Micah Baruch Yairi

US Patent:

8179375, May 15, 2012

Filed:

Jul 3, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/497622

Inventors:

Craig Michael Ciesla - Mountain View CA, US
Micah B. Yairi - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Tactus Technology - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/041
G08B 6/00
G09B 21/00

US Classification:

345173, 178 1801, 434114, 3404072

Abstract:

The user interface system of the preferred embodiments includes a sheet that defines a surface on one side and at least partially defines a cavity on an opposite side; a volume of a fluid contained within the cavity; a displacement device that modifies the volume of the fluid to expand the cavity, thereby outwardly deforming a particular region of the surface; and a sensor that detects a force applied by a user that inwardly deforms the particular region of the surface. The user interface system has been specifically designed to be used as the user interface for an electronic device, more preferably in an electronic device that benefits from an adaptive user interface, but may alternatively be used in any suitable application.

US Patent:

8179377, May 15, 2012

Filed:

Jan 5, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/652704

Inventors:

Craig Michael Ciesla - Mountain View CA, US
Micah B. Yairi - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Tactus Technology - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/041
G08B 6/00
G09B 21/00

US Classification:

345173, 178 1801, 434114, 3404072

Abstract:

The user interface system of one embodiment of the invention includes a sheet that defines a surface on one side and at least partially defines a first cavity and a second cavity on an opposite side; a fluid network coupled to the first and second cavities; a displacement device coupled to the fluid network that displaces fluid within the fluid network and expands both the first and second cavities concurrently, thereby deforming a first and a second particular region of the surface; and a touch sensor coupled to the sheet and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the first and second particular regions of the surface. The user interface system of another embodiment of the invention includes a displacement device coupled to the fluid network that displaces fluid within the fluid network and selectively expands one of the first and second cavities.

US Patent:

8199124, Jun 12, 2012

Filed:

Jan 5, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/652708

Inventors:

Craig Michael Ciesla - Mountain View CA, US
Micah B. Yairi - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Tactus Technology - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/041
G08B 6/00
G09B 21/00

US Classification:

345173, 178 1801, 434114, 34040702

Abstract:

A user interface system of one embodiment includes a layer defining a surface; a substrate supporting the layer and at least partially defining a cavity; a displacement coupled to the cavity that expands the cavity, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface; and a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the particular region of the surface. The layer and the substrate are connected at an attachment point, and the location of the attachment point relative to the layer, substrate, and cavity at least partially defines the shape of the deformed particular region of the surface.

US Patent:

8243038, Aug 14, 2012

Filed:

Jul 5, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/830426

Inventors:

Craig Michael Ciesla - Mountain View CA, US
Micah B Yairi - Palo Alto CA, US
Nathaniel Mark Saal - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Tactus Technologies - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/041
G08B 6/00
G09B 21/00

US Classification:

345173, 178 1801, 434114, 3404072

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 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.

US Patent:

8456438, Jun 4, 2013

Filed:

Mar 12, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/418233

Inventors:

Craig Michael Ciesla - Mountain View CA, US
Micah B Yairi - Daly City CA, US
Nathaniel Mark Saal - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Tactus Technology, Inc. - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/041
G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345173, 345156

Abstract:

The user interface system of the preferred embodiment includes: a layer defining a surface, a substrate supporting the layer and at least partially defining a cavity, a displacement device coupled to the cavity and adapted to expand the cavity thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the particular region of the surface, and a display coupled to the substrate and adapted to output images to the user. The user interface system of the preferred embodiments has been specifically designed to be incorporated into an electronic device, such as the display of a mobile phone, but may be incorporated in any suitable device that interfaces with a user in both a visual and tactile manner.

US Patent:

8553005, Oct 8, 2013

Filed:

Mar 7, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/414602

Inventors:

Craig Michael Ciesla - Mountain View CA, US
Micah B Yairi - Daly City CA, US

Assignee:

Tactus Technology, Inc. - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/041
G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345173, 345156

Abstract:

The user interface system of the preferred embodiment includes: a layer defining a surface, a substrate supporting the layer and at least partially defining a cavity, a displacement device coupled to the cavity and adapted to expand the cavity thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the particular region of the surface, and a display coupled to the substrate and adapted to output images to the user. The user interface system of the preferred embodiments has been specifically designed to be incorporated into an electronic device, such as the display of a mobile phone, but may be incorporated in any suitable device that interfaces with a user in both a visual and tactile manner.

US Patent:

8570295, Oct 29, 2013

Filed:

Mar 7, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/414595

Inventors:

Craig Michael Ciesla - Mountain View CA, US
Micah B Yairi - Daly City CA, US

Assignee:

Tactus Technology, Inc. - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/041
G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345173, 345156

Abstract:

The user interface system of the preferred embodiment includes: a layer defining a surface, a substrate supporting the layer and at least partially defining a cavity, a displacement device coupled to the cavity and adapted to expand the cavity thereby deforming a particular region of the surface, a touch sensor coupled to the substrate and adapted to sense a user touch proximate the particular region of the surface, and a display coupled to the substrate and adapted to output images to the user. The user interface system of the preferred embodiments has been specifically designed to be incorporated into an electronic device, such as the display of a mobile phone, but may be incorporated in any suitable device that interfaces with a user in both a visual and tactile manner.

US Patent:

8587541, Nov 19, 2013

Filed:

Apr 19, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/090208

Inventors:

Craig Michael Ciesla - Mountain View CA, US
Micah B. Yairi - Daly City CA, US
Nathaniel Mark Saal - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Tactus Technology, Inc. - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/041

US Classification:

345173, 3404071, 3404072, 715702

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.