Applications of bending wave technology in human interface devices

摘要

The application of bending-waves to so-called "flat panel loudspeakers" has often been the topic of papers at AES Conventions. This paper looks at other interesting applications of the technology that have, or are beginning to have commercial pull. These applications are also part of the interface between human and machine, but focus on the sense of touch rather than of hearing. The idea of a touch screen is not a new, but is only now becoming ubiquitous with a new generation of devices typified by the i-Phone. If touch sensors are the analogue of the microphone, then haptic feedback generators are the analogue of the loudspeaker. Bending waves are beginning to find application here too.