User interface and methods
First Claim
1. A user interface, comprising:
- a substrate;
a continuous tactile layer comprising;
a peripheral region coupled to the substrate, a deformable region operable between a retracted position and a deformed position, and a tactile surface extending across the deformable region, wherein the tactile surface is flush with the peripheral region in the retracted position and is offset from the peripheral region in the deformed position;
a deformation device configured to transition the deformable region between the retracted position and the deformed position;
a sensor comprising a set of conductive elements; and
a processor configured to measure a capacitance value of the set of conductive elements and identify a touch event on the tactile surface in response to a change in the capacitance value measured by the sensor, wherein;
the sensor comprises a first and second conductive element, wherein the processor is configured to measure a capacitance between the first and second conductive elements,the first conductive element comprises a flexible electrode connected to the deformable region of the tactile layer, andthe processor stores a capacitance map for the set of conductive elements, the capacitance map comprising a sensor setting for each of a plurality of deformable region positions between the retracted and deformed positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One variation of a method for controlling a dynamic tactile user interface includes: sensing a capacitance value across a portion of a cavity, a tactile layer defining a deformable region and a peripheral region, the peripheral region adjacent the deformable region, and the deformable region cooperating with the substrate to define the cavity; estimating a vertical position of the tactile surface at the deformable region according to the sensed capacitance value across the portion of the cavity; manipulating a fluid pressure within the cavity to modify a vertical position of the tactile surface at the deformable region according to a difference between the estimated vertical position of the tactile surface at the deformable region and a target vertical position of the tactile surface at the deformable region; and sensing an input on the tactile surface according to a change in capacitance value across the portion of the cavity.
578 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A user interface, comprising:
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a substrate; a continuous tactile layer comprising;
a peripheral region coupled to the substrate, a deformable region operable between a retracted position and a deformed position, and a tactile surface extending across the deformable region, wherein the tactile surface is flush with the peripheral region in the retracted position and is offset from the peripheral region in the deformed position;a deformation device configured to transition the deformable region between the retracted position and the deformed position; a sensor comprising a set of conductive elements; and a processor configured to measure a capacitance value of the set of conductive elements and identify a touch event on the tactile surface in response to a change in the capacitance value measured by the sensor, wherein; the sensor comprises a first and second conductive element, wherein the processor is configured to measure a capacitance between the first and second conductive elements, the first conductive element comprises a flexible electrode connected to the deformable region of the tactile layer, and the processor stores a capacitance map for the set of conductive elements, the capacitance map comprising a sensor setting for each of a plurality of deformable region positions between the retracted and deformed positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of dynamic tactile user interface control, the dynamic tactile user interface including a continuous tactile layer coupled to a substrate, the tactile layer defining a static peripheral region and a deformable region operable between an expanded and retracted position, and a set of electrodes associated with the deformable region, the method comprising:
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determining a height of the deformable region based on the measured capacitance value and a predetermined baseline capacitance value for the deformable region; measuring a capacitance value of the set of electrodes; measuring a change in the capacitance value of the set of electrodes; and detecting a touch event based on the change in the capacitance value and the height of the deformable region. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification