Deformable user interface devices, apparatus, and methods

Abstract

User interface devices using magnetic sensing to provide output signals associated with motion and/or deformation of an actuator element of the interface devices are described. The output signals may be provided to an electronic computing system to provide commands, controls, and/or other data or information. In one embodiment, a user interface device may include a plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of multi-axis magnetic sensors to generate motion and/or deformation signals to be provided to a processing element to generate the output signals.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A deformable user interface device, comprising:
 a base element;   a deformable actuator assembly, including a fixed element, a movable element, and a deformable element, coupled to the base element;   a deformation sensor apparatus comprising one or more magnets and one or more multi-axis magnetic sensors for providing magnetic sensor output signals corresponding to a position or a deformation of the deformable actuator assembly; and   a processing element for receiving the magnetic sensor output signals and determining, based at least in part on the received magnetic sensor output signals, a position or deformation output signal, usable by an electronic computing system, corresponding to a user-applied movement or deformation of the deformation element.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable element and the deformable element are at least partially integral. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator element includes:
 a cover element;   a upper actuator sub-assembly including:   a flexible top actuator half; and   a plurality of upper permanent magnets; and   a lower actuator sub-assembly including:   a flexible bottom actuator half;   a plurality of springs;   a plurality of upper permanent magnets; and   a core join;   and wherein ones of the plurality of upper permanent magnets and lower permanent magnets are matched with corresponding ones of the multi-axis magnetic sensors.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a limiting element to limit motion of the actuator assembly relative to the base element.