Abstract: In aspects, methods and apparatus are provided for the generation of haptic command signals to cause haptic effect outputs at one or more haptic output devices. The haptic command signals may be generated based on haptic media, supplementary media, and/or haptic device capability. Generating the haptic command signals may include creation or modification of haptic effects, distribution of haptic effects, and/or warping of haptic signals. The methods and apparatus may operate according to combinations of developer provided rules and system enabled inferences. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: In aspects, methods and apparatus are provided for the generation of haptic command signals to cause haptic effect outputs at one or more haptic output devices. The haptic command signals may be generated based on haptic media, supplementary media, and/or haptic device capability. Generating the haptic command signals may include creation or modification of haptic effects, distribution of haptic effects, and/or warping of haptic signals. The methods and apparatus may operate according to combinations of developer provided rules and system enabled inferences. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: In aspects, methods and apparatus are provided for generating a haptic effect for a three-dimensional (3D) environment that is experienced virtually by a user. The methods may be performed by a processor, and includes receiving media data that describes the 3D environment, wherein the media data includes haptic data which describes a haptic characteristic associated with at least one object, structure, or event in the 3D environment. The method further includes performing a haptic decoding operation and a haptic rendering operation. The decoding operation may include extracting the haptic data from the media data. The haptic rendering operation may include generating a drive signal and communicating the drive signal to a haptic output device to cause the haptic output device to generate a haptic effect at a user peripheral device. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for control of actuators are provided. In aspects, the systems, methods, and devices provided herein enable the generation of sharp cutoff haptic effects of both limited and extended duration. The systems, methods, and devices use open loop braking signals to generate the sharp cutoff haptic effects. The braking signals are determined based on predictions of system response made according to driving signals used to cause the haptic effects in the actuators. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: In aspects, zoned haptic effects are provided by assigning a plurality of zones corresponding to each of a plurality of zone actuators for providing haptic effects. A desired haptic response is provided for zones selected for actuation, and the response by the zone actuators is detected. Adjacent and non-adjacent zones are assigned for the detected zones as being driven by any of the plurality of zone actuators. Vibration on the adjacent and non-adjacent zone is suppressed in accordance with control parameters associated with the respective adjacent and non-adjacent zones. If a duration of the provided haptic effect has not passed, the suppression of vibration in the adjacent and non-adjacent zones is maintained and if the duration has passed, the suppression of vibration is terminated. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for localizing one or more effects in a haptic interface with a user interface having a primary zone and at least one secondary zone are provided. When a desired haptic effect is generated within the primary zone, unwanted resultant haptic effects in the at least one secondary zone may be suppressed. A primary actuator is located in the primary zone, and at least one secondary actuator is located in the at least one secondary zone. At least one controller selectively and controllably generates the haptic effect produced by the primary actuator in the primary zone, and selectively and controllably actuates the at least one secondary actuator within the at least one secondary zone to generate a suppression effect therein. The at least one secondary actuator can be used to localize and/or amplify the haptic effect through constructive and/or destructive interference. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: Providing haptic feedback includes identifying a three-dimensional (3D) area around a user. The 3D area is divided into a plurality of 3D sectors. At least one haptic effect is determined based on content displayed relative to the 3D area. At least one haptic effect is modulated by determining, for each of the 3D sectors, at least one weighted haptic effect. A modified haptic effect is generated for each of the 3D sectors based on a sum of the at least one weighted haptic effect. The haptic feedback is provided in response to a haptic control signal including instructions to playback a basic haptic pattern, the basic haptic pattern being transcoded from the modulated haptic effect. Numerous other aspects are provided.

