Piezoelectric actuator

Disclosed herein is a piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element generating vibrations by repetitively expanding and restoring according to power applied from the outside to be linearly driven; a support member contacts the piezoelectric element in order to support the piezoelectric element; and vibration control members attached to one surface of and the support member and the piezoelectric element.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0130307, filed on Dec. 17, 2010, entitled “Piezoelectric Actuator”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a piezoelectric actuator.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various methods allowing a user to more easily and conveniently perform communication with a computer or programs have been used. A technology for applying one type of haptic interface, a haptic module has been used.

Haptic refers to “tactile sense”, which is a concept that reflects the intuitive experience of the user to an interface other than an input technology, such as a touch, and allows more diverse feedback. The reason why a UI is spotlighted is that hardware contention has reached a saturation state in an electronic device market.

Therefore, the haptic module can be considered to be a solution satisfying consumer demand.

Generally, the haptic module uses a piezoelectric actuator using a piezoelectric effect in order to generate vibrations.

The piezoelectric actuator transfers vibrations to the user through the feedback. According to the prior art, in order to transfer the vibrations to the user, a starting time when the piezoelectric actuator generates vibrations are approximately 9 ms and after transferring the feedback, a falling time when the vibrations are reduced is approximately 13.4 ms.

As described above, the piezoelectric actuator according to the prior art has a problem in transferring an immediate response to the user.

In addition, the user feels a weak vibration during the response starting time or the falling time of the piezoelectric actuator, such that he/she cannot experience a pleasant interface environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a piezoelectric actuator with improved immediate response characteristics in order for a user to feel that vibrations according to an operation of an electronic device are directly fedback by directly providing vibrations to a touch screen of a mobile communication terminal or a portable terminal, rather than using a manner of vibrating the whole mobile communication terminal or portable terminal using a vibration motor.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a piezoelectric actuator, including: a piezoelectric element generating vibrations by repetitively expanding and restoring according to power applied from the outside to be linearly driven; a support member contacting the piezoelectric element in order to support the piezoelectric element; and vibration control members attached to one surface of the support member and the piezoelectric element.

The piezoelectric actuator may further include a case receiving the piezoelectric element, the support member, and the vibration control members.

The vibration control members may be attached to the top portion of the piezoelectric element and the bottom portion of the support member to contact the top portion and the bottom portion in the case by the driving according to the expansion and restoration of the piezoelectric element.

The vibration control members may be attached to the top portion and the bottom portion in the case to contact the top portion of the piezoelectric element and the bottom portion of the support member by the driving according to the expansion and restoration of the piezoelectric element.

The vibration control members may be attached to the top portion in the case and the bottom portion of the support member to contact the top portion of the piezoelectric element and the bottom portion in the case by the driving according to the expansion and restoration of the piezoelectric element.

The vibration control members may be attached to the top portion of the piezoelectric element and the bottom portion in the case to contact the top portion in the case and the bottom portion of the support member by the driving according to the expansion and restoration of the piezoelectric element.

The support member may be made of an elastic material to be changed together with the piezoelectric element according to the repetitive expansion and restoration of the piezoelectric element to be linearly driven.

The support member may be made of a material of Sus or Invar.

The case may further include a coupling protrusion formed on the bottom portion in the case and coupling the support member with the case to transfer the vibrations of the piezoelectric element to the outside.

The vibration control member may be made of a Poron material in order to reduce vibrations and noise.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the specification, in adding reference numerals to components throughout the drawings, it is to be noted that like reference numerals designate like components even though components are shown in different drawings. Terms used in the specification, ‘first’, ‘second’, etc. can be used to describe various components, but the components are not to be construed as being limited to the terms. The terms are only used to differentiate one component from other components. Further, in describing the present invention, a detailed description of related known functions or configurations will be omitted so as not to obscure the subject of the present invention. Further, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known art related to the present invention may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is a cross-sectional view of a piezoelectric actuator100according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1, the piezoelectric actuator100is configured to include a piezoelectric element111, a support member112, vibration control members121and122, and a case130.

In more detail, the piezoelectric actuator100is configured to include the piezoelectric element111generating vibrations by being repetitively expanded and restored according to power applied from the outside to be linearly driven and a support member112contacting the piezoelectric element111in order to support the piezoelectric elements111.

In addition, the support member112is linearly driven by repetitively expanding and restoring the piezoelectric element111, such that it is made of an elastic material in order to be changed together with the piezoelectric element111.

Therefore, the support member112may be made of various materials, but the present invention may be made of Sus or Invar.

As shown inFIG. 1, the case130has a space formed therein in order to include the piezoelectric actuator100.

In addition, a bottom portion132in the case130is provided with a coupling protrusion133capable of coupling the support member112with the case130and transferring the vibrations of the piezoelectric element111to peripheral components contacting the piezoelectric actuator100.

As shown inFIG. 1, the vibration control members121and122is attached to the top portion of the piezoelectric element111and the bottom portion of the support member112in order to limit the driving displacement of the piezoelectric element111.

In more detail, the vibration control member121according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is attached to the top portion of the piezoelectric element111and the vibration control member122is attached to the bottom portion of the support member112.

Therefore, the piezoelectric element111repetitively expanding and restoring according to the power applied from the outside contacts the top portion131and the bottom portion132in the case130, such that the driving displacement of the piezoelectric element111is limited.

FIG. 5is a graph showing a frequency of the piezoelectric actuator according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a dotted line shows the frequency of the piezoelectric actuator according to the prior art and a solid line shows the frequency of the piezoelectric actuator according to the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 5, the piezoelectric actuator according to the prior art has a displacement between 600 μm and 650 μm in the resonance band of 250 Hz.

On the other hand, the piezoelectric actuator100including the vibration control members121and122has a displacement between about 300 μm and 350 μm in the resonance band of 250 Hz.

Further,FIG. 5shows that the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator100according to the present invention is lower than that of the piezoelectric actuator according to the prior art even in a ±50 Hz band.

Therefore, the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator100according to the present invention is small to rapidly generate vibrations, such that it can rapidly transfer the feedback to the user.

Since the vibrations are also rapidly reduced, weak vibrations are not transferred to the user.

The following Table 1 shows data obtained by repetitively experimenting the starting time (ms, millisecond) when the vibrations are generated in the piezoelectric actuator100and the falling time (ms) when the vibrations are reduced, in the case where the support member112of the piezoelectric actuator100according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is made of Sus.

As described in the above Table 1, the starting time when the vibrations are generated in the piezoelectric actuator100according to the present invention consumes a maximum of 4 ms and a minimum of 3.8 ms and consumes an average of 3.98 ms.

Therefore, when comparing with the starting time, 9 ms when the vibrations are generated in the piezoelectric actuator according to the prior art, the piezoelectric actuator100according to the present invention rapidly generates the vibrations as quickly as about 5 ms.

Therefore, the piezoelectric actuator100according to the present invention rapidly transfers the vibrations to the user, such that the user can immediately feel the feedback.

As described in the above Table 1, in the piezoelectric actuator100according to the present invention, the falling time when the vibrations are reduced consumes a maximum of 7.2 ms and a minimum of 6.8 ms and consumes an average of 6.9 ms after the vibrations are transferred to the user.

Therefore, when comparing with the falling time, 13.4 ms when the vibrations are generated in the piezoelectric actuator according to the prior art, the piezoelectric actuator100according to the present invention reduces the vibrations rapidly as quickly as about 6.5 ms.

Therefore, the piezoelectric actuator100according to the present invention does not feel the weak vibrations by the user, thereby making it possible to provide the pleasant and immediate feedback.

The following Table 2 shows data obtained by repetitively experimenting the starting time (ms) when the vibrations are generated in the piezoelectric actuator100and the falling time (ms) when the vibrations are reduced, in the case where the support member112of the piezoelectric actuator100according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is made of Invar.

As described in the above Table 2, the starting time when the vibrations are generated in the piezoelectric actuator100according to the present invention consumes a maximum of 4 ms and a minimum of 3.8 ms and consumes an average of 3.96 ms.

Therefore, when comparing with the starting time, 9 ms when the vibrations are generated in the piezoelectric actuator according to the prior art, the piezoelectric actuator100according to the present invention rapidly generates the vibrations as quickly as about 5 ms.

Therefore, the piezoelectric actuator100according to the present invention rapidly transfers the vibrations to the user, such that the user can immediately feel the feedback.

As described in the above Table 2, in the piezoelectric actuator100according to the present invention, the falling time when the vibrations are reduced consumes a maximum of 7.2 ms and a minimum of 6.8 ms and consumes an average of 7 ms after the vibrations are transferred to the user.

Therefore, when comparing with the falling time, 13.4 ms of the piezoelectric actuator according to the prior art, the piezoelectric actuator100according to the present invention rapidly reduces the vibrations as quickly as about 6.4 ms.

Therefore, the piezoelectric actuator100according to the present invention does not allow the user to feel the weak vibrations, thereby making it possible to transfer a pleasant and immediate feedback.

