Tactile surface
First Claim
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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Accused Products
Abstract
In one or more embodiments, a device includes a surface and an actuator mechanism operably associated with the surface. The actuator mechanism is configured to provide tactile feedback to a user responsive to an electrical signal. In at least some embodiments, the actuator mechanism comprises a pair of spaced-apart substrates each of which supports a conductive layer of material. A dielectric material and an adjacent air gap may be interposed between the substrates. Drive circuitry is operably connected to the spaced-apart substrates and is configured to drive the conductive layers of material with an electrical signal. This signal may be responsive to sensing a touch input on the surface or other appropriate event.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A material assembly comprising:
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a surface responsive to user engagement provided with a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer operably associated with the first conductive layer; a peripheral spring mechanism interposed between the first and second conductive layers defining an air space between the first and second conductive layers; wherein at least one of the first or second conductive layers is configured to be driven toward the other conductive layer when an electrical signal is applied to at least one of the first or second conductive layers to cause movement of the first conductive layer relative to the second conductive layer, the movement causing a compression of the peripheral spring mechanism reducing the air space between the first and second conductive layers thereby providing tactile feedback to a user. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method comprising:
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sensing a user input at a surface responsive to user engagement, the surface associated with a first conductive layer; responsive to sensing the user input, applying an electrical signal to increase an attractive force between the first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, the first and second conductive layers separated by a peripheral spring mechanism disposed between the pair of conductive layers defining an air space between the first and second conductive layers, 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 first and second conductive layers thereby providing tactile feedback to the user responsive to said sensing. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification