SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR RAISED TOUCH SCREENS

• US 20090174673A1
• Filed: 01/04/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Ciesla, Craig M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,547,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers

Abstract

A touch sensitive display assembly includes a touch screen and a button array. The touch screen is configured to display one or more input keys. The button array includes one or more buttons corresponding to the one or more input keys. The button array is formed by a substrate attached to a button membrane thereby creating a set of button cavities corresponding to the input keys. The button cavities are configured to be inflated and deflated by a pump coupled to a fluid reservoir. The cavities can be inflated/deflated together, in subsets, and/or individually. In some embodiments, the button array is sandwiched between a touch sensing layer and a display of the touch screen. In other embodiments, the button array can be located either above or below the touch screen.

Claims

1. A touch sensitive display assembly comprising:

a touch screen configured to display at least one input key; and

a button array operatively coupled to the touch screen, wherein the button array having at least one button corresponding to the at least one input key, the button array including;

a substrate; and

a button membrane attached to the substrate thereby forming at least one enclosed cavity corresponding to the at least one button, and wherein the at least one enclosed cavity is configured to be inflated and deflated.

2. The touch sensitive display assembly of claim 1 wherein the touch screen includes a touch sensing layer and a display screen, and wherein the button array is sandwiched between the touch sensing layer and the display screen.

3. The touch sensitive display assembly of claim 1 wherein the button array is located below the touch screen.

4. The touch sensitive display assembly of claim 1 wherein the button array is located above the touch screen.

5. The touch sensitive display assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one pump configured to inflate and deflate the at least one enclosed cavity.

6. The touch sensitive display assembly of claim 1 further comprising a reservoir coupled to the at least one pump.

7. The touch sensitive display assembly of claim 1 further comprising a valve coupled between the at least one pump and the button array.

8. The touch sensitive display assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second button, and wherein the at least one button and the second button are inflated and deflated separately.

9. The touch sensitive display assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second button, and wherein the at least one button and the second button are inflated and deflated together.

10. The touch sensitive display assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one corresponding pressure sensor coupled to the at least one cavity, and wherein the touch screen is configured to compensate for optical distortion introduced by the button array.

11. A button array useful in association with a touch screen configured to display at least one input key, the button array comprising:

a substrate; and

a membrane attached to the substrate thereby forming at least one enclosed cavity corresponding to the at least one input key of the touch screen, and wherein the at least one enclosed cavity is configured to be inflated and deflated.

12. The button array of claim 11 wherein the touch screen includes a touch sensing layer and a display screen, and wherein the button array is configured to be sandwiched between the touch sensing layer and the display screen.

13. The button array of claim 11 wherein the button array is configured to be located below the touch screen.

14. The button array of claim 11 wherein the button array is configured to be located above the touch screen.

15. The button array of claim 11 wherein the button array is configured to be operatively coupled to at least one pump configured to inflate and deflate the at least one enclosed cavity.

16. The button array of claim 11 wherein the at least one pump is coupled to a reservoir.

17. The button array of claim 11 wherein the button array is configured to be coupled to the at least one pump via a valve.

18. The button array of claim 11 further comprising a second button, and wherein the at least one button and the second button are inflated and deflated separately.

19. The button array of claim 11 further comprising a second button, and wherein the at least one button and the second button are inflated and deflated together.

20. The button array of claim 11 wherein the at least one cavity is configured to be operatively coupled to at least one corresponding pressure sensor, and wherein the touch screen is configured to compensate for optical distortion introduced by the button array.