Dynamic tactile interface with exhibiting optical dispersion characteristics
First Claim
1. A dynamic tactile interface for a computing device, comprising:
- a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region;
a substrate comprising one or more sublayers formed of a transparent base material exhibiting a first optical dispersion characteristic, coupled to the tactile layer at the peripheral region, defining a fluid conduit adjacent the peripheral region, and defining a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit;
a volume of transparent fluid contained within the fluid channel and the fluid conduit, the volume of transparent fluid exhibiting a second optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic;
a volume of particulate contained completely outside the fluid conduit and within one of the one or more sublayers of the substrate formed by the transparent base material is biased around an exterior of the fluid conduit, the volume of particulate exhibits a third optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic, the volume of particulate having an optical property that globally modifies a bulk optical property of a base material containing the particulate to yield smoother transitions in the optical property between adjacent materials in the dynamic tactile interface, the volume of transparent fluid and the volume of particulate cooperate to exhibit a bulk thermal expansion coefficient approaching the first thermal expansion coefficient of the transparent material of the substrate; and
a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the deformable region defining a formation tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region in the expanded setting.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One variation of a dynamic tactile interface for a computing device includes: a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region; a substrate including a transparent base material exhibiting a first optical dispersion characteristic, coupled to the tactile layer at the peripheral region, defining a fluid conduit adjacent the peripheral region and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit; a volume of transparent fluid contained within the fluid channel and the fluid conduit and exhibiting a second optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic; a volume of particulate contained within the transparent base material of the substrate, biased around the fluid conduit, and exhibiting a third optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic; and a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A dynamic tactile interface for a computing device, comprising:
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a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region; a substrate comprising one or more sublayers formed of a transparent base material exhibiting a first optical dispersion characteristic, coupled to the tactile layer at the peripheral region, defining a fluid conduit adjacent the peripheral region, and defining a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit; a volume of transparent fluid contained within the fluid channel and the fluid conduit, the volume of transparent fluid exhibiting a second optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic; a volume of particulate contained completely outside the fluid conduit and within one of the one or more sublayers of the substrate formed by the transparent base material is biased around an exterior of the fluid conduit, the volume of particulate exhibits a third optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic, the volume of particulate having an optical property that globally modifies a bulk optical property of a base material containing the particulate to yield smoother transitions in the optical property between adjacent materials in the dynamic tactile interface, the volume of transparent fluid and the volume of particulate cooperate to exhibit a bulk thermal expansion coefficient approaching the first thermal expansion coefficient of the transparent material of the substrate; and a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the deformable region defining a formation tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region in the expanded setting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A dynamic tactile interface for a computing device, comprising:
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a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region, the tactile layer comprising a first transparent material exhibiting a first index of refraction; a substrate comprising sublayers including a first sublayer and a second sublayer, the first sublayer coupled to the tactile layer at the peripheral region, the second sublayer adjacent the first sublayer opposite the tactile layer and comprising a second transparent material of a second index of refraction, the substrate defining a fluid conduit adjacent the peripheral region and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit; a volume of particulate arranged completely outside the fluid conduit and within the first sublayer, the volume of particulate and the first sublayer cooperating to exhibit a bulk index of refraction between the first index of refraction and the second index of refraction for a particular wavelength of light in the visible spectrum, the volume of particulate having an optical property that globally modifies a bulk optical property of a base material containing the particulate to yield smoother transitions in the optical property between adjacent materials in the dynamic tactile interface, the volume of transparent fluid and the volume of particulate cooperate to exhibit a bulk thermal expansion coefficient approaching the first thermal expansion coefficient of the transparent material of the substrate; a volume of transparent fluid contained within the fluid channel and the fluid conduit; and a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the deformable region defining a formation tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region in the expanded setting. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A dynamic tactile interface for a computing device, comprising:
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a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region, the tactile layer comprising a first sublayer and a second sublayer, the first sublayer of a transparent material exhibiting a first index of refraction; a substrate comprising one or more sublayers and coupled to the second sublayer opposite the first sublayer, defining a fluid conduit adjacent the peripheral region and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, and comprising a transparent material exhibiting a second index of refraction; a volume of particulate arranged completely outside the fluid conduit and within the second sublayer, the volume of particulate and the second sublayer cooperating to exhibit a bulk index of refraction between the first index of refraction and the second index of refraction for a particular wavelength of light in the visible spectrum, the volume of particulate having an optical property that globally modifies a bulk optical property of a base material containing the particulate to yield smoother transitions in the optical property between adjacent materials in the dynamic tactile interface, the volume of transparent fluid and the volume of particulate cooperate to exhibit a bulk thermal expansion coefficient approaching the first thermal expansion coefficient of the transparent material of the substrate; a volume of transparent fluid contained within the fluid channel and the fluid conduit; and a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the deformable region defining a formation tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region in the expanded setting.
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Specification