User interface system

• US 9,207,795 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2014
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• 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:
  US14/514,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20150029126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is a user interface 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 within the fluid vessel, a displacement device that influences the volume of the fluid within the fluid vessel to expand and contract at least a portion of the fluid vessel, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, and a sensor system that is configured to receive a user input on the surface with a first sensitivity and configured to receive a user input substantially proximal to the particular region of the surface at with second sensitivity higher than the first sensitivity.

Claims

1. A method for receiving a user input into a dynamic tactile interface comprising a tactile layer, a substrate, a displacement device, and a sensor, the tactile layer defining a tactile surface, a first region, and a plurality of particular regions different from and adjacent the first region, the particular regions are operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting and tactilely distinguishable from the first region in the expanded setting, the substrate coupled to the first region and defining a fluid channel adjacent the particular region, the displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the particular region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting, and the sensor comprising a first set of conductors coincident the first region and a second set of conductors coincident the particular region, the method comprising:

at the first set of conductors, outputting a first electromagnetic field of a first frequency proximal the tactile surface;

at the second set of conductors, outputting a second electromagnetic field of second frequency proximal the tactile surface;

at the first set of conductors, detecting a first change in the first electromagnetic field;

at the second set of conductors, detecting a second change in the second electromagnetic field;

detecting an input on the tactile surface coincident the particular region in response to the second change exceeding the first change;

detecting an input on the tactile surface coincident the first region in response to the first change exceeding the second change; and

detecting an input on the tactile surface along an intermediate region between a first and second particular region of the plurality of particular regions in response to the first change substantially approximating the second change.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the sensor comprises arranging a first conductor in the second set of conductors substantially proximal the particular region and arranging a second conductor in the second set of conductors substantially proximal the particular region, a distance between the first conductor and the second conductor changing in response to an input on the particular region of the surface, and further comprising detecting an input on the surface proximal the particular region based on a change in the distance between the first conductor and the second conductor.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displacing fluid with the displacement device from the fluid vessel into the fluid channel to transition the particular region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting, the particular region offset above the first region in the expanded setting, the particular region substantially flush with the first region in the retracted setting.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the sensor comprises disposing the first set of conductors and the second set of conductors along the substrate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the sensor comprises disposing a first number of the first set of conductors along the layer proximal the first region and disposing a second number of the second set of conductors along the layer coincident the deformable region, wherein the first number is less than the second number, and the first region is larger than the deformable region.