Touch-activated device based on dielectric elastomers and method of manufacture

A touch-activated device based on dielectric elastomers, comprising:

• a matrix of dielectric elastomer actuators formed by:
• a matrix of upper electrodes connected in rows;
• a matrix of lower electrodes facing the upper electrodes and connected in columns;
• and
• a layer of dielectric elastomer located between the matrix of upper electrodes and the matrix of lower electrodes;
• a passive upper layer and passive lower layer which respectively cover a upper part and a lower part of the matrix of dielectric elastomer actuators;
• a printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical terminals connected electrically to the rows and columns of electrodes of the matrix of dielectric elastomer actuators;
• a matrix of actuator pins partially embedded in a pin support layer located on the passive upper layer, a base of said actuator pins (5a) facing the upper electrodes and a head of said actuator pins (5b) projecting from the pin support layer and
• a matrix of lower supports arranged on the printed circuit board and facing the lower electrodes, and generating compression of the passive lower layer in a substantially centered compression area with respect to the lower electrode.