Cirrus Logic Introduces New Family of Advanced Closed-Loop Haptic Drivers for Next-Generation Automotive Interfaces

Key Terms

closed-loop haptic drivers technical

Closed-loop haptic drivers are electronic control systems that generate touch feedback—vibrations or gentle forces—and use built-in sensors to measure the actual output and adjust it continuously, like cruise control keeping a car at a steady speed. For investors, they matter because they improve consistency and feel in phones, wearables, gaming controllers and medical devices, which can boost product appeal, reduce defects and support higher pricing or licensing opportunities.

haptics technical

Haptics is technology that creates tactile sensations—vibrations, pressure or motion—so users can feel virtual buttons, alerts or textures through a device, like the small buzz you feel when a touchscreen ‘clicks’. Investors pay attention because haptics can improve user experience, enable new medical and virtual-reality applications (rehabilitation tools, remote procedures), and differentiate products, potentially driving higher sales, licensing deals and recurring software or hardware revenue.

aec-q100 technical

AEC‑Q100 is an industry qualification standard for integrated circuits used in vehicles, specifying a set of stress tests and environmental conditions chips must survive to be deemed reliable for automotive applications. For investors, AEC‑Q100 certification is like a durability and safety stamp — components that pass are more likely to win long-term auto contracts, face fewer recalls, and signal lower supply risk and steadier revenue for suppliers.

sensor-less velocity control (svc) technical

A control technique for electric motors that estimates the motor’s rotational speed using electrical measurements and software instead of a physical speed sensor. For investors, it matters because it can lower product cost, reduce mechanical complexity and maintenance needs, and enable companies to offer more reliable, compact motor drives—factors that can improve margins, broaden market appeal, and affect capital spending decisions.

active vibration compensation (avc) technical

Active vibration compensation (AVC) is a system that detects unwanted motion or shaking with sensors and immediately creates counter-movements to cancel it out, keeping equipment steady and precise. For investors, AVC matters because it improves performance and uptime of machinery and instruments—think of it like image stabilization for expensive factory tools—so it can raise product quality, reduce repairs and waste, and protect revenue and margins.

click compensation algorithm technical

A click compensation algorithm is a set of rules a digital platform or advertiser uses to decide how much to pay publishers, affiliates or content creators each time a user clicks a link or ad. It matters to investors because it directly affects a business’s online revenue, margins and risk of fraud — like a pay-per-click meter that determines whether clicks are counted, valued differently or filtered out, changing cash flow predictably or suddenly.

waveform design technical

Waveform design is the process of choosing the shape, timing and strength of electrical or acoustic signals used by medical devices to produce a desired physiological effect. For investors, it matters because the right waveform can improve a device’s effectiveness, safety and battery life, create regulatory and patent advantages, and thus influence market differentiation and commercial success—think of it like composing the exact melody that makes a device work reliably for patients.

actuator technical

An actuator is a mechanical component that converts an energy source (electricity, air, or fluid) into controlled movement or force, like a motor that opens a valve or moves a robotic arm. Investors pay attention because actuators determine how reliably and precisely a product or piece of factory equipment performs—think of them as the muscles of a device; their cost, durability and regulatory compliance affect manufacturing expenses, product quality, and liability risk.

Automotive-qualified solutions for more intuitive, immersive in-vehicle experiences

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cirrus Logic (NASDAQ: CRUS), a leading provider of high-performance audio and mixed-signal semiconductor solutions, today announced the launch of its new family of closed-loop haptic drivers CS40L51, CS40L52 and CS40L53, marking the company’s first haptic driver solutions reliability qualified in accordance with the AEC-Q100 automotive standard. The new family of products brings Cirrus Logic’s proven expertise in consumer and smartphone haptics to the automotive space, enabling a more consistent, immersive and intuitive tactile user experience across a wide range of in-cabin interfaces.

As automakers look to elevate and differentiate vehicles with personalized, immersive experiences, haptics-enabled smart surfaces play a critical role in enabling premium interior designs that are sleek, modern and sustainable. Cirrus Logic’s closed-loop technology improves actuator response, creates a wider range of haptics effects and delivers consistent performance across varying conditions. This ensures high-definition haptic feedback on interactive displays, steering wheels, smart surfaces, center consoles, smart seats and more.

“Consumers expect a high level of responsiveness from haptics experiences. Early adoption of haptics in vehicles was not intuitive or consistently reliable, and didn’t deliver a realistic tactile experience,” said Vlad Bulavsky, Director, Automotive Solutions, Cirrus Logic. “Cirrus Logic’s new low latency, closed-loop haptics technology addresses this challenge for automotive designers who are redefining how we interact with our cars and take user experience to the next level.”

“As screens replace physical controls in vehicles, the industry has recognized the need for sophisticated tactile feedback to bridge the gap,” said Peter Cooney, Chief Technology Analyst at DATAportl, a leading market research provider. “We are moving past basic vibration to advanced, high-definition haptics that simulate physical textures and clicks. This shift is essential for reducing distraction and is the primary force driving the automotive haptics market today.”

Cirrus Logic’s CS40L51/52/53 family offers a range of features satisfying different use cases and budgets. It simplifies the design process for engineers by integrating key components into an efficient solution. The drivers’ advanced closed-loop hardware and algorithm improve the response time of the actuator and expand usable frequency bandwidth to create a wider range of haptic effects. These new haptics solutions support a broader range of tactile effects and enable new and better ways to leverage haptics for automotive user experiences.

CS40L51 – Combines advanced Sensor-less Velocity Control (SVC), real-time audio to haptics synchronization (A2H) and active vibration compensation (AVC) for immersive, high-fidelity feedback.

CS40L52 – Features the advanced closed-loop control SVC that optimizes the system's haptic performance in real-time by reducing response time, increasing frequency bandwidth and compensating for manufacturing tolerances and temperature variation.

CS40L53 – Features the Click Compensation algorithm to enable consistent haptic feedback across systems by adjusting haptic effects based on the actuator manufacturing characteristics.

By leveraging Cirrus Logic’s deep expertise in signal processing and consumer electronics, the CS40L51/52/53 drivers provide automotive designers with a scalable platform for both current and future generations of haptic-enabled automotive solutions.

Key Benefits

• Consistent haptics performance across manufacturing and temperature variation through advance closed-loop algorithms
• Wider frequency range of haptics feedback compared to a conventional system enabling new user experiences and textured effects
• Intuitive high-definition haptics feedback enabled by the advanced closed-loop algorithm which improves the actuator response time
• Haptics tools that simplify waveform design to accelerate development cycles
• Reliability qualified in accordance with the AEC Q100 standard to support a wide range of automotive applications

Availability

Engineering samples of CS40L51, CS40L52 and CS40L53 are available now, with mass production expected to begin in December 2025. Additional product details, including data sheets and application materials, are available at www.cirrus.com/automotive-haptics.

About Cirrus Logic

Cirrus Logic is a leading supplier of innovative analog, mixed-signal, and audio DSP solutions that enable compelling user experiences in mobile, consumer, and automotive applications. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Cirrus Logic develops cutting-edge technologies that connect people with sound and touch in new ways.

For more information, visit www.cirrus.com.

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Derrick Shannon

Account Director, Touchdown PR

CirrusLogic@touchdownpr.com

512.599.4015



Julia Betts

Director, Communications & Employee Experience, Cirrus Logic

Julia.Betts@cirrus.com

512.851.4147

Source: Cirrus Logic