User interface enhancement system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A user interface enhancement system comprising:
- a substrate comprising an attachment face and defining a fluid channel;
a tactile layer comprising a tactile surface and a back surface opposite the tactile surface, the back surface connected to the attachment face at a first region of the tactile layer, the tactile layer defining a deformable region over the fluid channel, adjacent the first region, and disconnected from the attachment face;
a volume of fluid;
a reservoir adjacent the substrate, fluidly coupled to the fluid channel, and containing the volume of fluid;
a paddle compressing the reservoir to displace fluid from the reservoir and into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, the deformable region in the expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from the deformable region in the retracted setting;
a housing transiently arranged outside an external surface of a body of a computing device to transiently retain an edge of the substrate over a touch sensitive display of the computing device, the housing cooperating with the substrate to enclose the reservoir and the paddle, the reservoir arranged between the housing and the external surface of the body of the device; and
an actuator supported by the housing, engaging the paddle and displacing the paddle to compress the reservoir in response to manual actuation of the actuator, the paddle comprising a platen and the actuator comprising a slider translationally coupled to the housing, the slider translating the platen relative to the reservoir to compress the reservoir in response to manual actuation of the slider.
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Abstract
A user interface enhancement system that includes a sheet that defines a surface and at least partially defines a fluid vessel arranged underneath the surface, a volume of fluid contained within the fluid vessel that cooperates with the sheet to transmit an image through the sheet without substantial obstruction, a displacement device that influences the volume of fluid within the fluid vessel to expand and retract at least a portion of the fluid vessel, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, and an attachment component that couples the sheet to the device is disclosed.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A user interface enhancement system comprising:
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a substrate comprising an attachment face and defining a fluid channel; a tactile layer comprising a tactile surface and a back surface opposite the tactile surface, the back surface connected to the attachment face at a first region of the tactile layer, the tactile layer defining a deformable region over the fluid channel, adjacent the first region, and disconnected from the attachment face; a volume of fluid; a reservoir adjacent the substrate, fluidly coupled to the fluid channel, and containing the volume of fluid; a paddle compressing the reservoir to displace fluid from the reservoir and into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, the deformable region in the expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from the deformable region in the retracted setting; a housing transiently arranged outside an external surface of a body of a computing device to transiently retain an edge of the substrate over a touch sensitive display of the computing device, the housing cooperating with the substrate to enclose the reservoir and the paddle, the reservoir arranged between the housing and the external surface of the body of the device; and an actuator supported by the housing, engaging the paddle and displacing the paddle to compress the reservoir in response to manual actuation of the actuator, the paddle comprising a platen and the actuator comprising a slider translationally coupled to the housing, the slider translating the platen relative to the reservoir to compress the reservoir in response to manual actuation of the slider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A user interface enhancement system comprising:
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a substrate comprising an attachment face and defining a fluid channel; a tactile layer comprising a tactile surface and a back surface opposite the tactile surface, the back surface connected to the attachment face at a first region of the tactile layer, the tactile layer defining a deformable region over the fluid channel, adjacent the first region, and disconnected from the attachment face; a volume of fluid; a reservoir adjacent the substrate, fluidly coupled to the fluid channel, and containing the volume of fluid; a paddle compressing the reservoir to displace fluid from the reservoir and into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, the deformable region in the expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from the deformable region in the retracted setting; a housing transiently arranged outside an external surface of a body of a computing device to transiently retain an edge of the substrate over a touch sensitive display of the computing device, the housing cooperating with the substrate to enclose the reservoir and the saddle the reservoir arranged between the housing and the external surface of the body of the device; and an actuator supported by the housing, engaging the paddle and displacing the paddle to compress the reservoir in response to manual actuation of the actuator, the actuator hinged to the housing and comprising a cover operable between a first position and a second position, the cover arranged over the tactile surface and withholding the paddle from the reservoir in the first position, and the cover arranged over a back surface of the housing and retaining the paddle against the reservoir in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A user interface enhancement system comprising:
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a substrate comprising an attachment face and defining a fluid channel a tactile layer comprising a tactile surface and a back surface opposite the tactile surface, the back surface connected to the attachment face at a first region of the tactile layer, the tactile layer defining a deformable region adjacent the fluid channel, adjacent the first region, and disconnected from the attachment face; a reservoir adjacent the substrate, fluidly coupled to the fluid channel, and containing the volume of fluid; a paddle compressing the reservoir to displace fluid from the reservoir into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the deformable region in the expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from the deformable region in the retracted setting; a housing transiently arranged outside an external surface of a body of a computing device to transiently retain an edge of the substrate over a touch sensitive display of the computing device, the housing cooperating with the substrate to enclose the reservoir and the paddle, the reservoir arranged between the housing and the external surface of the body of the device; and an actuator supported by the housing, engaging the paddle, and displacing the paddle to compress the reservoir in response to manual actuation of the actuator, the paddle comprising a platen and the actuator comprising a slider translationally coupled to the housing, the slider translating the platen relative to the reservoir to compress the reservoir in response to manual actuation of the slider.
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Specification