Abstract: A user input system including a stylus and an electronic device. A user may manipulate the stylus across an input surface of the electronic device and the movement may be detected using axially-aligned electric fields generated by the stylus. The stylus may also include a force-sensitive structure that can be used to estimate a force applied to the electronic device by the stylus.

Abstract: A switch assembly includes a switch body defining a switch opening, a dome switch positioned in the switch opening, a film attached to a surface of the switch body and covering the switch opening, and a protrusion extending from the film in an area above the switch opening. The protrusion is configured to transfer a force from a keycap of a key to the dome switch when the keycap is depressed. The dome switch may include an upper dome below the film and a lower dome below the upper dome.

Abstract: A rocker input mechanism includes an actuator that is operable to pivot against the interior surface of a housing through which an actuation surface of the actuator projects. Pivots or up-stops on the edges of the actuator are biased against the interior surface by dome switches contacting a switching surface of the actuator that is opposite the actuation surface. Thus, the actuator is able to pivot with respect to the interior surface to activate the dome switches when force is exerted on the actuation surface without bending or flexing like typical rocker buttons. As a result, the rocker input mechanism may have a feel to a user similar to non-rocking input mechanisms like single mode buttons.

Abstract: An electrode for an input device can be designed to reduce wobble over a range of input device orientations. The electrode can include a spherical portion and a tapered portion. In some examples, the electrode can linearly taper away from the spherical portion. In other examples, the electrode can non-linearly taper away forming an elliptical flare. Additionally or alternatively, the electrode can include a spring-loaded member that can couple the electrode to other circuitry of the input device. Additionally or alternatively, the electrode can include a neck portion coupled to the tapered portion, and part of the neck portion can be shielded. The input device can include a first non-conductive material disposed on part of the spherical portion of the electrode and a second non-conductive material disposed between part of the electrode and the first non-conductive material.

Abstract: A user input system including a stylus and an electronic device. A user may manipulate the stylus across an input surface of the electronic device and the movement may be detected using axially-aligned electric fields generated by the stylus. The stylus may also include a force-sensitive structure that can be used to estimate a force applied to the electronic device by the stylus.

Abstract: A switch assembly includes a switch body defining a switch opening, a dome switch positioned in the switch opening, a film attached to a surface of the switch body and covering the switch opening, and a protrusion extending from the film in an area above the switch opening. The protrusion is configured to transfer a force from a keycap of a key to the dome switch when the keycap is depressed. The dome switch may include an upper dome below the film and a lower dome below the upper dome.

Abstract: A user input system including a stylus and an electronic device. A user may manipulate the stylus across an input surface of the electronic device and the movement may be detected using axially-aligned electric fields generated by the stylus. The stylus may also include a force-sensitive structure that can be used to estimate a force applied to the electronic device by the stylus.

Abstract: A ring electrode to determine the orientation of the stylus relative to the surface. The stylus can include a ring electrode configuration which can improve capacitive coupling between the ring electrode and the touch panel. The ring electrode configuration can include a ring electrode and ground ring, and ground plate. By varying the lengths of ring electrode, ground ring, ground plate, and the distance between these elements, the electric field emanating from the ring electrode can be tuned to optimize the capacitive coupling between the ring electrode and surface. In some examples, the ring electrode can include multiple sub-rings. In some examples, the ring electrode can comprise a crown shape including projections, each having a width that tapers to a minimum width along the length of the ring electrode.

Abstract: A user input system including a stylus and an electronic device. A user may manipulate the stylus across an input surface of the electronic device and the movement may be detected using axially-aligned electric fields generated by the stylus. The stylus may also include a force-sensitive structure that can be used to estimate a force applied to the electronic device by the stylus.

Abstract: An electronic device may have printed circuits to which electrical components are mounted. Plastic may be molded over a printed circuit. Vias may be formed in the printed circuit that connect metal traces on the surface of the molded plastic to metal traces on the printed circuit. The vias may be formed by drilling or by covering the metal traces on the printed circuit with mold pins in a molding tool during plastic molding operations. Plated metal traces or other metal traces may extend onto the interior surface of via holes. Vias may also be filled with conductive material such as solder or conductive adhesive. Metal members that are soldered or otherwise connected to printed circuit traces may be used in coupling surface metal traces to printed circuit traces. Antenna structure, shielding structures, and electrodes for a stylus may be formed using the metal traces on the molded plastic.

Abstract: An input mechanism is disclosed. The input mechanism includes a dome support structure defining an opening that extends through the dome support structure, a collapsible dome positioned in the opening and engaged with the dome support structure, and a cover member coupled to the dome support structure and covering the collapsible dome, thereby retaining the collapsible dome within the opening of the dome support structure.

Abstract: A force sensing switch for use in an electronic device can include one or more dome switches disposed over a top surface of a deflectable beam. One or more strain gauges can be disposed over at least one surface of the deflectable beam. An electronic device that includes at least one force sensing switch can further include a processing device operatively connected to the one or more strain gauges. Alternatively or additionally, an electrode can be disposed under a bottom surface of the deflectable beam and a capacitance measured between the bottom surface and the electrode.

Abstract: An input mechanism is disclosed. The input mechanism includes a dome support structure defining an opening that extends through the dome support structure, a collapsible dome positioned in the opening and engaged with the dome support structure, and a cover member coupled to the dome support structure and covering the collapsible dome, thereby retaining the collapsible dome within the opening of the dome support structure.

Abstract: A remote control device includes a housing and an upper element. The top surface of the upper element can be partitioned to include different frictionally engaging surfaces. At least one frictionally engaging surface can be used as an input surface that receives user inputs such as touch or force inputs. An input device, such as a force sensing switch, can be positioned in the housing and used in determining an amount of force applied to the input surface. The bottom surface of the upper element below the second surface can be affixed to the housing in a manner that permits the input surface to bend based on the applied force.

Abstract: An electronic device may have printed circuits to which electrical components are mounted. Plastic may be molded over a printed circuit. Vias may be formed in the printed circuit that connect metal traces on the surface of the molded plastic to metal traces on the printed circuit. The vias may be formed by drilling or by covering the metal traces on the printed circuit with mold pins in a molding tool during plastic molding operations. Plated metal traces or other metal traces may extend onto the interior surface of via holes. Vias may also be filled with conductive material such as solder or conductive adhesive. Metal members that are soldered or otherwise connected to printed circuit traces may be used in coupling surface metal traces to printed circuit traces. Antenna structure, shielding structures, and electrodes for a stylus may be formed using the metal traces on the molded plastic.

Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with wireless circuitry that includes a radio-frequency transceiver circuit and an antenna. The antenna may be a patch antenna formed from a patch antenna resonating element and an antenna ground. The patch antenna resonating element may be formed from a metal patch on a printed circuit board. The antenna ground may be formed from a metal housing having a planar rear wall that lies in a plane parallel to the metal patch. The radio-frequency transceiver circuit may be coupled to the metal patch through traces on the printed circuit and may be coupled to rear wall of the housing through a screw and a screw boss in the housing. Buttons and other electrical components may be mounted on the printed circuit board and may he coupled to control circuitry on the printed circuit board through the metal patch.

Abstract: An article for use in an injection molding process is disclosed. The article is a sleeve which may be used to facilitate the removal of a molded part from a central core. The device eliminates the need for a draft angle which may be unsuitable for molded parts in certain applications. A method for injection molding is disclosed which uses this sleeve in the injection molding process. An article produced by this process is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present application describes various embodiments of systems and methods for internal components for portable computing devices relating to keyboard components and keyboard backlighting. In one embodiment, a keyboard module can include a rectangular light guide panel and a driver board including discrete light sources mounted on the driver board where the driver board is disposed along one edge of the light guide panel and light emitted for the discrete light sources is captured by the light guide panel and distributed to predetermined locations.

Abstract: The present application describes various embodiments of systems and methods for internal components for portable computing devices relating to keyboard components and keyboard backlighting. In one embodiment, a keyboard module can include a rectangular light guide panel and a driver board including discrete light sources mounted on the driver board where the driver board is disposed along one edge of the light guide panel and light emitted for the discrete light sources is captured by the light guide panel and distributed to predetermined locations.