Patent ID: 12206308

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An actuator according to at least an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

Overall Configuration

FIG.1Ais a perspective view of an actuator1according to at least an embodiment of the present invention viewed from a Z2 direction.

FIG.1Bis a perspective view of an actuator1according to at least an embodiment of the present invention viewed from a Z1 direction.FIG.2is a cross-sectional view of the actuator1taken along the longitudinal direction or line A-A inFIG.1A.FIG.3is a cross-sectional view of the actuator1taken along a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction or line B-B inFIG.1A.

The actuator1is used as a tactile device that transmits information through vibration. As illustrated inFIGS.1A and1B, the external shape of the actuator1is rectangular. The actuator1generates vibration in a transverse direction of its external shape. In the following description, the transverse direction in which vibration occurs is the X direction (second direction); the longitudinal direction of the actuator1that is orthogonal to the X direction is the Y direction (third direction); and the direction of the thickness of the actuator1(height direction), which is orthogonal to the X and Y directions, is the Z direction (first direction). One side of the X direction is an X1 direction and the other side is an X2 direction. One side of the Y direction is a Y1 direction and the other side is a Y2 direction. One side of the Z direction is a Z1 direction and the other side is a Z2 direction.

As illustrated inFIGS.1A,1B,2, and3, the actuator1includes a support body3including a case2that defines the external shape, and a movable body5that is accommodated inside the case2. The actuator1further includes connecting bodies4that connects the support body3and the movable body5, and a magnetic drive circuit6that moves the movable body5in the X direction relative to the support body3(seeFIGS.2and3).

Support Body

As illustrated inFIGS.2and3, the support body3includes a coil10, a first plate11stacked in the Z1 direction of the coil10, and a second plate12stacked in the Z2 direction of the coil10. The coil10is positioned in the center of the case2in the Z direction. The coil10is a flat air core coil having its thickness direction oriented in the Z direction. The coil10has an oval shape long in the Y direction, and has two long sides10aand10b(seeFIG.3) that extend parallel to each other in the Y direction. A central hole10cextending in the Y direction is disposed between the two long sides.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the support body3includes a first holder member15disposed on the Y1 side of the coil10and a second holder member16disposed on the Y12 side of the coil10. The first holder member15and the second holder member16are composed of resin. The first holder member15has a first coil holding portion151disposed between the first plate11and the second plate12, and a first side plate portion152extending from the Y1 side end of the first coil holding portion151, from the Z1 direction to the Z2 direction. The second holder member16has a second coil holding portion161disposed between the first plate11and the second plate12, and a second side plate portion162extending from the Y1 side end of the second coil holding portion161, from the Z1 direction to the Z2 direction. The coil10is disposed between the first coil holding portion151and the second coil holding portion161.

The first plate11and the second plate12are composed of a non-magnetic material. As illustrated inFIG.3, the two ends of the first plate11and the second plate12are bent in the X direction at a substantially right angle and cover the outer circumferential surface of the coil10in the X direction. The first plate11is stacked on the Z1 side of the first coil holding portion151and the second coil holding portion161, and is fixed to the first coil holding portion151and the second coil holding portion161. The second plate12is stacked on the Z2 side of the first coil holding portion151and the second coil holding portion161, and is fixed to the first coil holding portion151and the second coil holding portion161.

A power feed substrate14is fixed to the Y1 direction end of the first holder member15. In the present embodiment, the power feed substrate14is a flexible printed circuit board. The power feed substrate14may be a rigid substrate. The coil10includes two coil wires led out in the Y1 direction, and the coil wires are connected to a wiring pattern on the surface of the power feed substrate14. Power is supplied to the coil10via the power feed substrate14.

When the support body3is assembled, the second plate12is fixed to the first holder member15and the second holder member16from the Z1 side, the coil is disposed between the first coil holding portion151and the second coil holding portion161, and the power feed substrate14is fixed to the first holder member15. Subsequently, the central hole10cof the coil10is filled with an adhesive agent, and the first plate11is assembled from the Z2 side. This completes the assembly of an assembled body including the coil10, the first plate11, the second plate12, the power feed substrate14, the first holder member15, and the second holder member16. As illustrated inFIGS.2and3, an adhesive layer13composed of the cured adhesive agent is formed in the central hole10cof the coil10.

