MANUAL FLUID ACTUATOR

Abstract

A dynamic tactile interface includes a dynamic tactile layer and a manual fluid actuator. The manual fluid actuator includes a displacement device including a bladder, a platen adjacent the bladder, an elongated member coupled to the platen, and a rotary actuator, the elongated member and the rotary actuator translating rotation of the rotary actuator into translation of the platen, the platen compressing the bladder in response to rotation of the rotary actuator in a first direction and expanding the bladder in response to rotation of the rotary actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to touch-sensitive displays, and more specifically to a new and useful dynamic tactile interface in the field of touch-sensitive displays.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a flowchart representation of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart representation of one variation of the dynamic tactile interface;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart representation of one variation of the dynamic tactile interface;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are schematic representations of one variation of the dynamic tactile interface;

FIG. 5A is a flowchart representation of one variation of the dynamic tactile interface;

FIG. 5B is a flowchart representation of one variation of the dynamic tactile interface;

FIG. 6A is a schematic representation of one variation of the dynamic tactile interface.

FIG. 6B is a schematic representation of one variation of the dynamic tactile interface.

FIG. 6C is a schematic representation of one variation of the dynamic tactile interface.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of one variation of the dynamic tactile interface.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of one variation of the dynamic tactile interface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the invention is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments, but rather to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use this invention.

1. Dynamic Tactile Interface

As shown in FIG. 1, a dynamic tactile interface includes: a dynamic tactile layer and a manual fluid actuator. The dynamic tactile layer includes: a deformable region and a first region, the deformable region operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the first region adjacent the deformable region, the deformable region tactilely distinguishable from the first region in the expanded setting. The manual fluid actuator includes: a displacement device including a bladder, a platen adjacent the bladder, an elongated member coupled to the platen, and a rotary actuator, the elongated member and the rotary actuator translating rotation of the rotary actuator into translation of the platen, the platen compressing the bladder in response to rotation of the rotary actuator in a first direction and expanding the bladder in response to rotation of the rotary actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction; and a user engagement feature coupled to the rotary actuator.

2. Applications

The manual fluid actuator can interface with a dynamic tactile interface coupled to a computing device (e.g., a smartphone), to provide intermittent tactile guidance to a user entering an input into an input region on the device, such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/414,589. For example, the dynamic tactile layer can be integrated into or applied over a touchscreen of a mobile computing device to provide tactile guidance to a user interacting with the touchscreen to control the device. The dynamic tactile layer can include a deformable region, which can be planar or flush with the first region in the retracted setting and can be raised above (i.e., offset above) the first region to define a tactilely distinguishable feature on the tactile layer in the expanded setting. In this implementation, the deformable region can coincide with (i.e., be arranged over) an input key rendered on a display of the device, such that the deformable region mimics a raised key in the expanded setting, thus tactilely guiding entry of the corresponding input key into a touch sensor of the device by a user. The deformable region can then be retracted to yield a flush, smooth, and/or continuous surface and substantially minimal optical distortion across both the first region and the deformable region. For example, a user can manually actuate the displacement device just before providing an input on the touchscreen, such as with a finger or stylus, and the displacement device can thus transition the deformable region into the expanded setting to provide tactile guidance to the user during entry of inputs onto the touchscreen. The user can then actuate the displacement device to transition the deformable region back to the retracted setting when the user is no longer desires tactile guidance across the tactile layer or is no longer providing inputs to the touchscreen such that the deformable region returns to substantially flush with the peripheral region, thereby yielding reduced optical distortion of an image output by the display and transmitted through the tactile layer.

In particular, the dynamic tactile interface can incorporate a dynamic tactile layer as described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/969,848, 13/414,589, 13/456,010, 13/456,031, 13/465,737, and 13/465,772, and the manual fluid actuator can incorporate additional components that cooperate with the dynamic tactile interface to manually displace fluid into and out of the bladder in order to expand and retract one or more deformable regions of the dynamic tactile layer. For example, the dynamic tactile interface can function as an aftermarket housing for a computing device, such as a mobile phone, a tablet, a gaming controller, etc., wherein a dynamic tactile layer can be applied over a display of the computing device. In this example, the user engagement feature coupled to the rotary actuator can define a knob, lever, or recess, and a user can operate the dynamic tactile interface by engaging the user engagement feature to rotate the rotary actuator, thereby expanding or retracting the deformable region(s) of the dynamic tactile layer. The aftermarket housing can also include a shell including two halves that can lock together to surround (e.g., encase) the computing device such that the dynamic tactile layer lies substantially over the digital display. In particular, a user operating a text input application on the computing device can manually actuate the manual fluid actuator by rotating the user engagement feature lever coupled to the rotary actuator in order to expand the deformable regions arranged in a position across the dynamic tactile layer substantially corresponding to a positions of an image of a corresponding key of a keyboard. Thus, by rotating a knob arranged on a face of the aftermarket housing, such as opposite a digital display of the computing device coupled to the aftermarket housing, the user can erect a set of tactilely distinguishable formations—in the form of a keyboard layout—providing tactile guidance for text input over the digital display.

3. Dynamic Tactile Layer

The dynamic tactile interface can include and/or interface with a dynamic tactile layer including a substrate, the dynamic tactile layer including a deformable region and a peripheral region adjacent the deformable region and coupled to the substrate opposite the dynamic tactile layer, and the deformable region cooperating with the substrate to form a variable volume filled with a mass of fluid. Generally, the dynamic tactile layer defines one or more deformable regions operable between expanded and retracted settings to intermittently define tactilely distinguishable formations over a surface, such as over a touch-sensitive digital display (e.g., a touchscreen), such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/414,589.

4. Displacement Device

The displacement device of the manual fluid actuator includes a bladder, a rotary actuator, an elongated member coupled to a first end of the rotary actuator, and a platen coupled to a second end of the elongated member. The platen can compress the bladder in response to rotation of the rotary actuator in a first direction to displace fluid from the bladder. Generally, the displacement device can function to displace fluid from the bladder to the variable volume, such as via a fluid channel, to transition the deformable region adjacent the variable volume from the retracted setting into the expanded setting. For example, the deformable region can be flush with an adjacent first region in the retracted setting and can be offset above and tactilely distinguishable from the first region in the expanded setting. The displacement device can also transition the deformable region from the expanded setting into the retracted setting. For example, the platen can expand (e.g., stretch) the bladder in response to rotation of the rotary actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction to draw fluid from the variable volume back into the bladder via the fluid channel. The bladder of the displacement device can therefore be coupled to the variable volume of the dynamic tactile layer via a fluid channel.

The rotary actuator of the displacement device can include a knob, a wheel, a rotary lever, or any other shape of rotary control that rotates about an axis (e.g., substantially about a center of the rotary control). Generally, the rotary actuator functions as a control that transfers a user input (e.g., the rotation on a user engagement feature structure) into the bladder, such as via the elongated member and the platen, to initiate actuation of fluid displacement. The rotary actuator can be coupled to an external surface with substantially the same contour as the interfacing surface of the rotary actuator. A shaft, pin, or any other suitable fastener couples the rotary actuator to the external surface at the axis of the rotary actuator. Thus, the pin allows the rotary actuator to rotate about the axis without substantial translation away from the pin and the external surface. The rotary actuator can slide rotationally along the external surface. Alternatively, the rotary actuator can rotate without contacting the external surface, the pin restricting the rotation of the rotary actuator to a plane orthogonal to the axis. In another implementation, rotary actuator can rotate about an eccentric axis radially offset from the center of the rotary actuator. In this implementation, a path formed by tracing the outer edge of the rotary actuator as it travels around the eccentric axis forms a substantially elliptical path. The rotary actuator can also include a stepped cylinder that rotates within a bore, such that the stepped cylinder rotates about a central axis of the cylinder and the steps of the cylinder substantially prevent translational motion of the cylinder out of the bore.

In one example, the rotary actuator can include a cylinder that rotates about central axis through the planar faces of the cylinder. The cylinder can include two planar surfaces: one planar surface that rotates on or adjacent to a sliding surface; and an exposed planar surface opposite the interfacing planar surface, the exposed planar surface coupled to a user engagement feature with which a user can manually rotate the rotary actuator.

In another example shown in FIG. 1, the rotary actuator can include a substantially teardrop-shaped or egg-shaped cross-section that rotates about an axis located at the focus of the circular portion of the cross-section or at the center of area of the teardrop cross-section.

In another example, the rotary actuator can include a spheroidal actuator that functions like a globe rotating within a cage. The spheroidal actuator can be coupled to a concave external surface into which the spheroidal shape of the rotary actuator fits concentrically. The spheroidal actuator rotates about an axis spanning the diameter of the sphere through the center of the sphere and coupled to the minimum of the concavity formed by the concave external surface. A pin couples the spheroidal actuator to the concavity such that the pin corresponds to the rotational axis of the spheroidal actuator. Thus, the sphere can rotate about the pin with the pin substantially preventing the sphere from moving away from the concave external surface.

The rotary actuator can further include one or more endstops that define travel limits for rotation of the rotary actuator. Generally, endstops can restrict rotation of the rotary actuator to an arcuate range, such as between a first arcuate position corresponding to the retracted setting of the deformable region and a second arcuate position corresponding to the expanded setting of the deformable region, and the rotary actuator can be free to rotate within the arcuate range. However at the travel limits of the rotary actuator, endstops on the rotary actuator can collide with a surface, ridge, edge, or feature defined by a structure supporting the rotary actuator. For example, as described above, the manual fluid actuator can include an aftermarket housing including a that encases (a portion of) a computing device and defines a bore opposite a display of the computing device, the rotary actuator can be captured within the bore and define a sub-circumferential recess about a perimeter of the rotary actuator, and the aftermarket housing can define a protrusion (e.g., a tab, a finger) that extends into the recess of the rotary actuator to restrict rotation of the rotary actuator at extremes of the recess. Alternatively, the rotary actuator can include a protrusion that extends into a recess defined in the aftermarket housing. Thus, the endstop(s) can prevent the rotary actuator from over-compressing or expanding a bladder, and the endstop(s) therefore can be calibrated to restrict the range of actuation of the manual fluid actuator to what is required to transition a deformable region to a desired height relative to the first region in the expanded setting.

The displacement device can further include one or more elongated members coupled to the rotary actuator. The elongated members can include a connecting rod, a piston, or any other mechanical linkage suitable to translate the force applied by the rotary actuator along the elongated member in order to move a platen on the opposite end of the elongated member. The elongated member can be linear, non-linear, and/or include multiple elongated members fixed at angles to one another. The elongated member can be coupled to the rotary actuator by a pin that fixes five degrees of freedom of the rotary actuator but allows rotational motion of the elongated member about the pin. Alternatively, the elongated member can include a rolling mechanism, such as a ball-in-socket, captured roller, or wheel, that engages and rolls along a circumferential surface of the rotary actuator (e.g., parallel to the axis rotation of the rotary actuator). Yet alternatively, the elongated member can similarly define a surface that slides along the circumferential surface of the rotary actuator.

