Vibration actuator and electronic device

Abstract

A vibration actuator has a fixed body including a coil, a movable body including a magnet disposed on the inner side of the coil in a manner so as to be relatively movable in a vibration direction orthogonal to the radial direction of the coil, and an elastic support portion supporting the movable body in a manner so as to be freely movable relative to the fixed body. In the vibration actuator, the movable body is vibrated relative to the fixed body by cooperation of the coil supplied with electric power and the magnet, and the elastic support portion has an outer peripheral portion engaged to the fixed body, an annular inner peripheral portion disposed at a position more on the inner side in the radial direction than the outer peripheral portion and engaged to the movable body, and a deformation arm portion linking the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion and capable of elastic deformation. The vibration actuator has a sealing portion provided at the engaged portion of the inner peripheral portion and the movable body and sealing the engaged portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vibration actuator and an electronic device having the vibration actuator. Background Technology

[0002] Traditionally, in electronic devices with vibration functionality, a vibration actuator is installed as the vibration source. The electronic device transmits vibrations to the user by driving the vibration actuator, allowing the user to feel the vibration, thereby enabling them to notify of incoming calls or enhance the sense of operation and immersion. Here, electronic devices include: portable gaming terminals, controllers (gamepads) for stationary gaming consoles, portable communication terminals such as mobile phones or smartphones, portable information terminals such as tablet PCs, and wearable devices attached to clothing or arms.

[0003] Vibration actuators, which are miniaturized structures that can be installed in portable devices, are known, for example, the vibration actuators used in pagers and the like, as shown in Patent Document 1.

[0004] In this vibration actuator, a pair of plate-shaped elastomers are positioned opposite each other and supported by the opening edge of a cylindrical frame. A magnetic field generator, consisting of a yoke and a magnet, is installed in one plate-shaped elastomer, while a coil is installed in the other. The coil is positioned within the magnetic field of the magnetic field generator. One plate-shaped elastomer is helical in shape, formed within the frame, with its outer periphery positioned at one end at the bottom of the frame, and its central portion, representing the other end, protruding from this outer periphery. A yoke is fixed to this central portion. By switching currents of different frequencies onto the coil via an oscillating circuit, the pair of plate-shaped elastomers selectively resonate, causing the movable body to vibrate in the direction in which the pair of plate-shaped elastomers are opposite each other.

[0005] Existing technical documents

[0006] Patent documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3748637 Summary of the Invention

[0008] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0009] However, as is known in conventional vibration actuators, in structures where a movable body, such as a yoke, is fixed to an elastic support from the side in the direction of vibration, noise is generated if there is a gap at the joint. This can be attributed to the deformation of the plate-like elastic body itself as the movable body moves, causing it to come into contact with each other through the gap, resulting in noise. In recent years, there has been a desire for vibration actuators that generate as little noise as possible, even during operation.

[0010] The present application aims to provide a vibration actuator and an electronic device that suppress generation of noise and generate appropriate vibrations with stable high output.

[0011] Solution to the problem

[0012] One form of the vibration actuator of the present application has the following structure, which includes a fixed body including a coil, a movable body including a magnet disposed on the inner side of the coil in the radial direction so as to be relatively movable in a vibration direction orthogonal to the radial direction of the coil, and an elastic support portion that supports the movable body so as to be freely movable relative to the fixed body, wherein the movable body vibrates relative to the fixed body by cooperation of the coil supplied with power and the magnet.

[0013] The elastic support portion has:

[0014] an outer peripheral portion that is joined to the fixed body;

[0015] an annular inner peripheral portion that is disposed at a position further on the inner side in the radial direction than the outer peripheral portion and is joined to the movable body; and

[0016] a deformation arm portion that links the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion and is elastically deformable,

[0017] The vibration actuator has a sealing portion that is provided at a joined portion of the inner peripheral portion and the movable body and seals the joined portion.

[0018] One form of the vibration actuator of the present application has the following structure, which includes:

[0019] a movable body that has a cylindrical magnet in the center, spring stop portions disposed on the front surface and the back surface in the axial direction of the magnet, respectively;

[0020] a fixed body that is a cylindrical fixed body that houses the movable body and has a pair of annular coils disposed on the outer side in the radial direction of the movable body;

[0021] an elastic support portion that is a pair of elastic support portions that support the movable body so as to be reciprocally vibratable in a vibration direction along the axial direction, and an outer peripheral portion of each elastic support portion is joined to the fixed body, and an inner peripheral portion of each elastic support portion is joined to the spring stop portion; and

[0022] a sealing portion that is provided at a joined portion of the inner peripheral portion and the movable body and seals the joined portion.

[0023] One form of the electronic device of the present application has the following structure, in which the vibration actuator of the above-described structure is mounted.

[0024] Effects of the invention

[0025] According to the present invention, noise generation can be suppressed and appropriate vibration can be generated with stable high output. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a vibration actuator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vibration actuator.

[0028] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional view showing the state of the vibratory actuator after the outer casing has been removed.

[0029] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 The top view of the drive unit shown.

[0030] Figure 5 It is a three-dimensional diagram representing a movable body with a fixed elastic support.

[0031] Figure 6 It is along the direction of the arrow. Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of line AA.

[0032] Figure 7 It is an exploded perspective view of the movable body and the elastic support.

[0033] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional view of the spring stop portion as seen from the side of the spring fixing part.

[0034] Figure 9 This is a three-dimensional view of the fixed pin from the side of the pin body.

[0035] Figure 10 It is a three-dimensional view of a movable body with an elastic support.

[0036] Figure 11 It is a top view of a movable body with a flexible support.

[0037] Figure 12 yes Figure 5 A partial cross-sectional view of the section shown by line AA.

[0038] Figure 13 yes Figure 5 Sectional view of the BB line.

[0039] Figure 14 This is a diagram illustrating a modified example 1 of the joint structure between the elastic support and the movable body.

[0040] Figure 15 This is a diagram illustrating a modified example 1 of the joint structure between the elastic support and the movable body.

[0041] Figure 16 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0042] Figure 17 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0043] Figure 18 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0044] Figure 19 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0045] Figure 20 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0046] Figure 21 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0047] Figure 22 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0048] Figure 23 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0049] Figure 24 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0050] Figure 25 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0051] Figure 26 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0052] Figure 27 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0053] Figure 28 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0054] Figure 29 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0055] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0056] Figure 28 FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a modification of the joint structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body.

[0057] Figure 29 is a bottom surface side perspective view of the housing main body.

[0058] Figure 28 is a perspective view of the cover portion viewed from the back surface side.

[0059] Figure 29 is an appearance perspective view of a vibration actuator according to Embodiment 3 of the present application.

[0060] Figure 28 is a perspective view showing a state after the housing is removed in the vibration actuator.

[0061] Figure 29 is a bottom surface side perspective view of the housing main body.

[0062] Figure 30 is a perspective view of the cover portion viewed from the back surface side.

[0063] Figure 31 is an appearance perspective view of a vibration actuator according to Embodiment 4 of the present application.

[0064] Figure 32 is a perspective view showing a state after the housing is removed in the vibration actuator.

[0065] Figure 33 is a perspective view showing a movable body to which an elastic support portion is fixed.

[0066] Figure 34 is an exploded perspective view of the movable body and the elastic support portion.

[0067] Figure 35 is a view showing a coil assembly after an electromagnetic shield portion is removed.

[0068] Figure 36 is a bottom surface side perspective view of the housing main body.

[0069] Figure 37 is a perspective view of the cover portion viewed from the back surface side.

[0070] Figure 38 is an appearance perspective view of a vibration actuator according to Embodiment 5 of the present application.

[0071] Figure 39 is a perspective view showing a state after the housing is removed in the vibration actuator.

[0072] Figure 40 is a perspective view showing a movable body to which an elastic support portion is fixed.

[0073] Figure 41 is an exploded perspective view of the movable body and the elastic support portion.

[0074] Figure 42is a diagram showing the coil assembly after the electromagnetic shield is removed.

[0075] Figure 43 is a bottom surface side perspective view of the housing main body.

[0076] Figure 44 is a perspective view of the cover portion viewed from the back surface side.

[0077] Figure 45 is an appearance perspective view of the vibration actuator of Embodiment 6 of the present application.

[0078] Figure 46 is a perspective view showing a state after the housing is removed in the vibration actuator.

[0079] Figure 47 is a bottom surface side perspective view of the housing main body.

[0080] Figure 48 is a perspective view of the cover portion viewed from the back surface side.

[0081] Figure 49 is a diagram schematically showing the positional relationship between the drive unit and the housing in the vibration actuator in Embodiment 6.

[0082] Figure 50 is an appearance perspective view of the vibration actuator of Embodiment 7, which is one embodiment of the present application.

[0083] Figure 51 is a perspective view showing a state after the housing is removed in the vibration actuator.

[0084] Figure 52 is a bottom surface side perspective view of the housing main body.

[0085] Figure 53 is a perspective view of the cover portion viewed from the back surface side.

[0086] Figure 54 is a diagram schematically showing the positional relationship between the drive unit and the housing in the vibration actuator in Embodiment 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0087] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0088] <Embodiment 1>

[0089] (Vibration actuator)

[0090] [Overall structure of vibration actuator]

[0091] Figure 55 is an appearance perspective view of the vibration actuator of Embodiment 1 of the present application, Figure 56is a longitudinal sectional view of the vibration actuator, and is a sectional view along the axial direction of the vibration actuator. In addition, Figure 57 is a perspective view showing a state after the housing is removed in the vibration actuator. In addition, Figure 58 is Figure 59 is a plan view of the drive unit shown in Figure 60 is a perspective view showing the movable body to which the elastic support portion is fixed. Figure 61 is a sectional view along the A-A line of Figure 1 as viewed from the arrow direction, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the movable body and the elastic support portion. In addition, Figure 3 In the present embodiment, the sealing portion 90 is omitted for convenience of understanding. In addition, the "upper" side and the "lower" side in the present embodiment are given for convenience of understanding, and refer to one side and the other side in the vibration direction (axial direction of the vibration actuator) of the movable body of the vibration actuator. That is, when the vibration actuator is mounted on an electronic device (refer to Figure 4 and Figure 3 ), the upper and lower sides can be reversed, or can become left and right.

[0092] The vibration actuator 1 of the present embodiment 1 is mounted on an electronic device such as a portable game terminal device (for example, a game controller GC shown in Figure 5 ), and realizes a vibration function of the electronic device. As the electronic device, a portable device such as a smartphone (for example, a portable terminal M shown in Figure 6 ) is also included. The vibration actuator 1 is mounted on each device such as a portable game terminal device or a portable device, vibrates by being driven, and notifies a user of an incoming call, or gives a sense of operation or a sense of reality.

[0093] As shown in Figure 5 and Figure 7 , the vibration actuator 1 of the present embodiment is housed in a hollow housing 10, has the movable body 20 vibratably housed between the upper and lower end surfaces in the axial direction (up-down direction) of the housing 10, with the axial direction as the vibration direction. The movable body 20 inside the housing 10 moves, and thus the vibration actuator 1 itself functions as a vibration body.

[0094] The vibration actuator 1 has the movable body 20 provided with the magnet 30 and the movable body cores 41, 42, the fixed body 50 provided with a pair of annular coils 61, 62, and the elastic support portions 81, 82 that support the movable body 20 so as to be able to reciprocally move with respect to the fixed body 50.

[0095] In the vibration actuator 1, the coils 61, 62, the magnet 30, and the movable body cores 41, 42 constitute a magnetic circuit that vibrates the movable body 20. The vibration actuator 1 vibrates by supplying electric power from a power supply portion (for example, Figure 6 and Figure 28The drive control section 203) shown applies current to the coils 61, 62, and causes the coils 61, 62 to cooperate with the magnet 30 so that the movable body 20 reciprocates within the housing 10 in the vibration direction.

[0096] In the vibration actuator 1 of the present embodiment, the movable body 20 is disposed inside the coils 61, 62 held by the coil bobbin section 52, and reciprocates in the axial direction of the coils 61, 62, that is, the vibration direction, via the bobbin body section (coil protection wall section) 522 disposed between the coils 61, 62 and the movable body 20. The axial direction of the coils 61, 62 is the vibration direction of the movable body 20, the magnetization direction of the magnet 30, and the axial direction of the coil bobbin section 52.

[0097] The movable body 20 is disposed so that the center of the length in the vibration direction and the center of the length in the vibration direction of the coil bobbin section 52 are opposed at a prescribed interval in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the movable body 20 at the time of non-vibration when vibration is not performed, with the aid of the elastic support sections 81, 82. At this time, preferably, the movable body 20 is positioned at a balanced position between the coils 61, 62 in a manner not in contact with the bobbin body section 522 of the coil bobbin section 52. In the present embodiment, preferably, the centers of the lengths in the vibration direction of the magnet 30 and the movable body cores 41, 42, and the center of the length in the vibration direction between the coils 61, 62 spaced apart in the up-down direction are disposed at positions opposed in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction. Furthermore, a magnetic fluid can also be interposed between the bobbin body section 522 and the movable body 20.

[0098] In the present embodiment, as shown in Figure 29 , the vibration actuator 1 has a drive unit 13 within the housing 10 having a housing body 11 and a cover section 12. The drive unit 13 has the coils 61, 62, the coil bobbin section 52, the movable body 20, and the elastic support sections 81, 82.

[0099] <The Movable Body 20>

[0100] As shown in Figure 28 , the movable body 20 is supported so as to be able to reciprocate along the inner side surface of the coil bobbin section 52 (the inner peripheral surface 522a of the bobbin body section 522) inside the cylindrical coil bobbin section 52 of the fixed body 50, with the aid of the elastic support sections 81, 82 connected to the upper and lower end sections. In other words, the movable body 20 is supported within the vibration actuator 1 so as to be able to reciprocate in a direction in which the cover section 12 and the bottom section 114 are opposed. The movable body 20 is provided to the Figure 29 drive unit 13 shown. The movable body 20 and the elastic support sections 81, 82 are joined without a gap via the seal section 90.

[0101] As shown in Figure 1 , Figure 2As shown, the movable body 20 has the magnet 30, movable body cores 41, 42, and spring stoppers 22, 24, and fixing pins 26, 28. In the present embodiment, the movable body cores 41, 42, and spring stoppers 22, 24 are continuously provided on both sides of the magnet 30 in the vibration direction (the up-and-down direction as shown) with the magnet 30 as the center. Figure 28 Figure 29 In the movable body 20, the outer circumferential surface 20a of the magnet 30 and the movable body cores 41, 42 is opposed to the inner circumferential surface 522a of the cylinder body portion 522 with a prescribed interval from the inner circumferential surface 522a on the inside.

[0102] When the movable body 20 moves in the vibration direction, the outer circumferential surface 20a reciprocates along the inner circumferential surface 522a without contacting the inner circumferential surface 522a.

[0103] The magnet 30 is magnetized in the vibration direction. The magnet 30 is formed in a disc shape in the present embodiment, and the front surface 30a and the back surface 30b, which are spaced apart in the vibration direction, have different polarities, respectively. The front surface 30a and the back surface 30b of the magnet 30 are two magnetized surfaces that are spaced apart in the extension direction of the axis of the coils 61, 62.

[0104] The magnet 30 is disposed at a position with an interval on the radially inner side of the coils 61, 62 (details will be described later) with respect to the coils 61, 62. Here, the "radial direction" refers to a direction orthogonal to the axis of the coils 61, 62, and also refers to a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction. The "interval" in the radial direction is an interval between the magnet 30 and the coils 61, 62 including the cylinder body portion 522, which allows the magnet 30 and the coils 61, 62 to move without contacting each other in the vibration direction of the movable body 20. That is, in the present embodiment, the "interval" refers to a prescribed interval between the cylinder body portion 522 and the magnet 30.

[0105] In the present embodiment, the magnet 30 is disposed with the radially outer side thereof opposed to the center of the cylinder body portion 522. Furthermore, the magnet 30 can be a shape other than a disc shape such as a cylindrical shape or a plate shape, as long as the two magnetized surfaces are disposed on the inner side of the coils 61, 62 so as to face the extension direction of the axis of the coils 61, 62, respectively. In addition, it is preferable that the center in the axial direction of the magnet 30 coincide with the center in the axial direction of the movable body 20.

[0106] The movable body cores 41, 42 are provided on the front surface 30a and the back surface 30b of the magnet 30, respectively.

[0107] ​The movable body cores 41, 42 are magnetic bodies, and function as a magnetic yoke, together with the magnets 30 and the coils 61, 62, to constitute a magnetic circuit. The movable body cores 41, 42 constitute a movable body side magnetic circuit together with the magnets 30. The movable body cores 41, 42 concentrate the magnetic flux of the magnets 30, and flow efficiently without leakage, and effectively distribute the magnetic flux flowing between the magnets 30 and the coils 61, 62.

[0108] In addition, the movable body cores 41, 42 have a function as a main portion of the movable body 20, a function of fixing the spring stop portions 22, 24, and a function as a counterweight, in addition to a function as a portion of the magnetic circuit.

[0109] In the present embodiment, the movable body cores 41, 42 are formed in a circular ring plate shape having the same surface shape as the magnets 30. The movable body cores 41, 42 are fixed to the magnets 30 in a manner such that the outer peripheral surfaces thereof are on the same plane as the outer peripheral surfaces of the magnets, and constitute the outer peripheral surface 20a of the movable body 20 together with the outer peripheral surfaces of the magnets.

[0110] The movable body cores 41, 42 are the same components in structure in the present embodiment, and in the present embodiment, the movable body cores 41, 42 are disposed symmetrically above and below the magnets 30 in a manner of sandwiching the magnets 30 with the magnets 30 as the center. In addition, the movable body cores 41, 42 are attracted by the magnets 30, and are fixed to the magnets 30, for example, by a thermosetting adhesive such as an epoxy resin or an anaerobic adhesive.

