User interface system

• US 8,704,790 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Ciesla, Craig Michael, Yairi, Micah B, Saal, Nathaniel Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Sharifi-Tafreshi, Koosha
• Application Number:
  US13/278,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20120098789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/168, 345/173, 345/174, 434/114, 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 340/4.12, 341/22, 341/27, 715/701, 715/702
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• 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 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• 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 embodiment of the user interface system comprises: a volume of fluid; a tactile layer; a retaining wall substantially impermeable to the fluid; a permeable layer; a displacement device; and a touch sensor. The tactile layer, with a back surface, defines a second region, operable between: a retracted state, wherein the second region is substantially flush with a first region; and an expanded state, wherein the second region is substantially proud of the first region. The permeable layer, joined to the back surface of the first region, includes a plurality of fluid ports that communicate a portion of the fluid through the permeable layer to the back surface of the second region. The displacement device directs the fluid through the fluid ports to the back surface to transition the second region from the retracted state to the expanded state. The touch sensor detects a user touch on the tactile layer.

Claims

1. A user interface system comprising:

a tactile layer defining a tactile surface a first region, and a deformable region adjacent the first region;

a permeable layer comprising an attachment area and a support surface adjacent the attachment area, the permeable layer defining a substantially uniform density of fluid ports across the attachment area and the support surface, the peripheral first region coupled to the attachment area and Mocking flow of a fluid through fluid ports within the attachment area, the deformable region arranged over and disconnected from the support surface;

a retaining wall coupled to the permeable layer opposite the tactile layer and impermeable to the fluid;

a displacement device configured to displace the fluid through fluid ports within the support surface by displacing a portion of the permeable layer relative to the retaining wall to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, the deformable region in contact with the support surface in the retracted setting, the first region elevated above the first region and lifted off of the support surface in the expanded setting; and

a sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to an input on the tactile surface.

2. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the support surface defines a concave contour adjacent the deformable region, wherein the displacement device is configured to transition the deformable region into the expanded setting by displacing a portion of the retaining wall toward the portion of the permeable layer, and wherein the displacement device is configured to retract the deformable region into the concave contour in the retracted setting by displacing the portion of the retaining wall away from the permeable layer.

3. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the retaining wall is offset from and cooperates with the permeable layer to define a reservoir containing the fluid, and wherein the displacement device is configured to displace the fluid from the reservoir into fluid ports in the permeable layer by displacing the portion of the permeable layer toward a portion of the retaining wall.

4. The user interface system of claim 3, wherein the displacement device is configured to modify an orientation of the portion of the retaining wall relative to the permeable layer to displace fluid from the reservoir.

5. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising a first conductive trace arranged over the support surface and a second conductive trace coupled to the permeable layer opposite the support surface, wherein the displacement device is configured to generate a voltage differential across the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace to induce electroosmotic fluid flow through fluid ports within the support surface.

6. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the permeable layer defines a substantially uniform density of fluid conduits throughout its thickness, the fluid conduits terminating in fluid ports at the attachment area and the support surface.

7. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the tactile surface is substantially continuous across the first region and the deformable region, and wherein the first region and the deformable region are planar and flush in the retracted setting.

8. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor.

9. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising a digital display coupled to the retaining wall and configured to visually output an image of an input key substantially aligned with the deformable region, wherein the retaining wall, the permeable layer, and the tactile layer are substantially transparent.

10. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the permeable layer defines a second support surface, wherein the tactile layer defines a second deformable region arranged over and disconnected from the second support surface, and wherein the displacement device is further configured to transition the second deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, independent of the deformable region, by displacing a second portion of the permeable layer relative to the retaining wall.

11. The user interface system of claim 6, wherein the permeable layer comprises a substantially porous material defining interconnected cavities that form the fluid conduits.

12. The user interface system of claim 6, wherein the fluid conduits comprise substantially parallel bores of substantially circular cross-sections passing fully through the permeable layer substantially normal to the attachment area and to the support surface.

