Recently débuted by TDK is an innovative piezo actuator with haptic feedback and integrated sensor functionality.
The actuator features high levels performance in terms of acceleration, force and response time, and thus offers high-quality haptic feedback. It can thus be used to enhance the sensory experience of HMIs significantly by engaging the full range of human tactile sensitivity.
The new actuator is based on multilayer piezo plates with cost-effective copper inner electrodes. Thanks to the multilayer technology the actuators can be driven with relatively low operating voltages up to 120 V. When activated, the piezo plates only expand minimally in the z-axis, but due to the constant volume of the piezo effect, they contract simultaneously in both the x- and y-axes. The new component employs cymbals on both sides of the plate as levers to amplify the contraction by a factor of 15 in the z-axis.
The actuator is initially available in two types, a 5 N type that achieves a displacement of up to 100 μm and a 20 N type that can achieve a displacement of more than 200 μm. Despite their compact dimensions of 12,7 x 12,7 x 1,6 mm and 26 x 26 x 2,4 mm, respectively, the new actuators can generate forces of up to 5 N and 20 N.
Compared with conventional electromagnetic solutions such as eccentric rotary motors (ERMs) and linear resonant actuators (LRAs), TDK says the piezo actuator with haptic feedback features the highest acceleration and force, the lowest insertion height and the fastest response time, all in a single component with integrated sensor functionality. Under a load of 0,1 kg, the 5 N type delivers an acceleration of 5,0 G with a rise time of 2 ms while the 20 N type features 15,0 G after just 1 ms.
Unlike conventional electromagnetic solutions, these piezo actuators can excite the entire stimulation range between 1 Hz and 1000 Hz. They thus have no significant frequency or amplitude limitations for customised haptic feedback to key human mechanoreceptors. In this way, the new actuator enables designers to custom develop high-definition haptic feedback profiles that users expect from cutting-edge HMIs. Applications can be found, for example, in vehicles, smartphones and tablets, household appliances, ATMs and vending machines, game controllers, industrial equipment and medical devices.
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