A linear actuator comprising a mass movably mounted in a linear displacement path, the mass having a magnetic segment, a drive force generator configured to selectively impart acceleration to the mass in the orientation of the linear displacement path, and a reactive force path generating a return force when the mass is displaced from a rest position. The return force being in the orientation of the linear displacement path and towards the rest position, the amplitude of the return force varying as a function of the position of the mass in the linear displacement path in accordance with a force response curve, the reactive force path including a permanent magnet force element disposed transversally adjacent to the linear displacement path and magnetically coupled with the magnetic segment.

An electromagnetic actuator including an attractor to exert a magnetic attractive force in one side in a first direction, a frame, and a lever. The frame includes a frame body fixed to the attractor, and a support on an oblique-direction side relative to the attractor. The lever includes a fulcrum portion pivotally supported by the support, a first displaceable portion arranged on the other side in the second direction relative to the fulcrum portion and on the other side in the first direction relative to the attractor and magnetically attractable by the attractor to be displaced to the one side in the first direction, and a second displaceable portion arranged on the one side in the first direction relative to the fulcrum portion and on the one side in the second direction relative to the attractor and/or the frame and displaceable away from the attractor and/or the frame by the pivot of the lever.

An electro-magnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) system and method for controlling the EMAT system are provided. The system includes an electromagnet array with one or more electromagnets. Each electromagnet includes a magnetic core and a wound coil wrapped around the magnetic core. The electromagnet array generates bias magnetic fields having different patterns when the wound coils are energized differently.

A vibrator includes a frame, a swing unit, and an elastic member. The swing unit is disposed within the frame and holds a magnet. The elastic member connects the swing unit and the frame. The swing unit is movable with respect to the frame while deforming the elastic member. The frame, the swing unit, and the elastic member are integrally molded with each other.

A haptic actuator includes mechanical links defining a first J-trajectory and mechanical links defining a second J-trajectory as well as a motor coupled to the mechanical links so as to synchronously accelerate a first mass over the first J-trajectory and a second mass over the second J-trajectory. During a first time interval, reactive forces of the first mass accelerating substantially balance reactive forces of the second mass accelerating and during a second time interval reactive forces of the first mass accelerating do not substantially balance reactive forces of the second mass accelerating. This un-balanced condition results in a tap signal being produced.

The absence of high efficiency, compact fluidic pumps has until recently blocked the consideration of using hydraulic devices within portable and/or alkaline battery powered consumer and non-consumer products. The higher the functionality and programmability desired for a consumer and/or non-consumer product exploiting a fluidic pump then the more complex the overall fluidic system in terms of the number of actuators, valves, switches etc. within the fluidic system coupled to the one or more fluidic pumps. Accordingly, there exists a requirement to provide compact fluidic valves and switches to support configurability, programmability, and operation of these portable battery-operated consumer and non-consumer devices in conjunction with these newly available high efficiency, compact fluidic pumps. Such fluidic valves and switches should offer high efficiency, have a small footprint, be low complexity for high reliability and ease of manufacture, and low cost.

According to one embodiment, a tactile actuator can comprise: a housing having an accommodation space therein; a cap covering at least a portion of the accommodation space; a vibration unit disposed inside the accommodation space; an elastic member for connecting the housing and the vibration unit such that the vibration unit can vibrate with respect to the housing; a coil for forming a magnetic field to drive the vibration unit; and a control unit for determining any one driving mode on the basis of collected driving information from among a plurality of preset driving modes and determining, according to the driving mode, the characteristic of a current to be applied to the coil.

A control device including a control section configured to vibrate a contact region in a case where it is determined that an operation is performed on an input section by a target object coming into contact with the contact region, the input section having the contact region touched by the target object, wherein the control section adjusts displacement rise time as a control parameter for performing control of vibrating the contact region.

A control device including a control section configured to vibrate a contact region in a case where it is determined that an operation is performed on an input section by a target object coming into contact with the contact region, the input section having the contact region touched by the target object, wherein the control section adjusts acceleration time as a control parameter for performing control of vibrating the contact region.

A control device including a control section configured to vibrate a contact region in a case where it is determined that an operation is performed on an input section by a target object coming into contact with the contact region, the input section having the contact region touched by the target object, wherein the control section adjusts an acceleration peak-to-peak value as a control parameter for performing control of vibrating the contact region, the acceleration peak-to-peak value being a difference between a local maximum value and a local minimum value of acceleration applied by vibration to the contact region.