13. The user interface system of claim 1, further comprising a perimeter wall impermeable to the fluid, encompassing a perimeter of the permeable layer, and cooperating with the retaining wall and the tactile layer to retain fluid within the permeable layer.

14. The user interface system of claim 13, wherein the perimeter wall and the permeable layer cooperate to define a reservoir containing the fluid.

26. The user interface system of claim 1, wherein the tactile surface is substantially continuous across the first region and the deformable region, and wherein the first region and the deformable region are planar and flush in the retracted setting.

15. A user interface system comprising:

a tactile layer defining a tactile surface, a first region, and a deformable region adjacent the first region;

a permeable layer comprising an attachment surface area and a support surface adjacent the attachment area, the permeable layer defining a substantially uniform density of fluid ports across the attachment area and the support surface, the first region coupled to the attachment area and blocking flow of a fluid through fluid ports within the attachment surface area, the deformable region arranged over and disconnected from the support surface;

a retaining wall coupled to the permeable layer opposite the tactile layer and impermeable to the fluid;

a displacement device configured to displace the fluid through fluid ports within the support surface to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, the deformable region in contact with the support surface in the retracted setting, the first region elevated above the first region and lifted off of the support surface in the expanded setting; and

a sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to an input on the tactile surface.

16. The user interface system of claim 15, wherein the permeable layer comprises a porous material defining interconnected cavities terminating in fluid ports across the attachment surface area and the support surface.

17. The user interface system of claim 16, wherein the interconnected cavities initiate at fluid inlets across the permeable layer opposite the attachment surface area and the support surface, wherein the retaining wall is offset from the permeable layer opposite the tactile layer and cooperates with the permeable layer to define a fluid reservoir, and wherein the displacement device is configured to pump fluid from the reservoir, into the fluid inlets, and out of fluid ports within the support surface to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting.

18. The user interface system of claim 17, further comprising a first conductive trace arranged over the support surface and a second conductive trace coupled to the retaining wall, wherein the displacement device is configured to generate a voltage differential across the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace to displace fluid into the fluid inlets.

19. The user interface system of claim 15, wherein the permeable layer defines a substantially uniform density of bores passing through the permeable layer substantially normal to the support surface and to the attachment area, wherein the bores terminate at the fluid ports at the support surface and the attachment area.

20. The user interface system of claim 19, wherein the bores are of substantially circular cross-sections, and wherein the first region obstructs fluid flow through bores terminating in fluid ports within the attachment surface area.

21. The user interface system of claim 15, wherein the deformable region is flush with the first region in the retracted setting.

22. The user interface system of claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor.

23. A user interface system comprising:

a tactile layer defining a tactile surface, a first region, and a deformable region adjacent the first region;

a permeable layer comprising an attachment area and a support surface adjacent the attachment area, the permeable layer defining a substantially uniform density of fluid ports across the attachment area and the support surface, the first region coupled to the attachment area and blocking flow of a fluid through fluid ports within the attachment area, the deformable region arranged over and disconnected from the support surface;

a retaining wall coupled to the permeable layer opposite the tactile layer and impermeable to the fluid;

a first conductive trace arranged over the support face;

a second conductive trace coupled to the permeable layer opposite the support face;

a displacement device configured to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting by generating a voltage differential across the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace to induce electroosmotic flow through the permeable layer, the deformable region in contact with the support surface in the retracted setting, the first region elevated above the first region and lifted off of the support surface in the expanded setting; and

a sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to an input on the tactile surface.

24. The user interface system of claim 23, further comprising a digital display coupled to the retaining wall and configured to visually output an image of an input key substantially aligned with the deformable region, wherein the retaining wall, the permeable layer, the tactile layer, the first conductive trace, and the second conductive trace are substantially transparent.

25. The user interface system of claim 23, wherein the permeable layer comprises a porous material defining a substantially uniform density of interconnected cavities throughout its thickness, defines an interior surface opposite the attachment surface area and the support surface, and defines a substantially uniform density of fluid inlets across the interior surface, wherein the interconnected cavities are fluidly coupled to the fluid ports and the fluid inlets.