As illustrated inFIGS.1A,1B,2, and3, the case2includes a first case member31and a second case member32stacked in the Z direction. The first case member31is assembled to the first holder member15and the second holder member16from the Z1 direction. The second case member32is assembled to the first holder member15and the second holder member16from the Z2 direction. As illustrated inFIG.1A, the power feed substrate14is led out through a cut-away portion in the center in the X direction of the first holder member15to the Y1 direction side of the case2and bent in the Z1 direction.

Movable Body

The movable body5includes magnets7and yokes8. As illustrated inFIGS.2and3, the magnets7oppose the coil10in the Z direction. The coil10and the magnets7constitute the magnetic drive circuit6. The movable body5includes a first magnet71and a second magnet72as the magnets7. The first magnet71is positioned in the Z1 direction of the coil10. The second magnet72is positioned in the Z2 direction of the coil10.

The first magnet71and the second magnet72are polarized into two in the X direction. As illustrated inFIG.3, when the movable body5and the support body3are assembled, the long sides10aand10bof the coil10oppose the first magnet71in the Z1 direction and the second magnet72in the Z2 direction.

FIG.4is an exploded perspective view of the movable body5viewed from the Z2 direction.FIG.5is an exploded perspective view of the movable body5viewed from the Z1 direction.FIG.6is a side view of a first yoke81and a second yoke82in a disassembled state. In the present embodiment, the yokes8are composed of a magnetic material. As illustrated inFIGS.2to6, the yokes8consist of the first yoke81and the second yoke82. The first yoke81includes a first inner member83stacked on the coil10in the Z1 direction and a first outer member84stacked on the first inner member83in the Z1 direction. The second yoke82includes a second inner member85stacked on the coil10in the Z1 direction and a second outer member86stacked on the second inner member85in the Z1 direction.

As illustrated inFIGS.4and5, the first outer member84includes a first flat plate portion841long in the Y direction and two first connecting plate portions842extending in the Z2 direction from the central portion in the Y direction of the two ends of the first flat plate portion841in the X direction. The two ends of the first flat plate portion841in the Y direction are provided with two connecting body fixing portions843disposed at the two ends of the first connecting plate portions842in the Y direction. The ends of the two sides in the X direction of each of the connecting body fixing portions843are provided with raised portions844bent in the Z2 direction.

As illustrated inFIG.2, each of the connecting body fixing portions843is connected to the first plate11through a first connecting body9A.

The first inner member83includes a magnet fixing portion831long in the Y direction and two raised portions832bent in the Z2 direction from the two ends of the magnet fixing portion831in the X direction. The magnet fixing portion831is fixed to the Z1 side of the first flat plate portion841. As illustrated inFIG.3, the two raised portions832are disposed on the inner sides of the two first connecting plate portions842and surround the two X direction sides of the first magnet71fixed to the magnet fixing portion831.

As illustrated inFIGS.4and5, the first inner member83has two cut-away portions833formed by cutting away the center in the Y direction of the two ends of the magnet fixing portion831in the Y direction. Each of the cut-away portions833has a rectangular shape long in the X direction, and is disposed in the center of the magnet fixing portion831in the Y direction. As illustrated inFIG.2, the first connecting body9A disposed on the Y1 side of the first magnet71and the first connecting body9A disposed on the Y2 side of the first magnet71are placed in cut-away portions833.

As illustrated inFIGS.4and5, the second outer member86includes a second flat plate portion861long in the Y direction and two second connecting plate portions862extending in the Z1 direction from the central portion in the Y direction of the two ends of the second flat plate portion861in the X direction. The two ends of the second flat plate portion861in the Y direction are provided with two connecting body fixing portions863disposed at the two ends of the second connecting plate portions862. The ends of the two sides in the X direction of each of the connecting body fixing portions863are provided with raised portions864bent in the Z1 direction. As illustrated inFIG.2, each of the connecting body fixing portions863is connected to the second plate12through a second connecting body9B.

The second inner member85includes a magnet fixing portion851long in the Y direction and two raised portions852bent in the Z2 direction from the two ends of the magnet fixing portion851in the X direction. The magnet fixing portion851is fixed to the Z2 side of the second flat plate portion861. As illustrated inFIG.3, the two raised portions852are disposed on the inner sides of the two second connecting plate portions862and surround the two X direction sides of the second magnet72fixed to the magnet fixing portion851.

