US 12,254,142 B2
Variable friction and multi-texture mouse
Bart K. Andre, Palo Alto, CA (US); Brian T. Gleeson, Mountain View, CA (US); Kristi E. Bauerly, Los Altos, CA (US); William D. Lindmeier, San Francisco, CA (US); Matthew J. Sundstrom, Campbell, CA (US); Geng Luo, Santa Clara, CA (US); Seung Wook Kim, San Jose, CA (US); Evangelos Christodoulou, Santa Clara, CA (US); Megan M. Sapp, San Francisco, CA (US); Kainoa Kwon-Perez, San Francisco, CA (US); John B. Morrell, Los Gatos, CA (US); and John S. Camp, Los Gatos, CA (US)
Assigned to APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/472,186.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/478,523, filed on Jan. 5, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/376,767, filed on Sep. 22, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/376,650, filed on Sep. 22, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/376,756, filed on Sep. 22, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/376,763, filed on Sep. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0094832 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. G06F 3/0354 (2013.01); G01P 13/00 (2006.01); G01S 5/30 (2006.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01); G06F 3/0346 (2013.01); G06F 3/038 (2013.01); G06F 3/044 (2006.01); G06F 3/04815 (2022.01)
CPC G06F 3/03543 (2013.01) [G01P 13/00 (2013.01); G01S 5/30 (2013.01); G06F 3/016 (2013.01); G06F 3/0346 (2013.01); G06F 3/03544 (2013.01); G06F 3/03547 (2013.01); G06F 3/0383 (2013.01); G06F 3/044 (2013.01); G06F 3/04815 (2013.01); G06F 2203/0337 (2013.01); G06F 2203/0381 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04104 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An input device, comprising:
a housing defining an internal volume and a lower portion, the lower portion defining an aperture;
a sensor disposed in the internal volume and configured to detect movement or position of the housing relative to a support surface; and
a haptic assembly disposed in the internal volume, the haptic assembly comprising:
an actuator; and
a foot coupled to the actuator and aligned with the aperture, wherein the foot is configured to extend from the aperture in response to operation of the actuator while the sensor is detecting movement or position of the housing relative to the support surface.