18452688. HAPTICS APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE simplified abstract (APPLE INC.)

HAPTICS APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE

Organization Name

APPLE INC.

Inventor(s)

Douglas A. Scott of Mountain View CA (US)

Michael Y. Diu of Campbell CA (US)

Camille Moussette of Los Gatos CA (US)

Jean-Pierre Mouilleseaux of San Francisco CA (US)

Linus Persson of Cupertino CA (US)

Madeleine Cordier of San Francisco CA (US)

Jules Fennis of Mountain View CA (US)

Mel He of Sunnyvale CA (US)

Brian Gleeson of Mountain View CA (US)

HAPTICS APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18452688 titled 'HAPTICS APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes systems and methods for creating haptic patterns that combine haptic events, audio events, and optionally video or animation. These patterns can be used in applications or attached to messages and played on electronic devices.

• Haptic patterns can be called from an application or included as an attachment to a message and played on electronic devices.
• A haptics application programming interface allows for the generation of the same haptic experience on different electronic devices with different haptic hardware.
• Haptic patterns can include synchronized haptic and audio events.
• Haptic event attributes include start time, sharpness, and intensity.
• Sharpness and intensity can be controlled through a parameter envelope for a single event or multiple events in a haptic pattern.
• Sharpness indicates the quality of the tactile sensation, ranging from smooth or rounded to sharp or precise.

Potential Applications

• Gaming: Haptic patterns can enhance the gaming experience by providing synchronized haptic and audio feedback.
• Communication: Haptic patterns can be used to convey emotions or messages through touch in messaging applications.
• Accessibility: Haptic patterns can assist individuals with visual or hearing impairments by providing tactile and audio cues.

Problems Solved

• Inconsistency in haptic experiences across different electronic devices with varying haptic hardware.
• Lack of synchronized haptic and audio feedback in applications and messages.
• Limited control over the sharpness and intensity of haptic events in patterns.

Benefits

• Consistent haptic experiences across different electronic devices.
• Enhanced user experience through synchronized haptic and audio feedback.
• Greater control over the tactile sensations of haptic events in patterns.

Original Abstract Submitted

Systems and methods are disclosed defining haptic patterns that include both haptic events and audio events, and optionally include video or animation. The haptic patterns can be called from an application or included as an attachment to a message and played on an electronic device that receives the message. A haptics application programming interface has a haptic experience mapping functionality that generates a same, or similar, haptic experience on different manufacturers or models of electronic devices having different haptic hardware. Haptic patterns can include synchronized haptic and audio events. Haptic event attributes include start time, sharpness, and intensity. Sharpness and/or intensity can be controlled via a parameter envelope for a single event, or for multiple events in a haptic pattern. Sharpness indicates a quality of the tactile sensation of a haptic event, from smooth or rounded, to sharp or precise.