Human-computer interface system

A system comprising:

• a touch sensor comprising a rigid backing, comprising an array of sense electrode and drive electrode pairs arranged over the rigid backing, and defining a touch sensor surface extending over the array of sense electrode and drive electrode pairs;
• a vibrator coupled to the touch sensor and configured to oscillate a mass within a plane parallel to the touch sensor surface;
• an audio driver coupled to the chassis;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• detect application of a first input onto the touch sensor surface and a first force magnitude of the first input at a first time based on a first change in resistance between a first sense electrode and drive electrode pair in the touch sensor;
• execute a first click cycle in response to the first force magnitude exceeding a first threshold magnitude by actuating the vibrator and triggering the audio driver to output the click sound;
• detect retraction of the first input from the touch sensor surface and a second force magnitude of the first input at a second time succeeding the first time based on a second change in resistance between the first sense electrode and drive electrode pair;
• and
• execute a second click cycle in response to the second force magnitude falling below a second threshold magnitude less than the first threshold magnitude by actuating the vibrator and triggering the audio driver to output the click sound.

A method for interfacing a computer to a human comprising:

• at a first time, detecting application of a first input onto a touch sensor surface and a first force magnitude of the first input;
• in response to the first force magnitude exceeding a first threshold magnitude:
• actuating a vibrator coupled to the touch sensor surface during a first click cycle;
• triggering an audio driver proximal the touch sensor surface to output a click sound during the first click cycle;
• at a second time succeeding the first time, detecting retraction of the first input from the touch sensor surface and a second force magnitude of the first input;
• and
• in response to the second force magnitude falling below a second threshold magnitude less than the first threshold magnitude:
• actuating the vibrator during a second click cycle distinct from the first click cycle;
• triggering the audio driver to output the click sound during the second click cycle.

The system of claim 19:

• wherein detecting application of the first input and the first force magnitude at the first time comprises detecting application of the first input and the first force magnitude based on a first change in resistance between a first sense electrode and drive electrode pair below the touch sensor surface at the first time;
• wherein actuating the vibrator and triggering the audio driver during the first click cycle comprises, in response to the first force magnitude falling between the first threshold magnitude and a third threshold magnitude greater than the first threshold magnitude:
• executing the first click cycle over a first duration;
• and
• labeling the first input as of a first input type;
• further comprising:
• at a third time, detecting application of a third input onto the touch sensor surface and a third force magnitude of the third input based on a third change in resistance between a third sense electrode and drive electrode pair below the touch sensor surface;
• and
• in response to the third force magnitude exceeding the third threshold magnitude:
• executing a third click cycle over a third duration exceeding the first duration;
• and
• labeling the third input as of a third input type distinct from the first input type.