Abstract:
Embodiments of the invention provide a motor assembly including a terminal provided at a stator of a motor and electrically connected to a coil wound around the stator, and a controller formed with a coupling hole to which the terminal is coupled and electrically connected and controlling electric input and output to the terminal.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. KR 10-2014-0002482, entitled “LINEAR VIBRATION ACTUATOR,” filed on Jan. 8, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a linear vibration actuator, and more particularly, to a bar type linear vibration actuator. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, in portable electronic devices, such as a portable phone, an e-book terminal, a game machine, or a portable multimedia player (PMP), for example, a vibration function has been utilized for various applications. 
     In particular, a vibration generating apparatus for generating the vibration has been mainly equipped in the portable electronic device to be used as an alert function that is a soundless receiving signal. 
     To keep pace with multi-functionalization of the portable electronic device, a demand for a miniaturized, integrated, and multi-functional vibration generating apparatus is being increased. 
     Recently, the portable electronic device has generally adopted a touch type device which touches and inputs the portable electronic device according to the user demand which wishes to simply use the portable electronic device and may use a haptic module which is a kind of sensation interface so as to make the user more easily and conveniently communicate with a computer or a program. The haptic signifying “tactile recognition” widely includes a concept of more diversifying a feedback for a touch by reflecting a user&#39;s intuitive experience on an interface, in addition to a concept of a touch input which is an input technology. 
     Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0049204 describes a conventional coin type linear vibrator, which provides an inner space having a predetermined size through cylindrical upper case and lower case and has a fixed part and a vibrating part disposed therein. 
     The linear vibrator disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0049204 has a cylindrical shape as described above and thus needs to keep a predetermined diameter to accommodate components. Thus, considering characteristics of the portable electronic device, miniaturization and thinness of the portable electronic device cannot but have a limitation due to the coin type linear vibrator. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the invention have been made to provide an elongated bar type linear vibration actuator capable of effectively generating vibration as needed while minimizing an occupied space within a portable electronic device. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, a bar type linear vibration actuator includes a case having an opened one side and an inner space formed therein, a magnet extending vertically down from an inner side of an upper portion of the case, a cover member coupled with the opened one side of the case to shield the inner space of the case, a vibration plate disposed in the case and the cover member to be vertically driven, a coil fixedly positioned on a lower surface of the vibration plate to face the magnet and generating a magnetic field by being applied with power from the outside, and weight bodies fixedly coupled with both ends of the vibration plate. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the vibration plate has a flat plate shape and includes a narrow width part and two wide width parts, which are bilaterally symmetrical based on the narrow width part. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, a lower surface of the narrow width part is provided with a yoke and the coil is wound around the yoke to be disposed to face a magnet attached to the case. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the narrow width part is used as a through path of the magnet, which extends vertically down and provides a gap between the coil and the magnet. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the magnet is configured of two magnets arranged in parallel with each other at the inner side of the upper portion of the case. 
     To add vibration power of the linear vibration actuator, the two weight bodies are disposed to be bilaterally symmetrical based on a central portion and/or a narrow width part of the linear vibration actuator and the weight body are disposed on a lower surface of the wide width part of the vibration plate. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the vibration plate has brackets additionally disposed at both sides of the wide width part so as to be coupled with the weight body in a spaced state. The bracket supports the weight body. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, an upper surface of the weight body is formed to be inclined down from one side toward the other side. Due to a unique shape of the weight body, the weight body does not contact the vibration plate when the vibration plate flexurally vibrates in a vertical direction of the vibration plate so as to vibrate to a resonance frequency. 
     To secure a reliably vertical displacement of the vibration plate, the case is provided with a stepped part and the vibration plate is fixedly coupled with the stepped part of the case. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the inner side of the upper portion of the case facing the narrow width part of the vibration plate is provided with a damper member to buffer an unexpected collision between the vibration plate and the case. The damper member is disposed between the two magnets. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the upper surface of the cover member is further provided with the damper member to buffer a collision between the magnet or the coil of the vibration plate, thereby previously preventing a breakage or a damage of components. 
     Various objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention are better understood with regard to the following Detailed Description, appended Claims, and accompanying Figures. It is to be noted, however, that the Figures illustrate only various embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention&#39;s scope as it may include other effective embodiments as well. 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a linear vibration actuator according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the linear vibration actuator illustrated in  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the linear vibration actuator taken along the line III-III of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of inner components of the linear vibration actuator from which a case and a cover member are excluded according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the inner components of the linear vibration actuator from which the case and the cover member are excluded according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of accomplishing the same will be apparent by referring to embodiments described below in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms. The embodiments are provided only for completing the disclosure of the present invention and for fully representing the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. 
     For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the discussion of the described embodiments of the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification. 
     Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     In summary, a linear vibration actuator  1  according to an embodiment of the invention vibrates by an electromagnetic force, which is generated by an interaction of a magnet  200  with a coil  500  providing a current having a predetermined frequency to a position corresponding to the magnet  200 , thereby generating vibrations. 
     linear vibration actuator  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is enclosed with a case  100  and a cover member  800  and includes a magnet  200 , a vibration plate  300 , a yoke  400 , a coil  500 , a weight body  600 , a printed circuit board  700 , and the like which are disposed therein. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the case  100  is formed in a rectangular shape, but has a box shape of which the one side is opened. As illustrated, a lower surface of the case  100  is also opened. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the inner space of the case  100  has an enough size to accommodate the weight body  600  for increasing vibration power along with a vibrator  10 , in other words, the vibration plate  300  mounted with the coil  500 . 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the vibration plate  300  has an elongated plate shape in which the yoke  400 , the coil  500 , and the weight body  600  are mounted, in which the yoke  400 , the coil  500 , and the weight body  600 , which are described above, are disposed on a lower surface of the vibration plate  300 . In particular, the weight bodies  600  are disposed at both ends of the vibration plate  300 , respectively, while the yoke  400  and the coil  500  are disposed at a central portion of the lower surface of the vibration plate  300 . In detail, the weight bodies  600  are mounted or disposed at a predetermined interval in the lower surface of the vibration plate  300 . 
     Further, the vibration plate  300 , according to an embodiment of the invention, is spaced apart from the case  100  in parallel at a predetermined interval. Preferably, the case  100  has both ends provided with stepped parts  120 . The vibration plate  300  is fixedly coupled on the stepped part  120  of the case  100 . The stepped part  120  provides a space between the vibration plate  300  and the case  100 . Thus, the stepped part  120  secures a vertical vibration displacement of the vibration plate  300  within the case  100  and a cover member  800 , thereby generating a vibration volume of the linear vibration actuator  1  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     When being applied with power, the coil  500  disposed to face the magnet  200  is fixed to a center of the vibration plate  300 , for example, a narrow width part  310  to generate a moment at the center of the vibration plate  300  by an electromagnetic force. Since the moment is generated in the state in which the vibration plate  300  is fixed to both ends of the case  100 , in detail, the stepped parts  120 , the central portion of the vibration plate  300  vertically vibrates. 
     In addition, the vibration plate  300  is configured of a narrow width part  310  and two wide width parts  320 . The narrow width part  310  connects between the two wide width parts  320  and serves as a bridge connecting between the two wide width parts  320  in a line. The wide width part  320  is formed to be smaller than an inner width of the case  100 . Unlike this, the narrow width part  310  is formed to be narrower than a width of the wide width part  320 . In other words, a difference between a size of the wide width part  320  and a size of the narrow width part  310  provides a space to accommodate the magnet  200 . According to an embodiment of the invention, the narrow width part  310  uses a through path of the magnet, which extends vertically down from an inner side of an upper portion of the case, and thus the magnet  200  extends up to a bottom end of the coil  500 . 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the vibration plate  300  is a single component in which the narrow width part  310  and the wide width part  320  are integrally formed. 
     As illustrated, the weight bodies  600  are each disposed on a lower surface of the wide width part  320 , while the yoke  400  and the coil  500  are mounted on a lower surface of the narrow width part  310 . A width of the narrow width part  310  has a smaller size than a spaced distance between two facing magnets  200 , and thus does not affect a vertical motion of the vibrator  10 . 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the coil  500  is wound around the yoke  400  and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board  700 , such that the coil  500  is applied with power to generate a magnetic force. When the coil  500  vibrates the electromagnetic force, a magnetic flux passing through the coil  500  from the magnet  200  is formed in a horizontal direction and a magnetic field generated by the coil  500  is formed in a vertical direction, such that the vibration plate  300  vertically vibrates. Therefore, a magnetic flux direction of the magnet  200  and a vibration direction of the vibrator  10  are vertical to each other. In summary, the coil  500  forms a magnetic field along with the magnet  200  to make the vibration plate  300  vibrate vertically. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the yoke  400  has a bar shape and the coil  500  is wound around an outer peripheral surface of the yoke  400 . The yoke  400  collecting the magnetic flux of the magnet  200  is made of the same material as the vibration plate  300  and thus keeps a reliably coupled state with the vibration plate  300 . According to an embodiment of the invention, the yoke  400  and the vibration plate  300  are made of a magnetic material to provide a magnetic flux path between the magnet  200  and the coil  500 . 
     As described above, the yoke  400  is formed in the bar type and thus, according to an embodiment of the invention, is fixed on the lower surface of the narrow width part  310  of the coil  500 . 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the magnet  200  generating the magnetic flux is fixed to an inner side  110  of the upper portion of the case  100 , but is disposed vertically down from the center of the inner side  110  of the upper portion of the case  100  to be positioned to face the coil  500 . Preferably, the two magnets  200  are disposed down from the inner side  110  of the upper portion of the case  100  at a predetermined interval but the narrow width part  310  of the vibration plate  300  is interposed between the two spaced magnets  200  to make the magnet  200  and the coil  500  be disposed to face each other. According to an embodiment of the invention, the two magnets  200  are disposed to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined gap, having the coil  500  interposed therebetween, and as a result, the vibrator  10  reliably performs a translational motion in a vertical direction. 
