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 i

Abstract: A method for actuating a tactile interface layer of a device that defines a surface with a deformable region, comprising the steps of deforming a deformable region of the surface into a formation tactilely distinguishable from the surface, detecting a force from the user on a deformed deformable region, interpreting the force as a command for the deformable region, and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command.

Abstract: A method for actuating a tactile interface layer for a device that defines a surface with a deformable region, comprising the steps of detecting a gesture of the user along the surface of the tactile interface layer that includes a movement of a finger of the user from a first location on the surface to a second location on the surface; interpreting the gesture as a command for the deformable region; and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command.

Abstract: One variation of a dynamic tactile interface includes a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region; a substrate coupled to the peripheral region, a fluid conduit adjacent the deformable region, a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, and a via fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and passing through the back surface; a bladder fluidly coupled to the via and the substrate; a structure adjacent a first side of the bladder; and a platen adjacent a second side of the bladder opposite the first side and compressing the bladder against the structure substantially perpendicular the longitudinal axis of the bladder and substantially parallel the substrate to displace fluid from the bladder and into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting.

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 i

Abstract: A touch layer for a mobile computing device includes a substrate defining a surface, a first polymer layer and a second polymer layer. The first polymer layer includes a first modulus and is arranged across the surface. The second polymer layer includes a polymer of a second modulus less than the first modulus and is arranged across the first polymer layer opposite the substrate. The touch layer also includes a low-friction coating applied across the second polymer layer opposite the first polymer layer. The touch layer exhibits a self-repair property to repair damage to one of the polymer layers or the low-friction layer. The self repair may be implemented by material flow or diffusion, heat activated or time-release, and may return a surface of the touch display to near its original condition.

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.

Abstract: Input is detected on a dynamic tactile interface based on pressure events and touch sensor outputs. The dynamic tactile interface includes a touch sensor, a pressure sensor, and a compressible material. When both a pressure event and touch sensor output are correlated to identify an input, the input is processed by a display device associated with the dynamic tactile interface. The flexible material may be implemented as a variable volume associated with a deformable region, such that when the deformable region is depressed the variable volume decreases and the pressure sensor detects increased pressure. The flexible material may be implemented as a compressible layer between two layers that comprise the touch sensor, such that when an input is received on an upper layer of the touch sensor, the middle layer having the flexible volume may compress. The multi-layer touch sensor can be a capacitance touch or resistive touch sensor.

Abstract: A system that detects and transitions a configuration of a dynamic tactile interface coupled to a computing device incorporating a touchscreen. The dynamic tactile interface includes a tactile layer and a substrate, wherein the tactile layer defines a tactile surface, a deformable region, and a first region adjacent the deformable region and coupled to the substrate opposite the tactile surface. A variable volume fluidly coupled to a fluid channel and a displacement device that transitions the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting in response to actuation of an input actuator coupled to the displacement device. A sensor detects a change in a position of the input actuator. In response to the change in the position, the configuration of the deformable regions of the dynamic tactile interface is correlated to a rendered graphical user interface on the touchscreen.

Abstract: A dynamic tactile interface includes: a substrate, a tactile layer, and movable support member. The substrate defines a fluid channel and a perforation coupled to the fluid channel. The tactile layer includes a first region and a deformable region, the first region coupled to the substrate, and the deformable region arranged over and coupled to a moveable support member, which is disconnected from the substrate, substantially corresponds to the perforation, and is coupled to the fluid channel, the deformable region operable between an expanded setting and a depressed setting. The movable support layer traveling within the cavity with the deformable region, the deformbable region substantially flush with the first region in the expanded setting and below the first region in the depressed setting.

Abstract: A tactile interface for a computing device includes a tactile layer defining a primary guide and a secondary guide. The primary guide is tactilely distinguishable from an adjacent peripheral region and arranged adjacent a first input region of a touch-sensitive surface. The secondary guide is tactilely distinguishable from the adjacent peripheral region, arranged adjacent a second input region of the touch-sensitive surface, and defines a peripheral boundary of a range of motion of a finger moving between the primary guide and the secondary guide. The first input region is independent from the primary guide, the second input region independent from the secondary guide.

Abstract: A method for actuating a tactile interface layer for a device that defines a surface with a deformable region, comprising the steps of detecting a gesture of the user along the surface of the tactile interface layer that includes a movement of a finger of the user from a first location on the surface to a second location on the surface; interpreting the gesture as a command for the deformable region; and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command.

