公开(公告)号：US11221677B2

公开(公告)日：2022-01-11

申请号：US16882150

申请日：2020-05-22

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Steven J. Taylor ,  Brenton A. Baugh ,  Paul X. Wang ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Ivan S. Maric ,  Zheng Gao ,  Qiliang Xu

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/0354 ,  G06F3/038 ,  G06F3/041

Abstract: According to some embodiments, an accessory device for interacting with an electronic device having a touch sensitive surface, is described. The accessory device can include a housing having walls suitable for carrying a processor capable of providing instructions and an interface unit extending through an opening at a distal end of the housing, where the interface unit is capable of interacting with the touch sensitive surface. The accessory device can further include a sensor in communication with the processor and the interface unit, where the sensor is capable of (i) detecting a stimulus generated by the interaction between the interface unit and the touch sensitive surface, and (ii) responding by providing a feedback parameter to the processor that responds by providing a feedback instruction. The accessory device can further include a feedback component that responds to the feedback instruction by transmitting a feedback force to the walls of the housing.

公开(公告)号：US11150734B2

公开(公告)日：2021-10-19

申请号：US16802145

申请日：2020-02-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Alex J. Lehmann ,  Juan Pu ,  Paul X. Wang ,  Qiliang Xu ,  Zheng Gao

IPC: G06F3/02 ,  H01L41/09 ,  G06F3/041 ,  H01L41/113 ,  G06F3/0354 ,  G06F3/01

Abstract: Disclosed herein are structures, devices, methods and systems for providing haptic output on an electronic device. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes a display portion, a housing pivotally coupled with the display portion and comprising a glass sheet that defines an input surface of the electronic device. The input surface can define a keyboard having a set of key regions arranged along the glass sheet. The electronic device may also include a haptic mechanism positioned beneath a key region of the set of key regions that includes a substrate defining a beam structure having first and second fixed ends, a spacer positioned along a first side of the beam structure and a piezoelectric element positioned along a second side of the beam structure. The piezoelectric element can be configured to deflect the beam structure to provide haptic output along the input surface.

公开(公告)号：US11127547B1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-21

申请号：US15809951

申请日：2017-11-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  Qiliang Xu ,  David L. Christensen ,  Zheng Gao

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  H01H13/85 ,  G06F1/16 ,  G06F3/02

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to deformable haptic structures used within an electronic device. The haptic structures may provide input and output for the electronic device. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a keyboard having a housing and a keycap positioned within an opening of the housing. The keyboard may include a haptic structure coupled with the housing and the keycap. The haptic structure may include a compliant layer and a pair of electrodes separated by the compliant layer. The pair of electrodes may be configured to compress the compliant layer in response to an input signal. The compression of the compliant layer caused by the pair of electrodes may move the keycap relative to the housing.

公开(公告)号：US20200257362A1

公开(公告)日：2020-08-13

申请号：US16863984

申请日：2020-04-30

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Zheng Gao ,  Reza Nasiri Mahalati ,  Ray L. Chang

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/0354 ,  G06F3/0346

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a user input device and methods related to the use thereto. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a flexible fabric attachable to a user having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may be moveable in relation to the second portion. The embodiment may further include a controller configured to identify an input configuration based on a position of the first portion relative to a position of the second portion within a three-dimensional space. The embodiment may further include a haptic feedback structure disposed adjacent the flexible fabric and configured to provide haptic feedback based on the input configuration.

公开(公告)号：US10591993B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-17

申请号：US15416466

申请日：2017-01-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Alex J. Lehmann ,  Juan Pu ,  Paul X. Wang ,  Qiliang Xu ,  Zheng Gao

IPC: G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/041 ,  H01L41/09 ,  G06F3/0354 ,  G06F3/02

Abstract: Disclosed herein are structures, devices, methods and systems for providing haptic output on an electronic device. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes an actuator configured to move in a first direction. The electronic device also includes a substrate coupled to the actuator. When the actuator moves in the first direction, the substrate or a portion of the substrate, by virtue of being coupled to the actuator, moves in a second direction. In some implementations, the movement of the substrate is perpendicular to the movement of the actuator.

公开(公告)号：US10418763B2

公开(公告)日：2019-09-17

申请号：US15954425

申请日：2018-04-16

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： George Tziviskos ,  Paul J. Hack ,  Samuel W. Yuen ,  Nathan N. Ng ,  Zheng Gao ,  Mahmoud R. Amini ,  Min Chul Kim ,  Colin J. Abraham

IPC: H01R13/648 ,  H01R24/70 ,  H01R13/6597 ,  H01R24/64 ,  H01R13/6585 ,  H01R13/6581 ,  H01R43/16 ,  H01R13/6582 ,  H01R13/24 ,  H01R13/627 ,  H01R43/02

Abstract: Connector inserts having retention features with good reliability and holding force. These connector inserts may include ground contacts that provide an insertion portion having a reduced length. These connector inserts may be reliable, have an attractive appearance, and be readily manufactured.

