Realization of button click feeling by use of ultrasonic vibration and force feedback

This paper presents a displaying method of button like click feeling using ultrasonic vibration with amplitude of a few micrometers. Artificial click feeling is displayed by recreating rapid change in force arising from buckling of a mechanical push button utilizing squeeze film effect. First, important factors for displaying click feeling were extracted by analyzing the relationship among force-stroke curve of mechanical buttons and perceived click feeling. Then, click feeling display system was constructed. In the system, stimulation are applied to the operators at both buckling and restitution point. Finally, by conducting several sensory evaluation experiments, it was verified that button like feeling can be displayed without recreating the stroke of mechanical buttons by use of ultrasonic vibration. It was also verified that various artificial click feeling can be displayed by controlling the multiple parameters of the system.