Flexible tactile actuator

1. A flexible tactile actuator comprising:

a tactile transmitter including a matrix layer containing magnetic particles;

a magnetic field generator configured to apply a magnetic field to the tactile transmitter; and

an elastic member connected to the tactile transmitter and separating the tactile transmitter and the magnetic field generator from each other,

wherein, as the magnetic field generator applies or does not apply a magnetic field to the tactile transmitter, at least a portion of the tactile transmitter moves relative to the magnetic field generator, thereby generating a vibrating force of 0.2 G or more.

2. The flexible tactile actuator of claim 1 ,

wherein the tactile transmitter and the magnetic field generator are spaced apart from each other by 0.1 mm to 3 mm.

3. The flexible tactile actuator of claim 1 ,

wherein the matrix layer has a tensile strength ranging from 0.02 newtons per square millimeter (N/mm{circumflex over ( )}2) to 8.85 N/mm{circumflex over ( )}2, and

wherein the matrix layer has an elongation percentage ranging from 65% to 700%.

4. The flexible tactile actuator of claim 1 ,

wherein the elastic member is formed of a polymer having a Young's modulus ranging from 0.5 gigapascals (GPa) to 6.1 GPa.

5. The flexible tactile actuator of claim 1 ,

wherein the content of the magnetic particles relative to the volume of the tactile transmitter ranges from 4% by volume (vol %) to 60 vol %.

6. The flexible tactile actuator of claim 1 ,

wherein the elastic member is formed of at least one of polyethylene terephthalate and polyimide.

7. The flexible tactile actuator of claim 1 ,

wherein at least a portion of the elastic member is in surface contact with the magnetic field generator, and at least a portion of the elastic member is in surface contact with the tactile transmitter.

8. The flexible tactile actuator of claim 1 ,

wherein the tactile transmitter is a magneto-rheological elastomer.

9. The flexible tactile actuator of claim 1 ,

wherein the magnetic field generator is formed of a flexible material that is bendable.

10. The flexible tactile actuator of claim 1 ,

wherein the magnetic field generator includes:

a first magnetic field generating circuit printed on an insulating film and wound multiple times in a circular, oval, or polygonal shape.

11. The flexible tactile actuator of claim 10 ,

wherein the magnetic field generator further includes:

a second magnetic field generating circuit printed on the insulating film and wound multiple times in a circular, oval, or polygonal shape.

12. The flexible tactile actuator of claim 1 ,

wherein the magnetic field generator comprises:

a plurality of flexible printed circuit boards attached using an adhesive, and

wherein each of the plurality of flexible printed circuit boards comprises a magnetic field generating circuit to generate a magnetic field.

13. A method of manufacturing a flexible tactile actuator, the method comprising:

mixing a matrix material and magnetic particles;

molding the matrix material in which the magnetic particles are mixed into a shape of a tactile transmitter;

attaching an elastic member such that at least a portion of the elastic member is in surface contact with the tactile transmitter; and

attaching a magnetic field generator such that at least a portion of the elastic member is in surface contact with the magnetic field generator.

14. A method of manufacturing a flexible tactile actuator, the method comprising:

attaching an elastic member such that at least a portion of the elastic member is in surface contact with a tactile transmitter; and

attaching a magnetic field generator such that at least a portion of the elastic member is in surface contact with the magnetic field generator,

wherein the tactile transmitter is prepared by:

mixing a matrix material and magnetic particles; and

molding the matrix material in which the magnetic particles are mixed into a shape of a tactile transmitter.