18472186. VARIABLE FRICTION AND MULTI-TEXTURE MOUSE simplified abstract (Apple Inc.)

VARIABLE FRICTION AND MULTI-TEXTURE MOUSE

Organization Name

Apple Inc.

Inventor(s)

Bart K. Andre of Palo Alto CA (US)

Brian T. Gleeson of Mountain View CA (US)

Kristi E. Bauerly of Los Altos CA (US)

William D. Lindmeier of San Francisco CA (US)

Matthew J. Sundstrom of Campbell CA (US)

Geng Luo of Santa Clara CA (US)

Seung Wook Kim of San Jose CA (US)

Evangelos Christodoulou of Santa Clara CA (US)

Megan M. Sapp of San Francisco CA (US)

Kainoa Kwon-perez of San Francisco CA (US)

John B. Morrell of Los Gatos CA (US)

John S. Camp of Los Gatos CA (US)

VARIABLE FRICTION AND MULTI-TEXTURE MOUSE - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18472186 titled 'VARIABLE FRICTION AND MULTI-TEXTURE MOUSE

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes an input device with a haptic assembly that can vary the sliding resistance of the device on a support surface.

• The input device includes a housing with an internal volume and a lower portion with an aperture.
• An input sensor and a haptic assembly are located within the internal volume.
• The haptic assembly consists of an actuator and a foot aligned with the aperture.
• The actuator can extend the foot through the aperture to adjust the sliding resistance of the input device.

Potential Applications

The technology could be used in gaming controllers, touchscreens, virtual reality devices, and other interactive systems where haptic feedback is desired.

Problems Solved

This technology solves the problem of providing users with tactile feedback when interacting with digital interfaces, enhancing the user experience and improving control and precision.

Benefits

The haptic assembly allows for a more immersive and engaging user experience, making interactions with devices more intuitive and realistic. It also provides users with physical feedback that can enhance productivity and accuracy.

Potential Commercial Applications

The technology could be applied in consumer electronics, automotive interfaces, medical devices, and industrial control systems to improve user interaction and feedback.

Possible Prior Art

Prior art may include similar haptic feedback systems in input devices such as gaming controllers and touchscreens, but the specific configuration described in this patent application may be novel.

How does this technology compare to existing haptic feedback systems in terms of cost and complexity?

This article does not provide information on the cost and complexity of implementing this technology compared to existing haptic feedback systems.

What materials are used in the construction of the haptic assembly and how durable is it?

The article does not mention the materials used in the haptic assembly or provide information on its durability.

Original Abstract Submitted

An input device can include a housing defining an internal volume and a lower portion, the lower portion defining an aperture, an input sensor disposed in the internal volume, and a haptic assembly disposed in the internal volume. The haptic assembly can include an actuator and a foot coupled to the actuator and aligned with the aperture. The actuator can be configured to selectively extend the foot through the aperture to vary a sliding resistance of the input device on a support surface.