Haptic keyboard assemblies, systems and methods
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.
1. 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. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second distances are different.
3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-deformable material comprises an electro-active polymer.
5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a key or keyboard element fixedly connected to the actuator.
6. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a key or keyboard element fixedly connected to the actuator; and
a magnet assembly mounted in the key or keyboard element.
7. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a key or keyboard element fixedly connected to the actuator; and
a magnet assembly mounted in the key or keyboard element, wherein the magnet assembly comprises a pair of opposed magnets.
8. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a key or keyboard element fixedly connected to the actuator; and
a detent structure operably associated with the key or keyboard element and configured to impart a snapover effect when the key or keyboard element is depressed.
9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-deformable material is translucent.
10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-deformable material is configured to be driven in a single phase mode.
11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-deformable material is configured to be driven in a dual phase mode.
12. 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.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said causing is performed, at least in part, using an electrically-deformable material.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein said causing is performed, at least in part, using an electrically-deformable material comprising an electro-active polymer.
16. 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.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the distance associated with the first direction is greater than the distance associated with the second direction.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein said means for causing multi-vector movement comprises an electrically-deformable material.
19. The system of claim 16 , wherein said means for causing multi-vector movement comprises an electro-active polymer.
20. The system of claim 16 , wherein at least some keys or keyboard elements are grouped into a logical grouping, and wherein said means for causing multi-vectored movement causes multi-vectored movement of the logical grouping of the keys or keyboard elements.