User interface enhancement system

• US 9,116,617 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2012
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2009
• 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): Wang-Hurst, Kathy
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOTO LOPEZ, JOSE R
• Application Number:
  US13/465,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20120218214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 178 1801- 2004, 434112-117
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A user interface enhancement system that includes a sheet that defines a surface and at least partially defines a fluid vessel arranged underneath the surface, a volume of fluid contained within the fluid vessel that cooperates with the sheet to transmit an image through the sheet without substantial obstruction, a displacement device that influences the volume of fluid within the fluid vessel to expand and retract at least a portion of the fluid vessel, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, and an attachment component that couples the sheet to the device is disclosed.

Claims

1. A user interface enhancement system comprising:

a substrate comprising an attachment face and defining a fluid channel;

a tactile layer comprising a tactile surface and a back surface opposite the tactile surface, the back surface connected to the attachment face at a first region of the tactile layer, the tactile layer defining a deformable region over the fluid channel, adjacent the first region, and disconnected from the attachment face;

a volume of fluid;

a reservoir adjacent the substrate, fluidly coupled to the fluid channel, and containing the volume of fluid;

a paddle compressing the reservoir to displace fluid from the reservoir and into the fluid channel 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;

a housing transiently arranged outside an external surface of a body of a computing device to transiently retain an edge of the substrate over a touch sensitive display of the computing device, the housing cooperating with the substrate to enclose the reservoir and the paddle, the reservoir arranged between the housing and the external surface of the body of the device; and

an actuator supported by the housing, engaging the paddle and displacing the paddle to compress the reservoir in response to manual actuation of the actuator, the paddle comprising a platen and the actuator comprising a slider translationally coupled to the housing, the slider translating the platen relative to the reservoir to compress the reservoir in response to manual actuation of the slider.

2. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the paddle displaces fluid away from the back surface of the deformable region to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting to the retracted setting.

3. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a second support member continuous with the attachment face, the substrate further defining a second fluid channel configured to communicate fluid through the second support member, wherein the back surface of the tactile layer is adjacent and disconnected from the second support member at a second deformable region of the tactile layer, wherein the support member resists inward deformation of the second deformable region into the second fluid channel, and wherein the paddle displaces fluid through the second fluid channel to transition the second deformable region between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the second deformable region tactilely distinguishable from and offset above the first region in the expanded setting and substantially flush with the first region in the retracted setting.

4. The user interface enhancement system of claim 3, wherein the paddle selectively transitions the deformable region and the second deformable region between the retracted setting and the expanded setting.

5. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the tactile layer comprises a first sublayer and a second sublayer directly joined across an interface, wherein the first sublayer defines the tactile surface opposite the interface, and wherein the second sublayer defines the back surface opposite the interface.

6. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the back surface of the tactile layer is directly connected to the attachment face with an adhesive.

7. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises multiple layers, at least one layer of the multiple layers comprising a rigid material.

8. The user interface enhancement system of claim 3, wherein the tactile layer defines a third deformable region operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the third deformable region substantially flush with the first region in the retracted setting, and the third deformable region tactilely distinguishable and offset above the first region in the expanded setting.

9. The user interface enhancement system of claim 8, wherein the substrate defines a second support surface adjacent the third deformable region and resisting inward deformation of the third region into the fluid channel.

10. The user interface enhancement system of claim 9, wherein the paddle manipulates a portion of the reservoir to transition the second deformable region from the retracted setting into the expanded setting independently of the third region.

11. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the tactile layer, the substrate, and the volume of fluid are substantially transparent.

12. The user interface enhancement system of claim 1, wherein the volume of fluid comprises a fluid of a refractive index substantially similar a refractive index of the substrate.

13. A user interface enhancement system comprising:

a substrate comprising an attachment face and defining a fluid channel;

a tactile layer comprising a tactile surface and a back surface opposite the tactile surface, the back surface connected to the attachment face at a first region of the tactile layer, the tactile layer defining a deformable region over the fluid channel, adjacent the first region, and disconnected from the attachment face;

a volume of fluid;

a reservoir adjacent the substrate, fluidly coupled to the fluid channel, and containing the volume of fluid;

a paddle compressing the reservoir to displace fluid from the reservoir and into the fluid channel 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;

a housing transiently arranged outside an external surface of a body of a computing device to transiently retain an edge of the substrate over a touch sensitive display of the computing device, the housing cooperating with the substrate to enclose the reservoir and the saddle the reservoir arranged between the housing and the external surface of the body of the device; and

an actuator supported by the housing, engaging the paddle and displacing the paddle to compress the reservoir in response to manual actuation of the actuator, the actuator hinged to the housing and comprising a cover operable between a first position and a second position, the cover arranged over the tactile surface and withholding the paddle from the reservoir in the first position, and the cover arranged over a back surface of the housing and retaining the paddle against the reservoir in the second position.

14. The user interface enhancement system of claim 13, further comprising a hinge coupling the cover to the housing, the cover rotating about the hinge to actuate the paddle.

15. The user interface enhancement system of claim 13, wherein the substrate defines a support member, the back surface of the tactile layer adjacent and disconnected from the support member at the deformable region, the support member resisting inward deformation of the deformable region past the support member due to a force applied to the tactile surface.

16. The user interface enhancement system of claim 15, wherein the support member resists inward deformation of the deformable region into the fluid channel, past the attachment face due to a force applied to the tactile surface.

17. A user interface enhancement system comprising:

a substrate comprising an attachment face and defining a fluid channel

a tactile layer comprising a tactile surface and a back surface opposite the tactile surface, the back surface connected to the attachment face at a first region of the tactile layer, the tactile layer defining a deformable region adjacent the fluid channel, adjacent the first region, and disconnected from the attachment face;

a reservoir adjacent the substrate, fluidly coupled to the fluid channel, and containing the volume of fluid;

a paddle compressing the reservoir to displace fluid from the reservoir into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the deformable region in the expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from the deformable region in the retracted setting;

a housing transiently arranged outside an external surface of a body of a computing device to transiently retain an edge of the substrate over a touch sensitive display of the computing device, the housing cooperating with the substrate to enclose the reservoir and the paddle, the reservoir arranged between the housing and the external surface of the body of the device; and

an actuator supported by the housing, engaging the paddle, and displacing the paddle to compress the reservoir in response to manual actuation of the actuator, the paddle comprising a platen and the actuator comprising a slider translationally coupled to the housing, the slider translating the platen relative to the reservoir to compress the reservoir in response to manual actuation of the slider.