User interface system

• US 8,179,377 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2010
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Ciesla, Craig Michael, Yairi, Micah B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): KING, JONATHAN R
• Application Number:
  US12/652,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20100171719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 345168-169, 345/104, 345/172, 463 37- 38, 455/466, 178 1801- 2002, 434112-117, 3404071-4072
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• 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: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/002 Fluid or inflatable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/018 Indication of switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/042 Higher keytops

Abstract

The user interface system of one embodiment of the invention includes a sheet that defines a surface on one side and at least partially defines a first cavity and a second cavity on an opposite side; a fluid network coupled to the first and second cavities; a displacement device coupled to the fluid network that displaces fluid within the fluid network and expands both the first and second cavities concurrently, thereby deforming a first and a second particular region of the surface; and a touch sensor coupled to the sheet and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the first and second particular regions of the surface. The user interface system of another embodiment of the invention includes a displacement device coupled to the fluid network that displaces fluid within the fluid network and selectively expands one of the first and second cavities.

Claims

1. A user interface system comprising:

a volume of fluid;

a tactile layer defining an outer tactile surface touchable by a user, defining a back surface opposite the outer tactile surface, and including an undeformable region and a plurality of deformable regions, wherein each deformable region is of an elastic material and is operable between;

a retracted state, wherein the deformable region is flush with the undeformable region; and

an expanded state, wherein the deformable region is proud of the undeformable region;

a substrate joined to a portion of the back surface of the undeformable region and retaining the undeformable region in planar form;

wherein the substrate defines a plurality of support surfaces, wherein each support surface is adjacent to a corresponding deformable region, is disconnected from the deformable region, is in contact with the deformable region in the retracted state, and prevents deformation of the deformable region inward past the plane of the undeformable region due to a force applied to the outer tactile surface by the user;

wherein the substrate defines a plurality of fluid conduits, wherein each fluid conduit communicates a portion of the fluid, through a portion of the substrate, to the back surface of a corresponding deformable region;

wherein the substrate further defines a fluid network fluidly coupled to a portion of the fluid conduits;

a displacement device configured to manipulate a portion of the fluid, through the fluid network, toward the back surface of a portion of the deformable regions, to transition the portion of deformable regions from the retracted state to the expanded state; and

a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to detect a user touch proximate to a deformable region.

2. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the substrate further defines a plurality of cavities, each cavity arranged proximal to the support surface and opposite the tactile layer, a portion of the cavities communicating fluid between the fluid network and a portion of the fluid conduits.

3. The user interface system of claim 2, wherein the fluid network comprises a fluid channel that fluidly couples a first cavity to a second.

4. The user interface system of claim 2, wherein the fluid network comprises a first fluid branch that communicates a portion of the fluid from the displacement device to a first group of cavities, and wherein the fluid network comprises a second fluid branch that communicates a portion of the fluid from the displacement device to a second group of cavities.

5. The user interface system of claim 4, wherein the first fluid branch is arranged at a first height level within the substrate and the second fluid branch is arranged at second height level within the substrate.

6. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein a first deformable region and a second deformable region, of the plurality of deformable regions, are of different elasticities.

7. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein a first deformable region and a second deformable region, of the plurality of deformable regions, are of different geometries.

8. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the first and second deformable regions are adjacent and the tactile layer defines a substantially continuous outer tactile surface across the first and second deformable regions.

9. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising a second displacement device coupled to the fluid network and configured to cooperate with the displacement device to manipulate a portion of the fluid, within the fluid network, to concurrently transition a portion of the deformable regions to the expanded state.

10. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the displacement device displaces a portion of the fluid within the fluid network to selectively transition a single deformable region to the expanded state.

11. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising a valve coupled to the fluid network and configured to selectively direct a portion of the fluid through a portion of the fluid network.

12. The user interface system of claim 11, wherein the valve is configured to direct a portion of the fluid in a mode selected from the group consisting of:

directing fluid toward one of a first deformable region and a second deformable region; and

directing fluid toward both the first and the second deformable regions.

13. The user interface system of claim 11, wherein the valve is a bi-state valve with an OPEN state and a CLOSED state, wherein the valve, in the OPEN state, permits the fluid to pass through the valve, and wherein the valve, in the CLOSED state, prevents fluid from passing through the valve.

14. The user interface system of claim 11, wherein the valve is located substantially remote from the deformable regions.

15. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of valves, less than the plurality of deformable regions, configured to direct a portion of the fluid through the fluid network to selectively transition a portion of the deformable regions from the retracted state to the expanded state.

16. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein a first group of deformable regions correspond to the letters of a QWERTY keyboard, and wherein a second group of deformable regions correlate to the numbers of a 0 through 9 of a numeric keypad.

17. The user interface system of claim 16, wherein a third group of deformable regions cooperates with the first group of deformable regions to correspond to the letters of a landscape QWERTY keyboard, and wherein the third group of deformable regions cooperates with the second group of deformable regions to correlate to the letters of a portrait QWERTY keyboard.

18. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to control the displacement device.

19. The user interface system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to interpret a touch on the outer tactile surface as a first input type when a deformable region is in the retracted state and a second input type when the deformable region is in the expanded state.

20. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the substrate and configured to visually output a plurality of images to the user.

21. The user interface system of claim 20, wherein the display and the touch sensor are physically coextensive.

22. The user interface system of claim 20, wherein a portion of the images are of input keys and the display is configured to visually output the portion of images that are substantially aligned with a portion of the deformable regions.

23. The user interface system of claim 20, wherein the tactile layer, the substrate, the fluid, and the touch sensor cooperate to transmit the plurality of images from the display to the user.

24. The user interface system of claim 23, wherein tactile layer, the substrate, and the fluid have substantially similar refractive indices.

25. A user interface system comprising:

a volume of fluid;

a tactile layer defining an outer tactile surface touchable by a user, defining a back surface opposite the outer tactile surface, and including an undeformable region and a plurality of deformable regions, wherein each deformable region is of an elastic material and is operable between;

a retracted state, wherein the deformable region is flush with the undeformable region; and

an expanded state, wherein the deformable region is proud of the undeformable region;

a substrate joined to a portion of the back surface of the undeformable region and retaining the undeformable region in planar form;

wherein the substrate defines a plurality of support surfaces, wherein each support surface is adjacent to a corresponding deformable region, is disconnected from the deformable region, is in contact with the deformable region in the retracted state, and prevents deformation of the deformable region inward past the plane of the undeformable region due to a force applied to the outer tactile surface by the user;

wherein the substrate defines a plurality of fluid conduits, wherein each fluid conduit communicates a portion of the fluid, through a portion of the substrate, to the back surface of a corresponding deformable region;

wherein the substrate further defines a fluid network fluidly coupled to a portion of the fluid conduits;

a displacement device configured to manipulate a portion of the fluid, through the fluid network, toward the back surface of a portion of the deformable regions, to transition the portion of deformable regions from the retracted state to the expanded state;

a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to detect a user touch proximate to a deformable region;

a display coupled to the substrate and configured to visually output an image through the tactile layer to the user, the image being of an input key substantially aligned with a deformable region; and

a processor coupled to the touch sensor and configured to interpret a touch on the outer tactile surface as;

a first input type when a deformable region is in the retracted state; and

a second input type when the deformable region is in the expanded state.

26. The user interface system of claim 25, wherein the fluid network comprises a first fluid branch that communicates a portion of the fluid from the displacement device to a first group of fluid conduits, and wherein the fluid network comprises a second fluid branch that communicates a portion of the fluid from the displacement device to a second group of fluid conduits.

27. The user interface system of claim 26, wherein the first fluid branch is arranged at a first height level within the substrate and the second fluid branch is arranged at second height level within the substrate.

28. An electronic system comprising:

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; and

a user interface system, for the electronic device, including

a volume of fluid;

a tactile layer defining an outer tactile surface touchable by a user, defining a back surface opposite the outer tactile surface, and including an undeformable region and a plurality of deformable regions, wherein each deformable region is of an elastic material and is operable between

a retracted state, wherein the deformable region is flush with the undeformable region; and

an expanded state, wherein the deformable region is proud of the undeformable region;

a substrate joined to a portion of the back surface of the undeformable region and retaining the undeformable region in planar form;

wherein the substrate defines a plurality of support surfaces, wherein each support surface is adjacent to a corresponding deformable region, is disconnected from the deformable region, is in contact with the deformable region in the retracted state, and prevents deformation of the deformable region inward past the plane of the undeformable region due to a force applied to the outer tactile surface by the user;

wherein the substrate defines a plurality of fluid conduits, wherein each fluid conduit communicates a portion of the fluid, through a portion of the substrate, to the back surface of a corresponding deformable region;

wherein the substrate further defines a fluid network fluidly coupled to a portion of the fluid conduits;

a displacement device configured to manipulate a portion of the fluid, through the fluid network, toward the back surface of a portion of the deformable regions, to transition the portion of deformable regions from the retracted state to the expanded state; and

a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to detect a user touch proximate to a deformable region.