TOKYO, March 28, 2019 – Alps Alpine Co., Ltd., (Tokyo: 6770;
CEO: Toshihiro Kuriyama), a manufacturer of high-quality electronic
products, has added the
HSFPAR004A
Force Sensor to its lineup. The sensor enhances impact resistance while
maintaining the industry’s smallest size*1 and offers high
linearity and high resolution, which makes it ideal for use in stylus pens
and other input devices.
These days, electronic blackboards and tablets are being used on
several occasions, such as school sessions and company meetings. Therefore,
demand for pen-shaped devices (stylus pen), which are mostly used for the
purpose of working creatively – including digital drawing and painting – has
been growing. Stylus pens, or styli, contain force sensors that trace the
trajectory of the pen tip and then reproduce different thicknesses in the
artwork corresponding to the pressure applied. Styli require a sensor with
high resolution and linearity, but also need to be sturdy enough to not
break when the pen is unintentionally dropped.
The HSFPAR004A lives up to these requirements because it
maintains the features of already existing products for high linearity
(<2%FS), high resolution (detects micro force with less than 0.01 N), and
small size of 2.00 mm × 1.60 mm × 0.66 mm (W×D×H), while at the same time
realizing an improvement in impact resistance of up to 55 N. The sensor
offers an operating life of 1,000,000 cycles and is resistant to external
magnetic and electric fields. Besides its use in input devices, the sensor
is suitable for industrial machines handling precision equipment and a range
of diverse applications, especially on the grip parts of robot arms for
precision grip force adjustments.
Features
- High impact resistance proved by a breaking load of 55 N
- Detects micro force of less than 0.01 N
- Long operating life of more than 1 million cycles
- Resistant to external magnetic fields and electric fields
The improved impact resistance of the sensor is achieved with the
extension of the actuator diameter of the sensing zone*2 from
the existing 0.20 mm to the new 0.40 mm, while at the same time keeping
the rounded peripheral edge to disperse impacts. Therefore, the breakage
risk of the sensor in stylus pens is reduced in case the pen is
unintentionally dropped, while still guaranteeing smooth pen pressure
expression without spoiling the easy integration into end products. Mass
production has been underway since March.
The knob has a rounded peripheral edge to disperse impacts
*1 According to Alps Alpine Research, March 2019
*2 Tip of a sensor receiving stress (also called knob)
Additional Resources
Find more detailed technical data about the HSFPAR series on
our
product page
Find a product movie on
YouTube
About Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
On January 1, 2019, Alps Electric Co., Ltd. and Alpine
Electronics, Inc. integrated their businesses and started out afresh as
Alps Alpine Co., Ltd with 42,289 employees. Alps Alpine will steadily
bring about synergies by drawing on the two companies' advantages in core
devices, system design and software development.
The new company will create its own unique value for not only the
automotive market, but also mobile devices and consumer electronics, as
well as new sectors such as energy, healthcare and industry. For more
information please visit www.alpsalpine.com
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