公开(公告)号：US10275040B2

公开(公告)日：2019-04-30

申请号：US15681322

申请日：2017-08-18

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Michelle R. Goldberg ,  Kathleen A. Bergeron ,  Paul X. Wang ,  Alex J. Lehmann ,  William P. Yarak, III ,  Kevin C. Armendariz ,  Zheng Gao

IPC: G06F3/02 ,  H01H13/14 ,  H01H13/83 ,  H01H13/705 ,  H01H11/00 ,  H01H13/88 ,  H01H3/12

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a low profile key for a keyboard having an overmolded support structure. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a key cap having an illuminable symbol. A support structure having a pair of overmolded wings may pivotally couple to the key cap. A switch housing may surround the support structure and connect each of the first and second wings. A tactile dome may be at least partially positioned within the switch housing and configured to bias the key cap upward. A sensing membrane may be positioned along an underside surface of the tactile dome and configured to trigger a switch event in response to a collapsing of the tactile dome caused by a depression of the key cap. A feature plate may be positioned below the sensing membrane. A light guide panel may define at least one light extraction feature that may be configured to propagate light toward the key cap and cause illumination of the illuminable symbol.

公开(公告)号：US20190123465A1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-25

申请号：US16160793

申请日：2018-10-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Mahmoud R. Amini ,  Zheng Gao ,  Nathan N. Ng

IPC: H01R12/73 ,  H01R12/70 ,  H01R13/6583 ,  H01R24/60 ,  H01R24/66

CPC classification number: H01R12/73 ,  H01R12/7029 ,  H01R13/6583 ,  H01R13/6658 ,  H01R24/60 ,  H01R24/66 ,  H05K1/0215 ,  H05K1/117

Abstract: Connector systems may include a connector receptacle and connector plug or insert. The connector receptacle may include a tongue. The tongue may be formed using a printed circuit board. Contacts may be plated on top and bottom surfaces of the tongue. Retention features may also be located on top and bottom surfaces of tongue. These retention features may be speed bumps or other features. The connector insert may include a leading edge portion formed of plastic, a conductive shield around the insert behind the leasing edge portion, a plurality of spring contacts attached to an inside of the conductive shield, a top row of contacts; and a bottom row of contacts. Other connector receptacles may include a tongue having side ground contacts. The side ground contacts may engage an inside of a plug shield and have contacting portion to fit in openings in the plug shield.

公开(公告)号：US20190103751A1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-04

申请号：US15721461

申请日：2017-09-29

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Paul X. Wang ,  Zheng Gao

IPC: H02J7/00 ,  H01R13/62 ,  H01F38/14

Abstract: Embodiments describe a charging component for an electronic device that includes an interface surface comprising a portion of an external surface of a housing of the electronic device; a plurality of contacts positioned at the interface surface and exposed for making contact with contacts of a connector; one or more sensors for detecting a separation event; an inductor coil positioned proximate to the interface surface, wherein a central axis of the inductor coil is perpendicular to at least a portion of the interface surface; and a processor coupled to the inductor coil and the one or more sensors, wherein the processor is configured to change an operation of the inductor coil based at least in part on a measurement from the one or more sensors

公开(公告)号：US10228721B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-12

申请号：US15215530

申请日：2016-07-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Houtan R. Farahani ,  Craig C. Leong ,  Matthew W. Blum ,  Zheng Gao ,  Kevin M. Robinson ,  Keith J. Hendren

IPC: G06F1/16 ,  H05K5/00 ,  H05K7/00 ,  G06F3/02 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/0354 ,  H05K5/04

Abstract: A portable electronic device having several features is disclosed. The device can include a retention member that retains flexible circuits extending from a top portion to a bottom portion of the device, thereby allowing some components to be moved from a top portion of the device to a bottom portion. The device may include a cover plate can be secured with a display in the top portion to cover the retention member and other internal components. The device can include an omni-directional port designed to receive a connector different orientations and provide power to the device. The device can include a flexible keyboard having butterfly keycaps. The device can include an array of openings for an audio driver, with some of the array including through holes and blind holes. The device can also include a touch pad having a force feedback sensor and a haptic device.