US20150091870A1 - User interface system - Google Patents

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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/975,329, filed on 21 Dec. 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/288,824, filed on 21 Dec. 2009, and which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/497,622, filed on 3 Jul. 2009, all of which are incorporated in their entireties by this reference.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
• FIGS. 1aand1bare a top view of the user interface system of a preferred embodiments and a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of a button array in accordance to the preferred embodiments, respectively.
• FIGS. 2a,2b, and2care cross-sectional views of the retracted, extended, and user input modes of the preferred embodiments, respectively.
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sheet, the fluid vessel, the sensor, the processor, and the display of the preferred embodiments.
• FIGS. 4a,4b, and4cis a cross-sectional view of a first variation of the sheet split into a layer portion and a substrate portion with fluid outlets from a side view and a top view and a second variation of the sheet split into a layer portion and a substrate portion with a fluid outlet, respectively.
• FIGS. 5aand5bare cross-sectional views of the sheet, the fluid vessel, the sensor, and a displacement device that modifies the existing fluid in the cavity, with the cavity in a retracted volume setting and an expanded volume setting, respectively.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the sheet, the fluid vessel, the sensor, and a displacement device of a first example that displaces additional fluid into the cavity.
• FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the sheet, the fluid vessel, the sensor, and a displacement device of a second example that displaces additional fluid into the cavity.
• FIGS. 8aand8bare schematic views of the sheet, the fluid vessel, the sensor, and a displacement device of a third example that displaces additional fluid into and out of the cavity, with the cavity in a retracted volume setting and an expanded volume setting, respectively.
• FIGS. 9a-12bare top and side views of a button deformation, a slider deformation, a slider ring deformation, a guide deformation, and a pointing stick deformation, respectively.
• FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of a resistive touch layer.
• FIGS. 14a,14b, and14care schematic representations of a variation of the first preferred embodiment.
• FIGS. 15a, and15bare schematic representations of a variation of the second preferred embodiment.
• FIGS. 16a, and16bare schematic representations of a variation of the second preferred embodiment with a fluid outlet layer.
• FIGS. 17aand17bare schematic representations of a variation of the third preferred embodiment.
• FIGS. 18a-18care schematic representations of a variation of the fourth preferred embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• The following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention is not intended to limit the invention to these preferred embodiments, but rather to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use this invention.
• As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, theuser interface system100 of the preferred embodiments includes asheet102 that defines asurface115 and afluid vessel127, a volume of afluid112 contained within thefluid vessel127, adisplacement device130 that modifies the volume of thefluid112 to expand at least a portion of the fluid vessel127 (thereby outwardly deforming aparticular region113 of the surface115), and asensor140 that receives an input provided by a user that inwardly deforms thesurface115. As shown inFIG. 3, the user interface system may also include aprocessor160 that functions to detect the user input and/or to evaluate the user input received by theresistive sensor140. Theprocessor160 is preferably coupled to thesensor140 to receive signals from theresistive sensor140. Theprocessor160 may also be coupled to thedisplacement device130 to send signals to thedisplacement device130. Theuser interface system100 may also include adisplay150 coupled to thesheet102 and adapted to output images to the user. In this variation, theprocessor160 may also be coupled to thedisplay150 to control thedisplay150. Thesensor140 may also be located in between thesheet102 and thedisplay150 and may alternatively include a plurality of sensor components that are located in various locations within theuser interface system100. However, any other suitable arrangement of the components of thesystem100 may be used. As shown inFIGS. 1band2, thefluid vessel127 is preferably acavity125 and thedisplacement device130 preferably influences the volume of fluid within thecavity125 to expand and retract thecavity125. Thefluid vessel127 may alternatively be achannel138 or a combination of achannel138 and acavity125, as shown inFIG. 4a. Thefluid vessel127 may also include a second cavity125bthat contains a volume offluid112 and thedisplacement device130 preferably also influences the volume of the fluid within the second cavity125bto expand and retract the second cavity125b, thereby deforming a secondparticular region113 of thesurface115. Thedisplacement device130 preferably influences the volume offluid112 within the second cavity125bindependently of thecavity125, but may alternatively influence the volumes offluid112 within both cavity andsecond cavity125 and125bsubstantially concurrently.
• Alternatively, the userinterface enhancement system100 may include asecond displacement device130 that functions to influence the volume offluid112 within the second cavity125bto expand and retract the second cavity125b, thereby deforming a secondparticular region113 of the surface. The second cavity125bis preferably similar or identical to thecavity125, but may alternatively be any other suitable type of cavity.
• Theuser interface system100 of the preferred embodiments has been specifically designed to be used as the user interface for an electronic device, more preferably in an electronic device that features an adaptive user interface. The electronic device, which may or may not include a display, may be an automotive console, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a television, a radio, a desk phone, a mobile phone, a PDA, a personal navigation device, a personal media player, a camera, a watch, a remote, a mouse, a trackpad, or a keyboard. Theuser interface system100 may, however, be used as the user interface for any suitable device that interfaces with a user in a tactile and/or visual manner. As shown inFIG. 2, thesurface115 of theuser interface system100 preferably remains flat until a tactile guidance is to be provided at the location of theparticular region113. Thesurface115 of theuser interface system100 may also be deformed when a user input is required. At that time, thedisplacement device130 may increase the volume of the fluid within the fluid vessel127 (or at the cavity125) to deform and/or expand theparticular region113 outward, preferably forming a button-like shape. With the button-like shape, the user will have tactile guidance when navigating for the expandedparticular region113 and will have tactile feedback when applying force onto theparticular region113 to provide input. Theresistive sensor140 preferably senses the force that inwardly deforms theparticular region113, but may alternatively sense the force that inwardly deforms any other suitable region along thesurface115. However, any other arrangement of theuser interface system100 suitable to providing tactile guidance and/or detecting user input may be used.
• As shown inFIG. 3, theuser interface system100 may be display150 that displays an image. As described above, the volume offluid112 and/or theresistive sensor140 preferably cooperates with thesheet102 to transmit an image through thesheet102 without substantial obstruction. Alternatively, the volume offluid112 may cooperate with thesheet102 to transmit an image through thesheet102 without substantial obstruction only when thefluid vessel127 is in a particular state, for example, when thefluid vessel127 is in the retracted state or when the fluid vessel is in the expanded state. Because the deformation of theparticular region113 functions to provide tactile guidance to the user, the user may not need the visual cues from the image to operate the user interface when tactile guidance is present. However, the volume offluid112 and thesheet102 may cooperate to transmit an image through thesheet102 without substantial obstruction in any other suitable arrangement. Obstruction to image transmission may be defined as any manipulation of the image that provides a visual interruption of the image in reaching the user. Obstruction may include blocking a substantial portion of the image, substantially dimming the image, and/or substantially distorting the image unintelligibly. Manipulations to an image that are preferably not considered obstruction to image transmission may include distortion of the image while allowing the image to be substantially visually intelligible, substantially uniformly tinting the image, and/or substantially uniformly enlarging the image. In a first variation, to decrease distortion of the image, the volume offluid112 and thesheet102 preferably cooperate to allow the light from the display to reach the user's eyes at substantially the same angle from thesheet102 as directly from thedisplay150 such that an image from the display is seen through thesheet102 as it would be seen directly from the display. In a second variation, the volume offluid112 andsheet102 may function to substantially uniformly refract light from the display to maintain substantially the same relative proportions between different regions of the image as seen by the user. For example, the volume offluid112 and thesheet102 may cooperatively function to substantially magnify the image from the display of the device10 thus increasing the size of the image as seen by the user uniformly or increasing the size of one portion of the image more than another portion. In a third variation, the volume offluid112 andsheet102 may cooperate to refract light from different portions of the image differently (i.e., “warp” the image) to increase the magnification of certain portions of the image. For example, thefluid112 and thesheet102 may cooperate to provide a fish-eye type magnification to the image to substantially increase visibility of certain portions of the image. In the first, second, and third variations, the volume offluid112 andsheet102 are preferably each of substantially the same index of refraction to maintain substantially one refraction angle of the light from the display as the light transmits through thesheet102. Alternatively, the index of refraction of the volume offluid112 and thesheet102 may be substantially different but thefluid112 andsheet102 preferably cooperate to decrease detection of the different refraction angles by the user. For example, the volume offluid112 may occupy a substantially small percentage of the thickness and/or width of thesheet102 such that the change in refraction angle in thefluid112 is substantially undetectable by the user. In a second example, the walls of thechannel138 and/orcavity125 may be arranged to compensate for differences in the index of refraction between thefluid112 and thesheet102, for example, by positioning the walls at a particular angle relative to thesheet102. Both thesheet102 and thefluid112 are preferably substantially transparent to decrease changes in the color and/or intensity of the image. Similarly, thesheet102 andfluid112 preferably both include substantially similar light absorptive properties, birefringence properties, and/or chromaticity properties. However, any other suitable translucency, transparency level, absorptive, refraction, and/or any other suitable light transmission properties may be used for thesheet102 andfluid112. Similarly, any other suitable method may be used to decrease obstruction to the transmission of an image.
1. The Sheet
• As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, thesheet102 of the preferred embodiment functions to provide thesurface115 that interfaces with a user in a tactile manner and to at least partially afluid vessel127. As described above, thefluid vessel127 is preferably a cavity125 (as shown inFIGS. 1band2), but may alternatively be achannel138 or a combination of acavity125 and a channel138 (as shown inFIG. 4a). Thesurface115 is preferably continuous, such that when swiping a finger across the surface115 a user would not feel any interruptions or seams. Alternatively, thesurface115 may include features that facilitate the user in distinguishing one region from another. Thesurface115 is also preferably planar. Thesurface115 is preferably arranged in a flat plane, but may alternatively be arranged in a curved plane or on a first plane and then wrapped around to a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane, or any other suitable arrangement. Thesurface115 may alternatively include lumps, bumps, depressions, textures, or may be a surface of any other suitable type or geometry. Thesurface115 also functions to deform upon an expansion of thecavity125, and to preferably “relax” or “un-deform” back to a normal planar state upon retraction of thecavity125. In a first version, thesheet102 contains a first portion that is elastic and a second portion that is relatively inelastic. In a second version,sheet102 is relatively more elastic in a first portion and relatively less elastic in a second portion and is deformed by the expandedcavity125 in the relatively more elastic portion. In the first and second version, the first portion and the second portion may be located across the length and width of thesheet102. Alternatively, the first portion and the second portion may be located along the thickness of thesheet102. In a third version, thesheet102 is generally uniformly elastic. In fourth version, thesheet102 includes or is made of a smart material, such as Nickel Titanium (commonly referred to as “Nitinol”), that has a selective shape and/or variable elasticity or a shape memory polymer that maybe activated, for example, by ultra violet light or any other suitable type of activation, to have selective shape and/or variable elasticity. Thesheet102 is preferably optically transparent, but may alternatively be translucent or opaque. In addition to the transparency, thesheet102 preferably has the following properties: a high transmission, a low haze, a wide viewing angle, a minimal amount of back reflectance upon the display (if the display is included with the user interface system100), minimal or low glare in ambient and/or daylight condition, scratch resistant, chemical resistant, stain resistant, relatively smooth (not tacky) to the touch, no out-gassing, and/or relatively low degradation rate when exposed to ultraviolet light. The material may also include properties that change during the usage of the device, for example, in the variation that utilizes shape memory polymer, usage of the device in an environment that includes a wavelength or wavelengths of light that may change the properties of the shape memory polymer desirably. For example, certain parts of the material may change elasticity when exposed to UV light. In a second example, the material may change shape. In this example, the volume offluid112 within thefluid vessel127 preferably substantially conforms to the changed shape of the material. This may allow for light to transmit through the fluid112 and the material without substantial obstruction. However, any other suitable dynamic physical property may be used. This change in the properties may be temporary, in particular, once the wavelength of light is no longer present, the material preferably reverts back to the original state. Alternatively, the change may be permanent. In this variation, the change is preferably reversible, for example, the material may revert back to the original state when exposed to another wavelength of light. In the variation wherein thesheet102 is placed over a display, thesheet102 may also function to decrease reflection and/or refraction of light emitting from the display. However, thesheet102 may include any other suitable material property.
• Thesheet102 is preferably made from a suitable elastic material, including polymers and silicone-based and urethane elastomers such as poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or RTV Silicone (e.g., Momentive RTV Silicone 615). Thesheet102 may also include coatings to provide properties such as smoothness (for example, low coefficient of friction), hydrophobic and oleophobic characteristics, scratch resistance, scratch concealing, and/or resistance to debris retention. Thesheet102 may also include coatings to provide desired optical properties, such as anti-reflection and anti-glare. Coatings may be applied on thesurface115, but may alternatively be applied on any other suitable surface of thesheet102. In the version wherein thesheet102 includes a first portion that is elastic and a second portion that is relatively inelastic, the inelastic portion is preferably made from a material including polymers or glass, for example, elastomers, silicone-based organic polymers such as poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS), thermoset plastics such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and photocurable solvent resistant elastomers such as perfluropolyethers. Thesheet102 may, however, be made of any suitable material that provides thesurface115 that deforms and defines afluid vessel127.
• Thesheet102 may be manufactured using well-known techniques for micro-fluid arrays to create one or more cavities and/or micro channels. Thesheet102 may be constructed using multiple layers from the same material or from different suitable materials, for example, thesheet102 may include alayer portion110 of one material that defines thesurface115 and asubstrate portion120 of a second material (as shown inFIGS. 4aand4c). As shown inFIGS. 4aand4b, thesubstrate portion120 preferably defines afluid outlet116 that allows fluid to flow between thechannel138 and thecavity125 to deform and un-deform a particular region of thesurface113. Thefluid outlet116 may be formed into thesubstrate portion120, for example, thefluid outlet116 may be a series of bores that are formed into the substrate in between thechannel138 and thecavity125 as shown inFIGS. 4aand4bor an open orifice between thecavity125 and thechannel138 as shown inFIG. 4c, but may alternatively be a property of the material, for example, thesubstrate portion120 may include a porous material that includes a series of interconnected cavities that allow fluid to flow through thesubstrate portion120. Thesubstrate portion120 may define any suitable number offluid outlets116 that are of any suitable size and shape. Thesubstrate portion120 may also include a fluid outlet layer that defines thefluid outlets116 that is separate fromsubstrate portion120 and arranged in between thesubstrate portion120 andlayer portion110. However, any other suitable arrangement of thefluid outlets116 may be used. As shown inFIG. 4b, the portion of the substrate portion120 (or fluid outlet layer) that includes thefluid outlets116 may also function to provide a support for thelayer portion110 to substantially prevent thelayer portion110 from substantially depressing into thechannel138 when force is applied over theparticular region113. However, thesubstrate portion120 may be arranged in any other suitable manner and may provide support for thelayer portion110 in any other suitable way.
