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 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 peripheral device for a computing system comprises an electrical switch and a user depressible button. An electrostatic brake is attached to the user depressible button and controls a force profile of the keystroke of the user depressible button. The button is coupled to and is configured to actuate the electrical switch at the end of the keystroke. A movable electrode is coupled to the depressible button and a stationary electrode is positioned parallel to and proximate the movable electrode. A dielectric material is positioned between the movable electrode and the stationary electrode forming an electrostatic brake. An electrical circuit is coupled to the first and the second electrodes and is configured to apply a voltage potential between the first and the second electrodes to apply a resistive force to the depressible button.

Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide apparatus and methods for providing haptic feedback, and in particular to user-operated buttons for electrical and electronic products that provide haptic feedback to the user when operated.

A tactile-adjustable keyboard includes plural keyswitches, an adjustment frame and a hybrid operation button. The adjustment frame is disposed corresponding to the keyswitches to move and interfere at least one of the keyswitches. The hybrid operation button includes a tactile switch, a non-tactile knob disposed at least partially surrounding the tactile switch, and a lens disposed at least partially surrounding the non-tactile knob. The tactile switch includes a switch shaft and a switch bar. The switch shaft is disposed in rotatable connection with the adjustment frame to move the adjustment frame. The switch bar extends externally from the switch shaft. A tactile feedback of said one keyswitch changes in response to the rotation of the tactile switch, while a non-tactile signal is generated in response to the rotation of the non-tactile knob, and the lens is illuminated in response to the rotation of the tactile switch.

A key structure is provided. The key structure includes a base plate, a key cap and a lifting mechanism is provided. The base plate includes a first bottom wall. The key cap is disposed opposite to the base plate and includes a first cap wall. The lifting mechanism is movably connected between the key cap and the base plate, so that the key cap could reciprocate with respect to the base plate. The lifting mechanism includes a first lower shaft portion and a first upper shaft portion, which are respectively movably connected on the same side of the key cap and the base plate. When the key cap is in a released state, the first upper shaft portion presses against the first cap wall, but the first lower shaft portion is separated from the bottom wall by a maintaining gap.

A key structure is provided. The key structure includes a base plate, a key cap and a lifting mechanism is provided. The base plate includes a first bottom wall. The key cap is disposed opposite to the base plate and includes a first cap wall. The lifting mechanism is movably connected between the key cap and the base plate, so that the key cap could reciprocate with respect to the base plate. The lifting mechanism includes a first lower shaft portion and a first upper shaft portion, which are respectively movably connected on the same side of the key cap and the base plate. When the key cap is in a released state, the first upper shaft portion presses against the first cap wall, but the first lower shaft portion is separated from the bottom wall by a maintaining gap.

The operating device (10,10′) intended to be installed in a vehicle is provided with a housing (12) and an operating element (14,14′) which is movably mounted in and/or on the housing (12) and can be manually transferred from a rest position to a function-triggering position. Furthermore, the operating device (10, 10′) is provided with a switch (22) which is adapted to be actuated by the operating element (14, 14′) when it is manually transferred to the function-triggering position, a holding-force generation unit (26, 26′) for generating a holding force with which the operating element (14, 14′) is held in its rest position, and a control unit (32) for electrically controlling the holding-force generation unit for the purpose of setting the holding force.

An electrical switch includes a base, an actuating rod comprising a lateral wall guided in a bore of the base, a return spring for the rod which moves with respect to the base. The return spring comprises a last elastic turn which, during the actuating travel of the rod, bears against an abutment surface of the base and which cooperates with a ramp formed in the side wall which deforms it radially. The bore has a series of axial ribs projecting into the bore, each of which is slidably received in a complementary axial groove formed in the side wall. A radial upper end facet of each axial rib forms a portion of the abutment surface.

A push switch contains a circuit substrate, two fixed contacts disposed on the circuit substrate, a dome-shaped spring which is disposed above the two fixed contacts and can be displaced between a first position in which the two fixed contacts are in a non-conductive state and a second position in which the two fixed contacts are in a conductive state and a conductive elastic member disposed on a surface of the dome-shaped spring facing the circuit substrate and having a surface facing the two fixed contacts. At least the surface of the conductive elastic member facing the two fixed contacts has conductivity. When the dome-shaped spring is displaced to the second position, the two fixed contacts are in the conductive state through the conductive elastic member.