Haptic Technology Streamlines Operator Experience

Creating a realistic touch sensation is key to improving user experience by instilling confidence that the performed operation has been reliably completed.

Haptic technology creates a touch experience in electronic devices with the use of force feedback, vibration, or motion. It is commonly used in game controllers and has seen increased demand in automotive and industrial applications. Tactile feedback enhances the users’ confidence that the device received their input and shortens the time it takes to complete tasks.

“Touch panels are widely used for human-machine interface (HMI) and rely on visual or audible cues. These include the HMIs used in car steering switches, smart glasses controls, telemedicine devices, and VR gloves,” said A. Iwasaki, manager, Display Engineering Division, Corporate Display Group, Kyocera Corporation.  “With the popularization of touch switch and VR, the tactile sensation technology is advancing. In particular, remote tactile transmission technology is a good application for haptic technology.”

Haptic technology has four main types.

1. Electronic rotation mass (ERM) consists of an unbalanced weight attached to a motor shaft. As the shaft rotates, the spinning of this irregular mass causes the actuator and the attached device to shake, alerting the user to high-output vibration.
2. Linear resonance actuator (LRA) allows for finer vibration than the actuator vibration motors found, for example, in recent smartphone models.
3. Voice coil motor (VCM) vibrates an object instead of the diaphragm of a speaker. Lightweight devices enable a variety of vibrations.
4. Piezoelectric ceramic offers high frequency characteristics that enable delicate and diverse vibration expression on the fingertips with excellent high-speed response.

Kyocera Corporation’s proprietary tactile technology, HAPTIVITY, replicates realistic touch sensations. According to the company, HAPTIVITY harnesses piezoelectric ceramic vibrating elements to create truly immersive tactile sensations. Biomechanically engineered vibration waveforms provide tactile feedback by stimulating neural receptors in the user’s fingertip, providing physical verification when a button is depressed and released — or even simulating the feel of a physical button where none exists. “A person’s fingertips have very sensitive nerve sensors, and when appropriate vibratory stimulation is applied to them, they can feel as if they are touching an actual object,” said Iwasaki “The user feels a realistic sensation and experiences reliable operation of the apparatus without discomfort.”

Piezoelectric ceramic haptic devices can be used to create solid products with the same tactile sensation as mechanical switches. This offers several benefits. Since there is no mechanical wear, integrating multiple mechanical switches into a piezoelectric ceramic switch reduces the failure rate. Although the flexibility of button switch placement is limited, thinness is an advantage. By using piezoelectric elements, mechanical parts can be eliminated. This technology has the potential for use in thin and smart surfaces that was not previously possible. “Kyocera has succeeded in encapsulating high-performance multilayer piezoelectric ceramic devices in resin using IMSE technology. As a result, we were able to realize a haptic HMI, HAPTIVITY i, that is extremely thin and light,” said Iwasaki.

The user experience of this haptic solution reinforces the customer’s perception of quality in a high-end product and the low failure rate provides a long-term cost advantage.

Kyocera’s HAPTIVITY is a patented technology that uses piezoelectric ceramic to detect pressure. At the same time, the piezoelectric ceramic imparts appropriate vibration to the fingertip to emulate the operation of a mechanical button switch.

Haptic feedback systems for automotive applications can replace mechanical switches, but in doing so, they must maintain the haptic feedback that drivers are accustomed to, to ensure confidence that the intended operation was successful. This requires more than applying vibration to the surface the operator touches. The vibration must be a distinctive response to the operator exceeding a certain pressure threshold, similar to the experience of pressing a mechanical button. To accomplish this requires a component that measures applied pressure, preferably a one that is separate from the actuator piezo.

For the automotive market, Kyocera’s HAPTIVITY improves on earlier haptic feedback systems based on magnetic solutions. These systems had drawbacks such as slow response and limited functionality.

Drawing of Piezoelectric Ceramic Element – Cross Section. With Kyocera’s HAPTIVITY, after the pressure threshold detected from the implemented controller has been exceeded, a single sine half wave of ~30 V is applied to the actuator piezo. According to the piezo-electric effect, the piezo(s) change the geometry. With a suitable mechanical device this piezo shrinkage is converted into a lateral movement which is coupled into the touch surface.

Piezoelectric Ceramic Actuator. Kyocera’s actuator/haptic block (illustrated above) is about 6 cm long. It is attached to the device tightly with screws, ideally on the rear side. The mounting position does not necessarily have to be centered at the device.

As more controllers rely on touch screens, haptic feedback is becoming an increasingly important element in HMI for precision and reliability.

Visit Kyocera Global to learn more about the company.

Visit the Preferred Supplier page for KYOCERA AVX, a division of Kyocera Global.

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