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Tactile surface

  • US 8,760,413 B2
  • Filed: 10/15/2009
  • Issued: 06/24/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A device comprising:

  • a housing;

    a surface responsive to user engagement, the surface supported by the housing;

    an actuator mechanism operably associated with the surface, the actuator mechanism comprising a pair of conductive layers maintained in a spaced-apart configuration by a peripheral spring mechanism disposed between the pair of conductive layers defining an air space between the pair of conductive layers, one of the pair of conductive layers associated with the surface and operable to move relative to the other conductive layer; and

    drive circuitry configured to drive the conductive layers with an electrical signal that increases an attractive force between the conductive layers, the electrical signal applied in response to an engagement provided by the user at the surface, the attractive force causing movement of at least one of the conductive layers relative to the other of the conductive layers, the movement causing a compression of the peripheral spring mechanism reducing the air space between the pair of conductive layers thereby providing tactile feedback to the user.

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