Distributed inflatable touch sensing

A method for manufacturing a distributed inflatable touch sensing bladder array, the method comprising:

• cutting a mask into a shape defining a plurality of bladder portions, passageway portions, and port portions;
• disposing a porous material on each of the plurality of passageway portions of the mask;
• attaching the mask having the porous material disposed thereon to an interior surface of a first thermoplastic sheet;
• removing the plurality of passageway portions of the mask, wherein the porous material remains between each of the plurality of bladder portions;
• placing a second thermoplastic sheet on the first thermoplastic sheet, wherein the portions of the interior surfaces of the first and second thermoplastic sheets which are in contact with the mask or the porous material define masked portions, and the portions of the interior surfaces of the first and second thermoplastic sheets which are not in contact with the mask or the porous material define un-masked portions;
• and
• fusing the un-masked portions of the interior surface of the second thermoplastic sheet to the un-masked portions of the interior surface of the first thermoplastic sheet to form a heat-seal, thereby forming an air-tight volume between the masked portions of the interior surfaces of the first and second thermoplastic sheets.

A distributed inflatable touch sensing system comprising:

• a sensing bladder array, including:
• a first thermoplastic sheet having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface having a sealing portion and a plurality of non-sealing portions;
• a second thermoplastic sheet having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface having a sealing portion and a plurality of non-sealing portions, wherein the sealing portion of the interior surface of the first thermoplastic sheet is fixedly attached to the sealing portion of the interior surface of the second thermoplastic sheet, and a first of the plurality of non-sealing portions of the interior surface of the first thermoplastic sheet and a first of the plurality of non-sealing portions of the interior surface of the second thermoplastic sheet form a plurality of bladders, and a second of the plurality of non-sealing portions of the interior surface of the first thermoplastic sheet and a second of the plurality of non-sealing portions of the interior surface of the second thermoplastic sheet form a plurality of passageways, wherein the plurality of passageways are in fluid communication with the plurality of bladders, each of the plurality of passageways having a volume, and a third of the plurality of the non-sealing portions of the interior surface of the first thermoplastic sheet and a third of the plurality of non-sealing portions of the interior surface of the second thermoplastic sheet form a plurality of ports, wherein the plurality of ports are in fluid communication with the plurality of bladders;
• and
• a porous material disposed in each of the plurality of passageways;
• a pressure regulator for regulating a pressure in the sensing bladder array, wherein the pressure regulator is in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of ports;
• a plurality of sensors for measuring the pressure in the sensing bladder array, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of ports;
• and
• a processor in communication with the plurality of sensors configured to receive pressure measurements from the plurality of sensors, wherein the processor is programmed to receive a plurality of pressure measurements from each of the plurality of sensors over a fixed time period, determine, for each of the plurality of sensors, a time at which a maximum pressure is measured by each of the plurality of sensors, and determine, based at least in part on the time at which the maximum pressure is measured by each of the plurality of sensors, which of the plurality of bladders has been depressed by a user.