[0111] The central portions of the movable body cores 41, 42 are provided with fitting openings 411, 421 into which the upper and lower spring stop portions 22, 24 are fitted. The upper and lower spring stop portions 22, 24 are inserted into the fitting openings 411, 421.

[0112] At the fitting openings 411, 421, the movable body cores 41, 42 are in contact with the spring stop portions 22, 24 at three or four points, thereby supporting the spring stop portions 22, 24 in a manner such that the respective axes (here, coinciding with the centers of the elastic support portions 81, 82) of the upper and lower spring stop portions 22, 24 are located on the central axis of the movable body 20. The weight of the movable body 20 can be adjusted, and an appropriate vibration output can be set, by adjusting the opening degree of the fitting openings 411, 421 in the movable body cores 41, 42.

[0113] In the present embodiment, at the time of non-vibration of the movable body 20, the movable body cores 41, 42 are respectively opposed to the coils 61, 62 in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the coils 61, 62, on the inner side (radially inner side) of the coils 61, 62.

[0114] In the movable body cores 41, 42, preferably, the height position of the upper surface of the movable body core 41 on the upper side of the magnet 30 opposes the position of the center of the height direction (the up-down direction) of the coil 61 on the upper side. Further, preferably, the height position of the lower surface of the movable body core 42 on the lower side of the magnet 30 opposes the position of the center of the height direction (the up-down direction) of the coil 62 on the lower side.

[0115] The spring stoppers 22, 24 have a function of fixing the movable body side magnetic circuit to the elastic support portions 81, 82, and have a function as a counterweight of the movable body 20. The spring stoppers 22, 24 are symmetrically provided in a manner of sandwiching the magnet 30 and the movable body cores 41, 42, and increase the vibration output of the movable body 20.

[0116] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the spring stopper 22 (24) viewed from the spring fixing portion 224 (244) side. Further, in the present embodiment, the spring stoppers 22, 24 are formed in the same shape, and thus in Figure 2 , the reference numerals are described together as the spring stopper 22 (24), and mainly the spring stopper 22 is described, and the description of the spring stopper 24 is omitted.

[0117] The spring stoppers 22, 24 are shaft-shaped bodies arranged along the center axis of the movable body 20 in the present embodiment, and are interposed between the movable body cores 41, 42 and the elastic support portions 81, 82.

[0118] In the present embodiment, the spring stoppers 22, 24 are formed in the same shape, and have engaging portions 222, 242 and spring fixing portions 224, 244. The engaging portions 222, 242 are respectively continuously provided with the spring fixing portions 224, 244 in the vibration direction (specifically, the up-down direction).

[0119] The spring stoppers 22, 24 are cylindrical bodies, and have through-holes 23 through which the inside is penetrated. Further, the spring stoppers 22, 24 function as weights. In addition, the spring stoppers 22, 24 can function as weight adjustment portions by additionally providing weights in the through-holes 23. By additionally providing weights in the through-holes 23, the movable body 20 can be increased in weight, and the vibration output of the movable body 20 can be increased.

[0120] The engaging portions 222, 242 are respectively engaged with the movable body cores 41, 42. The engaging portions 222, 242 are cylindrical bodies arranged on the axis of the movable body 20. The other end portion side of the engaging portions 222, 242 is respectively inserted into the fitting holes 411, 421 of the movable body cores 41, 42 and is fitted therein, and thus the engaging portions 222, 242 are engaged with the movable body cores 41, 42.

[0121] In this embodiment, the spring stop portions 22 and 24 are fixed to the movable cores 41 and 42 by pressing them into the movable cores 41 and 42. However, this is not a limitation; for example, thermosetting adhesives such as epoxy resin or anaerobic adhesives can also be used for bonding. Furthermore, the joint portions 222 and 242 are provided as cylindrical bodies, but they can also be solid cylinders or rod-shaped bodies with recesses on their axial direction.

[0122] The upper spring fixing part 224 constitutes one end of the movable body 20 in the vibration direction, that is, the upper end of the movable body 20.

[0123] The spring fixing part 224 is a cylindrical body in the spring stop part 22 that protrudes to one side (upward) from the joint part 222 and has an outer diameter larger than the joint part 222. The spring fixing part 224 has a through hole 23 on its front end (upper end) surface (hereinafter also referred to as the "joint surface") 224a. With the inner circumference 802 of the inner diameter side end (the other end) of the upper leaf spring, which serves as the elastic support part 81, abutting against the joint surface 224a, the spring fixing part 224, together with the fixing pin 26 inserted into the through hole 23, clamps the inner circumference 802. Thus, the spring fixing part 224 engages with the elastic support part 81.

[0124] On the other hand, such as Figure 3 As shown, the lower spring fixing part 244 constitutes the other end of the movable body 20 in the vibration direction, that is, the lower end of the movable body 20. The spring fixing part 244 engages with the inner peripheral part 802 of the lower leaf spring, which serves as the inner diameter side, in the elastic support part 82.

[0125] The spring fixing part 244 is a cylindrical body in the spring stop part 24 that protrudes from the joint part 242 to the other side (downward) and has an outer diameter larger than that of the joint part 242. The spring fixing part 244 has a through hole 23 on its front end (lower end) surface, i.e., the joint surface 244a. With the inner circumference 802 of the lower leaf spring (which serves as the elastic support part 82) abutting against the joint surface 244a, the spring fixing part 244, together with the fixing pin 28 inserted into the through hole 23, clamps the inner circumference 802. Thus, the spring fixing part 244 engages with the elastic support part 82. Furthermore, details regarding the elastic support part 81, which includes the inner circumference 802, will be described later along with the elastic support part 82.

[0126] like Figure 2 As shown, recessed forming portions 25 are respectively provided in the spring fixing portions 224 and 244, and these recessed forming portions 25 form recesses that are continuous with the mating surfaces 224a and 244a. The recessed forming portions 25 form a space between themselves and the elastic support portion 81 that is continuous with the mating surface 224a (see reference). Figures 5-7 and Figures 1-3 ).

[0127] The inner peripheral edge portion of the annular engagement surface 224a of the spring fixing portion 224 is cut away to form a recessed portion 25. The recessed portion 25 stores a sealing material such as an adhesive that constitutes a seal 90 on the engagement surface 224a to seal the gap between the inner peripheral portion 802 and to engage the spring stop portion 22 with the elastic support portion 81.

[0128] The fixing pins 26, 28 firmly fix the elastic support portions 81, 82 and the movable body 20 so that they do not fall off due to vibration of the movable body 20.

[0129] Figures 5-7 is a perspective view of the fixing pin 26 (28) as viewed from the pin body 262 (282) side. The fixing pins 26, 28 fix the elastic support portions 81, 82 to the spring stop portions 22, 24. The fixing pins 26, 28 are formed in the same shape in the present embodiment. The fixing pins 26, 28 each have an axially shaped pin body 262, 282 that can be pressed into the spring fixing portion 224, 244, a flange 264, 284 provided to an edge portion of one end side of the pin body 262, 282, and an annular groove 27, 27. The fixing pin 26 (28) can also be, for example, a rivet such as a hollow rivet.

[0130] The pin body 262, 282 of each of the fixing pins 26, 28 is inserted (specifically, pressed by being pressed) into the through hole 23 of the spring fixing portion 224, 244, whereby the fixing pins 26, 28 are fixed to the spring fixing portion 224, 244.

[0131] The flanges 264, 284 are respectively provided to one end portion of the fixing pins 26, 28 so as to project in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. By pressing the pin bodies 262, 282 into the through holes 23, the flanges 264, 284 sandwich the inner peripheral portion 802 together with the engagement surfaces 224a, 244a of the spring fixing portions 224, 244, firmly engaging the elastic support portions 81, 82 to the movable body 20.

[0132] The annular groove 27 is continuously formed in the flanges 264, 284 in a surface that abuts against the inner peripheral portion 802. The annular groove 27 is provided, for example, in the flanges 264, 284 along the outer periphery of the base end portion of the pin body 262, 282 that stands up from the center portion of the flanges 264, 284. If there is a gap between each of the spring fixing portions 224, 244, the fixing pins 26, 28, and the inner peripheral portion 802, a seal 90 that seals the gap is provided in the annular groove 27.

[0133] The spring stoppers 22, 24 thus configured are arranged at both ends (upper and lower ends) in the vibration direction with respect to the movable body side magnetic circuit in the movable body 20, whereby it is not necessary to arrange the weight of the movable body 20 on the outer periphery side of the movable body magnetic circuit. Thus, the arrangement space of the coils 61, 62 arranged on the outer periphery side of the movable body side magnetic circuit, i.e., on the outer periphery side of the movable body 20, is not restricted. Therefore, the distance between the movable body magnetic circuit and the coils 61, 62 does not become large, and the efficiency of electromagnetic conversion does not decrease. Thus, the weight of the movable body 20 can be appropriately increased, and a higher vibration output can be achieved.

[0134] Further, the spring stoppers 22, 24 have both the weight function and the spring fixing function, and thus it is not necessary to separately assemble members having respective functions. By arranging the spring stoppers 22, 24 on the movable body side magnetic circuit, the upper and lower flat springs as the elastic support portions 81, 82 can be easily assembled to the movable body 20 together with the weight, and thus the assemblability can be improved.

[0135] Further, the spring stoppers 22, 24 can be composed of a magnetic material, but are preferably composed of a non-magnetic material. If the spring stoppers 22, 24 are composed of a non-magnetic material, the magnetic flux from the movable body core 41 does not flow upward, and the magnetic flux from the movable body core 42 does not flow downward, and can efficiently flow to the coils 61, 62 on the outer periphery side of the movable body cores 41, 42.

[0136] Further, the spring stoppers 22, 24 are preferably formed of a material having a higher specific gravity than a silicon steel plate (the specific gravity of a steel plate is 7.70 to 7.98) or the like (for example, a material having a specific gravity of about 16 to 19). For example, tungsten can be applied as the material of the spring stoppers 22, 24. Thus, even if the outer dimensions of the movable body 20 are set in design or the like, the mass of the movable body 20 can be relatively easily increased, and a desired vibration output, i.e., a sufficient somatic vibration for a user, can be achieved.

[0137] <Elastic support portions 81, 82>

[0138] The elastic support portions 81, 82 support the movable body 20 so as to be able to reciprocate in the vibration direction with respect to the fixed body 50.

[0139] Figure 8 and Figure 8 are a perspective view and a plan view of the movable body 20 to which the elastic support portions 81, 82 are joined.

[0140] As Figure 6 , Figure 8 , Figure 2 , Figure 6 , Figure 9 and Figure 10As shown, the elastic support portions 81, 82 are erected on both the movable body 20 and the fixed body 50 in a manner of sandwiching the movable body 20 in the vibration direction and intersecting the vibration direction.

[0141] In each of the two end portions (upper and lower end portions) of the movable body 20 spaced apart in the vibration direction, the elastic support portions 81, 82 are disposed across the end portion and the opening edge portion of the fixed body 50 (coil bobbin portion 52) disposed more radially outward than the end portion. In the present embodiment, the elastic support portions 81, 82 are disposed in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction in a manner of facing each other.

[0142] The inner circumferential portion 802 of each of the elastic support portions 81, 82 is fitted to the two end portions (spring stop portions 224, 244) of the movable body 20 spaced apart in the axial direction (vibration direction). In addition, the outer circumferential fixing portion 806 side is attached to the movable body 20 in a manner of extending to the radially outward (radial direction). The elastic support portions 81, 82 are a pair of elastic support portions that support the movable body 20 in a manner of enabling the movable body 20 to reciprocate in the vibration direction along the axial direction of the magnet 30. The outer circumferential portion (outer circumferential portion) of each of the elastic support portions 81, 82 is engaged with the fixed body 50, and the inner circumferential portion 802 of each of the elastic support portions 81, 82 is engaged with the spring stop portions 22, 24.

[0143] The elastic support portions 81, 82 support the movable body 20 in a manner of not bringing the movable body 20 into contact with the fixed body 50 at the time of non-vibration and at the time of vibration of the movable body 20. Furthermore, even if the elastic support portions 81, 82 come into contact with the inner circumferential surface 522a of the bobbin main body portion 522 of the movable body 20 at the time of driving (vibration) of the movable body 20, the magnetic circuit, specifically the coils 61, 62, is not damaged. The elastic support portions 81, 82 can be constituted by any member as long as they can elastically support the movable body 20 in a manner of enabling the movable body 20 to move freely.

[0144] The elastic support portions 81, 82 are the same structure in the present embodiment, and therefore, hereinafter, the elastic support portion 81 will be mainly described, and the description of the elastic support portion 82 will be appropriately omitted.

[0145] The elastic support portions 81, 82 can be either non-magnetic or magnetic (specifically, ferromagnetic). If the elastic support portions 81, 82 are non-magnetic plate springs, they can be formed using a stainless steel plate such as SUS304 or SUS316. If the elastic support portions 81, 82 are magnetic, a stainless steel plate such as SUS301 can be used. It is known that, as a material for the elastic support portions 81, 82, a magnetic material (e.g., SUS301) is more durable and less expensive than a non-magnetic material (e.g., SUS304 or SUS316). In this embodiment, the elastic support portions 81, 82 are formed of SUS301.

[0146] The elastic support portions 81, 82 are each a plurality of plate springs that are flat in the normal state. The movable body 20 can be supported by three or more elastic support portions (plate springs) 81, 82. The plate springs are mounted in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction.

[0147] The elastic support portion 81 has a shape in which an annular inner peripheral portion 802, which is a spring end portion on the inner side, and an outer peripheral fixing portion 806, which is a spring end portion on the outer side, are joined by a deformation arm portion 804 that is a flat circular arc in plan view that deforms elastically. In the elastic support portion 81, the inner peripheral portion 802 is displaced in the axial direction with respect to the outer peripheral fixing portion 806 by deformation of the deformation arm portion 804.

[0148] The elastic support portions 81, 82 are formed by sheet metal processing using a stainless steel plate, and are more specifically thin flat disc-shaped helical springs. Because the elastic support portions 81, 82 are flat, they can achieve an improvement in positional accuracy, i.e., an improvement in processing accuracy, compared to conical springs.

[0149] In this embodiment, the helical directions of the plurality of elastic support portions 81, 82 are in the same direction, one end on the outer peripheral side, i.e., the outer peripheral fixing portion 806, of each is fixed to the fixed body 50, and the other end on the inner peripheral side, i.e., the inner peripheral portion 802, of each is fixed to the movable body 20.

[0150] The inner peripheral portion 802 is formed in a circular ring plate shape. The inner peripheral portion 802 has a shape for being disposed on the joint surfaces 224a, 244a of the spring fixing portions 224, 244. The inner peripheral portion 802 has, for example, an outer diameter that is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the joint surfaces 224a, 244a.

[0151] As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the deformation arm portions 804 extend radially outward at equal intervals from the outer edge portion of the inner peripheral portion 802, and recesses 809 are provided between the deformation arm portions 804. Figure 11 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the deformation arm portions 804 extend radially outward at equal intervals from the outer edge portion of the inner peripheral portion 802, and recesses 809 are provided between the deformation arm portions 804.

[0152] The recess 809 forms a storage portion that stores the adhesive that becomes the seal portion 90, and forms a space that allows the stored adhesive to permeate at least the gap on the side of the face of the inner peripheral portion 802 that abuts against the fixing pins 26, 28.

[0153] The recess 809 is formed by cutting the outer edge portion of the inner peripheral portion 802 in a manner that opens to the radial outer side at regular intervals. When disposed on the joint faces 224a, 244a, the recess 809 forms a depression as the storage portion with the joint faces 224a, 244a. The inner peripheral portion 802 is joined without a gap with the flanges 264, 284 by the seal portion 90 provided in the recess 809. In addition, the inner peripheral portion 802 is joined without a gap with the joint faces 224a, 244a.

[0154] The deformation arm portion 804 is elastically deformable, and is disposed between the outer peripheral fixing portion 806 and the inner peripheral portion 802. One end portion of the deformation arm portion 804 is joined with the outer peripheral fixing portion 806, and the other end portion is joined with the inner peripheral portion 802, thereby linking the outer peripheral fixing portion 806 and the inner peripheral portion 802.

[0155] A plurality of deformation arm portions 804 are disposed in a spiral shape between the inner peripheral portion 802 and the outer peripheral fixing portion 806 in a manner that leaves regular intervals in the circumferential direction. The deformation arm portions 804 are disposed so as to respectively extend along the outer periphery of the inner peripheral portion 802, and are opposed to each other in the radial direction with a gap with respect to the outer periphery of the inner peripheral portion 802.

[0156] In this way, in the present embodiment, as the plurality of elastic support portions 81, 82, a plurality of plate springs of spiral shape are used, and the plate springs are respectively attached to the two end portions of the movable body 20 that are spaced apart in the vibration direction, to elastically support the movable body 20 with respect to the fixed body 50. Thus, when the amount of movement of the movable body 20 becomes large, the movable body moves in the translational direction (in this case, the direction on the face perpendicular to the vibration direction) while slightly rotating. If the directions of the spirals of the plurality of plate springs are opposite to each other, the plurality of plate springs move toward the buckling direction or the stretching direction with respect to each other, and thus smooth movement is hindered.

[0157] The elastic support portions 81, 82 of the present embodiment are fixed to the movable body 20 in the same direction of the spirals, and thus even if the amount of movement of the movable body 20 becomes large, the movable body can smoothly move, that is, can deform, to a larger amplitude, and the vibration output can be improved.

[0158] However, depending on the desired vibration range of the movable body 20, the directions of the spirals of the plurality of elastic support portions 81, 82 can be designed to be opposite to each other.

