US 2015/0091870 A1Published application

User interface system

AssigneeTactus Technology, Inc.

InventorsCraig Michael Ciesla, Micah B. Yairi, Nathaniel Mark Saal

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A user interface system for receiving a user input that includes sheet that defines a surface and at least partially defines a fluid vessel arranged underneath the surface, a volume of fluid within the fluid vessel, a displacement device that influences the volume of the fluid within the fluid vessel to expand and retract at least a portion of the fluid vessel, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, and an electrical sensor coupled to the sheet that receives an input provided by a user that inwardly deforms the surface of the sheet and that includes a first conductor and a second conductor that are electrically coupled to each other with an electrical property that changes as the distance between the first and second conductors changes.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A user interface system for receiving a user input comprising:

a sheet defining a cavity, a tactile surface, a peripheral region on the tactile surface, a deformable region on the tactile surface adjacent the peripheral region and arranged over the cavity, and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the cavity, the cavity defining a base opposite the deformable region;
a displacement device fluidly coupled to the cavity and displacing fluid into the cavity to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the deformable region tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region at the tactile surface in the expanded setting;
and
a sensor layer coupled to the sheet opposite the tactile surface, comprising a backing sublayer, and comprising a first conductor and a second conductor arranged between the sheet and the backing sublayer, the second conductor electrically coupled to, adjacent, and offset from the first conductor opposite the sheet;
wherein the base of the cavity deforms inwardly toward the sensor layer in response to an input on the deformable region;
and
wherein the first conductor shifts toward the second conductor in response to inward deformation of the base of the cavity.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/567,838Filed 11 Dec 2014
Priority: 3 Jul 2009
Published: 2 Apr 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G06F 3/0416
Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means: control or interface arrangements specially adapted for…
G06F 3/016
Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer: input arrangements with force or tactile…
G06F 3/0202
Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials: constructional details or processes of manufacture of the…
G06F 3/03547
With detection of two-dimensional [2D] relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D…

Family

Application12/497,622Continuation in part · filed 3 Jul 2009
Application61/288,824Us provisional application · filed 21 Dec 2009
Application12/975,329Continuation · filed 21 Dec 2010
Application14/567,838Continuation
Application12/975,329Continuation in part
US 2010/0103137 A1Published application
US 2011/0148793 A1Published application
US 8,179,375 B2Related patent
US 8,922,502 B2Related patent
US 2015/0091870 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.