In addition, the material of the support member112according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is not limited to Sus or Invar. Therefore, any material supporting the piezoelectric element111and including an elastic force capable of being changed together with the piezoelectric element111by repetitively expanding and restoring the piezoelectric element111to be linearly driven may be used.

FIG. 6is a graph showing a starting time when vibrations are generated by the reaction of the piezoelectric actuator according to the first preferred embodiment.

In more detail,FIG. 6is a graph showing the time from a start point S where the piezoelectric element111reacts to the time A forming 50% (a/2) of a complete waveform a by power applied from the outside. As shown inFIG. 6, the piezoelectric actuator100according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention consumes approximately 4 ms until the waveform a/2 forming 50% of the complete waveform a is formed in order to transfer the vibrations to the user.

Therefore, the user can immediately feel the feedback by rapidly transfer the vibrations to the user.

FIG. 7is a graph showing a falling time when vibrations are reduced by the reaction of the piezoelectric actuator according to the first exemplary embodiment.

In more detail,FIG. 7is a graph showing the time from an end point E where the complete waveform a ends to the time B when the complete waveform is reduced to 50% a/2 by stopping the reaction of the piezoelectric element111due to the interruption of power applied from the outside.

As shown inFIG. 7, the piezoelectric actuator100according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention consumes approximately 7 ms until the waveform a/2 where 50% of the complete waveform a is reduced is formed after the vibrations is transferred to the user.

Therefore, the user does not feel the weak vibrations by rapidly reducing the vibrations, thereby making it possible to provide the pleasant and rapid feedback.

FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view of a piezoelectric actuator200according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 2, the piezoelectric actuator200is configured to include a piezoelectric element211, a support member212, vibration control members221and222, and a case230.

The configuration of the piezoelectric actuator200is the same as the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention and therefore, the technical features thereof will be omitted.

As shown inFIG. 2, the vibration control members221and222are attached to the inside of the piezoelectric actuator200in order to limit the driving displacement of the piezoelectric element211.

In more detail, the vibration control member221according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is attached to the top portion231in the case230and the vibration control member222is attached to the bottom portion232in the case230.

Therefore, the piezoelectric element211repetitively expanding and restoring according to the power applied from the outside contacts the vibration control member221attached to the top portion231thereof.

In addition, the support member212contacts the vibration control member222attached to the bottom portion232thereof, thereby limiting the driving displacement of the piezoelectric element211.

FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view of a piezoelectric actuator300according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 3, the piezoelectric actuator300is configured to include a piezoelectric element311, a support member312, vibration control members321and322, and a case330.

The configuration of the piezoelectric actuator300is the same as the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention and therefore, the technical features thereof will be omitted.

As shown inFIG. 3, the vibration control members321and322are attached to the inside of the piezoelectric actuator300in order to limit the driving displacement of the piezoelectric element311.

In more detail, the vibration control member321according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention is attached to the top portion331in the case330and the vibration control member322is attached to the bottom portion in the support member312.

Therefore, the piezoelectric element311repetitively expanding and restoring according to the power applied from the outside contacts the vibration control member321attached to the top portion331thereof.

In addition, the vibration control member322attached to the bottom portion of the support member312contacts the bottom portion332in the case330, thereby limiting the driving displacement of the piezoelectric element311.

FIG. 4is a cross-sectional view of a piezoelectric actuator400according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 4, the piezoelectric actuator400is configured to include a piezoelectric element411, a support member412, vibration control device421and422, and a case430.

The configuration of the piezoelectric actuator400is the same as the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention and therefore, the technical features thereof will be omitted.

As shown inFIG. 4, the vibration control members421and422are attached to the inside of the piezoelectric actuator400in order to limit the driving displacement of the piezoelectric element411.

In more detail, the vibration control member421according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention is attached to the top portion of the piezoelectric element411and the vibration control member422is attached to the bottom portion432in the case430.

Therefore, the vibration control member421attached to the piezoelectric element411repetitively expanding and restoring according to the power applied from the outside contacts the top portion431in the case430.

In addition, the support member412contacts the bottom portion432in the case430, thereby limiting the driving displacement of the piezoelectric element411.

As set forth above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention can provide the piezoelectric actuator having a vibration control member limiting a movement displacement of a piezoelectric element included therein and rapidly transfer the vibrations to the user, such that the user can feel the immediate feedback.

Further, the piezoelectric actuator according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention can provide a pleasant and immediate feedback so that the user does not feel the weak vibrations when the vibration is reduced.

Although the embodiments of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, it will be appreciated that the piezoelectric actuator according to the invention is not limited thereby, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.