Programmable actuation force input for an accessory and methods thereof
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a button including a fixed force magnet coupled to a first housing assembly component serving as a top portion of the button, a variable force magnet coupled to a second housing assembly serving as a bottom portion of the button, and a spring coupled to the fixed force magnetic and the variable force magnet for repelling the fixed force magnet from the variable force magnet according to a spring constant of the spring. The variable force magnet emitting a magnetic field to counter the spring constant and thereby adjust a force required to depress the button. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
1. A method, comprising:
generating, by a system comprising a processor, electrical communication between a first portion of a button and a second portion of the button in response to a first conductive material coupled to the first portion of the button contacting a second conductive material coupled to the second portion of the button, wherein the first conductive material and the second conductive material are along a first radial axis; and
generating, by the system, a mechanical force to create resistance to pressing of the button in response to detecting, by the system, the electrical communication, wherein the mechanical force is along a second radial axis, different from the first radial axis.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising communicating, by the system, a signal to a variable force magnet at the first portion of the button to initiate a magnetic field.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the magnetic field interacts with a ferromagnetic material at the second portion of the button to create a magnetic resistance to pressing of the button, wherein the mechanical force comprises the magnetic resistance.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the ferromagnetic material comprises a magnetized ferromagnetic material that initiates a second magnetic field, the second magnetic field altering the magnetic resistance to the pressing of the button.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the variable force magnet at the first portion of the button and the ferromagnetic material at the second portion of the button are along the second radial axis.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the signal is a digital signal.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the system comprises a computing device that receives a target magnitude of the magnetic field from an accessory, wherein the signal that is communicated to the variable force magnet initiates the magnetic field according to the target magnitude.
8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the system comprises a computing device that receives a target polarization of the magnetic field from an accessory, wherein the signal that is communicated to the variable force magnet initiates the magnetic field according to the target polarization.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first radial axis is not through a center radial axis of the button.
10. An accessory, comprising:
a button;
a processing system including a processor; and
a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
generating electrical communication between a first portion of the button and a second portion of the button in response to a first conductive material coupled to the first portion of the button contacting a second conductive material coupled to the second portion of the button, wherein the first conductive material and the second conductive material are along a first radial axis; and
generating a mechanical force to create resistance to pressing of the button in response to detecting the electrical communication, wherein the mechanical force is along a second radial axis, different from the first radial axis.
11. The accessory of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise communicating a signal to a variable force magnet at the first portion of the button to initiate a magnetic field.
12. The accessory of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic field interacts with a ferromagnetic material at the second portion of the button to create a magnetic resistance to pressing of the button, wherein the mechanical force comprises the magnetic resistance.
13. The accessory of claim 12 , wherein the ferromagnetic material comprises a magnetized ferromagnetic material that initiates a second magnetic field, the second magnetic field altering the magnetic resistance to the pressing of the button.
14. The accessory of claim 13 , wherein the variable force magnet at the first portion of the button and the ferromagnetic material at the second portion of the button are along the second radial axis.
15. The accessory of claim 11 , wherein the signal is a digital signal.
16. The accessory of claim 11 , wherein the processing system comprises a computing device that receives a target magnitude of the magnetic field from the accessory, wherein the signal that is communicated to the variable force magnet initiates the magnetic field according to the target magnitude.
17. The accessory of claim 11 , wherein the processing system comprises a computing device that receives a target polarization of the magnetic field from the accessory, wherein the signal that is communicated to the variable force magnet initiates the magnetic field according to the target polarization.
18. A device, comprising:
a processing system including a processor; and
a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
generating electrical communication between a first portion of the device and a second portion of the device in response to a first conductive material coupled to the first portion of the device contacting a second conductive material coupled to the second portion of the device, wherein the first conductive material and the second conductive material are along a first radial axis; and
generating a mechanical force to create resistance to pressing of the device in response to detecting the electrical communication, wherein the mechanical force is along a second radial axis, different from the first radial axis.
19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the generating of the mechanical force comprises generating the mechanical force using a spring coupled to a fixed force magnet and a variable force magnet for repelling the fixed force magnet from the variable force magnet according to a spring constant of the spring, the variable force magnet emitting a magnetic field to counter the spring constant and thereby adjust a force required to adjust a position of the device.
20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the fixed force magnet, the variable force magnet, and the spring are along the first radial axis.