Munich, Germany, May 14, 2019 – Alps Alpine Co., Ltd., 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.
Key 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
Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
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 endeavour to 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
Alps Electric Europe GmbH
Alps Electric Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of Alps AlpineCo.,
Ltd., was established in 1979. Since 2013 the European Head Office has
been located in Munich and as such co-ordinates the Sales, Marketing
and Product Engineering activities of our offices in Dusseldorf,
Paris, Milton Keynes, Gothenburg and Milan, as well as the production
activities of our manufacturing site in Dortmund.