Product category:
Touchscreens and Touch Sensors
News Release from: Alps Electric (UK) | Subject: Force Reactor AF Series
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 28 June 2005
Electromagnetic drive produces vibration
feedback
The Force Reactor AF Series of short-vibration feedback devices can generate an array of vibration patterns using an electromagnetic drive system.
The Force Reactor AF Series of short-vibration feedback devices can generate an array of vibration patterns using an electromagnetic drive system Many types of electronic equipment such as mobile phones and car navigation systems are equipped with an increasing number of touch panels, input sensor devices and other features operated by the touch of a fingertip
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 5 Dec 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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These types of devices require visual confirmation of input.
Recently, however, demand has risen for vibration, clicking and other sensory functions at the fingertips to indicate to users that their input has been properly accomplished.
Until now, in order to generate vibration, eccentric vibration motors such as those driving mobile phone vibration functions, piezoelectric devices and other devices have been used.
To make an array of vibration settings responsive to diverse input and tactile sensations possible, rapid vibration responsiveness is required.
In eccentric vibration motors, however, because vibration time is proportional to motor revolution, vibration time is relatively long, and generating diverse vibration settings and rapid responsiveness is difficult.
Piezoelectric devices only generate pulse vibrations and they require high-voltage supplies, making them unsuitable for installation in mobile phones and other such devices.
Alps is first in the industry to develop a vibration device that uses its proprietary magnetic circuitry to drive an oscillator supported by a spring.
Alps has achieved this by applying actuator technology developed for floppy disc drives.
By using magnetism and spring tension for vibration control, balance is created and shorter vibration is accomplished, thereby enabling a variety of vibration patterns.
Devices are available with vibration strengths of 0.8 and 1.9g.
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