Electronic device having a haptic actuator with magnetic augmentation

An electronic device, comprising:

• an enclosure;
• and
• a haptic actuator positioned within the enclosure and comprising:
• an elongated substrate having a fixed end and a free end opposite to the fixed end, the free end being free to move in an actuation direction;
• an actuator tab positioned at the free end of the elongated substrate and extending in a direction that is transverse to a length of the elongated substrate;
• a piezoelectric layer coupled to the elongated substrate;
• a first ferritic plate coupled to a first side of the elongated substrate and positioned toward the free end of the elongated substrate;
• a second ferritic plate coupled to a second side of the elongated substrate and positioned toward the free end of the elongated substrate;
• a first magnet structure positioned near the free end and on the first side of the elongated substrate and separated from the first ferritic plate by a first gap, the first magnet structure fixed relative to the enclosure while the elongated substrate moves in the actuation direction;
• a second magnet structure positioned near the free end and on the second side of the elongated substrate and separated from the second ferritic plate by a second gap, the second magnet structure fixed relative to the enclosure while the elongated substrate moves in the actuation direction;
• and
• a control unit operatively coupled to the piezoelectric layer and configured to cause the elongated substrate to move along the actuation direction and cause the actuator tab to contact the enclosure to produce a tactile output along an exterior surface of the enclosure.

An electronic device comprising:

• an enclosure defining an interior volume and an exterior surface of the electronic device;
• a display positioned at least partially within the interior volume;
• and
• a haptic actuator positioned within the interior volume and comprising:
• an elongated substrate having a free end that is free to move along a nonlinear path;
• a piezoelectric layer positioned along a side of the elongated substrate;
• a first magnet structure coupled to a first side of the elongated substrate and positioned toward the free end of the elongated substrate;
• a second magnet structure positioned near the first side of the free end of the elongated substrate and separated from the first magnet structure by a first gap, the second magnet structure fixed with respect to the enclosure such that the second magnet structure remains stationary as the free end moves along the nonlinear path;
• a third magnet structure coupled to a second side of the elongated substrate and positioned toward the free end of the elongated substrate;
• a fourth magnet structure positioned near the second side of the free end of the elongated substrate and separated from the third magnet structure by a second gap, the fourth magnet structure fixed with respect to the enclosure such that the fourth magnet structure remains stationary as the free end moves along the nonlinear path;
• and
• a control unit configured to apply an actuation signal to the piezoelectric layer;
• wherein:
• in response to the actuation signal, the piezoelectric layer causes the free end of the elongated substrate to move along the nonlinear path to produce a tactile output along the exterior surface of the enclosure.