Systems and Methods for Providing Programmable Deformable Surfaces
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a surface;
a tactile layer disposed on the surface and comprising a smartgel, the smartgel configured to deform in response to a stimulus;
a processor; and
an element configured to apply the stimulus in response to a signal from the processor, wherein the processor is configured to;
determine that a predetermined feature is to be provided using the tactile layer, andcommand the element to apply the stimulus to cause at least one portion of the smartgel to provide the predetermined feature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Programmable deformable surfaces can use smartgels that respond to external stimuli by changing in stiffness, volume, and/or transparency or color. A device can include a smartgel in one or more cells of a tactile layer, such as a layer of material positioned over a display device visible through the layer. Portions of the tactile layer can be subjected to one or more stimuli, such a change in temperature that causes areas of smartgel to deform, to provide haptic feedback. For example, wires can be embedded in the tactile layer and/or between the tactile layer and the display and by controlling current passing through the wires, portions of the tactile layer can be subjected to changes in temperature, such as to raise/lower portions of the tactile layer at a location corresponding to an object in a graphical user interface when a touch occurs at or near the location.
79 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a surface; a tactile layer disposed on the surface and comprising a smartgel, the smartgel configured to deform in response to a stimulus; a processor; and an element configured to apply the stimulus in response to a signal from the processor, wherein the processor is configured to; determine that a predetermined feature is to be provided using the tactile layer, and command the element to apply the stimulus to cause at least one portion of the smartgel to provide the predetermined feature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
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displaying a graphical user interface using a display device interfaced to a computing device, the computing device further interfaced with an element configured to apply a stimulus to a tactile layer comprising a smartgel; identifying an event associated with an element of the graphical user interface; determining a desired location in a tactile layer to provide a tactile effect, the desired location determined based on the event; and using the element, applying a stimulus to at least one portion of the smartgel to provide the tactile effect. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying program code, the program code comprising:
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program code that causes a processing device to provide output for use in displaying a graphical user interface; program code that causes the processing device to identify an event associated with an element of the graphical user interface; program code that causes the processing device to determine a desired location in a deformable layer mapped to the display to provide a haptic in response to the event; and program code that causes the processing device to provide a signal causing at least one portion of a smartgel comprised in the deformable layer to deform to provide the haptic effect. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification