IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,649,529
Granted Patent B1
US 10,649,529 · App. 15/357,956 · Granted May 12, 2020

Modification of user-perceived feedback of an input device using acoustic or haptic output

Inventors: Kyle J. Nekimken (Cupertino, CA); John A. Porcella (Cupertino, CA); John S. Camp (Cupertino, CA); Michael A. Damianakis (Cupertino, CA); Robert L. Coish (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
G06F3/016G06F3/02H01H13/85H01H2215/028H01H2215/03
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,649,529
App. No.
15/357,956
Granted
May 12, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

A feedback or a user-perceived feedback of an input device is modified using one or more output devices. The output devices include one or more speakers and/or one or more actuators. The output (e.g., acoustic and/or haptic) produced using the output device may enhance, amplify, mask, obscure, or cancel an inherent sound or tactile feedback produced by the input device.

Claims (67)

1. A keyboard, comprising:

a key configured to actuate in response to a key press, the key including a key stack, comprising:

a key cap;

a key mechanism coupled to the key cap and configured to move the key cap between a rest position and a depressed position in response to the key press; and

a switch positioned beneath the key cap and configured to be activated in response to the key press; and

an output device configured to produce a feedback output comprising at least one of an acoustic output or a haptic output that is initiated in advance of the activation of the switch, wherein:

the key stack is configured to produce at least one of a sound or a tactile response as the key actuates; and

the feedback output combines with the at least one of the sound or the tactile response produced by the key stack to produce a single feedback stimulus.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein:

the key stack is configured to produce the sound;

the feedback output is the acoustic output; and

the acoustic output combines with the sound produced by the key stack to produce the single feedback stimulus, which includes a user-perceived single audio feedback event.

3. The keyboard of claim 2 , wherein the acoustic output reduces a perceptibility of the sound produced by the key stack.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein:

the key stack is configured to produce the tactile response;

the feedback output is the haptic output; and

the haptic output combines with the tactile response produced by the key stack to produce the single feedback stimulus.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the sound or the tactile response is produced, at least in part, by the key mechanism.

6. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the sound or the tactile response is produced by components of the key stack interacting with one another.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a processing device;

a keyboard operably coupled to the processing device and comprising a key stack, the key stack comprising:

a key cap;

a key mechanism configured to actuate the key cap between a rest position and a depressed position in response to receiving a user input; and

a switch beneath the key cap and configured to be activated when the key mechanism is in the depressed position; and

an output device; wherein:

the key stack is configured to produce at least one of a sound or a tactile response that is initiated prior to the activation of the switch;

the processing device is configured to determine at least one of an acoustic output or a haptic output that, when combined with the at least one of the sound or the tactile response, produces a single feedback event; and

the output device is configured to produce the at least one of the acoustic output or the haptic output in response to the user input to produce the single feedback event.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:

the key stack is configured to produce the sound; and

the output device is configured to produce the acoustic output to produce the single feedback event.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:

the acoustic output has an amplitude greater than the sound; and

the acoustic output has a frequency that is between 2000 Hz and 5000 Hz.

10. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one of the sound or the tactile response is produced, at least in part, by the key mechanism.

11. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one of the sound or the tactile response and the at least one of the acoustic output or the haptic output occur simultaneously.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

an input device having a movable key that is configured to actuate between a first position and a second position in response to a user input, the movable key comprising a key stack configured to produce a first sound as the movable key actuates, the key stack comprising:

a key cap;

a key mechanism coupled to the key cap; and

a switch beneath the key cap and configured to be activated when the movable key is in the second position; and

an output device configured to initiate a second sound prior to the movable key reaching the second position, wherein the second sound, combined with the first sound, results in a single feedback stimulus that is perceptible to a user.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the second sound enhances a perceptibility of the first sound.

14. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the second sound reduces a perceptibility of the first sound.

15. A method for operating an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving typing activity at a keyboard of the electronic device;

determining an identity of a user of the electronic device based on characteristics of the typing activity received at the keyboard, the characteristics comprising one or more of typing speed, force applied to the keyboard, or pauses between inputs;

retrieving an input device profile associated with the user in response to determining the identity of the user;

receiving a key press at the keyboard resulting in an activation of a key switch, the key press causing a key stack of the keyboard to produce a sound;

determining, using the input device profile, an acoustic output that modifies the sound to produce a single feedback stimulus when combined with the sound produced by the keyboard a; and

prior to the activation of the key switch, producing the acoustic output using an audio output device.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the acoustic output is completed before the activation of the key switch.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

the sound is produced, at least in part, by a key mechanism of the key stack; and

the acoustic output is produced by a speaker of the electronic device.

18. A method for operating an electronic device, comprising:

determining that an audio output device is operably connected to the electronic device;

retrieving an input-device profile associated with the audio output device, the input-device profile specifying a feedback output for modifying at least one of a sound or a tactile response produced by a key stack of a keyboard of the electronic device;

receiving a key press at the keyboard resulting in an actuation of a switch, the key press causing the key stack of the keyboard to produce the at least one of the sound or the tactile response as the key stack actuates; and

based on the input-device profile, initiating an output that corresponds to the feedback output, the output being initiated prior to the actuation of the switch and combining with the at least one of the sound or the tactile response to produce a single feedback stimulus.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein:

the key stack produces the sound; and

the feedback output is an acoustic output selected to modify the sound to produce the single feedback stimulus.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein:

the key stack produces the tactile response; and

the feedback output is a haptic output selected to modify the tactile response to produce the single feedback stimulus.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2016
From: NEKIMKEN, KYLE J.; PORCELLA, JOHN A.; CAMP, JOHN S.; DAMIANAKIS, MICHAEL A.; COISH, ROBERT L.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 040395/0546 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62355632 · Jun 28, 2016
Cited By (4)
US 12,314,475 US 12,445,759 US 12,663,867 US 12,725,495