Abstract: A force feedback device includes a base, a working body, a driving assembly, and a transmission structure. The working body includes a key assembly and a working surface. The working surface is disposed on the key assembly. The working body is rotatably connected to the base through a first transmission shaft. The driving assembly is rotatably disposed on the base. The driving assembly is disposed opposite to the working surface. The transmission structure is disposed on the working surface. The transmission structure is in transmission connection with the driving assembly. Compared with the related art, the first transmission shaft of the driving assembly provides forward and reverse rotation to drive the transmission structure to realize force feedback effects, which is compact in overall space, small in friction resistance, and facilitates user experience effect.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating environmental haptic effects in virtual reality are disclosed. One illustrative system described herein includes a sensor for detecting an environmental condition, the environmental condition associated with an environmental haptic effect, and generating a sensor signal. The system also includes a virtual reality display configured to output a virtual reality effect. The system also includes a processor coupled to the sensor and a virtual reality display, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal, determine a modification to the virtual reality effect based in part on the sensor signal, and transmit a display signal associated with the modification to the virtual reality display. Another illustrative system includes a sensor for detecting an environmental condition, the environmental condition associated with an environmental haptic effect, and generating a sensor signal, and a virtual reality display configured to output a virtual reality effect.

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: A support structure includes a fixed frame portion configured to provide a fixed connection point for the support structure. The support structure also includes a suspended frame portion configured to support the interactive device and configured to oscillate in a direction of motion relative to the fixed frame portion due to a force applied to at least one of the fixed frame portion or the suspended frame portion by an actuator configured to provide a haptic effect to the interactive device. Further, the support structure includes one or more support members coupled between the fixed frame portion and the suspended frame portion. The direction of motion is defined by the one or more support members. The one or more support members provide a restoring force that causes the suspended frame portion to undergo harmonic oscillation in the direction of motion in response to the force applied by the actuator.

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: A haptic actuator assembly comprising a fluid reservoir and an actuator is presented. The fluid reservoir may hold a substantially non-compressible fluid, and has a first layer and a second layer that is less rigid than the first layer. The first layer has a first resonance frequency, and the second layer has a lower resonance frequency. The actuator is configured to cause a first vibration in which the first layer vibrates at the first resonance frequency and provides a first amount of displacement or acceleration. The fluid reservoir is configured to transfer a force of the first vibration from the first layer to the second layer to cause a second vibration in which the second layer vibrates at the lower resonance frequency and provides a second, higher amount of displacement or acceleration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for force sensors for haptic surfaces are disclosed. One disclosed system includes a support; a touch surface configured to detect contact with the touch surface and output one or more contact signals indicating a location of the contact; a pivot mechanism coupled to the touch surface and the support, the pivot mechanism enabling the touch surface to rotate about a pivot axis; a sensor positioned to detect a force associated with the contact and to transmit one or more sensor signals indicating the force; a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and a processor in communication with the sensor and the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the processor configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to: receive the one or more sensor signals and the one or more contact signals; and a contact force exerted on the touch surface based on one or more of the contact signals and one or more of the sensor signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating environmental haptic effects in virtual reality are disclosed. One illustrative system described herein includes a sensor for detecting an environmental condition, the environmental condition associated with an environmental haptic effect, and generating a sensor signal. The system also includes a virtual reality display configured to output a virtual reality effect. The system also includes a processor coupled to the sensor and a virtual reality display, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal, determine a modification to the virtual reality effect based in part on the sensor signal, and transmit a display signal associated with the modification to the virtual reality display. Another illustrative system includes a sensor for detecting an environmental condition, the environmental condition associated with an environmental haptic effect, and generating a sensor signal, and a virtual reality display configured to output a virtual reality effect.

Abstract: A user interface device comprising a heat pump, a signal generating circuit, and a control circuit is presented. The control circuit is configured to control the signal generating circuit to generate a driving portion of a driving signal. All of the driving portion has a first polarity and causes the heat pump to generate the thermal effect, and causes heat flux to flow in a first direction. The control circuit is further configured to control the signal generating circuit to generate a braking portion of the driving signal, wherein all of the braking portion of the driving signal has a second polarity opposite the first polarity and causes the heat pump to stop the thermal effect.

Abstract: Friction based kinesthetic actuation systems are provided. The friction based kinesthetic actuator systems include at least a friction based kinesthetic actuation device and a user interface element. One or more actuation beams, including at least a friction head and a smart material element, of the friction based kinesthetic actuation device act on the user interface element. Activation of the smart material element applies or increases a normal force between the friction head and an actuation surface of a user interface element. The normal force allows the generation or increase of a friction force between the friction heads of the actuator and the actuation surface. The friction force between the actuator and the actuation surface of the user interface element generates a kinesthetic effect at the user interface element.