[0159] The plate-shaped elastic support portions 81, 82 are arranged so that the inner peripheral portions 802 of the elastic support portions 81, 82 overlap the spring fixing portions 224, 244 that constitute the end portions in the vibration direction of the movable body 20.

[0160] As described above, the fixing pins 26, 28 are pressed into the through holes 23, 23 to be firmly fixed, whereby the inner peripheral portions 802 of the elastic support portions 81, 82 are sandwiched by the flange portions 264, 284 and the spring fixing portions 224, 244 and are firmly fixed by the seal portions 90.

[0161] On the other hand, the outer peripheral fixing portion 806 of the upper elastic support portion 81 is fixed to the upper end portion of the coil bobbin portion 52 on the radially outer side. Specifically, the outer peripheral fixing portion 806 of the elastic support portion 81 is fixed to a portion that avoids the movable range forming portion 54 on the annular upper end face 527a of the flange portion 527 that forms the upper end portion of the coil bobbin portion 52 (refer to FIG. 6). Details regarding the structure of the coil bobbin portion 52 will be described later. Figure 6 ) of the coil bobbin portion 52 (refer to

[0162] The outer peripheral fixing portion 806 of the elastic support portion 81 is fixed within the housing 10 by being sandwiched by the annular upper end face 527a of the flange portion 527 and the pressing portion 128 of the cover portion 12. Further, the upper end face 527a refers to an end face on the upper side (one side) of the flange portion 527 on the upper side (one side) of a portion that avoids the movable range forming portion 54.

[0163] Further, the outer peripheral fixing portion 806 of the lower elastic support portion 82 is fixed to the lower end portion of the coil bobbin portion 52 at a position that is radially further outward than the movable body 20 in the vibration actuator 1. Specifically, in the flange portion 528 that forms the lower end portion of the coil bobbin portion 52 on the lower side, the outer peripheral fixing portion 806 of the elastic support portion 82 is fixed to a portion that avoids the movable range forming portion 54 on the annular lower end face 528a of the flange portion 528.

[0164] The outer peripheral fixing portion 806 of the elastic support portion 82 is fixed within the housing 10 by being sandwiched by the annular lower end face 528a of the flange portion 528 and the step portion 118 provided on the peripheral portion of the bottom portion 114. Further, the lower end face 528a refers to an end face on the lower side (the other side) of the flange portion 528 on the lower side (the other side) of a portion that avoids the movable range forming portion 54.

[0165] The outer peripheral fixing portion 806 is formed in a circular ring shape, and the outer peripheral portion thereof is fixed by the upper and lower end faces 527a, 528a of the coil bobbin portion 52 (refer to Figure 10), and is sandwiched by the pressing portion 128 and the stepped portion 118. Thus, the outer peripheral fixing portion 806 is fixed to the fixing body 50. Further, the attenuation portion 72 is attached to the inner peripheral portion of the outer peripheral fixing portion 806. The attenuation portion 72 will be described later.

[0166] <Sealing portion 90>

[0167] The sealing portion 90 seals the gaps between the inner peripheral portion 802 and the spring fixing portions 224, 244, and the gaps between the inner peripheral portion 802 and the fixing pins 26, 28, if there are any. The gaps between the inner peripheral portion 802 and the spring fixing portions 224, 244, and the gaps between the inner peripheral portion 802 and the fixing pins 26, 28 mean the gaps between the movable body 20 and the elastic support portions 81, 82. The gaps between the movable body 20 and the elastic support portions 81, 82 mean the gaps in which a part of the joint portion between the movable body 20 and the elastic support portions 81, 82 is exposed to the outside. Further, the sealing of the gaps means that the gaps formed at the boundary of the joint portion of the two objects as the sealing target are completely covered in such a manner that no gap is exposed to the outside. At this time, preferably, the joint portion of the two components as the sealing target is in a solid state (a state in which the inside is filled) in which there is no gap in a state in which the components of each other or the sealing portion 90 is filled. In the present embodiment, the sealing of the gaps between the movable body 20 and the elastic support portions 81, 82 means that the movable body 20 and the elastic support portions 81, 82 are joined in such a manner that there is no gap exposed to the outside.

[0168] Figure 11 is a sectional view of the joint portion of the upper spring stop portion and the elastic support portion of Figure 4 , a sectional view of the A-A line of Figure 5 is a sectional view of the joint portion of the upper spring stop portion and the elastic support portion of Figure 10 , a sectional view of the B-B line of

[0169] Figure 11 and Figure 2 The sealing portion 90 is arranged between the elastic support portion 81 and the fixing pin 26, and joins the elastic support portion 81 and the fixing pin 26 in a state in which there is no gap. Further, although not shown, the sealing portion 90 is arranged between the elastic support portion 82 and the fixing pin 28, and joins the elastic support portion 82 and the fixing pin 28 in a state in which there is no gap.

[0170] The sealing portion 90 can be composed of a material that can be fusion-bonded, adhesively-bonded, or riveted, or the like, or can be composed of a combination of these.

[0171] The sealing portion 90 is composed of various adhesives or the like. Preferably, the sealing portion 90 is composed of an adhesive having thermosetting, UV-curing, or anaerobic properties, or an adhesive having curing properties and anaerobic properties obtained by combining these adhesives.

[0172] If the adhesive has thermosetting properties, curing in the assembly process becomes easy, and an improvement in assembly can be achieved. In addition, if the adhesive has UV curability, curing can be performed in a short time, and the operation time can be shortened. Furthermore, if the adhesive has anaerobic properties, in the case where a gap exists among the coated portions, the joining of the portion hidden in the gap is easily performed.

[0173] Thus, if the adhesive constituting the sealing portion 90 has UV curability and anaerobic properties, the adhesive disposed inside and outside the gap can be easily and reliably cured to close the gap, and low cost and an improvement in assembly can be achieved.

[0174] On one end portion (upper end portion) of the spring stopper portion 22, the sealing portion 90 is disposed in the recessed portion 809 in a manner to fill in the recessed portion 809. That is, the sealing portion 90 is disposed in a manner to fill in the gap between the recessed portion 809 and the spring stopper portion 81 and the fixing pin 26 to become solid, and thus is joined in a state of close contact with each portion contacted. Thus, the fixing pin 26 sandwiching the spring stopper portion 81 and the spring stopper portion 22 can be firmly joined.

[0175] For example, the sealing portion 90 is constituted by an adhesive having thermosetting or UV curability and having anaerobic properties or the like. In this case, the inner peripheral portion 802 of the spring stopper portion 22 can be sandwiched by one end portion (upper end portion) of the spring stopper portion 22 and the fixing pin 26, and the sealing portion 90 can be formed after the pin body 262 (282) is pressed into the through hole 23 and fixed. Specifically, when the adhesive is applied to the recessed portion 809 on the spring stopper portion 22, the adhesive spreads from the recessed portion 809 to both the front surface and the back surface of the inner peripheral portion 802 by capillary phenomenon. That is, the adhesive penetrates into and fills in the gap between the inner peripheral portion 802 and the flange 264 and the gap between the inner peripheral portion 802 and the joint surface 224a. Figure 2 The penetration range of the sealing portion 90 based on capillary phenomenon is indicated as the joining range with the fixing pin 26. At this time, the adhesive can also fill in the annular groove 27. Further, the sealing portion 90 as the adhesive is disposed in a state of completely filling in the gap.

[0176] Thus, by means of the sealing portion 90, the spring stopper portion 81 and the spring stopper portion 22, and the spring stopper portion 81 and the fixing pin 26 are joined in a state called "sealed state". In addition, the structure having the sealing portion 90, the spring stopper portion 82, the spring stopper portion 24, and the fixing pin 28 is also similarly joined without a gap among them.

[0177] According to the vibration actuator 1, the gap between the movable body 20 (mainly the spring stop portions 22 and 24, and the fixing pins 26 and 28) and the elastic support portions 81 and 82, which are leaf springs, is sealed by means of the sealing portion 90. As a result, the movable body 20 can be moved without generating noise, and the vibration actuator 1 can achieve quiet, stable, and high-output vibration. Furthermore, it reduces the possibility that the connection between the movable body and the elastic support portions 81 and 82 may weaken over time due to gaps caused by movement of the movable body 20 and deformation of the elastic support portions 81 and 82 during vibration, thus preventing drive noise caused by contact between them.

[0178] Furthermore, the sealing portion 90 can seal the gaps between the spring stop portions 22 and 24, the elastic support portions 81 and 82, and the fixing pins 26 and 28 that are fixed to each other from the outside. Thus, the sealing portion 90 can reliably fill the gaps to suppress deviations in the joints caused by the manufacturing process.

[0179] By applying adhesive to the recess 809 to form the sealing portion 90, the application position of the adhesive can be stabilized, and sufficient amount of adhesive can penetrate from the recess 809 into the gap between the elastic support portions 81, 82 and the fixing pins 26, 28 to fill the gap and form the sealing portion 90. Thus, the sealing portion 90 can reliably seal the gap between the joint between the elastic support portions 81, 82 and the movable body 20.

[0180] Figure 12 and Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating a modified example 1 of the joint structure between the elastic support and the movable body. Furthermore, Figure 13 and Figure 5 The diagram shown corresponds to, Figure 12 Is with Figure 13 The diagram corresponding to the shown area.

[0181] like Figure 11 and Figure 14 As shown, a sealing portion 90A may also be provided at the joint of the spring stop portion 22, the elastic support portion 81 and the fixing pin 26, extending from the elastic support portion 81 to the upper end (upper edge of the flange 264) of the fixing pin 26.

[0182] Specifically, the sealing part 90A has an outer peripheral surface 92 that covers the gap between the elastic support part 81 and the flange 264 of the fixing pin 26, as well as the outer peripheral surface 2642 of the flange 264 (the side of the upper end of the fixing pin 26).

[0183] In addition, the sealing part 90A is set to a rounded corner shape, and the outer peripheral surface 92 is a surface that is curved into a concave rounded corner shape.

[0184] like Figure 15As shown, the seal portion 90A extends in the axial direction toward the outer peripheral surface 2642 side of the fixing pin 26 at the portion disposed in the recessed portion 809, and covers the outer peripheral surface 2642.

[0185] Thus, in the seal portion 90A, the portion in the recessed portion 809 is disposed across the engaging surface 224a of the spring stopper portion 22 and the outer peripheral surface 2642 of the flange 264 of the fixing pin 26, and closes the gap between the elastic support portion 81, the fixing pin 26, and the spring stopper portion 22. Further, the gap between the elastic support portion 82, the fixing pin 28, and the spring stopper portion 24 is also similarly closed by the seal portion which is the same as the seal portion 90A.

[0186] Thus, the same effects and advantages as those of the seal portion 90 can be obtained.

[0187] Figure 14 and Figure 12 is a view for explaining a modification 2 of the engaging structure of the elastic support portion and the movable body. As shown, in the vibration actuator 1, a gap G2 can sometimes occur between the inner peripheral portion 802 of the elastic support portion 81 and the engaging surface 224a of the spring stopper portion 22, in addition to the gap G1 between the inner peripheral portion 802 of the elastic support portion 81 and the fixing pin 26. Figure 15 When such a gap G2 exists, the elastic support portion 81 and the movable body 20 are sealed without a gap by the seal portions 90B, 90C as shown. Figure 13

[0188] The seal portion 90B is the same as the seal portion 90 of the present embodiment, and is disposed in the gap G1 between the fixing pin 26 and the elastic support portion 81 (the inner peripheral portion 802). The seal portion 90B completely closes the gap G1 between the fixing pin 26 and the elastic support portion 81, and engages both. The seal portion 90B is also disposed in the annular groove 27. Further, in the seal portion 90B, the outer surface 92B of the portion between the elastic support portion 81 and the fixing pin 26 is curved in a concave shape.

[0189] The seal portion 90C is disposed in the gap G2 between the elastic support portion 81 (the inner peripheral portion 802) and the engaging surface 224a of the spring stopper portion 22 and the outer peripheral surface (the chamfered portion) 224b of the engaging surface 224a.

[0190] The seal portion 90C is disposed in the gap between the elastic support portion 81 (the inner peripheral portion 802) and the spring stopper portion 22 in a solid state, fills the gap G2, and engages the elastic support portion 81 (the inner peripheral portion 802) and the spring stopper portion 22 without a gap.

[0191] ​For example, after the elastic support portion 81 (inner circumferential portion 802) is sandwiched and fixed by the spring stopper 22 and the fixing pin 26, an adhesive is filled between the spring stopper 22 and the fixing pin 26 which sandwich the elastic support portion 81 including the recessed portion 809, thereby forming the sealing portions 90B, 90C, respectively. The adhesive filled in the recessed portion 809 gradually permeates and fills between the flange 264 of the fixing pin 26 and the elastic support portion 81 on both surfaces and between the elastic support portion 81 and the engaging surface 224a by capillary phenomenon. On the side of the spring stopper 22, the adhesive permeates the recessed portion 25 and is stored in the recessed portion 25. Further, the elastic support portion 81, the fixing pin 26, and the spring stopper 22 are sealed without gaps by curing the adhesive.

[0192] Between the elastic support portion 81 and the spring stopper 22, the adhesive is filled between the outer circumferential surface 224b and the recessed portion 25 in addition to the engaging surface 224a and the back surface of the elastic support portion 81 (inner circumferential portion 802). Thus, the sealing portion 90C is configured such that the thickness of the portion between the outer circumferential surface 224b and the inner circumferential portion 802 and the portion between the recessed portion 25 and the inner circumferential portion 802 is thicker than the thickness of the portion between the engaging surface 224a and the inner circumferential portion 802. Thus, the elastic support portion 81 and the spring stopper 22 can be firmly engaged in a sealed state by the sealing portions 90B, 90C.

[0193] Thus, the sealing portions 90B, 90C can seal the gaps between the spring stoppers 22, 24, the elastic support portions 81, 82, and the fixing pins 26, 28 from the outside thereof. Thus, the gaps between the spring stoppers 22, 24, the elastic support portions 81, 82, and the fixing pins 26, 28 can be reliably filled to suppress the deviation of the engaged portions due to the manufacturing process. Further, when the adhesive as the sealing portions 90B, 90C is applied to the recessed portion 809, the adhesive simultaneously permeates and fills in each of the gaps between the elastic support portions 81, 82, the fixing pins 26, 28, and the spring stoppers 22, 24 from the recessed portion 809. Thus, the gaps on the front and back sides of the elastic support portions 81, 82 are reliably sealed. Thus, the gaps can be more reliably filled at the engaged portions of the movable body 20 and the elastic support portions 81, 82, and stable driving in a quiet state can be achieved for a long period of time.

[0194] Figure 14 is a partial enlarged view of Modification 3 showing the engaged structure of the elastic support portion 81 and the movable body 20. As Figure 15As shown, in the structure where a gap is formed between the front and back sides of the inner peripheral portion 802 of the elastic support portion 81 and both the fixing pin 26 and the spring stop portion 22, and a sealing portion 90C, 90D is provided in this gap, the sealing portion 90D has an outer peripheral surface 92 that covers the outer peripheral surface 2642 of the fixing pin 26 (specifically the flange 264). This allows for a more secure engagement with the flange 264, and also engages the elastic support portion 81 with the fixing pin 26.

[0195] Figure 15 This is a diagram illustrating a modified example 4 of the joint structure between the elastic support and the movable body.

[0196] exist Figure 16 In the shown joint structure, the elastomer 90E serves as a sealing part 90 (see reference) in the gap between the elastic support part 81 and the fixing pin 26 (flange 264). Figure 17 and Figure 16 The elastomer 90E functions as a sealing part, sealing the gap between the elastic support part 81 and the fixing pin 26 (flange 264). Alternatively, when the elastic support part 81 is clamped by the spring stop part 22 and the fixing pin 26, the elastomer 90E is pressed and deformed, and enters into the annular groove 27.

[0197] Figure 17 This is a diagram of variation 5 used to illustrate the joint structure between the elastic support and the movable body.

[0198] Figure 18 In the shown joint structure, in addition to the gap between the elastic support 81 and the fixing pin 26 (flange 264), there is also a gap between the elastic support 81 and the spring stop 22 (see reference). Figure 18 and Figure 19 In the case of [missing information], elastic bodies 90E and 90F are provided in these gaps. The elastic bodies 90E and 90F are arranged in each gap, and through elastic deformation, they seal the elastic support 81, the fixing pin 26 (flange 264), and the spring stop 22 without gap.

[0199] <Fixed body 50>

[0200] like Figure 19 As shown, the fixed body 50 holds the coils 61 and 62, and the movable body 20 is supported by elastic support parts 81 and 82 on the radial inner side of the coils 61 and 62 in such a way that the movable body 20 can move freely in the vibration direction (coil axis, movable body 20 axis).

[0201] The stationary body 50 has the housing 10, the coils 61, 62, the coil bobbin portion 52, and the electromagnetic shield portion 58. A coil assembly is constituted by the coils 61, 62 and the coil bobbin portion 52. In the present embodiment, substantially all of the components that vibrate the movable body 20, the housing 10, and the like by means of the elastic support portions 81, 82 are connected to the coil assembly, thereby constituting the vibration actuator 1.

[0202] Figure 12 is a view of the coil assembly with the electromagnetic shield portion removed, Figure 14 is an exploded view of the coil assembly.

[0203] As shown in Figure 20 and Figure 20 , the coil bobbin portion 52 holds the coils 61, 62 wound around the outer circumferential surface, and the inner circumferential surface 522a surrounds the magnet 30 and guides the movement of the movable body 20 having the magnet 30.

[0204] The coil bobbin portion 52 is a cylindrical body formed of a resin such as a phenol resin, poly butyleneterephtalate (PBT), or the like. In the present embodiment, the coil bobbin portion 52 is constituted by a material including a phenol resin such as a Bekkite resin having high flame retardancy.

