Abstract:
A multi-function vibrating device is disclosed. The multi-function vibrating device providing sound producing and vibration functions includes a holder having a hollow space, a suspension divided into at least two parts, a vibration member suspended by the suspension and having at least a pair of receiving concaves for fixing the corresponding two parts of the suspension. The multi-function vibrating device has larger vibrating amplitude and small size.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to vibration devices, and more specifically to a multi-function vibrating device using a split-type suspension. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Generally, a mobile communication terminal such as a cellular phone employs a multi-function vibrating device in order to generate vibration in addition to a sound signal such as bell sound to a user when a call or a message is received. 
     A related multi-function vibrating device includes a holder having a hollow space, a suspension assembled with the holder, a vibrating member suspended in the hollow space by the suspension and having a magnetic gap, a diaphragm facing the vibrating member with a periphery portion fixed on the holder and away from the vibrating member, and a coil attached to a lower surface of the diaphragm with a part thereof inserted into the magnetic gap of the vibrating member. The suspension forms an integral unit and includes a supporter having a closed-curve shape for engaging with the vibrating member and a plurality of spring arms extending from the supporter for fixing on the holder. 
     However, as the mobile communication terminal becomes smaller, the overall size of the multi-function vibrating device mounted in the mobile communication terminal should be reduced synchronously. Accordingly, the vibrating member which directly generates vibration becomes also lighter together with decreasing an outer diameter, as a result, a vibrating amplitude is also decreased. In addition, if the weight is enlarged in a circumferential direction in order to increase the vibrating amplitude, a length of the spring arm of the suspension formed between the vibrating member and the holder is reduced, thereby decreasing the elastic force supporting the vibrating member, which also decreases the vibrating amplitude. 
     Thus, there is an urgent need for a new multi-function vibrating device which enables increasing the vibrating amplitude with a smaller size. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative exploded view of a multi-function vibrating device in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative cross-sectional view of the multi-function vibrating device; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative isometric view of a vibrating member of the multi-function vibrating device, a yoke thereof being removed away. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative isometric view of an outer pole plate of the multi-function vibrating device in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an illustrative exploded view of a multi-function vibrating device in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrative cross-sectional view of the multi-function vibrating device in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an illustrative cross-sectional view of a multi-function vibrating device in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made to describe the exemplary embodiments of the present invention in detail. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4 , a multi-function vibrating device  10  in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a holder  11  forming a hollow space  111 , a split-type suspension  14  assembled with the holder  11 , a vibrating member  13  suspended in the hollow space  111  by the suspension  14  and defining a magnetic gap  136 , a diaphragm  150  arranged facing the vibrating member  13  with a periphery thereof fixed to the holder  11 , and a voice coil  151  directly or indirectly attached to a lower surface of the diaphragm  150  with a part thereof inserted into the magnetic gap  136  of the vibrating member  13  for driving the diaphragm  150  to vibrate. 
     The vibrating member  13  defines a magnetic circuit part and a weight  135  integral with or attached to the magnetic circuit part. The magnetic circuit part comprises a yoke  130 , an inner magnet  131  mounted on the yoke  130 , an outer magnet  132  spaced apart from the inner magnet  131  and surrounding the inner magnet  131 , an inner pole plate  133  attached to a top surface of the inner magnet  131 , and an outer pole plate  134  attached on a top surface of the outer magnet  132 . An outline of the inner magnet  131  is similar to that of the inner pole plate  133 . And, an outline of the outer magnet  132  is similar to that of the outer pole plate  134 . Therefore, the magnetic gap  136  is formed by an outer surface of the inner magnet  131  together with the inner pole plate  133  and an inner surface of the outer magnet  132  together with the outer pole plate  134 . In this embodiment, the multi-function vibrating device  10  is provided with dual-magnets, thereby increasing the vibrating amplitude. The weight  135  has a mounting hole  1351  forming at a center thereof. The magnetic circuit part is inserted and fixed in the mounting hole  1351 . Optionally, the weight  135  is mounted on the yoke  130 . 