In one example, a (planar) interior face of the rotary actuator defines a shaft, and one end of the elongated member is coupled to the shaft, wherein the shaft allows the elongated member to rotate relative to the rotary actuator (e.g., in the plane of the planar face) but substantially restricts translational motion of the elongated member. The shaft can be situated at a position on the (planar) face located at a distance radially offset from the rotational center (or “central axis”) of the rotary actuator. As shown in FIG. 2, as the rotary actuator rotates about the central axis, the offset position of the shaft traces a substantially (semi)circular path, which is following by the connected end of the elongated member. In this example, an opposite end of the elongated member is coupled to the platen. The opposite end of the elongated member can translate toward and away from the bladder, such as along a linear path perpendicular to the adjacent bladder. Thus, the rotary actuator and the elongated member can function substantially as an overcenter mechanism. In particular, through rotation, the rotary actuator drives the far end of the elongated member linearly into and away from the bladder to compress and release (or expand) the bladder, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3, the elongated member can further form a non-linear shape, such as an L-like shape or other “kink”, in order to extend the range of the rotation of the rotary actuator by avoiding a collision between the pin that forms the rotational axis and the elongated member. Additionally, the displacement device can also include a second elongated member coupled to the rotary actuator by a second shaft extending from a surface of the rotary actuator and offset from the central axis of the rotary actuator. The elongated member can be phased 180 degrees from the (first) shaft connecting the (first) elongated member to the rotary actuator. The first and second elongated members can define non-linear structures with kinks in order to extend the rotational range of the rotary actuator. The intersection of the two elongated members may restrict rotation of the rotary actuator beyond the point of collision between the two members. Thus, the elongated members can acts as stops calibrated to accommodate a desired translational distance of the elongated member.

In another example, the rotary actuator defines a teardrop-shaped cam (or a cam of any other suitable geometry) and actuators the elongated member defining a cam follower. The cam follower can be adjacent the cam and can roll or slide along a surface of the cam as the cam rotates around an axis, such as while a user manually rotates the rotary actuator. In one example implementation, the follower, coupled to a spring and a linear bearing, is substantially constrained to a single degree of freedom such that the follower moves in a substantially linear direction, such as normal to the surface of the cam on which the follower rolls. The linear bearing substantially restricts motion of the follow to a single, translational degree of freedom. The spring presses the follower into the cam such that the follower maintains contact with the cam. A rolling (or sliding) end of the follower rolls along the surface of the cam. As the cam rotates, the follower translates linearly in a path corresponding to the profile of the cam. A pressing end of the follower opposite the rolling (or sliding) end is coupled to (or defines) a platen adjacent or coupled directly to the bladder such that rotation of the rotary actuator—and thus the cam—in one direction translates the follower and the platen into the bladder to displace fluid out of the bladder and into the dynamic tactile layer.

The bladder of the displacement device is fluidly coupled to the variable volume by a fluid channel. The bladder can be situated adjacent the first end of the elongated member. The bladder can include a flexible boundary coupled to a platen that compresses the bladder due to the motion of the elongated member and rotary actuator. Alternatively, the bladder can include a rigid boundary with an interface for the elongated member. For example, the bladder can include a piston that corresponds to the cross-section of the bladder and is coupled to the first end of the elongated member, the piston applying force directly to fluid within the bladder. Alternatively, the bladder can be partially rigid and partially flexible. For example, the bladder can include a substantially cuboidal bladder with a vacuum-formed or 3D-printed channel with three sides and a flexible sheet of plastic, rubber, etc. that covers the open end(s) of the cuboidal bladder. The fourth side of the cuboidal bladder connects to a fluid channel, which couples the bladder to the variable volume of the dynamic tactile interface. Displacement of the flexible sheet causes a change to the volume of the bladder. Thus, the displacement of the flexible sheet causes a displacement of the volume of fluid from the bladder.

As shown in FIG. 2, in another implementation, the displacement device can include two bladders, which can house a two disparate volumes of fluid that can be displaced from the bladders to transition the deformable region between retracted settings and expanded settings. The two bladders can be coupled to different variable volumes or sets of variable volumes within the dynamic tactile layer. In one example, a first bladder can be coupled to a set of variable volumes corresponding a keyboard layout (e.g., a landscape keyboard layout) and the second bladder can be coupled to a set of variable volumes corresponding to a second keyboard layout (e.g., a portrait keyboard layout). By compressing the first bladder, the first keyboard layout of deformable regions can be transitioned to the expanded setting, creating a tactile keyboard of the first keyboard layout. By compressing the second bladder, the second keyboard layout of deformable regions can be transitioned to the expanded setting independently of the first keyboard. The rotary actuator can preferentially compress the first or the second bladder such that by compressing the first bladder, the rotary actuator expands the second bladder. Thus, only one keyboard can be expanded at a time. Alternatively, the first and second bladder can be compressed simultaneously allowing the rotary actuator to distribute the force required to transition the deformable regions across the two bladders. In another example, the second bladder can be compressed only after the first bladder has been compressed. For example, the displacement device can include two elongated members coupled to the rotary actuator, the elongated members phased at an angle, such that by rotating the rotary actuator clockwise to a first position, a first elongated member compresses a first bladder while a second bladder remains uncompressed by a second elongated member. By continuing to rotate the rotary actuator clockwise beyond the first position, the second elongated member can engage and compress the second bladder. Thus, the second bladder can function to display additional deformable regions absent from the first keyboard layout.

