Abstract: Systems, electronic devices, and methods provide haptic sensations as a function of eye gaze. A system may include a detector configured to determine a direction of an eye gaze of a user of the system, a processor configured to generate signal representative of a haptic effect based on the direction of the eye gaze, and a haptic output device configured to receive the signal from the processor and output the haptic effect to the user. A method for providing a haptic effect to a user of a system may include determining a direction of an eye gaze of the user of the system, generating a haptic effect based on the direction of the eye gaze, and outputting the haptic effect to the user.

Abstract: One illustrative computing device disclosed herein includes a sensor configured to detect a user interaction with a physical object and transmit a sensor signal associated with the user interaction. The illustrative computing device also includes a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal; determine a characteristic of the physical object based on the sensor signal; determine a haptic effect associated with the characteristic; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative computing device further includes a haptic output device in communication with the processor, the haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.

Abstract: Systems and methods, by which a sender can deliver haptic messages to selected recipients within a larger group of recipients that are otherwise receiving a common message, are disclosed. The haptic messages can be individualized according to a recipient's profile, preference, and/or relationship with the sender. The haptic message can be created by the sender or selected from a pre-existing library of messages, and can be delivered automatically or assigned by the sender. The haptic messages can be dynamically changed in response to haptic feedback and supplemental data collected from the recipients that is used to update preferences and profiles of message recipients.

Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a processor configured to determine a haptic effect, wherein the haptic effect includes a static ESF effect or a confirmation ESF effect; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative system also includes an ESF controller in communication with the processor, the ESF controller configured to receive the haptic signal, determine an ESF signal based at least in part on the haptic signal, and transmit the ESF signal. The illustrative system further includes an ESF device in communication with the ESF controller, the ESF device including an ESF cell and configured to receive the ESF signal and output the haptic effect.

Abstract: A haptic zipper is provided. The haptic zipper includes a first chain, a second chain opposing the first chain, a slider, an actuator coupled to the slider, and a controller coupled to the actuator. The slider is coupled to the first chain and the second chain to mesh or disengage opposing teeth of the first and second chains. The controller is configured to process an input signal including data related to a haptic effect, generate a haptic drive signal based on the data, and transmit the haptic drive signal to the actuator to render the haptic effect.

Abstract: A system having a haptic control unit, a haptic delivery cluster, and an electric field generator, magnetic field generator, or pneumatic actuator is presented. The haptic delivery cluster comprises a plurality of haptic delivery nodes, wherein each haptic delivery node of the plurality of haptic delivery nodes is separate from other haptic delivery nodes of the plurality of haptic delivery nodes, is at least one of a wireless communication device, a sensor, or a computing device, and has a dimension that is less than or equal to 5 mm. The electric field generator, magnetic field generator, or pneumatic actuator is in communication with the haptic control unit and is configured, when activated, to generate an electric field or a magnetic field in a physical environment in which the haptic delivery cluster is located, or to output a pulse of air in the physical environment.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to haptic devices for implantation in a human subject. Such haptic devices can include various actuators, including both active and passive haptic actuators, for providing feedback to a user.

Abstract: One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a sensor configured to detect a gesture and transmit an associated sensor signal. The gesture includes a first position at a distance from a surface and a second position contacting the surface. The system also includes a processor in communication with the sensor and configured to: receive the sensor signal from the sensor, and determine one or more haptic effects based at least in part on the sensor signal. The one or more haptic effects are configured to provide substantially continuous haptic feedback throughout the gesture. The processor is also configured to generate one or more haptic signals based at least in part on the one or more haptic effects, and transmit the one or more haptic signals. The system includes a haptic output device for receiving the one or more haptic signals and outputting the one or more haptic effects.

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: A method for providing haptic feedback is provided for a device that produces haptic noise, such as a power tool with an electric motor that produces noises and vibrations while in operation. An environmental condition of the device can be sensed while the device is being operated and generating haptic noise. A haptic noise characteristic of the device can be determined. A haptic drive signal based on the environmental condition and haptic noise characteristic can be generated. The haptic drive signal can be applied to a haptic output device associated with the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system that includes a server coupled to a network. The server includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to transmit, to a device, at least one haptic parameter that defines a haptic signal used to generate a haptic effect, receive, from the device, a measurement of an affective state of a user of the device that experiences the haptic effect, adjust the haptic parameter based on the measurement of the affective state to generate at least one adjusted haptic parameter that defines a new haptic signal used to generate a new haptic effect, and transmit, to the device, the adjusted haptic parameter. The new haptic effect is different than the haptic effect.

