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US 8,248,278 B2Granted
Haptic keyboard assemblies, systems and methods
AssigneePacinian Corporation
InventorsJames William Schlosser, Cody George Peterson, Andrew Huska
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims20
An assembly comprising:
- an electrically-deformable material;
- an actuator mounted to the electrically-deformable material and configured to be fixedly connected to a key or keyboard element on a keyboard;
- wherein the electrically-deformable material is configured to be disposed in the keyboard operably proximate a switch;
- and
- wherein the electrically-deformable material is configured to be driven by one or more drive voltages to effect movement of the key or keyboard element, wherein said movement comprises a multi-vectored movement that is generally orthogonal to a direction effective to cause switch closure, said movement being in at least two directions a first direction of which moves the key or keyboard element a first distance, a second direction of which moves the key or keyboard element a second distance, the second direction being generally opposite of the first direction.
2 more elements
A computer-implemented method comprising:
- receiving an input associated with a switch closure of a switch associated with a key or keyboard element on a keyboard having a plurality of keys or keyboard elements;
- responsive to receiving said input, causing multi-vectored movement of the key or keyboard element, wherein said movement, being generally orthogonal to a direction effective to cause switch closure, moves the key or keyboard element in a first direction and at least a second different direction, wherein one of the first or second directions moves the key or keyboard element a distance that is greater than a distance the other of the first or second directions moves the key or keyboard element.
A system comprising:
- a keyboard having a plurality of keys or keyboard elements, the keys or keyboard elements being depressible in a direction;
- and
- means for causing multi-vectored movement of a key or keyboard element that has been depressed, the multi-vectored movement occurring in a movement direction that is generally orthogonal to the depressible direction, the multi-vectored movement occurring in a first direction and at least a second different direction, wherein one of the first or second directions moves the key or keyboard element a distance that is greater than a distance the other of the first or second directions moves the key or keyboard element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.