Electronic display with a relief

US9799279B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Essential Products, Inc. · US

Inventors

• David John Evans, V · Palo Alto, US
• Andrew E. Rubin · Los Altos, US
• Xinrui Jiang · San Jose, US
• Xiaoyu Miao · Sunnyvale, US
• Joseph Anthony Tate · San Jose, US
• Matthew Hershenson · Los Altos, US
• Jason Sean Gagne-Keats · Cupertino, US
• Michael Kolb · Redwood City, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 3, 2016
• Grant date: Oct 24, 2017
• Expiry date: Oct 3, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G09G2354/00
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

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.