# US 11,993,146 B2 · Deformable user input systems

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- Number: US 11,993,146 B2
- Document ID: US11993146B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/462,568
- Filed: 2021-08-31
- Published: 2023-03-02
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2021-08-31
- Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Inventors: John C. Rafferty
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993146B2

## CPC

- B60N 2/797: {for use as electrical control means, e.g. switches}
- B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
- G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user}
- G06F 3/03543: {Mice or pucks (G06F3/03541 takes precedence)}
- G06F 3/0447: {Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells}
- B60K 2360/133: Multidirectional input devices for instruments
- B60K 2360/139: Clusters of instrument input devices
- B60K 2360/332: Light emitting diodes
- B60K 2360/77: Instrument locations other than the dashboard
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

User input systems and vehicles having a user input system having a deformable material are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user input system includes a base, a deformable material, wherein at least the base and the deformable material define an enclosure, a sensor layer disposed on or within the deformable material, at least one actuator coupled to the base and disposed within the enclosure, and an input device coupled to the at least one actuator. The at least one actuator is configured to raise the input device to deform the deformable material at a location of a hand on the deformable material based at least in part on a signal provided by the sensor layer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A user input system comprising:
a base;
a deformable material, wherein at least the base and the deformable material define an enclosure;
at least one actuator coupled to the base and disposed within the enclosure; and
an input device comprising at least one button coupled to the at least one actuator, wherein the at least one actuator is configured to the button to raise the input device to deform the deformable material at a location of a hand on the deformable material based at least in part on a signal provided by the sensor layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The user input system of claim 1, further comprising:
a track, wherein the input device is coupled to the track; and
at least one track actuator, wherein the at least one track actuator is operable to move the input device in two dimensions on the track.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The user input system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a mouse.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The user input system of claim 3, wherein the mouse is operable to be moved in two dimensions by a user.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The user input system of claim 1, wherein:
the at least one button comprises a first button and a second button; and
the at least one actuator comprises a first actuator coupled to the first button and a second actuator coupled to the second button.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The user input system of claim 1, wherein:
the input device comprises an array of buttons; and
the at least one actuator comprises an array of actuators coupled to the array of buttons.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The user input system of claim 1, wherein:
the input device comprises a light source; and
the deformable material is such that light from the light source passes through the deformable material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The user input system of claim 1, wherein the button on the input device is a physical button.

### Claim 9

A user input system comprising:
a deformable material defining an enclosure;
a sensor layer disposed on or within the deformable material;
an input device disposed within the enclosure;
at least one processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform the following:
detect a user input situation;
receive a signal from the sensor layer;
detect a location of a user hand on the based on the signal;
control the input device to move in two dimensions to a position within the enclosure proximate the location; and
control the input device to raise to deform the deformable material at the location.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The user input system of claim 9, further comprising:
a track, wherein the input device is coupled to the track; and
at least one track actuator, wherein the at least one track actuator is operable to move the input device in two dimensions on the track.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The user input system of claim 10, wherein the input device comprises a mouse.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The user input system of claim 10, further comprising a first actuator and a second actuator, wherein the input device comprises a first button coupled to the first actuator and a second button coupled to the second actuator.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The user input system of claim 10, further comprising an array of actuators, wherein the input device comprises an array of buttons coupled to the array of actuators.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The user input system of claim 10, wherein:
the input device comprises a light source; and
the deformable material is such that light from the light source passes through the deformable material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The user input system of claim 10, wherein the sensor layer comprises a capacitive sensor layer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The user input system of claim 10, wherein the user input situation is initiated by receipt of a user request.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The user input system of claim 10, wherein the user input situation is initiated by receipt of a vehicle request.

### Claim 18

A vehicle comprising:
an interior surface comprising a deformable material and defining an enclosure; and
an input device comprising at least one button operable to raise and deform the deformable material at a location of a hand on the deformable material, wherein the location is based at least in part on a signal provided by the sensor layer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the interior surface is an armrest.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the input device is a mouse.