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: In aspects, methods and apparatus are provided for generating a haptic effect for a three-dimensional (3D) environment that is experienced virtually by a user. The methods may be performed by a processor, and includes receiving media data that describes the 3D environment, wherein the media data includes haptic data which describes a haptic characteristic associated with at least one object, structure, or event in the 3D environment. The method further includes performing a haptic decoding operation and a haptic rendering operation. The decoding operation may include extracting the haptic data from the media data. The haptic rendering operation may include generating a drive signal and communicating the drive signal to a haptic output device to cause the haptic output device to generate a haptic effect at a user peripheral device. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for control of actuators are provided. In aspects, the systems, methods, and devices provided herein enable the generation of sharp cutoff haptic effects of both limited and extended duration. The systems, methods, and devices use open loop braking signals to generate the sharp cutoff haptic effects. The braking signals are determined based on predictions of system response made according to driving signals used to cause the haptic effects in the actuators. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: A system includes a video recorder configured to record video data, a sensor configured to sense movement of an object and output sensor data representative of the movement of the object, a transformer configured to transform the sensor data into a haptic output signal, a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect to a user based on the haptic output signal, a display configured to display a video, and a processor configured to synchronize the video data and the haptic output signal, and output the video data to the display and the haptic output signal to the haptic output device so that the haptic effect is synchronized with the video displayed on the display.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices include at least one actuator positioned within proximity of a user interface (UI) region of an interactive surface. The UI region outputs information to a user and receives input from the user. The at least one actuator provides a haptic effect to the user when interacting with the UI region. The system also includes at least one isolation element positioned adjacent to the at least one actuator. The at least one isolation element suppresses transmission of the haptic effect to an additional UI region of the interactive surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-directional haptic effects for haptic surfaces are disclosed. One exemplary system includes one or more resonant actuators coupled to a surface, the one or more resonant actuators configured to generate a haptic effect comprising vibrations in a plurality of nonparallel directions, the haptic effect configured to displace the surface, and the vibrations being within a two-dimensional plane that is substantially parallel to the surface; a processor in communication with the one or more resonant actuators; and a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the processor to: detect an event; generate at least one haptic drive signal based on the event; and transmit the at least one haptic drive signal to the one or more resonant actuators, the one or more resonant actuators further configured to receive the at least one haptic drive signal and responsively output the haptic effect.

Abstract: In aspects, a touch surface assembly and a method of providing thereof are provided. For example, a touch surface assembly includes a touch surface, a haptic actuator configured to provide a linear motion along a motion axis of the haptic actuator to provide a haptic effect on the touch surface, and coupled to the touch surface such that the motion axis of the haptic actuator forms an angle with a centerline of the touch surface, and suspension components configured to provide damping with resonance for a motion of the touch surface. A first set of at least two suspension components of the suspension components are coupled to the touch surface along or substantially along the motion axis, and a second set of at least two suspension components of the suspension components are coupled to the touch surface along or substantially along a neutral axis of the haptic actuator that is perpendicular to the motion axis.

Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a computing device that comprises a memory and a processor in communication with the memory. The processor can generate content that can be provided to a user. The processor can obtain data indicating various haptic tracks associated with various content elements in the content. The processor can determine a selection of a haptic track of the various haptic tracks associated with a particular content element of the various content elements. The processor can determine a characteristic of the haptic track and then transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic track to a haptic output device, which can receive the haptic signal and output the haptic track.

Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a computing device that comprises a memory and a processor in communication with the memory. The processor can generate content that can be provided to a user. The processor can obtain data indicating various haptic tracks associated with various content elements in the content. The processor can determine a selection of a haptic track of the various haptic tracks associated with a particular content element of the various content elements. The processor can determine a characteristic of the haptic track and then transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic track to a haptic output device, which can receive the haptic signal and output the haptic track.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an Interaction Proxy are disclosed. One disclosed device includes a structure capable of defining at least a first shape at a first location and a second shape at a second location, the second shape configured to act as an interaction proxy; an actuator coupled to the structure and in communication with a processor, the actuator configured to receive a transition signal from the processor and, in response, transition the structure from the first shape to the second shape. The device also includes a sensor configured to sense an interaction with the structure and generate a sensor signal associated with the interaction and to transmit the sensor signal to the processor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a haptic device including a communications interface, an input device, a haptic output device and a processor. The communications interface receives a haptic track file including a list of real-time haptic effect modifiers, associated parameters, and a haptic control signal. The input device receives input from a user including a selection of a real-time haptic effect modifier and a value for an associated parameter. The haptic output device renders one or more haptic effects to the user based on the haptic control signal. The processor decodes the haptic track file, applies the selected real-time haptic effect modifier to the haptic control signal to generate a modified haptic control signal, and provides the modified haptic control signal to the haptic output device. The haptic output device renders one or more modified haptic effects to the user based on the modified haptic control signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and instructions for rendering haptic effects in connection with marketing content, such as advertisements, are provided. Marketing content is displayed, and a user interaction is detected at or adjacent to the display. Haptic feedback is rendered that corresponds to and further enhances the marketing content. In some configurations, the haptic feedback is rendered at a user device that is communicatively coupled to the display. The haptic feedback is provided in connection with a variety of marketing media (e.g., billboards, tablets, printable media, etc.) and in real world and alternate reality environments.

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.