User interface system

Abstract

A user interface system for receiving a user input that includes sheet that defines a surface and at least partially defines a fluid vessel arranged underneath the surface, a volume of fluid within the fluid vessel, a displacement device that influences the volume of the fluid within the fluid vessel to expand and retract at least a portion of the fluid vessel, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, and an electrical sensor coupled to the sheet that receives an input provided by a user that inwardly deforms the surface of the sheet and that includes a first conductor and a second conductor that are electrically coupled to each other with an electrical property that changes as the distance between the first and second conductors changes.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A user interface system for receiving a user input comprising:
 a sheet defining a cavity, a tactile surface, a peripheral region on the tactile surface, a deformable region on the tactile surface adjacent the peripheral region and arranged over the cavity, and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the cavity, the cavity defining a base opposite the deformable region;   a displacement device fluidly coupled to the cavity and displacing fluid into the cavity to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the deformable region tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region at the tactile surface in the expanded setting; and   a sensor layer coupled to the sheet opposite the tactile surface, comprising a backing sublayer, and comprising a first conductor and a second conductor arranged between the sheet and the backing sublayer, the second conductor electrically coupled to, adjacent, and offset from the first conductor opposite the sheet;   wherein the base of the cavity deforms inwardly toward the sensor layer in response to an input on the deformable region; and   wherein the first conductor shifts toward the second conductor in response to inward deformation of the base of the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The user interface system of  claim 1 , further comprising a set spacers laterally offset from each side of the first conductor and the second conductor and coupling the backing sublayer to the sheet. 
     
     
         3 . The user interface system of  claim 2 , wherein the sheet comprises a relatively elastic material; and wherein spacers in the set of spacers comprise a relatively rigid material and are arranged below the peripheral region. 
     
     
         4 . The user interface system of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet comprises a tactile layer defining the tactile surface and a substrate interposed between the tactile layer and the sensor layer, the tactile layer and the substrate cooperating to enclose the cavity adjacent the deformable region, and the substrate defining the base of the cavity; and wherein the first conductor is connected to the substrate and extends from the substrate toward the second conductor. 
     
     
         5 . The user interface system of  claim 4 , wherein the substrate further comprises a support member extending across the cavity adjacent the deformable region, the deformable region in contact with the support member in the retracted setting and elevated off of the support member in the expanded setting, the support member supporting the deformable region against inward deformation into the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The user interface system of  claim 5 , wherein the support member defines a set of ports communicating fluid between the cavity and a back surface of the tactile layer at the deformable region. 
     
     
         7 . The user interface system of  claim 4 , wherein the tactile layer comprises a first material of a first rigidity; wherein the substrate comprises a second material of a second rigidity greater than the first rigidity; and wherein the deformable region of the tactile preferentially deforms outwardly in response to displacement of fluid into the cavity via the fluid channel by the displacement device. 
     
     
         8 . The user interface system of  claim 7 , wherein the base of the cavity deforms inwardly toward the sensor layer in response to an input on the deformable region that increases fluid pressure within the cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The user interface system of  claim 1 , wherein the tactile surface is substantially planar across the peripheral region and the deformable region in the retracted setting, and wherein the deformable region is offset above the peripheral region in the expanded setting. 
     
     
         10 . The user interface system of  claim 1 , wherein the displacement device comprises a pump and a reservoir containing fluid, the pump displacing fluid out of the reservoir and into the reservoir, via the fluid channel, to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting into the expanded setting, and the pump displacing fluid out of the cavity and into the reservoir, via the fluid channel, to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting into the retracted setting. 
     
     
         11 . The user interface system of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor electrically coupled to the first conductor and correlating a change in electrical coupling between the first conductor and the second conductor with an input on the tactile surface. 
     
     
         12 . The user interface system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor correlates a magnitude of change in an electrical resistance between the first conductor and the second conductor with magnitude of the input on the tactile surface at the deformable region, the electrical resistance between the first conductor and the second conductor a function of a distance between the first conductor and the second conductor. 
     
     
         13 . The user interface system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor correlates a rate of the change in the electrical resistance between the first conductor and the second with a rate of application of the input onto the deformable region. 
     
     
         14 . The user interface system of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first conductor is coupled to the base of the cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The user interface system of  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the first conductor is arranged inside the cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The user interface system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display coupled to the sensor layer opposite the sheet, the sheet and the sensor layer comprising substantially transparent materials. 
     
     
         17 . The user interface system of  claim 16 , wherein the display renders an image of a virtual key coincident the deformable region in the expanded setting. 
     
     
         18 . The user interface system of  claim 1 :
 wherein the sheet defines a second deformable region on the tactile surface and a second cavity distinct from the cavity, the second deformable region adjacent the peripheral region and arranged over the second cavity, the second cavity fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and defining a second base opposite the second deformable region;   wherein the displacement device displaces fluid into the second cavity to transition each of the deformable region and the second deformable region from the retracted setting into the expanded setting, the second deformable region tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region and the deformable region at the tactile surface in the expanded setting;   wherein the sensor layer further comprises a third conductor and a fourth conductor arranged between the backing sublayer and the second base of the second cavity, the fourth conductor electrically coupled to, adjacent, and offset from the third conductor opposite the sheet; and   wherein the second base of the second cavity deforms inwardly toward the sensor layer in response to an input on the second deformable region distinct from an input on the deformable region, and wherein the third conductor shifts toward the fourth conductor in response to inward deformation of the second base of the second cavity.   
     
     
         19 . The user interface system of claim  0 , wherein the sensor layer further comprises an interface sublayer interposed between the sheet and the backing sublayer, the interface sublayer cooperating with the backing sublayer to enclose the first conductor and the second conductor. 
     
     
         20 . The user interface system of  claim 1 :
 wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are arranged under the base of the cavity;   wherein the sensor layer further comprises a third conductor and a fourth conductor arranged between the backing sublayer and the sheet and under the peripheral region, the fourth conductor electrically coupled to, adjacent, and offset from the third conductor opposite the sheet; and   wherein the sheet at the peripheral region deforms inwardly toward the sensor layer in response to an input on the peripheral region distinct from an input on the deformable region, and wherein the third conductor shifts toward the fourth conductor in response to inward deformation of the sheet at the peripheral region.   
     
     
         21 . The user interface system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor layer cooperates with the sheet to define the cavity and the fluid channel.