[0205] The coil bobbin portion 52 is constituted by a material including a phenol resin, thereby improving the flame retardancy, and even if the coils 61, 62 held therein heat up due to Joule heat when a current flows therethrough, it is possible to achieve an improvement in safety during driving. In addition, since the dimensional accuracy is improved, the positional accuracy of the coils 61, 62 is improved, and thus it is possible to reduce variations in vibration characteristics.

[0206] Figure 13 , Figure 15 and Figure 2 The coil bobbin portion 52 shown in

[0207] The coils 61, 62 are wound around the coil bobbin portion 52. The coils 61, 62 are covered by the electromagnetic shield portion 58. In addition, for ease of understanding, the terminal binding portion (coil wiring portion) 53 is sometimes illustrated as terminal binding portions (coil wiring portions) 53-1, 53-2.

[0208] The main body 522 of the tube functions as a protective wall, which protects the movable body 20 located on the inner side from collision with the coils 61 and 62 during operation. The thickness of the main body 522 is such that even if it comes into contact with the moving movable body 20, it will not have any effect on the coils 61 and 62 on the outer periphery.

[0209] On the outer periphery of the main body 522 of the tube, between the central flange 526 and each flange 527, 528 (coil mounting portions 52b, 52c), coils 61 and 62 are arranged in such a way that they surround the outer periphery of the movable body cores 41 and 42 of the movable body 20 (the outer periphery of the magnet 30 and the movable body cores 41 and 42). The coils 61 and 62 are arranged in the axial direction of the coils.

[0210] Specifically, concave coil mounting portions 52b and 52c are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 522 of the tube. The concave coil mounting portions 52b and 52c are separated by the central flange portion 526 and each flange portion 527 and 528 and open radially outward on the outer peripheral side.

[0211] like Figure 21 and Figure 22 As shown, the terminal binding part 53 functions as a connector wiring part for binding the windings of coils 61 and 62 to external devices. Coils 61 and 62 are connected to external devices through the terminal binding part 53, thereby supplying power to coils 61 and 62.

[0212] The terminal binding portion 53 is a conductive component that protrudes from the outer periphery of the tube body portion 522. In this embodiment, the terminal binding portion 53 is pressed into the outer peripheral surface of the central flange portion 526, which is located at the center of the vibration direction on the outer periphery of the tube body portion 522. Thus, the terminal binding portion 53 is provided in a manner that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the central flange portion 526.

[0213] Flange portions 527 and 528 are provided at two ends of the main body portion 522 that are spaced apart in the axial direction (in this embodiment, the vibration direction, which is also the up-down direction), forming the upper and lower ends of the coil tube portion 52.

[0214] Elastic support portions 81 and 82 are fixed at the ends of the flange portions 527 and 528 on the side away from the central flange portion 526 (the upper and lower ends in this embodiment).

[0215] The movable range forming part 54 is provided at the upper and lower ends of the coil tube part 52. When the coil tube part 52 is housed in the housing 10, it forms the vibration range between the cover part 12 and the bottom 114 of the housing 10 and the movable body 20.

[0216] The movable range forming portion 54 is a protruding edge portion provided protruding from the flange portions 527, 528 in the vibration direction (up-down direction). The movable range forming portion 54 is provided at a prescribed interval on the circular ring-shaped upper and lower end surfaces (also referred to as "upper end surface, lower end surface", "opening end surface") 527a, 528a of the flange portions 527, 528. The upper end surface 527a is the opening end surface on one side, and the lower end surface 528a is the opening end surface on the other side.

[0217] The flange portion 527 has the protruding movable range forming portion 54 protruding in the vibration direction on the opening end surface on one side. This opening end surface on one side functions as a top surface receiving portion that receives the top surface of the cover portion 12 via the movable range forming portion 54. The flange portion 528 has the protruding movable range forming portion 54 protruding in the vibration direction on the opening end surface on the other side. This opening end surface on the other side functions as a bottom surface receiving portion that receives the bottom surface of the bottom portion 114 via the movable range forming portion 54.

[0218] Further, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the movable range forming portion 54 is fitted into the positioning groove 808 provided in the elastic support portion 81, 82, and the radial positioning of the elastic support portion 81, 82 is performed. Figure 2 Figure 21 The movable range forming portion 54 is formed to have a prescribed thickness in the radial direction and a length in the circumferential direction that is longer than the length in the radial direction, and has a circular arc shape when viewed in the axial direction. The positioning groove 808 is formed in correspondence with the shape of the movable range forming portion 54.

[0219] By fitting the movable range forming portion 54 into the positioning groove 808, the mounting position of the elastic support portion 81, 82 with respect to the coil bobbin portion 52 can be uniformly set in each of the drive units 13, and stable positioning of the elastic support portion 81, 82 with respect to the coil bobbin portion 52 can be performed. Further, the elastic support portion 81, 82 can be fixed to the fixed body side with respect to the coil bobbin portion 52 without the aid of a plurality of constituent members. Thus, in a structure that is less likely to be affected by component tolerances, movement in the circumferential direction such as rotation and movement in the radial direction are restricted, and as a product, deviation of the elastic support portion 81, 82 can be suppressed, and stable characteristics can be achieved.

[0220] The movable range forming portions 54 are provided at equal intervals with the axis of the coil bobbin portion 52 as the center. The elastic support portions 81, 82 are respectively received by the positioning groove 808 via the movable range forming portion 54, and thus, hooking or friction when the movable body 20 is inserted into the coil bobbin portion 52 can be reduced, assembly can be good, and positioning of the movable body 20 and the coil bobbin portion 52 can be easily performed. In the present embodiment, three of the movable range forming portions 54 are provided at equal intervals with the axis of the coil bobbin portion 52 as the center, but three or more can be provided. ​

[0221] The coil bobbin portion 52 is housed in the housing 10 in a state in which the movable range forming portion 54 of the upper and lower end surfaces abuts against the edge portion of the lid portion 12 and the edge portion of the bottom portion 114, and is fixed to the edge portion of the lid portion 12 and the edge portion of the bottom portion 114.

[0222] The flange portions 527, 528 have positioning engagement portions 529 (see FIG. 6) for positioning the electromagnetic shield portion 58, which engage with the electromagnetic shield portion 58. Figure 2 In the present embodiment, the positioning engagement portions 529 are concave grooves that open in the central flange portion 526 side in the outer peripheral portions of the respective flange portions 527, 528, and engage with the convex engagement portions 589. By this engagement, the electromagnetic shield portion 58 is disposed without deviation with respect to the coils 61, 62 wound around the coil bobbin portion 52, and stable magnetic characteristics can be obtained.

[0223] <Coil>

[0224] In the vibration actuator 1, the coils 61, 62, together with the magnets 30 and the movable body cores 41, 42, constitute a driving source of the vibration actuator 1 with the axial direction of the coils 61, 62 (magnetization direction of the magnets 30) as the vibration direction.

[0225] The coils 61, 62 are disposed on the radially outer side of the movable body 20. The coils 61, 62, when driven (when vibrating), constitute a voice coil motor together with the magnets 30.

[0226] The coils 61, 62 are disposed on the coil mounting portions, and in the present embodiment, are disposed at positions that oppose the movable body cores 41, 42 in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction.

[0227] The coils 61, 62 are held on the coil bobbin portion 52 in such a manner that the center position of the length in the coil axial direction (vibration direction) becomes substantially the same position (including the same position) as the center position of the length in the vibration direction of the movable body 20 (center position of the vibration direction of the magnets 30). Further, the coils 61, 62 of the present embodiment are configured to be wound in opposite directions to each other, and the current flows in opposite directions when energized.

[0228] The end portions of the coils 61, 62 are connected by being bound to the terminal binding portions 53 of the central flange portion 526. The coils 61, 62 are supplied with power via the terminal binding portions 53 and the power supply portions (for example, Figure 21 and Figure 22The drive control section 203 is connected to the coils 61, 62 and the magnet 30. For example, the ends of the coils 61, 62 are connected to an alternating current supply section, and an alternating current power supply (alternating current voltage) is supplied from the alternating current supply section to the coils 61, 62. Thus, a thrust that enables movement in the direction in which the coils 61, 62 and the magnet 30 approach or move away from each other in the axial direction is generated between the coils 61, 62 and the magnet.

[0229] The coil axes of the coils 61, 62 are arranged on the same axis as the axis of the coil bobbin section 52 or the axis of the magnet 30. Furthermore, the coils 61, 62 are formed in a cylindrical shape by winding a coil wire from the outside of the coil bobbin section 52 to the coil mounting section, and thus do not need to use an air core coil in the coils 61, 62. Thus, the coils 61, 62 themselves can be made low cost, and further, the entire vibration actuator can be made low cost.

[0230] In addition, on the inside of the housing 10, the outer peripheral surface of the coils 61, 62 is surrounded by the electromagnetic shield section 58, and the coils 61, 62 are sealed in the coil mounting section and fixed therein by adhesion or the like. In the present embodiment, the coils 61, 62 are fixed by adhesion between the coil bobbin section 522, the central flange section 526, and each flange section 527, 528. Thus, the joint strength of the coils 61, 62 and the coil bobbin section 52 can be increased, and even if a large impact is applied, the coils 61, 62 will not be damaged compared to a structure in which the movable body and the coils are in direct contact.

[0231] The electromagnetic shield section 58 is a cylindrical magnetic body arranged to surround the outer peripheral surface of the coil bobbin section 52 and cover the coils 61, 62 on the radially outer side. The electromagnetic shield section 58 is positioned with respect to the coil bobbin section 52 by the positioning engagement section 529 of the coil bobbin section 52. The electromagnetic shield section 58 constitutes, together with the coils 61, 62, a fixed body side magnetic circuit, and prevents magnetic flux from leaking to the outside of the vibration actuator 1 in the movable body side magnetic circuit, that is, the magnetic circuit constituted together with the magnet 30 and the movable body cores 41, 42.

[0232] The electromagnetic shield section 58 is arranged so that the center of the length in the vibration direction of the electromagnetic shield section 58 is located at the same height as the center of the vibration direction of the magnet 30 arranged on the inside. By the shielding effect of the electromagnetic shield section 58, reduction of the leakage magnetic flux to the outside of the vibration actuator can be achieved.

[0233] In addition, the electromagnetic shield section 58 can increase the thrust constant in the magnetic circuit and improve the electromagnetic conversion efficiency. The electromagnetic shield section 58 has a function as a magnetic spring together with the magnet 30 by the magnetic attractive force of the magnet 30. The magnetic spring can reduce the stress when the elastic support sections 81, 82 function as a mechanical spring, and can improve the durability of the elastic support sections 81, 82.

[0234] <Attenuation portion 72>

[0235] An attenuation portion (damper) 72 is installed to the elastic support portions 81, 82 to effectively attenuate the vibration generated in the elastic support portions 81, 82.

[0236] The attenuation portion 72 is disposed so as to straddle the outermost peripheral side of the deformation arm portions 804 and the outer peripheral fixed portion 806 of the plurality of deformation arm portions 804 that are diametrically opposed in a manner that does not fall off from the elastic support portions 81, 82. The attenuation portion 72 has a sandwiching portion 722, and attenuation protrusions 724, 726 that protrude from the sandwiching portion 722 toward the front and back (surfaces that are spaced apart in the vibration direction, i.e., the upper and lower surfaces) sides of the elastic support portions 81, 82, respectively.

[0237] The sandwiching portion 722 is disposed to the gap between the outer peripheral fixed portion 806 and the outer peripheral side of the deformation arm portions 804, and engages each of the diametrically opposed sides at the outer peripheral fixed portion 806 and the outer peripheral side of the deformation arm portions 804. The sandwiching portion 722 engages the attenuation protrusions 724, 726 to each other in a manner that does not allow the attenuation protrusions 724, 726 to move away from the elastic support portions 81, 82. The attenuation protrusions 724, 726 and the sandwiching portion 722 are formed integrally, and protrude in the thickness direction of the elastic support portions 81, 82 from the sandwiching portion 722.

[0238] The attenuation portion 72 attenuates the sharp spring resonance in the elastic support portion 81 (82), and prevents the difference in vibration caused by the frequency from becoming large due to the vibration in the vicinity of the resonance frequency becoming large. Thus, the movable body 20 is able to suppress the resonance peak before plastic deformation, and generate stable vibration in a wide range in a manner that does not contact the cover portion 12 and the bottom portion 114, and does not generate abnormal noise due to contact. The attenuation portion 72 can be formed of any shape, material, etc. as long as it is a component that prevents sharp vibration from occurring in the elastic support portion 81 (82). For example, it can be composed of an elastomer, or a thermosetting resin or an adhesive, etc.

[0239] <Case 10>

[0240] Figure 21 is a bottom side perspective view of the case main body, Figure 22 is a perspective view of the cover portion as viewed from the back side. As Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 3As shown, the housing 10 includes a bottomed cylindrical housing main body 11 having a peripheral wall portion 112 and a bottom portion 114, and a lid portion 12 that closes an opening portion 115 of the housing main body 11. Further, the housing 10 is a columnar shape having a height at which the movable body 20 reciprocates in the vibration direction by cooperation with the coils 61, 62 provided in the housing 10, thereby enabling generation of sufficient thrust (movable region of the movable body 20). For example, the housing 10 of the present embodiment is formed in a cylindrical shape by the bottomed cylindrical housing main body 11 and the lid portion 12, but is not limited to this shape, and can be an elliptic cylindrical shape, a polygonal cylindrical shape, and the length in the vibration direction can be longer than the length in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction, or can be shorter. Further, the ellipse in the elliptic cylindrical shape and the ellipse in the elliptical shape in the present embodiment mainly refer to an ellipse including a straight line portion, that is, a substantially elliptical shape (Japanese "kojidan shape") having a straight line portion. In addition, the ellipse can be an oblong.

[0241] The lid portion 12 and the bottom portion 114 constitute a top surface portion 122, a lower surface portion (bottom portion 114) of the vibration actuator 1 in the present embodiment, and are arranged to oppose the movable body 20 of the drive unit 13 with a prescribed interval in the vibration direction of the movable body 20. The lid portion 12 has a depending portion 124 that is provided so as to depend from a portion of the outer periphery of the top surface portion 122, and engages with the notch 102 of the housing main body 11. The lid portion 12 and the bottom portion 114 each suppress the movable range of the movable body 20. The lid portion 12 and the bottom portion 114 have a function as a movable range suppression portion of a hard stop (movable range limitation) of the movable body 20.

[0242] Specifically, the lid portion 12 and the bottom portion 114 limit the movable range formed by the movable range forming portion 54. That is, the lid portion 12 and the bottom portion 114 limit the length from the lid portion 12 and the bottom portion 114 to the edge portions (upper and lower end surfaces (opening end surfaces) 527a, 528a of the upper and lower flange portions 527, 528) of the upper and lower end portions of the drive unit 13 (coil bobbin portion 52). Thus, even in a case where a force exceeding the movable range of the movable body 20 is applied to the movable body 20, the elastic support portions 81, 82 come into contact with the fixed body 50 (at least one of the lid portion 12 and the bottom portion 114) without plastic deformation. Thus, the elastic support portions 81, 82 do not break, and it is possible to improve the reliability of the vibration actuator 1.

[0243] In addition, the lid portion 12 and the bottom portion 114 each have a vent hole 126, 116 provided in a penetrating manner. The vent holes 126, 116 each release compressed air formed by the reciprocating vibration of the movable body 20 to the outside within the housing 10.

[0244] <Operation of the vibration actuator 1>

[0245] Figure 28 is a diagram schematically showing a magnetic circuit structure of the vibration actuator. Figure 29 and Figure 23 is a diagram showing a relative moving state of the coils 61, 62 and the magnet 30.

[0246] The operation of the vibration actuator 1 will be described using Figure 24 , taking a case where the magnet 30 is magnetized in a manner that the front surface 30a side of one side in the magnetization direction (the upper side in the present embodiment) is an N pole and the back surface 30b side of the other side in the magnetization direction (the lower side in the present embodiment) is an S pole as an example.

[0247] In the vibration actuator 1, since the movable body 20 is considered to correspond to a mass portion in a vibration model of a spring-mass system, in a case where resonance is sharp (has a steep peak), the steep peak is suppressed by damping the vibration. By damping the vibration so that the resonance becomes not steep, the maximum amplitude value and the maximum displacement of the movable body 20 at the time of resonance do not deviate, and a vibration based on a proper stable maximum displacement can be output.

[0248] In the vibration actuator 1, a magnetic circuit shown in Figures 1-3 is formed. In addition, in the vibration actuator 1, the coils 61, 62 are arranged so that the coil axis is orthogonal to the magnetic flux of the movable body cores 41, 42 and the like sandwiching the magnet 30 in the vibration direction.

[0249] Specifically, the following magnetic flux flow mf is formed: emitted from the front surface 30a side of the magnet 30, radiated from the movable body core 41 to the coil 61 side, passed through the electromagnetic shield portion 58, and incident on the magnet 30 from the movable body core 42 on the lower side of the magnet 30 via the coil 62.

[0250] Therefore, when energization is performed as shown in Figure 23 , a Lorentz force in the -f direction is generated on the coils 61, 62 in accordance with the Fleming's left-hand rule by the interaction of the magnetic field of the magnet 30 and the current flowing in the coils 61, 62.

[0251] The Lorentz force in the -f direction is a direction orthogonal to the direction of the magnetic field and the direction of the current flowing through the coils 61, 62. Since the coils 61, 62 are fixed to the fixed body 50 (the coil cylinder portion 52), a force opposite to the Lorentz force in the -f direction is generated as a pushing force in the F direction on the movable body 20 having the magnet 30 in accordance with the law of action and reaction. Thus, the movable body 20 having the magnet 30 moves to the F direction, that is, the lid portion 12 (the top surface portion 122 of the lid portion 12) side (see Figure 24 ).