• Thelayer portion110 is preferably attached to the substrate portion120 (or fluid outlet layer) at anattachment point117 that at least partially defines the size and/or shape of theparticular region113. In other words, theattachment point117 functions to define a border between a deformable particular region of thesurface113 and the rest of thesurface115 and the size of theparticular region113 is substantially independent of the size of the cavity124 and/or thechannel138. Theattachment point117 may be a series of continuous points that define an edge, but may alternatively be a series of non-continuous points. Theattachment point117 may be formed using, for example, adhesive, chemical bonding, surface activation, welding, or any other suitable attachment material and/or method. The method and material used to form theattachment point117 is preferably of a similar optical property as thelayer portion110 and thesubstrate portion120, but may alternatively be of any other optical property. Other portions of thelayer portion110 andsubstrate portion120 not corresponding to a particular region of thesurface113 may also be adhered using similar or identical materials and methods to theattachment point117. Alternatively, thelayer portion110 andsubstrate portion120 may be left unattached in other portions not corresponding to a particular region of thesurface113. However, thesheet102 may be arranged in any other suitable manner.
2. The Displacement Device
• Thedisplacement device130 of the preferred embodiment functions to influence the volume of the fluid112 to expand at least a portion of thefluid vessel127 from the retracted volume setting to the extended volume setting and, ultimately, deforming aparticular region113 of thesurface115. Thedisplacement device130 preferably functions to expand at least a portion of thefluid vessel127, but may alternatively function to contract at least a portion or any other suitable manipulation of at least a portion of thefluid vessel127. Thedisplacement device130 preferably modifies the volume of the fluid112 by (1) modifying the volume of the existing fluid in thefluid vessel127, or (2) adding and removing fluid to and from thefluid vessel127. Thedisplacement device130 may, however, influence the volume of the fluid112 by any suitable device or method. Modifying the volume of the existing fluid in thefluid vessel127 may have an advantage of lesser complexity, while adding and removing fluid to and from thefluid vessel127 may have an advantage of maintaining the deformation of thesurface115 without the need for additional energy (if valves or other lockable mechanisms are used). When used with a mobile phone device, thedisplacement device130 preferably increases the volume of the fluid112 within thefluid vessel127 by approximately 0.003-0.1 ml. When used with this or other applications, however, the volume of the fluid may be increased (or possibly decreased) by any suitable amount. The variations of thedisplacement device130 described below refer to modifying the volume of the fluid to expand thecavity125, but may be applied to any other suitable portion of thefluid vessel127.
• Modifying the existing fluid in thecavity125 may be accomplished in several ways. In a first example, as shown inFIGS. 5aand5b, the fluid may be an expandable fluid and thedisplacement device130 may include a heating element that heats the expandable fluid, thereby expanding the volume of the existing fluid in the cavity125 (according to the ideal gas law, PV=nRT). The heating element, which may be located within, adjacent thecavity125, or any other location suitable to providing heat to the fluid, is preferably a resistive heater (made of a material such as TaN or Nichrome). In a second example, the fluid may include an expandable substance, such as plastic expandable microspheres. In a third example, the fluid may include paraffin. While these are three examples, thedisplacement device130 can be any other suitable device or method that ultimately expands thecavity125 from the retracted volume setting to the extended volume setting by modifying the existing fluid in thecavity125.
• Adding and removing fluid to and from thecavity125 may also be accomplished in several ways. In a first example, as shown inFIG. 6, thedisplacement device130 includes areservoir132 to hold additional fluid and apump134 to displace fluid from thereservoir132 to thecavity125. Thereservoir132 is preferably remote from the cavity125 (and connected by achannel138 or other suitable device), but may alternatively be located adjacent thecavity125 and connected directly to thecavity125. A portion of thechannel138 is preferably a micro-fluidic channel (having cross-section dimensions in the range of 1 micrometer to 1000 micrometers), but depending on the size and costs constraints of theuser interface system100, thechannel138 may have any suitable dimensions. Thepump134 is preferably a micro-pump (such as pump #MDP2205 from ThinXXS Microtechnology AG of Zweibrucken, Germany or pump #mp5 from Bartels Mikrotechnik GmbH of Dortmund, Germany), but may be any suitable device to pump fluid from one location to another. Thepump134 is preferably located at a distance from thecavity125, and is preferably connected to thecavity125 by achannel138. To extend thecavity125 from a retracted volume setting to the extended volume setting, thepump134 displaces fluid from areservoir132, through thechannel138, and into thecavity125. To retract thecavity125 from the extended volume setting to the retracted volume setting, thepump134 preferably “vents” or pumps in a reverse direction from thecavity125 to thereservoir132. In a second example, as shown inFIG. 7, thedisplacement device130 includes areservoir132 to hold additional fluid, afirst pump134 to displace fluid from thereservoir132 to thecavity125, asecond pump136 to displace fluid from thecavity125 to thereservoir132, a first valve located between thefirst pump134 and thecavity125, and a second valve located between thecavity125 and thesecond pump136. To extend thecavity125 from the retracted volume setting to the extended volume setting, the first valve is opened, the second valve is closed, and thefirst pump134 displaces fluid from thereservoir132, through thechannel138, and into thecavity125. To retract thecavity125 from the extended position to the retracted position, the first valve is closed, the second valve is opened, and thesecond pump136 displaces fluid from thecavity125, through thechannel138, and into thereservoir132. In other respects, the second example is similar to the first example above. Theuser interface system100 may omit thesecond pump136 and simply retract thecavity125 from the extended volume setting to the retracted volume setting by opening the second valve and allowing thecavity125 to vent or “drain” into the reservoir132 (potentially assisted by the elasticity of thesheet102 returning to an un-deformed state). In a third example, as shown inFIGS. 8aand8b, thedisplacement device130 includes an actuator, such as a linear actuator, that displaces fluid into and out of thecavity125. To extend thecavity125 from a retracted volume setting to the extended volume setting, as shown inFIG. 8a, the linear actuator displaces fluid through thechannel138 and into thecavity125. To retract thecavity125 from the extended volume setting to the retracted volume setting, as shown inFIG. 8b, the linear actuator draws fluid in a reverse direction from thecavity125 to thereservoir132. In other respects, the third example is similar to the second example above. While these are three examples, thedisplacement device130 can be any other suitable device or method that ultimately expands thecavity125 from the retracted volume setting to the extended volume setting by adding and removing fluid to and from thecavity125.
• Although the cause of the deformation of aparticular region113 of thesurface115 has been described as a modification of the volume of the fluid in thecavity125, it is possible to describe the cause of the deformation as an increase in the pressure below thesurface115 relative to the pressure above thesurface115. When used with a mobile phone device, an increase of approximately 0.1-10.0 psi between the pressure below thesheet102 relative to the pressure above thesheet102, is preferably enough to deform aparticular region113 of thesurface115. When used with this or other applications, however, the modification of the pressure may be increased (or possibly decreased) by any suitable amount.
3. The Deformation of the Surface
• As shown inFIG. 2, Thefluid vessel127 of the preferred embodiment functions to hold a volume offluid112 and to have at least two volumetric settings: a retracted volume setting (as shown inFIG. 2afor the variation of thefluid vessel127 that includes a cavity125) and an expanded volume setting (shown inFIG. 2bfor the variation of thefluid vessel127 that includes a cavity125). Alternatively, there may be a plurality of volume settings or a dynamic range of volume settings. The fluid112 is preferably a substantially incompressible fluid, but may alternatively be a compressible fluid. The fluid112 is preferably a liquid (such as water, glycerin, or ethylene glycol), but may alternatively be a gas (such as air, nitrogen, or argon) or any other substance (such as a gel or aerogel) that expands thecavity125 and deforms thesurface115. The fluid112 may also function to direct selected wavelengths of light, such as UV light, to desired portions of thesheet102, due to wavelength specific refractive index changes. In the extended volume setting, thecavity125 deforms theparticular region113 of thesurface115 above the plane of the other regions of thesurface115. When used with a mobile phone device, thecavity125 preferably has a diameter of 2-10 mm. When used with this or other applications, however, thecavity125 may have any suitable dimension.
• The shape of the deformation of theparticular region113 is preferably one that is felt by a user through their finger and preferably acts as (1) a button that can be pressed by the user (as shown inFIG. 9), (2) a slider that can be pressed by the user in one location along the slider or that can be swept in a sliding motion along the slider (such as the “click wheel” of the Apple iPod (second generation)) (as shown inFIGS. 10 and 11), and/or (3) a pointing stick that can be pressed by the user from multiple directions and/or locations along the surface whereby the user is provided with tactile feedback that distinguishes a first directional touch from a second directional touch and/or a touch in a first location from a touch in a second location (such as the pointing stick trademarked by IBM as the TRACKPOINT and by Synaptics as the TOUCHSTYK (which are both informally known as the “nipple”)) (as shown inFIG. 12). The deformation may, however, act as any other suitable device or method that provides suitable tactile guidance and feedback. In the variation including adisplay150, the shape of the deformation of theparticular region113 also preferably functions to minimize the optical distortion of the image underneath the deformedparticular region113.
4. The Sensor
• Thesensor140 is preferably aresistive sensor140 that is preferably arranged in one of four preferred embodiments: a first and a second preferred embodiment that includes a tactile layer that includes thesheet102, the volume offluid112, and/or thedisplacement device130 and a resistive touchsensitive layer500 that is external to the tactile layer that functions as theresistive sensor140; a third preferred embodiment where the resistive sensor is integrated into thefluid vessel127; and a fourth preferred embodiment where thesheet102 is integrated into a resistive touchsensitive layer500a(or, in other words, a resistive touch sensitive layer that includes deformable regions).
• In the first and second preferred embodiments, as shown inFIG. 13, the resistive touchsensitive layer500 of the preferred embodiments (as seen from a side view) preferably includes atop layer501 that is relatively pliable (for example, a plastic material such as PET) and preferably includes a first set ofelectrical conductors511 and preferably abottom layer503 that that is relatively un-pliable (for example, a glass material) and includes a second set ofelectrical conductors513. The first set ofelectrical conductors511 may include a conductive coating on the bottom surface of thetop layer501 and a voltage gradient applied across the conductive surface in a horizontal direction and the second set ofelectrical conductors513 may include a second conductive coating on the top surface of thebottom layer503 and a second voltage gradient applied across the second conductive surface in a vertical direction. When a user deforms the toppliable layer501 towards the bottom un-pliable layer503 (as shown by the arrow and the dotted deformation inFIG. 13) the distance between the first and second sets of electrical conductors decrease and may come into contact or into proximity with each other proximal to the location where the user deforms the top layer, affecting the resistance between the first and second conductors, and the location and the presence of a user input is detected by evaluating the signals from the electrical conductors. Alternatively, thetop layer501 may include a conductor that includes a detectable electrical property that changes with the shape of the conductor and/or the strain experienced by the conductor. For example, as a user deforms thetop layer501 the conductor of thetop layer501 may change shape from the force provided by the user and/or experience strain from the force provided by the user, which may affect the electrical property of the conductor. This change in electrical property may be detected to detect a user input. However, any other suitable type of detection of the user input using atop layer501 that deforms relative to thebottom layer503 with the user input may be used. The resistive touchsensitive layer500 preferably also includesspacers505 that separate the top andbottom layers501 and503 to prevent undesired contact between the first and second sets of electrical conductors. Thespacers505 may include a top spacer and a bottom spacer. The top spacer may be mounted or otherwise coupled to thetop layer501 and the bottom spacer may be mounted or otherwise coupled to thebottom layer503, and then assembled together to form thespacer505.
• In the first preferred embodiment as shown inFIGS. 14aand14b, the resistive touchsensitive layer500 functions as the resistive sensor14oand is external to thesheet102. The resistive touch layer50oand thesheet102 is preferably arranged such that an inward deformation theparticular region113 of thesheet102 extends beyond the bottom surface of thesheet102 and comes into contact with and deforms thetop layer501 of the resistive touchsensitive layer500 to cause contact or proximity between thetop layer501 and thebottom layer503 of the resistive touchsensitive layer500, as shown inFIG. 14b. The deformation of the top of thecavity125 may be a deformation from the expanded state as well as a deformation from the retracted state. As shown inFIG. 14c, deformation of thesurface115 at a location other than theparticular region113 may also cause thetop layer501 to move towards and/or come into contact with thebottom layer503. Thetop layer501 of the first preferred embodiment is preferably composed of a material that is substantially pliable to facilitate the user in providing an input by decreasing the amount of force necessary to deflect both thedeformed surface113 of thesheet102 and thetop layer501. Thetop layer501 may alternatively be of a material thickness that allows for substantial pliability. The same material but of different thicknesses may be used between thesheet102 and thetop layer501, which may facilitate coupling thesheet102 to the resistive touchsensitive layer500. Additionally, because thesheet102 is placed over the resistive touchsensitive layer500, thetop layer501 may be less likely to be accidentally flexed to cause undesired contact between thetop layer501 and thebottom layer503 and a more pliable material may be used for thetop layer501.
• Thecavity125 portion of thefluid vessel127 of thesheet102 may be arranged with no particular relationship with thespacers505 of the resistive touchsensitive layer500. In other words, thecavity125 may be sized and arranged within thesheet102 without substantial regard for the location of thespacers505. Alternatively, thecavity125 portion of thefluid vessel127 may be substantially aligned in between at least two of thespacers505 of the resistive touchsensitive layer500. As shown inFIG. 14a, eachcavity125 may span the distance between twospacers505, but may alternatively span the distance between three, four, or any other suitable number ofspacers505 to achieve a suitable surface area of the correspondingparticular region113. For example, thespacers505 may be spaced substantially close together such that acavity125 that spans the distance between twospacers505 may be too small to be distinguished by the finger of the user and, to decrease manufacturing difficulty and increase tactile guidance to the user, thecavity125 may span acrossseveral spacers505. In this variation, inward deformation of any portion of theparticular region113 preferably causes thetop layer501 to come into contact with thebottom layer503 at the location corresponding to the inwardly deformed portion of theparticular region113. Because theparticular region113 may span over a larger portion of thetop layer501, a larger portion of the first and second sets of sensors of the resistive touchsensitive layer500 may be included within the region occupied by theparticular region113, which may allow user inputs at a first portion of theparticular region113 to be distinguishable from a second portion of theparticular region113, allowing detection of directional input and/or regional input along theparticular region113. For example, in the variation where the deformation of theparticular region113 functions as a directional pointing stick as shown inFIG. 12, the detection of the location of the contact between thetop layer501 and thebottom layer503 relative to the overall geometry of the deformedparticular region113 may indicate the direction input desired by the user. Alternatively, to increase flexibility in the tactile guidance provided to the user, thecavity125 may span the distance between twospacers505 and a combination of the expansion ofseveral cavities125 in relative close proximity with each other and their correspondingparticular surfaces113 may be used to provide tactile guidance to the user. However, any other suitable arrangement between thespacers505 and thecavity125 may be used.
• In a first variation of the first preferred embodiment, thetop layer501 may function as the bottom boundary of thefluid vessel127, as shown inFIGS. 14aand14b. In a second variation of the first preferred embodiment, thesheet102 may alternatively fully define thefluid vessel127, as shown inFIG. 15a, where the inward deformation of thesheet102 when the user provides a user input preferably comes into contact with the bottom of thecavity125, deflects the bottom of thecavity125, and then deforms thetop layer501 of the resistive touchsensitive layer500 to cause contact between thetop layer501 and thebottom layer503. In this second variation of the preferred embodiment, to provide an input, the user provides a force to inwardly deform the top of thecavity125, the bottom of thecavity125, and thetop layer501. Thus, a substantially pliable material is preferably used for thetop layer501 at the location corresponding to theparticular region113 to decrease the total force required of the user. In addition, in the variation where thesheet102 is composed of a plurality of layers, the bottom of thecavity125 may be composed of a material that is relatively more pliable than the other layers of thesheet102. However, any other suitable materials for thesheet102 and thetop layer501 may be used.
