Method for assisting user input to a device
First Claim
1. A method for assisting user input, comprising:
- displaying a set of keys on a display coupled to a substrate, the substrate coupled to an undeformable region of a tactile layer, the tactile layer comprising a set of deformable regions adjacent the undeformable region, each deformable region in the set of deformable regions disconnected from the substrate, configured to deform into a tactile formation above the undeformable region, and corresponding to a key in the set of keys;
receiving a selection of a first key in the set of keys;
predicting a selection of a subsequent key based on the selection of the first key, the subsequent key corresponding to a first deformable region in the set of deformable regions; and
manipulating a volume of fluid to transition the first deformable region into a first tactile formation and to transition a second deformable region, in the set of deformable regions, into a second tactile formation, the first tactile formation tactilely distinguishable from the second tactile formation, the second deformable region corresponding to an unpredicted subsequent key; and
enabling selection of the predicted subsequent key through the first deformable region and selection of the unpredicted subsequent key through the second deformable region.
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Abstract
A method for assisting user input to a device, comprising the steps of providing a user interface to retrieve a user input, providing a tactile interface layer that defines a surface and includes a volume of fluid and a displacement device that manipulates the volume of fluid to deform a plurality of particular regions of the surface into tactilely distinguishable formations that each represent a key of a key interface, allowing the user to provide input through the key interface, predicting a subsequent key input when a user provides an input through the key interface, and manipulating the volume of fluid to deform the plurality of particular regions into one of two types of tactilely distinguishable formations: a first type for tactilely distinguishable formations that represent a predicted key and a second type for tactilely distinguishable formations that represent an unpredicted key.
429 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for assisting user input, comprising:
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displaying a set of keys on a display coupled to a substrate, the substrate coupled to an undeformable region of a tactile layer, the tactile layer comprising a set of deformable regions adjacent the undeformable region, each deformable region in the set of deformable regions disconnected from the substrate, configured to deform into a tactile formation above the undeformable region, and corresponding to a key in the set of keys; receiving a selection of a first key in the set of keys; predicting a selection of a subsequent key based on the selection of the first key, the subsequent key corresponding to a first deformable region in the set of deformable regions; and manipulating a volume of fluid to transition the first deformable region into a first tactile formation and to transition a second deformable region, in the set of deformable regions, into a second tactile formation, the first tactile formation tactilely distinguishable from the second tactile formation, the second deformable region corresponding to an unpredicted subsequent key; and enabling selection of the predicted subsequent key through the first deformable region and selection of the unpredicted subsequent key through the second deformable region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for assisting user input, comprising:
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manipulating a volume of fluid to transition a dynamic user interface into a first keyboard position, the dynamic user interface comprising a substrate coupled to an undeformable region of a tactile layer, the tactile layer comprising a set of deformable regions adjacent the undeformable region, each deformable region in the set of deformable configured to transition between elevated positions relative to the undeformable region, wherein a subset of deformable region in the set of deformable regions is arranged at a first elevated position in the first keyboard position; displaying a set of keys on a display coupled to the substrate, each key in the set of keys defining an input region and corresponding to a deformable region in the set of deformable regions; receiving a selection of a first key in the set of keys through a touch sensor coupled to the substrate; predicting a selection of a subsequent key based on the selection of the first key; manipulating the volume of fluid to transition the dynamic user interface into a second keyboard position, a first deformable region corresponding to the subsequent key arranged at the first elevated position and a second deformable region corresponding to an unpredicted subsequent key arranged at a second elevated position tactilely distinguishable from the first elevated position in the second keyboard position; and in the second keyboard position, enabling selection of the predicted subsequent key through the first deformable region and selection of the unpredicted subsequent key through the second deformable region. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification