Dynamic tactile interface with exhibiting optical dispersion characteristics

• US 9,423,875 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2014
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Yairi, Micah, DeArmitt, Christopher, Hammersley, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Yodichkas, Aneeta
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIYABU, KARIN A
• Application Number:
  US14/471,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20150077363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/04886 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

Abstract

One variation of a dynamic tactile interface for a computing device includes: a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region; a substrate including a transparent base material exhibiting a first optical dispersion characteristic, coupled to the tactile layer at the peripheral region, defining a fluid conduit adjacent the peripheral region and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit; a volume of transparent fluid contained within the fluid channel and the fluid conduit and exhibiting a second optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic; a volume of particulate contained within the transparent base material of the substrate, biased around the fluid conduit, and exhibiting a third optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic; and a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting.

Claims

1. A dynamic tactile interface for a computing device, comprising:

a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region;

a substrate comprising one or more sublayers formed of a transparent base material exhibiting a first optical dispersion characteristic, coupled to the tactile layer at the peripheral region, defining a fluid conduit adjacent the peripheral region, and defining a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit;

a volume of transparent fluid contained within the fluid channel and the fluid conduit, the volume of transparent fluid exhibiting a second optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic;

a volume of particulate contained completely outside the fluid conduit and within one of the one or more sublayers of the substrate formed by the transparent base material is biased around an exterior of the fluid conduit, the volume of particulate exhibits a third optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic, the volume of particulate having an optical property that globally modifies a bulk optical property of a base material containing the particulate to yield smoother transitions in the optical property between adjacent materials in the dynamic tactile interface, the volume of transparent fluid and the volume of particulate cooperate to exhibit a bulk thermal expansion coefficient approaching the first thermal expansion coefficient of the transparent material of the substrate; and

a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the deformable region defining a formation tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region in the expanded setting.

2. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the substrate opposite the tactile layer and displaying an image of a key substantially aligned with the deformable region.

3. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, further comprising a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and outputting a signal corresponding to an input on a tactile surface of the tactile layer adjacent the deformable region.

4. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein a portion of the volume of particulate within the substrate proximal the fluid conduit cooperates with the transparent base material of the substrate to approximate the second optical dispersion characteristic of the volume of transparent fluid proximal the fluid conduit.

5. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 4, wherein the transparent base material is characterized by a first constringence value, wherein the volume of transparent fluid is characterized by a second constringence value less than the first constringence value, wherein particulate in the volume of particulate is characterized by a third constringence value less than the second constringence value, and wherein a portion of the substrate and a portion of the volume of particulate proximal a surface of the fluid conduit cooperate to exhibit a fourth constringence value approaching the second constringence value.

6. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the volume of particulate comprises a volume of metal-oxide particulate exhibiting maximum dimensions less than 100 nanometers.

7. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 6, wherein the volume of particulate comprises indium tin oxide particulate.

8. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the volume of particulate is preferentially impregnated into the transparent base material of the substrate around the fluid channel and the fluid conduit.

9. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the deformable region is substantially flush with the peripheral region in the retracted setting and is offset above the peripheral region in the expanded setting.

10. A dynamic tactile interface for a computing device, comprising:

a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region, the tactile layer comprising a first transparent material exhibiting a first index of refraction;

a substrate comprising sublayers including a first sublayer and a second sublayer, the first sublayer coupled to the tactile layer at the peripheral region, the second sublayer adjacent the first sublayer opposite the tactile layer and comprising a second transparent material of a second index of refraction, the substrate defining a fluid conduit adjacent the peripheral region and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit;

a volume of particulate arranged completely outside the fluid conduit and within the first sublayer, the volume of particulate and the first sublayer cooperating to exhibit a bulk index of refraction between the first index of refraction and the second index of refraction for a particular wavelength of light in the visible spectrum, the volume of particulate having an optical property that globally modifies a bulk optical property of a base material containing the particulate to yield smoother transitions in the optical property between adjacent materials in the dynamic tactile interface, the volume of transparent fluid and the volume of particulate cooperate to exhibit a bulk thermal expansion coefficient approaching the first thermal expansion coefficient of the transparent material of the substrate;

a volume of transparent fluid contained within the fluid channel and the fluid conduit; and

a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the deformable region defining a formation tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region in the expanded setting.

11. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 10, wherein the volume of particulate is impregnated in the first sublayer at a density varying with depth through the first sublayer, a first portion of the volume of particulate and the first sublayer adjacent the tactile layer cooperating to exhibit a bulk index of refraction approximating the first index of refraction, and a second portion of the volume of particulate and the first sublayer adjacent the second sublayer cooperating to exhibit a bulk index of refraction approximating the second index of refraction.

12. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 11, wherein the volume of transparent fluid exhibits a third index of refraction, and wherein a third portion of the volume of particulate and the first sublayer adjacent the fluid channel cooperate to exhibit a bulk index of refraction approximating the third index of refraction for the particular wavelength of light in the visible spectrum.

13. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 10, further comprising a touch sensor coupled to the second sublayer of the substrate opposite the first sublayer and outputting a signal corresponding to an input on the tactile layer adjacent the deformable region, and further comprising a display coupled to the touch sensor opposite the substrate and displaying an image of a key substantially aligned with the deformable region.

14. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 13, wherein the touch sensor comprises a sheet of transparent material exhibiting a third index of refraction, further comprising a second volume of particulate arranged within the second sublayer, a portion of the second volume of particulate and the second sublayer proximal the sheet cooperating to exhibit a bulk index of refraction approximating the third index of refraction for the particular wavelength of light in the visible spectrum.

15. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 10, wherein the volume of particulate comprises indium tin oxide particulate of maximum dimensions less than 100 nanometers.

16. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 10, wherein the tactile layer comprises a third sublayer and a fourth sublayer, the third sublayer adjacent the first layer of the substrate and exhibiting the first index of refraction, and the fourth sublayer coupled to the third sublayer and exposed to ambient air, and further comprising a second volume of particulate arranged within the fourth sublayer, the second volume of particulate and the fourth sublayer cooperating to exhibit a bulk index of refraction between the first index of refraction and an index of refraction of ambient air for a particular wavelength of light in the visible spectrum at a temperature within an operating temperature range of the computing device.

17. A dynamic tactile interface for a computing device, comprising:

a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region, the tactile layer comprising a first sublayer and a second sublayer, the first sublayer of a transparent material exhibiting a first index of refraction;

a substrate comprising one or more sublayers and coupled to the second sublayer opposite the first sublayer, defining a fluid conduit adjacent the peripheral region and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, and comprising a transparent material exhibiting a second index of refraction;

a volume of particulate arranged completely outside the fluid conduit and within the second sublayer, the volume of particulate and the second sublayer cooperating to exhibit a bulk index of refraction between the first index of refraction and the second index of refraction for a particular wavelength of light in the visible spectrum, the volume of particulate having an optical property that globally modifies a bulk optical property of a base material containing the particulate to yield smoother transitions in the optical property between adjacent materials in the dynamic tactile interface, the volume of transparent fluid and the volume of particulate cooperate to exhibit a bulk thermal expansion coefficient approaching the first thermal expansion coefficient of the transparent material of the substrate;

a volume of transparent fluid contained within the fluid channel and the fluid conduit; and

a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the deformable region defining a formation tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region in the expanded setting.