Tactile overlay for an imaging display
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorMichael J. Sinclair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tactile overlay for a touchscreen includes one or more button structures, a flexible resilient membrane, and one or more nibs corresponding to the one or more button structures. The overlay is disposed over and in propinquity with the touchscreen display, with button and corresponding nib structure(s) of the overlay corresponding to virtual buttons that are displayed by the touchscreen display. The button structure(s) and corresponding nibs are positioned on the overlay so that a user can press a button structure, which causes the corresponding nib to touch a desired virtual button being displayed by the touchscreen display. The flexible resilient layer causes the nib to return to original position, breaking contact with the touchscreen display.
Claims17
An apparatus, comprising:
- a membrane including a fiber optic plate configured to direct light from a first side of the membrane to a second side opposite the first side, the first side positioned adjacent to a touchscreen display;
- a button structure disposed on the second side of the membrane;
- and
- a nib corresponding to the button structure and disposed on the first side of the membrane, wherein the apparatus is configured to be operatively coupled to the touchscreen display so that when a user applies a force to the button structure the nib contacts the touchscreen display so as to activate a virtual button being displayed by the touchscreen display.
An apparatus to be operatively coupled to a touchscreen display for operating a virtual button displayed by the touchscreen display, the apparatus comprising:
- a membrane, wherein the membrane comprises a fiber optic plate;
- and
- tactile means, coupled to the membrane, for selectively contacting a touchscreen display at a desired location in response to a force exerted on the tactile means by a user, wherein the tactile means further includes a means for slidably contacting the touchscreen display along a pre-determined linear slot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.