Abstract: Described herein are techniques related to a touchpad with capacitive force sensing. The described techniques may determine the point or region of a user-engagement surface contacted by a user. In addition, the described techniques may also determine a force of the user's finger press on the user-engagement surface using one or more capacitance force-sensors. Furthermore, the described techniques may offer active tactile feedback (i.e., haptics) to the user's finger touching the user-engagement surface. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are technologies related to the use of deposited light-generating sources as the backlight for transmissive illumination of the pixel structures of a transmissive display. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques related to a touchpad with capacitive force sensing. The described techniques may determine the point or region of a user-engagement surface contacted by a user. In addition, the described techniques may also determine a force of the user's finger press on the user-engagement surface using one or more capacitance force-sensors. Furthermore, the described techniques may offer active tactile feedback (i.e., haptics) to the user's finger touching the user-engagement surface. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A keyboard having a sensor layer below a chassis layer is described. In one embodiment, the keyboard includes a keyboard chassis and a plurality of keycaps positioned above the keyboard chassis. Each of the plurality of keycaps has a touch surface for receiving a press force. A sensor substrate is positioned below the keyboard chassis and has sensor electrodes configured to sense that one or more of the plurality of keycaps is in a pressed position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are technologies related to the use of deposited light-generating sources as the backlight for transmissive illumination of the pixel structures of a transmissive display. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques related to capacitance-based keyswitch technologies. According to one implementation, an apparatus includes a key with a floating electrode. The floating electrode pairs with a fixed electrode and a capacitance may be generated between them. The apparatus has a controller configured to measure the capacitance as the electrodes move relative to each other as the key is depressed and released. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques related to capacitance-based keyswitch technologies. According to one implementation, an apparatus includes a key with a floating electrode. The floating electrode pairs with a fixed electrode and a capacitance may be generated between them. The apparatus has a controller configured to measure the capacitance as the electrodes move relative to each other as the key is depressed and released. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a device includes a surface and an actuator mechanism operably associated with the surface. The actuator mechanism is configured to provide tactile feedback to a user responsive to an electrical signal. In at least some embodiments, the actuator mechanism comprises a pair of spaced-apart substrates each of which supports a conductive layer of material. A dielectric material and an adjacent air gap may be interposed between the substrates. Drive circuitry is operably connected to the spaced-apart substrates and is configured to drive the conductive layers of material with an electrical signal. This signal may be responsive to sensing a touch input on the surface or other appropriate event.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques related to capacitance-based keyswitch technologies. According to one implementation, an apparatus includes a key with a floating electrode. The floating electrode pairs with a fixed electrode and a capacitance may be generated between them. The apparatus has a controller configured to measure the capacitance as the electrodes move relative to each other as the key is depressed and released. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A keyboard having a sensor layer below a chassis layer is described. In one embodiment, the keyboard includes a keyboard chassis and a plurality of keycaps positioned above the keyboard chassis. Each of the plurality of keycaps has a touch surface for receiving a press force.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques related to a support surface (e.g., a mousepad) for imparting a tactile feedback (e.g., haptics) to a human-machine interactive (HMI) device (e.g., a mouse) supported thereon. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques related to a touchpad with capacitive force sensing. The described techniques may determine the point or region of a user-engagement surface contacted by a user. In addition, the described techniques may also determine a force of the user's finger press on the user-engagement surface using one or more capacitance force-sensors. Furthermore, the described techniques may offer active tactile feedback (i.e., haptics) to the user's finger touching the user-engagement surface. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch surface that can be physically engaged by a user. The touch surface is operably connected to an actuator arm which, in turn, is connected to an actuator array. Drive electronics sense a user's movement relative to the touch surface and, responsively, drive the actuator array effective to move the actuator arm and, in turn, provide haptic feedback to the user through the touch surface.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques related to capacitance-based keyswitch technologies. According to one implementation, an apparatus includes a key with a floating electrode. The floating electrode pairs with a fixed electrode and a capacitance may be generated between them. The apparatus has a controller configured to measure the capacitance as the electrodes move relative to each other as the key is depressed and released. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques related to a support surface (e.g., a mousepad) for imparting a tactile feedback (e.g., haptics) to a human-machine interactive (HMI) device (e.g., a mouse) supported thereon. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques related to a touchpad with capacitive force sensing. The described techniques may determine the point or region of a user-engagement surface contacted by a user. In addition, the described techniques may also determine a force of the user's finger press on the user-engagement surface using one or more capacitance force-sensors. Furthermore, the described techniques may offer active tactile feedback (i.e., haptics) to the user's finger touching the user-engagement surface. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Described herein are one or more techniques related to active tactile feedback (“haptic”) technologies. The technologies include a movement-effecting mechanism designed to move a user-engagement surface, typically, in response to a user touching the surface. The described techniques include those designed to return the surface back to its original position (before the surface's movement), to seal the movement-effecting mechanism to protect it from ingress of contaminates, and/or to retain the surface in a manner that allows movement of the surface in directions away from the surface (which includes, for example, substantially normal to the surface) while restricting movement of the surface in at least one other direction (e.g., a direction parallel to the surface). This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a device includes a surface and an actuator mechanism operably associated with the surface. The actuator mechanism is configured to provide tactile feedback to a user responsive to an electrical signal. In at least some embodiments, the actuator mechanism comprises a pair of spaced-apart substrates each of which supports a conductive layer of material. A dielectric material and an adjacent air gap may be interposed between the substrates. Drive circuitry is operably connected to the spaced-apart substrates and is configured to drive the conductive layers of material with an electrical signal. This signal may be responsive to sensing a touch input on the surface or other appropriate event.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch surface that can be physically engaged by a user. The touch surface is operably connected to an actuator arm which, in turn, is connected to an actuator array. Drive electronics sense a user's movement relative to the touch surface and, responsively, drive the actuator array effective to move the actuator arm and, in turn, provide haptic feedback to the user through the touch surface.