DYNAMIC TACTILE INTERFACE

摘要

A dynamic tactile interface includes a substrate defining a fluid channel, a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid channel, and an exhaust channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit; a tactile layer including a peripheral region coupled to the substrate, a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region and arranged over the fluid conduit, and a tactile surface opposite the substrate; a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting; a spring element arranged remotely from the deformable region, fluidly coupled to the exhaust channel 116, and buckling from a first position to a second position in response to application of a force on the tactile surface at the deformable region in the expanded setting, the spring element biased toward the exhaust channel in the first position and biased away from the exhaust channel in the second position.

主权项

1. A dynamic tactile interface comprising:
a substrate defining a fluid channel, a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid channel, and an exhaust channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit; a tactile layer comprising a peripheral region coupled to the substrate, a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region and arranged over the fluid conduit, and a tactile surface opposite the substrate; a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, the deformable region elevated above the peripheral region in the expanded setting; a spring element arranged remotely from the deformable region, fluidly coupled to the exhaust channel, and buckling from a first position to a second position in response to application of a force on the tactile surface at the deformable region in the expanded setting, the spring element biased toward the exhaust channel in the first position and biased away from the exhaust channel in the second position; and a sensor outputting a signal corresponding to depression of the deformable region in the expanded setting.