As illustrated inFIGS.4and5, the second inner member85has two cut-away portions853formed by cutting away the center in the Y direction of the two ends of the magnet fixing portion851in the Y direction. Each of the cut-away portions853has a rectangular shape long in the X direction, and is disposed in the center of the magnet fixing portion851in the Y direction. As illustrated inFIG.2, the second connecting body9B disposed on the Y1 side of the second magnet72and the second connecting body9B disposed on the Y2 side of the second magnet72are placed in cut-away portions853.

The first yoke81is assembled by welding together the first inner member83and the first outer member84. The second yoke82is assembled by welding together the second inner member85and the second outer member86. The yokes8are assembled in a shape surrounding the outer circumferential sides of the coil10, the first plate11, and the second plate12by press-fitting and fixing two second connecting plate portions862of the second yoke82to the inner sides of the two first connecting plate portions842of the first yoke81.

Connecting Body

As illustrated inFIG.2, the connecting bodies4consist of the first connecting bodies9A and the second connecting bodies9B. The first connecting bodies9A and the second connecting bodies9B each have a rectangular shape long in the X direction. The first connecting bodies9A are positioned in the Z1 direction of the coil10. The second connecting bodies9B are positioned in the Z2 direction of the coil10. The first connecting bodies9A are disposed at two locations on the Y1 side and the Y2 side of the first magnet71, and are each composed of two members of the same shape. The second connecting bodies9B are disposed at two locations on the Y1 side and the Y2 side of the second magnet72, and are each composed of two members of the same shape. The first connecting bodies9A and the second connecting bodies9B have at least one of elasticity and viscoelasticity.

The first connecting bodies9A are disposed between the first yoke81and the first plate11. The first connecting bodies9A are disposed in the two cut-away portions833provided at the end portion in the Y1 direction of the first yoke81and the end portion in the Y2 direction of the first yoke81. The first connecting bodies9A on the Y1 side are disposed between the connecting body fixing portions843provided at the end in the Y1 direction of the first outer member84and the end portion in the Y1 direction of the first plate11. The first connecting bodies9A on the Y2 side are disposed at two locations between the connecting body fixing portions843provided at the end in the Y2 direction of the first outer member84and the end portion in the Y2 direction of the first plate11. The first connecting bodies9A are compressed in the Z direction between the connecting body fixing portions843and the first plate11.

The second connecting bodies9B are disposed between the second yoke82and the second plate12. The second connecting bodies9B are disposed in the two cut-away portions853provided at the end portion in the Y1 direction of the second yoke82and the end portion in the Y2 direction of the second yoke82. The second connecting bodies9B on the Y1 side are disposed between the connecting body fixing portions863provided at the end in the Y1 direction of the second outer member86and the end portion in the Y1 direction of the second plate12. The second connecting bodies9B on the Y2 side are disposed at two locations between the connecting body fixing portions863provided at the end in the Y2 direction of the second outer member86and the end portion in the Y2 direction of the second plate12. The second connecting bodies9B are compressed in the Z direction between the connecting body fixing portions863and the second plate12.

In the present embodiment, the first connecting bodies9A and the second connecting bodies9B are gel-like members composed of silicone gel. Silicone gel is a viscoelastic body whose spring constant when it deforms in an expanding/contracting direction is approximately three times larger than the spring constant when it deforms in a shear direction. Deformation of the viscoelastic body in a direction (shear direction) that intersects a thickness direction is deformation in the direction in which the viscoelastic body is pulled and stretched. Thus, the viscoelastic body has deformation characteristics in which a linear component is larger than a nonlinear component. When the viscoelastic body deforms due to pressing and compressing in the thickness direction, the viscoelastic body has expanding/contracting characteristics in which the nonlinear component is larger than the linear component, whereas when the viscoelastic body is pulled and stretched in the thickness direction, the viscoelastic body has expanding/contracting characteristics in which the linear component is larger than the nonlinear component.

Alternatively, the first connecting bodies9A and the second connecting bodies9B may be composed of various rubber materials such as natural rubber, diene rubber (e.g., styrene butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, etc.), non-diene rubber (e.g., butyl rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, fluoro rubber, etc.), and thermoplastic elastomers, and their modified materials.

