Dynamic tactile interface

Abstract

One variation of a dynamic tactile interface for a computing device includes: a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region; a substrate including a transparent base material exhibiting a first optical dispersion characteristic, coupled to the tactile layer at the peripheral region, defining a fluid conduit adjacent the peripheral region and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit; a volume of transparent fluid contained within the fluid channel and the fluid conduit and exhibiting a second optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic; a volume of particulate contained within the transparent base material of the substrate, biased around the fluid conduit, and exhibiting a third optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic; and a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A dynamic tactile interface for a computing device, comprising:
 a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region;   a substrate comprising a transparent base material exhibiting a first optical dispersion characteristic, coupled to the tactile layer at the peripheral region, defining a fluid conduit adjacent the peripheral region, and defining a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit;   a volume of transparent fluid contained within the fluid channel and the fluid conduit, the volume of transparent fluid exhibiting a second optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic;   a volume of particulate contained within the transparent base material of the substrate and biased around the fluid conduit, the volume of particulate exhibiting a third optical dispersion characteristic different from the first optical dispersion characteristic; and   a displacement device displacing fluid into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the deformable region defining a formation tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region in the expanded setting.