Abstract: A haptic conversion system is provided that intercepts frames of audio data, such as a digital audio signal, converts the frames into a haptic signal, and plays the created haptic signal through an actuator to produce haptic effects. The haptic signal is based on a maximum value of each audio data frame, which defines a magnitude of the haptic signal. The haptic signal is applied to the actuator configured to receive the haptic signal, where the actuator utilizes the haptic signal to generate the one or more haptic effects.

Abstract: A feedback control system is provided. The feedback control system receives a user input. The feedback control system determines a context. The feedback control system displays a control in response to the user input and based on the context. The feedback control system adjusts a feedback parameter according to the control, where the control is configured to adjust feedback output to a user based on the adjusted feedback parameter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for shifting haptic feedback function between passive and active modes are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes receiving a first signal from a sensor, the first signal associated with a mode of interaction with a graphical user interface; receiving a second signal associated with an interaction with the graphical user interface; determining a haptic feedback effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction with the graphical user interface and the interaction with the graphical user interface; and generating a haptic signal configured to output the haptic feedback effect.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optical transmission of haptic display parameters are disclosed. One disclosed method includes receiving an image signal from an image sensor, the image signal associated with an image, determining a haptic signal based at least in part on the image signal, generating a haptic effect signal based at least in part on the haptic signal, and transmitting the haptic effect signal to a haptic output device.

Abstract: Products and processes for providing multimodal feedback in a user interface device are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus comprises a manipulandum and an actuator in communication with the manipulandum. In one embodiment, the actuator may be operable to provide haptic feedback to the manipulandum and to produce an audible sound correlated with the haptic feedback.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods of transferring/storing digital content, and/or providing haptic feedback via wearable devices directly or indirectly responsive to an event such as a communication, an event occurring in an electronic environment and/or physical environment, the transfer of digital content, and/or other events. Wearable devices may be worn at various locations on a body of the user. Each location may be associated with a wearable device. Different haptic feedback may be provided at different locations based on the event such that the events may be distinguished or otherwise identified based on the location at which haptic feedback is provided. The locations may be stored in a configuration of wearable devices that act as a mapping of the wearable devices. The locations and/or haptic feedback itself may be varied based on the context and/or properties such as size of digital content or status of the transfer.

Abstract: Devices disclosed herein include a housing component, a touch screen, a haptic actuator for moving the touch screen relative to the housing component, and at least one dual stiffness suspension system that couples the touch screen and housing component together such that the touch screen is movable relative to the housing component. The dual stiffness suspension system has a first element of a first stiffness and a second element of a second stiffness which is stiffer than the first stiffness. The dual stiffness suspension system is configured to limit movement between the touch screen and the housing component in a first direction due to the first element of the dual stiffness suspension system while also being configured to allow movement of the touch screen relative to the housing component in a second opposing direction due to the second element of the dual stiffness suspension system.

Abstract: A system includes a sensor configured to sense an input received from a user at a surface; a first haptic output device configured to generate a first haptic effect at the surface based on the input received from the user, the first haptic effect comprising a friction effect at the surface; a second haptic output device configured to generate a second haptic effect, the second haptic effect comprising vibrotactile feedback; and a processor configured to receive an input signal from the sensor and output a first drive signal to the first haptic output device to generate the first haptic effect and to output a second drive signal to the second haptic output device to generate the second haptic effect.

Abstract: A user interface device includes a housing, a user input element supported by the housing, and a haptic output device supported by the housing. The haptic output device is configured to generate a haptic effect at a surface of the user interface device. The surface is part of the housing and/or the user input element. A processor disposed within the housing. The processor is configured to receive an input command from the user input element, communicate the input command to a host computer, receive an output command from the host computer, and output a haptic signal based on the output command to the haptic output device to generate the haptic effect at the surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for piezo-based haptic feedback are disclosed. For example, one described apparatus for piezo-based haptic feedback includes a polymer matrix, and a piezoelectric actuator at least partially embedded within the polymer matrix, the piezoelectric actuator configured to output a haptic effect.

Abstract: A user input device includes a housing, a user input element adapted to be operated by a user and configured to send a signal to a processor when operated by the user, and an actuator coupled to the user input element. The actuator is configured to receive a control signal from the processor and output a haptic effect to the user input element in response to the control signal from the processor. A vibration isolation barrier is disposed between the user input element and the housing, wherein the vibration isolation barrier substantially mechanically isolates the user input element from the housing. The user input element may be a joystick, button, or trigger.

Abstract: A system that generates a dynamic haptic effect for a dynamic event receives a first endpoint and a second endpoint for dynamic events. The first endpoint includes a first endpoint value and a corresponding first haptic effect, and the second endpoint includes a second endpoint value and a corresponding second haptic effect. The system receives a dynamic value for the dynamic event. The dynamic value is between the first endpoint value and the second endpoint value. The system then determines the dynamic haptic effect from the dynamic value by interpolating the dynamic haptic effect from the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect.

Abstract: Haptic information in a series of frames of a media file is identified and time stamps corresponding thereto are determined in accordance with information embedded in a tag either preceding or appending the media file. The haptic effect information is automatically synchronized to the media file based on the information in one or more frames of the tag, whereby an actuator outputs the defined haptic effects in the tag in a manner synchronized with corresponding audio and/or video content of the media file.

Abstract: Products and processes for providing haptic feedback in a user interface device are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a process comprises defining a first cell, mapping a first location of a matrix with the defined first cell, and mapping a second location of the matrix with the defined first cell. The first cell comprises a first parameter representing a first haptic effect.

Abstract: A user input element includes a first part having a first capacitive surface, a second part having a second capacitive surface configured to be movable relative to the first capacitive surface, and an insulator positioned in between the first capacitive surface and the second capacitive surface so that a haptic effect is generated when the second capacitive surface is moved relative to the first capacitive surface from a first position to a second position. The user input element may be part of a haptic feedback interface system configured to provide haptic effects to a user operating the system.

Abstract: Interactive gaming systems and methods with haptic feedback are described. One described apparatus comprises: a portable manipulandum configured to simulate an element associated with a sports activity; a sensor in communication with the portable manipulandum and configured to detect a movement of the portable manipulandum; an actuator disposed in the portable manipulandum; and a processor in communication with the sensor and the actuator. The processor is configured to receive a sensor signal from the sensor associated with the movement of the portable manipulandum and to output a control signal to the actuator based at least in part on the sensor signal. The control signal is configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic feedback associated with the movement of the portable manipulandum, e.g., simulating an impact between the portable manipulandum and an object.

Abstract: A system that generates a haptic effect generates a drive cycle signal that includes a drive period and a monitoring period. The drive period includes a plurality of drive pulses that are based on the haptic effect. The system applies the drive pulses to a resonant actuator during the drive period and receives a signal from the resonant actuator that corresponds to the position of a mass in the actuator during the monitoring period.

Abstract: A system that generates haptic effects on a haptically-enabled device determines an orientation of the haptically-enabled device and obtains one or more haptic effect channels. The system then assigns each of the haptic effect channels to a haptic output device on the haptically-enabled device based on the orientation.

Abstract: A system that produces a haptic effect and generates a drive signal that includes at least two haptic effect signals each having a priority level. The haptic effect is a combination of the haptic effect signals and priority levels. The haptic effect may optionally be a combination of the two haptic effect signals if the priority levels are the same, otherwise only the haptic effect signal with the highest priority is used. The frequency of haptic notifications may also be used to generate a drive signal using foreground and background haptic effect channels depending on whether the frequency ratio exceeds a foreground haptic effect threshold.