KEMET introduces high-definition piezoelectric film tactile actuators for the next generation of user interfaces

     Yageo's KEMET, a leading global supplier of electronic components, has announced the launch of an innovative haptic solution: piezoelectric polymer film haptic actuators. When embedded directly into a product surface, this actuator can act as a tactile skin, providing a localized body sensation and tactile effect that is not available with other tactile solutions on the market today. Kimi's thin film actuators enable design engineers to implement advanced touch solutions with high-performance actuators for a wide range of applications including remote control, smart buttons, medical devices, AR/VR, and anything that comes into contact with hands, fingers, head, and lips.

     While piezo-tactile solutions are used in many applications, they are usually large and heavy, which can cause the entire device to shake. In contrast, Kimi's tactile actuator is thin (150μm), flexible and consistent in nature, and is made from a proprietary, patent-protected, paper-thin material, an electroactive polymer film, which mimics the sense of touch using the piezoelectric effect. Unlike the eccentric rotating mass (ERM) technology often used in haptic devices, Kimi electronic haptic actuators do not cause the entire device to shake. Kimi Electronics' lightweight piezoelectric polymer film actuators offer superior performance with various combinations of displacements and forces, as well as fast response times, so they can provide high-definition haptic feedback.

     Such tactile actuators can convey specific material textures and familiar sensations, such as button clicks and raindrops, through a local sense of the surface of a consumer device. Combining the high bandwidth of a device with physiology such as touch makes for a richer user experience for many consumer devices, including game controllers, virtual reality (VR) tactile gloves, and devices with touch user interfaces. This tactile actuator uses the sense of touch to increase immersion and user satisfaction for deep interaction with consumer devices.

     According to a report by IDTechEx Research, a consulting firm based in Cambridge, England, the haptic technology market is growing exponentially and is expected to be worth nearly $5 billion by 2025. Its growing adoption on smartphones will drive this growth. However, this technology is beginning to emerge in other industries and products, so that newer and more advanced haptic technologies can be used to achieve significant improvements in performance and versatility.