Haptic actuator features low driving voltage

PiezoHapt has a unimorph design consisting of a multilayer piezo element bonded to one side of a vibration plate. With a thickness of a mere 0.35mm the haptic actuator is much thinner than conventional eccentric rotary motors and linear resonant actuators, and one of the world's thinnest haptic devices. Moreover, thanks to its fast rise time, PiezoHapt represents a power-saving solution compared to conventional solutions. Shipments of samples will begin in March 2017.

The actuator can be driven with low voltages of ≤24V and can produce a wide variety of vibration patterns, depending on the amplitude and frequency of the voltage applied. The new PHUA8060-35A-33-000 type has a footprint of 80x60mm (vibration plate). At a frequency of 200Hz (sine-wave) and a voltage of 24V peak, the component offers a typical displacement of 55µm. PiezoHapt is a well suited component for providing haptic feedback to user actions in the displays of smartphones and tablets.

The PiezoHapt actuator is an addition to the lineup of TDK’s actuators with haptic feedback, which also includes the PowerHap series. Announced in November 2016, PowerHap types feature higher displacement and the highest acceleration and force, all in a single component with integrated sensor functionality, and are suitable especially for applications in vehicles, household appliances, game controllers, industrial equipment and more. With the new PiezoHapt and PowerHap product families, TDK can now provide high-performance haptic solutions for a very wide range of applications.