User interface and methods

• US 9,495,055 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2015
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Yairi, Micah B., Culver, Todd A., Ciesla, Craig M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marinelli, Patrick F
• Application Number:
  US14/711,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20150242020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• 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 3/0202 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 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• 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 3/04883 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting

Abstract

One variation of a method for controlling a dynamic tactile user interface includes: sensing a capacitance value across a portion of a cavity, a tactile layer defining a deformable region and a peripheral region, the peripheral region adjacent the deformable region, and the deformable region cooperating with the substrate to define the cavity; estimating a vertical position of the tactile surface at the deformable region according to the sensed capacitance value across the portion of the cavity; manipulating a fluid pressure within the cavity to modify a vertical position of the tactile surface at the deformable region according to a difference between the estimated vertical position of the tactile surface at the deformable region and a target vertical position of the tactile surface at the deformable region; and sensing an input on the tactile surface according to a change in capacitance value across the portion of the cavity.

Claims

1. A user interface, comprising:

a substrate;

a continuous tactile layer comprising;

a peripheral region coupled to the substrate, a deformable region operable between a retracted position and a deformed position, and a tactile surface extending across the deformable region, wherein the tactile surface is flush with the peripheral region in the retracted position and is offset from the peripheral region in the deformed position;

a deformation device configured to transition the deformable region between the retracted position and the deformed position;

a sensor comprising a set of conductive elements; and

a processor configured to measure a capacitance value of the set of conductive elements and identify a touch event on the tactile surface in response to a change in the capacitance value measured by the sensor, wherein;

the sensor comprises a first and second conductive element, wherein the processor is configured to measure a capacitance between the first and second conductive elements,

the first conductive element comprises a flexible electrode connected to the deformable region of the tactile layer, and

the processor stores a capacitance map for the set of conductive elements, the capacitance map comprising a sensor setting for each of a plurality of deformable region positions between the retracted and deformed positions.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first conductive element is arranged perpendicular and offset from the second conductive element.

3. The user interface of claim 2, wherein the first conductive element is one of a first plurality of conductive elements, and the second conductive element is one of a second plurality of conductive elements separate from the first set, wherein the first and second pluralities of conductive elements are substantially uniformly distributed relative to the tactile layer.

4. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductive elements are coplanar.

5. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the deformable region comprises an elastic material.

6. The user interface of claim 5, wherein the elastic material comprises an elastomer.

7. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a volume of fluid, wherein:

the deformable region of the tactile layer cooperatively defines a cavity with the substrate;

the volume of fluid is arranged within the cavity; and

the displacement device is configured to manipulate the volume of fluid to transition the deformable region between the retracted position and deformed position.

8. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the substrate opposing the tactile layer, the display configured to display an input graphic substantially aligned with the deformable region, wherein the processor comprises a touchscreen processing unit configured to detect inputs on the tactile surface, a tactile processing unit configured to control the displacement device, and a host processing unit configured to implement a command according to inputs detected by the tactile processing unit.

9. A method of dynamic tactile user interface control, the dynamic tactile user interface including a continuous tactile layer coupled to a substrate, the tactile layer defining a static peripheral region and a deformable region operable between an expanded and retracted position, and a set of electrodes associated with the deformable region, the method comprising:

determining a height of the deformable region based on the measured capacitance value and a predetermined baseline capacitance value for the deformable region;

measuring a capacitance value of the set of electrodes;

measuring a change in the capacitance value of the set of electrodes; and

detecting a touch event based on the change in the capacitance value and the height of the deformable region.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the set of electrodes comprises an electrode pair, wherein measuring the capacitance value for the electrodes comprises measuring a capacitance value between an electrode pair.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein measuring the capacitance value of the electrode pair comprises measuring at least one of a charge voltage, charge current, a charge time, a discharge time, and a transmit frequency between a first and second electrode of the electrode pair.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein measuring a capacitance value of the electrodes comprises applying a first voltage across the electrodes in response to determination of a first deformable region height, and applying a second voltage across the electrodes in response to determination of a second deformable region height.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

distinguishing between button deformation and finger proximity based on the change in capacitance value.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein detecting the touch event further comprises:

classifying the touch event as a first touch type in response to the change in capacitance value comprising a first capacitance value change, based on a capacitance map for the deformable region height stored by the dynamic tactile user interface; and

classifying the touch event as a second touch type in response to the change in capacitance value comprising a second capacitance value change different from the first capacitance value change, based on the capacitance map for the deformable region height.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

classifying the touch event as a first touch type in response to the change in capacitance value comprising a first capacitance value change;

controlling the deformable region to deform to a second height, different from the determined height;

detecting a second touch event in response to measurement of a second change in the capacitance value of the set of electrodes; and

classifying the second touch event as a second touch type, different from the first touch type, in response to the change in capacitance value comprising the first capacitance value change.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the deformable region and the substrate cooperatively define a fluid-filled cavity therebetween, wherein controlling the deformable region to deform to a second height comprises manipulating a pressure of the fluid within the cavity.