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 for stabilizing a magnetic field of an inertial measurement unit (IMU), is provided that includes initializing accelerometer and gyroscope (AG) heading data for the IMU and initializing accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer (AGM) heading data for the IMU. Determining whether a tracking state exists and completing processing of the AG heading data and the AGM heading data if the tracking state does not exist. Calculating a magnetic field error if the tracking state exists.

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: Systems, devices, and methods for encoding haptic tracks are provided. A method includes receiving the haptic track, and identifying, within the haptic track, at least one of first portions of the haptic track that are representative of haptic silences or second portions that are representative of haptic effects. The method includes segmenting the haptic track into haptic silence chunks associated with one or more of the first portions that are sequentially positioned in the haptic track and haptic effects chunks associated with one or more of the second portions that are sequentially positioned in the haptic track. The method includes generating an encoded haptic track comprising at least one of a haptic silence block or a haptic effect block. The method includes outputting the encoded haptic track for playback. Numerous other aspects are provided.

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: An encoder operable to filter audio signals into a plurality of frequency band components, generate quantized digital components for each band, identify a potential for pre-echo events within the generated quantized digital components, generate an approximate signal by decoding the quantized digital components using inverse pulse code modulation, generate an error signal by comparing the approximate signal with the sampled audio signal, and process the error signal and quantized digital components. The encoder operable to process the error signal by processing delayed audio signals and Q band values, determining the potential for pre-echo events from the Q band values, and determining scale factors and MDCT block sizes for the potential for pre-echo events.

Abstract: A method for encoding an audio signal, comprising using one or more algorithms operating on a processor to filter the audio signal into two output signals, wherein each output signal has a sampling rate that is equal to a sampling rate of the audio signal, and wherein one of the output signals includes high frequency data. Using one or more algorithms operating on the processor to window the high frequency data by selecting a set of the high frequency data. Using one or more algorithms operating on the processor to determine a set of linear predictive coding (LPC) coefficients for the windowed data. Using one or more algorithms operating on the processor to generate energy scale values for the windowed data. Using one or more algorithms operating on the processor to generate an encoded high frequency bitstream.

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: Methods and apparatuses that accept user input of motion and produce a representation of the motion smoothly and compactly. The present invention provides a method that comprises accepting a plurality of positional data with corresponding times of the motion, determining one or more continuous positional functions that together represent an approximation of path of the positional data, and determining, for each positional function, one or more time functions that together represent an approximation of the times for the positional data corresponding to the positional functions.

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: An encoder operable to filter audio signals into a plurality of frequency band components, generate quantized digital components for each band, identify a potential for pre-echo events within the generated quantized digital components, generate an approximate signal by decoding the quantized digital components using inverse pulse code modulation, generate an error signal by comparing the approximate signal with the sampled audio signal, and process the error signal and quantized digital components. The encoder operable to process the error signal by processing delayed audio signals and Q band values, determining the potential for pre-echo events from the Q band values, and determining scale factors and MDCT block sizes for the potential for pre-echo events.

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.