User Interface System

• US 20120062483A1
• Filed: 03/11/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Ciesla, Craig Michael, Yairi, Micah B., Saal, Nathaniel Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,367,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• 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

Abstract

A user interface system for a device that includes a first deformable layer that with a first sheet that defines a first surface, a first fluid vessel arranged underneath the first surface, and a first volume of fluid contained within the first fluid vessel that is manipulated to deform a first particular region of the first surface to receive a user input; a second deformable layer with a second sheet that defines a second surface, a second fluid vessel arranged underneath the second surface, and a second volume of fluid contained within the second fluid vessel that is manipulated to deform a second particular region of the second surface to change the shape of the device; and a displacement device a displacement device coupled to at least one of the first and second fluid vessels and configured to manipulate the volumes of fluid to deform particular regions of the surface.

Claims

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

a first deformable layer that includes a first sheet that defines a first surface, a first fluid vessel arranged underneath the first surface, and a first volume of fluid contained within the first fluid vessel that is manipulated to deform a first particular region of the first surface to receive a user input;

a second deformable layer that includes a second sheet that defines a second surface, a second fluid vessel arranged underneath the second surface, and a second volume of fluid contained within the second fluid vessel that is manipulated to deform a second particular region of the second surface to change the shape of the device; and

a displacement device coupled to the first and second fluid vessels and configured to selectively manipulate at least one of the first and second volumes of fluid, thereby deforming at least one of the first and second particular regions.

2. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising a processor coupled to the displacement device that is configured to actuate the displacement device.

3. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the first and second fluid vessels are fluidly coupled.

4. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the displacement device includes a first displacement device fluidly coupled to the first fluid vessel and a second displacement device fluidly coupled to the second fluid vessel.

5. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the displacement device is fluidly coupled to both the first and second fluid vessels.

6. The user interface system of claim 5, further comprising a valve that cooperates with the displacement device to selectively manipulate the first and second volumes of fluid.

7. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the displacement device is configured to manipulate the second volume of fluid to pulsate the surface of the deformed second particular region.

8. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the displacement device manipulates the second volume of fluid to deform the second particular region to provide information.

9. The user interface system of claim 8, wherein the information provided by the second deformable layer is a location indicator and wherein the second deformable layer is arranged proximate to a particular feature of the device and the deformed second particular region provides a location indicator of the particular feature of the device to the user.

10. The user interface system of claim 9, wherein the device is a mobile phone and the second portion is arranged proximate to an ear piece of the mobile phone and the deformed second particular region provides a location indicator of the earpiece.

11. The user interface system of claim 8, wherein the information provided by the second deformable layer is an alert and the deformed second particular region provides an alert to the user regarding the operation of the device.

12. The user interface system of claim 11, wherein the device receives messages and wherein the deformed second particular region provides an alert for a received message.

13. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the displacement device manipulates the second volume of fluid to deform the second particular region to provide an aesthetic change to the device.

14. The user interface system of claim 13, wherein the deformed second particular region provides a substantially three-dimensional logo to the device.

15. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the second deformable layer is arranged along a face of the device and wherein the displacement device manipulates the second volume of fluid to deform the second particular region to provide protection for the face of the device.

16. The user interface system of claim 15, wherein the surface at the deformed second particular region is substantially raised from the face of the device to provide a bumper for the face of the device.

17. The user interface system of claim 15, wherein second volume of fluid is manipulated to deform a plurality of second particular regions, wherein the surface at each of the deformed second particular regions is substantially raised from the face of the device to provide a plurality of risers for the device.

18. The user interface system of claim 17, wherein the second particular regions are arranged substantially proximate to an edge and an opposite edge of the face of the device.

19. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the second deformable layer is arranged along a face of the device and wherein the deformed second particular region changes the angle of the device relative to an external surface.

20. A method of providing a user interface for a device, comprising the steps of:

providing a first deformable layer that defines a first surface and a first fluid vessel that contains a first volume of fluid;

providing a second deformable layer that defines a second surface and a second fluid vessel that contains a second volume of fluid;

selectively deforming at least one of the first and second surfaces, wherein selectively deforming at least one of the first and second surfaces includes at least one of;

manipulating the first volume of fluid to deform a first particular region of the first surface into a tactilely distinguishable formation of a first type; and

manipulating the second volume of fluid to deform a second particular region on the second surface into a tactilely distinguishable formation of a second type that substantially changes the shape of the device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of manipulating the first volume of fluid includes configuring the first type of tactilely distinguishable formation to receive a user input.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of manipulating the second volume of fluid includes configuring the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation to provide information to the user.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein configuring the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation to provide information includes deforming the second particular region to alert the user regarding the operation of the device.

24. The user interface system of claim 23, wherein the device receives messages and wherein the step of manipulating the second volume of fluid to deform a second particular region includes manipulating the second volume of fluid to deform a second particular region to provide an alert for a received message.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein configuring the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation to provide information includes deforming the second particular region to indicate the location of a particular feature of the device.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of manipulating the second volume of fluid includes configuring the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation to provide protection for the device.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising detecting the acceleration of the device and wherein the step of configuring the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation to provide protection for the device includes deforming the second particular region to provide a bumper for a face of the device when the acceleration of the device is detected to be substantially high.

28. The user interface system of claim 27, further comprising detecting the acceleration of the device that results from falling and predicting the particular face closest to an impact from the device falling, and wherein the step of deforming the second particular region to provide a bumper includes manipulating the second volume of fluid to provide a bumper on the predicted face closest to the impact.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising detecting the proximity of a face of the device to an external surface, and wherein the step of configuring the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation to provide protection for the device includes deforming the second particular region to provide a bumper surface for a particular face of the device that is detected to be in substantial proximity to an external surface.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of manipulating the second volume of fluid includes configuring the second type of tactilely distinguishable formation to substantially affect the orientation of the device, further comprising detecting the angle of the device relative to an external surface, and wherein the step of actuating the manipulation of the first and second volumes of fluid includes actuating the manipulation of the second volume of fluid to deform a particular region of the second surface to substantially change the angle of the device relative to the external surface.