The platen of the displacement device is coupled to an end of the elongated member opposite the rotary actuator. The platen can include a pushing face that is substantially planar, concave, convex, and/or any other profile suitable for directly compressing the bladder. The platen can be fixed to the elongated member and/or can cooperate with the elongated member to define a continuous structure. Alternatively, the platen can be pinned to the elongated member, such as with a pin or shaft that fixes the elongated member to the platen in five degrees of freedom but allows rotation of platen relative to the elongated member. Thus the platen can function as a piston coupled to the elongated member that functions as a connecting rod.

The platen can also be connected or “fixed” to the boundary of the bladder. For example, to displace fluid out of the bladder, the platen can compress the bladder by compressing the bladder toward a rigid surface of the aftermarket housing, a rigid surface of the computing device, or a second platen, thereby reducing the volume of the bladder and expanding a deformable region from the retracted setting into the expanded setting. In this example to draw fluid back into the bladder from the dynamic tactile layer, the platen can actively expand the bladder by drawing the bladder boundary away from the rigid surface, to which the bladder can also be connected, thereby increasing the volume of the bladder and retracting a deformable region from the expanded setting into the retracted setting. Increasing the volume of the bladder prior to fluid displacement causes a decrease in the pressure within the bladder. Thus the increase in the volume of the bladder creates a vacuum that draws fluid into the bladder, restoring an equilibrium pressure.

In another implementation, the rotary actuator is coupled directly to the platen. In this implementation, the rotary actuator and the platen function as a cam and follower. The platen can be coupled to a track, way, linear bearing, etc. that allows the platen to translate with a single degree of freedom. Thus, the rotation of the rotary actuator causes the platen to translate into the bladder and to thus compress the adjacent bladder.

The dynamic tactile interface can further include a user engagement feature structure coupled to the rotary actuator that allows a user to manually operate the rotary actuator and the other components of the displacement device. As shown in FIG. 4C, the user engagement feature structure can include a lever coupled to the rotary actuator. For example, the lever can extend from the substantially rounded surface of a rotary actuator with a circular cross-section. A user can apply force to the lever, thereby turning the rotary actuator. In another example shown in FIG. 4B, a lever can extend from a planar surface of the rotary actuator opposite with the external surface along which the rotary actuator slides. In this example, the lever can extend normally forming a scalloped perimeter handle across the diameter of a substantially circular rotary actuator. A user can rotate the rotary actuator handle by applying a moment to the handle. In another example shown in FIG. 4A, the user engagement feature structure can include a divot or depression in the planar surface of the rotary actuator opposite the external surface such that the divot or depression can accommodate a finger. The divot can be located offset radially from the center of rotation for the rotary actuator. Thus, a user can rotate the rotary actuator by applying a moment to the divot with a finger. Alternatively, the user engagement feature structure can include a knob coupled to the rotary actuator, as shown in FIG. 4D. The knob can include ridges, edges, divots, etc. on the cylindrical face in order to provide a frictional surface to improve the grip of a user actuating the rotary actuator with a finger or a hand. Alternatively, the rotary actuator can incorporate gear teeth about its perimeter, and the gear teeth can engage teeth of a linear gear rack that can be manipulated linearly by a user to rotate the rotary actuator, thereby expanded and retracted the deformable region(s).

The manual fluid actuator can further include a housing for a computing device such that the housing can substantially protect the components of the computing device and the tactile layer from physical impact and/or environmental contaminants, such as water, sand, debris, etc. The housing can be coupled to a computing device with an integrated display. The housing can include the dynamic tactile interface situated adjacent the integrated display and a primary shell surrounding electrical and hardware features of the computing device and acting as a primary barrier separating the computing device from the surrounding environment. Alternatively, the housing can include an aftermarket housing that surrounds a computing device with an existing primary barrier.

The displacement device can displace fluid from the bladder by compressing the bladder. In order to compress the bladder, the rotary actuator, elongated member, and platen can push the bladder against a rigid surface within the computing device or within the housing. Alternatively, the displacement device can pull the bladder toward the rigid surface. For example, the elongated member can be coupled to a tray or other container including the bladder, the platen, and a surface on which the bladder rests. An additional platen or wall coupled to the housing can be located substantially between the elongated member and the bladder. The elongated member can be coupled to the tray. As the elongated member moves, the tray moves. Compression of the bladder occurs by pulling the tray and, therefore, the bladder toward the stationary wall. Alternatively, a peristaltic tube can be arranged (circumferentially) about the rotary actuator, and the rotary actuator can define a rotor that engages the peristaltic tube to displace fluid from the peristaltic tube as the rotary actuator rotates relative to the peristaltic tube. The peristaltic tube and the rotor can thus define a peristaltic pump that pumps fluid to and from the reservoir, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/081,519, which is incorporated in its entirety by this reference, and as shown in FIG. 6A.

In an implementation, the manual fluid actuator may include two or more rotors for engaging a respective peristaltic tube. Each peristaltic tube can be separately engaged by a rotary actuator rotor. The user can manipulate the rotary actuator to select a particular peristaltic tube via a rotor. The rotary actuator may have a rotational axis that is perpendicular to a surface of the dynamic tactile interface and may be manipulated in at least two ways: 1) in a rotational direction to move a selected peristaltic tube, and 2) in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction to engage a particular peristaltic tube. The rotary actuator may be coupled to a shaft that includes a gear or teeth. The rotary actuator may be depressed into a housing to select a particular rotor for engaging a particular peristaltic tube. A spring mechanism can be implemented to allow the rotary actuator to stay in place to engage a particular rotor and corresponding peristaltic tube. Each rotor, in turn, may engage a peristaltic tube, wherein all the peristaltic tubes are connected together to provide fluid through a fluid channel in order to expand and retract a deformable region with fluid.