[0252] In addition, when energizing the coils 61, 62 in the opposite direction, a Lorentz force in the f direction in the opposite direction is generated. By the generation of the Lorentz force in the f direction, in accordance with the law of action and reaction, a force in the opposite direction to the Lorentz force in the f direction is generated as a thrust in the -F direction on the movable body 20, and the movable body 20 moves in the -F direction, that is, toward the bottom 114 side of the fixed body 50 (see FIG. 2). Figure 25 ).

[0253] In the vibration actuator 1, in the non-energized non-driving state (non-vibration state), magnetic attractive forces act between the magnets 30 and the electromagnetic shield portions 58, respectively, and function as magnetic springs. By the magnetic attractive forces generated between the magnets 30 and the electromagnetic shield portions 58 and the restoring force to restore the original shape of the elastic support portions 81, 82, the movable body 20 returns to the original position.

[0254] The vibration actuator 1 includes the movable body 20 and the fixed body 50 having the coils 61, 62, the movable body 20 being disposed radially inward of the coils 61, 62 and having the magnets 30 magnetized in the axial direction of the coils 61, 62. In addition, the vibration actuator 1 is provided with the flat plate-shaped elastic support portions 81, 82 that elastically hold the movable body 20 in such a manner that the movable body 20 is movable in the coil axial direction, that is, in the vibration direction.

[0255] In addition, the coils 61, 62 are disposed on the outer periphery of the bobbin main body portion 522 of the coil bobbin portion 52, and the outer peripheral surface 20a of the movable body 20 is disposed apart by a space on the inner peripheral side of the bobbin main body portion 522, and the outer peripheral surface of the coils 61, 62 is surrounded by the electromagnetic shield portions 58.

[0256] The elastic support portions 81, 82 support the movable body 20 in such a manner that the movable body 20 is apart by a prescribed space from the inner peripheral surface 522a of the bobbin main body portion 522, so that the movable body 20 does not contact the inner peripheral surface 522a in the non-vibration state and the vibration state of the movable body 20.

[0257] In addition, since the coils 61, 62 are disposed on the outer periphery of the bobbin main body portion 522, that is, the coils 61, 62 are wound around the outer periphery of the bobbin main body portion 522, compared with a structure using an air core coil, it is possible to achieve cost reduction. In addition, in the vibration actuator 1, the driving unit 13 is housed in the housing 10, and it is possible to form the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 112 of the housing 10 as a smooth surface. Thus, when the vibration actuator 1 is mounted on an electronic device, it is possible to reliably and easily perform the attachment of a cushioning material such as a sponge between the vibration actuator 1 and the mounting portion.

[0258] The coils 61, 62 are arranged on the outer peripheral side of the coil bobbin portion 52 that is a coil holding portion arranged in the housing 10. Thus, it is not necessary to perform the work of pulling out the end portions of the coil wire to the outside in order to connect with external equipment at the time of assembly in a structure in which the coils 61, 62 are arranged on the inner peripheral side of the coil holding portion.

[0259] In addition, the vibration actuator 1 is configured by arranging the driving unit 13 in the housing 10, and thus, the fixing of the elastic support portions 81, 82, which require high dimensional accuracy, can be performed by assembling the elastic support portions 81, 82 to the coil bobbin portion 52. Thus, the arrangement of the movable body 20 including the fixed elastic support portions 81, 82 can be determined with the coil bobbin portion 52 as a reference, and the accuracy of the vibration generation direction as a product can be improved. Specifically, by improving the dimensional accuracy of the coil bobbin portion 52 formed as one member by resin or the like, for example, the coils 61, 62 and the movable body 20 (magnet 30) mounted by the elastic support portions 81, 82 can be easily positioned in an accurate positional relationship.

[0260] In addition, by mounting the electromagnetic shield portion 58 in a manner of surrounding the coils 61, 62 on the coil bobbin portion 52 arranged in the housing 10, the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 112 in the housing 10 becomes a resin with good surface accuracy and becomes a smooth surface. Thus, the bonding state of a member in which a cushioning material, such as a double-sided tape, is mounted becomes good, and the bonding strength can be improved.

[0261] In addition, since the terminal binding portion 53 is provided protruding to the outside of the coil bobbin portion 52, the binding and soldering of the coil wire of the coil become easy, and the connection of the external equipment and the coils 61, 62 can be easily performed.

[0262] In addition, the housing 10 is formed of the housing main body 11 that is a bottomed tubular, that is, a cup, and the lid portion 12. Thus, compared with a structure in which the peripheral wall portion 112 and the bottom portion 114 are independent individuals, the number of components can be reduced, the improvement of the assembly can be achieved, and the impact resistance is improved.

[0263] In addition, the lid portion 12 is fixed to the opening portion 115 of the cup-shaped housing main body 11 by fusion or pressing. For example, after the coil bobbin portion 52 in which the movable body 20 is mounted by the elastic support portions 81, 82 is accommodated in the housing main body 11, the lid portion 12 is fitted to the opening portion 115 in a manner of closing the opening portion 115 of the housing main body 11. Also, the lid portion 12 is fixed to the housing main body 11 by fusing the fitted portion of the lid portion 12 and the opening portion 115, or by embedding the lid portion 12 in the opening portion 115, and by pressing and bending the opening end of the opening portion 115 protruding from the periphery of the lid portion 12 toward the lid portion 12.

[0264] Furthermore, in the vibration actuator 1, the movable body 20 is supported with a gap between itself and the bobbin body 522 in both the non-vibrating state (when it is not moving relative to the fixed body 50) and the vibrating state (when it is moving). The movable body 20 is always supported with a gap between itself and the bobbin body 522 relative to the fixed body 50. Therefore, the movable body 20 does not come into contact with the fixed body 50 during movement, that is, during vibration. In addition, even under impact, the movable body 20 and the bobbin body 522 will move relative to each other within the range between the outer peripheral surface 20a of the movable body 20 and the inner peripheral surface 522a of the bobbin body 522, and the movable body 20 will not come into contact with the coils 61 and 62.

[0265] Thus, according to the vibration actuator 1, it is possible to output appropriate body vibration with high vibration performance while being shock resistant.

[0266] From the power supply unit (e.g., Figure 26 and Figure 27 The drive control unit 203 (shown) inputs alternating current waves to coils 61 and 62 to drive the vibration actuator 1. That is, the energizing direction of coils 61 and 62 is switched periodically, and a thrust in the F direction toward the top surface 122 side of the cover 12 and a thrust in the -F direction toward the bottom 114 side act alternately on the movable body 20. As a result, the movable body 20 vibrates in the vibration direction (the winding axis direction of coils 61 and 62 orthogonal to the radial direction of coils 61 and 62, or the magnetization direction of magnet 30).

[0267] The driving principle of the vibration actuator 1 will be briefly explained below. In the vibration actuator 1 of this embodiment, the mass of the movable body 20 is set as m [kg], and the spring constant of the spring (which serves as the elastic support parts 81 and 82 of the spring) is set as K. sp In this case, the movable body 20 resonates with the fixed body 50 at a frequency F calculated by the following formula (1). r [Hz] vibration.

[0268] [Formula 1]

[0269]

[0270] Since the movable body 20 is considered to constitute the mass part in the vibration model of the spring-mass system, when the frequency input to coils 61 and 62 is the resonant frequency F of the movable body 20, r When the alternating current waves are equal, the movable body 20 reaches a resonant state. That is, by inputting a frequency F from the power supply unit to coils 61 and 62 that is the resonant frequency F of the movable body 20, the resonant frequency F of the movable body 20 is achieved. r Approximately equal alternating waves can make the movable body 20 vibrate efficiently.

[0271] The motion equation and the circuit equation that express the driving principle of the vibration actuator 1 are shown below. The vibration actuator 1 is driven based on the motion equation shown in the following equation (2) and the circuit equation shown in the following equation (3).

[0272] [Equation 2]

[0273]

[0274] m: mass [kg]

[0275] x(t): displacement [m]

[0276] K f : thrust constant [N / A]

[0277] i(t): current [A]

[0278] K sp : spring constant [N / m]

[0279] D: damping coefficient [N / (m / s)]

[0280] [Equation 3]

[0281]

[0282] e(t): voltage [V]

[0283] R: resistance [Ω]

[0284] L: inductance [H]

[0285] K e : counter electromotive force constant [V / (rad / s)]

[0286] That is, the mass m [kg], the displacement x(t) [m], the thrust constant K f [N / A], the current i(t) [A], the spring constant K sp [N / m], the damping coefficient D [N / (m / s)], and the like in the vibration actuator 1 can be appropriately changed within a range that satisfies the equation (2). In addition, the voltage e(t) [V], the resistance R [Ω], the inductance L [H], the counter electromotive force constant K e [V / (rad / s)] can be appropriately changed within a range that satisfies the equation (3).

[0287] Thus, in the vibration actuator 1, in a case where the energization to the coils 61, 62 is performed by an alternating wave corresponding to a resonance frequency F r which depends on the mass m of the movable body 20 and the spring constant K r of the elastic support portions 81, 82 which are plate springs, a larger vibration output can be efficiently obtained. sp.

[0288] Further, the vibration actuator 1 satisfies the equations (2), (3), and is driven by using the resonance phenomenon of the resonance frequency shown in the equation (1). Thus, in the vibration actuator 1, the electric power consumed in the steady state is only the loss caused by the attenuation portion 72, and it is possible to drive with low power consumption, that is, it is possible to make the movable body 20 linearly reciprocate with low power consumption. Further, by increasing the attenuation coefficient D, it is possible to generate vibration in a range up to a high frequency band.

[0289] According to the present embodiment, since the plate-shaped elastic support portions 81, 82 are provided at the upper and lower portions of the movable body 20 (in the vibration direction), it is possible to stably drive the movable body 20 in the up-and-down direction while efficiently distributing the magnetic flux of the coils 61, 62 from the upper and lower elastic support portions 81, 82 of the magnet 30. Thus, it is possible to achieve a high-output vibration as the vibration actuator 1.

[0290] In the present embodiment, the attenuation portion 72 is provided between the outer peripheral fixed portion 806 of the elastic support portion 81, 82 and the deformation arm portion 804 adjacent to the outer peripheral fixed portion 806. The portion between the outer peripheral fixed portion 806 of the coil cylinder portion 52 as the coil holding portion and the deformation arm portion 804 adjacent to the outer peripheral fixed portion 806 is a portion whose shape and position are stable in the structure of the elastic support portion 81, 82, and is a portion whose assembly dimensions are stable.

[0291] Thus, according to the present application, even if the vibration is attenuated, it is possible to generate appropriate somatosensory vibration with stable high output. Further, it is possible to achieve miniaturization at low cost, and to achieve a vibration actuator 1 with stable performance that has impact resistance and achieves quietness.

[0292] Further, the fixed body 50 has the coil cylinder portion 52 that has both the function of holding the coils 61, 62 and the function of protecting the coils 61, 62 with respect to the movable body 20. Thus, even in the case where the fixed body 50 is impacted, it is possible to withstand the impact while not causing damage such as deformation to the elastic support portions 81, 82. Further, since the impact is transmitted to the coils 61, 62 via the cylinder main body portion 522 made of resin, it is possible to suppress damage, and to achieve a vibration actuator 1 with high reliability.

[0293] Further, in the vibration actuator 1, the elastic support portions 81, 82 are provided as Figure 25As shown, the opening end surfaces (upper and lower end surfaces) 527a, 528a of the upper and lower opening edge portions of the coil bobbin portion 52 are sandwiched by the lid portion 12 and the bottom portion 114 of the housing 10 in a state of being arranged in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction. In the elastic support portions 81, 82, the inner peripheral portions 802 are fixed to the upper and lower end portions of the movable body 20 housed in the coil bobbin portion 52, and the outer peripheral fixing portions 806 of the elastic support portions 81, 82 are fixed to the upper and lower end portions of the coil bobbin portion 52. With this structure, the driving unit 13, which defines the positional relationship between the coils 61, 62 and the movable body 20, is configured, thereby making it easy to arrange in the housing 10.

[0294] (Electronic device)

[0295] Figure 25 and Figure 25 is a view showing an example of a mounting method of the vibration actuator 1. Figure 26 An example in which the vibration actuator 1 is mounted to a game controller GC is shown, Figure 27 An example in which the vibration actuator 1 is mounted to a portable terminal M is shown.

[0296] The game controller GC is connected to a game machine main body by wireless communication, for example, and is used by being held or gripped by a user. Here, the game controller GC is rectangular plate-shaped, and the user operates the game controller GC by grasping the left and right sides thereof with both hands.

[0297] The game controller GC notifies a user of an instruction from the game machine main body by vibration. Further, although not shown, the game controller GC has a function other than the instruction notification, for example, an input operation portion to the game machine main body.

[0298] The portable terminal M is a portable communication terminal such as a portable telephone or a smart phone, for example. The portable terminal M notifies a user of an incoming call from an external communication device by vibration, and realizes each function of the portable terminal M (for example, a function of giving a sense of operation or a sense of reality).

[0299] As shown in Figure 28 and Figure 29 , the game controller GC and the portable terminal M each have a communication portion 201, a processing portion 202, a drive control portion 203, and a vibration actuator 204, 205, 206 as a drive portion corresponding to the vibration actuator 1. Further, a plurality of vibration actuators 204, 205 are mounted in the game controller GC.

[0300] In the game controller GC and the portable terminal M, preferably, the vibration actuators 204, 205, 206 are mounted, for example, in a manner such that a surface of the vibration actuators 204, 205, 206 orthogonal to a vibration direction, here, a bottom surface of the bottom portion 114, is parallel to a main surface of the terminal. The main surface of the terminal is a surface that comes into contact with a surface of a user's body, and in the present embodiment, refers to a vibration transmission surface that transmits vibration while coming into contact with a surface of a user's body. Further, it can also be configured in a manner such that the main surface of the terminal is orthogonal to the bottom surface of the bottom portion 114 of the vibration actuators 204, 205, 206.

[0301] Specifically, in the game controller GC, the vibration actuators 204, 205 are mounted in a manner such that a surface touched by a fingertip, a finger pad, a palm, or the like of a user who performs an operation, or a surface on which an operation portion is provided, is orthogonal to a vibration direction. In the portable terminal M, the vibration actuator 206 is mounted in a manner such that a display surface (a touch panel surface) is orthogonal to a vibration direction. Thus, vibration in a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the game controller GC and the portable terminal M is transmitted to a user.

[0302] The communication portion 201 connects with an external communication device through wireless communication, receives a signal from the communication device, and outputs the signal to the processing portion 202. In the case of the game controller GC, the external communication device is a game machine main body that is an information communication terminal, and communication is performed in accordance with a close-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). In the case of the portable terminal M, the external communication device is, for example, a base station, and communication is performed in accordance with a mobile communication standard.

[0303] The processing portion 202 converts an input signal into a drive signal for driving the vibration actuators 204, 205, 206 through a conversion circuit portion (omitted from illustration), and outputs the drive signal to the drive control portion 203. Further, in the portable terminal M, the processing portion 202 generates a drive signal based on a signal input from various functional portions (omitted from illustration, for example, an operation portion such as a touch panel) in addition to a signal input from the communication portion 201.

[0304] The drive control portion 203 is connected to the vibration actuators 204, 205, 206, and is mounted with a circuit for driving the vibration actuators 204, 205, 206. The drive control portion 203 supplies a drive signal to the vibration actuators 204, 205, 206.

[0305] The vibration actuators 204, 205, 206 are driven in accordance with a drive signal from the drive control portion 203. Specifically, in the vibration actuators 204, 205, 206, the movable body 20 vibrates in a direction orthogonal to a main surface of the game controller GC and the portable terminal M.

[0306] It is also possible that the movable body 20 contacts the top surface portion 122 or the bottom portion 114 of the cover portion 12 at each time of vibration. In this case, the impact on the top surface portion 122 or the bottom portion 114 of the cover portion 12, which accompanies the vibration of the movable body 20, is directly transmitted to the user as the vibration of the housing. In particular, in the game controller GC, since a plurality of vibration actuators 204, 205 are mounted, it is possible to drive one of the plurality of vibration actuators 204, 205 or both of them at the same time in accordance with the drive signal input.

[0307] Since the vibration in the direction perpendicular to the body surface is transmitted to the body surface of the user in contact with the game controller GC or the portable terminal M, it is possible to provide the user with sufficient somatic vibration. In the game controller GC, it is possible to impart the somatic vibration to the user by one or both of the vibration actuators 204, 205, and it is possible to at least perform the vibration imparting with high expressiveness such as selectively imparting the strong or weak vibration.

[0308] By thus using the vibration actuator of the present embodiment, it is possible to stably obtain excellent vibration characteristics in the game controller GC or the portable terminal M, and it is possible to realize the drive in the mute state.

[0309] <Embodiment 2>

[0310] Figure 2 is an appearance perspective view of the vibration actuator of Embodiment 2 of the present application, Figure 28 is a perspective view showing the state after the housing is removed in the vibration actuator. In addition, Figure 29 is a bottom surface side perspective view of the housing main body, Figure 28 is a perspective view of the cover portion viewed from the back surface side.

[0311] The vibration actuator 1A of Embodiment 2 is different only in the outer shape of the housing 10A from the vibration actuator 1, and the other basic structures are the same. Therefore, hereinafter, for the same constituent elements, the same names are used and the drawing marks added with A after the same drawing marks are used to appropriately describe.

[0312] The vibration actuator 1A has the driving unit 13A which is the same structure as the driving unit 13 of the vibration actuator 1, and the housing 10A which accommodates the driving unit 13A. Further, the driving unit 13A has the coil bobbin portion 52A which is configured the same as the coil bobbin portion 52, is covered with the electromagnetic shield portion 58A, and has the coil wound therearound. Inside the coil bobbin portion 52A, the movable body 20A which is the same structure as the movable body 20 is hung by the elastic support portion 81A (only the elastic support portion 81A is shown in the middle), thereby configuring the driving unit 13A. The movable body 20A is engaged with the elastic support portion 81A without a gap by the aforementioned seal portion. Figure 29 The movable body 20A is engaged with the elastic support portion 81A without a gap by the aforementioned seal portion.