     The yoke  130  is made of magnetic conductive maternal and has a platy shape. The outer pole plate  134  defines a center hole  1341  and a body portion (no labeled) surrounding the center hole  1341 . The body portion defines a first surface  1342 , a second surface  1343  opposite to the first surface  1342 , a lateral  1344  connecting the first and second surface  1342 ,  1343 , and three receiving concaves  340  extending from the lateral  1344  toward the center hole  1341  and connecting with the first surface  1343  for forming an opening in the first surface  1342  of the body portion of the outer pole plate  134 . The receiving concaves  340  are located evenly at the outer pole plate  134 . 
     The suspension  14  allowing the vibrating member  13  to be elastically supported by the holder  11  comprises three elastic parts each having a same structure to another and spaced apart from another. The three elastic parts are coplanar. Each of the elastic parts defines a fixing portion  142  fixed on the corresponding receiving concave  340  of the outer pole plate  134 , an elastic arm  141  extending from the fixing portion  142 , and a fastening end  140  extending from the elastic arm  141  and secured on the holder  11 . The three elastic arms are configured to be a ring. The three elastic arms extend in the same direction from corresponding fixing portions respectively. Distances between every two adjacent fixing portions  142  are equal for stabilizing and balancing the vibration of the vibrating member  13 . A region of the elastic arms disposed on the ring ranges from 40% or more to less than 95% of a total region of the ring, thereby increasing the vibration amplitude of the vibrating member  13 . For example, the region of the elastic arms disposed on the concentric circle may be in range of 50% to 80%. A guiding hole  1401  is disposed in each fastening end  140  for fixing the corresponding elastic part on the holder  11  firmly. 
     The holder  11  defines three fixtures (not shown) respectively inserted into the guiding holes  1401  of the suspension  14  to fixedly weld the fastening ends  140  of the suspension  14  to the holder  11  in a state where the fastening ends  140  are in contact with an inner surface of the holder  11 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the voice coil  151  is partially inserted into the magnetic gap  136  and spaced apart from the yoke  130 , the inner and outer pole plates  133 ,  134 , and the inner and outer magnets  131 ,  132  at a predetermined distance. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a multi-function vibrating device  102  according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprises a holder  21  forming a hollow space  211 , a split-type suspension  24  assembled with the holder  21 , a vibrating member  23  suspended in the hollow space  211  by the suspension  24  and defining a magnetic gap (no labeled), a diaphragm  250  arranged facing the vibrating member  23  with a periphery thereof fixed to the holder  21 , and a voice coil  251  directly or indirectly attached to a lower surface of the diaphragm  250  with a part thereof inserted into the magnetic gap of the vibrating member  23  for driving the diaphragm  250  to vibrate. 
     The vibrating member  23  defines a magnetic circuit part and a weight  235  integral with or attached to the magnetic circuit part. The magnetic circuit part comprises a yoke  230 , an inner magnet  231  mounted on the yoke  230 , an outer magnet  232  spaced apart from the inner magnet  231  and surrounding the inner magnet  231 , and an inner pole plate  233  attached to a top surface of the inner magnet  231 . An outline of the inner magnet  231  is similar to that of the inner pole plate  233 . Therefore, the magnetic gap is formed by an outer surface of the inner magnet  231  together with the inner pole plate  233  and an inner surface of the outer magnet  132 . In this embodiment, the multi-function vibrating device  102  is provided with dual-magnets, thereby increasing the vibrating amplitude. The weight  235  has a mounting hole  2351  forming at a center thereof. The magnetic circuit part is inserted and fixed in the mounting hole  2351 . Optionally, the weight  235  is mounted on the yoke  230 . The yoke  130  is made of magnetic conductive maternal and has a platy shape. The outer magnet  232  defines a center hole  2321 , a sidewall  2322  surrounding the center hole  2321  and three receiving concaves  341  formed in a top surface of the sidewall  2322  for fixing the suspension  24 . 
     The suspension  24  allowing the vibrating member  23  to be elastically supported by the holder  21  comprises three elastic parts each having a same structure to another and spaced apart from another. The three elastic parts are coplanar. Each of the elastic parts defines a fixing portion  242  fixed on the corresponding receiving concave  341  of the outer magnet  235 , an elastic arm  241  extending from the fixing portion  242 , and a fastening end  240  extending from the elastic arm  241  and secured on the holder  21 . The three elastic arms are configured to be a ring. The three elastic arms extend in the same direction from the corresponding fixing portions  242  respectively. Distances between every two adjacent fixing portions  242  are equal for stabilizing and balancing the vibration of the vibrating member  23 . A guiding hole  2401  is disposed in each fastening end  240  for fixing the corresponding elastic part on the holder  21  firmly. 