     Selectively, an outer peripheral surface of the magnet  200  is applied with a magnetic fluid (not illustrated). The magnetic fluid prevents a direct collision between the coil  500  and the magnet  200  due to the vibrator  10  horizontally shaking by an external impact such as dropping and minimize minor vibrations generated when the vibrator  10  vibrates vertically. As widely known, the magnetic fluid serves to collect the magnetic flux of the magnet  200 . 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the weight body  600  is coupled with the vibration plate  300 , in detail, brackets  321  extending vertically down from both sides of the wide width part  320  of the vibration plate  300  to add a load to the vibration plate  300 . As illustrated, the two weight bodies  600  are disposed to be bilaterally symmetrical based on the narrow width part  310  of the vibration plate  300 . The bracket  321  and the vibration plate  200  are formed of an integrated single component or is fixedly coupled with each other in various bonding schemes. 
     In detail, the bracket  321  disposes the weight body  600  to be spaced apart from one surface, the lower surface of the vibration plate  300 . In order to prevent make the weight body  600  contact the vibration plate  300 , which performs the translational motion in the vertical direction, the upper surface of the weight body  600  is formed to be inclined down from one side toward the other side. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the weight body  600  is made of a metal material, preferably, a tungsten material having relatively higher density in the same volume. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the cover member  800  is formed in an elongated flat plate but has an enough size and shape to close the opened one side, for example, the opened lower surface of the case  100  and thus is coupled with the opened one side of the case  100 , thereby shielding the inner space of the case  100 . Further, one surface of the cover member  800  is provided with the printed circuit board  700 , which is electrically connected to the coil  500 . According to an embodiment of the invention, the printed circuit board  700  is provided as flexible printed circuit board (FPCB). 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the case  100  and the cover member  800  are coupled to each other in various schemes, such as caulking, welding, or bonding, as non-limiting examples, which are well known to those skilled in the art. 
     In addition, according to various embodiments of the invention, to minimize the impact force depending on the contact between the vibrator  10  and other components due to a drop impact or an increase in driving displacement of the vibration plate  300 , a damper member  900  is provided. According to an embodiment of the invention, the damper member  900  is disposed on the inner side  110  of the upper portion of the case  100  and is disposed at a central portion facing the narrow width part  310  of the vibration plate  300 . In addition, the damper member  900  is disposed on the upper surface of the cover member  800  and is disposed at the central portion facing the narrow width part  310  of the vibration plate  300 . 
     As set forth above, according to various embodiments of the invention, it is possible to provide the linear vibration actuator which is formed in the elongated bar type to minimize the occupied space required for mounting. 
     Further, according to various embodiments of the invention, it is possible to form the linear vibration actuator in the bar type to be mounted in the narrow space, thereby maximizing the space efficiency of the portable electronic device. 
     In addition, according to various embodiments of the invention, it is possible to have the structure to minimize the generation of the unnecessary magnetic field to improve the electromagnetic force, thereby improving the vibration power. 
     Terms used herein are provided to explain embodiments, not limiting the present invention. Throughout this specification, the singular form includes the plural form unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. When terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” used herein do not preclude existence and addition of another component, step, operation and/or device, in addition to the above-mentioned component, step, operation and/or device. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may suitably comprise, consist or consist essentially of the elements disclosed and may be practiced in the absence of an element not disclosed. For example, it can be recognized by those skilled in the art that certain steps can be combined into a single step. 
     The terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to typical meanings or dictionary definitions, but should be interpreted as having meanings and concepts relevant to the technical scope of the present invention based on the rule according to which an inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term to describe the best method he or she knows for carrying out the invention. 
     The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Similarly, if a method is described herein as comprising a series of steps, the order of such steps as presented herein is not necessarily the only order in which such steps may be performed, and certain of the stated steps may possibly be omitted and/or certain other steps not described herein may possibly be added to the method. 
     The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     As used herein and in the appended claims, the words “comprise,” “has,” and “include” and all grammatical variations thereof are each intended to have an open, non-limiting meaning that does not exclude additional elements or steps. 
     As used herein, the terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as directly or indirectly connected in an electrical or non-electrical manner. Objects described herein as being “adjacent to” each other may be in physical contact with each other, in close proximity to each other, or in the same general region or area as each other, as appropriate for the context in which the phrase is used. Occurrences of the phrase “according to an embodiment” herein do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. 
     Ranges may be expressed herein as from about one particular value, and/or to about another particular value. When such a range is expressed, it is to be understood that another embodiment is from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value, along with all combinations within said range. 
     Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made hereupon without departing from the principle and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be determined by the following claims and their appropriate legal equivalents.