Haptics and sensing systems for an input device
In some embodiments, a computer mouse comprises a housing, a multi-tiered and depressible keyplate including a first tier and a second tier, a haptic element, a subchassis configured to support and directly couple the haptic element to a bottom surface of the first tier of the keyplate, and a sensor (e.g., force sensor, keypress detection sensor, and the like). In some cases, when depressed by a threshold distance, the second tier of the multi-tiered depressible keyplate makes contact with the sensor, causing the sensor to detect that the multi-tiered depressible keyplate is depressed. In some aspects, the multi-tiered depressible keyplate is a monolithic structure such that the first and second tiers move as a single unit relative to the housing when the multi-tiered depressible keyplate is depressed. In some embodiments, haptic energy generated by the haptic element is coupled to the first tier of the multi-tiered depressible keyplate, and a pressing force pushing the multi-tiered depressible keyplate down is coupled to the sensor via the second tier of the multi-tiered depressible keyplate.
1 . A computer mouse comprising:
a housing;
a multi-tiered, depressible keyplate including:
a first tier;
a second tier; and
a hinge coupling the first tier to the second tier,
wherein the first and second tier are on different planes, and
wherein the multi-tiered, depressible keyplate is a monolithic structure such that the first and second tiers move as a single unit relative to the housing when the multi-tiered depressible keyplate is depressed;
a haptic element;
a subchassis configured to support and directly couple the haptic element to a bottom surface of the first tier of the keyplate; and
a sensor,
wherein when depressed by a threshold distance, the second tier of the multi-tiered depressible keyplate makes contact with the sensor, causing the sensor to detect that the multi-tiered depressible keyplate is depressed.
2 . The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein haptic energy generated by the haptic element is coupled to the first tier of the multi-tiered, depressible keyplate, and a pressing force pushing the multi-tiered, depressible keyplate down is coupled to the sensor via the second tier of the multi-tiered depressible keyplate.
3 . The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein the first and second tiers are vertically aligned such that the second tier is positioned below the first tier.
4 . The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein the first tier of the multi-tiered, depressible keyplate is tuned to resonant at a frequency of operation of the haptic driving element.
5 . The computer mouse of claim 4 wherein the haptic element is not directly coupled to the second tier of the keyplate, and
wherein haptic energy generated by the haptic element is substantially localized in the first tier of the multi-tiered, depressible keyplate.
6 . The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein the first tier is flexible and the second tier is stiff relative to the first tier.
7 . The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein the subchassis is not directly coupled to the multi-tiered, depressible keyplate and not directly coupled to the housing of the computer mouse.
8 . The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein the first tier includes a first end and the second tier includes a second end, and wherein the first tier is coupled to the second tier via the first end and the second end.
9 . A computer mouse comprising:
a depressible keyplate having a bottom side;
a haptic element coupled to the bottom side of the depressible keyplate;
a flexible subchassis configured to support and provide a preloading force to push the haptic element against the bottom side of the depressible keyplate;
a sensing element; and
a load transfer element configured between and coupled to a bottom of the flexible subchassis and a top of the sensing element, the load transfer element operable to transfer a force load from the keyplate and flexible chassis to the sensing element,
wherein the depressible keyplate is floating and decoupled from an outer housing of the computer mouse.
10 . The computer mouse of claim 9 the outer housing includes an opening, the outer housing defining an outer shell of the computer mouse, wherein the depressible keyplate is configured within the opening of the outer housing; and
an inner chassis disposed within the outer housing and configured to couple to and provide structural support to the combination of the keyplate, haptic element, flexible subchassis, load transfer element, and sensor.
11 . The computer mouse of claim 10 wherein a soft, compliant layer seamlessly covers the keyplate and outer housing.
12 . The computer mouse of claim 9 wherein the haptic element is structurally integrated with the depressible keyplate.
13 . The computer mouse of claim 9 wherein the flexible subchassis is tuned to include static portions and dynamic portions.
14 . The computer mouse of claim 13 wherein the static portions have an increased stiffness and the dynamic portions are tuned to a resonant frequency of the haptic element.
15 . The computer mouse of claim 9 further comprising a limiter element operable to physically limit a movable range of the keyplate in opposition to the preloading force that pushes the haptic element coupled to the flexible subchassis against the bottom side of the depressible keyplate.
16 . The computer mouse of claim 9 wherein the depressible keyplate is a left or right mouse button on the computer mouse.
17 . The computer mouse of claim 9 wherein the flexible subchassis is configured as a leaf spring.
18 . The computer mouse of claim 9 wherein the load transfer element is comprised of a soft, compliant material that dampers vibration.
19 . The computer mouse of claim 18 wherein the soft, compliant material is comprised of a foam, polyurethane, rubber, polymer, or TPE.
20 . The computer mouse of claim 9 wherein the haptic element is a piezoelectric element.