User interface enhancement system

Abstract

A user interface enhancement system that includes a sheet that defines a surface and at least partially defines a fluid vessel arranged underneath the surface, a volume of fluid contained within the fluid vessel that cooperates with the sheet to transmit an image through the sheet without substantial obstruction, a displacement device that influences the volume of 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 attachment component that couples the sheet to the device is disclosed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A user interface enhancement system, for a touch interface device, comprising:
 a substrate comprising an attachment face and a support member continuous with the attachment face, the substrate defining a fluid channel configured to communicate fluid through the support member;   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 member at a deformable region of the tactile layer, wherein the deformable region is of a thickness at least as great as a width dimension of the fluid channel, and wherein the support member limits inward deformation of the deformable region due to a force applied to the tactile surface;   a displacement device configured to displace fluid through the fluid channel and toward the back surface of the deformable region to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting, wherein the expanded setting is tactilely distinguishable from the retracted setting at the tactile surface; and   an attachment component configured to removably couple the substrate adjacent to the touch interface device.