Feb 15 2010
Today at Mobile World Congress 2010, Immersion Corporation (NASDAQ:IMMR), the leading developer and licensor of haptics technology, announced new solutions to power touch feedback effects in user experience design and applications for mobile handsets and other devices. The company’s piezo-based TouchSense 5000 solution enables true, high-definition haptic effects for significantly improved feedback quality and fidelity, while its TouchSense 4000 solution uses multiple conventional motors to power next-generation effects. Immersion’s technology, which also announced today has shipped in over 100 million phones, offers device makers the ability to design exceptional user experiences that engage the sense of touch and are satisfying, efficient and fun. Mobile World Congress attendees can feel the technology at Immersion’s exhibit in App Planet, Stand # 7B62.
“New innovations in user experiences are crucial to the mobile industry, especially in the area of touch as touchscreens have become the preferred user interface,” said Craig Vachon, senior vice president and general manager of Immersion’s Touch line of business. “As seen in products offered by our customers such as Samsung, LG and Nokia, our haptics technology is the standard for integrating touch feedback; with the launch of TouchSense 4000 and TouchSense 5000, we’ve again set the bar with new solutions that will power well-designed and pleasing products that involve our most fundamental sense.”
Immersion’s TouchSense 5000 solution takes haptics to a new level of fidelity by enabling high-definition haptic effects. The solution leverages piezo actuators and Immersion’s extensive haptic patent portfolio and offers manufacturers and designers:
- Powerful and Crisp Effects delivered through:
- Wide haptic bandwith (50 - 350 Hz) – increased range, strength and precision
- Superior effects isolation – actuator can be mounted to vibrate only the touchscreen
- HD Haptic Synthesizer – converts sampled or captured waveforms into compelling effects
- Instantaneous Touch Feedback – low-latency design can reduce haptic lag time below human perception
- Quiet Piezo Haptics – innovative electro-mechanical reference design and signal control algorithms can reduce noise below audible; effects operate almost silently
- Easy Integration – great flexibility in piezo location; no conventional motor necessary; improved mechanical resilience
- TouchSense Studio for Mobile – Windows-based tool enables easy design and integration of haptic effects
Immersion’s TouchSense 4000 solution uses multiple conventional linear resonant actuators (LRAs) or eccentric rotating mass motors (ERMs) to drive dynamic haptic effects and is ideal for multi-sensor devices. The solution offers:
- Fine haptic resolution via Fast Brake 256X
- Synchronized Spatial and Rumble Effects
- Easy Integration with TouchSense Studio for Mobile
TouchSense 4000 is currently available and is shipping in partners’ products and can be experienced in the Fuse handset. TouchSense 5000 is expected to ship in commercial mobile handsets in the second half of 2010.