IDT, Immersion ally on touch feedback to accelerate adoption in digital devices

SAN JOSE, USA: IDT (Integrated Device Technology Inc.), a leading provider of essential mixed signal semiconductor solutions that enrich the digital media experience, and Immersion Corp., the leading developer and licensor of touch feedback technology, will collaborate to drive the adoption of haptics in digital devices.

The companies will work together to provide solutions offering OEMs rapid implementation of high-quality haptic feedback in touch-enabled products.

Haptics, or touch feedback technology, provides a physical “touch” confirmation to the user when input is received into a system via a touchscreen, slider, touchpad or other digital interface.

Through the collaboration, Immersion’s TouchSense high-fidelity haptic technology will allow IDT to address a broader range of multimedia applications with its IDT PureTouch™ silicon solutions, ultimately accelerating touch technology in consumer electronic devices.

“Touch sensor and haptics technologies are key components to the evolution of digital media and consumer electronic devices,” said Ram Iyer, vice president and general manager for the IDT Computing and Multimedia Division. “Our touch sensor technology and collaboration with Immersion will allow us to address a broader range of applications while offering our customers the competitive advantages that haptics technology provides.”

True multi-modal user experiences encompass sight, sound and touch – all physical sensations in consumer electronic devices that IDT is improving through its video, audio and touch semiconductor solutions that ultimately allow OEM customers to provide consumers with richer, more complete digital media experiences.

“IDT shares our vision of dramatically improved user experiences, especially in touch solutions,” said Craig Vachon, senior vice president and general manager, Touch Line of Business at Immersion.

“Enabling haptics at the semiconductor level is a catalyst for further innovation and for accelerated adoption. With Immersion’s TouchSense technology in the IDT PureTouch solutions, the power of human touch – our most fundamental sense – becomes more widely available for manufacturers to bring to life in their products.”

Deployed in over 70 million devices from several of the world’s leading manufacturers, haptics technology fully involves the sense of touch to make the user experience with digital devices more efficient, intuitive, fun and more accurate. Applications include integration in products such as consumer electronics, mobile phones and handheld devices for commercial and industrial applications.

The IDT PureTouch LDS6010, 6018, 6040, and 6048 capacitive controllers integrate the TouchSense haptics technology, sophisticated software capable of delivering the crisp response required to achieve advanced tactile effects.

The driver supports ERM (eccentric rotating mass) and LRA (linear resonant actuator) vibration motors, with a smart watchdog timer implemented to save power by activating shutdown mode if no PWM (pulse width modulation) activity is detected. A programmable on-board voltage regulator enables direct connection of the haptics supply to the system battery while still ensuring a consistent haptics experience across the battery discharge curve.