Systems and Methods for Perceptual Normalization of Haptic Effects

Abstract

Systems and methods for perceptual normalization of haptic effects are disclosed. One system may include a first sensor configured to detect a user interaction with a touch surface and transmit a first sensor signal associated with the user interaction; a second sensor configured to detect a feature associated with the touch surface and transmit a second sensor signal associated with the feature; a processor in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, the processor configured to: determine a first haptic effect based on the user interaction; determine a modified haptic effect based in part first haptic effect and on the feature; output a haptic signal associated with the modified 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 the haptic signal and output the modified haptic effect to the touch surface.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for outputting haptic effects comprising:
 a first sensor configured to detect a user interaction with a touch surface and transmit a first sensor signal associated with the user interaction;   a second sensor configured to detect a feature associated with the touch surface and transmit a second sensor signal associated with the feature;   a processor in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, the processor configured to:
 determine a haptic effect based in part on the user interaction and the feature; 
 output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect; and 
   a haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect to the touch surface.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the feature comprises one or more of: a quality of a user's connection to electrical ground, a pressure applied to the touch surface, an area of contact on the touch surface, or an audible noise. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the feature comprises a feature associated with one or more of: a temperature of the touch surface, a detection of moisture on the touch surface, a cover on the touch surface, an acceleration of the touch surface, or a condition of a user. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the condition of the user comprises one or more of: a temperature of a user's finger, moisture on the user's finger, a substance on the user's finger, a moisture of the user's skin, or a barrier to the user's finger. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the feature comprises an environmental condition. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the environmental condition comprises one or more of: a measured humidity, a measured temperature, a measured atmospheric pressure, a measured magnetic field, a measured electrical field, a measured vibration, or a measured windspeed. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the haptic output device comprises one or more of: an actuator configured to output a vibration at an ultrasonic frequency or an actuator configured to generate an electrostatic field. 
     
     
         8 . A method for outputting haptic effects comprising:
 detecting a user interaction with a touch surface;   detecting a feature associated with the touch surface;   determining a haptic effect based on the user interaction and the feature; and   outputting a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to a haptic output device configured to output the haptic effect.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the feature comprises one or more of: a quality of a user's connection to electrical ground, a pressure applied to the touch surface, an area of contact on the touch surface, or an audible noise. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the feature comprises a feature associated with one or more of: a temperature of the touch surface, a detection of moisture on the touch surface, a cover on the touch surface, an acceleration of the touch surface, or a condition of a user. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the condition of the user comprises one or more of: a temperature of a user's finger, moisture on the user's finger, a substance on the user's finger, a moisture of the user's skin, or a barrier to the user's finger. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the feature comprises an environmental condition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the environmental conditions comprise one or more of: a measured humidity, a measured temperature, a measured atmospheric pressure, a measured magnetic field, a measured electrical field, a measured vibration, or a measured windspeed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the haptic output device comprises one or more of: an actuator configured to output a vibration at an ultrasonic frequency or an actuator configured to generate an electrostatic field. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code, which when executed by a processor is configured to cause the processor to:
 detecting a user interaction with a touch surface;   detecting a feature associated with the touch surface;   determining a haptic effect based on the user interaction and the feature; and   outputting a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to a haptic output device configured to output the haptic effect   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the feature comprises one or more of: a quality of a user's connection to electrical ground, a pressure applied to the touch surface, an area of contact on the touch surface, or an audible noise. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the feature comprises a feature associated with one or more of: a temperature of the touch surface, a detection of moisture on the touch surface, a cover on the touch surface, an acceleration of the touch surface, or a condition of a user. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the condition of the user comprises one or more of: a temperature of a user's finger, moisture on the user's finger, a substance on the user's finger, a moisture of the user's skin, or a barrier to the user's finger. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the feature comprises an environmental condition. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the environmental condition comprises one or more of: a measured humidity, a measured temperature, a measured atmospheric pressure, a measured magnetic field, a measured electrical field, a measured vibration, or a measured windspeed.