As shown in FIG. 6C, the rotors can have a different size, and each peristaltic tube may have a size that is comparable to the rotor size, such that the different rotors may displace different amounts a fluid with a similar amount of rotation applied by a user with a physical force to the rotary actuator. For example, a first selected rotor may have a smaller size, and may provide a small displacement of fluid from a bladder through a fluid channel. The smaller rotor and corresponding peristaltic tube can allow a user to make fine adjustments in the amount of expansion or retraction of a deformable region, and provide calibration for fluid loss or other effects. The larger rotor and corresponding peristaltic tube can allow a user to make larger adjustments in the amount of expansion or retraction of a deformable region, and may be used as the primary means to expand and retract the deformable region.

Multiple granularities of rotary adjustment may be implemented in several ways. In an implementation associated with the system of FIG. 1, the tear-shaped actuator may be implemented with different granularities of fluid displacement from a bladder. In an example, the tear-shaped actuator may include a single switch that can be physically engaged by a user but with multiple tear or egg-shaped protrusions that may compress a bladder. Each of the multiple tear protrusions may manipulate an elongated member to cause a platen to engage the bladder. The multiple tear shaped protrusion may form a star-shaped actuator. Moving the switch different distances along a switch access may allow different tear portions to engage the elongated member, resulting in different levels of bladder compression and expansion. The interface of FIG. 1 may also include more than one lever, wherein each lever can be coupled with a different tear shaped actuator. In this implementation, moving different levers may cause a different volume of fluid displacement to and from the bladder, which could be used to make fine-tune adjustments to the fluid circuit comprising the bladder, fluid channel, and variable volume, for example to calibrate the fluid circuit and compensate for fluid loss, and to make larger fluid displacements, for example causing the variable volume to expand and retract the size the deformable region.

In the implementation associated with FIG. 2, the rotary actuator may include multiple rotary actuators. A first rotary actuator may operate as illustrated. Specifically, a shaft can be situated at a position on the (planar) face located at a distance radially offset from the rotational center of the rotary actuator, and as the rotary actuator rotates about the central axis, the offset position of the shaft traces a substantially (semi)circular path, and, through rotation, the rotary actuator drives the far end of the elongated member linearly into and away from the bladder to compress and release (or expand) the bladder, respectively. A second rotary actuator may operation similarly to the first rotary actuator, and be positioned alongside the first rotary actuator, but may include a rotary actuator having a different radius than the first rotary actuator, or having a non-circular shape, such that a rotation of a certain distance, for example ninety degrees, provides a first volume of fluid to be displaced in the bladder by the first rotary actuator and a rotation of the same distance in the second rotary actuator causes a second and different volume of fluid to be displaced in bladder. By having rotary actuators that displace different volumes of fluid from the bladder in the dynamic tactile interface of FIG. 2, the different rotary actuators can make fine-tune adjustments to the fluid circuit to calibrate the fluid circuit and compensate for fluid loss, and can make larger fluid displacements, for example causing the deformable region to expand and contract.

In an implementation with an elongated member that forms an L-like shape or other “kink”, the displacement device can include a first L-shaped elongated member and a second L-shaped elongated member. Each elongated member may be connected to a separate rotary actuator, each of which may be engaged by a user applying a physical force to the particular rotary actuator which is accessible via an opening in the housing of the dynamic tactile interface. A first L-shaped elongated member may displace a platen, which may be attached to a bladder, which in turn applies a pressure to the bladder, causing the bladder to force fluid through a fluid channel and into the variable volume, causing a deformable region adjacent to the variable volume to expand. The second L-shaped elongated member may operate in a similar manner to the first L-shaped, except the lengths of the two or more members that implement the elongated members may be shorter than the corresponding lengths of the first L-shaped elongated member. By having connected elongated members that are different lengths, they two rotary actuators can displace different volumes of fluid from the bladder, and different rotary actuators can be used to make fine-tune adjustments to the fluid circuit for calibration and compensation purposes as well as make larger fluid displacements, for example causing the deformable region to expand and contract.

In one example, the manual fluid actuator includes an aftermarket housing for a computing device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet) including a touchscreen, wherein the aftermarket housing substantially surrounds a shell of the computing device. The aftermarket housing includes a dynamic tactile interface that lies over the touchscreen of the computing device. The aftermarket housing includes a protective plastic outer shell that surrounds the tablet to protect the tablet from impact or other physical damage. The aftermarket housing can be assembled by a user by locking two halves of the aftermarket housing together with a latching mechanism, locking pins, bolts or other fasteners, etc. One half includes the dynamic tactile layer surrounded by a border of plastic or any other material. The plastic border defines fluid channels fluidly coupled to variable volumes and deformable regions. A second half includes the displacement device, including the bladder, the platen, the elongated member, the user engagement feature structure, and the rotary actuator. The second half couples over a rear of the tablet opposite the touchscreen (i.e., the back). The side of the second half adjacent the tablet includes a bladder in the form of a vacuum-formed channel in the plastic of the second half. A thin plastic sheet of plastic and/or rubber substantially encloses a portion of the bladder to contain fluid. A fluid channel couples to the bladder such that fluid can be displaced from the bladder through the fluid channel. The fluid channel can include a corresponding fluid channel in the other half of the aftermarket housing that allows the fluid channel to communicate fluid from one half of the aftermarket housing to the other half. The fluid channel can further include a valve that can be actuated open when the two halves of the aftermarket housing are locked together and can be actuated closed when the halves are separated. The valve can be actuated open by the locking mechanism of the aftermarket housing. For example, when a user slides a pin into a slot to lock the aftermarket housing halves together, the pin can depress a lever that opens the valve, allowing fluid to travel from one half to the other. The valve can be spring-loaded so that the resting state of the valve is closed. Thus, a force by a lever actuated by the insertion of the pin in the slot can function to open the valve. The second half of the aftermarket housing can include the user engagement feature structure arranged on or extending through an external surface of the housing. The user engagement feature structure can be a substantially circular knob with a thin profile and a lever extending radially outward from the cylindrical face of the knob. As shown in FIG. 2, to actuate the displacement device, a user can rotate the lever clockwise from an initial position to transition a set of deformable regions of the dynamic tactile layer into expanded settings in a portrait keyboard layout. To retract the deformable regions, the user can return the lever counterclockwise to the initial position. To transition another set of deformable regions of the dynamic tactile layer into expanded settings in a landscape keyboard layout, the user can rotate the lever counterclockwise from the initial position. In another example, the bladder can couple to the first half of the aftermarket housing.

