User interface system

• US 8,456,438 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2012
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Ciesla, Craig Michael, Saal, Nathaniel Mark, Yairi, Micah B
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARINELLI, PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US13/418,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20120235935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 345/104, 178 1801- 2004, 434113-114
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0426 Layout of electrodes and connections
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/16 Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"

Abstract

The user interface system of the preferred embodiment includes: a layer defining a surface, a substrate supporting the layer and at least partially defining a cavity, a displacement device coupled to the cavity and adapted to expand the cavity thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the particular region of the surface, and a display coupled to the substrate and adapted to output images to the user. The user interface system of the preferred embodiments has been specifically designed to be incorporated into an electronic device, such as the display of a mobile phone, but may be incorporated in any suitable device that interfaces with a user in both a visual and tactile manner.

Claims

1. A user interface comprising:

a substrate defining a fluid channel connected to a cavity;

a tactile layer comprising a tactile surface, a deformable region of the tactile layer cooperating with the substrate to define the cavity, and an undeformable region of the tactile layer coupled to the substrate substantially proximal a perimeter of the cavity;

a set of discrete beads arranged within the cavity and disconnected from the deformable region and the substrate, the set of discrete beads configured to support the deformable region against substantial inward deformation;

a filter arranged within the fluid channel and configured to prevent displacement of a bead, in the set of discrete beads, through a portion of the fluid channel and into the displacement device;

a displacement device coupled to the fluid channel and configured to displace fluid through the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting that is tactilely distinguishable from the retracted setting at the tactile surface; and

a sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to detect an input at the tactile surface.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein an interstitial between beads in the set of discrete beads defines a fluid path configured to communicate fluid through the cavity, and wherein the fluid path comprises a width dimension less than a thickness of the tactile layer.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein a bead in the set of discrete beads is substantially spherical.

4. The user interface of claim 1, wherein each bead in the set of discrete beads comprises a material of a refractive index substantially similar to the refractive index of the fluid.

5. The user interface of claim 1, wherein, in the retracted setting, the tactile surface of the deformable region is flush with the tactile surface of the undeformable region and the deformable region is in contact with a bead in the set of discrete beads.

6. The user interface of claim 5, wherein, in the expanded setting, the deformable region is lifted off of the set of discrete beads.

7. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is a capacitive touch sensor.

8. The user interface of claim 1 incorporated into an electronic device selected from the group consisting of:

an automotive console, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a television, a radio, a desk phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, a personal navigation device, a personal media player, a camera, and a watch.

9. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a constriction of cross-section area less than a cross-sectional area of a bead in the set of discrete beads, the constriction arranged at a junction between the fluid channel and the cavity.

10. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the filter is permeable to the volume of fluid but impermeable to beads in the set of discrete beads.

11. A user interface comprising:

a volume of fluid;

a substrate;

a tactile layer comprising a tactile surface, a deformable region of the tactile layer cooperating with the substrate to define a cavity, and an undeformable region of the tactile layer coupled to the substrate substantially proximal a perimeter of the cavity;

a set of discrete beads arranged within the cavity and disconnected from the deformable region and the substrate, the set of discrete beads configured to support the deformable region against substantial inward deformation, and beads in the set of discrete beads of a refractive index substantially similar to a refractive index of the volume of fluid;

a displacement device fluidly coupled to the cavity and configured to displace a portion of the volume of fluid into the cavity to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, the tactile surface in the expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from the tactile surface in the retracted setting;

a filter arranged within the cavity and configured to prevent displacement of a bead, in the set of discrete beads, into the displacement device; and

a sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to detect an input on the tactile surface.

12. The user interface of claim 11, wherein an interstitial between beads in the set of discrete beads defines a fluid path configured to communicate fluid through the cavity wherein the fluid path comprises a width dimension less than a thickness of the tactile layer.

13. The user interface of claim 11, wherein a portion of the volume of fluid substantially fills the cavity in both the retracted and expanded settings.

14. The user interface of claim 11, wherein the substrate further defines a fluid channel connected to the cavity and to the displacement device, wherein the displacement device comprises a pump configured to displace a portion of the volume of fluid through the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting, and wherein the filter is arranged at a junction between the cavity and the fluid channel.

15. The user interface of claim 11, wherein a portion of the fluid fills the cavity to transmit light from the substrate through the tactile layer in both the retracted and the expanded settings.

16. The user interface of claim 11, wherein the displacement device is configured to modify a mechanical property of the tactile layer at the deformable region to transition the deformable region between settings.

17. The user interface of claim 16, wherein the displacement device is configured to generate a voltage potential across a portion of the tactile surface to modify the elasticity of the deformable region.

18. The user interface of claim 11, wherein the displacement device is configured to generate a voltage potential across a portion of the cavity to displace fluid within the cavity to transition the deformable region between settings.

19. The user interface of claim 11, further comprising a display coupled to the substrate and configured to visually output an image of an input key substantially aligned with the deformable region.

20. The user interface of claim 19, wherein a portion of the volume of fluid, the substrate, the tactile layer, and the set of discrete beads are configured to visually transmit the image from the display through the tactile surface.

21. The user interface of claim 11, wherein in the retracted setting, the deformable region is in contact with at least one bead in the set of discrete beads, and wherein in the expanded setting, the deformable region is lifted off of the set of discrete beads.

22. The user interface of claim 11, wherein the deformable and undeformable regions are continuous, and wherein in the retracted setting, the tactile surface of the deformable region is substantially in plane with the tactile surface of the undeformable region.