# US 10,319,200 B2 · Systems and methods for haptic surface elements

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,319,200 B2
- Document ID: US10319200B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/865,702
- Filed: 2018-01-09
- Published: 2018-05-10
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-07
- Assignees: Immersion Corporation
- Applicants: Immersion Corporation
- Inventors: Vahid Khoshkava; Vincent Levesque; Jamal Saboune; Abdelwahab Hamam; Juan Manuel Cruz Hernandez; Liwen Wu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10319200B2

## CPC

- G08B 6/00: Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems
- G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user}
- G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
- H04M 1/72409: by interfacing with external accessories (hands-free H04M1/60)
- G06F 2203/013: Force feedback applied to a game
- G06F 2203/014: Force feedback applied to GUI
- G06F 2203/04809: Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
- H04M 1/724094: {Interfacing with a device worn on the user's body to provide access to telephonic functionalities, e.g. accepting a call, reading or composing a message}
- H04M 1/72412: using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- H04W 4/90: Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device comprising:
an outer housing;
an input device positioned at a first location of the outer housing;
a haptic output device positioned at a second location of the outer housing that is different from the first location, the haptic output device being configured to generate a deformation haptic effect at the second location, wherein the deformation haptic effect is configured to cause a surface at the second location to deform in shape;
a plurality of sensors, wherein first and second sensors of the plurality of sensors comprise any combination of (i) a microphone, (ii) a gyroscope, (iii) an accelerometer, or (iv) an ambient-light sensor;
a processor communicatively coupled to the input device, haptic output device, and plurality of sensors; and
a memory comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
receive an input signal from the input device;
receive sensor signals from the plurality of sensors;
determine the deformation haptic effect based on the input signal and the sensor signals;
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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the input device is a switch, button, lever, or knob.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the input device includes a touch-sensitive surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second sensors comprise the gyroscope and the ambient-light sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein the memory further comprises program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
determine that an ambient-light level is below a threshold based on a first sensor signal from the ambient-light sensor;
determine that the device is a particular angle based on a second sensor signal from the gyroscope; and
determine the deformation haptic effect based on determining (i) that the ambient-light level is below the threshold, and (ii) the device is at the particular angle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second sensors comprise the accelerometer and the microphone.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the memory further comprises program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
determine that a particular environmental noise is present in an audio signal from the microphone;
determine that the device is moving at a particular speed based on a sensor signal from the accelerometer; and
determine the deformation haptic effect based on determining (i) that the particular environment noise is present in the audio signal, and (ii) the device is moving at the particular speed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a third sensor that is the ambient-light sensor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the deformation haptic effect is configured to create a bumpy texture at the second location.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
determine an event in a video game; and
determine the deformation haptic effect based on the event in the video game.

### Claim 11

A method comprising:
receiving, by a processor of a device, an input signal from an input device positioned at a first location of an outer housing of the device;
receiving, by the processor, sensor signals from a plurality of sensors coupled to the device, wherein first and second sensors of the plurality of sensors comprise any combination of (i) a microphone, (ii) a gyroscope, (iii) an accelerometer, or (iv) an ambient-light sensor;
determining, by the processor, a deformation haptic effect based on the input signal and the sensor signals;
generating, by the processor, a haptic signal based on the deformation haptic effect; and
transmitting, by the processor, the haptic signal to a haptic output device positioned at a second location of the outer housing that is different from the first location, the haptic output device being configured to receive the haptic signal and generate the deformation haptic effect at the second location, wherein the deformation haptic effect is configured to cause a surface at the second location to deform in shape.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second sensors comprise the gyroscope and the ambient-light sensor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
determining that an ambient-light level is below a threshold based on a first sensor signal from the ambient-light sensor;
determining that the device is a particular angle based on a second sensor signal from the gyroscope; and
determining the deformation haptic effect based on determining (i) that the ambient-light level is below the threshold, and (ii) the device is at the particular angle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second sensors comprise the accelerometer and the microphone.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising:
determining that a particular environmental noise is present in an audio signal from the microphone;
determining that the device is moving at a particular speed based on a sensor signal from the accelerometer; and
determining the deformation haptic effect based on determining (i) that the particular environment noise is present in the audio signal, and (ii) the device is moving at the particular speed.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a third sensor that is the ambient-light sensor.

### Claim 17

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code that is executable by a processor of a device to cause the processor to:
receive an input signal from an input device positioned at a first location of an outer housing of the device;
receive sensor signals from a plurality of sensors coupled to the device, wherein first and second sensors of the plurality of sensors comprise any combination of (i) a microphone, (ii) a gyroscope, (iii) an accelerometer, or (iv) an ambient-light sensor;
determine a deformation haptic effect based on the input signal and the sensor signals;
generate a haptic signal based on the deformation haptic effect; and
transmit the haptic signal to a haptic output device positioned at a second location of the outer housing that is different from the first location, the haptic output device being configured to receive the haptic signal and generate the deformation haptic effect at the second location, wherein the deformation haptic effect is configured to cause a surface at the second location to deform in shape.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first and second sensors comprise the gyroscope and the ambient-light sensor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
determine that an ambient-light level is below a threshold based on a first sensor signal from the ambient-light sensor;
determine that the device is a particular angle based on a second sensor signal from the gyroscope; and
determine the deformation haptic effect based on determining (i) that the ambient-light level is below the threshold, and (ii) the device is at the particular angle.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first and second sensors comprise the accelerometer and the microphone.