Elastomer suspension with actuation functionality or sensing functionality

A haptic-enabled user interface device, comprising:

• a user input component;
• a base for supporting the user input component;
• an elastomer suspension for suspending the user input component on the base, such that the user input component does not directly contact the base, wherein the elastomer suspension is formed by at least one stack that includes an elastomeric layer of an elastomer material and includes a pair of electrodes on opposite sides of the elastomeric layer, wherein the at least one stack forms at least one capacitor;
• a signal sensing circuit;
• and
• a control unit in communication with the signal sensing circuit, wherein the control unit is configured
• to determine, based on a signal sensed by the signal sensing circuit, whether a touch input has been received by the user input component of the haptic-enabled user interface device.

A haptic-enabled user interface device, comprising:

• a user input component;
• a base for supporting the user input component;
• an elastomer suspension for suspending the user input component on the base, such that the user input component does not directly contact the base, wherein the elastomer suspension is formed by at least one stack that includes an elastomeric layer of an elastomer material and includes a pair of electrodes on opposite sides of the elastomeric layer, wherein the at least one stack forms at least one capacitor;
• a signal generating circuit;
• a control unit in communication with the signal generating circuit, wherein the control unit is configured to cause the signal generating circuit to apply a drive signal to the at least one capacitor, wherein the drive signal causes relative movement of the pair of electrodes toward each other so as to generate a haptic effect.

A haptic-enabled user interface device, comprising:

• a user input component;
• a base for supporting the user input component;
• an elastomer suspension for suspending the user input component on the base, such that the user input component does not directly contact the base, wherein the elastomer suspension is formed by at least one stack that includes a piezoelectric layer of piezoelectric material, a pair of electrodes on opposite sides of the piezoelectric material, and an elastomeric layer of elastomer material in contact with at least one of the pair of electrodes;
• a signal generating circuit;
• a signal sensing circuit;
• and
• a control unit in communication with the signal generating circuit and the signal sensing circuit, wherein the control unit is configured,
• in an actuation mode, to cause the signal generating circuit to generate a first signal as a drive signal that causes the piezoelectric layer to vibrate,
• in a sensing mode, to determine, based on a second signal sensed by the signal sensing circuit, whether a user input has been received by the haptic-enabled user interface device, wherein the second signal is caused by deformation of the piezoelectric layer.