movement of the cap in response to the touch input and deform in response to the press input.
7 more elements
A laptop computing device comprising:
- an upper housing portion comprising a display;
- a lower housing portion coupled to the upper housing portion and defining one or more openings;
- a depressible power button positioned at least partially within an opening of the one or more openings and comprising:
- a cap defining a substantial entirety of an upper surface of the depressible power button;
- a spring plate positioned below the cap and configured to maintain the cap in an undepressed position in response to a touch input and allow the cap to move to a depressed position in response to a press input;
- a biometric sensor positioned between the cap and the spring plate and configured to obtain biometric data in response to the touch input;
- and
- a metallic frame positioned between the cap and the spring plate and configured to operate as a grounding element for the biometric sensor.
5 more elements
A laptop computing device comprising:
- an upper portion comprising a display;
- a lower portion coupled to the upper portion;
- and
- a power button positioned within an opening in the lower portion and comprising:
- a cap defining an entirety of an exposed upper surface of the power button and configured to move between an undepressed position and a depressed position;
- a frame positioned below the cap and configured to operate as a non-contact grounding element in response to a user touch to the cap;
- a spring positioned below the cap and coupled to the lower portion;
- a biometric sensor positioned between the cap and the spring and configured to detect a fingerprint of a user through the cap;
- wherein:
- in response to a touch input, the spring is configured to resist movement of the cap and maintain the cap in the undepressed position and detect the fingerprint of the user;
- and
- in response to a press input, the spring is configured to deform to allow the cap to move to the depressed positioned.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.