METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A FIXED RELIEF TOUCH SCREEN WITH LOCATING FEATURES USING DEFORMABLE HAPTIC SURFACES

摘要

A method and apparatus for an electronic interface device capable of providing a fixed relief touch screen with locating features using deformable haptic surfaces are disclosed. The device, in one embodiment, includes a haptic mechanism and a touch- sensitive surface. The haptic mechanism provides haptic feedback in response to an activating command. The touch- sensitive surface is capable of changing its surface texture from a first surface characteristic to a second surface characteristic in response to the haptic feedback. For example, the first surface characteristic may be coarse texture while the second surface characteristic may be smooth texture.