Abstract: Systems and methods that dynamically render etching inputs are provided, and include a touch surface having a sensor and configured to detect user input, and a non-transitory memory, wherein the non-transitory memory includes instructions for capturing an etching input that is applied to an image or video file, determining a haptic effect that corresponds to the etching input, the haptic effect depending on a type of etching input, and transmitting a modified image or modified video file that includes the etching input and the haptic effect.

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: A flexible haptic actuator and corresponding method. The flexible haptic actuator comprises a core formed with a flexible material. The core defines a volume and is bendable. An electrical conductor is coiled around the core and is bendable. A casing surrounds the electrical conductor and at least a part of the core. The casing includes a plurality of flexible sections and a plurality of stiff sections. The casing is bendable. A haptic mass is suspended in the volume, the haptic mass being at least partially formed with a magnetic material. The haptic mass is movable in the volume in response to the electrical conductor generating a magnetic field.

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 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: Systems and methods for designing haptics using speech commands are disclosed. One illustrative system described herein includes: a processor configured to: receive an audio signal from an audio capture device, the audio signal associated with vocal user interaction; determine a haptic effect based in part on the audio signal, the haptic effect configured to be output by a haptic output device; and store the haptic effect on a data store.

Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes an audio input device configured to detect an audio input and transmit an audio signal associated with the audio input. The illustrative system also includes a haptic trigger device which includes a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to transmit a sensor signal associated with an event. Further, the illustrative system includes a processor in communication with the audio input device and the haptic trigger device, the processor configured to: receive the audio signal; receive the sensor signal substantially simultaneously to receiving the audio signal; record the audio signal to an audio track; and insert a haptic effect marker into a haptic track based in part on the sensor signal, wherein the haptic track and the audio track are associated with a video.

Abstract: A system includes a flexible display configured to display an image and a sensor connected to the flexible display. The sensor is configured to sense an amount of flexure of the flexible display. A haptic output device is connected to the flexible display and is configured to change a resistance to movement of a first portion of the flexible display relative to a second portion of the flexible display upon receipt of a haptic control signal. The system includes a processor in signal communication with the flexible display, the sensor and the haptic output device. The processor is configured to receive an output signal from the sensor based on the amount of flexure and generate the haptic control signal based on the output signal from the sensor.

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: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a processor configured to determine a haptic effect and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative system also includes a multifunction haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect. The multifunction haptic output device includes a single haptic actuator.

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 system with a touchscreen generates haptic effects in response to a manipulation of text displayed on the touchscreen. The system senses a touch within the text, and determines if the touch is a manipulation of the text, and determines the type of the manipulation. The system then generates a type of haptic event that is based at least in part on the type of the manipulation that was determined.

Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a computing device with a macro fiber composite (MFC) element coupled to a touch surface of the computing device. The MFC element is attached to the touch surface at a particular location and detects a pressure associated with a contact on the touch surface at the location of the MFC element and transmits a signal indicating the pressure to a processor. The processor determines a haptic effect based on the pressure and transmits a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the MFC, which outputs the haptic effect to the location of the touch surface based on the haptic signal.

Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a processor configured to determine an electrostatic force (ESF)-based haptic effect and transmit a haptic signal associated with the ESF-based haptic effect. The illustrative system also includes an ESF controller in communication with the processor, the ESF controller configured to receive the haptic signal, determine an ESF signal based at least in part on the haptic signal, and transmit the ESF signal. The illustrative system further includes a surface configured to contact a user, and an ESF device coupled to the surface and in communication with the ESF controller, the ESF device configured to receive the ESF signal and output the ESF-based haptic effect on the surface.

Abstract: The present application relates generally to haptic actuators. For example, the application is directed to high performance parallel plate actuators, and more particularly an actuator that can be used to provide haptic feedback in a variety applications such as buttons, panels, track pads, touch panels, wearables, gaming devices and/or touch-sensitive surfaces.

Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a sensor configured to detect a user interaction with a touch surface and transmit a sensor signal including data associated with a pressure of the user interaction. The illustrative system also includes a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal; determine, based on the sensor signal, a pressure level; determine a user interface level based at least in part on the pressure level; perform a function associated with the user interface level and the user interaction; determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the user interface level and the user interaction; generate a haptic signal based at least in part on the haptic effect; and transmit the haptic signal. The illustrative system further includes a haptic output device in configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.

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: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes an enclosure configured to define a boundary of a chamber, the chamber including a material, and a flexible layer coupled overtop of the chamber and configured to enclose the chamber. The illustrative system also includes a first actuation device configured to receive a first haptic signal and responsively output a first haptic effect by changing a characteristic of the material to deform the flexible layer. The illustrative system also includes a second actuation device configured to receive a second haptic signal and responsively output a second haptic effect by applying an electrical signal to the flexible layer. The illustrative system further includes a processor in communication with the first actuation device and the second actuation device. The processor is configured to transmit the first haptic signal to the first actuation device and the second haptic signal to the second actuation device.

Abstract: A system includes an image capture device configured to capture images, and a processor programmed with one or more computer program modules. When executed, the one or more computer program modules are configured to receive the images captured by the image capture device, generate a control signal for a haptic output device as the images are received, synchronize the images and the control signal, and output a video with the synchronized images and the control signal.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to fiber actuators for providing haptic feedback, and haptic actuation resulting from mechanical and/or electrostatic (non-mechanical) interactions with the fiber actuators. Such fiber actuators are useful in structural materials, including as elements of wearables or accessories.