Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-rate control of haptic effects with sensor fusion are disclosed. One illustrative system includes, a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect, a first sensor configured to sense the output of the haptic output device and generate a first sensor signal, a processor in communication with the first sensor. The processor is configured to: sample the first sensor signal from the first sensor at a first rate, receive a reference signal, determine an error between the first sensor signal and the reference signal, generate a haptic signal based at least in part on the reference signal and the error, transmit the haptic signal to a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect based on the haptic signal, and sample the first sensor signal at a second rate, wherein the second rate is lower than the first rate.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for providing limited duration haptic effects are disclosed. Systems for providing limited duration haptic effects include sensors, control circuits, and vibration actuators configured closed loop feedback control of the vibration actuators. The sensors are configured to measure motion characteristics induced by the vibration actuators. The control circuits are configured to receive motion characteristic information from the sensors and provide closed loop feedback control of the vibration actuators. Closed loop feedback control permits precise control of vibration actuator output during limited duration haptic effects.

Abstract: Systems and methods for differential optical position sensing for a haptic actuator are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: an actuator configured to receive a drive signal and move an object to output a haptic effect; a first sensor configured to monitor a position of the object and output a first position signal; a second sensor configured to monitor the position of the object and output a second position signal different from the first position signal; a circuit configured to receive the first position signal and the second position signal and output a difference signal; and a processor configured to receive the difference signal and output a control signal to the actuator based on the difference signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-level closed loop control of haptic effects are disclosed. One illustrative system for multi-level closed loop control of haptic effects includes a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect, a sensor configured to sense the output of the haptic output device and generate a sensor signal, and a processor in communication with the sensor. The processor is configured to: receive a reference signal, receive the sensor signal, determine an error based at least in part on the reference signal and the sensor signal, generate a haptic signal based at least in part on the reference signal and the error, and transmit the haptic signal to a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect based on the haptic signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for damping haptic vibrations. A haptic output device is positioned within a device housing. The haptic output device has a haptic actuator and a haptic mass, the haptic mass being movable relative to the housing. A damper is positioned within the device housing. A controller is programmed to generate and deliver a haptic signal to the haptic actuator at a first time, and to generate and deliver a damping signal to the damper at a second time, the second time occurring after the first time. The method comprises moving a haptic mass, the haptic mass position in a housing; vibrating the housing in response to moving the haptic mass; damping movement of the haptic mass after a period of time; and substantially eliminating vibration of the housing in response to damping movement of the haptic mass.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and instructions for driving an actuator using an open-loop drive circuit that generate, at a processor, a reference input signal according to a predetermined or predicted command signal, supply the reference input signal to an amplifier to generate a command signal, and supply the command signal to the haptic output device to render a haptic effect.

Abstract: An actuator system configured to generate a haptic effect, the actuator system including a housing of an electronic device, the housing being configured to form a mechanical ground, a first actuator disposed between a first moving mass and the mechanical ground, the first actuator being configured to render the haptic effect, and a second actuator disposed between a second moving mass and the mechanical ground, the second actuator being configured to dampen the haptic effect.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating haptics overlay in augmented reality are disclosed. One illustrative system described herein includes a haptic output device. The system also includes a display configured to output a visual effect. The system also includes a sensor for tracking a position of a proxy object. The system also includes a processor configured to: determine a modified visual effect based in part on data received from the sensor, determine a haptic effect based in part on data received from the sensor, transmit a display signal associated with the modified visual effect to the display, transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device; and output the haptic effect using the haptic output device.

Abstract: A haptically-enabled controller device comprising a controller body, a user input element, a haptic actuator, and a transmission component is presented. The user input element has a range of motion that extends from a first position to an end stop position. The haptic actuator is configured to output a force or torque. The transmission component comprises an arm connected to the haptic actuator and to the user input element. The arm is configured to transfer the force or torque from the haptic actuator to the user input element with a first multiplication factor when the user input element is at the first position, and to transfer the force or torque from the haptic actuator to the user input element with a second multiplication factor when the user input element is at the end stop position. The second multiplication factor is higher than the first multiplication factor.

Abstract: One illustrative computing device disclosed herein includes a first sensor configured to detect a position associated with a deformable surface and transmit a sensor signal associated with the position; and a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal; determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the sensor signal; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative computing device also includes a haptic output device in communication with the processor, the haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.

