Dynamic tactile interface and methods

• US 9,280,224 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2013
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Yairi, Micah B, Ciesla, Craig, Saal, Nathaniel Mark, Ray, Curtis, Hammersley, Michael, Miller, Brandon, Calub, Ben, Del Rosario, Carl, Garcia, Mario, Menigoz, Ron, Krevor, David, Jenkins, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US14/035,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20140132532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-178, 349/110, 349/155, 178/18.01, 434/114
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04107 Shielding in digitiser, i.e. guard or shielding arrangements, mostly for capacitive touchscreens, e.g. driven shields, driven grounds
• 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 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers

Abstract

A dynamic tactile interface includes: a substrate including a first transparent material and defining an attachment surface, an open channel opposite the attachment surface, and a fluid conduit intersecting the open channel and passing through the attachment surface; a tactile layer including a second transparent material and defining a tactile surface, a peripheral region bonded to the attachment surface opposite the tactile surface, and a deformable region adjacent the fluid conduit and disconnected from the attachment surface; a closing panel bonded to the substrate opposite the attachment surface and enclosing the open channel to define a fluid channel; a working fluid; and a displacement device configured to displace the working fluid into the fluid channel and through the fluid conduit to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting.

Claims

1. A dynamic tactile interface comprising:

a substrate comprising a first transparent material and defining an attachment surface, an open channel opposite the attachment surface, and a fluid conduit intersecting the open channel and passing through the attachment surface;

a tactile layer comprising a second transparent material and defining a tactile surface, a peripheral region bonded to the attachment surface opposite the tactile surface, and a deformable region adjacent the fluid conduit and disconnected from the attachment surface;

a closing panel bonded to the substrate opposite the attachment surface and enclosing the open channel to define a fluid channel;

a working fluid; and

a displacement device configured to displace the working fluid into the fluid channel and through the fluid conduit to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, the deformable region flush with the peripheral region in the retracted setting and offset from the peripheral region in the expanded setting.

2. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the fluid channel defines a curvilinear cross-section, and wherein the fluid conduit comprises a frustoconical section tapering toward the attachment surface.

3. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the tactile layer comprises a first sublayer, a barrier sublayer bonded to the first sublayer, and a second sublayer bonded to the barrier sublayer opposite the first sublayer, wherein the barrier layer is substantially impermeable to the working fluid, and wherein the first sublayer is selectively bonded to the attachment surface opposite the barrier sublayer.

4. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 3, wherein the working fluid comprises a silicone oil, and wherein the barrier layer is substantially impermeable to the silicone oil.

5. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 3, wherein the first sublayer comprises urethane defining a buffer backing of a first elasticity, and wherein the second sublayer comprises polycarbonate of a second elasticity less than the first elasticity.

6. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the closing panel comprises a touch sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to an input on the tactile surface.

7. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 6, further comprising a display bonded to the closing panel opposite the tactile layer with an optically-clear adhesive, the display configured to render an image of an input key proximal the deformable region.

8. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises the first transparent material comprising polycarbonate of a first elasticity, wherein the tactile layer comprises the second transparent material comprising a urethane of a second elasticity greater than the first elasticity, and wherein the closing panel comprises a third transparent material comprising a urethane of a third elasticity less than the second elasticity.

9. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, further comprising an ink bezel arranged about a perimeter of the attachment surface between the substrate and the tactile layer.

10. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the substrate defines a second open channel opposite the attachment surface and parallel to the fluid channel, defines a second fluid conduit intersecting the second open channel and passing through the attachment surface adjacent the fluid conduit, and cooperates with the closing panel to enclose the second open channel to define a second fluid channel, wherein the deformable region is arranged over the fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit, and wherein the displacement device is further configured to displace the working fluid into the second fluid channel and through the second fluid conduit to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting.

11. A method for manufacturing a dynamic tactile interface comprising:

creating an open channel in an interior surface of a substrate comprising a first transparent material and defining an attachment surface opposite the interior surface;

creating a fluid conduit intersecting the open channel and passing through the attachment surface of the substrate;

activating the attachment surface;

selectively bonding a peripheral region of a tactile layer to the attachment surface, the tactile layer comprising a second transparent material and defining a deformable region disconnected from the attachment surface proximal the fluid conduit;

activating the interior surface;

bonding a closing panel to the interior surface to enclose a portion of the open channel to define a fluid channel;

coupling a displacement device to the fluid channel; and

filling the fluid channel with a working fluid.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein creating the fluid conduit in the substrate comprises machining a frustoconical bore from the fluid channel through to the attachment surface of the substrate.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein activating the attachment surface comprises treating the attachment surface with nitrogen surface activation.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein selectively bonding the tactile layer to the attachment surface comprises laminating the tactile layer to the substrate and curing the tactile layer and the substrate under elevated temperature.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising laminating the closing panel opposite the substrate to a touch sensor panel and curing the closing panel and the touch sensor panel under elevated pressure and elevated temperature.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising bonding a display to the touch sensor panel opposite the closing panel with an optically-clear adhesive.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising applying an ink bezel around a perimeter of the attachment surface, wherein selectively bonding the tactile layer to the attachment surface comprises bonding the tactile layer to the ink bezel.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising creating a via through the closing panel prior to bonding the closing panel to the interior surface, wherein bonding the closing panel to the interior surface comprises aligning the via with the fluid channel, and wherein coupling the displacement device to the fluid channel comprising coupling the displacement device to the via.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising selectively applying a mask to the attachment surface proximal the fluid conduit prior to bonding the tactile layer to the attachment surface.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein filling the fluid channel with the working fluid comprises evacuating air from the fluid channel, injecting the working fluid into the fluid channel, and purging remaining air from the fluid channel.

21. A dynamic tactile interface comprising:

a substrate comprising a first transparent material and defining an attachment surface and a fluid conduit intersecting the open channel and passing through the attachment surface;

a tactile layer comprising a second transparent material and defining a tactile surface, a peripheral region bonded to the attachment surface opposite the tactile surface, and a deformable region adjacent the fluid conduit and disconnected from the attachment surface;

a closing panel defining an open channel opposite the attachment surface, bonded to the substrate opposite the attachment surface, and cooperating with the substrate to enclose the open channel to define a fluid channel;

a working fluid; and

a displacement device configured to displace the working fluid into the fluid channel and through the fluid conduit to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, the deformable region flush with the peripheral region in the retracted setting and offset from the peripheral region in the expanded setting.

22. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 21, wherein the tactile layer comprises a first sublayer and a second sublayer, the first sublayer selectively bonded to the attachment surface and of a first elasticity, the second sublayer bonded to the first sublayer opposite the substrate and of a second elasticity less than the first elasticity.