Patent ID: 8254006

Claim:
An oscillating device comprising: an oscillating member configured to oscillate about an oscillation axis and having a surface substantially perpendicular to the oscillation axis; and a viscous damping member disposed relative to the oscillating member such that (1) a surface of the viscous damping member has a face-to-face relationship with the surface of the oscillating member, and (2) a gap is present between the surface of the oscillating member and the surface of the viscous damping member, wherein the oscillating device is configured to maintain the face-to-face relationship between the surface of the viscous damping member and the surface of the oscillating member, and substantially maintain the gap therebetween, during oscillation of the oscillating member, and wherein a gap distance is set such that a damping effect on the oscillation of the oscillating member is provided by a viscosity of the air in the gap during a relative movement of the oscillating member and the viscous damping member.