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 haptic peripheral includes a housing, a deformable substrate coupled to the housing to be moveable thereto, and a smart material actuator coupled to a surface of the deformable substrate. The smart material actuator produces a force that deforms the deformable substrate relative to the housing in response to the control signal from a processor to thereby provide a haptic effect to a user of the haptic peripheral. The deformable substrate includes at least one user contact portion configured to contact the user and two opposing hinges. The deformable substrate also includes at least two stiff arms, each stiff arm extending between the user contact portion and one of the two opposing hinges. The stiff arms are relatively stiffer than the user contact portion and the hinges such that the deformable substrate is configured to increase the deformation of the deformable substrate relative to the housing.

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: This disclosure relates to a smart material for providing haptic feedback, as well as haptic actuators, and suitably haptic actuation resulting from electroactive materials. Such haptic actuators are useful in structural materials, including as elements of wearables or accessories.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating haptic effects associated with audio signals are disclosed. One disclosed system for outputting haptic effects includes a processor configured to: receive an audio signal; determine a haptic effect based in part on the audio signal by: identifying one or more components in the audio signal; and determining a haptic effect associated with the one or more components; and output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.

Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a computing device with an electrostatic force (“ESF”) haptic output device coupled to a surface of the computing device. The ESF haptic output device comprises a signal electrode that includes an insulation layer and a conductive layer positioned proximate to the insulation layer and the conductive layer is electrically coupled to a voltage supply to receive an amount of voltage for generating an ESF haptic effect, which can include a dynamic ESF haptic effect or a static ESF haptic effect. The ESF haptic output device can output the ESF haptic effect to the surface of the computing device to which the ESF haptic output device is coupled.

Abstract: An electromagnetic haptic actuator comprises a first planar magnetic layer and a second planar magnetic layer. The first planar magnetic layer comprises a first substrate and a first planar conductive coil formed on the first substrate. The second planar magnetic layer comprises a planar magnet and spaced adjacent to the first planar magnetic layer with a gap in between the first planar magnetic layer and second planar magnetic layer. At least one of the first and second planar magnetic layers is flexible such that a portion of the first planar magnetic layer and a portion of the second planar magnetic layers are movable relative to each other.

Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a first haptic output device configured to receive a first haptic signal and output a first haptic effect to a deformable surface and a second haptic output device configured to receive a second haptic signal and output a second haptic effect to the deformable surface. The illustrative system further includes a processor coupled to the first haptic output device and the second haptic output device, the processor configured to: determine an event, determine a first haptic effect and a second haptic effect based at least in part on the event, transmit a first haptic signal associated with the first haptic effect to the first haptic output device, and transmit a second haptic signal associated with the second haptic effect to the second haptic output device.

Abstract: A haptic actuator is presented. The haptic actuator has an electropermanent magnet having a deactivated state and an activated state for a net magnetic field thereof. A layer of ferromagnetic material or magneto-active polymer is located opposite an end of the electropermanent magnet, and is configured to generate a haptic effect by being actuated toward the end of the electropermanent magnet in response to the net magnetic field of the electropermanent magnet being in the activated state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating haptic effects associated with envelopes in audio signals are disclosed. One disclosed system for outputting haptic effects includes a processor configured to: receive an audio signal; determine an envelope associated with the audio signal; determine a haptic effect based in part on the envelope; and output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect.

Abstract: An interface device configured to provide an electrostatic friction (ESF) effect is disclosed. The interface device comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed at a surface of the interface device. It further comprises a signal generating circuit configured to generate a first drive signal at an output of the signal generating circuit, and comprises a plurality of frequency filter units or delay elements electrically connected to the signal generating circuit and to the plurality of electrodes. The interface device further comprises a control unit configured to use the plurality of frequency filter units or delay elements: (i) to cause only a subset of one or more electrodes of the plurality of electrodes to output one or more respective ESF effects with the first drive signal, or (ii) to cause at least two electrodes to output respective ESF effects with the first drive signal in different respective manners.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for providing haptic effects based on information complementary to multimedia content. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of receiving multimedia data comprising multimedia content and complementary data, wherein the complementary data describes the multimedia content, determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the complementary data, and outputting the haptic effect while playing the multimedia content.

Abstract: Examples of externally-activated devices and systems are disclosed. One example system includes a first device having an actuation component; and a second device having a haptic output component, wherein: the first device and the second device are configured to be physically separable from each other; the actuation component is configured to transmit an actuation signal to the haptic output component while the first device and the second device are physically separated from each other, and the haptic output component configured to output a haptic effect in response to receiving the actuation signal and while the first device and the second device are physically separated from each other, the haptic effect based on the actuation signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using textures in graphical user interface widgets are disclosed.

Abstract: A haptic peripheral includes a housing with a frame having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced apart windows, a plurality of deformable membranes positioned within the plurality of circumferentially-spaced apart windows, and a haptic output device disposed within the housing and coupled to the plurality of deformable membranes. The haptic output device includes a motor, a converter, and a plurality of radially-extending pins. Each radially-extending pin has a first end attached to the converter and a second opposing end attached to a deformable membrane. The motor is configured to receive a control signal from a processor and is configured to rotate relative to the housing in response to the control signal. The converter converts rotary motion of the motor to linear motion to move the plurality of radially-extending pins to thereby radially extend the deformable membranes relative to the housing and provide a haptic effect to a user of the haptic peripheral.

Abstract: A system for authoring one or more haptic effects using a haptic effect authoring tool receives a haptification model that is based on a predetermined haptic effect style. The system receives an input that includes at least one of audio and video and a plurality of events. The system then, using the haptification model, recommends a haptic effect to be associated with a corresponding event from the input.

Abstract: Systems and methods for haptic feedback using laterally driven piezoelectric actuators are disclosed. For example, one described apparatus for haptic feedback using laterally driven piezoelectric actuators includes: a base; a touch-sensitive interface comprising an interface surface, the touch-sensitive interface affixed to the base and configured to move in a direction lateral to the interface surface; and a piezoelectric actuator mounted to the base and to the touch-sensitive interface and configured to receive a haptic signal and output a force in a direction lateral to the interface surface.

Abstract: A haptic representation system is provided that generates a haptic effect in response to sensor input. The sensor input is mapped to a haptic signal. The haptic signal is sent to an actuator configured to receive the haptic signal. The actuator utilizes the haptic signal to generate the haptic effect.

Abstract: A haptic actuator device includes a surface with a mechanical property responsive to localized temperature changes. The surface can include a layer or sheet comprising a shape-memory material. The haptic actuator device can further include an actuator configured to selectively deform a plurality of regions in the sheet; and a temperature controller adapted to control the temperatures of the plurality of regions. A method of localized actuation includes selectively controlling the temperatures of the plurality of regions to be above a shape-memory transition temperature of the shape-memory material; selectively deforming at least one of the regions; while maintaining the deformation of the at least one region, lowering the temperature of the at least one region to below the shape-memory transition temperature; subsequently withdrawing the applied stress; and thereafter heating the at least one region to above the shape-memory transition temperature, causing the region to return to its pre-deformation shape.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to haptic actuators, and suitably haptic actuators based on repulsion and attraction between a coil and a magnet. Such haptic actuators are useful in structural materials, such as elements of wearables or accessories.