User interface system

• US 9,098,141 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2013
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• 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., Saal, Nathaniel Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): MARINELLI, PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US13/888,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20130241860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 345/104, 178 1801- 2004, 434113-114
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires
• 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: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0426 Layout of electrodes and connections
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/16 Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"

Abstract

The user interface system of the preferred embodiment includes: a layer defining a surface, a substrate supporting the layer and at least partially defining a cavity, a displacement device coupled to the cavity and adapted to expand the cavity thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the particular region of the surface, and a display coupled to the substrate and adapted to output images to the user. The user interface system of the preferred embodiments has been specifically designed to be incorporated into an electronic device, such as the display of a mobile phone, but may be incorporated in any suitable device that interfaces with a user in both a visual and tactile manner.

Claims

1. A user interface comprising:

a substrate defining a fluid channel coupled to a cavity;

a tactile layer comprising a tactile surface, a deformable region of the tactile layer cooperating with the substrate to define the cavity, and an undeformable region of the tactile layer coupled to the substrate substantially proximal a perimeter of the cavity;

a bead arranged within the cavity, disconnected from the deformable region and the substrate, configured to vertically engage the substrate to support the deformable region against substantial inward deformation, and an interstitial between the bead and a wall of the cavity defining a fluid path to communicate fluid through the cavity;

a displacement device coupled to the fluid channel and configured to displace fluid through the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting that is tactilely distinguishable from the retracted setting at the tactile surface; and

a sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to detect an input at the tactile surface,

wherein the cavity defines a cylinder and the bead engages a wall of the cylinder,

wherein the fluid channel is fluidly connected to the cavity adjacent the bead opposite the tactile layer,

wherein the displacement device is configured to modify a fluid pressure with the cylinder via the fluid channel to translate the bead toward the deformable region and engaging the deformable region to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting, and

wherein the fluid path comprises a width dimension less than thickness of the tactile layer.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the bead comprises a material of a refractive index substantially similar to a refractive index of fluid in the cavity.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein, in the retracted setting, the tactile surface at the deformable region is flush with the tactile surface at the undeformable region and the deformable region is in contact with the bead.

4. The user interface of claim 3, wherein, in the expanded setting, the deformable region is lifted off of the bead.

5. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor.

6. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the substrate opposite the tactile layer.

7. A user interface comprising:

a volume of a fluid;

a substrate;

a tactile layer comprising a tactile surface, a deformable region of the tactile layer cooperating with the substrate to define a cavity, and an undeformable region of the tactile layer coupled to the substrate substantially proximal a perimeter of the cavity;

a bead arranged within the cavity, disconnected from the deformable region and the substrate, configured to vertically engage the substrate to support the deformable region against substantial inward deformation, and an interstitial between the bead and a wall of the cavity defining a fluid path to communicate fluid through the cavity;

a displacement device fluidly coupled to the cavity and configured to displace a portion of the volume of fluid into the cavity to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, the tactile surface in the expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from the tactile surface in the retracted setting;

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

a display coupled to the substrate and configured to visually output an image of an input key substantially aligned with the deformable region,

wherein the cavity defines a cylinder and the bead engages a wall of the cylinder,

wherein the fluid channel is fluidly connected to the cavity adjacent the bead opposite the tactile layer,

wherein the displacement device is configured to modify a fluid pressure with the cylinder via the fluid channel to translate the bead toward the deformable region and engaging the deformable region to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting, and

wherein the fluid path comprises a width dimension less than thickness of the tactile layer.

8. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the substrate further defines a fluid channel configured to communicate a portion of the volume of the fluid between the cavity and the displacement device, and wherein the displacement device comprises a pump configured to displace a portion of the volume of the fluid through the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting.

9. The user interface of claim 8, wherein the bead and the cavity cooperate to define a gap between a wall of the cavity and the bead, wherein the gap defines a fluid path configured to communicate fluid from the fluid channel to a back surface of the deformable region opposite the tactile surface.

10. The user interface of claim 7, wherein a portion of the volume of the fluid fills the cavity in the retracted setting and in the expanded setting, and wherein the volume of the fluid, the substrate, the tactile layer, and the bead are substantially transparent.

11. The user interface of claim 7, wherein, in the retracted setting, the deformable region rests on a surface of the bead, and wherein in the expanded setting, the deformable region is lifted off of the bead.

12. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the tactile surface is continuous across the deformable region and undeformable region, and wherein, in the retracted setting, the tactile surface at the deformable region is in plane with the tactile surface at the undeformable region.

13. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the bead comprises a porous polymer.

14. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the bead is further configured to output tactile click feedback through the tactile surface in response to an input at the deformable region.

15. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the displacement device is configured to induce an electrical field across a portion of the cavity, and wherein the bead is configured to move within cavity in the presence of the electrical field to transition the tactile layer between the retracted setting and the expanded setting.