Patent ID: 9128525
Filing Date: 2015-09-08
Classification: F04B,G06F

Abstract:
1. A dynamic tactile interface, comprising: a substrate defining a fluid channel and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid channel; a tactile layer comprising a peripheral region and a deformable region, the peripheral region coupled to the substrate, and the deformable region arranged over the fluid conduit, disconnected from the substrate, and operable between a retracted setting and an expanded setting, the deformable region elevated above the peripheral region in the expanded setting; a tube comprising a first end fluidly coupled to the fluid channel and constrained relative to the substrate; a volume of fluid within the tube; and an actuator coupled to the tube remote from the first end, wherein the actuator is configured to transition the deformable region from the retracted setting to the expanded setting by winding the tube to displace a portion of the volume of fluid within the tube into the fluid channel, and wherein the actuator is configured to transition the deformable region from the expanded setting to the retracted setting by unwinding the tube to enable the portion of the volume of fluid to flow back into the tube.