[0313] The housing 10A is formed in an elliptical cylindrical shape (for example, "substantially elliptical shape with straight portions") and is composed of a housing main body 11A and a cover portion 12A. Further, the housing 10A is a cylindrical shape having a height described above, that is, a height (movable region of the movable body 20) at which the movable body 20 reciprocates in the vibration direction by cooperation with the coil provided inside the housing 10, and thus a sufficient thrust can be generated. The same applies to the cylindrical shapes of the housings 10B to 10F described below.

[0314] The housing main body 11A has a peripheral wall portion 112A having planar portions 113A and 117A whose outer peripheral surfaces are flat and are symmetrically disposed across the center of the opening portion 115A when viewed in the vibration (axial) direction, and a bottom portion 114A. The housing main body 11A is elliptical, and in the present embodiment, has the planar portions 113A and 117A extending in parallel with the vibration direction. The planar portions 113A and 117A are disposed in parallel with each other at the outer periphery of the housing main body 11A. The housing main body 11A is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape opening at the circular opening portion 115A by the peripheral wall portion 112A and the bottom portion 114A.

[0315] The planar portions 113A and 117A have, for example, outer surfaces that are parallel to each other, and inner surfaces that are circular arc-shaped. Since the housing main body 11A has the planar portions 113A and 117A, it is easy to mount to a mounting surface on the case side as a mounting destination when the housing main body 11A is mounted to the case. In addition, the vibration actuator 1A can vibrate along the mounting surface. The notch portion 102A continuous with the opening portion 115A is provided on the planar portion 117A. The notch portion 102A is formed in a shape that can be engaged corresponding to the overhang portion 124A of the cover portion 12A.

[0316] When viewed in the axial direction, the outer shape of the housing main body 11A is elliptical, and the inner shape is circular. The housing main body 11A has a space inside that is circular and opens at the opening portion 115A. The drive unit 13A in a cylindrical shape is housed in this space, and a terminal bundling portion (coil wiring portion) not shown is exposed to the outside via the notch portion 102A. If the terminal bundling portion is disposed on the planar portion 117A, it is easier to mount to an external substrate, and wiring to the outside becomes easy.

[0317] The lid portion 12A and the bottom portion 114A constitute a top surface portion 122A, a lower surface portion (bottom portion 114A) of the vibration actuator 1, and are arranged to oppose the movable body 20A of the drive unit 13A housed in the housing 10A with a prescribed interval in the vibration direction (axial direction) of the movable body 20A. The lid portion 12A and the bottom portion 114A have the function of a movable range regulating portion that is a hard stop (movable range regulation) of the movable body 20A, and regulate the movable range of the movable body 20A.

[0318] Specifically, the lid portion 12A and the bottom portion 114A regulate the movable range of the movable body 20A formed by the movable range forming portion 54A of the drive unit 13A. That is, the lid portion 12A and the bottom portion 114A regulate the length from the lid portion 12A and the bottom portion 114A to the edge portions (upper and lower end surfaces (opening end surfaces) of the upper and lower flange portions 527A, 528A) of the upper and lower end portions of the drive unit 13A.

[0319] Thus, even in the case where a force exceeding the movable range is applied to the movable body 20A, the elastic support portion 81A comes into contact with the fixed body 50A (at least one of the lid portion 12A and the bottom portion 114A) without plastic deformation, so the elastic support portion 81A does not break, and reliability can be improved.

[0320] When the lid portion 12A is attached to the housing main body 11A, the overhang portion 124A engages with the notch 102A of the housing main body 11A to block the notch portion 102A. The outer surface of the overhang portion 124A is flat, and the inner surface is formed in a circular arc shape with the center axis oriented in the overhang direction. Thus, the overhang portion 124A engages with the notch portion 102A in such a manner that the outer surface thereof is on the same plane as the outer surface of the flat portion 117A, and positions and houses the drive unit 13A using the circular arc surface of the inner surface thereof. Further, in the notch portion 102A, a step is provided at the opening end portion 103A in the vibration direction.

[0321] When the lid portion 12A is attached to the housing main body 11A, the step of the opening end portion 103A forms a recess that opens to the top surface portion 122A side. The recess is constituted by a portion of the housing main body 11A and a portion of the lid portion 12A, so it is possible to cause the recess to function as a joining portion that reliably joins the two, for example, by applying an adhesive in the recess or welding the recess portion, and the like. That is, it is possible to reliably join the two by adhesion, welding, or the like using the step of the opening end portion 103A. Thus, it is possible to properly adhere the two without the adhesive bulging on the top surface portion 122A, or the like, and the adhesive overflowing from the outer surface of the housing 10.

[0322] Further, the lid portion 12A and the bottom portion 114A are each provided with a vent hole 126A, 116A having the same function as the vent holes 126, 116 in a penetrating manner

[0323] In the vibration actuator 1A, the drive unit 13A having a circular outer shape is housed in the housing main body 11A having an elliptical (substantially elliptical with a linear portion) outer shape and a circular inner shape as viewed in the vibration (axial) direction. Further, the center of the outer diameter arc of the housing main body 11A, the center of the outer diameter arc of the drive unit 13A, and the vibration center of gravity of the movable body 20 coincide.

[0324] As viewed in the vibration direction (axial direction of the vibration actuator), the vibration actuator 1A has an elliptical (substantially elliptical with a linear portion) outer shape. Thus, when the vibration actuator 1A is mounted to a housing, the planar portions 113A, 117A, which are a part of the side surface of the housing main body 11A, can be brought into abutment with the mounting surface (planar portion) of the housing of the mounting destination, and the vibration actuator 1A can be easily mounted to the housing. In this way, the vibration actuator 1A is easily mounted to the housing. Further, in the case where the drive unit 13A is configured to be the same as the drive unit 13 of Embodiment 1, the same lid portion as the lid portion 12 is used as the lid portion 12A, and only the corresponding housing main body 11A is changed, whereby the same effects can be obtained while the same vibration sensation as Embodiment 1 is maintained. Further, the housing 10A has the parallel planar portions 113A, 117A on the outer circumferential surface, and the stroke length of the vibration along these planar portions 113A, 117A can be ensured.

[0325] <Embodiment 3>

[0326] Figure 28 is an external perspective view of a vibration actuator according to Embodiment 3 of the present application, Figure 29 is a perspective view showing a state after the housing is removed in the vibration actuator. Further, Figure 30 is a bottom surface side perspective view of the housing main body, Figure 31 is a perspective view of the lid portion as viewed from the back surface side.

[0327] The vibration actuator 1B has a housing 10B and a drive unit 13B having the same function as the housing 10 and the drive unit 13 but different outer shapes. Therefore, the same components will be described using the same names and using the same reference numerals with B added to the same reference numerals, and the description will be appropriately omitted.

[0328] The vibration actuator 1B has the same drive unit 13B as the drive unit 13 of the vibration actuator 1, and a housing 10B that houses the drive unit 13B.

[0329] Further, the electromagnetic shield 58B of the drive unit 13B is a cylindrical magnetic body configured so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the coil bobbin portion 52B in which the coil is wound. The electromagnetic shield 58B is formed in a cylindrical shape by engaging the engaging portions 583, 584 of both ends of the plate-shaped magnetic body in the circumferential direction. The electromagnetic shield 58B is configured so that the outer surface thereof is on the same plane as the edge portions (outer surfaces of the upper and lower flange portions 527B, 528B) of the upper and lower end portions of the drive unit 13B.

[0330] The housing 10B has a flat portion 117B extending in parallel with the vibration direction on the outer circumferential surface. The housing 10B is composed of a housing main body 11B and a cover portion 12B, and has a D shape when viewed from the vibration direction.

[0331] Specifically, the housing main body 11B has a circular arc-shaped peripheral wall portion 112B, the flat portion 117B having a flat outer surface configured as a portion of the peripheral wall portion 112B, and a bottom portion 114B. The housing main body 11B is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape opening at the opening portion 115B by the peripheral wall portion 112B and the bottom portion 114B.

[0332] The flat portion 117B is formed with a notch portion 102B continuous with the opening portion 115B. The notch portion 102B is formed so as to be engageable with the overhang portion 124B of the cover portion 12B.

[0333] The housing main body 11B has a D shape when viewed from the axial direction. The housing main body 11B has a space divided in a manner so as to become a circular cylindrical shape opening at the opening portion 115B inside. The circular cylindrical drive unit 13B is housed in the space, and the terminal binding portions (coil wire portions) 53B-1, 53B-2 are exposed to the outside via the notch portion 102B.

[0334] The cover portion 12B and the bottom portion 114B are the top surface portion 122B and the lower surface portion (bottom portion 114B) of the vibration actuator 1, and are configured so as to oppose the movable body 20B of the drive unit 13B housed in the housing 10B with a prescribed interval in the vibration direction of the movable body 20B. The cover portion 12B and the bottom portion 114B have a function as a movable range regulating portion of the hard stop (movable range limitation) of the movable body 20B, and limit the movable range of the movable body 20B.

[0335] Specifically, the cover portion 12B and the bottom portion 114B limit the movable range of the movable body 20B formed by the movable range forming portion 54 of the drive unit 13B. That is, the cover portion 12B and the bottom portion 114B limit the length of the upper and lower end surfaces (opening end surfaces) of the flange portions 527B, 528B, which are the two end portions of the drive unit 13B spaced apart in the vibration direction, from the cover portion 12B and the bottom portion 114B.

[0336] Thus, even in a case where a force exceeding the movable range is applied to the movable body 20B, the elastic support portion 81B comes into contact with the fixed body 50B (at least one of the cover portion 12B and the bottom portion 114B) without plastic deformation, and thus the elastic support portion 81B does not break, and reliability can be improved. The function and effect of the overhang portion 124B are the same as those of the overhang portion 124A, and thus the description is omitted.

[0337] Further, the cover portion 12B and the bottom portion 114B are each provided with a vent hole 126B, 116B having the same function as the vent holes 126, 116 in a penetrating manner.

[0338] In the vibration actuator 1B, the housing main body 11B having a D-shaped outer shape and a circular inner shape accommodates the drive unit 13B having a circular outer shape.

[0339] Further, the center of the outer diameter arc of the housing main body 11B, the center of the outer diameter arc of the drive unit 13B, and the vibration center of gravity of the movable body 20 coincide.

[0340] When viewed in the vibration direction (axial direction of the vibration actuator), the vibration actuator 1B has an outer shape in the shape of a D shape (for example, a D shape) having a flat portion 117B extending in parallel to the vibration direction on the outer peripheral surface. Thus, when the vibration actuator 1B is mounted to a housing, the flat portion 117B, which is a part of the side surface of the housing main body 11B, can be brought into abutment with a mounting surface (flat portion) of the housing of the mounting destination to be mounted. Further, the vibration actuator 1B can vibrate in the direction of the mounting surface. Furthermore, the terminal bundling portion 53B is provided on the flat portion 117B, and thus when mounted to an external substrate, the vibration actuator 1B can be easily mounted to the housing, and the electrical connection of the terminal bundling portion 53B to an external device or the like can also be easily performed.

[0341] Thus, the vibration actuator 1B is easily mounted to a housing. Further, in a case where the outer dimensions of the drive unit 13B are set to be the same as those of the drive unit 13 of Embodiment 1, the same cover as the cover 12 is used as the cover 12B, and only the corresponding housing main body 11B is changed, and thus the same effect can be obtained while the same vibration sensation as that of Embodiment 1 is maintained.

[0342] <Embodiment 4>

[0343] Figure 32 is an external perspective view of a vibration actuator according to Embodiment 4 of the present application, Figure 33 is a perspective view showing a state in which the housing is removed from the vibration actuator. Further, Figure 31 is a perspective view showing a movable body to which an elastic support portion is fixed, Figure 34is an exploded perspective view of the movable body and the elastic support portion. Figure 35 is a view showing the coil assembly with the electromagnetic shield removed, Figure 36 is a bottom surface side perspective view of the housing main body, Figure 37 is a perspective view of the cover portion viewed from the back surface side.

[0344] The vibration actuator 1C has a different outer shape of the housing 10C and the drive unit 13C than the vibration actuator 1 but has the same functions. Therefore, hereinafter, for the same constituent elements, the same names are used and the same reference numerals with C added after the same are used, and the description is appropriately omitted.

[0345] As shown in Figure 38 , the vibration actuator 1C has a drive unit 13C and a housing 10C, which have a different shape from the drive unit 13 and the housing 10 of the vibration actuator 1 but have the same basic functions. The housing 10C has a flat portion 117C extending in parallel with the vibration direction on the outer peripheral surface, and the vibration actuator 1C has another flat portion 113C parallel with the flat portion 117C on the outer peripheral surface.

[0346] The drive unit 13C and the housing 10C have only a different outer shape compared with the drive unit 13 and the housing 10 of Embodiment 1, and the drive unit 13C has an oval shape (substantially oval shape with a linear portion) that can be accommodated inside the oval shape of the housing 10C.

[0347] The drive unit 13C has a cylindrical coil bobbin portion (coil holding portion) 52C that holds the coils 61C, 62C, a movable body 20C, an electromagnetic shield 58C, and elastic support portions 81C, 82C. The drive unit 13C has a pair of unit flat portions 134 extending in the vibration direction on the outer peripheral surface. The pair of unit flat portions 132, 134 are formed in correspondence with the flat portions 113C, 117C of the housing 10C and are disposed at positions opposite to the flat portions 113C, 117C.

[0348] The movable body 20C is supported so as to be able to reciprocate along the inner side surface of the cylindrical coil bobbin portion 52C (inner peripheral surface 522a of the bobbin main body portion 522C) by the elastic support portions 81C, 82C connected to the upper and lower end portions on the inside of the cylindrical coil bobbin portion 52C. Thus, the movable body 20C is supported in the vibration actuator 1C so as to be able to reciprocate in a direction in which the cover portion 12C and the bottom portion 114C oppose each other. The movable body 20C is joined to the elastic support portions 81C, 82C without a gap by the seal portion.

[0349] The movable body 20C has the magnet 30C, the movable body cores 41C, 42C, and the spring stoppers 22C, 24C, the fixing pins 26C, 28C. In the present embodiment, the movable body cores 41C, 42C and the spring stoppers 22C, 24C are continuously provided in two directions in the vibration (axis) direction, respectively, with the magnet 30C as the center. In the movable body 20C, the outer peripheral surfaces of the magnet 30C and the movable body cores 41C, 42C are opposed to each other at a prescribed interval inside the inner peripheral surface 522a of the bobbin main body portion 522.

[0350] The movable body 20C has a shape corresponding to the internal shape of the case 10C. The movable body 20C has a movable body side flat portion 20b in the outer peripheral portion, and the shape of the movable body 20C is, for example, an elliptic plate (or elliptic cylinder) shape having a pair of movable body side flat portions 20b that are parallel.

[0351] The movable body side flat portion 20b is constituted by positioning the outer peripheral flat portion 303 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the magnet 30C and the core flat portions 413, 423 formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the movable body cores 41C, 42C in a manner of overlapping in the vibration (axis) direction (refer to FIG. 6). Figure 39 )

[0352] The elastic support portions 81C, 82C include the inner peripheral portion 802C, the outer peripheral fixing portion 806C, and the deformation arm portion 804C, which have the same functions as the inner peripheral portion 802, the outer peripheral fixing portion 806, and the deformation arm portion 804 of the elastic support portions 81, 82.

[0353] The outer peripheral fixing portion 806C has a straight portion 810, and is different from the structure of the outer peripheral fixing portion 806 in that it has the straight portion 810. At the outer edge of the outer peripheral fixing portion 806C, two straight portions 810 are provided in parallel across the center of the axis, and both of the straight portions 810 can be disposed on the same plane as the movable body side flat portion 20b of the movable body 20C. Further, at the outer edge, a positioning groove 808C of a notch shape is formed at one of the portions having the straight portion 810.

[0354] The coil bobbin portion (coil holding portion) 52C is the same as the basic structure of the coil bobbin portion 52. As shown in FIG. 6, the coil bobbin portion 52C holds the coils 61C, 62C, surrounds the magnet 30C with the inner peripheral surface 522a, and guides the movement of the movable body 20C having the magnet 30C. Figure 40

[0355] The coil bobbin portion 52C has a cylindrical bobbin main body portion 522C, a central flange portion 526C and flange portions 527C, 528C that protrude in the radial direction from the outer periphery of the bobbin main body portion 522C, a terminal binding portion (coil wiring portion) 53C, a movable range forming portion 54C, and a communication groove portion 55C.​

[0356] In the coil bobbin portion 52C, coil mounting portions 5201C, 5202C are provided on the outer periphery of the bobbin main body portion 522C between the central flange portion 526C and each of the flange portions 527C, 528C. A pair of coils 61C, 62C are wound and arranged in the coil mounting portions 5201C, 5202C. The coils 61C, 62C are covered by the electromagnetic shield portion 58C. In the flat portion of the central flange portion 526C, terminal binding portions (coil wiring portions) 53C-1, 53C-2 are provided in a protruding manner.

[0357] The inner peripheral surface of the coil bobbin portion 52C, that is, the inner peripheral surface 522a of the bobbin main body portion 522C includes an inner peripheral flat portion 5222. The inner peripheral flat portion 5222 is arranged in opposition to the movable body side flat portion 20b of the movable body 20C. Further, the inner peripheral flat portion 5222 and the movable body side flat portion 20b are arranged at positions corresponding to the flat portions 113C, 117C of the housing 10C.

