Sony's New Touch Panel Detects Amount of Pressure Tweet

Moreover, the size of the actuator was reduced so that it can be embedded in a mobile phone. The dimensions of the small substrate mounted with the piezoelectric elements are 30 x 3 x 0.8mm. And, to detect the amount of the pressure applied in the z-axis direction, Sony CSL employed a force sensing resistor (FSR), whose resistance value changes according to the amount of pressure.

The touch panel prototyped for the demonstration has six FSRs and two piezoelectric actuators under its bezel. Specifically, the FSRs are located in the upper, middle and lower parts of the right portion of the bezel as well as in the upper, middle and lower parts of the left portion of the bezel. The two piezoelectric actuators are positioned in the middle parts of the right and left portions of the bezel.

Will Sony Ericsson's mobile phone come with new panel?

Asked about when the new touch panel will be commercialized, Sony CSL said, "We would like to use it for a mobile phone as soon as possible." As for its costs, which seem to be one of the problems for the commercialization, the company said, "We will cut the costs by, for example, reducing the number of the FSR's functions."

If the panel is commercialized, it is highly likely to be mounted in a product of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB. In fact, the display device used in the demonstration was printed with "Sony Ericsson." In addition, there was an exhibition panel that indicates Sony's cooperation with Sony Ericsson.

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