Abstract:
A dual mode vibrator is disclosed. There are available two vibrating units to enable obtainment of a variety of vibrations. Each lateral portion of the first and second vibrating units respectively supported by the first and second elastic members is supported by the first and second support bars secured at the housing for rotatable installation. Therefore, although the first and second vibrating units may rotate about the first and second support bars, the first and second vibrating units are not allowed to deviated or disengaged from the first and second support bars, whereby the plastic deformation of the first and second elastic members is prevented, and the first and second vibrating units can be positioned at predetermined positions at all times to enhance reliability of product. Furthermore, each lateral portion of the first and second vibrating units is respectively supported by the first and second elastic members while the other lateral portions of the first and second vibrating units are restrained by a stopper at a predetermined distance or more.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2009-0048573, filed on Jun. 2, 2009, and 10-2009-0048576, filed on Jun. 2, 2009, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a dual mode vibrator. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Generally, mobile terminals are embedded with a signal generating device such as a sound generating device or a vibration generating device announcing arrival of an arrival signal. 
         [0006]    The conventional vibration generating device is formed with only one vibrating unit for generating the vibration, such that a vibration signal is monotonous. 
         [0007]    A dual mode vibrator provided with two vibrating units has been developed in order to obtain various types of vibrations and differentiated vibration signals. 
         [0008]    The dual mode vibrator is configured in such a manner that a current is applied to a coil in the form of a frequency, the coil and the two vibrating units are selectively operated responsive to frequency band of the current applied to the coil, and the two vibrating units are selectively vibrated. 
         [0009]    Even in the course of the coil and one of the two vibrating units being operated, the other vibrating unit is vibrated, and vice versa. The vibrating units are supported by a spring and vibrated. 
         [0010]    In the conventional dual mode vibrator, the vibrating units are supported only by the spring, such that the vibrating units may deviate from a predetermined position at a predetermined distance or more by shock and other outside factors, whereby the spring is plastic-deformed by the vibrating units, resulting in the vibrating units deviating from the predetermined position. In that case, frequency change in the current or reduction in vibration may be incurred to decrease reliability of the product. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The present disclosure has been made to solve the foregoing problems of the prior art and therefore an object of certain embodiments of the present invention is to provide a dual mode vibrator configured to provide a variety of vibrations and to enhance reliability of the product. 
         [0012]    In one general aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a dual mode vibrator, comprising: a housing; a coil secured at an interior of the housing; a first vibrating unit formed in the vicinity of the coil to vibrate in association with the coil if a current of a first frequency band is applied to the coil; a second vibrating unit formed in the vicinity of the coil and arranged opposite to the first vibrating unit to vibrate in association with the coil if a current of a second frequency band is applied to the coil; a first elastic member secured at the housing to support one side of the first vibrating unit; a second elastic member secured at the housing to support one side of the second vibrating unit; and deformation prevention means provided at the housing between the other side of the first vibrating unit and the one side of the first and second vibrating units to prevent the first and second elastic members from being plastic-deformed. 
         [0013]    In another general aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a dual mode vibrator, comprising: a housing; a coil secured at an interior of the housing; a first vibrating unit formed in the vicinity of the coil to vibrate in association with the coil if a current of a first frequency band is applied to the coil; a second vibrating unit formed in the vicinity of the coil and arranged opposite to the first vibrating unit to vibrate in association with the coil if a current of a second frequency band is applied to the coil; a first elastic member secured at the housing to support one side of the first vibrating unit; a second elastic member secured at the housing to support one side of the second vibrating unit; and deformation prevention means provided at the housing between the other side of the first vibrating unit and the other side of the second vibrating units to restrain the other sides of the first and second vibrating units from moving at a predetermined distance or more and to prevent the first and second elastic members from being plastic-deformed. 
         [0014]    The dual mode vibrator according to the present disclosure is advantageous in that there are available two vibrating units to enable obtainment of a variety of vibrations. Each lateral portion of the first and second vibrating units respectively supported by the first and second elastic members is supported by the first and second support bars secured at the housing for rotatable installation. 
         [0015]    Therefore, although the first and second vibrating units may rotate about the first and second support bars, the first and second vibrating units are not allowed to deviated or disengaged from the first and second support bars, whereby the plastic deformation of the first and second elastic members is prevented, and the first and second vibrating units can be positioned at predetermined positions at all times to enhance reliability of product. 
         [0016]    Furthermore, the dual mode vibrator according to the present disclosure is configured in such a manner that each lateral portion of the first and second vibrating units is respectively supported by the first and second elastic members while the other lateral portions of the first and second vibrating units are restrained by a stopper at a predetermined distance or more. 