[0358] The movable body side flat portion 20b (outer peripheral flat portion 303) is narrower in width in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction than the inner peripheral flat portion 5222. Thus, the movable body side flat portion 20b including the outer peripheral flat portion 303 and the inner peripheral flat portion 5222 can be arranged adjacent to each other, and thus further miniaturization and thinning as the vibration actuator 1C can be achieved.

[0359] The housing 10C is formed in an elliptical cylindrical shape by a housing main body 11C and a cover portion 12C, and accommodates the drive unit 13C.

[0360] Specifically, the housing main body 11C has a peripheral wall portion 112C having the flat portions 113C, 117C symmetrically arranged on the circumference across the center of a circle when viewed in the vibration (axial) direction, and a bottom portion 114C. The housing main body 11C is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape opening at an elliptical opening portion 115C by the peripheral wall portion 112C including the flat portions 113C, 117C and the bottom portion 114C.

[0361] The flat portions 113C, 117C each have parallel outer and inner surfaces. In the flat portion 117C, a notch portion 102C is provided continuous with the opening portion 115C. The notch portion 102C is formed in a shape engageable with the depending portion 124C of the cover portion 12C.

[0362] The housing main body 11C is an oval shape having flat surface portions 113C, 117C parallel to each other on the outer peripheral surface when viewed in the axial direction, and has an inner space of an oval shape (approximately oval shape having a straight portion) opening at the opening portion 115C. In this space, a drive unit 13C having unit flat surface portions 132, 134 in an oval shape when viewed in the vibration direction is housed. The terminal binding portions (coil wire portions) 53C-1, 53C-2 are exposed to the outside via the notch portion 102C.

[0363] Further, the lid portion 12C and the bottom portion 114C constitute a top surface portion 122C, a lower surface portion (bottom portion 114C) of the vibration actuator 1. The lid portion 12C and the bottom portion 114C, like the lid portion 12 and the bottom portion 114, have a function as a movable range regulating portion of a hard stop (movable range limitation) of the movable body 20C, and limit the movable range of the movable body 20C.

[0364] The lid portion 12C and the bottom portion 114C limit the length between the edge portions of the upper and lower end portions of the drive unit 13C (upper and lower end surfaces (opening end surfaces) of the upper and lower flange portions 527C, 528C) as the movable range.

[0365] Thus, even in the case where a force exceeding the movable range is applied to the movable body 20C, like the movable body 20, the elastic support portions 81C, 82C do not break, and the reliability can be improved.

[0366] When the lid portion 12C is attached to the housing main body 11C, the overhang portion 124C engages with the notch 102C of the housing main body 11C to block the notch portion 102C. The outer surface of the overhang portion 124C is flat, and the inner surface is formed in a circular arc shape with the center axis directed in the overhang direction. Thus, the overhang portion 124C engages with the notch portion 102C, the outer surface thereof is on the same plane as the outer surface of the flat surface portion 117C, and the circular arc surface of the inner surface thereof is a circular arc surface continuous with the inner surface of the flat surface portion 117C, and the drive unit 13C is positioned and housed.

[0367] Further, the lid portion 12C and the bottom portion 114C are respectively provided with air holes 126C, 116C having the same function as the air holes 126, 116 in a penetrating manner.

[0368] In the vibration actuator 1C, in the oval-shaped, bottomed cylindrical housing main body 11C having an outer shape and an inner shape that are oval shapes when viewed in the vibration (axial) direction, the drive unit 13C having an oval shape corresponding to the inner shape of the housing main body 11C is housed. Further, in the vibration actuator 1C, the center of the outer diameter arc of the housing main body 11C, the center of the outer diameter arc of the drive unit 13C, and the vibration center of gravity of the movable body 20C coincide.

[0369] When viewed from the vibration direction (axial direction of the vibration actuator), the vibration actuator 1C has an elliptical shape (e.g., "a generally elliptical shape with straight sections"). Therefore, when mounting the vibration actuator 1C to the housing, the planar portions 113C and 117C, which constitute a portion of the side surface of the housing body 11C, can abut against the planar portion of the housing at the mounting destination to mount the vibration actuator 1C. This facilitates easy mounting of the vibration actuator 1C to the housing.

[0370] Furthermore, the shape of the drive unit 13C is set to correspond to the shape of the housing body 11C. This achieves the same effect as in Embodiment 1, and the outermost diameter of the housing body 11C can be set to be the same as the outer diameter of a circular housing body (housing body 11 in Embodiment 1), enabling miniaturization of the vibration actuator. Additionally, the housing 10C has parallel planar portions 113C and 117C on its outer peripheral surface, thus ensuring the stroke length of vibration along these planar portions 113C and 117C.

[0371] <Implementation Method 5>

[0372] Figure 41 This is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the vibration actuator according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. Figure 42 This is a 3D view of the vibratory actuator after the outer casing has been removed. Additionally, Figure 43 It is a three-dimensional diagram representing a movable body with a fixed elastic support. Figure 44 It is an exploded perspective view of the movable body and the elastic support. Figure 38 This diagram shows the coil assembly after the electromagnetic shielding has been removed. Figure 41 This is a three-dimensional view of the bottom side of the main body of the outer shell. Figure 42 This is a three-dimensional view of the cover from the back side.

[0373] Compared to vibration actuator 1, vibration actuator 1D has a different shape for housing 10D and drive unit 13D but has the same function. Therefore, hereafter, the same names are used for the same components, and reference numerals with "D" added after the same reference numerals are used, and descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0374] like Figure 45 As shown, the vibration actuator 1D has a drive unit 13D and a housing 10D. The drive unit 13D and housing 10D have different shapes from the drive unit 13 and housing 10 of the vibration actuator 1, but have the same basic functions.

[0375] The housing 10D differs from the housing 10 in that a flat portion 117D extending in parallel with the vibration direction is provided on the outer peripheral surface. In addition, the drive unit 13D is capable of being accommodated in the housing 10D, and has a shape corresponding to the shape of the housing 10D.

[0376] The drive unit 13D has an electromagnetic shield portion 58D, coils 61D, 62D, a coil bobbin portion 52D, a movable body 20D, an electromagnetic shield portion 58D, and elastic support portions 81D, 82D. As shown in FIG. 10, the drive unit 13D has a unit flat portion 134 extending in the vibration direction on the outer peripheral surface. With this structure, the outer shape of the drive unit 13D is formed in a D shape. The unit flat portion 134 is provided in the outer shape of the coil bobbin portion 52D and the electromagnetic shield portion 58D. The terminal binding portions 53C-1, 53C-2 are disposed in the unit flat portion 134. Figure 46

[0377] The movable body 20D is supported so as to be able to reciprocate along the inner side surface of the coil bobbin portion 52D (the inner peripheral surface 522a of the bobbin main body portion 522D) on the inside of the cylindrical coil bobbin portion 52D by the elastic support portions 81D, 82D connected to the upper and lower end portions. Thus, the movable body 20D is supported in the vibration actuator 1D so as to be able to reciprocate in the direction in which the cover portion 12D and the bottom portion 114D face each other. In addition, the movable body 20D is joined to the elastic support portions 81D, 82D without a gap by the seal portion.

[0378] The movable body 20D has a magnet 30D, movable body cores 41D, 42D, and spring stop portions 22D, 24D, fixing pins 26D, 28D. In this embodiment, the movable body cores 41D, 42D and the spring stop portions 22D, 24D are continuously provided in two directions in the vibration (axial) direction with the magnet 30D as the center. In the movable body 20D, the outer peripheral surfaces of the magnet 30D and the movable body cores 41D, 42D serve as the movable body side outer peripheral surface, and face the inner peripheral surface 522a with a prescribed interval on the inside of the inner peripheral surface 522a of the bobbin main body portion 522D.

[0379] The movable body 20D has a shape corresponding to the internal shape of the housing 10D. The movable body 20D has one movable body side flat portion 20b (including a magnet outer peripheral flat portion 303) on the outer peripheral portion, and is, for example, a D-shaped plate (or a D-shaped column) shape having the movable body side flat portion 20b when viewed in the vibration direction.

[0380] The movable body side flat portion 20b is constituted by the outer peripheral flat portion 303 and the core flat portions 413, 423 formed on a part of the outer peripheral surface of each of the magnet 30D and the movable body cores 41D, 42D (see FIG. 10). Figure 47 ​). The outer peripheral flat portion 303 and the core flat portions 413, 423 are located at positions that overlap each other in the vibration (axis) direction.

[0381] The elastic support portions 81D, 82D include an inner peripheral portion 802D, an outer peripheral fixing portion 806D, and a deformation arm portion 804D that have the same functions as the inner peripheral portion 802, the outer peripheral fixing portion 806, and the deformation arm portion 804 of the elastic support portions 81, 82 of Embodiment 1.

[0382] The outer peripheral fixing portion 806D has a straight portion 810, and differs from the structure of the outer peripheral fixing portion 806 in that it has the straight portion 810. The straight portion 810 is provided on a part of the outer edge of the outer peripheral fixing portion 806D, and can be disposed on the same plane as the movable body side flat portion 20b of the movable body 20D. In addition, at this outer edge, a positioning groove 808D of a notch shape is formed at one of the portions having the straight portion 810.

[0383] The coil bobbin portion (coil holding portion) 52D has substantially the same structure as the coil bobbin portion 52. As shown in FIG. 6, the coil bobbin portion 52D holds the coils 61D, 62D with the inner peripheral surface 522a surrounding the magnet 30D (see FIG. 7), and guides the movement of the movable body 20D having the magnet 30D. Figure 48 Figure 49

[0384] The coil bobbin portion 52D has a cylindrical bobbin main body portion 522D, a central flange portion 526D and flange portions 527D, 528D that protrude in the radial direction from the outer periphery of the bobbin main body portion 522D, terminal binding portions (coil wiring portions) 53D-1, 53-2, a movable range forming portion 54D, and a communication groove portion 55D.

[0385] In the coil bobbin portion 52D, coil mounting portions 5201D, 5202D are provided between the central flange portion 526D and each of the flange portions 527D, 528D on the outer periphery of the bobbin main body portion 522D. A pair of coils 61, 62 are wound and disposed in the coil mounting portions 5201D, 5202D. The coils 61D, 62D are covered by the electromagnetic shield portion 58D. The terminal binding portions (coil wiring portions) 53D-1, 53D-2 are provided in a protruding manner on the flat portion of the central flange portion 526D.

[0386] The coil bobbin portion 52D has a flat portion 5224 that extends in parallel with the vibration direction. The inner peripheral surface of the flat portion 5224, that is, a part of the inner peripheral surface 522a of the bobbin main body portion 522D is an inner peripheral flat portion. The inner peripheral flat portions of the flat portion 5224 are disposed opposite each other and adjacent to each other in correspondence with the movable body side flat portion 20b of the movable body 20D.

[0387] ​​Further, the flat portion 5224 and the movable body side flat portion 20b are arranged at positions corresponding to the flat portion 117D of the housing 10D.

[0388] The housing 10D is configured in a D-shaped columnar shape when viewed from the vibration direction by the housing main body 11D and the cover portion 12D. The drive unit 13D is housed in the housing 10D. Specifically, the housing main body 11D has a peripheral wall portion 112D provided with the flat portion 117D on a portion thereof, and a bottom portion 114D. The housing main body 11D is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape opening at a D-shaped opening portion 115D by the peripheral wall portion 112D and the bottom portion 114D.

[0389] The flat portion 117D has a flat outer surface, and a notch portion 102D that penetrates the outer surface and the inner surface and is continuous with the opening portion 115D is provided in the flat portion 117D. The notch portion 102D is formed in a shape that can be engaged corresponding to the overhang portion 124D of the cover portion 12D.

[0390] When viewed from the axial direction, the outer shape of the housing main body 11D is a D-shaped form, and the inner shape (the shape of the inner peripheral surface when viewed from the vibration direction) is also a D-shaped form corresponding to the outer shape. Inside the housing main body 11D, there is a space formed in a D-shaped form opening at the opening portion 115D, and the drive unit 13D in a cylindrical shape provided with the movable body side flat portion 20b on the outer peripheral surface is housed in the space. The terminal binding portions (coil wire portions) 53D-1, 53D-2 are exposed to the outside via the notch portion 102D.

[0391] Further, the cover portion 12D and the bottom portion 114D constitute the top surface portion 122D, the lower surface portion (the bottom portion 114D) of the vibration actuator 1. The cover portion 12D and the bottom portion 114D have the same function as the cover portion 12 and the bottom portion 114, that is, the function of the movable range restricting portion that is a hard stop (movable range limitation) of the movable body 20D.

[0392] The cover portion 12D and the bottom portion 114D restrict the length between the edge portions of the upper and lower end portions of the drive unit 13D (the upper and lower end surfaces (opening end surfaces) of the upper and lower flange portions 527D, 528D) as the movable range. Thus, even in the case where a force exceeding the movable range is applied to the movable body 20D, the elastic support portions 81D, 82D do not break, like the movable body 20, and the reliability can be improved.

[0393] When the lid portion 12D is attached to the case main body 11D, the overhang portion 124D engages with the notch 102D of the case main body 11D to block the notch portion 102D. The outer surface of the overhang portion 124D is flat, and the inner surface is formed in a circular arc shape with the center axis directed in the overhang direction. Thus, the overhang portion 124D engages with the notch portion 102D, the outer surface thereof is on the same plane as the outer surface of the flat portion 117D, and the circular arc surface of the inner surface thereof is a circular arc surface continuous with the inner surface of the flat portion 117D, thereby positioning and housing the drive unit 13D.

[0394] Further, the lid portion 12D and the bottom portion 114D are each provided with a vent hole 126D, 116D having the same function as the vent holes 126, 116 in a penetrating manner.

[0395] In the vibration actuator 1D, the bottomed cylindrical case main body 11D having a D-shaped outer shape and internal shape in the vibration (axial) direction houses the drive unit 13D having a D-shaped outer shape corresponding to the internal shape of the case main body 11D.

[0396] Further, in the vibration actuator 1D, the center of the outer diameter arc of the case main body 11D coincides with the center of the outer diameter arc of the drive unit 13D and the vibration center of gravity of the movable body 20D.

[0397] When viewed from the vibration direction (axial direction of the vibration actuator), the outer shape of the vibration actuator 1D is in a shape having the flat portion 117D on the outer peripheral surface (D-shaped outer shape). Thus, the flat portion 117D of the case main body 11D constituting the outer peripheral surface can be brought into abutment with the flat portion of the housing of the mounting destination to engage the flat surfaces with each other, thereby enabling the vibration actuator 1D to be mounted to the housing.

[0398] Thus, the vibration actuator 1D is easily mounted to the housing. Further, the outer shape of the drive unit 13D is set to a shape corresponding to the shape of the case main body 11D. Thus, the same effects as in Embodiment 1 can be obtained, and the outermost diameter dimension of the case main body 11D can be set to the same outer diameter as that of a circular case main body (the case main body 11 of Embodiment 1) having the same outer diameter, thereby enabling the vibration actuator to be downsized.

[0399] <Embodiment 6>

[0400] Figure 50 is an external perspective view of a vibration actuator according to Embodiment 6 of the present application, Figure 51 is a perspective view showing a state after the case is removed in the vibration actuator, Figure 46 is a bottom surface side perspective view of the case main body. Further, Figure 46 is a perspective view of the lid portion viewed from the back surface side, Figure 48FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a positional relationship between a drive unit and a housing in a vibration actuator in Embodiment 6.

[0401] The vibration actuator 1E has the same basic structure as the vibration actuator 1A of Embodiment 2, but the width of the flat portion 117E and the positional relationship between the drive unit 13E and the housing 10E are different. In particular, in the vibration actuator 1E, the center of the drive unit 13E and the center of the movable body 20E are arranged at positions eccentric with respect to the center of the housing 10E when viewed in the vibration direction (axial direction), and the vibration actuator 1E is different from the vibration actuator 1A in this respect. In other words, the center of the outer shape of the drive unit 13E and the vibration center of gravity of the movable body 20E are deviated with respect to the center of the arc portion of the outer shape of the housing 10E in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction, and the vibration actuator 1E is different from the vibration actuator 1A in this respect. Hereinafter, for the same constituent elements, the same names are used and the letter A in the reference numerals is replaced with the letter E, and thus the description is appropriately omitted.

[0402] The vibration actuator 1E has a drive unit 13E having the same structure as the drive unit 13, and a housing 10E that accommodates the drive unit 13E.

[0403] The housing 10E is formed in an elliptical cylindrical shape (approximately elliptical shape having a linear portion) having a flat portion 117E extending along the vibration direction on the outer peripheral surface. The housing 10E is composed of a housing main body 11E and a cover portion 12E.

[0404] The housing main body 11E has a peripheral wall portion 112E having a pair of flat portions 117E having flat outer surfaces and inner surfaces arranged in opposition when viewed in the vibration (axial) direction, and a bottom portion 114E.

[0405] The housing main body 11E is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape that is open at an opening portion 115E in an elliptical shape (approximately elliptical shape having a linear portion) by the peripheral wall portion 112E and the bottom portion 114E.

[0406] The flat portion 117E is, for example, a portion on the peripheral wall portion 112E having parallel outer and inner surfaces.

[0407] In the housing main body 11E, a notch portion 102E continuous with the opening portion 115E is provided at a portion on the side to which the center of the drive unit 13E (coil bobbin portion 52E) accommodated in the housing main body is deviated with respect to the center of the housing main body when viewed in the vibration direction. The notch portion 102E is formed in a shape that can be engaged corresponding to the overhang portion 124E of the cover portion 12E.

[0408] The housing main body 11E has an internal space which is opened at the oval opening portion 115E. In this internal space, the cylindrical drive unit 13E is housed, and the terminal binding portions (coil wire portions) 53E-1, 53E-2 are exposed to the outside via the notch portion 102E.