In another example, the displacement device can include a spring-loaded rotary actuator. The rotary actuator can be coupled to a torsional spring that allows the rotary actuator to rotate under an applied torsion and then returns the spring to an initial position when the applied torque has been removed. In this example, a pin, latch, etc. can lock the rotary actuator in an actuating position when the rotary actuator causes the elongated member and/or platen to compress the bladder. When a user would like to retract the deformable regions, the user can rotate the rotary actuator slightly further away from the initial position in order to remove the pin or latch, remove the pin or latch, and allow the spring to return the rotary actuator to the initial position.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the dynamic tactile interface can include an overcam mechanism defined by the elongated member phased such that a user applying a torque rotating the rotary actuator to a second position within in an arcuate range of an initial position causes the rotary actuator to default back to the initial position when the torque is removed. When the user torques the user engagement feature and, thus, the rotary actuator, beyond the second position, and then the torque is removed, the rotary actuator defaults to a final position. In this example, the elongated member can be phased such that within a predetermined range of rotation of the rotary actuator, compression of the bladder causes a reaction force to travel along the elongated member, resisting the rotation, and forcing the rotary actuator to return to the initial position when the torque is removed. When a user rotates the rotary actuator beyond a position corresponding to connecting shaft is substantially orthogonal to the reaction force vector, the reaction force drives the rotary actuator to default to a position substantially opposite the initial position.

In the implementation of FIG. 5A, the overcam mechanism may include one or more stops that, when the elongated member is rotated, stop the range of rotation at a particular point when a stop guide on the elongated member engages the stop member implemented in the dynamic tactile interface. The stop member may be positioned so as to provide a desired level of bladder compression, which displaces fluid through a fluid channel and causes the deformable region to transition into an expanded state. The stop member would be displaced such that the elongated member would have to rotate at least ninety degrees, such that the torque, when the elongated member was up against the stop member, would keep the elongated member in place by applying a pressure against the stop member. In this implementation, a user could rotate the portion of the elongated member that extended through a housing, up until the rotation is effectively stopped by the stop member. The stopping point would provide a calibrated amount of fluid to be removed from the bladder via a moving platen, through the fluid channel, and thereby expanding the deformable region. The user may then rotate the elongated member backwards, in the opposite rotary direction that provided the deformable region to expand, until the elongated member comes in contact with a second stop member, positioned to stop the elongated member's rotational travel at the original resting point. When at the original resting point, the bladder can be in a fully expanded state, and the deformable region in a full retracted state.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the dynamic tactile interface may include a rotary actuator that engages a slide for compressing and expanding a bladder with fluid. The rotary actuator may extend slightly above the surface of a housing of the dynamic tactile interface. The rotary actuator can include teeth on an outer surface of the rotary actuator that engage teeth in slide. As the rotary element is rotated, the teeth on the surface of the rotary actuator engage the teeth on the slide, causing the slide to move in a lateral direction towards or away from the bladder of fluid, depending on the direction of rotation resulting from the physical force applied by a user to the rotary actuator. When the rotary actuator is rotated in a first direction, an elongated member—which may be part of the slide—may force a platen into the bladder, thereby causing the bladder to contract and forcing fluid out of the bladder, and causing fluid to expand the deformable region. When the rotary actuator is rotated in a second direction, the elongated member or slide may force a platen away from the bladder, causing the bladder to expand and forcing fluid into the bladder, and causing fluid to retract the deformable region. The rotary actuator may engage one or more stops that, when a portion of the rotary actuator engages the stop, no further rotation of the rotary actuator is possible. A stop may be positioned so as to provide a desired level of bladder compression, which displaces fluid through a fluid channel and causes the deformable region to transition into an expanded state with the proper amount of fluid. Thus, the stopping point would provide a calibrated amount of fluid to be removed from the bladder via a moving platen, through the fluid channel, and thereby expanding the deformable region. The user may then rotate the rotary actuator in the opposite rotary direction that provided the deformable region to expand, until the elongated member comes in contact with a second stop member, positioned to stop travel of the slide and the corresponding rotational travel of the rotation actuator at a point which withdraws fluid from the deformable region and into the bladder.

