At TRICAS, we are at the forefront of UX technology, dedicated to elevating the user experience in smart devices. Our innovation team focusses on technology scouting, prototyping, testing, and validation to enhance user experience by haptic feedback.

We have explored a range of haptic technologies, including Linear Resonant Actuators (LRA), Eccentric Rotating Mass (ERM), Piezoelectric actuators, and voice coils. But not before properly understanding how haptics interact with the user. By research extensive knowledge was gained on how and haptics interact with the human skin. One of the learnings is that vibrations stimulate the pacianian corpuscles (sensory receptors deep in the skin) which convert the mechanical pressure into electrical signals. Also good to consider is that sustained vibration can lead to temporary desensitization.

Then, each technology is evaluated against critical parameters such as frequency response, size, ease of assembly, and robustness. Our team has developed various demonstrators to showcase these capabilities in real-world scenarios. Some of our findings are:

The ERM technology didn’t comply to our application due to slow acceleration and single frequency vibration. The advantage of voicecoils is their ability to cover a broad frequency range, we were able to provide a versatile communication tool for users. In our latest UX application, we faced the challenge of miniaturizing a device. We successfully integrated convincing tactile feedback without compromising on size by using a micro LRA. In our next steps, we will focus on Piezo technology to enable locally oriented and very precise feedback to the user.

However, selecting the right technology is just the beginning. A key challenge lies in the proper integration of these components into device housing. Factors such as material selection, tolerances, and applied pressure are vital for ensuring optimal haptic frequency distribution. By learning and doing TRICAS created deep understanding of optimal integration of haptic technologies.

If your R&D department is looking for support or inspiration to enhance your device’s user experience, we invite you to connect with us!