TDK Adds Miniaturized 2.5G Piezo Actuator With Haptic Feedback To PowerHap™ Portfolio

Dec. 14, 2017

ISELIN, N.J., Dec. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TDK Corporation today announced that it has expanded the company’s portfolio of PowerHap™ piezo actuators with haptic feedback with the new miniaturized 2.5G type, whose dimensions are a compact 9 mm x 9 mm x 1.25 mm. At the maximum operating voltage of 60 V the new actuator achieves a high acceleration of 2.5 g of a 100-gram mass. It offers a maximum displacement of 35 µm or a very large force of up to 4 N. 

The new miniature type complements the existing 7G and 15G PowerHap types. With their dimensions of 12.7 mm x 12.7 mm x 1.9 mm and 26 mm x 26 mm x 2.4 mm, respectively, these actuators achieve an acceleration of 7 g and 15 g under a load of 100 grams. They also generate forces of up to 10 N (7G type) and 20 N (15G type). Both types are designed for a maximum operating voltage of 120 V and offer a displacement of up to 65 µm and 200 µm, respectively. 

Compared with conventional electromagnetic solutions such as eccentric rotary motors (ERMs) and linear resonant actuators (LRAs), PowerHap actuators feature the highest acceleration and force, the lowest insertion height and the fastest response time of <1 ms, all with an extremely low energy consumption of 1 mJ to 8 mJ, depending on type. Moreover, PowerHap offers integrated sensor functionality in a single component.

PowerHap actuators are able to excite the entire stimulation range between 1 Hz and 1000 Hz and have no significant frequency or amplitude limitations. They therefore enable customized haptic feedback to key human mechanoreceptors, so that designers can custom develop high-definition haptic feedback profiles that users expect from cutting-edge HMIs. Applications for the piezo actuator with haptic feedback can be found, for example, in vehicles, smartphones and tablets, household appliances, ATMs and vending machines, game controllers, industrial equipment and medical devices.  

Main applications 

  • Vehicles, smartphones and tablets, household appliances, ATMs and vending machines, game controllers, industrial equipment and medical devices 

Main features and benefits 

  • Very large forces of 4 N to 20 N 
  • Large displacement of 35 µm to 200 µm 
  • Acceleration of up to 15 g with a load of 100 grams 
  • Extremely low insertion height of 1.25 mm to 2.4 mm 
  • Fast response time of <1 ms
  • Low energy consumption per click of 1 mJ to 8 mJ 
  • Read full release here.