Immersion and TI collaborate on Haptics reference design

SAN JOSE, USA: Immersion Corp., a leading developer and licensor of touch feedback technology, announced that it collaborated with Texas Instruments in the development of a new high fidelity haptic reference design that combines Texas Instruments driver devices and Immersion TouchSense 5000 software.

The TouchSense 5000 reference design provides device designers with the technical implementation details necessary to build a world-class high definition haptic device. In addition to outlining the fundamental haptic concepts, the TouchSense 5000 reference design includes explicit schematics for the electronics necessary to drive currently available actuators from each of several vendors.

It includes detailed descriptions of the mechanical, software and APIs needed to create a compelling user experience with a production-ready high definition haptic device. This solution greatly benefits designers creating mobile devices, including handsets, tablets and consumer electronics and delivers key advantages, including high fidelity, small size and low solution cost.

“As an industry leader in haptics, we’re pleased to work with a leading semiconductor supplier like TI,” explains Immersion’s Dennis Sheehan, vice president of marketing. “Not only is it creating critical momentum in enabling the ecosystem, but it will also drive faster adoption of touch-enabled products that greatly benefit users; piezo-based haptics will power next-generation user interface devices.”

In its TouchSense 5000 reference designs for high-fidelity haptics, Immersion has included TI’s recently-announced DRV8662, the industry’s most highly integrated piezo haptic driver. The solution offers OEMs and designers easily-integrated, powerful and crisp effects delivered through a wide haptic bandwidth (50-Volts to 200-Volts peak-to-peak), improved effects isolation, fast start-up time (less than 1.5 milliseconds) and below-audible noise.

"As touchscreens become the standard interface for a growing range of electronic devices, there is an increasing demand for haptics to enhance the user experience," said ShreHarsha Rao, manager for TI’s haptics sector. "TI’s broad portfolio of low-power, highly-integrated haptics solutions, coupled with Immersion’s powerful touch feedback technology will easily allow OEMs and designers to design innovative products with realistic tactile feedback effects, and we look forward to working with industry-leading companies like Immersion to drive progress in haptic technology.”

The TouchSense 5000 reference design is the latest in the collaboration between the two companies. Previously Immersion included TI’s DRV8601 to drive eccentric rotating mass actuators (ERMs) and linear resonant actuators (LRAs) in its TouchSense 3000 reference designs for more standard haptics.