User interface enhancement system

• US 8,207,950 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2010
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Ciesla, Craig Michael, Yairi, Micah B, Saal, Nathaniel Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): KING, JONATHAN R
• Application Number:
  US12/830,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20110012851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 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 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 volume of fluid;

a tactile layer defining an outer tactile surface touchable by a user, defining a back surface opposite the tactile surface, and including a first region and a second region, wherein the second region is of an elastic material and is operable between;

a retracted state, wherein the second region is substantially flush with the first region; and

an expanded state, wherein the second region is substantially proud of the first region;

a substrate joined to a portion of the back surface of the first region and retaining the first region;

the substrate defining a support surface that is adjacent to the second region, is disconnected from the second region, is in contact with the second region in the retracted state, and prevents inward deformation of the second region inward past the first region due to a force applied to the tactile surface by the user;

the substrate further defining a fluid conduit that communicates a portion of the fluid, through a portion of the substrate, to the back surface of the second region;

a displacement device configured to manipulate a portion of the fluid, through the fluid conduit, toward the back surface of the second region to transition the second region from the retracted state to the expanded state; and

an attachment component configured to removably couple the substrate to the touch interface device, wherein the substrate is interposed between the interface device and the tactile layer.

2. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the tactile layer defines a third region operable in a retracted state and an expanded state.

3. The user interface enhancement system of claim 2, wherein the third region is substantially identical to the second region and the substrate further defines a second support surface adjacent to the third region and substantially identical to the support surface.

4. The user interface enhancement system of claim 2, further comprising a second displacement device that manipulates portion of the fluid to transition the third region from the retracted state to the expanded state.

5. The user interface enhancement system of claim 2, wherein the displacement device further manipulates a portion of the fluid to transition the third region from the retracted state to the expanded state.

6. The user interface enhancement system of claim 5, wherein the displacement device manipulates a portion of the fluid to transition the second region independently of the third region.

7. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein, in the retracted state, the tactile surface is substantially continuous and planar across the first and second regions.

8. The user interface enhancement system of claim 7, wherein the tactile surface defines a first portion on a first plane and a second portion on a second plane.

9. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the displacement device further manipulates a portion of the fluid away from the back surface of the second region to transition the second region from the expanded state to the retracted state.

10. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the tactile layer, the substrate, and the fluid are substantially transparent.

11. 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 substrate.

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

13. The user interface enhancement system of claim 12, wherein the data-link includes a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver.

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

15. The user interface enhancement system of claim 14, wherein the displacement device includes a reservoir that contains a portion of the fluid, and wherein a portion of the fluid is displaced between the reservoir and the back surface of the second region.

16. The user interface enhancement system of claim 15, wherein the displacement device includes a fluid pump that displaces a portion of the fluid between the reservoir and the back surface of the second region.

17. The user interface enhancement system of claim 14, wherein the displacement device expands the volume of a portion of the fluid to transition the second region from the retracted state to the expanded state.

18. The user interface enhancement system of claim 17, wherein the displacement device is a heater.

19. The user interface enhancement system of claim 14, further comprising a power source that powers the displacement device.

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

21. The user interface enhancement system of claim 20, wherein a manual input from the user is stored in an accumulator as potential energy, and wherein actuation of the displacement device releases the stored potential energy from the accumulator to power the displacement device.

22. The user interface enhancement system of claim 20, wherein the displacement device is coupled to a first portion of the touch interface device, and wherein movement of the first portion of the touch interface device relative to a second portion of the touch interface device powers the displacement device.

23. The user interface enhancement system of claim 22, wherein the touch interface device includes a cover, and wherein movement of the cover relative to another portion of the user interface device powers the displacement device.

24. The user interface enhancement system of claim 23, wherein the cover is a hinged flip cover.

25. The user interface enhancement system of claim 22, wherein the touch interface device includes a button that activates the touch interface device, and wherein actuation of the button further powers the displacement device.

26. The user interface enhancement system of claim 20, wherein the displacement device includes a reservoir that contains a portion of the fluid, and wherein a portion of the fluid is displaced between the reservoir and the back surface of the second region.

27. The user interface enhancement system of claim 26, wherein the reservoir is manually compressed to displace a portion of the fluid toward the back surface of the second region.

28. The user interface enhancement system of claim 26, wherein the displacement device includes a plunger contained within the reservoir, wherein the plunger moved manually, relative to the reservoir, to displace a portion of the fluid between the reservoir and the back surface of the second region.

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

30. 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 substrate over the touch-sensitive display.

31. The user interface enhancement system of claim 30, wherein the attachment component is configured to non-permanently couple the substrate to the touch-sensitive display, wherein the user may remove the user interface enhancement system from the touch interface device.

32. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the attachment component comprises a substantially transparent adhesive that couples the user interface enhancement system to the touch interface device.