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US 12,341,508 B2Granted
Input device having adjustable input mechanisms
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsPaul X. Wang, John C. DiFonzo, Dayu Qu, Zheng Gao, Chang Zhang
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is an input device having adjustable input mechanisms. The input mechanisms of the input device may be dynamically adjusted based on one or more input characteristics associated with a user. Accordingly, the input device may be customized to fit a user's input preferences.
Claims19
A computing device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a keyboard positioned in the housing and including a plurality of adjustable key mechanisms, each having a respective keycap and a respective haptic actuator;
- at least one sensor positioned in the housing;
- a memory comprising an input characteristic database;
- a processor configured to access the memory, the memory having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
- detect, via a signal from the at least one sensor, an input characteristic of a user providing input to one or more adjustable key mechanisms of the plurality of adjustable key mechanisms;
- perform a comparison of the input characteristic of the user to the input characteristic database to determine an input preference of the user from a category of users in the input characteristic database;
- based on the input preference of the user from the category of users, automatically adjust an input setting for multiple adjustable key mechanisms of the plurality of adjustable key mechanisms;
- and
- control each haptic actuator of the multiple adjustable key mechanisms according to the input setting, including feedback responsive to at least subsequent inputs following the input.
7 more elements
A method of adjusting a keyboard of a computing device, the method comprising:
- determining, via a sensor of a computing device, an input characteristic of a user at a keyboard of the computing device;
- determining, from a plurality of input device configurations and via a processor of the computing device, an input device configuration based on a comparison of the input characteristic of the user and an input characteristic database indicating a match to predefined input characteristics of the input device configuration, wherein in the input characteristic database, the input device configuration defines haptic output properties preferred by a category of users;
- altering a property of a key of the keyboard based on the input device configuration;
- wherein determining the input device configuration includes tracking the input characteristic over a period of time, and wherein altering the property of the key occurs after the period of time.
1 more element
A keyboard, comprising:
- a housing;
- a set of keys positioned in the housing;
- a memory device housed within the housing, the memory device storing an input characteristic database comprising:
- a first input device configuration defining haptic feedback for a first user according to a first set of input preferences;
- and
- a second input device configuration defining additional haptic feedback for a second user according to a second set of input preferences, wherein the keyboard is configured to automatically switch based on a comparison of the first input device configuration and the second input device configuration when detected user input characteristics indicate a match to predefined input characteristics of either the first input device configuration or the second input device configuration that are stored within the input characteristic database;
- a set of touch sensors associated with the set of keys;
- and
- a set of haptic actuators associated with the set of keys;
- wherein, in response to detection of a first user input characteristic of the first user via the set of touch sensors, at least one haptic actuator of the set of haptic actuators is actuated to provide a first haptic feedback in accordance with the first input device configuration to at least one key of the set of keys;
- and
- wherein, in response to detection of a second user input characteristic of the second user via the set of touch sensors, the at least one haptic actuator of the set of haptic actuators is actuated to provide a second haptic feedback in accordance with the second input device configuration to the at least one key of the set of keys.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.