Method for actuating a tactile interface layer

• US 9,448,630 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Saal, Nathaniel, Ciesla, Craig M., Yairi, Micah
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): DARAMOLA, ISRAEL O
• Application Number:
  US14/635,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20150177839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.2, 345/173
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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

Abstract

A method for actuating a tactile interface layer of a device that defines a surface with a deformable region, comprising the steps of deforming a deformable region of the surface into a formation tactilely distinguishable from the surface, detecting a force from the user on a deformed deformable region, interpreting the force as a command for the deformable region, and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command.

Claims

1. A method for actuating a tactile interface layer coupled to a device, the tactile interface layer comprising a surface and a substrate, the surface defining a deformable region and a second region adjacent the deformable region, the substrate defining a fluid vessel adjacent the deformable region, the method comprising:

displacing fluid into the fluid vessel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from the second region and offset above the second region by a first height;

at a sensor coupled to the tactile interface layer, detecting a user input which applies a force at the deformable region in the expanded setting;

substantially simultaneously, detecting an increase in pressure of fluid in the fluid vessel by a second sensor;

in response to the force, displacing fluid out of the fluid vessel to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting offset above the second region by the first height to a second setting offset above the second region by a second height less than the first height, a change in height between the expanded setting and the second setting proportional to the detected increase in pressure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to displacing fluid out of the fluid vessel to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting to the second setting, displacing fluid into the fluid vessel to increase pressure within the fluid vessel adjacent the deformable region in the second setting.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein displacing fluid into the fluid vessel to increase pressure increases resistance to depression of the deformable region toward the substrate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an increase in pressure in the fluid vessel comprises, at a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the fluid vessel, detecting a change in pressure and, in response to the change in pressure greater than a threshold pressure change, interpreting the change in pressure as a command to displace fluid out of the fluid vessel, the second sensor including the pressure sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting an initial pressure in the fluid vessel corresponding to the deformable region in the expanded setting;

wherein displacing fluid out of the fluid channel comprises displacing a volume of fluid out of the fluid vessel, the volume of fluid substantially proportional to the increase in pressure in the fluid to restore the initial pressure in the fluid vessel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displacing fluid out of the fluid vessel comprises displacing fluid out the fluid vessel to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting to the second setting offset above the second region by a second height less than the first height;

wherein pressure in the fluid vessel at the second height is greater than pressure in the fluid vessel at the first height.

7. A method for actuating a tactile interface layer coupled to a device, the tactile interface layer comprising a surface and a substrate, the surface defining a deformable region and a second region adjacent the deformable region, the substrate defining a fluid vessel adjacent the deformable region, the method comprising:

displacing fluid into the fluid vessel at a first pressure to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from the second region and the deformable region in the retracted setting;

at a sensor coupled to the tactile interface layer, detecting an input which applies a force at the deformable region, the force displacing the deformable region from the expanded setting to a second setting tactilely distinguishable from the expanded setting;

substantially simultaneously, detecting by a second sensor an increase in pressure from the first pressure to a second pressure in the fluid vessel;

with the deformable region in the second setting, displacing fluid into the fluid vessel to change pressure in the fluid vessel from the second pressure to a third pressure in response to the detected increase in pressure, the deformable region stable in the second setting at the third pressure.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein displacing fluid into the fluid vessel comprises increasing pressure in the fluid vessel from the second pressure to the third pressure, greater than the second pressure by a magnitude proportional to the increase in pressure from the first pressure to the second pressure.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein displacing fluid into the fluid vessel comprises displacing fluid into the fluid vessel to increase pressure in the fluid vessel from the second pressure to the third pressure greater than the second pressure by a magnitude proportional to the increase in pressure from the first pressure to the second pressure.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein displacing fluid into the fluid vessel comprises increasing pressure in the fluid vessel from the second pressure to the third pressure greater than the second pressure by a magnitude substantially equal to the increase in pressure from the first pressure to the second pressure.

11. A method for actuating a tactile layer coupled to a computing device and comprising a surface defining a first deformable region, a second deformable region, and a third region adjacent the first deformable region and the second deformable region, the tactile interface layer defining a first fluid vessel adjacent the first deformable region and a second fluid vessel adjacent the second deformable region, the method comprising:

at a sensor, detecting a user input at the first deformable region in an expanded setting, the input applying a force displacing the first deformable region toward the substrate, the first deformable region offset above the third region in the expanded setting, the second deformable region in a retracted setting substantially flush with the first region, the input pressing the deformable region toward the substrate;

substantially simultaneously, detecting by a second sensor a change in pressure in the fluid vessel corresponding to the input;

in response to the change in pressure, displacing a first volume of fluid from the first fluid vessel to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting to a second setting tactilely distinguishable from the expanded setting;

substantially simultaneously, displacing a second volume of fluid into the second fluid vessel to transition the second deformable region from the retracted setting to a third setting tactilely distinguishable from the retracted setting, a ratio of the second volume of fluid to the first volume of fluid proportional to the detected change in pressure.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising rendering a first graphical icon and a second graphical icon on a display coupled to the tactile layer substrate opposite the surface, the first graphical icon substantially aligned with the first deformable region and second graphical icon substantially aligned with the second deformable region;

wherein detecting an input at the first deformable region comprises detecting the input at the first deformable region and defining the input as a selection of the first graphical icon;

wherein displacing a second volume of fluid into the second fluid vessel to transition the second deformable region from the retracted setting to a third setting comprises defining an input button detect selecting the second graphical icon.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein rendering the first graphical icon and the second graphical icon comprises rendering a graphical toggle switch, a first button of the toggle switch corresponding to the first graphical icon, a second button of the toggle switch corresponding to the second graphical icon.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein displacing the second volume of fluid into the second fluid vessel comprises displacing the first volume of fluid from the first fluid vessel into the second fluid vessel to transition the first deformable region from the expanded setting to the retracted setting and substantially simultaneously transition the second deformable region from the retracted setting to expanded setting.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein displacing the first volume of fluid from the first fluid vessel comprises gradually decreasing the first volume of fluid in the first fluid vessel;

and wherein displacing a second volume of fluid into the second fluid vessel comprises gradually increasing the second volume of fluid in the second fluid vessel.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein displacing the first volume of fluid from the first fluid vessel comprises retracting the first deformable region by a degree of deformation to the second setting offset above the third region by a first height;

and wherein displacing the second volume of fluid into the second vessel comprises expanding the second deformable region to a second height offset above the third region and corresponding to the degree of deformation.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising detecting a duration of the input;

wherein displacing fluid from the first fluid vessel comprises displacing a volume of fluid proportional to the duration of the input; and

wherein displacing fluid into the second vessel comprises displacing the second volume of fluid of a volume proportional to the duration of the input.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein displacing the first volume of fluid from the first fluid vessel comprises displacing the first volume of fluid of a volume proportional to the magnitude of the change in pressure.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein displacing the first volume of fluid from the first fluid vessel comprises displacing the first volume of fluid and decreasing pressure in the fluid vessel by a first pressure magnitude;

wherein displacing the second volume of fluid into the second fluid vessel comprises displacing the second volume of fluid and increasing pressure in the fluid vessel by a second pressure magnitude proportional to the first pressure magnitude.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein displacing fluid into the second fluid vessel comprises displacing the second volume of fluid and increasing pressure in the fluid vessel by the second pressure magnitude greater than the first pressure magnitude.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein displacing the second volume of fluid into the second fluid vessel comprises displacing the second volume of fluid corresponding to a first ratio in response to the second volume of fluid greater than a threshold volume of fluid and corresponding to a second ratio in response to the second volume of fluid less than a threshold volume of fluid.