• Thesheet102 is preferably mechanically coupled to thetop layer501 of the resistive touchsensitive layer500. An adhesive such as epoxy, pressure-sensitive adhesive, or transparent double-sided tape may be used. Alternatively, thesheet100 and thetop layer501 may be made of material that may be bonded using a welding process such one that uses heat, ultrasonic waves, or high pressure. Thesheet102 and thetop layer501 may also be plasma treated to prepare for bonding. However, any other suitable method or material used to mechanically couple thesheet102 to thetop layer501 may be used. The bottom surface of thesheet102 may be substantially continuously coupled to thetop layer501, but may alternatively include portions of the surface that are coupled and portions of the surface that are left uncoupled to thetop layer501. For example, in the second variation where thesheet102 fully defines thecavity125 as shown inFIG. 15a, as the inward deformation of thesheet102 pushes against thetop layer110 as the user provides an input, the material of the bottom of thecavity125 and the material of thetop layer501 may stretch and change shape at different rates and different locations, respectively, potentially causing relative movement between thesheet102 and thetop layer110. If this relative movement were prevented by fully bonding the bottom of thecavity125 to thetop layer501, the user may not be able to cause thetop layer501 to come into contact with thebottom layer503 and a user input will not be registered. To allow for the relative movement, thesheet102 is preferably bonded to thetop layer501 at portions of the bottom surface of thesheet102 that do not deform and/or portions of the bottom surface of thesheet102 that do not correspond to locations on thetop layer501 that deform. Alternatively, the bottom of thecavity125 and thetop layer501 may be fully bonded and the geometric and/or material differences between the bottom of thecavity125 and thetop layer501 may be utilized to allow thetop layer501 to suitably move towards thebottom layer503 to register a user input. In a second example, thesheet102 andtop layer501 may include features that facilitate coupling and thesheet102 and thetop layer501 may be coupled only at the locations where the features are present. For example, in the variation where thesheet102 and thetop layer501 are coupled using an ultrasonic welding process, a geometry that functions as an energy director to concentrate the energy from the ultrasonic welding process may be built into thesheet102 to facilitate coupling at the location of the energy director. In a third example, thesheet102 andtop layer501 may each include a secondary material that facilitates bonding between thesheet102 andtop layer501. For example, to achieve a desired pliability of thesheet102 and thetop layer501, materials that have substantially low bonding properties may be selected. To sufficiently bond thesheet102 and thetop layer501, a secondary material (such as Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN) in the case of ultrasonic welding) may be coupled to each of thesheet102 and thetop layer501 and then bonded together to couple thesheet102 to thetop layer501. In a third example, a selective coating may be used between thesheet102 and the resistive touchsensitive layer500. For example, the coating may be placed over an adhesive to prevent adhesion between certain portions of thesheet102 and thetop layer501 or an adhesive may be selectively coated onto the bottom of thesurface110 and/or thetop layer501 to function as an adhesive in the desired locations. However, any other suitable arrangement of the coupling of thesheet102 to thetop layer501 may be used.
• The second preferred embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 15 and 16, is substantially similar to the first preferred embodiment. The resistive sensor is included into a resistive touchsensitive layer500 that is preferably of the type as described above and thesheet102 is placed over the resistive touchsensitive layer500. In the second preferred embodiment, however, the inward deformation of the top of thecavity125 of thesheet102 does not extend beyond the bottom surface of thesheet102. In the second preferred embodiment, the volume of the fluid112 is preferably static inside thecavity125 once thecavity125 has been expanded (for example, through the use of a valve as mentioned above in the description for the displacement device130). The fluid112 is preferably also incompressible, thus allowing the inward deformation of theparticular region113 to cause corresponding downward deformation of the bottom of thecavity125, which in turn pushes against thetop layer501 and causes contact between thetop layer501 and thebottom layer503. This decreases the amount of inward deformation of theparticular region113 required of the user in order to provide a user input. As in the first preferred embodiment, a user input may be detected at locations on thesurface115 other than at theparticular region113. In the variation of thesheet102 that includes a fluid outlet layer, as shown inFIGS. 4a,16a, and16b, the second preferred embodiment allows the inward deformation of theparticular region113 to cause the bottom layer of thecavity125 to move thetop layer501 towards thebottom layer503 without the inward deformation of theparticular region113 going past thesupport element112, as shown inFIG. 16b. Alternatively, thesupport element112 may also inwardly deform while providing the desired support for theparticular region113. In this second preferred embodiment, because of the additional energy necessary to displace the fluid112 and to deform the bottom of the cavity125 (in addition to potential imperfections in the sealing of thecavity125 and the fluid112 not being truly incompressible), thetop layer501 is preferably composed of a relatively pliable material. Similar to the second variation of the first preferred embodiment, the bottom of thecavity125 may be made of a relatively more pliable material than the rest of thesheet102 while still less pliable than the top of thecavity125 such that the expansion of thecavity125 by thedisplacement device130 will not cause the bottom of thecavity125 to expand out into thetop layer501 and cause undesired inputs. As in the first preferred embodiment, the pliability characteristics of the layers may be adjusted through material selection and/or material thickness selection. Because of this feature, the balance of pliability characteristics between the top of thecavity125, the bottom of thecavity125, and thetop layer501 in the second preferred embodiment has a significant impact on the function and feel of theuser interface system100. However, any other suitable material may be used. The portion of the bottom of thecavity125 that is pliable may alternatively be of a smaller surface area than theparticular region113, allowing a smaller inward displacement of the top of thecavity125 to achieve a larger inward displacement of the bottom of thecavity125 for the same volume of fluid that is displaced. In all other respects, the user interface system of the second preferred embodiment is preferably similar or identical to the first preferred embodiment.
• In the third preferred embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 17aand17b, theresistive sensor140 is integrated into thesheet102. A firstelectrical conductor511ais preferably located in an upper portion of thesheet102 and a secondelectrical conductor513ais preferably located at a lower portion of thesheet102. In a preferred variation, the firstelectrical conductor511ais preferably located at the top of thecavity125 and a secondelectrical conductor513ais preferably locate at the bottom of thecavity125, as shown inFIG. 17a. However, the first and secondelectrical conductors511aand513amay be located in a region other than theparticular region113 and/or thefluid vessel127 to allow detection of a user input outside of theparticular region113 and/or thefluid vessel127. In the variation of thesheet102 that includes asupport element112 as shown inFIG. 13, the secondelectrical conductor513amay alternatively be located at thesupport element112. As the user inwardly deforms theparticular region113, the top of thecavity125 is pushed towards the bottom of thecavity125 and, upon contact or close proximity of the first and secondelectrical conductors511aand513a, a user input is detected by theresistive sensor140, as shown inFIG. 17b. In the variation where the first and secondelectrical conductors511aand513aare located in a region other than theparticular region113 and/or thefluid vessel127, the material of thesheet102 may be compressible to allow for a user force to compress the material to bring the first and secondelectrical conductors511aand513ainto contact or close proximity. In the variation where thesheet102 is composed of a plurality of layers of either the same material or of different materials, the first and secondelectrical conductors511aand513bare preferably layered into thesheet102 during the manufacturing process. Alternatively, in the variation where thesheet102 is composed of alayer portion110 and asubstrate portion120 as shown inFIGS. 4,17a, and17b, the firstelectrical conductor511amay be bonded or coated onto the underside of thelayer portion110 and into the bottom of thecavity125 of thesubstrate portion120. However, any other suitable arrangement of the first andsecond conductors511aand513amay be used.
• To decrease the visibility of the first and secondelectrical conductors511aand513a, theelectrical conductors511aand513bare preferably transparent and/or with a refractive index that is matched with thesheet102 and/or thefluid112. Theelectrical conductors511aand513bmay alternatively be substantially thin and relatively difficult to perceive with the human eye (for example, 10 microns wide). This is particularly useful when the user interface system is placed over adisplay150 and the image displayed by thedisplay150 is preferably transmitted uniformly through the user interface system. The firstelectrical conductor511ais also preferably a flexible material to allow the top of thecavity125 to extend down to contact or approach the bottom of thecavity125. A transparent conductive oxide such as indium-tin-oxide (ITO), Al-doped zinc oxide (AZO), or Zn-doped indium oxide (IZO) may be used as transparent flexible electrical conductors. Alternatively, conductive polymers, conductive ink, or wire or any other material that is difficult to see with the human eye may be used. However, any other suitable conductor may be used for the first and secondelectrical conductors511aand513a.
