Haptic Electromagnetic Actuator

A device, comprising:

• a plate defining a haptic output surface on an exterior of the device;
• an attraction plate attached to a surface of the plate opposite the haptic output surface, the attraction plate extending under the plate;
• and
• a haptic electromagnetic actuator extending under the plate and comprising an array of electromagnets positioned along an axis parallel to the haptic output surface;
• wherein:
• the array of electromagnets comprises alternating poles along the axis;
• each electromagnet comprises a metal core and an electrical wire around the metal core;
• the attraction plate is biased to maintain a gap between the attraction plate and the array of electromagnets;
• and
• the array of electromagnets is configured to overcome the bias and move the attraction plate toward the array of electromagnets, in a plane parallel to the plate, when an electrical current flows through each electrical wire around each metal core.