New miniature piezo actuators for haptic feedback

TDK Corporation has increased its portfolio of PowerHap piezo actuators for haptic feedback with the new miniature rectangular 0904H014V060 and 1204H018V060 actuators. They have dimensions of only 9mm x 3.75mm x 1.4mm and 12mm x 4mm x 1.8mm, respectively. At the maximum operating voltage of 60V, the new actuators can accelerate a mass of 100 grams at 3.3g (pk) or 5g (pk) with maximum displacements of 15µm or 27µm, respectively.

PowerHap features high acceleration and large forces in a particularly compact design, linked with a brief response time of less than one millisecond. A key feature is the low energy consumption of only 0.35mJ or 0.6mJ per feedback. As well as the actuator properties, the device also provides excellent sensing functionality by using the inverse piezo effect. Thanks to their exceptional performance, the actuators are technologically superior to traditional electromagnetic solutions such as ERM motors and LRA actuators.

Typical application areas for these new actuators include tablets and smartphones, household appliances, VR/AR equipment, game consoles, digitizers and handheld medical devices.