Abstract: A haptic actuator comprising an elongate bladder, a pressure control component, and a constraining structure. The elongate bladder is stretchable along a length dimension thereof. The pressure control component is configured to increase pressure of a fluid in the bladder, which causes a first surface portion of the elongate bladder to stretch along the length dimension thereof. The constraining structure is attached to a second and opposite surface portion of the elongate bladder and is less stretchable than the elongate bladder so as to constrain the second surface portion of the elongate bladder from stretching along the length dimension thereof. When the pressure control component is activated to increase the pressure of the fluid, the constraining structure permits the first surface portion to stretch along the length dimension by a greater amount relative to the second surface portion, which causes the elongate bladder to bend.

Abstract: Examples of externally-activated devices and systems are disclosed. One example system includes a first device having an actuation component; and a second device having a haptic output component, wherein: the first device and the second device are configured to be physically separable from each other; the actuation component is configured to transmit an actuation signal to the haptic output component while the first device and the second device are physically separated from each other, and the haptic output component configured to output a haptic effect in response to receiving the actuation signal and while the first device and the second device are physically separated from each other, the haptic effect based on the actuation signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a controller that includes a housing, a communication interface to receive a haptic effect signal, a haptic actuator to generate a haptic effect based on the haptic effect signal, and a trigger. The haptic actuator is mechanically coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the communication interface. The trigger is mechanically coupled to the housing and the haptic actuator, and includes a rotational coupling at a proximal end, a face, and an end effector at a distal end. The face is configured to engage a first surface of the finger during generation of the haptic effect, and the end effector configured to engage a second surface of the finger during generation of the haptic effect. The present invention effectively provides a haptic effect on the finger in two directions rather than a single direction.

Abstract: An actuator system configured to generate a haptic effect is provided. The actuator system includes a cavity configured to store an incompressible fluid, the cavity being disposed within a first substrate, a piezoelectric actuator disposed within a second substrate, and a diaphragm disposed between the cavity of the first substrate and the piezoelectric actuator of the second substrate.

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: A wearable device for providing haptic effects includes an open ring component configured to abut against to a first portion of a wearer. The open ring component has a C-shaped body with a first end, a second end spaced from and opposed to the first end, and a circumferential opening with a first width when the open ring component is in a non-actuated state. The open ring component includes a first laminate layer, a second laminate layer, and a macro-fiber composite actuator integrally formed with the first laminate layer and the second laminate layer. The macro-fiber composite actuator is configured to receive a command signal from a processor and deform to an actuated state in which the circumferential opening has a second width in response to the command signal to provide a force onto a second portion of the wearer that extends between the first end and the second end of the open ring component.

Abstract: Examples of externally-activated devices and systems are disclosed. One example system includes a first device having an actuation component; and a second device having a haptic output component, wherein: the first device and the second device are configured to be physically separable from each other; the actuation component is configured to transmit an actuation signal to the haptic output component while the first device and the second device are physically separated from each other, and the haptic output component configured to output a haptic effect in response to receiving the actuation signal and while the first device and the second device are physically separated from each other, the haptic effect based on the actuation signal.

Abstract: A haptic accessory apparatus for a virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) environment is presented. The haptic accessory apparatus comprises a conformable body adapted to be attached to a physical object, a haptic output device, a motion sensor configured to track motion of the haptic accessory apparatus, a wireless communication interface unit, a processor, and a power source. The wireless communication unit is configured to wirelessly communicate sensor information from the motion sensor to a computer system configured to execute an application that provides the VR or AR environment, and to receive a signal from the computer system that indicates the haptic accessory apparatus is to output a haptic effect, wherein the haptic output device is configured to output the haptic effect based on the signal.

Abstract: One example device according to this disclosure includes a housing sized to be grasped by a hand; a shape-change element disposed at least partially within the housing; and a plurality of actuators disposed within the housing, the plurality of actuators arranged to rotate and translate the shape-change element. An example method for multi-degree-of-freedom shape-changing devices includes determining a shape-change haptic effect to output to a shape-change device, the shape-change device comprising a housing and at least one shape-change element disposed at least partially within the housing, the shape-change haptic effect comprising a translation and a rotation of the shape-change element; generating a haptic signal based on the shape-change haptic effect; and transmitting the haptic signal to one or more actuators of a plurality of actuators to cause the shape-change haptic effect, the plurality of actuators arranged to translate and rotate the shape-change element.

Abstract: Examples of externally-activated devices and systems are disclosed. One example system includes a first device having an actuation component; and a second device having a haptic output component, wherein: the first device and the second device are configured to be physically separable from each other; the actuation component is configured to transmit an actuation signal to the haptic output component while the first device and the second device are physically separated from each other, and the haptic output component configured to output a haptic effect in response to receiving the actuation signal and while the first device and the second device are physically separated from each other, the haptic effect based on the actuation signal.