Systems and Methods for a Shared Haptic Experience

Abstract

One illustrative system disclosed herein includes a processor configured to: receive a first haptic effect signal, the first haptic effect signal based at least in part on a haptic event and adapted to cause a first haptic effect to be output by a first haptic output device to a first user, determine a second haptic effect based at least in part on the first haptic effect and a characteristic independent of the haptic event, generate a second haptic effect signal based at least in part on the second haptic effect, and transmit the second haptic signal to a second haptic output device. In the illustrative system, the second haptic output device is in communication with the processor, and the second haptic output device is configured to receive the second haptic effect signal and output the second haptic effect to a second user.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 an automotive user interface device configured to be positioned in a vehicle;   a haptic output device coupled to the automotive user interface device;   a sensor that is configured to be positioned separately from the automotive user interface device in the vehicle, the sensor being configured to detect an event and transmit a sensor signal indicative of the event; and   a processor communicatively coupled to the haptic output device and the sensor, the processor being configured to:
 receive the sensor signal from the sensor; 
 determine the event based on the sensor signal; 
 determine a haptic effect based on the event; and 
 cause the haptic output device to output the haptic effect to the automotive user interface device. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the automotive user interface device includes a steering wheel, gear shifter, car seat, brake pedal, or acceleration pedal. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect an object being in a particular location that is external to the vehicle, and wherein the event is based on the object being at the particular location. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 determine a distance between the object and a surface of the vehicle based on the sensor signal; and   determine the haptic effect based on the distance.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the particular location is a blind spot of the vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the haptic output device includes a plurality of haptic output devices coupled to the automotive user interface device, and wherein the processor is configured to:
 determine a relationship between the sensor and a particular haptic output device among the plurality of haptic output devices, wherein the relationship is based on a spatial correlation between the physical positions of the particular haptic output device and the sensor on the vehicle;   based on determining the relationship, select the particular haptic output device from among the plurality of haptic output devices for use in outputting the haptic effect; and   cause the particular haptic output device to output the haptic effect.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the event comprises: a change in a radio station, a navigation event, a failure of a vehicle component, a low battery, or an interaction with a vehicle pedal. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the haptic effect is a first haptic effect, and wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a communication to a different vehicle based on the event, the communication being configured to cause another haptic output device of the different vehicle to output a second haptic effect. 
     
     
         29 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, a sensor signal from a sensor coupled to a vehicle, the sensor signal indicating an event;   determining, by the processor, the event based on the sensor signal;   determining, by the processor, a haptic effect based on the event; and   causing, by the processor, a haptic output device to output the haptic effect to an automotive user interface device, wherein the sensor is positioned separately from the automotive user interface device in the vehicle.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the automotive user interface device includes a steering wheel, gear shifter, car seat, brake pedal, or acceleration pedal. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect an object being in a particular location that is external to the vehicle, and wherein the event is based on the object being at the particular location. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 determining a distance between the object and a surface of the vehicle based on the sensor signal; and   determining the haptic effect based on the distance.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the haptic output device includes a plurality of haptic output devices coupled to the automotive user interface device, and further comprising:
 determining a relationship between the sensor and a particular haptic output device among the plurality of haptic output devices, wherein the relationship is based on a spatial correlation between the physical positions of the particular haptic output device and the sensor on the vehicle;   based on determining the relationship, selecting the particular haptic output device from among the plurality of haptic output devices for use in outputting the haptic effect; and   causing the particular haptic output device to output the haptic effect.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the event comprises: a change in a radio station, a navigation event, a failure of a vehicle component, a low battery, or an interaction with a vehicle pedal. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising transmitting a communication to a different vehicle based on the event, the communication being configured to cause another haptic output device of the different vehicle to output another haptic effect. 
     
     
         36 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code that is executable by a processor to accuse the processor to:
 receive a sensor signal indicating an event from a sensor;   determine the event based on the sensor signal;   determine a haptic effect based on the event; and   cause a haptic output device to output the haptic effect to an automotive user interface device, wherein the sensor is configured to be positioned separately from the automotive user interface device in a vehicle.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the automotive user interface device includes a steering wheel, gear shifter, car seat, brake pedal, or acceleration pedal. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect an object being in a particular location that is external to the vehicle, and wherein the event is based on the object being at the particular location. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 38 , further comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 determine a distance between the object and a surface of the vehicle based on the sensor signal; and   determine the haptic effect based on the distance.   
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the haptic output device includes a plurality of haptic output devices coupled to the automotive user interface device, and further comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 determine a relationship between the sensor and a particular haptic output device among the plurality of haptic output devices, wherein the relationship is based on a spatial correlation between the physical positions of the particular haptic output device and the sensor on the vehicle;   based on determining the relationship, select the particular haptic output device from among the plurality of haptic output devices for use in outputting the haptic effect; and   cause the particular haptic output device to output the haptic effect.   
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , further comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to transmit a communication to a different vehicle based on the event, the communication being configured to cause another haptic output device of the different vehicle to output another haptic effect.