Systems and Methods for Haptic Surface Elements

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.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 a haptic output device configured to deform a surface of a display;   a processor communicatively coupled to the haptic output device; and   a memory comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 detect an event associated with an application; 
 determine a deformation haptic effect in response to detecting the event, the deformation haptic effect configured to deform at least a portion of the surface of the display to provide a physical control object operable to provide user input to the application; 
 generate a haptic signal based on the deformation haptic effect, the haptic signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output the deformation haptic effect; and 
 transmit the haptic signal to the haptic output device to cause the haptic output device to output the deformation haptic effect to the surface of the display. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the memory further comprises program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 detect a user interaction with the physical control object; and   in response to detecting the user interaction, perform a function associated with the user interaction.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the function comprises launching the application. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the function comprises modifying a sound volume. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the physical control object is a button or a slider formed by actuating a plurality of haptic cells associated with the haptic output device. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the deformation haptic effect is a first haptic effect, the haptic signal is a first haptic signal, and the memory further comprises program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 determine a second haptic effect based on the function; and   generate a second haptic signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output the second haptic effect.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the deformation haptic effect is a first deformation haptic effect, wherein the haptic signal is a first haptic signal, and wherein the memory further comprises program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 determine a second deformation haptic effect based on a user interaction with the physical control object; and   generate a second haptic signal based on the second deformation haptic effect, the second haptic signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output the second deformation haptic effect, the second deformation haptic effect being different from the first deformation haptic effect; and   transmit the second haptic signal to the haptic output device to cause the haptic output device to output the second deformation haptic effect to the surface of the display.   
     
     
         28 . A method comprising:
 detecting, by a processor, an event associated with an application;   determining, by the processor, a deformation haptic effect in response to detecting the event, the deformation haptic effect being configured to deform at least a portion of a surface of a display to provide a physical control object operable to provide user input to the application;   generating, by the processor, a haptic signal based on the deformation haptic effect, the haptic signal being configured to cause a haptic output device to output the deformation haptic effect, the haptic output device being configured to deform the surface of the display; and   transmitting, by the processor, the haptic signal to the haptic output device to cause the haptic output device to output the deformation haptic effect to the surface of the display.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 detecting, by the processor, a user interaction with the physical control object; and   in response to detecting the user interaction, performing a function associated with the user interaction.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the function comprises launching the application. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the function comprises modifying a sound volume. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the physical control object is a button or a slider formed by actuating a plurality of haptic cells associated with the haptic output device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the deformation haptic effect is a first haptic effect, the haptic signal is a first haptic signal, and the method further comprising:
 determining, by the processor, a second haptic effect based on the function; and   generating, by the processor, a second haptic signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output the second haptic effect.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , the deformation haptic effect is a first deformation haptic effect, the haptic signal is a first haptic signal, and the method further comprising:
 determining, by the processor, a second deformation haptic effect based on a user interaction with the physical control object; and   generating, by the processor, a second haptic signal based on the second deformation haptic effect, the second haptic signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output the second deformation haptic effect, the second deformation haptic effect being different from the first deformation haptic effect; and   transmitting, by the processor, the second haptic signal to the haptic output device to cause the haptic output device to output the second deformation haptic effect to the surface of the display.   
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code that is executable by a processor of a device to cause the processor to:
 detect an event associated with an application;   determine a deformation haptic effect in response to detecting the event, the deformation haptic effect being configured to deform at least a portion of a surface of a display to provide a physical control object operable to provide user input to the application;   generate a haptic signal based on the deformation haptic effect, the haptic signal being configured to cause a haptic output device to output the deformation haptic effect, the haptic output device being configured to deform the surface of the display; and   transmit the haptic signal to the haptic output device to cause the haptic output device to output the deformation haptic effect to the surface of the display.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 detect a user interaction with the physical control object; and   in response to detecting the user interaction, perform a function associated with the user interaction.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the function comprises launching the application or modifying a sound volume. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the physical control object is a button or a slider formed by actuating a plurality of haptic cells associated with the haptic output device. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the deformation haptic effect is a first haptic effect, the haptic signal is a first haptic signal, and the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 determine a second haptic effect based on the function; and   generate a second haptic signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output the second haptic effect.   
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , the deformation haptic effect is a first deformation haptic effect, the haptic signal is a first haptic signal, and the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 determine a second deformation haptic effect based on a user interaction with the physical control object; and   generate a second haptic signal based on the second deformation haptic effect, the second haptic signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output the second deformation haptic effect, the second deformation haptic effect being different from the first deformation haptic effect; and   transmit the second haptic signal to the haptic output device to cause the haptic output device to output the second deformation haptic effect to the surface of the display.