Operation of Actuator

When a current in a predetermined direction is supplied to the coil10via the power feed substrate14, the movable body5supported by the support body3moves in one of the X directions relative to the support body3by the driving force of the magnetic drive circuit6. Then, when the direction of the electric current is reversed, the movable body5moves in the other of the X directions relative to the support body3. The repeated reversal of the direction of the current supplied to the coil10vibrates the movable body5. When the movable body5vibrates in the X direction, the first connecting bodies9A and the second connecting bodies9B deform in the shear direction.

Main Advantageous Effects of Present Embodiment

As described above, the actuator1according to the present embodiment includes a movable body5, a support body3including a case2that accommodates the movable body5, a connecting body4connected to the movable body5and the support body3, a magnetic drive circuit6including a coil10and magnets7(first magnet71and second magnet72) facing the coil10in the Z direction and causing the movable body5to vibrate in the X direction intersecting the Z direction relative to the support body3. The movable body5includes a first yoke81including a first inner member83stacked on the coil10from the Z1 direction and a first outer member84stacked on the first inner member83from the Z1 direction, and a second yoke82including a second inner member85stacked on the coil10from the Z2 direction and a second outer member86stacked on the second inner member85from the Z2 direction. The magnets7are first magnet71fixed to the magnet fixing portion831of the first inner member83and a second magnet72fixed to the magnet fixing portion851of the second inner member85. The first outer member84includes a first flat plate portion841to which the first inner member83is fixed and two first connecting plate portions842extending in the Z2 direction from the two ends of the first flat plate portion841. The second outer member86includes a second flat plate portion861to which the second inner member85is fixed and two second connecting plate portions862extending in the Z1 direction from the two ends of the second flat plate portion861. The two second connecting plate portions862are bonded to the two first connecting plate portions842.

According to the present embodiment, the first yoke81and the second yoke82each include two members (an inner member and an outer member) that are stacked on each other in the Z direction. The outer members (the first outer member84, the second outer member86) of the first yoke81and the second yoke82each include connecting plate portions (the first connecting plate portions842, the second connecting plate portions862) extending in the Z direction. When the first yoke81and the second yoke82are assembled, the connecting plate portions are bonded for assembly. Since the thickness of the portions of the yokes8opposing the coil10in the Z direction is increased as a result of the stacking of the two members, the weight of the movable body5is increased. The portions disposed on the two sides of the coil10in the direction intersecting the Z direction are composed only of the outer members, and the thickness is the same as each of the first yoke81and the second yoke82composed of one member. This can avoid an increase in the width of the movable body5in the X direction. Since the thickness of the connecting plate portions does not increase, narrowing of the gap between the connecting plate portions can be avoided. Thus, narrowing of the space for the movable body5to vibrate can be avoided. Thus, the weight of the movable body5can be increased, and the influence on the vibration characteristics and the enlargement of the movable body5can be suppressed. The weight of the yoke can be increased by using members having a plate thickness of a general-purpose product by stacking the two members to increase the weight. Thus, a cost increase can be avoided.

In the present embodiment, the two first connecting plate portions842are disposed at the two ends of the first flat plate portion841in the X direction, and the two second connecting plate portions862are disposed at the two ends of the second flat plate portion861in the X direction. The first inner member83includes flat magnet fixing portion831to which the first magnet71is fixed, and the second inner member85includes a flat magnet fixing portion851to which the second magnet72is fixed. The first flat plate portion841has a Z2 side surface (the surface opposing the coil10) to which the magnet fixing portion831is fixed and has two connecting body fixing portions843that extend to the two ends of the magnet fixing portion831in the Y direction. The second flat plate portion861has a Z1 side surface (the surface opposing the coil10) to which the magnet fixing portion851is fixed and has two connecting body fixing portions863that extend to the two ends of the magnet fixing portion851in the Y direction. The connecting bodies4consist of first connecting bodies9A connected to the two connecting body fixing portions843and second connecting bodies9B bonded to the two connecting body fixing portions863. As described above in the present embodiment, in each of the first yoke81and the second yoke82, portions (the connecting body fixing portions843,863) to which the connecting bodies4are bonded include only outer members, and the thickness is not increased. Thus, the placement space for the connecting bodies4is not narrowed by the increase in the weight of the movable body5, and the thickness of the connecting bodies4in the Z direction need not be reduced. Therefore, the influence on the vibration characteristics can be suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the first inner member83has two cut-away portions833formed by cutting away the two ends of the magnet fixing portion831in the Y direction, and the first connecting bodies9A are disposed in the two cut-away portions833. The second inner member85has two cut-away portions853formed by cutting away the two ends of the magnet fixing portion851in the Y direction, and the second connecting bodies9B are disposed in the two cut-away portions853. In such a configuration, the first yoke81and the second yoke82are both designed so that their weight is increased without increasing the thickness of the portions where the connecting bodies4(the first connecting bodies9A, the second connecting bodies9B) are disposed. Therefore, the enlargement of the movable body5can be suppressed, and to the weight of the movable body5can be increased.

