Physically reconfigurable input and output systems and methods
First Claim
1. A surface reconfiguration system of an electronic device comprising:
- a flexible surface attached to the electronic device and having a selectively variable shape;
an actuation sensing component for sensing actuation activity associated with the shape in the flexible surface, wherein the flexible surface and actuation sensing component interact to provide both input and output to a user of the system;
a piezoelectric motor ring including piezoelectric elements placed around the ring for generating a standing wave when a voltage is applied consecutively to the piezoelectric elements; and
wherein a rotational force of the standing wave is transferred to the actuation sensing component to move the actuation sensing component up and down, wherein no extra power is required to maintain the stationary height of the actuation sensing component.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for altering the shape of a reconfigurable surface area are presented. The present systems and methods facilitate efficient and effective interaction with a device or system. In one embodiment, a surface reconfiguration system includes a flexible surface; an elevation unit that creates alterations in the contours of the surface; and an elevation control component that controls adjustments to the elevation unit. Thus, the surface of the device is reconfigurable based on system, application, mode, and/or user needs. Accordingly, the surface can be used to provide input and output functionality. The surface can include touch detection functionality for added input functionality.
95 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A surface reconfiguration system of an electronic device comprising:
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a flexible surface attached to the electronic device and having a selectively variable shape; an actuation sensing component for sensing actuation activity associated with the shape in the flexible surface, wherein the flexible surface and actuation sensing component interact to provide both input and output to a user of the system; a piezoelectric motor ring including piezoelectric elements placed around the ring for generating a standing wave when a voltage is applied consecutively to the piezoelectric elements; and wherein a rotational force of the standing wave is transferred to the actuation sensing component to move the actuation sensing component up and down, wherein no extra power is required to maintain the stationary height of the actuation sensing component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A surface reconfiguration apparatus comprising:
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elevation units that adjust a physical shape of an input and output surface area; and an elevation control component that physically adjusts individual elevation units, wherein the elevation control component includes; a piezoelectric motor ring including piezoelectric elements placed around the ring for generating a standing wave when a voltage is applied consecutively to the piezoelectric elements; and wherein a rotational force of the standing wave is transferred to the elevation units to move the elevation units up and down, wherein the elevation units can remain stationary more than one height, and the apparatus requires no extra power to maintain the stationary height of the elevation units. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A surface reconfiguration method comprising:
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performing an elevation determination process; performing an elevation unit adjustment process;
wherein the elevation unit adjustment process changes the physical shape of an input and output surface area, wherein the elevation unit adjustment process includes manipulating piezoelectric elements to create a standing wave when a voltage is applied consecutively to the piezoelectric elements, wherein the standing wave applies force on the elevation unit to position the elevation unit at a designated elevation without consuming extra power to return the elevation unit to the designated elevation;performing a query on characteristics associated with elevation unit element adjustments; and establishing elevation unit adjustments automatically based upon results of the query. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A surface reconfiguration system comprising:
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a input and output surface area including a flexible surface material that senses touch input and a graphical output display screen; physically clickable elevation units that adjust a physical shape of the input and output surface area, wherein one or more elevation units adjust the physical shape of the surface area to form a physically clickable input key, wherein the physically clickable input key is only clickable when in a raised condition; an elevation control component that physically adjusts individual elevation units, wherein the elevation control component includes; a piezoelectric motor ring including piezoelectric elements placed around the ring for generating a standing wave when a voltage is consecutively applied to the piezoelectric elements; and wherein a rotational force of the standing wave is transferred to the elevation units to move the elevation units up and down, wherein the system requires no extra power to maintain the stationary height of the elevation units; wherein the surface area shape can be reconfigured by the physical adjustments to elevation units; wherein the touch input sensing can be activated and deactivated for different sections of the surface area; wherein the graphical output display screen displays the type of input the actuation of an elevation unit will provide.
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30. A surface reconfiguration apparatus comprising:
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elevation units that adjust a selectively variable physical surface shape of an input and output surface area; and an elevation control component that physically adjusts individual elevation units, wherein the elevation control component includes; a piezoelectric motor ring including piezoelectric elements for generating torque from a standing wave when a voltage is applied to consecutive piezoelectric elements around the ring; and wherein a rotational torque force of the standing wave is transferred to the elevation units to move the elevation units up and down, wherein the elevation units can remain stationary more than one height, and the apparatus requires no extra power to maintain the stationary height of the elevation units; wherein the input and output surface area senses touch. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A surface reconfiguration apparatus comprising:
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elevation units that adjust a selectively variable physical surface shape of an input and output surface area; and an elevation control component that physically adjusts individual elevation units, wherein the elevation control component includes; a piezoelectric motor ring including piezoelectric elements for generating a standing wave when a voltage is applied to consecutive piezoelectric elements around the ring; and wherein a rotational force of the standing wave is transferred to the elevation units to move the elevation units up and down, wherein the elevation units can remain stationary more than one height, and the apparatus requires no extra power to maintain the stationary height of the elevation units; wherein a plurality of cartridges including an elevation unit cartridge and a surface cartridge are incorporated in independent mechanism layers and the plurality of cartridges are interchangeable. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. A surface reconfiguration apparatus comprising:
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elevation units that adjust a selectively variable physical surface shape of an input and output surface area; and an elevation control component that physically adjusts individual elevation units, wherein the elevation control component includes; a piezoelectric motor ring including piezoelectric elements placed around the ring for generating a standing wave when a voltage is consecutively applied to the piezoelectric elements; and wherein a rotational force of the standing wave is transferred to the elevation units to move the elevation units up and down, wherein the elevation units can remain stationary more than one height; wherein the elevation units are programmably click/non-click wherein a non-click elevation unit is temporarily set to not be actuatable as a clickable button, wherein the elevation units are programmably raised/non-raised, wherein the input and output surface area includes touch detection capability and can be programmably set to have some regions detect touch while others temporarily do not detect touch, and wherein the surface reconfiguration apparatus can simultaneously include regions with all of;
raised elevation units, non-raised elevation units, clickable elevation units, non-click elevation units, touch detection surface area, and non-touch detection surface area.- View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A surface reconfiguration apparatus comprising:
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elevation units that adjust a selectively variable physical surface shape of a grip surface area; and an elevation control component that physically adjusts individual elevation units, wherein the elevation control component includes; a piezoelectric motor ring including piezoelectric elements placed around the ring for generating a standing wave when a voltage is consecutively applied to the piezoelectric elements; and wherein a rotational force of the standing wave is transferred to the elevation units to move the elevation units up and down, wherein the elevation units can remain stationary more than one height. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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Specification