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 key structure is provided, including a housing, a shaft body, a first magnetic component and a second magnetic component. The housing has a bottom portion and a top portion which are opposite to each other, and has a first opening located at the top portion. The shaft body is coupled with the housing by passing through the first opening, and the shaft body is suitable for being pressed to move in a pressing direction from the top portion to the bottom portion. The first magnetic component is arranged on the shaft body. The second magnetic component is arranged on the housing. The first magnetic component and the second magnetic component are separated by the housing.

Three-dimensional weaving, knitting, or braiding tools may be used to create three-dimensional fabric (24) with internal pockets (56). The pockets (56) may be shaped to receive electrical components such as switch electrodes (46A, 46B) for a switch (18). The fabric (24) may have adjacent first and second layers that are interposed between the switch electrodes (46A, 46B). The switch electrodes (46A, 46B) may be biased apart using magnets (46A-1, 46B-1) or other biasing structure. In a region of the fabric (24) that overlaps the first and second switch electrodes (46A, 46B), the first and second layers of fabric may be disconnected from each other. This allows the first and second layers to pull away from each other so that the electrodes (46A, 46B) are separated by the biasing force from the biasing structure. The switch (18) can be closed by pressing the electrodes (46A, 46B) together.

A key structure includes a key cap, a bridge assembly, a first supporting part, a second supporting part, an attractable element and a magnet. The bridge assembly includes first and second hinge parts. One end of the first hinge part has a first link bar, and the other end has a first pivot coupling portion and a first shaft having a first connecting portion. One end of the second hinge part has a second link bar, and the other end has a second pivot coupling portion and a second shaft having a second connecting portion coupled to the first connecting portion. When the magnet under a first attractive position, the first end of the attractable element is attracted to the first attractive position. When the magnet under a second attractive position, the second end of the attractable element is attracted to the second attractive position.

A key for user input having superior tactile qualities. The key is suspended by a magnetic field force to improve the smoothness of motion. Two compact interleaved members link a keycap to a key base to provide highly precise parallel travel with reduced tilt and flexion, and improved durability.

A key structure includes a key cap, a bridge assembly, a first supporting part, a second supporting part, an attractable element and a magnet. The bridge assembly includes first and second hinge parts. The first hinge part has a first pivot coupling portion and a first connecting portion. The second hinge part has a second pivot coupling portion and a second connecting portion, wherein the first and second connecting portions are connected on an axis, and the first and second hinge parts rotate with respect to the axis. The first and second supporting parts are coupled to two ends of the first and second pivot coupling portions, respectively. The attractable element is disposed on the second hinge part. The magnet is correspondingly located under the attractable element for providing a magnetic force, so that the attractable element is attracted and positioned by the magnetic force.

A magnetic key includes a keycap, a base plate, a membrane circuit member, a frame, a first magnetic element, a second magnetic element, and a third magnetic element. The frame includes a first concave structure, a second concave structure and an opening. An accommodation space is defined by the frame and a first protrusion structure and a second protrusion structure of the base plate. The first magnetic element is received within the first concave structure. The second magnetic element is received within the second concave structure. The third magnetic element is disposed under the keycap and accommodated within the accommodation space. In response to a first magnetic force between the first and third magnetic elements and a second magnetic force between the second and third magnetic elements, the keycap is protruded out of the opening.

A keyswitch includes a base plate, a cap having a longitudinal axis, a returning device, a support mechanism, and a lifting mechanism including first and second support plates. The first support plate has first and second edges parallel to the longitudinal axis for respectively abutting against the base plate and the cap. The second support plate has third and fourth edges parallel to the longitudinal axis for respectively abutting against the base plate and the cap. The base plate is disposed through openings of the first and second support plates to make the first and second support plates movably connected to the base plate. The returning device drives the cap to a non-pressed position with rotation of the first and second support plates. The support mechanism has first and second support members pivoted to each other to be movably connected to the cap and the base plate.

De-magnetization protection is provided for electro-permanent magnets during information handling system manufacture and use by monitoring thermal conditions at the information handling systems to detect a thermal state associated with de-magnetization and commanding the electro-permanent magnets to an off state so that both magnets in the electro-permanent magnet have opposing polarities. The opposing polarities tend to stabilize magnet polarity to prevent de-magnetization during increased temperatures. Normal operations are then re-enabled once temperatures decrease.

A control apparatus includes a main body unit, a plurality of moving members each of which is movably supported by the main body unit, a magneto rheological fluid provided between the main body unit and each of the plurality of moving members or between each of the plurality of moving members, and one magnetic field generator configured to apply a magnetic field to the magneto rheological fluid.