• In the variation where the first and second electrical conductors are located within thefluid vessel127 and/or theparticular region113, the first and second electrical conductors are preferably located within the expanding portion of thefluid vessel127, for example, thecavity125. In particular, the first electrical conductor is preferably located in a substantially central location on the top of thecavity125 and/or at a substantially central location relative to theparticular region113, which are areas that are relatively easy to displace (as compared to the perimeter of the top of thecavity125 and the particular region113), thus facilitating the user in providing a user input. Additionally, in the variation where the deformation of theparticular region113 functions as a button, locating the firstelectrical conductor511ain a substantially centralized location on the top of thecavity125 and/orparticular region113 is particularly useful because the user may also be inclined to provide a user input by inwardly deforming the portion of theparticular region113 that is substantially in the center. Alternatively, the firstelectrical conductor511amay be located across the substantially the entire top of thecavity125 such that an input from any location along the top of thecavity125 and/or theparticular region113 may be detected. Yet alternatively, the firstelectrical conductor511amay be located only in certain portions of the top of thecavity125 such that user input only at locations of theparticular region113 that correspond to the certain portions of the top of thecavity125 that include the first electrical conductor may be detected. In this variation, the firstelectrical conductor511amay include geometry that corresponds to the desired detectable locations of the top of thecavity125. However, any other suitable arrangement of the firstelectrical conductor511amay be used.
• The secondelectrical conductor513ais preferably located in substantially central to the bottom of thecavity125 because, as the user provides a user input by inwardly deforming theparticular region113, the deforming portion of thesheet102 may be guided towards the central portion of the bottom of thecavity125 by the side walls of thecavity125. Alternatively, the second electrical conductor may be located substantially across the entire bottom of thecavity125 such that contact or proximity with the firstelectrical conductor511aat any location along the bottom of thecavity125 may be detected. Yet alternatively, the second electrical conductor may be located across the side walls of thecavity125 to allow any contact or proximity with the firstelectrical conductor511aalong the side walls of thecavity125 to be detected as a user input. This may allow user input to be detected with a smaller displacement of the firstelectrical conductor511arelative to the second electrical conductor. The smaller displacement may decrease the forced required to provide a user input. In this variation, the secondelectrical conductor513amay be located on both the bottom and the side walls of thecavity125 or may alternatively be located only on the side walls of thecavity125. Similarly to the firstelectrical conductor511a, the secondelectrical conductor513amay be located only in certain portions of the bottom and/or the side walls of thecavity125 such that contact with the top of thecavity125 only at locations of the bottom and/or side walls of thecavity125 that include the secondelectrical conductor513amay be detected. In this variation, the secondelectrical conductor513amay include geometry that corresponds to the desired detectable locations of the bottom and/or side walls of thecavity125. However, any other suitable arrangement of the secondelectrical conductor513amay be used.
• Eachcavity125 may include one first and one secondelectrical conductors511aand513a. Eachcavity125 may alternatively include one firstelectrical conductor511athat corresponds with a plurality of secondelectrical conductors513aor vice versa. For example, a primary secondelectrical conductor513amay be located on the bottom of thecavity125, a secondary secondelectrical conductor513amay be located on the side walls of thecavity125, and one firstelectrical conductor511amay be located on the top of thecavity125. In this variation, an inward deformation of the top of thecavity125 from a force substantially perpendicular to thesurface115 will cause the first electrical conductor to come into contact or close proximity with the primary secondelectrical conductor513aat the bottom of thecavity125 while an inward deformation of the top of thecavity125 from a force that is not substantially perpendicular to thesurface115 will cause the firstelectrical conductor511ato come into contact or close proximity with the secondary secondelectrical conductor513aon a side wall of thecavity125. This may allow for the user interface system to detect the direction of a user input. Additionally, each wall may include a separate secondelectrical conductor513ato further increase the ability to determine the direction of the user input. Alternatively, a plurality of secondelectrical conductors513amay be included on the bottom of thecavity125 or on each of the side walls of thecavity125. In a reverse relationship, one secondelectrical conductor513amay be located on the bottom and/or the side walls of thecavity125 and a plurality of firstelectrical conductors511amay be located on the top of thecavity125 to achieve a similar directional detection of user input. Similarly, eachcavity125 may alternatively include a plurality of first and secondelectrical conductors511aand513aand the detection of contact between any first and any second electrical conductor may indicate the direction or any other suitable information on the user input. However, any other suitable arrangement or number of first and secondelectrical conductors511aand513amay be used.
• In the fourth preferred embodiment as shown inFIGS. 18a,18band18c, the user interface system is integrated into a resistive touch sensitive layer, as shown in the integrated resistive touchsensitive layer500ainFIG. 18, that provides substantially accurate detection of the locations of user inputs. The fourth preferred embodiment may alternatively be thought of as a resistive touch sensitive layer with surface deforming capabilities. As shown inFIG. 18a, the fourth preferred embodiment preferably utilizes the construction of a resistive touch sensitive layer as described above with atop layer501a, abottom layer503a, spacers505a, a first set ofelectrical conductors511a, and a second set ofelectrical conductors513a. The fourth preferred embodiment preferably also includes aseal502 that cooperates with the top andbottom layers501aand503ato at least partially define a fluid vessel between the top layer and the bottom layer. The region of the top andbottom layers501aand503athat cooperate with the seal to define thefluid vessel127 preferably includes at least a portion of the first and second set of conductors such that an input at thefluid vessel127 is detectable. To increase the sensitivity to the location of the user input relative to the particular region113 (or other portions of the fluid vessel127), a larger portion of the first and second set of conductors may be included within the particular region113 (or other portions of the fluid vessel127) of the definedfluid vessel127. In other words, if the first and second set of conductors can distinguish between a first user input and a second user input that are at a minimum distance of X apart, aparticular region113 is preferably larger than X to distinguish a first user input at a first location relative to theparticular region113 and a second user input at a second location relative to theparticular region113. Theuser interface system100 may also include a fluid outlet layer as described above between thetop layer501aand thebottom layer503a. In this fourth preferred embodiment, thetop layer501afunctions to define thesurface115 and cooperate with thespacers505aand thebottom layer503ato form thesheet102 and to define thefluid vessel127. Thefluid vessel127 is then filled with a fluid112 and preferably expands (as shown by the dotted line representing the expandedparticular region113 inFIG. 18a) and retracts with manipulation of the volume of the fluid112 similarly or identically to thefluid vessel127 as described above. The first set ofelectrical conductors511apreferably also expands along with thetop layer501a. Alternatively, the firstelectrical conductors511amay be located on the fluid outlet layer that remains relatively stationary and may not expand along with thetop layer501a. However, any other suitable arrangement of the electrical conductors may be used.
• Theseal502 is preferably formed using thespacers505a. In the preferred embodiments, thespacers505aare preferably bonded to thetop layer501aand/or thebottom layer503ato form a substantially leak tight fluid vessel. As shown inFIG. 18, a portion of the fluid vessel127 (such as the channel138) may be substantially defined by thebottom layer503athat is coupled to achannel138 while the expanding portion of the fluid vessel127 (such as the cavity125) is cooperatively defined by thetop layer501a,bottom layer503a, and theseal502. Such bondedspacers505aare hereafter referred to as “boundary-spacers.” In the variation where thespacers505aare composed of a top component and a bottom component which are then assembled to form thespacer505a, the top component and the bottom component are preferably fused together to form acontinuous spacer505bthat is substantially leak tight wall to thefluid vessel127 to form theseal502, as shown inFIGS. 18a,18b, and18c. Similar to the methods used to bond thesheet102 to thetop layer501 discussed in the first preferred embodiment,spacers505a(and the top and bottom components of thespacers505b, where appropriate) may be bonded to thetop layer501aand the bottom503ausing heat welding, ultrasonic welding, or any other suitable process that creates a substantially leak tight seal. However, theseal502 may alternatively be assembled into the space between the top andbottom layers501aand503aand may be separate from thespacers505a. For example, theseal502 may be a balloon that is assembled into the resistive touchsensitive layer500aand the top andbottom layers501aand503amay function to shape the balloon into thefluid vessel127. However, any other suitable seal may be used to define thefluid vessel127.