Abstract: A system includes a sensor configured to sense an input at a skin surface, a processor configured to receive an output signal from the sensor and generate a haptic control signal based on the output signal, and a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect based on the haptic control signal.

Abstract: A system includes an electronic device that includes a display screen, a cover configured to cover the display screen, a sensor configured to sense an input gesture comprising deformation and/or movement of the cover relative to the electronic device, and a processor configured to determine an action for the electronic device to perform based on the input gesture, to determine a haptic effect to generate based on the input gesture and/or the action for the electronic device to perform, and to initiate the action. The system also includes a haptic output device configured to generate the haptic effect.

Abstract: One illustrative computing device disclosed herein includes a first sensor configured to detect a position associated with a deformable surface and transmit a sensor signal associated with the position; and a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal; determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the sensor signal; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative computing device also includes a haptic output device in communication with the processor, the haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.

Abstract: A haptic zipper is provided. The haptic zipper includes a first chain, a second chain opposing the first chain, a slider, an actuator coupled to the slider, and a controller coupled to the actuator. The slider is coupled to the first chain and the second chain to mesh or disengage opposing teeth of the first and second chains. The controller is configured to process an input signal including data related to a haptic effect, generate a haptic drive signal based on the data, and transmit the haptic drive signal to the actuator to render the haptic effect.

Abstract: Example systems and methods for closed-loop control for haptic feedback are disclosed. One example method includes the steps of outputting a first signal configured to cause a haptic output device to output a haptic effect to a surface; determining one or more first velocities of a surface of an object attracted towards the surface in response to the haptic effect; in response to the first velocities decreasing to approximately zero, discontinuing output of the first signal; determining one or more second velocities of a surface of an object rebounding away from the surface in response to the discontinuing output of the first signal; in response to the second velocities decreasing to approximately zero, determining a responsiveness of the surface of the object to the haptic effect; and outputting a second signal based on the responsiveness.

Abstract: One illustrative computing device disclosed herein includes a sensor configured to detect a user interaction with a physical object and transmit a sensor signal associated with the user interaction. The illustrative computing device also includes a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal; determine a characteristic of the physical object based on the sensor signal; and determine a function based at least in part on the user interaction and the characteristic. The processor is also configured to determine a haptic effect associated with the function; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative computing device further includes a haptic output device in communication with the processor, the haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.

Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a device including a housing, a sensor, a controller and an actuator. The sensor is configured to detect a deformation force created by a deformation of the housing. The controller is configured to determine a change in a haptic effect delivered at the housing caused by the deformation force, determine a compensation for the haptic effect to correct the change in the haptic effect delivered at the housing caused by the deformation force, apply the compensation to the haptic effect to create a compensated haptic effect, and generate a haptic signal based on the compensated haptic effect. The actuator is configured to receive the haptic signal and deliver the compensated haptic effect at the housing.

Abstract: A system, method, and device for providing haptic feedback is presented. The system comprises a first device, a second device, and a third device. The first device has a first haptic output device, a first processor, and a first wireless communication unit. The second device has a second haptic output device, a second processor, and a second wireless communication unit. The third device has a third processor and a third wireless communication unit configured to transfer digital content between the third device and at least the first device. At least one processor of the first processor, second processor, and third processor is configured, when digital content is transferred or is being transferred between the third device and the first device, to cause the first haptic output device to output a first haptic feedback and to cause the second haptic output device to output a second haptic feedback.

Abstract: A haptic effect enabled device for simulating a tactile sensation on a surface. In some cases, the haptic effect enabled device may be a user interface device, and the tactile sensation may be simulated on a surface of the user interface device. The interface device may include a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect, such as a periodic haptic effect, at the surface. The interface device may include a drive module configured to generate a periodic drive signal based on a touch input at the surface of the interface device and based on the tactile sensation to be simulated at the surface. The interface device may include a drive circuit operatively coupled to the drive module and the haptic output device and configured to apply the periodic drive signal to the haptic output device. In some cases, the surface may be separate from the device.