Method of actuating a tactile interface layer

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.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for actuating a dynamic tactile interface comprising a tactile layer and a substrate, the tactile layer defining a tactile surface, a deformable region cooperating with the substrate to define a cavity, and a peripheral region adjacent the deformable region and coupled to the substrate opposite the tactile surface, the method comprising:
 during a period of time, detecting a first progression of a first input object from proximate a first location over the substrate to proximate a second location over the substrate;   during the period of time, detecting a second progression of a second input object from proximate a third location over the substrate to proximate a fourth location over the substrate, the first location and the third location spanning the deformable region, and the second location and the fourth location spanning the deformable region;   interpreting the first progression and the second progression as a gesture; and   in response to the gesture, displacing fluid into the cavity to transition the deformable region from a retracted setting into an expanded setting, the tactile surface at the deformable region offset above the tactile surface at the peripheral region in the expanded setting.