         [0017]    Therefore, because the first and second vibrating units cannot move at a predetermined distance or more, the plastic deformation of the first and second elastic members respectively supporting the first and second vibrating units is prevented, whereby the first and second vibrating units can be positioned at predetermined positions at all times to enhance reliability of product. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. In the drawings: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dual mode vibrator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a dual mode vibrator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a plain cross-sectional view in which a case of a dual mode vibrator is removed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is perspective view of a dual mode vibrator according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a dual mode vibrator according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a plain cross-sectional view in which a case of a dual mode vibrator is removed according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    A dual mode vibrator according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0026]    The suffixes ‘module’, ‘unit’, ‘portion’ and ‘part’ may be used for elements in order to facilitate the disclosure. Significant meanings or roles may not be given to the suffixes themselves and it is understood that the ‘module’, ‘unit’, ‘portion’ and ‘part’ may be used together or interchangeably. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dual mode vibrator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a dual mode vibrator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 3  is a plain cross-sectional view in which a case of a dual mode vibrator is removed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0028]    As illustrated in the figures, the dual mode vibrator is installed at a product such as a mobile terminal, and is provided with a housing  110  having a hexagonal shape. The housing  110  is formed with a base  111  and a case  115 , each mutually coupled together. 
         [0029]    Hereinafter, in the description of directions and surfaces of constituent elements including the housing  110 , a surface and a direction facing a vertical upper side of the base  111  are referred to as ‘upper surface and upper side’ and a surface and a direction facing a lower side of the base  111  are referred to as ‘lower surface and lower side’. 
         [0030]    The base  111  is centrally formed with a holder  120 , and the base at the outer side of the holder  120  is installed with a PCB (Printed Circuit Board  130 ). The holder  120  is supportively installed therein with a coil  140 , and the coil  140  is connected to the PCB  130 . An outside power source is transmitted to the coil  140  through the PCB  130 , where the coil  140  is applied with a current in the form of frequency. 
         [0031]    The coil  140  is arranged thereoutside with vibrating unit that vibrate in association with the coil  140 . At this time, the vibrating unit is fanned with a first vibrating unit  150  and a second vibrating unit  160 , facing each other across the coil  140 . 
         [0032]    The first vibrating unit  150  is formed with a first weight  151  disposed at one side of the coil  140 , a first magnet  153  formed inside the weight  151  to vibrate in association with the coil  140  and to vibrate the first weight  151 , and a first yoke  155  coupled to a lateral surface of the first weight  151  to form a magnetic path of magnetic flux generated from the first magnet  153 . 
         [0033]    The second vibrating unit  160  includes a second weight  161  formed at the other lateral surface, the second weight  161  being smaller than the first weight  151 , and facing the first weight  151  across the coil  140 , a second magnet  163  coupled inside the second weight  161  and vibrating the second weight  161  in association with the coil  140 , and a second yoke  165  coupled to a lateral surface of the second weight  161  to form a magnetic path of magnetic flux generated by a second magnet  163 . 
         [0034]    A support bracket  170  is coupled at an upper surface of the case  115  facing the PCB  130  or at a portion of the base  111  where the PCB  130  is formed. The support bracket  170  is formed at one lateral surface and the other lateral surface thereof with first and second elastic members  171 ,  175  such as a spring. 
         [0035]    Each of the first and second elastic members  171 ,  175  is substantially U-shaped, to support the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160 . 
         [0036]    To be more specific, one lateral surface of the first elastic member  171  is coupled with a lateral surface of the support bracket  170 , a lateral surface of the first weight  151  is formed at an interior of the first elastic member  171  to be coupled to the other lateral surface of the first elastic member  171 . 
         [0037]    A lateral surface of the second elastic member  175  is coupled to the other lateral surface of the support bracket  170 , and a lateral surface of the second elastic member  161  is coupled to an interior of the second elastic member  175  to be coupled to the other lateral surface of the second elastic member  175 . 
         [0038]    In a case a current in the form of a frequency is applied to the coil  140 , and a current of a first frequency band which is a harmonic frequency in the range of 140˜160 Hz is applied, the first magnet  153  is vibrated by the action of the coil  140  and the first magnet  153 . Then, the first vibrating unit  150  including the first weight  151  is vibrated, and the vibration of the first vibrating unit  150  is transmitted to the housing  110  through the first elastic member  171 , whereby the mobile terminal formed with the housing  110  is provided with a vibration signal. 
         [0039]    Furthermore, in a case a current of a second frequency band which is a harmonic frequency in the range of 240˜260 Hz is applied to the coil  140 , the second magnet  163  is vibrated by the action of the coil  140  and the second magnet  163 . The second vibrating unit  160  including the second weight  161  is vibrated, and the vibration of the second vibrating unit  160  is transmitted to the housing  110  through the second elastic member  175 , whereby the mobile terminal formed with the housing  110  is provided with a vibration signal. The first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  are vibrated alternatively across the coil  140  in parallel with the base  111 . 
