An acoustic user interface apparatus and method can detect physical touch contacting a sensing surface and improve the accuracy of direction recognition of a touch or rubbing without any complicated algorithm. The user interface apparatus and method use one microphone to detect and analyze sound waves which are generated by collisions between bumps formed in a top plate or bottom plate of the interface apparatus and the opposing bottom plate or top plate when a user is touching or rubbing the sensing surface.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a haptic engine dynamically configures a haptic controller to provide information regarding the state of an interactive system via sensations of texture. In operation, as the state of the interactive system changes, the haptic engine dynamically updates a haptic state that includes texture characteristics, such as texture patterns, that are designed to reflect the state of the interactive system in an intuitive fashion. The haptic engine then generates signals that configure touch surfaces included in the haptic controller to convey these texture characteristics. Advantageously, providing information regarding the correct state and/or operation of the interactive system based on sensations of texture reduces distractions attributable to many conventional audio and/or visual interactive systems. Notably, in-vehicle infotainment systems that provide dynamically updated texture data increase driving safety compared to conventional in-vehicle infotainment systems that often induce drivers to take their eyes off the road.

A method and apparatus for generating haptic surface texture with a deformable surface layer are disclosed. The haptic device includes a flexible surface layer, a haptic substrate, and a deforming mechanism. The flexible surface layer is made of elastic materials and is capable of reconfiguring its surface characteristics. The haptic substrate, in one embodiment, provides a first pattern in response to a first activating signal. Alternatively, the haptic substrate is capable of providing a second pattern in accordance with a second activating signal. The deforming mechanism is configured to change the flexible surface from a first surface characteristic to a second surface characteristic in accordance with the first pattern.

Methods and apparatus to identify haptic vibrations of touchscreens are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein include means for generating a haptic control signal that is to cause vibrations of a haptic display means, the vibrations to simulate a texture corresponding to visual subject matter to be displayed on the haptic display means, the vibrations of the haptic display means to produce an acoustically detectable signal. Disclosed example apparatus also include means for encoding a watermark into the haptic control signal to generate a watermarked haptic control signal, the watermark including identification information to identify at least one of the subject matter or the texture, the watermark to modify the acoustically detectable signal.

The present disclosure relates to a multi QWERTY key input method, and more particularly, to a multi QWERTY key input method that allows a plurality of characters to be input by a single key using the QWERTY keyboard arrangement.

A device may include a display portion that includes a display housing and a display at least partially within the display housing. The device may also include a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion and including a bottom case, a top case coupled to the bottom case and defining an array of raised key regions, and a sensing system below the top case and configured to detect an input applied to a raised key region of the array of raised key regions.

A vehicle may include a display displaying a character input user interface to select at least one character among a selected character type; a touch input sensor detecting a touch; and a controller changing the selected character type based on a distance between two touch positions detected at the same time.

Introduced here are methods and systems to create a relief on an electronic display. In one embodiment, the relief is created by micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) placed above a cover layer of the electronic display. Each MEMS when activated can protrude or depress, thus creating the relief on the electronic display. In another embodiment, the relief is created by a plurality of resistors placed beneath the cover layer. The cover layer is made out of an elastically deformable material that, when heated, expands, thus creating a protrusion on the electronic display. Each resistor when activated heats a section of the cover layer, causing the cover layer to protrude.

Disclosed herein is a substrate for an electronic device. The substrate has a visually imperceptible surface texture that exhibits different coefficients of friction on various input objects. In some implementations, the texture of the textured substrate is created using a gas etching process.

Touch sensitive mechanical keyboards and methods of configuring the depressibility of one or more keys of a keyboard are provided. A touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can accept touch events performed on the surface of the keys. Additionally, the keyboard can accept key depressions as textual input. The keyboard can be placed in a gesture operation mode, which can lock the keys to prevent a user from inadvertently depressing a key while attempting to perform a touch event on the surface of the keys. The keyboard can also be placed in a key press mode, which can allow depression of the keys by a user.