User interface system

• US 8,922,510 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Ciesla, Craig Michael, Yairi, Micah B.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARINELLI, PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US13/481,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20120306787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 178 1801- 2004, 434112-117
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/046 Inflatable bubble or cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/018 Indication of switch sites

Abstract

A user interface system of one embodiment includes a layer defining a surface; a substrate supporting the layer and at least partially defining a cavity; a displacement coupled to the cavity that expands the cavity, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface; and a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the particular region of the surface. The layer and the substrate are connected at an attachment point, and the location of the attachment point relative to the layer, substrate, and cavity at least partially defines the shape of the deformed particular region of the surface.

Claims

1. A user interface comprising:

a substrate comprising an attachment surface, defining a cavity adjacent the attachment surface, and defining a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the cavity, the cavity comprising a first drafted wall including a particular draft angle;

a tactile layer comprising a tactile surface, a first region, and a deformable region, the first region coupled to the attachment surface at an attachment point, the tactile surface is opposite the substrate, and the deformable region disconnected from the substrate and comprising a portion extending into the cavity and defining a second drafted wall including the particular draft angle;

a displacement device configured to displace fluid through the fluid channel and into the cavity to transition the deformable region between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the deformable region defining a first tactile formation at the tactile surface and the second drafted wall in contact with the first drafted wall in the retracted setting, and the deformable region defining a second tactile formation different from the first tactile formation at the tactile surface and the second drafted wall elevated off of the first drafted wall in the expanded setting; and

a sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to detect an input on the tactile surface.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first region of the tactile layer is joined to the attachment surface across an attachment area comprising the attachment point and defining a border between the deformable region and the first region.

3. The user interface of claim 2, wherein the attachment area forms a continuous seal around a perimeter of the cavity.

4. The user interface of claim 1,wherein the deformable region comprises a first portion of a first pliability and a second portion of a second pliability different from that of the first portion.

5. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first drafted wall supports the second drafted wall to limit inward deformation of the deformable region due to a force applied to the tactile surface.

6. The user interface of claim 5, wherein the first drafted wall of the substrate defines a support surface that engages the second drafted wall of the portion in response to a force applied to the tactile surface to limit inward deformation of the deformable region into the cavity.

7. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the tactile surface is continuous across the deformable region and the first region, wherein the first region of the tactile is of a first thickness, wherein the deformable region of the tactile layer is of a second thickness greater than the first thickness across the portion, and wherein the deformable region is flush with the first region in the retracted setting.

8. The user interface of claim 1, wherein, in the expanded setting, a portion of the tactile surface at the deformable region is substantially planar and offset from the tactile surface at the first region.

9. The user interface of claim 1, wherein a portion of the attachment surface extends into the cavity.

10. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the substrate further defines a fluid conduit communicating fluid through the first drafted wall and toward the deformable region.

11. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the attachment surface and the first drafted wall are continuous and adjacent.

12. The user interface of claim 11, wherein the attachment surface and the first drafted wall are planar.

13. The user interface of claim 1, wherein, in the retracted setting, the tactile surface at the deformable region is offset above the first region by a first distance, and wherein, in the expanded setting, the tactile surface at the deformable region is offset above the first region by a second distance greater than the first distance.

14. The user interface of claim 1, wherein, in the expanded setting, the tactile surface of the deformable region defines one of:

a button, a ridge, a ring, a slider, and a pointing stick.

15. The user interface of claim 1, wherein, in the retracted setting, the tactile surface of the deformable region defines one of:

a valley, a ridge, an edge, and a guide.

16. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir coupled to the displacement device and configured to contain fluid.

17. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor outputting a signal corresponding to an input on the tactile surface.

18. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the substrate and configured to visually output an image through the tactile surface.

19. The user interface of claim 18, wherein the display outputs the image of an input key substantially aligned with the deformable region.

20. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the displacement device comprises a pump.

21. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the substrate further comprises a second attachment surface and defines a second cavity adjacent the second attachment surface, the cavity comprising a third drafted wall including a second draft angle, wherein the tactile layer further comprises a second deformable region disconnected from the substrate and defining a second portion extending into the cavity and defining a fourth drafted wall including the second draft angle, wherein the displacement device is further configured to displace fluid into the second cavity to transition the second deformable region between a retracted setting and an expanded setting.

22. The user interface of claim 21, wherein the displacement device selectively transitions the deformable region and the second deformable region between the retracted setting and the expanded setting.

23. The user interface of claim 1 incorporated into an electronic device selected from the group consisting of:

an automotive console, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a television, a radio, a desk phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, a personal navigation device, a personal media player, a camera, and a watch.

24. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the deformable region and the portion are continuous and comprise an elastomeric material.

25. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the portion defines a conical geometry and is coupled to the deformed region opposite the tacticle surface.