Boréas Technologies, a pioneer in ultra-low-power high definition (HD) piezo haptic semiconductors, and Cirque, a global leader in touch-interface technologies, unveiled GlideSense™ with Boréas’ Piezo Haptic Trackpad technology, the first trackpad module that helps PC manufacturers meet rising demand for richer, more responsive tactile experiences in trackpads that are slim, light and cost-efficient.
Featuring Boréas’ Piezo Haptic Trackpad technology—which was recently named a CES 2022 Innovation Award Honoree—GlideSense is also the first trackpad module to take advantage of Microsoft’s operating systems-level support for haptic trackpads in Windows 11 machines. PC notebook and laptop manufacturers can now easily access the many benefits of piezoelectric haptic architectures—which include miniature size, light weight, ultra-low power, and customizable feature sets—in their Windows 11 notebooks and laptops.
“Microsoft’s move to support haptic trackpads in Windows 11 reflects a growing shift away from older mechanical-touch trackpads toward newer, thinner haptic-touch trackpads that offer users more satisfying sensory experiences in PC notebooks and laptops,” said Simon Chaput, founder and CEO, Boréas. “In addition to supporting the user-adjustable click-force sensing built into Windows 11, Boréas piezo haptics offers so much more—making PC trackpads competitive with Apple’s Force Touch trackpads for the first time.”
In addition to contributing its high-definition piezo haptic driver chip, the BOS1901, to the new module, Boréas also designed the module’s entire haptic layer to improve performance and manufacturability.
“GlideSense with Boréas’ Piezo Haptic Trackpad technology gives PC manufacturers the best of both worlds,” said Brian Monson, president, Cirque. “Combining Boréas’ HD piezo haptic driver architecture with Cirque’s proven high-volume manufacturing capability, the new module pairs innovation with quality and reliability, to enable the most compelling touch experiences for users of premium and mid-range PC laptops and notebooks. In partnership with Boréas, we look forward to raising the bar on the user experience with PC trackpads.”
