Patent ID: 9720501
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: G06F

Claim:
1. A method of regulating fluid pressure in a dynamic tactile interface comprising a tactile layer, a substrate, and a displacement device, the tactile layer comprising a deformable region and a peripheral region adjacent the deformable region, a substrate defining a fluid channel and cooperating with the deformable region to define a variable volume fluidly coupled to the fluid channel, the displacement device fluidly coupled to the fluid channel, the method comprising: at a pressure sensor, sensing a pressure of fluid in the fluid channel; in response to the pressure of fluid falling below a particular pressure, displacing a volume of reserve fluid from the reservoir through the valve into the fluid channel, the valve resisting back flow of fluid from the fluid channel into the reservoir; detecting a second pressure of the fluid in the fluid channel; and in response to the second pressure greater than the particular pressure, displacing fluid through a second valve into a return vessel fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and the reservoir, the second valve resisting back flow of fluid from the return vessel into the fluid channel.