Abstract: A system provides haptic surround functionality. The system determines a location of a virtual event in a virtual environment. The system also determines a location of a first virtual body area of a virtual user in the virtual environment based on a location of a first body area of a user, where the first body area corresponds to the first virtual body area. The system then determines a first haptic effect based on the virtual event, the location of the virtual event in the virtual environment, and the location of the first virtual body area of the virtual user in the virtual environment. The system outputs the first haptic effect by a first haptic output device to the first body area of the user.

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 providing haptic effects with airflow and thermal stimulation are disclosed. One illustrative system described herein includes a haptic output device comprising a thermal actuator and a processor communicatively coupled to the haptic output device and configured to: receive a sensor signal from at least one sensor, determine a heat flux property based in part on the display signal or a predefined parameter, determine a haptic effect based in part on the heat flux property and the sensor signal, the heat flux property being representative of a rate of change of temperature, and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device.

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: The disclosure relates to systems and methods of providing haptic feedback based on media content and one or more external parameters used to customize the haptic feedback. The system may modify or otherwise alter haptic feedback that is determined using the media content alone. In other words, the system may use both the media content and the external parameters to determine haptic feedback that should be output to the user or others. The external parameters may include, for example, sensor information, customization information, and/or other external parameters that may be used to customize the haptic feedback.

Abstract: Systems and methods for pre-touch and true touch are disclosed. For example, in one described system for pre-touch and true touch includes a touch-sensitive interface configured to detect a user interaction and transmit a first interface signal based at least in part on the user interaction. The system also includes a processor in communication with the touch-sensitive interface and configured to receive the first interface signal and determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the first interface signal. The processor is further configured to preload a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The system also includes a cache in communication with the processor and configured to store the preloaded haptic signal for a time period and then transmit the haptic signal and a haptic effect generator in communication with the cache and configured to receive the haptic signal from the cache and, in response, output a haptic effect based at least in part on the haptic signal.

Abstract: A system provides haptic feedback based on media content. The system processes the media content into components including a first component and a second component. The system further determines a first priority value related to the first component and a second priority value related to the second component. The system further compares the first priority value with the second priority value. The system further generates a first control signal and a second control signal based on the comparison, where the first control signal is configured to cause a first haptic feedback to be output and the second control signal is configured to cause a second haptic feedback to be output that is the same or different than the first haptic feedback.

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: A haptic effect enabled flexible device is presented that includes a flexible frame, a processor, a flexible display and an actuator system. The processor is configured to receive a data stream where the data stream contains visual content. The flexible display is connected to the flexible frame and is designed to display the visual content from the data stream. The actuator system is also connected to the flexible frame and receives drive commands from the processor as a result of the processor executing a plurality of haptic instructions. The drive commands direct the actuator system to deform the flexible device. Execution of the plurality of haptic instructions is synchronized with the display of the visual content on the flexible display device.

Abstract: A method of generating haptic effects on a haptic-enabled device having a control unit and a haptic output device is provided. The method comprises receiving a haptic track that describes a time-varying magnitude envelope for driving the haptic output device to generate a haptic effect. The method further comprises generating a periodic drive signal with a time-varying frequency that is based on magnitude values of the time-varying magnitude envelope described in the haptic track. The method further comprises outputting the periodic drive signal to the haptic output device, to cause the haptic output device to generate the haptic effect based on the periodic drive signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing haptic effects with airflow and thermal stimulation are disclosed. One illustrative system described herein includes a haptic output device comprising a thermal actuator and a processor communicatively coupled to the haptic output device and configured to: receive a sensor signal from at least one sensor, determine a heat flux property based in part on the display signal or a predefined parameter, determine a haptic effect based in part on the heat flux property and the sensor signal, the heat flux property being representative of a rate of change of temperature, and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device.

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: 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 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 multi-user shared virtual and augmented reality-based haptics are disclosed. One illustrative method for multi-user shared virtual and augmented reality-based haptics includes determining a position of an object; determining a viewpoint of at least one observer with respect to the object; determining a haptic effect to be output based at least in part on the position and the viewpoint; and outputting the haptic effect.

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: A haptic device includes a display configured to display an image, a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect to a user when the user interacts with the display, and a processor configured to receive information related to the image displayed on the display. The processor is also configured to create a friction based haptic effect map associated with the image displayed on the display, and generate a signal to the haptic output device to output the haptic effect when the user interacts with the display when the image is displayed on the display, the haptic effect being configured to simulate a feel of the image in three dimensions.

Abstract: A method or system that receives input media including at least video data in which a video event within the video data is detected. Related data that is associated with the detected video event is collected and one or more feature parameters are configured based on the collected related data. The type of video event is determining and a set of feature parameters is selected based on the type of video event. A haptic effect is then automatically generated based on the selected set of feature parameters.

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.