The present embodiment includes the first magnet71and the second magnet72as the magnets7. Alternatively, the present embodiment may include one of the first magnet71and the second magnet72. In such a case, only one of the first inner member83and the second inner member85may include a magnet fixing portion. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which only one of the first connecting bodies9A and the second connecting bodies9B are provided as the connecting bodies4. In such a case, of the first inner member83and the second inner member85, whichever is disposed on the same side as the connecting bodies4relative to the coil10can be provided with cut-away portions at the two ends in the Y direction. In the first inner member83and the second inner member85, the cut-away portions may be provided only on one of the Y1 side end and the Y2 side end.

In the present embodiment, the support body3includes a first plate11that is composed of metal and stacked the coil10from the Z1 direction and a second plate12that is composed of metal and is stacked on the coil10from the Z2 direction. The coil10is fixed to a case2via the first plate11and the second plate12; first connecting bodies9A connect connecting body fixing portions843provided on a first flat plate portion841to the first plate11; and the second connecting bodies9B connect connecting body fixing portions863provided on a second flat plate portion861to the second plate12. In this way, the two sides of the coil10in the Z direction are covered with metal plates, and the yokes8and the plates are connected inside the yokes8that surround the metal plates by the connecting bodies4. Since it is not necessary to secure a space for placing the connecting bodies4in the gaps between the case2and the yokes8, the dimension of the actuator in the Z direction can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the first inner member83includes two raised portions832extending from the edges on the two sides of the magnet fixing portion831in the X direction to the side (Z2 side) on which the coil10is disposed. The second inner member85includes two raised portions852extending from the edges on the two sides of the magnet fixing portion851in the X direction to the side (Z1 side) on which the coil10is disposed. Thus, the weight of the yokes8is increased by the amount of the raised portions832and852, so that the weight of the movable body5weight can be increased.

Alternatively, the raised portions may be provided with neither the first inner member83nor the second inner member85. Alternatively, the raised portions may be with only one of the first inner member83and the second inner member85.

In the present embodiment, the two second connecting plate portions862are disposed on the inner side of the two first connecting plate portions842, and the first connecting plate portions842and the second connecting plate portions862are stacked on and bonded to each other. Since the length of the first connecting plate portions842and the second connecting plate portions862in the Z direction can be increased, the weight of the movable body5can be increased. This configuration facilitates the assembly of the first yoke81and the second yoke82. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which the two second connecting plate portions862are disposed on the outer side and the two first connecting plate portions842are disposed between the two second connecting plate portions862.

In the present embodiment, the two second connecting plate portions862are press-fitted and fixed between the two first connecting plate portions842to assemble the first yoke81and the second yoke82into a single unit. For example, the two second connecting plate portions862are formed to have a shape that slightly tilts in the direction in which the distance in the X direction increases toward the Z1 side. Alternatively, the two second connecting plate portions862may each have a protrusion protruding from the surface facing outward in the X direction, or the two first connecting plate portions842may each have a protrusion protruding from the surface facing inward in the X direction. By adopting such a shape, the two second connecting plate portions862are press-fitted when they are inserted between the two first connecting plate portions842. The press-fit state prevents gaps from being formed between the first connecting plate portions842and the second connecting plate portions862. Thus, chattering noise can be prevented or suppressed when the movable body5vibrates.

Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which the two second connecting plate portions862are inserted, not press-fitted, between the two first connecting plate portions842and fixed by welding or an adhesive agent.

In the present embodiment, all the members constituting the yokes8are magnetic, but, alternatively, only the members in contact to the magnets7may be magnetic. For example, the first inner member83and the second inner member85may be magnetic bodies, and the first outer member84and the second outer member86may be composed of a material different from that of the first inner member83and the second inner member85. For example, as the first outer member84and the second outer member86, magnetic bodies or non-magnetic bodies having a higher specific gravity than that of the first inner member83and the second inner member85may be used to provide a function as weights. This can increase the weight of the movable body5.