     The second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first embodiment of the present invention except that an outer pole plate is omitted and the receiving concaves  341  are formed on an outer magnet  232 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a multi-function vibrating device  103  according to a third embodiment of the present invention comprises a holder  31  forming a hollow space (no labeled), a split-type suspension  34  assembled with the holder  21 , a vibrating member (no labeled) suspended in the hollow space by the suspension  34  and defining a magnetic gap  336 , a diaphragm  350  arranged facing the vibrating member with a periphery thereof fixed to the holder  31 , and a voice coil  351  directly or indirectly attached to a lower surface of the diaphragm  350  with a part thereof inserted into the magnetic gap  336  of the vibrating member for driving the diaphragm  350  to vibrate. 
     The vibrating member defines a magnetic circuit part and a weight  335  integral with or attached to the magnetic circuit part. The magnetic circuit part comprises a yoke  330 , an inner magnet  331  mounted on the yoke  330 , and an inner pole plate  333  attached to a top surface of the inner magnet  331 . An outline of the inner magnet  331  is similar to that of the inner pole plate  333 . The yoke  330  has a bottom  3301 , a plurality of side portions  3302  extending from the bottom  3301  toward a diaphragm  350  and three receiving concaves  344  formed in a top surface of the side portions  3302 . Therefore, the yoke  330 , an inner magnet  331  and an inner pole plate  333  are fastened together as a single unit of an inner-magnet type. The magnetic gap  336  is formed by an inner surface of the side portions  3320  and an outer surface of the inner magnet  131  and the inner pole plate  133 . 
     The suspension  34  allowing the vibrating member  33  to be elastically supported by the holder  31  comprises three elastic parts each having a same structure to another and spaced apart from another. Each of the elastic parts has a fixing portion  342  fixed on the corresponding receiving concave  344  of the yoke  330 , an elastic arm  341  extending from the fixing portion  342 , and a fastening end  343  extending from the elastic arm  341  and secured on the holder  31 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a multi-function vibrating device  104  according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention comprises a holder  41  forming a hollow space (no labeled), a split-type suspension  44  assembled with the holder  41 , a vibrating member (no labeled) suspended in the hollow space by the suspension  44  and defining a magnetic gap  436 , a diaphragm  450  arranged facing the vibrating member with a periphery thereof fixed to the holder  41 , and a voice coil  451  directly or indirectly attached to a lower surface of the diaphragm  450  with a part thereof inserted into the magnetic gap of the vibrating member for driving the diaphragm  450  to vibrate. 
     The vibrating member defines a magnetic circuit part and a weight  435  integral with or attached to the magnetic circuit part. The magnetic circuit part comprises a yoke  430 , an outer magnet  432  mounted on the yoke  430 , and an outer pole plate  434  attached to a top surface of the outer magnet  432 . An outline of the outer magnet  434  is similar to that of the outer pole plate  434 . 
     The yoke  430  has a mounting portion  4301  and a projecting portion  4302  extending from a center of the mounting portion  4301  and taken the place of the inner magnet of the first embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the yoke  430 , an outer magnet  432  and an outer pole plate  434  are fastened together as a single unit of an outer magnet-type. The magnetic gap  436  is formed by an outer surface of the projecting portion  4302  and an inner surface of the outer magnet  432  and the outer pole plate  434 . 
     The number of elastic parts is determined in consideration of a gravity center of the vibrating member elastically supported by the suspension, and preferably at least two elastic parts are formed. The number of the receiving concaves of the outer pole plate accords with that of the elastic parts. In this embodiment, the suspension has three elastic parts. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the outer pole plate defines a pair of receiving concaves located at equal distance with a 180° separation in order to effectively guide the vibrating member to vibrate approaching and away from the diaphragm, thereby the vibrating of the vibrating member is stable and balanced. 
     According to the multi-function vibrating device, the suspension is divided into at least two parts, thereby increasing the vibrating amount and decreasing the size of the multi-function vibrating device. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments, the description of the invention is illustrative and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various of modifications to the present invention can be made to the exemplary embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.