Integrated hardware and software user interface

摘要

An integrated user interface has a sensory surface operable to receive a selection signal from a user and send a corresponding command signal within a software system. The integrated user interface has a plurality of tactile features operable to provide a user with tactile feedback corresponding to the selection signal received by the sensory surface when simultaneously selected by the user. A method of integrating the hardware and software functionality for a user interface is also disclosed.

主权项

1. An integrated user interface comprising:
a sensory surface configured to receive a selection signal from a user resulting in a corresponding command signal within a software system; at least a portion of a frame positioned adjacent to the sensory surface,
the frame having an edge and the edge defining a plurality of tactile features located immediately adjacent to the sensory surface wherebythe selection signal can be received by the sensory surface upon simultaneously contact of the sensory surface and a tactile feature of the plurality of tactile features by a single finger of a user, each of the tactile features in the edge of the frame having a surface configuration that is different from the others of the tactile features of the frame and providing a user with distinguishable tactile feedback corresponding to each of the command signals and corresponding to the selection signal respectively received by the sensory surface, wherein the plurality of the tactile features have a concave structure on the edge of the frame, wherein each of the tactile feature's concave structure defines a separate circular portion adjacent to the corresponding selection signal, each of the plurality of the tactile features have a unique shape from each of the other plurality of the tactile features, the unique shape residing on the circular portion of the corresponding tactile feature, the circular portion being perpendicular to the sensory surface.