Abstract: The dynamic tactile interface includes: a tactile layer defining a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region and operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting; a substrate including an attachment surface and coupled to the peripheral region and defining a fluid conduit adjacent the deformable region and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit; a border region proximal a periphery of the substrate and defining a cavity configured to receive an instrument, the cavity supporting the instrument in a first configuration and releasing the instrument in a second configuration; and a bladder fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and coupled to the cavity, the instrument compressing a portion of the bladder in the first configuration to displace fluid from the bladder into the fluid channel to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting.

Abstract: A dynamic tactile interface including a substrate including an attachment surface, a cavity, and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the cavity; a pedestal arranged within the cavity, pivotable within the cavity, and including a mating surface and an exterior surface; a tactile layer including a peripheral region coupled to the attachment surface, a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region and arranged over the pedestal, and a tactile surface opposite the substrate; and a displacement device displacing fluid to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the pedestal pivotable within the cavity between a first position and a second position in the retracted setting, the deformable region flush with the peripheral region in the first position and the pedestal partially elevated out of the cavity and the deformable region defining a second formation tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region in the expanded setting.

Abstract: One variation of the method includes registering interaction with a dynamic tactile interface including a tactile layer and a substrate, the tactile layer defining a tactile surface, a deformable region, and a peripheral region adjacent the deformable region and coupled to the substrate opposite the tactile surface, the method including: detecting an orientation of the device; predicting a location of an upcoming input related to a native application executing on the device; selecting a particular deformable region from a set of deformable regions, the particular deformable region substantially coincident the input location; selectively transitioning the particular deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the deformable region substantially flush with the peripheral region in the retracted setting and tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region in the expanded setting; and detecting an input, corresponding to the upcoming input, on the particular deformable region.

Abstract: A dynamic tactile interface includes: a substrate including a first transparent material and defining an attachment surface, an open channel opposite the attachment surface, and a fluid conduit intersecting the open channel and passing through the attachment surface; a tactile layer including a second transparent material and defining a tactile surface, a peripheral region bonded to the attachment surface opposite the tactile surface, and a deformable region adjacent the fluid conduit and disconnected from the attachment surface; a closing panel bonded to the substrate opposite the attachment surface and enclosing the open channel to define a fluid channel; a working fluid; and a displacement device configured to displace the working fluid into the fluid channel and through the fluid conduit to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting to an expanded setting.

Abstract: A dynamic tactile interface including a substrate including an attachment surface, a cavity, and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the cavity; a pedestal arranged within the cavity, pivotable within the cavity, and including a mating surface and an exterior surface; a tactile layer including a peripheral region coupled to the attachment surface, a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region and arranged over the pedestal, and a tactile surface opposite the substrate; and a displacement device displacing fluid to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the pedestal pivotable within the cavity between a first position and a second position in the retracted setting, the deformable region flush with the peripheral region in the first position and the pedestal partially elevated out of the cavity and the deformable region defining a second formation tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region in the expanded setting.

Abstract: One variation of the method includes registering interaction with a dynamic tactile interface including a tactile layer and a substrate, the tactile layer defining a tactile surface, a deformable region, and a peripheral region adjacent the deformable region and coupled to the substrate opposite the tactile surface, the method including: detecting an orientation of the device; predicting a location of an upcoming input related to a native application executing on the device; selecting a particular deformable region from a set of deformable regions, the particular deformable region substantially coincident the input location; selectively transitioning the particular deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the deformable region substantially flush with the peripheral region in the retracted setting and tactilely distinguishable from the peripheral region in the expanded setting; and detecting an input, corresponding to the upcoming input, on the particular deformable region.

Abstract: A method adjusting a user interface experience for a device that includes providing a user interface to retrieve a user input, providing a tactile interface layer that defines a surface and includes a volume of fluid and a displacement device 10 that manipulates the volume of fluid to deform a particular region of the surface into a tactilely distinguishable formation retrieving a user preference between a first type, location, and/or timing and a second embodiment, location, and/or timing through the user interface, and manipulating the volume of fluid to deform a particular region of the surface into a tactilely distinguishable formation of one of the first and second type, location, and/or timing is disclosed.

Abstract: A dynamic tactile interface including a substrate including a fluid conduit, a shelf adjacent the fluid conduit, and a fluid channel fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit; a flap including a distal end and a proximal end, the flap extending across the fluid conduit and hinged to the substrate at the proximal end; a tactile layer including a peripheral region and a deformable region adjacent the peripheral region and arranged over the flap, and a tactile surface opposite the substrate; and a displacement device displacing fluid to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the distal end of the flap engaging the shelf in the retracted setting, and the distal end of the flap lifted off of the shelf and the deformable region in the expanded setting.