An electronic device has a keyboard with an internal membrane. The membrane has a set of strain gauges configured to respond to a key press, such as when a collapsible dome collapses into contact with the membrane. The strain gauges are connected in a half Wheatstone bridge configuration and are positioned on the membrane in order to limit effects of temperature and subtle flexure of the membrane. The strain gauges are also configured to magnify detection of a resistance differential when a keycap is pressed with sufficient force.

The technology provides a system for controlling illumination of a luminous keyboard. A non-transitory storage medium stores a trained machine learning model for identifying a user sentiment. A processor receives at least one keyboard input entered by the user. The processor processes the keyboard input using the trained machine learning model to identify a sentiment or behavior of the user. The processor determines an illumination profile for the keyboard based on the identified user sentiment or behavior. The keyboard illuminates according to the illumination profile.

A tactile sensation presenting device includes: a pressure sensation generating unit configured to present pressure information; and a tactile sensation generating unit arranged on the pressure sensation generating unit. The tactile sensation generating unit includes a vibrating element configured to present vibration information; a warmth/coldness presenting element provided above the vibrating element and configured to present warm/cold information. The vibration information, the warm/cold information, and the pressure information are presented to an operating part in contact with a tactile sensation presentation surface of the tactile sensation generating unit.

An input device includes: a printing layer on which an image of a key including a character is printed; a 3D lens that three-dimensionally floats the image of the key printed on the printing layer; and an input detector that detects an input in accordance with the depression of the image of the key floating three-dimensionally.

A haptic peripheral includes a housing and a haptically-enhanced user input element. The haptically-enhanced user input element is configured to receive an input from a user, and includes a mechanical key having a keycap with a user contact surface configured to contact the user and a smart material actuator integrated onto the user contact surface of the keycap. The smart material actuator is configured to receive a control signal from a processor and is configured to deform at least a portion of the user contact surface relative to the keycap of the mechanical key in response to the control signal from the processor to thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the haptic peripheral. The haptic peripheral may also include a braking actuator coupled to the mechanical key to hold the mechanical key in a depressed position to indicate an inactive status to a user. In addition, the haptic peripheral and the haptically-enhanced user input element may be modular.

A rocker switch assembly features a rocker switching mechanism and a rocker base housing. The rocker switching mechanism has a switch cover and rocker configured to rock between rocking positions in response to rocking switch forces applied thereon, and provide a rocking switch actuator force. The rocker base housing has a piezo buzzer and rocker switch circuitry, e.g., including contacts/terminals. The piezo buzzer is configured to respond to the rocking switch actuator force, and provide signaling from the piezo buzzer to rocker switch circuitry, based upon the rocking switch actuator force applied.

A method for actuating a control device for a transportation vehicle with a control element. A spring-elastic element is disposed underneath the control element and is indirectly or directly moved and/or deformed by a piezo element to give an operator at least a haptic feedback during the operation of the control element. The spring-elastic element is moved toward the control element when the piezo element is actuated and is brought into working contact with the control element. This enables the spring-elastic element to be transferred from a stable initial position into an unstable deformation position when the control element is operated. When the control element is released, the spring-elastic element automatically passes from the deformation position back to the initial position. A haptic feedback is produced by the spring-elastic element in each case in response to a change from the initial position to the deformation position and vice versa.

An electronic device includes an enclosure and a keyboard positioned within the enclosure. The keyboard includes a substrate and a key mechanism. The key mechanism includes a keycap support mechanism, a keycap supported by the keycap support mechanism and movable relative to the substrate, a ferromagnetic component attached to the keycap support mechanism, and a selectively magnetizable magnet. The selectively magnetizable magnet system may include a magnetizable material and a coil configured to selectively magnetize and demagnetize the magnetizable material. The key mechanism may include a collapsible dome biasing the keycap toward the extended position.

An electronic device may have a multi-touch display device and a texturizing polymer layer. The texturizing polymer layer can elevate a surface portion of the texturizing polymer layer to a level to texturize information displayed on the multi-touch display device. A gesture may be detected for the elevated surface portion.

Disclosed herein are techniques and systems for providing simulated, haptic feedback that is local to physical, non-actuating keys of a keyboard. A keyboard includes a plurality of non-actuating keys defined in a cover portion of the keyboard, a plurality of force-producing mechanisms coupled to a substrate underneath and adjacent the cover portion. The force-producing mechanisms may be positioned on suspended portions of the substrate that are mechanically isolated and arranged on the substrate to substantially correspond to a layout of the plurality of non-actuating keys. The force-producing mechanisms may be individually actuated to deflect the suspended portions of the substrate underneath the cover portion to create a tactile sensation for a user's finger that is local to a particular key. In some embodiments, the force-producing mechanisms are piezoelectric actuators.