         [0040]    However, because the current is continuously applied to the coil  140  in the form of frequency, the second vibrating unit  160  may vibrate while the coil  140  and the first magnet  153  are interacted, and the first vibrating unit  150  is vibrated while the coil  140  and the second magnet  163  are interacted. At this time, the second vibrating unit  160  vibrates lightly due to lighter weight than that of the first weight and having a high number of vibrations, such that harmony between the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  can generate a variety of differentiated vibration signals. 
         [0041]    In a case the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  are disengaged from the interior of the housing  110  by shock or the like at a predetermined distance or more, a bent portion between first and second springs  171 ,  175  is plastic-deformed, whereby the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  are deviated from each installed position. 
         [0042]    In the dual mode vibrator according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, means is provided to prevent the first and second elastic members  171 ,  175  from being plastic-deformed, because each lateral portion of the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  supported to each of the first and second elastic members  171 ,  175  is supported. 
         [0043]    The means is provided with a first support hole  151   a  formed at one lateral surface of the first weight  151  of the first vibrating unit  150 , a first support bar  181  secured at the housing  110  by being inserted into the first support hole  151 , and a second support bar  185  inserted into a second support hole  161   a  formed at a lateral surface of the second weight  161  of the second vibrating unit  160  and the second support hole  161   a,  and secured at the housing  110 . 
         [0044]    At this time, the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  are rotated to vibrate about the first and second support bars  181 ,  185  each at a predetermined angle. Then, each lateral surface of the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  each supported at the first and second elastic members  171 ,  175  is rotated about the first and second support bars  181 ,  185  each at a predetermined angle, and is prevented from deviating from the first and second support bars  181 ,  185 , whereby the deformation of the first and second elastic members  171 ,  175  is avoided. 
         [0045]    In a case the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  are rotated to vibrate about the first and second support bars  181 ,  185  each at a predetermined angle, the first and second elastic members  171 ,  175  are plastic-deformed. However, because an inner space of the housing  110  is cramped, each the other lateral surface or portion of the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  is restrained by the housing  110 , whereby the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  are not allowed to rotate at a predetermined angle or more. 
         [0046]    The first and second support bars  181 ,  185  may be integrally formed at an upper surface of the base  111  or the case  115 , or separately formed to be fixed at the upper surface of the base  111  or the case  115 . 
         [0047]    Meanwhile,  FIG. 4  is perspective view of a dual mode vibrator according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a dual mode vibrator according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 6  is a plain cross-sectional view in which a case of a dual mode vibrator is removed according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0048]    Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with means preventing the first and second elastic members  171 ,  175  from being plastic-deformed by preventing the other portion of the first weight  151  at the first vibrating unit  150  that is not supported at the first and second elastic members  171 ,  175 , and the other portion of the second weight  161  at the second vibrating unit  160  from moving at a predetermined distance or more. 
         [0049]    The means is a stopper  180  that is coupled to the base  111  of the housing  110  between the other portion of the first weight  151  and the other portion of the second weight  161 . 
         [0050]    In a case the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  are vibrated, the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  fail to hit the stopper  180 . However, in a case the other portion of the first vibrating unit  150  is to move toward the second vibrating unit  160  in response to shock at a predetermined distance, the other portion of the first vibrating unit  150  is restrained from moving due to blocking by the stopper  180 , and in a case the other portion of the second vibrating unit  160  is to move toward the first vibrating unit  150  in response to shock at a predetermined distance, the other portion of the second vibrating unit  160  is restrained from moving due to blocking by the stopper  180 . 
         [0051]    Therefore, deformation of the first and second elastic members  171 ,  175  each supporting the one lateral surface of the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  is prevented, because the other lateral surfaces of the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  are not allowed to move at a predetermined distance or more. 
         [0052]    Portions of the first and second weights  151 ,  161  each facing the lateral surface and the other lateral surface of the stopper  180  are so formed as to be caved in toward inner sides of the first and second weights  151 ,  161 . 
         [0053]    The caved-in portions  151   a,    161   a  are so formed as to prevent an installation space from being enlarged due to the stopper  180 , and in a case the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  vibrate, the stopper  180  is inserted into the caved-in portions  151 ,  161   a  of the first and second weights  151 ,  161 . 
         [0054]    The stopper  180  that is hit by the first and second weights  151 ,  161  is provided with a cushioning material. Alternatively, a lateral surface and the other lateral surface of the stopper  180 , each facing the other portions of the first and second weights  151 ,  161  are separately provided with a separate cushioning material  181 . 
         [0055]    An interior of the other portions of the first and second weights  151 ,  161  each distanced apart from the first and second springs  171 ,  175  is provided with an auxiliary magnet  191  that holds a small vibration of the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  such that the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  can be rapidly stopped in a case the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  are stopped. 
         [0056]    Unexplained reference numeral  143  is a core,  193  is a cushioning member that prevents the first and second vibrating units  150 ,  160  from directly hitting external elements. 
         [0057]    Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.