User Interface Enhancement System

• US 20110012851A1
• Filed: 07/05/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Ciesla, Craig Michael, Saal, Nathaniel Mark, Yairi, Micah B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,207,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A user interface enhancement system that includes a sheet that defines a surface and at least partially defines a fluid vessel arranged underneath the surface, a volume of fluid contained within the fluid vessel that cooperates with the sheet to transmit an image through the sheet without substantial obstruction, a displacement device that influences the volume of fluid within the fluid vessel to expand and retract at least a portion of the fluid vessel, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, and an attachment component that couples the sheet to the device is disclosed.

Claims

1. A user interface enhancement system for a touch interface device, comprising:

a sheet that defines a surface and at least partially defines a fluid vessel arranged underneath the surface;

a volume of fluid within the fluid vessel that cooperates with the sheet to allow light to transmit an image through the sheet without substantial obstruction;

a displacement device that influences the volume of the fluid within the fluid vessel to expand and retract at least a portion of the fluid vessel, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface; and

an attachment component that mounts the sheet on the touch interface device.

2. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the fluid vessel includes a cavity, and wherein the displacement device influences the volume of fluid within the cavity to expand and retract the cavity, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface.

3. The user interface enhancement system of claim 2, wherein the sheet defines a second cavity that contains a volume of fluid.

4. The user interface enhancement system of claim 3, wherein the second cavity is substantially identical to the cavity.

5. The user interface enhancement system of claim 3, further comprising a second displacement device that influences the volume of fluid within the second cavity to expand and retract the second cavity, thereby deforming a second particular region of the surface.

6. The user interface enhancement system of claim 3, wherein the displacement device further influences the volume of the fluid within the second cavity to expand and retract the second cavity, thereby deforming a second particular region of the surface.

7. The user interface enhancement system of claim 6, wherein the displacement device influences the volume of the fluid within the second cavity independently of the volume of fluid within the cavity.

8. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the surface defined by the sheet is substantially continuous and planar.

9. The user interface enhancement system of claim 8, wherein the sheet defines a surface with a first portion on a first plane and a second portion on a second plane.

10. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the displacement device influences the volume of fluid within the fluid vessel to expand at least a portion of the fluid vessel to outwardly deform the particular region of the surface and retracts an expanded fluid vessel to substantially return the particular region to the plane of the surface.

11. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the sheet and the fluid are substantially transparent.

12. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is of a refractive index that is substantially identical to that of at least a portion of the sheet.

13. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, further comprising a data-link that connects the displacement device and the touch interface device and allows communication between the displacement device and the touch interface device, and wherein the displacement device is actuated by the touch interface device.

14. The user interface enhancement system of claim 13, wherein the data-link includes a wireless transmitter and receiver.

15. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the displacement device is electrically powered.

16. The user interface enhancement system of claim 15, wherein the displacement device includes a reservoir that contains a volume of fluid and is fluidly coupled to the fluid vessel and wherein fluid is displaced between the reservoir and the fluid vessel.

17. The user interface enhancement system of claim 16, wherein the displacement device includes a fluid pump that displaces fluid between the reservoir and the fluid vessel.

18. The user interface enhancement system of claim 15, wherein the displacement device expands the volume of fluid to expand the fluid vessel.

19. The user interface enhancement system of claim 18, wherein the displacement device is a heater.

20. The user interface enhancement system of claim 15, further comprising a power source that powers the displacement device.

21. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the displacement device is manually powered.

22. The user interface enhancement system of claim 21, wherein actuation of the displacement device powers the displacement device.

23. The user interface enhancement system of claim 21, wherein manual power is stored in an accumulator and wherein actuation of the displacement device releases stored power from the accumulator to power the displacement device.

24. The user interface enhancement system of claim 21, wherein the displacement device is coupled to a portion of the touch interface device, and wherein movement of the portion of the touch interface device powers the displacement device.

25. The user interface enhancement system of claim 24, wherein the touch interface device includes a cover, and wherein movement of the cover actuates and powers the displacement device.

26. The user interface system of claim 25, wherein the cover is a hinged flip cover.

27. The user interface enhancement system of claim 24, wherein the touch interface device includes a button that actuates the touch interface device, and wherein actuation of the button actuates and powers the displacement device.

28. The user interface enhancement system of claim 21, wherein the displacement device includes a reservoir that contains a volume of fluid and is fluidly coupled to the fluid vessel and wherein fluid is displaced between the reservoir and the fluid vessel.

29. The user interface enhancement system of claim 28, wherein the reservoir is manually compressed to displace fluid to the fluid vessel.

30. The user interface enhancement system of claim 28, wherein the displacement device includes a plunger contained within the reservoir that is manually moved relative to the reservoir to displace fluid between the reservoir and the fluid vessel.

31. The user interface enhancement system of claim 21, wherein the displacement device is biased to expand the fluid vessel, and wherein the displacement device is manually powered to retract the fluid vessel.

32. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the attachment component substantially encases the touch interface device.

33. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the touch interface device includes a touch sensitive display and wherein the attachment component mounts the sheet over the touch sensitive display.