US 12,009,162 B2
Bistable retractable buttons
Riley E. Brandt, Menlo Park, CA (US); Richard H. Koch, Cupertino, CA (US); Zhipeng Zhang, Santa Clara, CA (US); John C. DiFonzo, San Mateo, CA (US); and Michael B. Wittenberg, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/054,283.
Application 18/054,283 is a continuation of application No. 17/181,748, filed on Feb. 22, 2021, granted, now 11,527,372.
Application 17/181,748 is a continuation of application No. 15/880,140, filed on Jan. 25, 2018, granted, now 10,957,501, issued on Mar. 23, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/564,017, filed on Sep. 27, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0068455 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. H01H 13/84 (2006.01); G06F 3/02 (2006.01); H01H 36/00 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 13/84 (2013.01) [G06F 3/0202 (2013.01); H01H 36/00 (2013.01); H01H 36/004 (2013.01); H01H 36/0073 (2013.01); H01H 2215/052 (2013.01); H01H 2223/052 (2013.01); H01H 2231/002 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A key mechanism, comprising: a keycap; a key web adjacent to the keycap; a substrate positioned under the keycap; an actuator attached to the keycap and to the key web, the actuator comprising a piezoelectric material, wherein, in response to an electronic signal received by the actuator, the actuator deflects the keycap relative to the substrate.