Externally-activated haptic devices and systems

Abstract

Examples of externally-activated devices and systems are disclosed. One example system includes a first device having an actuation component; and a second device having a haptic output component, wherein: the first device and the second device are configured to be physically separable from each other; the actuation component is configured to transmit an actuation signal to the haptic output component while the first device and the second device are physically separated from each other, and the haptic output component configured to output a haptic effect in response to receiving the actuation signal and while the first device and the second device are physically separated from each other, the haptic effect based on the actuation signal.

1 . A haptic device comprising:
 a housing;   an antenna;   a haptic output component coupled to the housing, the haptic output component configured to be physically separable from an actuation component; and   a processor configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in a memory, the processor-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to determine a haptic effect based on wireless signals received from an actuation device, the wireless signals comprising electromagnetic actuation energy, and cause the haptic output component to output the haptic effect using the electromagnetic actuation energy.   
     
     
         2 . The haptic device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to:
 determine a state associated with the haptic device; and   wherein the haptic effect is based on the state of the haptic device.   
     
     
         3 . The haptic device of  claim 2 , wherein the processor-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to transmit an indication of the state associated with the haptic device to the actuation device. 
     
     
         4 . The haptic device of  claim 3 , wherein the processor-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to:
 receive further wireless signals from the actuation device, the further wireless signals indicating a second haptic effect, and   cause the haptic output component to output the second haptic effect using the electromagnetic actuation energy.   
     
     
         5 . The haptic device of  claim 2 , wherein the indication of the state associated with the haptic device comprises identification information associated with the haptic device. 
     
     
         6 . The haptic device of  claim 2 , wherein the processor-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to receive one or more sensor signals indicating the state associated with the haptic device. 
     
     
         7 . The haptic device of  claim 1 , wherein the haptic device comprises an RFID tag. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a haptic device, wireless signals from an actuation device, the wireless signals comprising electromagnetic actuation energy, the haptic device physically separate from the actuation device;   determining a haptic effect based on the wireless signals; and   outputting the haptic effect using the electromagnetic actuation energy.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining a state associated with the haptic device; and   wherein determining the haptic effect is based on the state of the haptic device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising transmitting an indication of the state associated with the haptic device to the actuation device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving further wireless signals from the actuation device, the further wireless signals indicating a second haptic effect, and   outputting the second haptic effect using the electromagnetic actuation energy.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the indication of the state associated with the haptic device comprises identification information associated with the haptic device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining the state comprises sensing the state associated with the haptic device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the haptic device comprises an RFID tag. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 detecting, by an actuation device, a haptic device within proximity of the actuation device, the haptic device physically separate from the actuation device; and   wirelessly transmitting signals to the haptic device to cause the haptic device to output a haptic effect, the signals comprising actuation energy, the actuation energy usable by the haptic device to output the haptic effect.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 detecting, by the actuation device, the haptic device leaves the proximity of the actuation device; and   discontinue wirelessly transmitting the actuation signal.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the actuation device, information from the haptic device;   determining a second haptic effect based on the information; and   wirelessly transmitting, by the actuation device, second signals to cause the haptic device to output the second haptic effect, the second signals comprising second actuation energy, the second actuation energy usable by the haptic device to output the second haptic effect.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein determining the second haptic effect comprises modifying the haptic effect. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the information comprises product information or a sensed state associated with the haptic device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the actuation energy comprises electromagnetic energy.