Patent ID: 9501172
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: G06F

Claim Text:
1. A device having a dual stiffness suspension system comprising: a housing component; a touch element; a haptic actuator for moving the touch element relative to the housing component and thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the touch element; and at least one dual stiffness suspension system that couples the touch element and the housing component together such that the touch element is movable relative to the housing component, the at least one dual stiffness suspension system having a first element of a first stiffness and a second element of a second stiffness, the first stiffness being stiffer than the second stiffness, wherein the at least one dual stiffness suspension system is configured to limit movement between the touch element and the housing component in at least a first direction due to the first element of the dual stiffness suspension system while also being configured to allow movement of the touch element relative to the housing component in a second direction opposing the first direction due to the second element of the dual stiffness suspension system, and wherein the first element is disposed adjacent to and contacts a first surface of a portion of the housing component and the second element is disposed adjacent to and contacts a second opposing surface of the portion of the housing component such that the first and second elements are axially aligned with each other.