In an embodiment, the point at which the elongated member is coupled to the rotary actuator may be adjusted. The adjustable connection may be implemented using a button, a spring, one or more pins the button, and holes in the elongated member and the rotary actuator. The button pin may travel through one of the plurality of holes in the elongated member as well as one of the holes of the rotary actuator. The spring may provide a tension to keep the button pin fully extended through the elongated member and into the rotary member. A user may lift and move the button pin along a track, for example provided by a housing, to adjust the position of the elongated member with respect to the rotary actuator. For a first and default configuration, the elongated member may be coupled to the rotary actuator in the middle of a radius of the circular rotary actuator. The user may subsequently adjust the coupling of the elongated member to the rotary actuator by lifting the button pin and moving the pin such that the pin is placed in the rotary actuator closer to the outer surface of the rotary actuator or closer towards the center of the rotary actuator. When the coupling between the end of the elongated member and the rotary member is moved closer to the outer surface of the rotary actuator, the resulting compression of the bladder will be greater than the compression resulting from the coupling of the elongated member to the center of a radius of the rotary member. When the end of the elongated member is moved closer to the center of the rotary actuator, the resulting compression of the bladder will be smaller than the compression resulting from the coupling of the elongated member to the center of a radius of the rotary member. In addition to using the button pin to change the coupling point on the rotary member, the pin may be inserted through one of several holes in the elongated member. Thus, when the elongated member receives the pin at a point along the elongated member that is closer to the platen, the resulting compression of the bladder will be less than the compression resulting from the inserting the button pin through the elongated member at a point that is closer to the end of the elongated member which is opposite the platen.

An adjustable coupling of the elongated member to the rotary actuator may be implemented in several ways. In an implementation with a rotary actuator that may compress and expand multiple bladders, the elongated members may be attached to a single coupling point on the rotary actuator. As the rotary actuator is turned, a first bladder may be affected in a first way, for example by compression, while a second bladder is affected in a second and different way, such as for example by expansion or no force applied to the bladder. The coupling point may be positioned at a first position between the center of the rotary actuator and the outer surface of the actuator. The adjustable mechanism can be used to move the coupling point of the elongated members to a different point along a line from the center of the rotary actuator to the outer surface of the actuator, wherein the line includes the coupling point. Thus, the coupling point could be moved director towards the outer surface of the rotary actuator or directly towards the center of the rotary actuator. When the coupling point is moved towards the outer surface of the rotary actuator, the elongated members will have a greater degree of motion, as a result of being further from the center of the rotary actuator, and will result in more compression applied to the bladder, causing more fluid to move from the bladder through the fluid channel and into the variable volume, causing the deformable region to expand. When the coupling point is moved towards the center of the rotary actuator, the elongated members will have a smaller degree of motion, as a result of being closer to the center of the rotary actuator, and will result in less compression applied to the bladder, causing less fluid to move from the bladder through the fluid channel and into the variable volume, causing the deformable region to expand less so than in the previous example.

In an embodiment with one or more L-shaped elongated members, each set of connected elongated members may be attached to a separate coupling point on the rotary actuator. As the rotary actuator is turned, a first bladder may be affected in a first way, for example by compression, while a second bladder is affected in a second way, such as for example by expansion or no force applied to the bladder. The coupling points may each be positioned a selected distance between the center of the rotary actuator and the outer surface of the actuator. The coupling points for the L-shaped elongated members may be moved together as a single adjustment along a line that includes both coupling points or may be moved individually. When moved individually, the adjustable mechanism can be used to move the coupling point of the L-shaped elongated members to a different point along a line from the center of the rotary actuator to the outer surface of the actuator, such that the line includes the coupling point. The coupling point for an L-shaped elongated member could be moved director towards the outer surface of the rotary actuator or directly towards the center of the rotary actuator. When the coupling point is moved towards the outer surface of the rotary actuator, the elongated members will have a greater degree of motion, as a result of being further from the center of the rotary actuator, and will result in more compression applied to the bladder. When the L-shaped elongated member coupling point is moved towards the center of the rotary actuator, the elongated members will have a smaller degree of motion, as a result of being closer to the center of the rotary actuator, and will result in less compression applied to the bladder.

In some implementations, in addition to being physically manipulated to move an elongated member or otherwise act to compress a bladder, a rotary member may be manipulated to move from a position of more exposure through a housing and less exposure through a housing. For example, a spring-based system can be used to have the rotary actuator reside nearly completely within the housing in a first spring state (or retracted state) and partially protruding from the housing in a second spring state (or protruding state). In the retracted state, as shown in FIG. 8, the outer surface or upper surface of the rotary actuator may be flush or below the outer surface or upper surface of the housing, thereby helping to prevent an accidental or unintentional engagement of the rotary actuator, for example during storage or use by the user, which results in unintentional change in the state of the deformable region. In the protruding state, the outer surface or upper surface of the rotary actuator may extend above the outer surface or upper surface of the housing, thereby making the rotary actuator more accessible to a user and easier to change the state of the deformable region.

The multi-state rotary actuator may be implemented in several ways. In the system of FIG. 1, the user engagement feature, such as a switch, may be configured with a spring mechanism to transition from a retracted state and a protruding state. In the retracted state, the user engagement feature may be flush, below or positioned close to the outer surface or upper surface of the housing, thereby helping to prevent an accidental or unintentional engagement of user engagement feature, for example during storage or use by the user. In the protruding state, the outer surface or upper surface of the user engagement feature may be above the outer surface or upper surface of the housing, thereby making the user engagement feature more accessible to a user and easier to change the state of the deformable region via the tear drop-shaped actuator.

In a system with multiple bladders, the rotary actuator may be configured to transition from a retracted state and a protruding state. In the retracted state, the rotary actuator may be below or positioned close to the outer surface of the housing, and may be locked from moving in a rotary direction, preventing any changes in pressure applied to any bladder and preventing any change in state for any deformable region. In the protruding state, the outer surface of the rotary actuator may be above the outer surface of the housing, thereby enabling a user to apply a physical force causing the rotary actuator to move.

