User interface system
First Claim
1. A user interface comprising:
- a substrate comprising an attachment face defining a planar attachment surface and a support member continuous with the attachment face, the support member defining a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel laterally adjacent the first fluid channel, the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel configured to communicate fluid through the support member into a cavity;
a tactile layer defining a tactile surface, a peripheral region coupled to the attachment face around a perimeter of the support member, and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region and arranged over and disconnected from the support member, a portion of the tactile layer of a thickness at least as great as a width dimension of the first fluid channel, the deformable region cooperating with the support member to define the cavity, and the support member configured to support the deformable region against inward deformation past the plane of the planar attachment surface, the support member extending into the cavity and defining a lattice structure that comprises of the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel;
a displacement device configured to displace fluid into the cavity via the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from the retracted setting at the tactile surface, the deformable region substantially flush with peripheral region in the retracted setting and offset above the peripheral region in the expanded setting; and
a sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to detect an input at the tactile surface.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
549 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A user interface comprising:
-
a substrate comprising an attachment face defining a planar attachment surface and a support member continuous with the attachment face, the support member defining a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel laterally adjacent the first fluid channel, the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel configured to communicate fluid through the support member into a cavity; a tactile layer defining a tactile surface, a peripheral region coupled to the attachment face around a perimeter of the support member, and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region and arranged over and disconnected from the support member, a portion of the tactile layer of a thickness at least as great as a width dimension of the first fluid channel, the deformable region cooperating with the support member to define the cavity, and the support member configured to support the deformable region against inward deformation past the plane of the planar attachment surface, the support member extending into the cavity and defining a lattice structure that comprises of the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel; a displacement device configured to displace fluid into the cavity via the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from the retracted setting at the tactile surface, the deformable region substantially flush with peripheral region in the retracted setting and offset above the peripheral region in the expanded setting; and a sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to detect an input at the tactile surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification