Tactile touch-sensing interface system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A button assembly for use with a touch sensitive display including a virtual controller, the button assembly comprising:
- a button body defining a contact face;
a frame including an annular shoulder, a head, and post, wherein the head and the post project in opposite directions from the shoulder, the post terminating in a stop face opposite the head;
wherein the button body is mounted over an exterior of the head; and
a base defining a mounting face, a button face, and a central passage;
wherein the annular shoulder aligns a central axis of the post with a central axis of the central passage and in a normal state, locates the contact face spaced from the button face;
and further wherein the button assembly is mountable to a touch sensitive display screen, the frame being deflectable from the normal state in response to a user-applied force at the button body to bring the contact face into contact with the button face to generate a touch registering event at the touch sensitive display screen.
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Abstract
A user-configurable, tactile interface system that includes mechanical buttons with several mounting options, and several methods to interface with touch-sensing devices. A user can activate a touch on a touch sensing device by pressing a physical pad, which may be textured, or raised.
70 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A button assembly for use with a touch sensitive display including a virtual controller, the button assembly comprising:
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a button body defining a contact face; a frame including an annular shoulder, a head, and post, wherein the head and the post project in opposite directions from the shoulder, the post terminating in a stop face opposite the head; wherein the button body is mounted over an exterior of the head; and a base defining a mounting face, a button face, and a central passage; wherein the annular shoulder aligns a central axis of the post with a central axis of the central passage and in a normal state, locates the contact face spaced from the button face; and further wherein the button assembly is mountable to a touch sensitive display screen, the frame being deflectable from the normal state in response to a user-applied force at the button body to bring the contact face into contact with the button face to generate a touch registering event at the touch sensitive display screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of interfacing with an electronic device including a touch sensitive display screen, the method comprising:
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receiving a button assembly including a button body, a frame, and a base, the frame including an annular shoulder, a head, and a post, the button body mounted to the head, and the annular shoulder aligning a central axis of the post with a central axis of a central passage in the base; operating the electronic device to display a virtual controller on the touch sensitive display screen; mounting a mounting face of the button assembly to the touch sensitive display screen such that the button body is over the virtual controller, wherein in a normal state of the button assembly, a contact face of the button body is spaced from a button face of the base; deflecting the shoulder in response to a pressing force applied by a user on to the button body to direct the contact face into contact with the button face of the base, establishing a touch receptive interface between the contacted segment of the base and the touch sensitive display screen; and manipulating the button body by a user in a plurality of directions perpendicular to a centerline of the button body while the contact face continuously maintains the touch receptive interface with the base, wherein the manipulations correspond with a desired interaction by the user with the virtual controller. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification