System And Method For Simulated Physical Interactions With Haptic Effects

Abstract

A system of the present disclosure may include a sensor configured to detect user interaction with a touch surface and transmit a sensor signal associated with the user interaction; a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: determine a position of the user interaction based on the sensor signal, determine a feature associated with the position of the user interaction, control a device associated with the feature, modify a display signal based in part on the user interaction, select a haptic effect to generate based at least in part on user interaction and the position, the haptic effect selected to simulate the feature, and transmit a haptic signal to generate the haptic effect, and a haptic output device in communication with the processor and coupled to the touch surface, the haptic output device configured to receive a haptic signal and output a haptic effect.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect a position of a user interaction with a touch surface;   a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to:
 determine a feature associated with the position of the user interaction; 
 control at least one device based on a movement of the feature; 
 modify a position of the feature in a display based on the movement of the feature; 
 determine a first haptic effect configured to simulate contact with the feature; 
 determine a second haptic effect configured to simulate movement of the feature, the second haptic effect different from the first haptic effect; and 
 apply a drive signal to a haptic output device in communication with the processor the drive signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first or second haptic effects comprises a simulated texture or an effect configured to vary a coefficient of friction on the touch surface. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the haptic output device comprises a device configured to generate an electrostatic field. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the sensor comprises a touchscreen display. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the feature is associated with one or more of: a file in a virtual desktop, an object in a game, or a simulated input device. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the simulated input device comprises one or more of: a virtual switch, a virtual slider, a virtual button, a virtual joystick, a virtual mouse, or a virtual dial. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the simulated input device is configured to control a function of the system. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the second haptic effect is further configured to identify a type of system controlled by the feature. 
     
     
         29 . A method comprising:
 detecting a position of a user interaction with a touch surface;   determining a feature associated with the position of the user interaction;   controlling at least one device based on a movement of the feature;   modifying a position of the feature in a display based on the movement of the feature;   determining a first haptic effect configured to simulate contact with the feature;   determining a second haptic effect configured to simulate movement of the feature, the second haptic effect different from the first haptic effect; and   applying a drive signal to a haptic output device, the drive signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the haptic output device comprises a device configured to generate an electrostatic field. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the sensor comprises a touchscreen display. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein at least one of the first or second haptic effects comprises one of a simulated texture or an effect configured to vary a coefficient of friction on the touch surface. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the feature is associated with one or more of: a file in a virtual desktop, a character in a game, or a simulated input device. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the simulated input device comprises one or more of: a virtual switch, a virtual slider, a virtual button, a virtual joystick, a virtual mouse, or a virtual dial. 
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code, which when executed by one or more processors is configured to cause the one or more processors to:
 detect a position of a user interaction with a touch surface;   determine a feature associated with the position of the user interaction;   control at least one device based on a movement of the feature;   modify a position of the feature in a display based on the movement of the feature;   determine a first haptic effect configured to simulate contact with the feature;   determine a second haptic effect configured to simulate movement of the feature, the second haptic effect different from the first haptic effect; and   apply a drive signal to a haptic output device, the drive signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transient computer readable medium  claim 35 , wherein the haptic output device comprises a device configured to generate an electrostatic field. 
     
     
         37 . The non-transient computer readable medium  claim 35 , wherein the sensor comprises a touchscreen display. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transient computer readable medium  claim 35 , wherein at least one of the first or second haptic effects comprises one of a simulated texture or an effect configured to vary a coefficient of friction on the touch surface. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transient computer readable medium  claim 35 , wherein the feature is associated with one or more of: a file in a virtual desktop, a character in a game, or a simulated input device. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transient computer readable medium  claim 39 , wherein the simulated input device comprises one or more of: a virtual switch, a virtual slider, a virtual button, a virtual joystick, a virtual mouse, or a virtual dial.