In a system with L-shaped elongated members, the rotary actuator may be configured to transition from a retracted state and a protruding state by depressing the rotary actuator inward towards the housing of the dynamic tactile interface. In the retracted state, the rotary actuator may be below or positioned close to the outer surface of the housing, and may be locked from moving in a rotary direction. In the protruding state, the outer surface of the rotary actuator may be above the outer surface of the housing, thereby providing easy access to move the rotary actuator.

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 in the foregoing embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A dynamic tactile interface, comprising: a substrate defining a fluid channel;a tactile layer comprising a peripheral region and a deformable region, the peripheral region coupled to the substrate, and the deformable region arranged over a variable volume connected to the fluid channel, the deformable region disconnected from the substrate, and operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the deformable region elevated above the peripheral region in the expanded setting; anda displacement device including a rotary actuator, an elongated member coupled to the rotary actuator, a platen coupled to the elongated member, and bladder connected to the fluid channel, wherein rotation of the rotary actuator in a first direction results in compression of the bladder, thereby displacing a fluid from the bladder through the fluid channel and into the variable volume to set an expanded setting of the deformable region.

2. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein rotation of the rotary actuator in a second direction results in expansion of the bladder, thereby displacing a fluid from the variable volume through the fluid channel and into the bladder to set a retracted setting of the deformable region.

3. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein rotation of the rotary actuator in the first direction engages the elongated member to extend the platen in a direction towards the bladder, and wherein rotation of the rotary actuator in the second direction engages the elongated member to extend the platen in a direction away from the bladder.

4. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein rotary actuator includes a non-circular shaped cross section, an outer surface of the rotary actuator engaging the elongated member, wherein rotation of the rotary actuator causes the elongated member to move against a platen as the non-circular shaped cross-section engages the elongated member.

5. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein rotary actuator is coupled to two or more elongated members, wherein each of the elongated members is displaced as the rotary actuator is engaged by a user.

6. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 5, wherein a first elongated member of the two or more elongated members engages a first platen to compress and expand a first bladder and a second elongated member of the two or more elongated members engages a second platen to compress and expand a second bladder.

7. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 6, wherein the first elongated member of the two or more elongated members compresses a bladder to set a state for a deformable region in a first set of deformable regions and the second elongated member of the two or more elongated members compresses a bladder to set a state for a deformable region in a second set of deformable regions.

8. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 6, wherein turning the rotary actuator in the first direction causes the first elongated member to compress the first bladder with the first platen and causes the second elongated member to expand the second bladder with the second platen, wherein turning the rotary actuator in the second direction causes the first elongated member to expand the first bladder with the first platen and causes the second elongated member to compress the second bladder with the second platen.

9. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator is coupled to two elongated members, wherein each elongated member is non-linearly shaped and connected to a platen that compresses and expands a bladder.

10. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 9, wherein the non-linearly shaped elongated members intersect to restrict rotation of the rotary actuator beyond the point of collision between the two non-linearly shaped elongated members. ii. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator includes an outer circular surface, the outer circular surface including a user engagement feature that extends from the outer circular surface and is engaged by the user to move the rotary actuator in a radial direction.

12. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator includes a cross section, the cross section including a user engagement feature that extends from the cross section and is engaged by the user to move the rotary actuator in a radial direction.

13. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, wherein the platen is attached to a portion of the bladder, wherein movement of the rotary actuator when the bladder is compressed causes the elongated member to pull the platen away from the bladder and expand the bladder.

14. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, further including a second rotary actuator coupled to a second elongated member, the second elongated member connected to a second platen, the second platen adjacent to a second bladder, the first and the second bladder connected to the fluid channel, the first bladder having a first volume and the second bladder having a second volume that is less than the first volume.

15. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, further including a second rotary actuator coupled to a second elongated member, the second elongated member connected to a second platen, the second platen adjacent to a second bladder, the first and the second bladder connected to the fluid channel, the first elongated member having a first length and the second elongated member having a second length that is less than the first length.

16. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 1, further including a spring mechanism, the rotary actuator coupled to the spring actuator, the spring mechanism causing a rotary actuator upper surface to be extended above the upper surface of a dynamic tactile interface housing in a protruding state, the spring mechanism causing the rotary actuator upper surface being flush or below the upper surface of the dynamic tactile interface housing in a retracted state.

17. A dynamic tactile interface, comprising: a substrate defining a fluid channel;a tactile layer comprising a peripheral region and a deformable region, the peripheral region coupled to the substrate, and the deformable region arranged over a variable volume connected to the fluid channel, the deformable region disconnected from the substrate, and operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the deformable region elevated above the peripheral region in the expanded setting; anda displacement device including a rotary actuator a bladder, the bladder connected to the fluid channel, wherein rotation of the rotary actuator in a first direction results in compression of the bladder, thereby displacing a fluid from the bladder through the fluid channel and into the variable volume to set an expanded setting of the deformable region.

18. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 17, wherein rotary actuator is coupled to a rotor, the bladder including a tube, the rotor engaging a tube connected to the fluid channel, wherein the rotary actuator moves the rotor to pump fluid from the tube into the variable volume.

19. The dynamic tactile interface of claim 17, wherein rotary actuator engages a first rotor and a second rotor, the first rotor pumping water through a first tube having a first volume of fluid, the second rotor pumping water through a second tube having a second volume of fluid that is larger than the first volume of fluid.