A haptic keyboard of an information handling system may include a coversheet to identify a key location of the haptic keyboard; a support layer; a contact foil placed between the coversheet and support layer; a piezoelectric element placed between the contact foil and support layer to receive an applied mechanical stress at the key location of the coversheet and generate an electric actuation signal; and a controller of the information handling system operatively coupled to the contact foil to: receive an electric actuation signal from the piezoelectric element placed under the mechanical stress via the contact foil; and send an electrical response signal to the piezoelectric element to cause the piezoelectric element to generate haptic feedback at the key location.

A knob device for vehicle includes a knob unit and a locking unit. The knob unit includes a rotating cover with an open end, a rotary shaft mounted to the open end, and a motor fixed to the rotating cover for driving the rotating cover to vibrate. The locking unit includes a rotary wheel which includes a main body fixed to the rotary shaft and latching teeth formed at a periphery of the main body and distributed in a ring around a central axis of the rotary wheel, a gap being defined between two neighboring teeth, an iron core configured to be inserted into the gap to limit rotation of the rotary wheel, and a solenoid connected to the iron core for driving the iron core to move. The knob device can realize locking of the rotary wheel clockwise and counter-clockwise, meeting requirement of diverse use.

A knob device for vehicle includes a knob unit and a locking unit. The knob unit includes a rotating cover, a rotary shaft and a motor configured to drive the rotating cover to vibrate. The locking unit includes a rotary wheel which includes a main body fixed to the rotary shaft and locking notches formed at a periphery of the main body. The locking notches are sunk from the periphery of the main body toward a center of the main body in radial directions of the main body. The locking unit further includes a locking pole configured to be inserted into one of the locking notches to block rotation of the rotary wheel, and an actuator configured to drive the locking pole to move. The knob device applies a locking unit which is capable of locking the rotary wheel, thereby realizing diverse use requirements.

An information handling system may include a processor to receive input from a trackpad at the information handling system, from a user; and an electropermanent magnet control system to control the activation of an electropermanent magnet (EPM) magnetically couplable to the trackpad to influence the force of actuation.

A coversheet layer of an information handling system, comprising a coversheet having a key location of a haptic keyboard and a haptic touchpad area on a C-cover for the information handling system including a magnet or ferromagnetic insert in the coversheet for alignment to a top replaceable overlay layer magnetically attachable to the coversheet, a support layer, a contact foil placed between the coversheet and support layer, a piezoelectric element placed between the contact foil and support layer to receive an applied mechanical stress at the key location or touchpad actuation location of the coversheet and generate an electric actuation signal and a controller of the information handling system operatively coupled to the contact foil to receive the electric actuation signal and send an electrical haptic response signal to the piezoelectric element to cause the piezoelectric element to generate haptic feedback.

A knob for an input device includes a knob housing being rotatable on an axis, a shaft extending from the knob housing along the axis, a ratchet wheel axially coupled to the shaft with a toothed perimeter, and a ratchet arm to couple to the toothed perimeter of the ratchet wheel when the ratchet arm is engaged such that a ratcheted rotation occurs when the knob is rotated, and decouple from the toothed perimeter of the ratchet wheel when the ratchet arm is disengaged. The knob can further include a resistance wheel axially coupled to the shaft with a substantially smooth perimeter, and a resistance arm to couple to the smooth perimeter of the resistance wheel when the resistance arm is engaged such that a friction is provided when the knob is rotated, and decouple from the smooth perimeter of the resistance wheel when the resistance arm is disengaged.

In one aspect, an apparatus for receiving input and/or generating output comprises a key assembly. The key assembly comprises a key cover, a magnet, and an electromagnet. The magnet is coupled to the key cover. The electromagnet is operable to displace the key cover based on whether the key assembly is in an active state or an inactive state. In the active state, the electromagnet is operable to raise the key cover to a first position based on generation of a magnetic field. In the inactive state, the electromagnet is operable to lower the key cover to a second position based on cessation of the magnetic field.

In certain embodiments, an electronic input device includes a knob assembly defining an annular cavity and including a magnetically attractable armature. The electronic input device also includes a ratchet assembly disposed within the annular cavity and includes a ring magnet. The electronic input device includes a clutch mechanism that has a friction disc assembly, and an electromagnet configured to generate a magnetic field that shifts the friction disc assembly between a first position in which the friction disc assembly prevents rotation of the ratchet assembly and a second position in which the ratchet assembly is free to rotate with the knob assembly. The ring magnet of the ratchet assembly interacts with the magnetically attractable armature to generate a ratcheting feedback in response to rotation of the knob assembly when the friction disc assembly is in the first position.

The invention relates to an operating device for a motor vehicle, comprising an operating element, which can be lowered by application of force; a snap dome arranged below the operating element for applying haptic feedback to the operating element when the snap dome is deformed by means of the operating element lowering; a blocking body made of an electroactive polymer arranged below the operating element and next to the snap dome, the shape of which blocking body can be altered depending on an electrical voltage applied thereto such that lowering of the operating element is blocked or lowering of the operating element for deforming the snap dome is enabled; a detection apparatus for detecting a contact position of a finger on the operating element; a control apparatus which is set up to adjust a voltage at the blocking body depending on the detected contact position of the finger. The invention further relates to a method for operating an operating device and to a motor vehicle comprising an operating device of this kind.

An electronic watch may include a housing, a display positioned at least partially within the housing, a transparent cover coupled to the housing and at least partially covering the display, a battery, and a coil coupled to the battery and configured to, during a battery charging operation, supply a first current to the battery and, during a haptic output operation, receive a second current from the battery to produce a haptic output. The electronic watch may further include a ferromagnetic element positioned at least partially within the housing and movable relative to the housing. The second current may cause the coil to produce a magnetic field, and the haptic output may be produced as a result of an interaction between the magnetic field and the ferromagnetic element that causes the ferromagnetic element to move relative to the housing.