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

• Current Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Ciesla, Craig, Yairi, Micah
• Primary Examiner(s): MARINELLI, PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US14/486,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20150029123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 178 1801- 2004, 434112-117
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• 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: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/046 Inflatable bubble or cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/018 Indication of switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/062 Inflatable

Abstract

A user interface system of one embodiment includes a layer defining a surface; a substrate supporting the layer and at least partially defining a cavity; a displacement coupled to the cavity that expands the cavity, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface; and a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the particular region of the surface. The layer and the substrate are connected at an attachment point, and the location of the attachment point relative to the layer, substrate, and cavity at least partially defines the shape of the deformed particular region of the surface.

Claims

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.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first portion surrounds the second portion, the second portion substantially planar and flush with the first region in the retracted setting and offset above and parallel the first region in the expanded setting, the first portion coupling the second portion to the first region, the tactile surface continuous across the first region an the first portion and the second portion of the deformable region.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the cavity comprises a first drafted wall defining a particular draft angle;

wherein the deformable region comprises an extension extending into the cavity at the particular draft angle; and

wherein the displacement device transitions the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting, a second drafted wall contacting the first drafted wall in the retracted setting and the second drafted wall elevated off of the first drafted wall in the expanded setting, the first drafted wall supporting the second drafted wall to support the second portion against inward deformation past flush with the first region due to a force applied to the deformable region.

4. The user interface of claim 3, wherein the substrate further defines a fluid conduit communicating fluid up the first drafted wall and toward the deformable region.

5. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a touch sensor coupled to the substrate opposite the tactile layer and configured to detect an input on the tactile surface.

6. The user interface of claim 1, wherein, in the expanded setting, the tactile surface of the deformable region defines one of:

a button, a ridge, a ring, a slider, and a pointing stick.

7. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir coupled to the displacement device, the displacement device displacing fluid from the reservoir into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting and displacing fluid from the fluid channel to the reservoir to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting to the retracted setting.

8. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor outputting a signal corresponding to an input on the tactile surface.

9. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the substrate opposite the tactile layer and configured to render an image through the tactile surface;

wherein the substrate comprises a substantially transparent material; and

wherein the tactile layer comprises a substantially transparent material.

10. The user interface of claim 9, wherein the display renders an image of a virtual keyboard, the deformable region aligned and coincident with a particular key of the virtual keyboard.

11. 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, 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 first region defines a first thickness, and wherein the tactile layer at the-deformable region defines a second thickness greater than the first thickness across the first region;

a displacement device configured to displace 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 in the expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from the deformable region in the retracted setting; and

a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to output a signal corresponding to an input on the tactile surface.

12. The user interface of claim 11, wherein the substrate further defines a support member adjacent the deformable region and the cavity, the support member resisting inward deformation of the deformable region past flush with the tactile layer.

13. The user interface of claim 11, wherein the first region and the second portion of the deformable region are continuous across the tactile surface, the tactile layer comprising an elastomeric material.

14. 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, 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 second portion of the deformable region defines a conical extension extending into the cavity;

a displacement device configured to displace 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 in the expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from the deformable region in the retracted setting; and

a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to output a signal corresponding to an input on the tactile surface.