Patent ID: 8099126
Filing Date: 2012-01-17
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A mobile communications device comprising: (a) a housing; (b) an actuator mounted on the housing and selectively movable, by hand, between a first position and a second position; (c) a bi-stable piezo-electric linear drive motor operatively engaging the actuator, and operatively substantially engaging the housing in substantially juxtaposed relation, the motor comprising a threaded nut and a mating elongate threaded screw, wherein the threaded nut or the mating threaded screw is a piezo-electric ceramic element and wherein the actuator securely engages the threaded nut or the mating threaded screw; (d) a control processor operatively encoded to start the motor, so as to drive the actuator between the first position and the second position by longitudinally translating the threaded nut and the mating threaded screw relative to one another; and (e) a first stop member and a second stop member, each securely engaging an inside wall of the housing and each operatively positioned in substantially interposed relation between the motor and the housing; and wherein the threaded screw comprises a first end portion and a longitudinally opposing second end portion, with the first end portion operatively engaging the first stop member when the motor drives the actuator towards the second position, and with the second end portion operatively engaging the second stop member when the motor drives the actuator towards the first position.