Haptic devices and methods for providing haptic effects via audio tracks

Abstract

Embodiments hereof relate a system that includes a processor and a haptic peripheral with a haptic output device. The processor is configured to receive an audio file, or a haptic file generated from the audio file, that includes a first channel having a first set of control parameters to generate a first haptic effect and a second channel having a second set of control parameters to generate a second haptic effect and to output a control signal that includes the first and second sets of control parameters for the haptic effect. The haptic output device is configured to receive the control signal from the processor and to output the haptic effect to the haptic peripheral. In an embodiment, the haptic output device is coupled to a bi-directional trigger and the control parameters move the trigger in opposing directions. In another embodiment, the control parameters generate different timelines of haptic effects to a user input element.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive a file including a first channel having a first set of control parameters to generate a first haptic effect and a second channel having a second set of control parameters to generate a second haptic effect, 
 decode the first set of control parameters from the first channel, 
 decode the second set of control parameters from the second channel, 
 modify the first set of control parameters and the second set of control parameters according to a received user input to generate a modified first set of control parameters and a modified second set of control parameters; and 
 output a control signal that includes the modified first set of control parameters for the first haptic effect and the modified second set of control parameters for the second haptic effect, wherein the file is an audio file or a haptic file generated from the audio file; and 
   a haptic peripheral including a haptic output device, wherein the haptic output device is configured to receive the control signal from the processor and to output the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect to the haptic peripheral.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the audio file is an interleaved file generated at least partially by mixing down a plurality of monophonic tracks. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first set of control parameters defines at least one of a type, an amount, and a frequency of the first haptic effect and the second set of control parameters defines at least one of a type, an amount, and a frequency of the second haptic effect. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to manipulate at least one of a level, a frequency content, a dynamic, and a panoramic position of the first channel to modify the first set of control parameters and to manipulate at least one of a level, a frequency content, a dynamic, and a panoramic position of the second channel to modify the second set of control parameters. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a display, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the display to show a visualization of the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the haptic output device is coupled to a bi-directional trigger of the haptic peripheral and the first set of control parameters includes parameters to move the bi-directional trigger in a first direction and the second set of control parameters includes parameters to move the bi-directional trigger in a second direction opposing the first direction. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the haptic peripheral includes a plurality of haptic output devices and the processor is configured to receive a plurality of files, each file including control parameters for a haptic effect for one of the plurality of haptic output devices and each file being an audio file or a haptic file generated from the audio file. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the haptic output device is coupled to a user input element of the haptic peripheral and the first set of control parameters includes parameters to generate a first timeline of haptic effects to the user input element and the second set of control parameters includes parameters to generate a second timeline of haptic effects to the user input element. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the first timeline includes vibration of the user input element and the second timeline includes detents of the user input element. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the user input element includes at least one of a bi-directional trigger, a joystick, or a button. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is disposed in a host computer. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is disposed in the haptic peripheral. 
     
     
         33 . A method of providing haptic effects to a haptic peripheral, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 generating an audio file that includes a first channel having a first set of control parameters to generate a first haptic effect and a second channel having a second set of control parameters to generate a second haptic effect;   decoding the first set of control parameters from the first channel,   decoding the second set of control parameters from the second channel,   modifying the first set of control parameters and the second set of control parameters according to a received user input to generate a modified first set of control parameters and a modified second set of control parameters; and   sending the audio file to a processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive the audio file and to output a control signal that includes the modified first set of control parameters for the first haptic effect and the modified second set of control parameters for the second haptic effect, the control signal being configured to be received by a haptic output device of the haptic peripheral that is configured to output the first and second haptic effects to the haptic peripheral.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein generating an audio file includes mixing down a plurality of monophonic tracks. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first set of control parameters defines at least one of a type, an amount, and a frequency of the first haptic effects and the second set of control parameters defines at least one of a type, an amount, and a frequency of the second haptic effects. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising manipulating at least one of a level, a frequency content, a dynamic, and a panoramic position of the first channel to modify the first set of control parameters and to manipulate at least one of a level, a frequency content, a dynamic, and a panoramic position of the second channel to modify the second set of control parameters. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising showing, via a display, a visualization of the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the haptic output device is coupled to a bi-directional trigger of the haptic peripheral and the first set of control parameters includes parameters to move the bi-directional trigger in a first direction and the second set of control parameters includes parameters to move the bi-directional trigger in a second direction opposing the first direction. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the haptic peripheral includes a plurality of haptic output devices and the processor is configured to receive a plurality of files, each file including control parameters for a haptic effect for one of the plurality of haptic output devices and each file being an audio file or a haptic file generated from the audio file. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the haptic output device is coupled to a user input element of the haptic peripheral and the first set of control parameters includes parameters to generate a first timeline of haptic effects to the user input element and the second set of control parameters includes parameters to generate a second timeline of haptic effects to the user input element.