Dynamic tactile interface

• US 9,588,683 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2015
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• 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, Ray, Curtis, Jastrzebski, Michael, Wong, Amy Lai, Wong, Simona, Jenkins, Jonathon, Knapp, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Marinelli, Patrick F
• Application Number:
  US14/807,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20150331525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 137147-1505, 92/89, 92/90, 605/33
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/10 Pumps having fluid drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/113 the actuating fluid being controlled by at least one valve
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/0736 the actuating fluid being controlled by one or more valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/08 having peristaltic action
• 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 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• 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 includes: a substrate defining a fluid channel and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid channel; a tactile layer comprising a peripheral region and a deformable region, the peripheral region coupled to the substrate, and the deformable region arranged over the fluid conduit, disconnected from the substrate, and operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the deformable region elevated above the peripheral region in the expanded setting; a tube comprising a first end fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and constrained relative to the substrate; a volume of fluid within the tube; and a rotary actuator coupled to the tube remote from the first end and configured to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting by winding the tube to displace a portion of the volume of fluid within the tube into the fluid channel.

Claims

1. A dynamic tactile interface, comprising:

a substrate defining a fluid channel and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid channel;

a tactile layer comprising a peripheral region and a deformable region, the peripheral region coupled to the substrate, and the deformable region arranged over the fluid conduit, disconnected from the substrate, and operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the deformable region elevated above the peripheral region in the expanded setting;

a tube comprising a first end fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and constrained relative to the substrate;

a volume of fluid within the tube; and

an actuator coupled to the tube remote from the first end and configured to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting by winding the tube to displace a portion of the volume of fluid within the tube into the fluid channel,

wherein the tube comprises a second end opposite the first end, and further comprising a second tube comprising a third end coupled to the second end and a fourth end constrained relative to the substrate opposite the first end, wherein the actuator is coupled to the second end by a shaft passing through the second tube, and wherein the actuator is configured to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting by rotating in a first direction to wind the tube and to unwind the second tube.

2. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the tube and the second tube are physically coextensive.

3. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the actuator is further configured to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting to the retracted setting by rotating in a second direction opposite the first direction to unwind the tube and to wind the second tube.

4. A dynamic tactile interface, comprising:

a substrate defining a fluid channel and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid channel;

a tactile layer comprising a peripheral region and a deformable region, the peripheral region coupled to the substrate, and the deformable region arranged over the fluid conduit, disconnected from the substrate, and operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the deformable region elevated above the peripheral region in the expanded setting;

a tube comprising a first end fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and constrained relative to the substrate;

a volume of fluid within the tube;

an actuator coupled to the tube remote from the first end and configured to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting by winding the tube to displace a portion of the volume of fluid within the tube into the fluid channel; and

a linear track, wherein the actuator is configured to run along the track parallel to an axis of the tube, and wherein the actuator comprises an output shaft coupled to a second end of the tube opposite the first end.

5. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 4, further comprising a spring coupled to the actuator opposite the output shaft and configured to retract the actuator along the linear track to unwind the tube.

6. A dynamic tactile interface, comprising:

a substrate defining a fluid channel and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid channel;

a tactile layer comprising a peripheral region and a deformable region, the peripheral region coupled to the substrate, and the deformable region arranged over the fluid conduit, disconnected from the substrate, and operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the deformable region elevated above the peripheral region in the expanded setting;

a tube comprising a first end fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and constrained relative to the substrate;

a volume of fluid within the tube; and

an actuator coupled to the tube remote from the first end and configured to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting by winding the tube to displace a portion of the volume of fluid within the tube into the fluid channel,

wherein the actuator comprises an output shaft coupled to the tube and configured to rotate in a first direction to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting and to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting to the retracted setting, and further comprising a static endplate coupled to the substrate and a friction plate coupled to an output shaft of the actuator, wherein the actuary is configured to drive the friction plate into the endplate to lock the tube in a wound position corresponding to the expanded setting.