USER INTERFACE SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20120242607A1
• Filed: 04/25/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 8,947,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• 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: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting

Abstract

The user interface system of the preferred embodiments includes a sheet that defines a surface on one side and at least partially defines a cavity on an opposite side; a volume of a fluid contained within the cavity; a displacement device that modifies the volume of the fluid to expand the cavity, thereby outwardly deforming a particular region of the surface; and a sensor that detects a force applied by a user that inwardly deforms the particular region of the surface. The user interface system has been specifically designed to be used as the user interface for an electronic device, more preferably in an electronic device that benefits from an adaptive user interface, but may alternatively be used in any suitable application.

Claims

1. A user interface comprising:

a substrate comprising an attachment face and a support member continuous with the attachment face, the substrate defining a fluid channel configured to communicate fluid through the support member;

a tactile layer comprising an outer tactile surface and a back surface opposite the tactile surface, the back surface coupled to the attachment face at an undeformable region of the tactile layer, the back surface adjacent to and disconnected from the support member at a deformable region of the tactile layer, wherein the deformable region is of a thickness at least as great as a width dimension of the fluid channel, and wherein the support member limits inward deformation of the deformable region due to a force applied to the tactile surface;

a displacement device configured to displace fluid through the fluid channel and toward the back surface of the deformable region to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, wherein the expanded setting is tactilely distinguishable from the retracted setting at the tactile surface;

a sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to detect a deformation of the deformable region due to a touch on the tactile surface.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the attachment face and the support member are planar.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the deformable and undeformable regions of the tactile layer are adjacent and of substantially similar thicknesses.

4. The user interface of claim 1, wherein, in the retracted setting, the tactile surface of the deformable region is flush with the tactile surface of the undeformable region.

5. The user interface of claim 4, wherein, in the expanded setting, the tactile surface of the deformable region is elevated above a portion of the tactile surface of the undeformable region.

6. The user interface of claim 1, wherein, in the retracted setting, the back surface of the deformable region is in contact with the support member.

7. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the substrate and configured to visually output an image through the tactile surface.

8. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the display is configured to output the image that is an input key substantially aligned with the deformable region.

9. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the substrate further defines a second fluid channel configured to communicate fluid between the displacement device and the fluid channel.

10. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the displacement device is a pump.

11. user interface of claim 1, wherein the displacement device is further configured to displace fluid away from the back surface of the deformable region to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting to the retracted setting.

12. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the substrate further comprises a second support member continuous with the attachment face, the substrate further defining a second fluid channel configured to communicate fluid through the second support member, wherein the back surface of the tactile layer is adjacent to and disconnected from the second support member at a second deformable region of the tactile layer, wherein the support member limits inward deformation of the second deformable region, and wherein the displacement device is further configured to displace fluid, through the second fluid channel, toward the back surface of the second deformable region to transition the second deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded, wherein the expanded setting is tactilely distinguishable from the retracted setting at the second deformable region of the tactile surface.

13. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the displacement device is configured to selectively transition the deformable region and the second deformable region between the retracted and expanded settings.

14. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the substrate further defines a cavity proximal the support surface and configured to communicate fluid between the fluid channel and the displacement device.

15. The user interface of claim 14, wherein a portion of the sensor is arranged within the cavity.

16. The user interface of claim 14, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor configured to sense fluid pressure changes within the cavity.

17. The user interface of claim 14, wherein the sensor is a capacitive sensor comprising a first conductor, arranged within the cavity, and a second conductor, coupled to the tactile layer.

18. The user interface of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor extends into the cavity.

19. The user interface of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor is arranged about a portion of the perimeter of the cavity.

20. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a capacitive sensor comprising a first conductor and a second conductor, configured to generate an electromagnetic field, and to detect a change in the electromagnetic field due to a deformation of the deformable region.

21. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to interpret a deformation of the deformable region as a force applied to the tactile surface proximal the deformable region.

22. The user interface of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to determine the magnitude of the force, compare the magnitude to a threshold, determine a first user input if the magnitude is less than the threshold, and determine a second user input if the magnitude is greater than the threshold.

23. The user interface of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to determine a change rate of the detected force, compare the change rate of the detected force to a threshold, determine a first user input if the change rate is less than the threshold, and determine a second user input if the change rate is greater than the threshold.

24. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the tactile layer defines a plurality of deformable regions, and wherein the sensor includes an array of sensors configured to detect a deformation of the each of the deformable regions due to a touch on the tactile surface.

25. The user interface of claim 24, wherein the array of sensors includes a first number of first conductors and a second number of second conductors, wherein the first number is equivalent to the number of deformable regions and the second number is less than the number of deformable regions, and wherein each first conductor corresponds to one deformable region and each second conductor corresponds to a plurality of deformable regions.

26. The user interface of claim 24, wherein the array of sensors includes a first number of first conductors and a second number of second conductors, wherein the first number and the second number are both less than the number of deformable regions, and wherein each first conductor and each second conductor correspond to a plurality of deformable regions.

27. The user interface of claim 24, wherein the sensors in the array of sensors generate a composite sensor signal indicating the state of a plurality of deformable regions.

28. The user interface of claim 1 incorporated into an electronic device selected from the group consisting of:

an automotive console, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a television, a radio, a desk phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, a personal navigation device, a personal media player, a camera, and a watch.