Patent ID: 8400410

Claim:
A user interface device, comprising a plurality of sensors; a plurality of electrically switchable magnets; a processor; a first interface circuit connected to the sensors and arranged to provide electrical signals from each of the sensors to the processor; a second interface circuit connected to the processor and each of the plurality of electrically switchable magnets, and arranged to activate one or more of the electrically switchable magnets responsive to a command from the processor; and a user-touchable portion comprising a ferromagnetic material layer, wherein the plurality of sensors is positioned relative to the ferromagnetic material layer such that movement of the ferromagnetic material by a user causes a change in the electrical signals from at least one of the sensors, and the plurality of electrically switchable magnets is positioned relative to the ferromagnetic material layer such that activation of one or more of the electrically switchable magnets causes a change in the ferromagnetic material layer which is detectable by the touch of a user, and wherein the processor is arranged to analyze the electrical signals from each of the sensors, determine the location of movement on the user-touchable portion, and activate one or more of the electrically switchable magnets responsive thereto, the processor being arranged to estimate and cancel an interfering electrical signal caused in one or more sensors by the activation of one or more of the electrically switchable magnets.