Dynamic tactile interface

• US 9,552,065 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tactus Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Yairi, Micah B., Ciesla, Craig M., Ray, Curtis
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Viet
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOHLMAN, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US14/521,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/115 Multilayers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/118 having sub-optical wavelength surface structures designed to provide an enhanced transmittance, e.g. moth-eye structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 3/04886 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

A dynamic tactile interface including a tactile layer defining a first region and a deformable region adjacent the first region; a substrate coupled to the tactile layer at the first region, defining a variable volume adjacent the deformable region and defining a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the variable volume; a set of rigid structures distributed across the tactile layer defining an anti-reflective coating over the tactile layer; and a displacement device fluidly coupled to the fluid channel, the displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, the deformable region tactilely distinguishable from the first region in the expanded setting, the set of rigid structures conforming to the tactile layer, each rigid structure in the set of rigid structures shifting relative to an adjacent rigid structure in the set of rigid structures.

Claims

1. A dynamic tactile interface with an anti-reflective coating comprising:

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

a substrate coupled to the tactile layer at the first region, defining a variable volume adjacent the deformable region and defining a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the variable volume;

a set of rigid structures distributed across the tactile layer and over the tactile layer, the set of rigid structures comprising a first subset of rigid structures coincident the first region and a second subset of rigid structures coincident the deformable region, wherein;

the set of rigid structures comprises a set of acrylate polymer spherical nanoparticles exhibiting maximum diameters less than 300 nanometers,

or

the first subset of rigid structures comprises rigid structures of a trapezoidal cross-section and a first size and the second subset of rigid structures comprises rigid structures of a hemispherical shape and second size, the first size exhibiting a maximum dimension greater than a corresponding maximum dimension of the second size; and

a displacement device fluidly coupled to the fluid channel, the displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, the deformable region tactilely distinguishable from the first region in the expanded setting, the second subset of rigid structures conforming to the deformable region, each rigid structure in the second subset of rigid structures shifting relative to an adjacent rigid structure in the second subset of rigid structures and shifting relative to each rigid structure in the first subset of rigid structures, the first subset of rigid structures conforming to the first region.

2. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the set of rigid structures further comprises a third subset of rigid structures coincident an intersection of the deformable region and the first region;

wherein the displacement device transitions the deformable region, each rigid structure in the third subset of rigid structures shifting relative to an adjacent rigid structure in the third subset of rigid structures, each rigid structure in the first subset of structures, and each rigid structure in the second subset of structures.

3. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 2, wherein the displacement device transitions the deformable region to the expanded setting, each rigid structure in the first subset of rigid structures maintaining a substantially planar configuration, each rigid structure in the second subset of rigid structures shifting to a substantially convex configuration coincident the deformable region, each rigid structure in the third subset of rigid structures shifting to a substantially concave configuration.

4. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the set of rigid structures comprise a set of substantially transparent, substantially rigid, polyhedral particles deposited and adhered to the tactile layer, the set of substantially transparent, substantially rigid, polyhedral particles of a maximum dimension less than one wavelength of visible light.

5. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the displacement device transitions the deformable region between the retracted setting substantially flush with the first region and the expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from and offset above the first region.

6. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, further comprising a volume of transparent fluid contained within the channel and the variable volume;

wherein the displacement device displaces a portion of the volume of fluid into the channel to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting into the expanded setting.

7. 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 and adjacent the anti-reflective coating.

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

9. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the set of rigid structures comprises substantially transparent spheres;

wherein the substrate comprises a substantially transparent material; and

wherein the tactile layer comprises a substantially transparent layer.

10. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the set of rigid structures defines a uniformly distributed pattern of rigid structures extending from the tactile layer.

11. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, further comprising a housing transiently engaging a mobile computing device, the housing transiently retaining the substrate over a display of the mobile computing device.

12. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the set of rigid structures comprises a set of structures partially embedded in the tactile layer, each structure in the set of structures protruding from the tactile surface at a uniform height above the tactile surface.

13. A dynamic tactile interface with an anti-reflective coating comprising:

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

a substrate coupled to the tactile layer at the first region, defining a variable volume adjacent the deformable region and defining a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the variable volume;

a set of rigid structures distributed across the tactile layer and over the tactile layer, the set of rigid structures comprising a first subset of rigid structures coincident the first region and a second subset of rigid structures coincident the deformable region,

wherein the set of rigid structures defines an anti-reflective layer coupled to and arranged over the tactile layer along an attachment surface of the anti-reflective layer, the anti-reflective layer substantially firm, the set of rigid structures patterned across a surface of the anti-reflective layer opposite the attachment surface and extending from the attachment surface; and

wherein the displacement device transitions the deformable region into the expanded setting, a portion of the anti-reflective layer coincident the deformable region conforming to the deformable region, a second portion of the anti-reflective layer coincident the first region conforming to the first region, and

wherein;

the anti-reflective layer comprises a transparent layer defining a set of frusta patterned across the anti-reflective layer, a base of each frustum in the set of frusta spaced a distance from the base of each adjacent frustum, the anti-reflective layer preferentially cracking between adjacent frusta forming a substantially linear fissure,

or

the anti-reflective layer defines a set of hexagonal rigid structures chambered in a honeycomb pattern, the anti-reflective layer preferentially cracking along a periphery of each hexagonal rigid structure.

14. A dynamic tactile interface with an anti-reflective coating comprising:

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

a substrate coupled to the tactile layer at the first region, defining a variable volume adjacent the deformable region and defining a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the variable volume;

a set of rigid structures distributed across the tactile layer and over the tactile layer, the set of rigid structures comprising a first subset of rigid structures coincident the first region and a second subset of rigid structures coincident the deformable region,

wherein the set of rigid structures comprises porous silica nanoparticles fully embedded within the tactile layer, the set of rigid structures defining a first layer of rigid structures and a second layer of rigid structures arranged under the first layer of rigid structures, the first layer of rigid structures staggered relative to rigid structures of the second layer of rigid structures and horizontally offset from a vertical projection of the rigid structures of the second layer of rigid structures.

15. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 14, further comprising a viscoelastic cover layer arranged over the anti-reflective layer, the cover layer flowing into valleys between adjacent rigid structures and forming a substantially continuous refractive index gradient between atmospheric air and the tactile layer.

16. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 14, wherein the set of rigid structures comprises the first subset of rigid structures patterned across the first region defining a first density of rigid structures, and the second subset of rigid structures patterned across the deformable region defining a second density of rigid structures, the first density different from the second density.

17. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 15, wherein the first subset of rigid structures defines the first density of rigid structures less than the second density of rigid structures.

18. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 14, wherein the tactile layer defines a second deformable region adjacent the first region;

wherein the substrate defines a second variable volume adjacent the first deformable region and fluidly coupled to the channel;

wherein the displacement device transitions the deformable region and the second deformable region from the retracted setting into the expanded setting substantially simultaneously.