Film-type bendable vibrotactile actuator for mobile games

The paradigm of consumer electronic devices is being shifted from rigid hand-held devices to flexible/wearable devices in search of benefits such as enhanced usability and portability, excellent wear characteristics, and more functions in less space. However, the fundamental incompatibility of flexible/wearable devices and a rigid actuator brought forth a new issue obstructing commercialization of flexible/wearable devices. In this paper, we propose a new wave-shaped eco-friendly PVC gel, and a new flexible and bendable vibrotactile actuator that could easily be applied to wearable electronic devices. An experiment for measuring vibrational amplitude was conducted over a wide frequency range. The experiment clearly showed that the proposed vibrotactile actuator could create a variety of haptic sensations in wearable devices.