System and methods for raised touch screens
First Claim
1. A user interface system comprising:
- an elastic membrane comprising a deformable region and a peripheral region adjacent the deformable region;
a substrate coupled to the membrane along a perimeter of the deformable region, cooperating with the deformable region to define a cavity, and defining a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the cavity;
a tactile layer arranged over the membrane opposite the substrate, disconnected from the deformable region, and coupled to the membrane at an area outside of the perimeter of the deformable region;
a displacement device configured to displace fluid into the cavity via the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a deflated setting into an inflated setting, the deformable region substantially flush with the peripheral region in the deflated setting and raised above the peripheral region in the inflated setting;
a display coupled to the substrate and configured to display an image proximal the deformable region;
a sensor arranged across the substrate opposite the membrane; and
a processor configured to detect an input on the tactile layer proximal the deformable region in response to an output of the sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A touch sensitive display assembly includes a touch screen and a button array. The touch screen is configured to display one or more input keys. The button array includes one or more buttons corresponding to the one or more input keys. The button array is formed by a substrate attached to a button membrane thereby creating a set of button cavities corresponding to the input keys. The button cavities are configured to be inflated and deflated by a pump coupled to a fluid reservoir. The cavities can be inflated/deflated together, in subsets, and/or individually. In some embodiments, the button array is sandwiched between a touch sensing layer and a display of the touch screen. In other embodiments, the button array can be located either above or below the touch screen.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A user interface system comprising:
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an elastic membrane comprising a deformable region and a peripheral region adjacent the deformable region; a substrate coupled to the membrane along a perimeter of the deformable region, cooperating with the deformable region to define a cavity, and defining a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the cavity; a tactile layer arranged over the membrane opposite the substrate, disconnected from the deformable region, and coupled to the membrane at an area outside of the perimeter of the deformable region; a displacement device configured to displace fluid into the cavity via the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a deflated setting into an inflated setting, the deformable region substantially flush with the peripheral region in the deflated setting and raised above the peripheral region in the inflated setting; a display coupled to the substrate and configured to display an image proximal the deformable region; a sensor arranged across the substrate opposite the membrane; and a processor configured to detect an input on the tactile layer proximal the deformable region in response to an output of the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A user interface system comprising:
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an elastic membrane comprising a first deformable region, a second deformable region, and a peripheral region adjacent the first deformable region and the second deformable region; a substrate coupled to the membrane along a perimeter of the first deformable region and along a perimeter of the second deformable region, cooperating with the first deformable region to define a first cavity, cooperating with the second deformable region to define a second cavity, defining a first fluid channel fluidly coupled to the first cavity, and defining a second fluid channel fluidly coupled to the second cavity; a tactile layer arranged over the membrane opposite the substrate, disconnected from the first deformable region and from the second deformable region, and coupled to the membrane at an area outside of the perimeter of the first deformable region and outside of the perimeter of the second deformable region; a displacement device configured to displace fluid into the first cavity via the first fluid channel to transition the first deformable region from a deflated setting into an inflated setting, the first deformable region substantially flush with the peripheral region in the deflated setting and raised above the peripheral region in the inflated setting; a display coupled to the substrate and configured to display a first image of a first input key proximal the first deformable region and a second image of a second input key proximal the second deformable region; a sensor arranged across the substrate opposite the membrane; and a processor configured to detect an input on the tactile layer proximal the deformable region in response to an output of the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification