Patent ID: 11886640
Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  B | IPC G

Claim 6:
7. An operation device comprising:
a movable part having an operating surface on which a contact operation is performed by an living body;
a vibration exciter attached to the movable part, at a position other than the operating surface, and configured to excite the movable part in a first direction along the operating surface, and in a second direction intersecting the operating surface;
a base part; and
an elastic support, provided between the movable part and the base part, and configured to elastically support the movable part with respect to the base part, wherein
the movable part provides a tactile sensation to the living body making the contact operation when excited in the first direction by the vibration exciter, and generates a sound from the operating surface when excited in the second direction by the vibration exciter,
the vibration exciter includes
a first yoke,
a second yoke disposed to oppose the first yoke in a third direction,
a permanent magnet attached to a surface of the first yoke on a side facing the second yoke, and
a first excitation coil and a second excitation coil attached to the second yoke and generating a magnetic flux when supplied with a current,

the second yoke includes
a base, and
a first projection projecting from the base toward the first yoke, between the first excitation coil and the Second excitation coil,

the first excitation coil and the second excitation coil are disposed to sandwich the first projection in a fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction,
axial directions of the first excitation coil and the second excitation coil are parallel to the third direction,
the permanent magnet includes
a first region,
a second region located on one side of the first region in the fourth direction, and
a third region located on the other side of the first region in the fourth direction,

the first region is magnetized to become a first magnetic pole,
the second region and the third region are magnetized to become second magnetic poles,
the first region opposes the first projection,
a boundary between the first region and the second region opposes the first excitation coil, and
a boundary between the first region and the third region opposes the second excitation coil.