Apple Inc.
Electronic Devices with Piezoelectric Ink

Abstract:

An electronic device may have input devices and/or output devices based on piezoelectric components. Piezoelectric components may include piezoelectric ink in which particles of piezoelectric material are dispersed in a binder. The piezoelectric ink may be printed or otherwise deposited onto a substrate to form piezoelectric ink traces. The piezoelectric ink traces may be deposited on flexible substrates such as elastic speaker diaphragms or flexible fabric layers. The piezoelectric traces may be part of a key in a keyboard or a stand-alone button. In arrangements where the piezoelectric trace forms part of a key in a keyboard, the piezoelectric trace may be coupled to a grid of horizontal and vertical signal lines. The signal lines may convey key press data from the piezoelectric trace to control circuitry and/or may supply control signals from the control circuitry to the piezoelectric trace to produce haptic output.