• As shown inFIG. 18a, acavity125 and/or thefluid vessel127 may span the space in between twospacers505. Alternatively, because the number and frequency ofspacers505amay be related to the desired flatness of thesurface115 and the optical quality of the sheet102 (for example, the higher the number and the higher the frequency ofspacers505a, the flatter thesurface115, the flatter thesurface115, the higher the optical quality of the sheet102), thespacers505amay be located at such a close proximity to each other that the correspondingparticular region113 to acavity125 and/orfluid vessel127 that spanned between only twospacers505awould most likely not be felt by the finger of a user. In this variation, thecavity125 may span the space between three, four, or any other suitable number ofspacers505 to achieve a suitablysized cavity125 and correspondingparticular region113, as shown inFIG. 18b. To achieve the larger span of thecavity125, thespacers505athat are in between the boundary-spacers505bof thecavity125 are preferably not bonded to the top andbottom layers501aand503ato form a leak tight seal, allowing the fluid112 to communicate throughout the volume of the desiredcavity125 such that manipulation of the volume offluid112 within thefluid vessel127 will expand thefluid vessel127 and cause theparticular region113 to deform outward. The expansion of thefluid vessel127 preferably causes thetop layer501ato separate from the spacer that does not define the wall of thefluid vessel127. Alternatively, thespacer505amay also stretch and elongate to follow the expansion of thefluid vessel127. In this variation of thespacer505a, thespacer505ais preferably composed of a substantially pliable material, function to manipulate the shape of the deformation of theparticular region113 and/or preferably maintain refractive properties to decrease visibility as the material stretches. Yet alternatively, in the variation of thespacer505athat is composed of a top component and a bottom component, the top component may expand with thetop layer501a, as shown by the dotted line representing theparticular region113 inFIG. 18b. However, any other suitable bonding and expansion arrangement between a non-boundary-spacer505aand thetop layer501amay be used. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 18c, the non-boundary-spacers505amay be removed. An advantage provided by this variation is that a user input that inwardly deforms theparticular region113 will not be hindered by the presence of spacers within thecavity125. Alternatively, to increase flexibility in the tactile guidance provided to the user, thecavity125 and/orfluid vessel127 may span the distance between twospacers505aand a combination of the expansion ofseveral cavities125 in relative close proximity with each other and their correspondingparticular surfaces113 may be used to provide tactile guidance to the user. The user interface system may also include a combination of various sizes of cavities125 (as shown inFIGS. 18band18c). However, any other suitable size ofcavity125 relative to thespacers505 may be used.
• As shown inFIGS. 18a,18b, and18c, the boundary-spacers505bpreferably function to at least partially define one thefluid vessel127 in only a portion of the top andbottom layers501aand503a. In other words, there is at least a space in the resistive touchsensitive layer500 in between two boundary-spacers505bthat does not contain afluid vessel127. To decrease the visible difference between portions of theuser interface125 that include thefluid vessel127 and portions that do not include thefluid vessel127, the portions that do not include afluid vessel127 may also be filled with the fluid112 or a fluid with substantially similar optical properties to the fluid112 to allow light to refract through thesheet100 in a substantially uniform manner. The portions that do not include afluid vessel127 may alternatively be filled with a gas, another type of fluid, or any other suitable material that allows for substantially uniform refraction of light through thesheet102.
• Thetop layer501ais preferably composed of a flexible material that allows the expansion and retraction of thecavity125 and the deformation of the particular region113 (such as the materials mentioned above in the description for the sheet102). The material of thetop layer501ais also preferably of the type that allows for conductor sets511aand513athat allow for substantially accurate sensing capabilities in theuser interface system100 to be used. However, any other suitable material may be used for thetop layer501a.
• Thebottom layer503ais preferably composed of a material that allows for conductor sets511aand513athat allow for substantially accurate sensing capabilities in theuser interface system100 to be used. Additionally, thebottom layer503amay be composed of a material and of a material thickness that allows for thebottom layer503ato include achannel138, as described above. Thechannel138 may be fluidly coupled to thedisplacement device130 to allow for the passage offluid112 in the second variation of thedisplacement device130. As mentioned above, thebottom layer503ais typically made of a glass material. To accommodate for thechannel138, thebottom layer503amay be composed of a plurality of layers of a silicone material, an elastomeric material, or any of the materials mentioned in the description for thesheet102 that is unpliable relative to thetop layer501ato allow for inward deformation of thetop layer501ato cause the first set ofelectrical conductors511ato come into contact with the second set ofelectrical conductors513a. However, any other suitable material may be used for thebottom layer503a.
• The substantially accurate sensing capabilities due to the arrangement of first and secondelectrical conductors511aand513aof the resistive touchsensitive layer500amay allow the user interface system to detect more accurately the details of a user input, for example, the direction, the location of the user input relative to the geometry of theparticular region113, the proportion of the surface area of theparticular region113 upon which the user is providing an inward deformation force, the occurrence of multiple user inputs (commonly known as “multi-touch”), the rate the inward deformation of the particular region113 (for example, when the user causes contact between the first and second sets ofelectrical conductors511aand513a, because of the shape of the finger of the user, certain conductors will come into contact before others, and the time lapse in between contact events can be used to determine the rate of the inward deformation of the particular region113), or any other suitable detail of the user input.
• As described above, thesensor140 is preferably a resistive sensor of an embodiment described above. Alternatively, thesensor140 may be any other suitable type of sensor that senses a user input based on the deformation of atop layer501 or501athat results from a user input provided on thesurface115. For example, the first and second set ofelectrical conductors511,511a,513, and/or513amay function as capacitive sensors that emit and detect an electromagnetic field and that detect that capacitance and/or change in capacitance between the first and second set of conductors to detect a user input. In other words, as the user deforms thetop layer501 or501a, the capacitance between the portions of the first and second set of conductors substantially proximal to the location of the user input may change. The change in capacitance may be the result of the change in the distance between the first and second set of conductors substantially proximal to the location of the user input, but may alternatively be the result of the change in the volume offluid112 between the first and second set of conductors substantially proximal to the location of the user input. In this variation, the fluid112 may function as a dielectric between the first and second sets of conductors that provides a variable capacitance between the first and second sets of conductors as the volume offluid112 between the conductors changes. This may be particularly applicable in variations of the fluid112 that are electrically conducting or insulating that may affect the electromagnetic coupling between the first and second set of conductors, for example, fluids with conductive/insulative properties, fluids that include suspensions or dispersions of particles with relevant relevant electrical and optical properties, or any other suitable type of fluid. Alternatively, the material of thesheet102 may function as a dielectric between the first and second sets of conductors that changes as the force of the user input deforms thesheet102. However, any other suitable material within theuse interface system100 may function as a variable dielectric as the user provides a user input that deforms the top layer. In a second example, the first and second set ofelectrical conductors511,511a,513, and/or513amay function as an inductive sensor where one of the first and second set of electrical conductors emit an electromagnetic field and the other of the first and second set of electrical conductors functions as a conductor that modifies the electromagnetic field in a detectable manner (for example, as the top layer moves closer or farther away from the bottom layer) and a user input is detected. However, any other suitable type of detection of the user input using atop layer501 that deforms relative to thebottom layer503 with the user input may be used.
• As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the previous detailed description and from the figures and claims, modifications and changes can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of this invention defined in the following claims.

