Abstract: A system and method for generating a haptic feedback signal correlated to a music signal and providing the haptic feedback signal to a musical instrument. The music signal can created by the musical instrument or from a file, e.g., a MIDI file. A processor can generate the haptic feedback signal using a look-up table in which the music signal is mapped to a corresponding haptic feedback signal or can compute the corresponding haptic feedback signal based on the parameters of the music signal. The processor provides the haptic feedback signal to an actuator for causing a haptic effect at the musical instrument in response to receiving the haptic feedback signal. The haptic feedback signal can be applied to an input member, such as a key on a keyboard or a string on a guitar, or to the housing of the musical instrument, such as the neck of a guitar.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling vibrotactile sensations for haptic feedback devices. An actuator in a haptic feedback device includes a rotatable eccentric mass, and information is received at the haptic feedback device causing a drive signal. The drive signal controls the actuator to oscillate the mass in two directions about an axis of rotation of the actuator such that the oscillation of the mass induces a vibration in the haptic feedback device. The magnitude and frequency of the vibration can be independently controlled by adjusting a magnitude and a frequency, respectively, of the drive signal. The vibrations can also be provided in a bi-directional mode or uni-directional mode to provide the most efficient magnitude of the vibrotactile sensations. The haptic feedback device can be, for example, a gamepad controller receiving commands from a host computer providing a graphical environment.

Abstract: A haptic control device for use in control-by-wire systems in vehicles. The haptic shift device includes a manipulandum manipulatable by a user. At least one sensor detects a position of the manipulandum. At least one electrically-controlled actuator outputs a force on the shift lever. In some embodiments, the manipulandum is moveable within a pattern and is blocked from areas outside the boundaries of the pattern. The actuator(s) can be active or passive, and/or a variable mechanical gate can be used to implement the pattern. Provided modes can include automatic, manual, and/or sequential modes.

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 haptic message transmission are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of receiving a sensor signal from a sensor configured to sense a physical interaction with a messaging device, determining a virtual force based at least in part on the sensor signal, and applying the virtual force to a virtual message object within a virtual message environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mapping message contents to virtual physical properties for vibrotactile messaging are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of receiving a sensor signal from a sensor, the sensor configured to detect an interaction with a messaging device, determining a virtual physical property of a virtual message object based at least in part on the sensor signal, determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the virtual physical parameter; and generating a haptic signal configured to cause an actuator to output the haptic effect.

Abstract: Systems and methods for physics-based tactile messaging are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of receiving a sensor signal from a sensor configured to sense a physical interaction with a messaging device; determining an interaction between one or more virtual message objects and a virtual message environment, the interaction based at least in part on the sensor signal and a virtual physical parameter of at least one of the one or more virtual message objects; and determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the interaction. The method additionally includes the step of generating a haptic signal configured to cause an actuator to output the haptic effect.

Abstract: Implementations of modular tools and methods of operating modular tools are described in the present disclosure. A modular tool according to one of several possible embodiments comprises a handle portion and a distal portion. The handle portion is configured to be manipulated by a user. The distal portion is configured to be attached to the handle portion, but is further configured to be removable from the handle portion by the user. Manipulation of the handle portion causes movement of one or more components of the distal portion. The distal portion is further configured to sense one or more parameters and transmit the sensed parameters to the handle portion.

