Abstract: This paper aims to propose minimal emotion expression methods of intelligent terminal products,i.e,applying low degree-of-freedom(DoF)actuators to create expressive patterns that are able to trigger users’emotional perceptions.The paper first explored the emotion expression capabilities of four low DoF actuators(light,music,motion,and vibration)under a valence-arousal emotion model framework.The exploratory experiments resulted the range of emotions that each actuator can express,and the correlation between different levels of actuator parameters and the perceived values of pleasure and arousal.An assistive design tool for minimal emotional expression was then developed on the basis of experiment results.This tool could assist designers in rapid prototyping of the product’s emotional expressivity during the design and development process of intelligent terminals.