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: 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: A touch input system comprising a touch input device and an actuation and sensing system is presented. The actuation and sensing system has a transfer structure adjacent to a first surface of the touch input device, the transfer structure having a first portion and a beam extending from an edge of the first portion. The actuation and sensing system further has a transducer patch disposed on the beam. The transfer structure is configured to transfer forces between the touch input device and the transducer patch, such that movement of the touch input device by an external force causes deformation of the beam and of the transducer patch, and such that actuation output by the transducer patch causes movement of the touch input device. The transducer patch has a layer of transducer material that is configured to act as a sensor, and is configured to act as an actuator.

Abstract: A haptic-enabled user interface device comprising a user input component, an elastomer suspension, a signal generating circuit, a signal sensing circuit, one or more switches, and a control unit is presented. The elastomer suspension is formed by at least one stack that includes an elastomeric layer, wherein the at least one stack forms at least one capacitor. The control unit is configured, in an actuation mode, to cause the one or more switches to electrically connect the signal generating circuit to the at least one capacitor and to electrically disconnect the signal sensing circuit from at least one capacitor, and to cause the signal generating circuit to apply a drive signal to the at least one capacitor. The control unit is further configured, in a sensing mode, to cause the one or more switches to electrically connect the signal sensing circuit to the at least one capacitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a controller that includes a housing, a communication interface to receive a haptic effect signal, a haptic actuator to generate a haptic effect based on the haptic effect signal, and a trigger. The haptic actuator is mechanically coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the communication interface. The trigger is mechanically coupled to the housing and the haptic actuator, and includes a rotational coupling at a proximal end, a face, and an end effector at a distal end. The face is configured to engage a first surface of the finger during generation of the haptic effect, and the end effector configured to engage a second surface of the finger during generation of the haptic effect. The present invention effectively provides a haptic effect on the finger in two directions rather than a single direction.

Abstract: An actuator system configured to generate a haptic effect is provided. The actuator system includes a cavity configured to store an incompressible fluid, the cavity being disposed within a first substrate, a piezoelectric actuator disposed within a second substrate, and a diaphragm disposed between the cavity of the first substrate and the piezoelectric actuator of the second substrate.

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: 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: 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 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: A haptic-enabled user interface device comprising a user input component, an elastomer suspension, a signal generating circuit, a signal sensing circuit, one or more switches, and a control unit is presented. The elastomer suspension is formed by at least one stack that includes an elastomeric layer, wherein the at least one stack forms at least one capacitor. The control unit is configured, in an actuation mode, to cause the one or more switches to electrically connect the signal generating circuit to the at least one capacitor and to electrically disconnect the signal sensing circuit from at least one capacitor, and to cause the signal generating circuit to apply a drive signal to the at least one capacitor. The control unit is further configured, in a sensing mode, to cause the one or more switches to electrically connect the signal sensing circuit to the at least one capacitor.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to conformable displays, including macro-fiber composite (MFC) actuators. The MFC actuators are configured to displace the conformable displays in a linear direction. The conformable displays can be thin, flexible and deformable.

Abstract: A haptic enabled device that is configured to render one or more haptic effects is provided. The haptic enabled device includes an actuator and a plurality of user input elements. Each of the plurality of user input elements is configured to be selectively coupled to the actuator. In addition, the actuator is configured to be positioned to render the one or more haptic effects at each of the plurality of user input elements.

Abstract: A haptic actuator having a housing, a moveable mass, and first, second, and third electromagnets is disclosed. The first electromagnet is fixed to the housing. The moveable mass is suspended in the housing and at least partially surrounding the first electromagnet. The moveable mass has ferromagnetic material at a first end of the moveable mass, and ferromagnetic material at a second end opposite the first end. It further has a plurality of permanent magnets that are configured to magnetize the ferromagnetic material, such that when a current is applied to the first electromagnet, the ferromagnetic material of one of the first and second ends is attracted to the first electromagnet, and the ferromagnetic material of the other of the first and second ends is repelled. The second electromagnet and the third electromagnet are each fixed to the housing, and face opposite ends of the moveable mass.

Abstract: A haptic-enabled display device is presented. The haptic-enabled device has a display layer, a first electrode layer, an actuation layer, and an electrode patch. The first electrode layer is disposed on the display layer. The actuation layer is formed of a single piece of actuatable material. A first side of the actuation layer is disposed on the first electrode layer. The single piece of actuatable material of the actuation layer and the conductive material of the first electrode layer may have substantially the same area. The electrode patch may form a second electrode layer, and may be disposed on a second and opposite side of the actuation layer. The electrode patch is electrically connected to a region of the actuatable material, and has an area that is smaller than that of the single piece of actuatable material and smaller than that of the conductive material of the first electrode layer.

Abstract: A haptic-enabled user interface device comprising a user input component, an elastomer suspension, a signal generating circuit, a signal sensing circuit, one or more switches, and a control unit is presented. The elastomer suspension is formed by at least one stack that includes an elastomeric layer, wherein the at least one stack forms at least one capacitor. The control unit is configured, in an actuation mode, to cause the one or more switches to electrically connect the signal generating circuit to the at least one capacitor and to electrically disconnect the signal sensing circuit from at least one capacitor, and to cause the signal generating circuit to apply a drive signal to the at least one capacitor. The control unit is further configured, in a sensing mode, to cause the one or more switches to electrically connect the signal sensing circuit to the at least one capacitor.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to conformable displays, including macro-fiber composite (MFC) actuators. The MFC actuators are configured to displace the conformable displays in a linear direction. The conformable displays can be thin, flexible and deformable.

Abstract: A haptic-enabled display device is presented. The haptic-enabled device has a display layer, a first electrode layer, an actuation layer, and an electrode patch. The first electrode layer is disposed on the display layer. The actuation layer is formed of a single piece of actuatable material. A first side of the actuation layer is disposed on the first electrode layer. The single piece of actuatable material of the actuation layer and the conductive material of the first electrode layer may have substantially the same area. The electrode patch may form a second electrode layer, and may be disposed on a second and opposite side of the actuation layer. The electrode patch is electrically connected to a region of the actuatable material, and has an area that is smaller than that of the single piece of actuatable material and smaller than that of the conductive material of the first electrode layer.

Abstract: One example device according to this disclosure includes a housing sized to be grasped by a hand; a shape-change element disposed at least partially within the housing; and a plurality of actuators disposed within the housing, the plurality of actuators arranged to rotate and translate the shape-change element. An example method for multi-degree-of-freedom shape-changing devices includes determining a shape-change haptic effect to output to a shape-change device, the shape-change device comprising a housing and at least one shape-change element disposed at least partially within the housing, the shape-change haptic effect comprising a translation and a rotation of the shape-change element; generating a haptic signal based on the shape-change haptic effect; and transmitting the haptic signal to one or more actuators of a plurality of actuators to cause the shape-change haptic effect, the plurality of actuators arranged to translate and rotate the shape-change element.

Abstract: A haptic enabled device that is configured to render one or more haptic effects is provided. The haptic enabled device includes an actuator and a plurality of user input elements. Each of the plurality of user input elements is configured to be selectively coupled to the actuator. In addition, the actuator is configured to be positioned to render the one or more haptic effects at each of the plurality of user input elements.