Abstract: A flexible device includes a bendable-foldable display that has bendable flaps connected by a hinge. The display has sensors for detecting a folding characteristic between the at least two flaps and for detecting a bending characteristic in at least one flap. The display has a haptic system with haptic output devices, where the haptic system receives input from the sensors indicating deformation of the bendable-foldable display device. A flexible device also includes bendable, foldable, or rollable displays that have sensors and actuators to augment user interaction with the device. Based on one or more measurements provided by the input, the haptic system interprets the input to determine deformation characteristics of the bendable-foldable display device. The haptic system generates haptic feedback based on the deformation characteristics.

Abstract: Systems and methods for haptic fiddling are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sensor signal indicating an interaction with an electronic device is received by the electronic device. In response to receiving the sensor signal, the electronic device may output an output signal. The output signal may be output to a display, a haptic output device, an audio device, and/or another output device. The output signal can correspond to a modality. After outputting the output signal, another sensor signal indicating another interaction with the electronic device may be received by the electronic device. This interaction may be associated with the previously-received interaction. In response to receiving this interaction, the electronic device may output another output signal to the same output device(s) and/or different output device(s). The second output signal may correspond to one or more different modalities than the previous output signal.

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: Systems and methods for force-based object manipulation and haptic sensations are disclosed. One disclosed method includes the steps of receiving a first signal indicating a location of a user interaction and receiving a second signal indicating a first force. The method also includes, if the location of the user interaction corresponds to an object displayed on a display screen: outputting a first haptic signal to a haptic output device to cause a first haptic effect; and outputting a second haptic signal to the haptic output device to cause a second haptic effect if the first force meets or exceeds a first force threshold.

Abstract: A system includes a wearable device configured to be worn by a user. The wearable device includes a flexible mounting, and a haptic output device connected to the flexible mounting. The system includes a signal generator configured to generate a haptic signal and communicate the haptic signal to the haptic output device. The haptic signal includes a short duration control pulse configured to create a small deformation sensation to the user.

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: 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: A system of the present disclosure may include a haptic output device configured to output a haptic effect to a touch surface; a touch sensitive input device configured to detect a first user interaction and transmit a first sensor signal, the touch sensitive input device further configured to detect a second user interaction and transmit a second sensor signal, wherein at least part of the first user interaction occurs at the same time as the second user interaction; a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal; determine a haptic effect based in part on the first user interaction and the second user interaction; transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device.

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: 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 system disclosed herein includes a curved device that includes a curved outer housing. The illustrative system also includes a sensor configured to detect a user interaction with the curved device and transmit a sensor signal associated with the user interaction. The illustrative system additionally includes a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal from the sensor; determine a user interaction based on the sensor signal, determine a first haptic effect based at least in part on the user interaction, and transmit a haptic signal associated with the first haptic effect. The illustrative system also includes a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the first haptic effect.

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: A system performs haptic challenge-response functionality. The system generates one or more haptic effects, provides the one or more haptic effects as a haptic challenge question to a user via a haptic output device, and receives an answer from the user corresponding to the haptic challenge question. The system then determines, based on a model of human perception, whether the answer corresponds to a correct answer to the haptic challenge question. One embodiment predicts the correct answer to the haptic challenge question, compares the correct answer with the answer received from the user, and determines that the user is a human when the answer matches the correct answer. One embodiment repeats the generating, the providing, the receiving, the predicting, and the comparing when the answer does not match the correct answer.

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: 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: A user interface device includes a flexible layer comprising a touch surface configured to receive a touch by a user, a plurality of haptic cells covered by the flexible layer, each haptic cell comprising a haptic output device, a sensor configured to sense an amount and/or rate of deformation of the flexible layer when a user touches the touch surface, and a processor configured to receive an output signal from the sensor, generate a haptic control signal based on the output signal from the sensor, and output the haptic control signal to at least one haptic output device of the plurality of haptic cells to cause the haptic output device to deform an associated haptic cell in response to the sensed deformation of the flexible layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring insulation integrity for electrostatic friction are disclosed. One system may include a touch sensitive interface configured to detect user interaction; an electrostatic haptic output device configured to output one or more electrostatic haptic effects to the touch sensitive interface; a processor in communication with the touch sensitive interface and the electrostatic haptic output device, the processor configured to: determine an operating condition associated with the electrostatic haptic output device; determine a corrective action associated with the operating condition; and apply the corrective action.

Abstract: A handheld interface device configured to provide an electrostatic friction (ESF) effect is provided. The device comprises a plurality of more than two electrodes, with each electrode being separately disposed at a respective portion of an outer surface of the interface device. Each electrode is covered by or forms a respective portion of the outer surface of the handheld interface device. The device includes a control unit that is configured to determine a contact condition at each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, to select a subset of the plurality of electrodes based on the determined contact condition at each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, and to apply a drive signal for generating electrostatic friction to only one or more electrodes in the selected subset of the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: Examples of devices, systems, and methods of controlling one or more contact conditions of an insulated static electrostatic force electrode are disclosed. One example device has an insulated static electrostatic force electrode and a flexible suspension attached to insulated the static electrostatic force electrode. In examples, the flexible suspension controls a contact condition of the static electrostatic force electrode to alter the static electrostatic force feedback provided by the insulated static electrostatic force electrode.

Abstract: A haptic system includes a structure having a conductive layer and a reactive layer. The conductive layer is coupled to a power source and the reactive layer is coupled to a switch having a first state and a second state. The power source enables the conductive layer to generate a charge. The first state of the switch operates the reactive layer to block the establishment of a tissue-stimulating electric field. The second state of the switch operates the reactive layer to enable the establishment of a tissue-stimulating electric field to generate a touchless haptic effect.