# US 2021/0240271 A1 · System and method for generating high-frequency and mid-frequency audible sound via piezoelectric actuators of a haptic keyboard > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0240271 A1 - Document ID: US20210240271A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/188,542 - Filed: 2021-03-01 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-31 - Assignees: Dell Products L.P. - Applicants: Dell Products, LP - Inventors: Priyank Gajiwala; Michiel Knoppert; James H. Hallar; Thomas M. Hinskens; Frank van Valkenhoef - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210240271A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G06F 1/1662: {Details related to the integrated keyboard} - G06F 3/021: {Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner} - G06F 3/0219: {Special purpose keyboards} - G06F 3/0414: {using force sensing means to determine a position} - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - H04R 17/00: Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers (piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners {H10N30/00}) - H04R 1/023: {Screens for loudspeakers} - H04R 2499/15: Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract A haptic keyboard based sound system of an information handling system comprising a coversheet to identify a plurality of key locations of a haptic keyboard and a first key having a piezoelectric element for haptic tactile feedback upon key actuation, a support layer, a contact foil placed between the coversheet and support layer, and a haptic feedback and piezo sound controller operatively coupled to the contact foil to receive the mid-frequency portion of an audio signal and the high frequency portion of the audio signal from an audio controller operably connected to the haptic feedback and piezo sound controller, and send a piezo audio signal to the piezoelectric element to cause the piezoelectric element to generate a mid-frequency and high-frequency sound audio according to the received mid-frequency portion of an audio signal and the high frequency portion of the audio signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A haptic keyboard based sound system of an information handling system, comprising: a coversheet to identify a plurality of key locations of a haptic keyboard and a first key having a piezoelectric element with contact foil to generate haptic tactile feedback upon key actuation; and a haptic feedback and piezo sound controller operatively coupled to the contact foil to: receive an audio signal from an audio controller operably connected to the haptic feedback and piezo sound controller; and send a piezo audio signal to the piezoelectric element to cause the piezoelectric element to generate sound audio according to the received audio signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric element is configured to receive a high-frequency audio signal portion of the audio signal to generate high-frequency sound audio. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric element is configured to receive a mid-frequency audio signal portion of the audio signal to generate mid-frequency sound audio. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 1 further comprising: a low-frequency speaker operably connected to the audio controller; and the audio controller transmitting a low-frequency audio signal portion of the audio signal to the low-frequency speaker to generate low-frequency sound audio. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 1 further comprising: the haptic feedback and piezo sound controller configured to send a plurality of piezo audio signals to plural piezoelectric elements associated with a plurality of keys of the haptic keyboard to cause the piezoelectric elements to generate mid-frequency and high-frequency sound audio according to the received audio signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 1 further comprising: the haptic feedback and piezo sound controller configured to send a plurality of piezo audio signals to plural piezoelectric elements associated with a plurality of keys of the haptic keyboard that are not currently being actuated to cause the piezoelectric elements to generate sound audio. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 1 further comprising: the haptic feedback and piezo sound controller configured to send a piezo audio signal to a haptic touchpad piezoelectric element when the piezoelectric elements associated with a plurality of keys of the haptic keyboard are being actuated to cause the haptic touchpad piezoelectric elements to generate sound audio. ### Claim 8 A haptic keyboard based sound system of an information handling system, comprising: a coversheet to identify a plurality of key locations of a haptic keyboard and a haptic touchpad region of a haptic touchpad; a contact foil under the coversheet operatively coupled to a first plurality of piezoelectric elements to generate haptic tactile feedback upon key actuation; a second plurality of piezoelectric elements to generate tactile feedback for the haptic touchpad region; a haptic sound controller operatively configured to: receive an audio signal and send a piezo audio signal to at least one piezoelectric element of the haptic keyboard or haptic touchpad to cause the piezoelectric element to generate sound audio according to the received audio signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 8 further comprising: the haptic sound controller operatively configured to generate sound audio at a haptic touchpad piezoelectric element according to the received audio signal when the haptic keyboard is being actuated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 8 further comprising: the haptic sound controller operatively configured to generate sound audio at a haptic keyboard piezoelectric element according to the received audio signal when the haptic touchpad is being actuated. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 8 further comprising: the haptic sound controller to: identify a first plurality of piezoelectric elements associated in memory with mid-frequency audio; and send a piezo audio signal to the first plurality of piezoelectric elements to generate a mid-frequency haptic sound feedback according to the mid-frequency audio signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 8 further comprising: the haptic sound controller to: identify a first plurality of piezoelectric elements associated in memory with high-frequency audio; and send a piezo audio signal to the first plurality of piezoelectric elements to generate a high-frequency haptic sound feedback according to the high-frequency audio signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 12, wherein the first plurality of piezoelectric elements is situated beneath the touchpad. ### Claim 14 A haptic keyboard based sound system of an information handling system, comprising: a coversheet to identify a plurality of key locations of a haptic keyboard and a first key having a piezoelectric element with a contact foil to generate haptic tactile feedback upon key actuation; and a haptic feedback and piezo sound controller operatively coupled to the contact foil to: receive an audio signal and send a piezo audio signal to the piezoelectric element to cause the piezoelectric element to generate sound audio according to the received audio signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 14 further comprising: the haptic feedback and piezo sound controller to send a mid-frequency portion of the audio signal and a high frequency portion of the audio signal as the piezo audio signal to the piezoelectric element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 14 further comprising: the haptic feedback and piezo sound controller to send a high frequency portion of the audio signal as the piezo audio signal to the piezoelectric element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 14 further comprising: the haptic feedback and piezo sound controller to receive a portion of the audio signal with a separated high-frequency portion filtered from the audio signal by an audio controller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 14 further comprising: the haptic feedback and piezo sound controller to: identify a first plurality of piezoelectric elements in a first region and second plurality of piezoelectric elements in a second region; and generate sound audio according to the received audio signal at the second region when the first plurality of piezoelectric elements in the first region are being actuated during typing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 14 further comprising: the haptic feedback and piezo sound controller to: identify a first plurality of piezoelectric elements under the haptic keyboard and second plurality of piezoelectric elements under a haptic touchpad designated on the coversheet; and generate sound audio according to the received audio signal at the haptic touchpad when the first plurality of piezoelectric elements of the haptic keyboard are being actuated. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The haptic keyboard based sound system of claim 14 further comprising: the haptic feedback and piezo sound controller to: identify a first plurality of piezoelectric elements under the haptic keyboard and second plurality of piezoelectric elements under a haptic touchpad designated on the coversheet; and generate sound audio according to the received audio signal at the haptic keyboard when the haptic touchpad is being used.