Abstract: The invention consists in a system for detection in real time of interactions between a user and an augmented reality scene, the interactions resulting from the modification of the appearance of an object present in the image. After having created (110) and processed (115) a reference model in an initialization phase (100), the pose of the object in the image is determined (135) and a comparison model is extracted from the image (160). The reference and comparison models are compared (170), as a function of said determined pose of the object, and, in response to the comparison step, the interactions are detected.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring motion parameters of an object are described in the present disclosure. In one embodiment among many, a sensor, coupled to a housing, senses motion associated with the housing and provides a sensor output based on the sensed motion. A processing device receives the sensor output, accumulates counts associated with the sensor output, and provides an output once a threshold associated with the accumulated counts is reached. A vibrotactile device, that receives the output from the processing device, provides a haptic output in response to the output from the processing device. In one embodiment among many, a toothbrush is described as a monitoring mechanism for monitoring a plurality of brush strokes that a user executes with the toothbrush. The monitoring mechanism is incorporated in the handle of the toothbrush. The monitoring mechanism may be used to provide an alert once a sufficient number of brush strokes is achieved.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing haptic feedback to a touch surface are described herein. In one embodiment, among many, a layered structure comprises a first conducting layer electrically coupled to a first terminal of a power source and a second conducting layer electrically coupled to a second terminal of the power source. The layered structure also comprises a spacing layer electrically isolating the first conducting layer from the second conducting layer. Also, an actuation layer is positioned between the first conducting layer and the second conducting layer. The actuation layer includes a material that reacts to an electrical stimulus.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a resonant device are described. One described method for braking an actuator includes generating a first actuator signal configured to drive the actuator, the first actuator signal having a first frequency approximately resonant to the actuator, and transmitting the first actuator signal to the actuator. The method also includes generating a second actuator signal, having a second frequency approximately 180 degrees out of phase to the first frequency, the second actuator signal configured to cause a braking force on the actuator, and transmitting the second actuator signal to the actuator.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing peer-to-peer force feedback over a computer network. A network force feedback system includes a network, a first computer coupled to the network, and a second computer coupled to the network. The first and second computers each include a visual display and a force feedback interface device. Each computer provides a force feedback signal to its force feedback device based on information received from the other, remote computer and in some cases also based on input from the local force feedback device. Positional information of each force feedback device and/or feel sensation information can be transmitted between the computers over the network. A graphical environment can be displayed to enhance the interaction between users. The present invention therefore permits two computer users to interact using force feedback provided over a network on a peer-to-peer basis.

Abstract: A system generates a haptic effect that simulates a mechanical button. The system receives a signal that indicates that a user has contacted a user interface of the system. The system includes an impact actuator. In response to the signal, a moving element of the impact actuator contacts the user interface, which generates the haptic effect.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for developing a notification framework for presenting notification information to a user of an electronic device. One embodiment of a method, among others, includes receiving input from physical sensors located in proximity to an electronic device and receiving input from one or more other electronic devices in proximity to the electronic device. The method further comprises assessing a context of the electronic device from the received input. A notification framework is then determined from the assessed context. The method also includes notifying a user of the electronic device of a detected event associated with the electronic device. Notifying the user includes notifying the user within the notification framework.

Abstract: Vibrotactile haptic feedback devices are disclosed. For example, in one embodiment, a device includes: a mass, an actuator configured to vibrate the mass, and a coupling disposed between the actuator and the mass or between the mass and a housing, the coupling having a first configuration with a compliance and a second configuration with a compliance, the compliance of the coupling in the first configuration being different from the compliance of the coupling in the second configuration, the actuator being configured to output haptic feedback associated with the first configuration of the coupling and haptic feedback associated with the second configuration of the coupling, the haptic feedback associated with the first configuration of the coupling being different from the haptic feedback associated with the second configuration of the coupling.

Abstract: An apparatus for interfacing the movement of a shaft with a computer includes a support, a gimbal mechanism having two degrees of freedom, and three electromechanical transducers. When a shaft is engaged with the gimbal mechanism, it can move with three degrees of freedom in a spherical coordinate space, where each degree of freedom is sensed by one of the three transducers. A fourth transducer can be used to sense rotation of the shaft around an axis.

Abstract: A touch panel system that sanitizes a touch panel surface includes a substrate coupled to the touch panel surface. The system further includes an impedance interface coupled to the touch panel surface and a vibration source coupled to the impedance interface. The vibration source vibrates the substrate to generate pressure waves which destroy contaminants on the touch panel surface.

Abstract: A force feedback system provides components for use in a force feedback system including a host computer and a force feedback interface device. An architecture for a host computer allows multi-tasking application programs to interface with the force feedback device without conflicts. One embodiment of a force feedback device provides both relative position reporting and absolute position reporting to allow great flexibility. A different device embodiment provides relative position reporting device allowing maximum compatibility with existing software. Information such as ballistic parameters and screen size sent from the host to the force feedback device allow accurate mouse positions and graphical object positions to be determined in the force feedback environment. Force feedback effects and structures are further described, such as events and enclosures.

Abstract: Triggering haptic sensations based on sound output from a computer device. A portion of sound data is stored that is output to a user as audio from an application program running on a computer. The portion of sound data is analyzed using intelligent heuristics to extract at least one sound feature from the sound data. The execution of at least one haptic effect is triggered based on the sound feature, where the haptic effect is commanded to the haptic feedback device approximately correlated to the output of the portion of sound to the user as audio. The haptic effect causes a haptic sensation to be output to the user. Different haptic effects can be associated with different sound features, frequency ranges, amplitudes, etc.