Apple keyless keyboard patent granted: force sensing and tactile feedback

CTOnews.com, March 11 (Xinhua)-- Apple's patent for a keyless keyboard with force sensing and tactile feedback has recently been granted.

It is shown that the invention provides an input device for an electronic device, which includes a housing and a top member that defines an input surface having a plurality of distinguishable input areas.

The input device also includes a first force sensing system associated with a first area of the top member, and the first area includes a first set of distinguishable input regions; and a second force sensing system, the second force sensing system is associated with a second area of the top member, and the second area includes a second set of distinguishable input areas.

The input device also includes a touch sensing system configured to determine which input area from the first set of distinguishable input regions corresponds to the first force input. and determine which input area from the second set of distinguishable input areas corresponds to the second force input.

CTOnews.com has reported that the MacBook Pro keyboard may use the same design as the touchpad in the future, which means that Apple users may no longer experience the pleasure of traditional keyboard tapping, but instead experience tactile feedback like iPhone Home buttons and MacBook Pro touchpads.