SIMULATION OF TANGIBLE USER INTERFACE INTERACTIONS AND GESTURES USING ARRAY OF HAPTIC CELLS

摘要

A user interface device includes a flexible layer comprising a touch surface configured to receive a touch by a user, a plurality of haptic cells covered by the flexible layer, each haptic cell comprising a haptic output device, a sensor configured to sense an amount and/or rate of deformation of the flexible layer when a user touches the touch surface, and a processor configured to receive an output signal from the sensor, generate a haptic control signal based on the output signal from the sensor, and output the haptic control signal to at least one haptic output device of the plurality of haptic cells to cause the haptic output device to deform an associated haptic cell in response to the sensed deformation of the flexible layer.

主权项

1. A user interface device comprising:
a deformable layer comprising a touch surface; a haptic cell covered by the deformable layer and comprising a haptic output device; a first sensor positioned to sense deformation of the flexible layer proximal to the haptic cell, the first sensor configured to output a first sensor signal in response to sensing the deformation, the first sensor signal having an electrical characteristic; and a processor in electrical communication with the first sensor and the haptic cell, the processor programmed to generate a haptic control signal in response to receiving the first sensor signal and communicate the haptic control signal to the haptic cell, the haptic control signal having an electrical characteristic defined at least in part on the electrical characteristic of the first sensor signal, the electrical characteristic of the haptic signal corresponding to a predetermined amount of resistance to display against deformation of the flexible layer.