Backlit Haptic Key
AssigneePacinian Corporation
InventorsCody George Peterson, Andrew Parris Huska, James William Schlosser
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Abstract
Various embodiments provide keyboards that utilize electrically-deformable material as an actuating mechanism to provide haptic feedback to a user of the keyboard. In at least some embodiments, the electrically-deformable material is utilized to impart, to a depressed key or keyboard element, a multi-vectored movement that produces a perceived acceleration of the key or keyboard element thus providing a user with haptic feedback which simulates a snapover movement. In at least some embodiments, a light source can be mounted or otherwise positioned relatively close to and beneath the top surface of one or more keys or keyboard elements to backlight a portion or portions of a keyboard.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- at least one key positioned on the apparatus;
- an actuating mechanism operatively associated with the key, the actuation mechanism being configured to both actuate the key and to facilitate light transmission therethough the actuation mechanism;
- a light source configured to illuminate the key through the actuating mechanism.
A keyboard comprising:
- a plurality of separately movable keys positioned on the keyboard, each of one or more of the plurality of keys have operatively associated therewith;
- an actuation mechanism positioned thereunder its associated key, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to:
- provide haptic feedback to a user engaging its associated key, and
- facilitate light transmission therethrough the actuation mechanism and to its associated key;
- and
- at least one light source positioned beneath at least one of the plurality of keys and configured to backlight one or more of the plurality of keys by light from the light source, wherein only a portion of at least one individual key has light from the light source passing therethrough.
A method comprising:
- receiving an input associated with illuminating a keyboard portion of a keyboard having a plurality of keys, wherein one or more of the plurality of keys are actuated by an electrically-deformable material;
- and
- responsive to receiving the input, illuminating the keyboard portion, wherein the illuminating includes emitting light from a light source positioned beneath at least a portion of a top surface of at least some of the plurality of keys of the keyboard and enabling the emitted light to pass through at least a portion of the top surface of the one or more illuminated keys.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.