Abstract: A haptically enabled system receives information and determines that a user of the system should be notified of the information. The system further receives and analyzes inputs to determine a context of the user. The system then generates an instinctive alert based on the context, where the instinctive alert is configured to impart a desired emotion on the user. The system then displays the instinctive alert based on the context.

Abstract: A device for delivering non-collocated haptic feedback includes at least one haptic playback device and a drive circuit for controlling the haptic playback device. A processor coupled to the drive circuit receives manipulation haptic information based on data received from a user interface. The processor generates a haptic signal is based on the manipulation haptic information. The haptic signal is provided to the drive circuit to produce the non-collocated haptic feedback.

Abstract: A notification manager is provided that manages notifications for a user. The notification manager detects a notification event and determines a context of the notification event. The notification manager determines a target device for the notification event based on the determined context and one or more available displays. The notification manager then generates a notification on one or more of the one or more available displays to direct the user's attention to the target device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an electronic interface device capable of providing a fixed relief touch screen with locating features using deformable haptic surfaces are disclosed. The device, in one embodiment, includes a haptic mechanism and a touch-sensitive surface. The haptic mechanism provides haptic feedback in response to an activating command. The touch-sensitive surface is capable of changing its surface texture from a first surface characteristic to a second surface characteristic in response to the haptic feedback. For example, the first surface characteristic may be coarse texture while the second surface characteristic may be smooth texture.

Abstract: A pacing system for pacing an activity receives a desired pace that includes a timing interval and generates a first pace signal based on the desired pace and corresponding to the timing interval. The system receives feedback on an actual pace of the activity and determines if the actual pace is different than the desired pace. When the actual pace is different, the system generates a second pace signal having a timing that is different than the timing interval. When the actual pace is not different, the system generates the second pace signal in accordance with the timing interval.

Abstract: A signal associated with multiple haptic effects is received, each haptic effect from the multiple haptic effects being associated with a time slot from multiple time slots. Each haptic effect from the multiple haptic effects is associated with an effect slot from multiple effect slots at least partially based on the time slot associated with that haptic effect. An output signal is sent for each effect slot from the multiple effect slots, when the associated haptic effect is scheduled for its time slot.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for providing composite haptic effects are disclosed. One disclosed method includes detecting a touch occurring in a touch area when an object contacts a touch surface and selecting a composite haptic effect to generate in response to the touch, the composite haptic effect including at least one surface-based haptic effect and at least one other effect. Based on the selected composite haptic effect, a first haptic signal can be sent to cause an actuator to vary a coefficient of friction of the touch surface and a second actuator can be caused to provide a second haptic output in addition to the variation in the coefficient of friction. The second haptic signal can be sent to a second actuator or the same actuator(s) used to vary the coefficient of friction can generate the second haptic output.

Abstract: A haptic conversion system is provided that analyzes an audio signal, generates a plurality of haptic signals based on the analysis of the audio signal, and plays the generated plurality of haptic signals through a plurality of actuators to produce one or more haptic effects. The haptic conversion system maps the generated plurality of haptic signals to the plurality of actuators based on one or more audio characteristics of the audio signal. Each generated haptic signal includes one or more haptic parameters, and is played at its mapped actuator to generate the one or more haptic effects.

Abstract: A system that produces a dynamic haptic effect and generates a drive signal that includes a gesture signal and a real or virtual device sensor signal. The haptic effect is modified dynamically based on both the gesture signal and the real or virtual device sensor signal such as from an accelerometer or gyroscope, or by a signal created from processing data such as still images, video or sound. The haptic effect may optionally be modified dynamically by using the gesture signal and the real or virtual device sensor signal and a physical model, or may optionally be applied concurrently to multiple devices which are connected via a communication link. The haptic effect may optionally be encoded into a data file on a first device. The data file is then communicated to a second device and the haptic effect is read from the data file and applied to the second device.

Abstract: A system includes a wearable device configured to be worn by a user. The wearable device includes a flexible mounting, and a haptic output device connected to the flexible mounting. The system includes a signal generator configured to generate a haptic signal and communicate the haptic signal to the haptic output device. The haptic signal includes a short duration control pulse configured to create a small deformation sensation to the user.