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User interface system

  • US 9,612,659 B2
  • Filed: 09/15/2014
  • Issued: 04/04/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A user interface comprising:

  • a substrate defining a cavity and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the cavity;

    a tactile layer comprising a first region and a deformable region adjacent the first region, the first region coupled to the substrate, the deformable region adjacent the cavity, a first portion of the deformable region adjacent the first region, a second portion of the deformable region adjacent the first portion of the deformable region and coincident a center of the deformable region, the tactile layer defining a tactile surface across the deformable region and the first region and opposite the substrate, the first region exhibiting a first flexibility, and the second region exhibiting a second flexibility greater than the first flexibility across the tactile surface, wherein the tactile layer at the deformable region defines a second thickness greater than the first thickness across the first region; and

    a displacement device displacing fluid through the fluid channel and into the cavity to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, the deformable region substantially flush with the first region in the retracted setting and defining a tactilely distinguishable formation offset above the first region in the expanded setting.

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