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: A haptically enabled device including a digital-analog hybrid control circuit is provided. The digital-analog control circuit includes an analog control circuit and at least one processor and is configured to control a vibration actuator to produce a limited duration haptic effect. The digital-analog control circuit receives a motion characteristic feedback signal from a sensor and uses the motion characteristic feedback signal to provide continuous adjustment to a command signal that controls the vibration actuator.

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: 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: Rendering haptics in a haptically-enabled headphone system includes generating a haptic signal at the haptically-enabled headphone system based on non-audio data and rendering a haptic effect specified in the haptic signal using a haptic output device within the haptically-enabled headphone system.

Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a processor configured to receive a sensor signal from a neural interface configured to detect an electrical signal associated with a nervous system. The processor is also configured to determine an interaction in with a virtual object in a virtual environment based on the sensor signal. The processor is also configured to determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the interaction with the virtual object in the virtual environment. The processor is also configured to transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative system further includes a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.

Abstract: A user interface device having a haptic actuator, a sensor, a storage device, and a control circuit is presented. The sensor is configured to measure movement output by the haptic actuator. The control circuit is configured to apply a first drive signal to the haptic actuator to generate a first haptic effect, and to receive a sensor measurement that describes movement of the haptic actuator in response to the first drive signal, and to generate or update, based on the measurement, an actuator model that describes how the haptic actuator moves in response to drive signals. The control circuit is further configured to generate a second drive signal based on a desired movement for a second haptic effect and based on the actuator model, and to control the haptic actuator to generate the second haptic effect by applying the second drive signal to the haptic actuator.

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: Devices and methods for providing localized haptic effects are provided. The devices include a haptically enabled display device having one or more haptic actuators. The one or more haptic actuators are located in a non-viewing area of a display screen of a haptically enabled display device and cause localized haptic effects in a viewing area of the display screen. The haptically enabled display device includes a processor configured to determine haptic control signals for activating the haptic actuators. The haptic control signal activates the one or more haptic actuators to provide a localized haptic effect at a target location in the viewing area, remote from the non-viewing area location of the one or more haptic actuators.

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: 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: 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, 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: One illustrative system described herein includes at least one cell, a plurality of particles disposed in the at least one cell, a first actuator configured to change a pressure of the at least one cell, a valve configured to control the pressure of the at least one cell, and a processor communicatively coupled to the first actuator and the valve and configured to receive an activation signal, determine a pressure change value for the at least one cell based in part on the activation signal, transmit a first pressure change signal to the first actuator to cause the first actuator to alter a stiffness of the at least one cell based in part on the pressure change value, and transmit a second pressure change signal to the valve to cause the valve to alter the stiffness of the at least one cell based on the pressure change value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-pressure interaction on touch-sensitive surfaces are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment of a method comprises receiving a first sensor signal from a touch-sensitive input device in response to a first contact of a first object on the touch-sensitive input device, the first sensor signal comprising a first location and a first pressure of the first contact, receiving a second sensor signal from the touch-sensitive input device in response to a second contact of a second object on the touch-sensitive input device substantially simultaneously with the first contact, the second sensor signal comprising a second location of the second contact and a second pressure of the second contact, generating a signal based at least in part on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal, the signal configured to cause a haptic effect, and outputting the signal.

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: A touch-enabled device can simulate one or more features in a touch area. Features may include, but are not limited to, changes in texture and/or simulation of boundaries, obstacles, or other discontinuities in the touch surface that can be perceived through use of an object in contact with the surface. Systems include a sensor configured to detect a touch in a touch area when an object contacts a touch surface, an actuator, and one or more processors. The processor can determine a position of the touch using the sensor and select a haptic effect to generate based at least in part on the position, the haptic effect selected to simulate the presence of a feature at or near the determined position. Some features are simulated by varying the coefficient of friction of the touch surface.

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.