User interface system

Abstract

The user interface system of one embodiment of the invention includes a sheet that defines a surface on one side and at least partially defines a first cavity and a second cavity on an opposite side; a fluid network coupled to the first and second cavities; a displacement device coupled to the fluid network that displaces fluid within the fluid network and expands both the first and second cavities concurrently, thereby deforming a first and a second particular region of the surface; and a touch sensor coupled to the sheet and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the first and second particular regions of the surface. The user interface system of another embodiment of the invention includes a displacement device coupled to the fluid network that displaces fluid within the fluid network and selectively expands one of the first and second cavities.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A user interface comprising:
 a substrate comprising an attachment face and a plurality of support members continuous with the attachment face, each support member including a fluid channel configured to communicate fluid through the support member, the substrate defining a fluid network fluidly coupled to a portion of the fluid channels;   a tactile layer comprising an outer tactile surface and a back surface opposite the tactile surface, the back surface coupled to the attachment face at an undeformable region of the tactile layer, the back surface adjacent to and disconnected from the support members at a plurality of deformable regions of the tactile layer, each deformable region of a thickness at least as great as a width dimension of a corresponding fluid channel, each support member configured to limit inward deformation of a corresponding deformable region due to a force applied to the tactile surface;   a displacement device configured to displace fluid through the fluid network and toward the back surfaces of a portion of the deformable regions to transition each of the portion of deformable regions from a retracted setting to an expanded setting tactilely distinguishable from the retracted setting at the tactile surface; and   a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to detect a user touch on the tactile surface.