Claims (21)

I claim:

1. 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.

2. The user interface system ofclaim 1, further comprising a set spacers laterally offset from each side of the first conductor and the second conductor and coupling the backing sublayer to the sheet.

3. The user interface system ofclaim 2, wherein the sheet comprises a relatively elastic material; and wherein spacers in the set of spacers comprise a relatively rigid material and are arranged below the peripheral region.

4. The user interface system ofclaim 1, wherein the sheet comprises a tactile layer defining the tactile surface and a substrate interposed between the tactile layer and the sensor layer, the tactile layer and the substrate cooperating to enclose the cavity adjacent the deformable region, and the substrate defining the base of the cavity; and wherein the first conductor is connected to the substrate and extends from the substrate toward the second conductor.

5. The user interface system ofclaim 4, wherein the substrate further comprises a support member extending across the cavity adjacent the deformable region, the deformable region in contact with the support member in the retracted setting and elevated off of the support member in the expanded setting, the support member supporting the deformable region against inward deformation into the cavity.

6. The user interface system ofclaim 5, wherein the support member defines a set of ports communicating fluid between the cavity and a back surface of the tactile layer at the deformable region.

7. The user interface system ofclaim 4, wherein the tactile layer comprises a first material of a first rigidity; wherein the substrate comprises a second material of a second rigidity greater than the first rigidity; and wherein the deformable region of the tactile preferentially deforms outwardly in response to displacement of fluid into the cavity via the fluid channel by the displacement device.

8. The user interface system ofclaim 7, wherein the base of the cavity deforms inwardly toward the sensor layer in response to an input on the deformable region that increases fluid pressure within the cavity.

9. The user interface system ofclaim 1, wherein the tactile surface is substantially planar across the peripheral region and the deformable region in the retracted setting, and wherein the deformable region is offset above the peripheral region in the expanded setting.

10. The user interface system ofclaim 1, wherein the displacement device comprises a pump and a reservoir containing fluid, the pump displacing fluid out of the reservoir and into the reservoir, via the fluid channel, to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting into the expanded setting, and the pump displacing fluid out of the cavity and into the reservoir, via the fluid channel, to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting into the retracted setting.

11. The user interface system ofclaim 1, further comprising a processor electrically coupled to the first conductor and correlating a change in electrical coupling between the first conductor and the second conductor with an input on the tactile surface.

12. The user interface system ofclaim 11, wherein the processor correlates a magnitude of change in an electrical resistance between the first conductor and the second conductor with magnitude of the input on the tactile surface at the deformable region, the electrical resistance between the first conductor and the second conductor a function of a distance between the first conductor and the second conductor.

13. The user interface system ofclaim 12, wherein the processor correlates a rate of the change in the electrical resistance between the first conductor and the second with a rate of application of the input onto the deformable region.

14. The user interface system ofclaim 1, wherein a portion of the first conductor is coupled to the base of the cavity.

15. The user interface system ofclaim 14, wherein a portion of the first conductor is arranged inside the cavity.

16. The user interface system ofclaim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the sensor layer opposite the sheet, the sheet and the sensor layer comprising substantially transparent materials.

17. The user interface system ofclaim 16, wherein the display renders an image of a virtual key coincident the deformable region in the expanded setting.

18. The user interface system ofclaim 1:

wherein the sheet defines a second deformable region on the tactile surface and a second cavity distinct from the cavity, the second deformable region adjacent the peripheral region and arranged over the second cavity, the second cavity fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and defining a second base opposite the second deformable region;

wherein the displacement device displaces fluid into the second cavity to transition each of the deformable region and the second deformable region from the retracted setting into the expanded setting, the second deformable region tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region and the deformable region at the tactile surface in the expanded setting;

wherein the sensor layer further comprises a third conductor and a fourth conductor arranged between the backing sublayer and the second base of the second cavity, the fourth conductor electrically coupled to, adjacent, and offset from the third conductor opposite the sheet; and

wherein the second base of the second cavity deforms inwardly toward the sensor layer in response to an input on the second deformable region distinct from an input on the deformable region, and wherein the third conductor shifts toward the fourth conductor in response to inward deformation of the second base of the second cavity.

19. The user interface system of claim0, wherein the sensor layer further comprises an interface sublayer interposed between the sheet and the backing sublayer, the interface sublayer cooperating with the backing sublayer to enclose the first conductor and the second conductor.

20. The user interface system ofclaim 1:

wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are arranged under the base of the cavity;

wherein the sensor layer further comprises a third conductor and a fourth conductor arranged between the backing sublayer and the sheet and under the peripheral region, the fourth conductor electrically coupled to, adjacent, and offset from the third conductor opposite the sheet; and

wherein the sheet at the peripheral region deforms inwardly toward the sensor layer in response to an input on the peripheral region distinct from an input on the deformable region, and wherein the third conductor shifts toward the fourth conductor in response to inward deformation of the sheet at the peripheral region.

21. The user interface system ofclaim 1, wherein the sensor layer cooperates with the sheet to define the cavity and the fluid channel.

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