Alps Alpine Co., Ltd. (Tokyo: 6770; President & CEO:
Toshihiro Kuriyama) has developed the HAPTIC™ Reactor Heavy Type for
powerful vibrations in touch feedback. Sample shipments, destined primarily
for the automotive market, begin in October 2020, with a start to mass
production expected in January 2021.
Touch input is on the rise in the automotive market with
accelerating moves toward integration and multifunctionality of controls
traditionally operated by switches or dials. Even outside the realms of car
navigation and audio, use of touch control is expected to keep growing, not
only as a design consideration, but also in view of the user interface (UI)
and user experience (UX). This is seen in air conditioning and other
HVAC*1
control performed via a display, as well as in integration of advanced
driver assistance system (ADAS) functionality into in-vehicle infotainment
(IVI) systems.
Meanwhile, HVAC and IVI integration has made control more
complex. A number of issues have surfaced. For instance, there are also
reports of accidents occurring while the driver was operating touch controls
and not concentrating on the road because they were unsure if their input
operation was successful. To address these issues, sound, light and other
types of feedback are added to touch controls. There is currently growing
demand for vibrational feedback, which allows more intuitive control and
does not require any shift of gaze. The technology is being watched as a
means of delivering greater reassurance and safety while driving. An example
is incorporation into the car’s warning systems – including lane departure
warnings and vehicle proximity alerts that warn the driver of approaching
cars – of vibrations in the steering wheel or the driver’s seat. Such
features are better at conveying a current situation.
Responding to these market needs, Alps Alpine has developed a
new addition to its lineup of HAPTIC™ Reactor models, which have been used
extensively in gaming and virtual reality equipment. The Heavy Type produces
an excitation force of 15G (at 100g), or five times the existing Alps Alpine
product. Sample shipments will begin in October 2020, destined primarily for
the automotive market. Alps Alpine is eyeing a January 2021 start to mass
production.
HAPTIC™ Reactor Heavy Type is for installation behind the front
panel of car navigation or other systems. Earlier vibration devices have had
many issues, including the need for bigger dimensions and a booster circuit
to generate the power required to cause a heavy object (approx. 600g – 1kg),
such as a display, to vibrate. Alps Alpine developed the HAPTIC™ Reactor
Heavy Type to address these issues. Using a different internal structure to
Alps Alpine’s existing Hybrid Tough Type and only one resonance point, the
Heavy Type achieves a 15G excitation force at a low frequency (130Hz)
despite compact dimensions of 33 × 23 × 13mm (W×D×H) and while retaining the
typical HAPTIC™ Reactor characteristics of horizontal resonance, which is
easier to perceive with fingertips, and an outstanding response speed. A
small input voltage of 7V, too, means there is no need for a booster
circuit, contributing to greater freedom in end product design.
This
Heavy Type has a mounting tab and harness connector for greater installation
ease. The specifications allow easy incorporation not only behind displays
but across the vehicle cabin, such as in the steering wheel, seats and door
trims. Ready to work with a driver IC supplied by Cirrus Logic, Inc.,
Dongwoon Anatech Co., Ltd., or new addition Dialog Semiconductor plc, the
device can generate vibration patterns matching the particular conditions
and requirements of each end product manufacturer.
Alps Alpine will continue contributing to user experiences that
deliver greater safety, comfort and convenience to vehicle occupants by
matching the device with electronic control units (ECU)*2 that
heighten compatibility with input devices, such as switches and touch
panels, various automotive sensors, and devices for output like sound and
light, and by advancing application to ADAS and warning applications for
autonomous driving.
*1
HVAC: Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
*2
Electronic control unit (ECU): Device for controlling electronic circuits,
such as for engine control, lane keeping and communication systems
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