To allow developers of internet of things (IoT) devices of industrial, automotive and consumer electronics, Synaptics Inc. has introduced a sound and haptics transducer for display surfaces.
The technology enables slim, bezel-less and inherently dustproof and waterproof designs to come to applications such as TVs, smart appliances, portable media players, toys, gaming platforms, smartphones, automotive displays, monitors and laptops.
Called Synaptics Resonate, the technology replaces speakers and linear resonant actuators used for audio and haptic feedback with piezoelectric transducers placed on the rear of the display glass.
Synaptics said the amplifier and algorithms emanates directly from the surface of the glass to provide a line-of-sight with a high sound pressure level (SPL) and audio fidelity. The design avoids side or down-firing speakers, which has become a trend in industrial designs.
The transducer also produces haptic feedback for gaming or precise system control applications. Because these transducers are piezoelectric, they can also be used to detect pressure from a third axis of control for touch interfaces.
Other features include:
- Up to 80% greater power efficiency compared to other designs.
- Eliminates audio ports.
- Can be applied to any surface to turn it into a smart surface with audio, haptics and touch pressure sensing.
Embedded World 2023 takes place this week in Nuremberg, Germany.
