Tactile fedback by a longitudinally moved magnetic hammer

A tactile feedback actuator having a hammer path having two ends, with at least one of said two ends being provided in the form of a stopper, and a coil element fixedly mounted relatively to the hammer path, and a magnetic hammer movable between the ends of the hammer path, the magnetic hammer having two opposite ends, each end of the magnetic hammer having a corresponding permanent magnet, the two permanent magnets having opposing polarities, the magnetic hammer being electromagnetically engageable by a magnetic field emitted upon activation of the coil element so as to be longitudinally moved along the hammer path to strike the at least one stopper.

15-40. (canceled)

A method of operating a tactile feedback actuator, the tactile feedback actuator having a hammer path guide, two stoppers and a coil element fixedly mounted relative to the hammer path guide, and a magnetic hammer having two opposite ends and being slidably engaged with the hammer path guide, between the two stoppers, the method comprising:

• activating the coil element to accelerate the magnetic hammer towards one of the two stoppers, and for the magnetic hammer to then strike the corresponding stopper.

47-52. (canceled)