Haptic effect enabled system

Abstract

A haptic effect enabled system generates a haptic effect using an electric potential responsive fluid. A haptic enabled apparatus includes a fluid and a substrate. The fluid is responsive to an electric field. The substrate is at least partially flexible and defines a channel. The fluid is positioned within at least a portion of the channel. A portion of the substrate proximal to the fluid is stiffer than a portion of the substrate spaced from the fluid, thereby creating a haptic effect.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A haptic effect enabled system, comprising:
 at least one wearable article including a haptic actuator and an input device; and   a controller coupled to the at least one wearable article and configured to communicate with a remote device;   wherein the controller includes a communication module adapted to configure the controller to operate as at least one of a centralized controller of the at least one wearable article and the remote device or as peer of the remote device.   
     
     
         3 . The haptic effect enabled system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with the remote device. 
     
     
         4 . The haptic effect enabled system of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with the remote device using Bluetooth, CDMA, GPRS, GSM, 2.5G, 3G, 3.5G, 4G, WiGig, or IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac. 
     
     
         5 . The haptic effect enabled system of  claim 2 , wherein the remote device includes at least one of a computing device, sensor, another wearable article, router, hotspot, vehicle, exercise equipment, medical device or smart appliance. 
     
     
         6 . The haptic effect enabled system of  claim 2 , wherein the communication module is further adapted to configure the controller to operate as a hybrid centralized controller and peer such that the controller operates as a centralized controller of the at least one wearable article in some circumstances, and as a peer of the remote device in other circumstances. 
     
     
         7 . The haptic effect enabled system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller, input device, and the wearable article are incorporated into a single device. 
     
     
         8 . The haptic effect enabled system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the controller, input device, and the wearable article is separately arranged from the others and communicates with the others wirelessly or by wire. 
     
     
         9 . The haptic effect enabled system of  claim 2 , further comprising an antenna configured to provide wireless communication between the controller and the remote device. 
     
     
         10 . The haptic effect enabled system of  claim 2 , wherein the input device includes a sensor hardwired or wirelessly connected to the controller. 
     
     
         11 . A method of rendering a haptic effect, the method comprising:
 detecting, at an input device of a wearable article, one or more events; and   inputting a signal to a controller that is configured to operate a haptic actuator of the wearable article to render the haptic effect, the controller being configured to communicate with a remote device,   wherein the controller includes a communication module adapted to configure the controller to operate as at least one of a centralized controller of the wearable article and the remote device or as peer of the remote device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with the remote device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with the remote device using Bluetooth, CDMA, GPRS, GSM, 2.5G, 3G, 3.5G, 4G, WiGig, or IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the remote device includes at least one of a computing device, sensor, another wearable article, router, hotspot, vehicle, exercise equipment, medical device or smart appliance. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the communication module is further adapted to configure the controller to operate as a hybrid centralized controller and peer such that the controller operates as a centralized controller of the wearable article in some circumstances, and as a peer of the remote device in other circumstances. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controller, input device, and the wearable article are incorporated into a single device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the controller, input device, and the wearable article is separately arranged from the others and communicates with the others wirelessly or by wire. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising an antenna configured to provide wireless communication between the controller and the remote device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the input device includes a sensor hardwired or wirelessly connected to the controller. 
     
     
         20 . A haptic effect enabled wearable article, comprising:
 an input device;   a haptic actuator; and   a controller that is configured to communicate with a remote device;   wherein the controller includes a communication module adapted to configure the controller to operate as at least one of a centralized controller of the wearable article and the remote device or as peer of the remote device.   
     
     
         21 . The haptic effect enabled wearable article of  claim 20 , wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with the remote device.