Apple inc. (20240094832). VARIABLE FRICTION AND MULTI-TEXTURE MOUSE simplified abstract

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 20240094832 titled 'VARIABLE FRICTION AND MULTI-TEXTURE MOUSE

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a patent application for 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 inside the housing.
• 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 described in this patent application could be applied in various fields such as:

• Gaming controllers
• Virtual reality devices
• Automotive controls

Problems Solved

This innovation addresses the following issues:

• Lack of tactile feedback in traditional input devices
• Difficulty in simulating different textures or surfaces in virtual environments

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include:

• Enhanced user experience through haptic feedback
• Improved control and precision in interacting with digital interfaces

Potential Commercial Applications

The haptic input device could be utilized in commercial products like:

• High-end computer peripherals
• Medical simulation equipment
• Industrial control systems

Possible Prior Art

One example of prior art in this field is the use of force feedback in gaming controllers to provide tactile sensations to users.

How does this technology compare to existing haptic input devices on the market?

This article does not provide a direct comparison with other haptic input devices currently available. It would be helpful to understand the unique features and advantages of this technology in comparison to existing products.

What are the potential limitations or challenges in implementing this technology in mass-produced consumer products?

The article does not address any potential obstacles or difficulties in scaling up this technology for mass production. It would be valuable to explore the feasibility and cost implications of integrating this haptic assembly into commercial devices.

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.