US 11,721,463 B2
Electro-permanent-magnet-based force profile for an input element on an input device
Nuno Miguel Pereira dos Anjos Valverde, Bandon (IE); Jan Stoeckli, Vaud (CH); Kevin Forde, Cork City (IE); and Artur Miller, Cork City (IE)
Assigned to Logitech Europe S.A., Lausanne (CH)
Filed by Logitech Europe S.A., Lausanne (CH)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/553,549.
Prior Publication US 2023/0197323 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. H01F 7/04 (2006.01); H01F 7/02 (2006.01); H01F 13/00 (2006.01); G01R 33/07 (2006.01)
CPC H01F 7/0294 (2013.01) [G01R 33/072 (2013.01); H01F 7/0252 (2013.01); H01F 7/04 (2013.01); H01F 13/003 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer mouse comprising:
one or more processors;
a mechanically depressible input element; and
an electropermanent magnet (EPM) assembly including:
a permanent magnet operable to generate a magnetic field; and
a magnetizing assembly controlled by the one or more processors and configured to set a strength and polarity of the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet;
a first ferromagnetic element coupled to the depressible input element;
a second ferromagnetic element coupled to the EPM assembly,
wherein the first and second ferromagnetic elements are configured to be at least partially axially aligned and in contact with each other when the depressible input element is in a neutral, non-depressed state,
wherein the first ferromagnetic element is configured to part and move away from the second ferromagnetic element as the depressible input element is depressed,
wherein when the EPM assembly magnetizes the permanent magnet to a first polarity, the first and second ferromagnetic elements are magnetically attracted to each other and provide an attracting force in proportion to the strength of the magnetic field that magnetically opposes the first and second ferromagnetic elements from parting, and
wherein when the EPM assembly magnetizes the permanent magnet to a second polarity, the first and second ferromagnetic elements are not magnetically attracted to each other and do not magnetically oppose the first and second ferromagnetic elements from parting.