[0409] The terminal binding portions (coil wire portions) 53E-1, 53E-2 are arranged in the notch portion 102E. By arranging the terminal binding portions (coil wire portions) 53E-1, 53E-2 at this position, the terminal binding portions (coil wire portions) 53E-1, 53E-2 can be easily electrically connected to external terminals or the like when the housing is attached to the attachment destination by means of the flat portion 117E.

[0410] The cover portion 12E and the bottom portion 114E have the same structure and function as the cover portion 12 and the bottom portion 114 of Embodiment 1. The cover portion 12E and the bottom portion 114E have the function of the movable range restricting portion of the movable body 20E, which restricts the movable range of the movable body 20E. In addition, the cover portion 12E and the bottom portion 114E restrict the space between the edge portions (upper and lower end surfaces (opening end surfaces) of the upper and lower flange portions 527E, 528E) from the cover portion 12E and the bottom portion 114E to the upper and lower end portions of the drive unit 13E as the movable range. Thus, even if a force exceeding the movable range is applied to the movable body 20E, the elastic support portion 81E comes into contact with the fixed body 50E (at least one of the cover portion 12E and the bottom portion 114E) without plastic deformation, so the elastic support portion 81E does not break, and the reliability can be improved.

[0411] When the cover portion 12E is attached to the housing main body 11E, the overhang portion 124E engages with the notch 102E of the housing main body 11E, thereby closing the notch portion 102E in a state in which the terminal binding portions (coil wire portions) 53E-1, 53E-2 are exposed to the outside.

[0412] The outer surface of the overhang portion 124E is a curved surface in the shape of a circular arc, and the inner surface is formed in the shape of a circular arc with the center axis oriented in the overhang direction. Thus, the overhang portion 124E is arranged so that its outer surface is substantially on the same plane as the outer surface of the housing 10E (the peripheral wall portion 112E), and the drive unit 13E is positioned and housed by the circular arc surface of the inner surface. In addition, the cover portion 12E and the bottom portion 114E are each provided with a ventilation hole 126E, 116E having the same function as the ventilation holes 126, 116 in a penetrating manner.

[0413] In the vibration actuator 1E, in an outer shape that is an ellipse (substantially elliptical shape having a linear portion) when viewed in the vibration (axis) direction, and an inner shape that is a circle, a drive unit 13E having a circular outer shape is housed in an eccentric position. That is, the outer shape center C11 of the housing body 11E is offset from the outer diameter arc center of the drive unit 13E and the vibration center of gravity C12 of the movable body 20 by an amount of Q1. Here, the drive unit 13E is housed in such a manner that movement in one of the directions perpendicular to the vibration direction and orthogonal to each other is restricted, and in the other direction, the amount of offset is Q1.

[0414] The outer shape of the vibration actuator 1E is an ellipse (substantially elliptical shape having a linear portion) having a flat portion 117E in the peripheral wall portion 112E when viewed in the vibration (axis) direction. Thus, when the vibration actuator 1E is mounted to a housing, the flat surface of the flat portion 117E of the housing body 11E can be brought into abutment with a flat portion of the housing of the mounting destination to mount the vibration actuator 1E to the housing. Thus, the vibration actuator 1E is easily mounted to the housing.

[0415] In addition, in the case where the drive unit 13E is provided with the same outer shape as the drive unit 13 of Embodiment 1, the same cover portion as the cover portion 12 can be used as the cover portion 12E. In this case, in the vibration actuator 1E, only the corresponding housing body 11E is changed, whereby the same effects can be obtained while maintaining the same vibration sensation as Embodiment 1.

[0416] Further, the outer shape center C11 of the housing body 11E is offset from the outer diameter arc center of the drive unit 13E and the vibration center of gravity C12 of the movable body 20E by an amount of Q1. That is, the coil bobbin portion (coil holding portion) 52E is arranged eccentrically with respect to the center of the housing 10E.

[0417] Thus, the same effects as Embodiment 1 can be obtained, and the drive unit 13E can be housed in the housing body 11E without forming a flat portion in the drive unit 13E in a shape corresponding to the flat portion 117E of the housing body 11E. Thus, according to the vibration actuator 1E, stable vibration can be obtained, and a stable vibration sensation can be imparted.

[0418] <Embodiment 7>

[0419] Figure 49 is an appearance perspective view of a vibration actuator according to one embodiment of the present application, namely, Embodiment 7, Figure 48 is a perspective view showing a state after the housing is removed in the vibration actuator. In addition, Figure 52 is a bottom surface side perspective view of a housing body, Figure 53 is a perspective view of a cover portion viewed from the back surface side,Figure 54 is a view schematically showing a positional relationship between a drive unit and a housing in the vibration actuator in Embodiment 7.

[0420] The vibration actuator 1F has the same basic structure as the vibration actuator 1B of Embodiment 3, but the width of the flat portion 117F and the positional relationship between the drive unit 13F and the housing 10F are different. In particular, in the vibration actuator 1F, the center of the drive unit 13F and the center of the movable body 20F are arranged at positions eccentric with respect to the center of the housing 10F when viewed from the vibration direction (axial direction), and the vibration actuator 1F is different from the vibration actuator 1B in this respect. In other words, the center of the circumference (circular arc portion) of the outer shape of the drive unit 13F and the vibration center of gravity of the movable body 20F are offset in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction with respect to the center of the circular arc portion of the outer shape of the housing 10F, and the vibration actuator 1F is different from the vibration actuator 1B in this respect. Hereinafter, for the same constituent elements, the same names are used and the reference numerals are changed from B to F, and the description is appropriately omitted.

[0421] The vibration actuator 1F has the drive unit 13F and the housing 10F that has the flat portion 117F at a portion of the outer periphery and accommodates the drive unit 13F.

[0422] The drive unit 13F has a circular shape when viewed from the vibration direction and has the same function as the drive unit 13 of the vibration actuator 1.

[0423] The housing 10F is composed of the housing main body 11F and the cover portion 12F and has a D-shaped form having the flat portion 117F on the outer peripheral surface extending in the vibration direction when viewed from the vibration direction.

[0424] Specifically, the housing main body 11F has the circular arc-shaped peripheral wall portion 112F and the bottom portion 114F, and the flat portion 117F is included in a portion of the peripheral wall portion 112F. The flat portion 117F has a flat outer surface. Further, the housing main body 11F is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape that is open at the opening portion 115F by the peripheral wall portion 112F having the flat portion 117F and the bottom portion 114F.

[0425] The notch portion 102F that is continuous with the opening portion 115F is provided in the flat portion 117F. The notch portion 102F is formed to be engageable with the overhanging portion 124F of the cover portion 12F. The terminal binding portions (coil lead portions) 53F-1 and 53F-2 are arranged in the notch portion 102F in a state of being exposed to the outside.

[0426] The outer shape of the housing main body 11F is elliptical when viewed in the axial direction, and the inner shape is circular. The housing main body 11F has a space divided therein in a manner to be a cylindrical shape that opens at the opening portion 115F. The cylindrical drive unit 13F is housed in the space.

[0427] The lid portion 12F and the bottom portion 114F have the same structure and function as the lid portion 12D and the bottom portion 114D of Embodiment 3. The lid portion 12F and the bottom portion 114F are the top surface portion 122F and the lower surface portion (bottom portion 114F) of the vibration actuator 1, and are disposed to oppose the movable body 20F of the drive unit 13F housed in the housing 10F with a prescribed gap in the vibration direction of the movable body 20F. The lid portion 12F and the bottom portion 114F have the function of a movable range restricting portion that is a hard stop (movable range limitation) of the movable body 20F, and restrict the movable range of the movable body 20F.

[0428] When the lid portion 12F and the bottom portion 114F are engaged with the movable range forming portion 54F of the drive unit 13F, the movable range is restricted to the space from the lid portion 12F and the bottom portion 114F to the length of the edge portions (upper and lower end surfaces of the upper and lower flange portions 527F, 528F) of the upper and lower end portions of the drive unit 13F. Thus, even in the case where a force exceeding the movable range is applied to the movable body 20F, the elastic support portion 81F comes into contact with the fixed body 50F (at least one of the lid portion 12F and the bottom portion 114F) without plastic deformation. Thus, the elastic support portion 81F does not break, and the reliability of the vibration actuator 1F can be improved. The function and effects of the overhang portion 124F are the same as those of the overhang portion 124B, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Furthermore, the lid portion 12F and the bottom portion 114F are respectively provided with air holes 126F, 116F having the same function as the air holes 126, 116 in a penetrating manner.

[0429] The vibration actuator 1F has a D-shaped outer shape and a circular inner shape when viewed in the vibration (axial) direction.

[0430] In the vibration actuator 1F, the drive unit 13F having a circular outer shape is housed in the inside of the housing main body 11F having an outer shape that is a shape (for example, a D-shaped) having a flat portion 117F on the outer circumferential surface when viewed in the vibration (axial) direction. When the vibration actuator 1F is mounted to a housing, the flat portion 117F that is a part of the side surface of the housing main body 11F can be brought into abutment with a flat portion of the housing of the mounting destination. In this way, the vibration actuator 1F is easily mounted to the housing. In addition, in the case where the drive unit 13F is provided to be the same as the drive unit 13 of Embodiment 1, the same lid portion as the lid portion 12 is used as the lid portion 12F, and only the corresponding housing main body 11F is changed, whereby the same effects can be obtained while the same vibration sensation as Embodiment 1 is maintained.

[0431] Further, in the vibration actuator 1F, as shown in Figure 55 Fig. 9, the outer diameter arc center C21 of the housing main body 11F (corresponding to the peripheral wall portion 112F) is offset from the outer diameter arc center (also the vibration center of gravity of the movable body 20) C22 of the drive unit 13F by a distance Q2 in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction. That is, when viewed from the vibration (axial) direction, the coil bobbin portion 52 (corresponding to the drive unit 13F) having a circular outer shape is arranged eccentrically with respect to the outer diameter arc center of the housing (the housing main body 11F). The housing main body 11F has a housing portion shape that accommodates the coil bobbin portion 52 (corresponding to the drive unit 13F) having a circular outer shape eccentrically with respect to the outer diameter arc center of the housing main body 11F when viewed from the vibration (axial) direction.

[0432] Thus, the drive unit 13F can be accommodated in the housing main body 11F even if it does not have a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the housing main body 11F. According to the vibration actuator 1F, stable vibration can be achieved, and a stable vibration sensation can be imparted.

[0433] Further, the vibration actuators 1A to 1F of Embodiments 2 to 7 have the movable bodies 20A to 20F, the fixed bodies 50A to 50F, the elastic support portions 81A to 81F, 82A to 82F. In the vibration actuators 1A to 1F, the same effects can of course be obtained according to the same basic constituent elements and functions as in Embodiment 1.

[0434] In addition, in the vibration actuators 1A to 1D, the outer diameter arc center of the housing main body 11A to 11D is configured to coincide with the outer diameter arc center of the drive unit 13A to 13D and the vibration center of gravity of the movable body 20A to 20D, but can also be configured not to coincide. For example, the vibration actuators 1A to 1D can be configured as follows: the center of each coil bobbin portion (coil holding portion) 52A to 52D is arranged at a position eccentric with respect to the center of the housing 10A to 10D, as in the vibration actuators 1E, 1F.

[0435] Further, the vibration actuators 1A to 1F of Embodiments 2 to 7 are each mounted as a vibration generation source to an electronic device such as a portable game terminal device (for example, the game controller GC shown in Figure 56 , and realize a vibration function of the electronic device. As the electronic device, a portable device such as a smartphone is also included, and for example, can be used for the portable terminal M shown in Figure 57 Figure 58 Figure 59 Figure 60 Figure 61 Figure 61 Figure 28 Figure 29 .

[0436] As for the housings 10, 10A to 10F, they are composed of the housing bodies 11, 11A to 11F which are provided in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and the cover portions 12, 12A to 12F, but the shape is not limited to this, and any shape can be adopted as long as it is a structure capable of accommodating the drive unit. It can also be that the housing bodies 11, 11A to 11F are provided as first housings, the cover portions 12, 12A to 12F are provided as second housings, and they are formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, or it can also be that they are composed of divided pieces divided into three or more pieces such as a top plate portion, a bottom portion, and a peripheral wall portion.

[0437] Further, when the outer shape of the drive unit (the outer shape of the coil bobbin portion (coil holding portion) 52) is circular, and the drive unit is arranged eccentrically with respect to the outer shape center of the housing in which the planar portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface when viewed in the vibration direction, preferably, the terminal binding portion (coil wiring portion) is arranged on the outer shape side of the housing on the side of the center of the coil holding portion with respect to the outer shape center of the housing, or preferably, the terminal binding portion (coil wiring portion) is arranged on the side of the planar portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the housing. In either structure, when the vibration actuator is mounted to a case or the like of a mounting destination, it can be easily mounted in a stable state with the aid of the planar portion which is a part of the side surface of the housing body. Also, when the terminal binding portion (coil wiring portion) is arranged on the side of the planar portion which is a part of the side surface of the housing body, wiring to an external wiring via the terminal binding portion is also easy to perform.

[0438] The above has described the invention completed by the inventors of the present application based on the embodiments, but the present application is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be changed within the scope of the gist thereof.

[0439] In addition, the vibration actuator of the present application is also suitable for use in portable devices other than the game controller GC and the portable terminal M (for example, a portable information terminal such as a tablet PC, a portable game terminal, a wearable terminal which a user wears and uses). In addition, in addition to the above-described portable devices, the vibration actuator 1, 1A to 1F of the present embodiment can also be used for an electric beauty appliance such as a beauty massager which requires vibration.

[0440] The disclosure of the specification, drawings, and abstract of the description included in Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-032251 filed on February 27, 2020 is incorporated in the present application.

[0441] Industrial applicability

[0442] The vibration actuator of the present application suppresses the generation of noise to generate appropriate vibration at a stable high output, and is useful as a vibration actuator mounted on an electronic device such as a game machine terminal or a portable terminal.

[0443] Reference Signs

[0444] 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F Vibration actuator

[0445] 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F Housing

[0446] 11, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F Housing main body

[0447] 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E, 12F Cover portion

[0448] 13, 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13E, 13F Driving unit

[0449] 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, 20F Movable body

[0450] 20a Outer peripheral surface

[0451] 20b Movable body side flat portion

[0452] 30, 30C, 30D Magnet

[0453] 30a Front surface

[0454] 30b Back surface

[0455] 41, 42 Movable body core

[0456] 50, 50A, 50B, 50C, 50D, 50E, 50F Fixed body

[0457] 52, 52A, 52B, 52C, 52D, 52E, 52F Coil bobbin portion (coil holding portion)

[0458] 52b, 52c Coil mounting portion

[0459] 53, 53-1, 53-2, 53C-1, 53C-2, 53D-1, 53D-2, 53E-1, 53E-2, 53F-1, 53F-2 Terminal binding portion

[0460] 54, 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D, 54E, 54F Movable range forming portion (protrusion)

[0461] 55 Communication groove portion (groove portion)

[0462] 58 Electromagnetic shield portion

[0463] 61, 62 Coil

[0464] 72 attenuator

[0465] 81, 81A, 81B, 81C, 81D, 81E, 81F, 82, 82C, 82D, 82E elastic support portion

[0466] 90, 90A, 90B, 90C, 90D sealing portion

[0467] 90E, 90F elastic body

[0468] 92 outer peripheral surface

[0469] 103A open end portion

[0470] 112, 112A, 112C, 112D, 112E, 112F peripheral wall portion

[0471] 113A, 113C, 117, 117A, 117B, 117C, 117D, 117E, 117F, 5224 flat portion

[0472] 114 bottom portion

[0473] 115 opening portion

[0474] 116, 126 vent hole

[0475] 118 step portion

[0476] 122 top surface portion

[0477] 124, 124A, 124B, 124C, 124D, 124E, 124F underhang portion

[0478] 128 pressing portion

[0479] 132, 134 unit flat portion

[0480] 201 communication portion

[0481] 202 processing portion

[0482] 203 drive control portion

[0483] 204, 205, 206 vibration actuator

[0484] 222, 242 engaging portion

[0485] 224, 244 spring fixing portion

[0486] 303 outer peripheral flat portion

[0487] 413, 423 core flat portion

[0488] 522 tube main body portion

[0489] 522a inner peripheral surface

[0490] 526 central flange portion

[0491] 526a outer peripheral portion

[0492] 527, 527A, 527B, 527C, 527D, 527E, 527F, 528, 528A, 528B, 528C, 528D, 528E, 528F flange portion

[0493] 527a upper end surface (open end surface)

[0494] 528a lower end surface (open end surface)

[0495] 529 positioning engagement portion

[0496] 589 engaged portion

[0497] 802 inner peripheral portion

[0498] 804 deformed arm portion

[0499] 806 outer peripheral fixed portion (outer peripheral portion)

[0500] 808 positioning groove

[0501] 809 recessed portion

[0502] 810 straight portion

[0503] 5222 inner peripheral flat portion

Claims

1. A vibration actuator, comprising: a movable body having a cylindrical magnet in the center, spring stoppers arranged on a front surface and a back surface in an axial direction of the magnet, respectively; a fixed body that is a cylindrical fixed body that houses the movable body, having a pair of annular coils arranged on a radial direction outside of the movable body; a pair of elastic support portions that support the movable body in a manner that the movable body can reciprocate in a vibration direction along the axial direction, and an outer peripheral portion of each of the elastic support portions is engaged with the fixed body, and an inner peripheral portion of each of the elastic support portions is engaged with the spring stopper; and a sealing portion that is provided to a joint portion of the inner peripheral portion and the movable body, and seals the joint portion, wherein the spring stopper has a recessed portion that is provided continuously to a joint surface of the spring stopper and the inner peripheral portion, wherein the inner peripheral portion has a recess portion that is cut out in a circumferential direction at an outer periphery thereof, and is arranged on the joint surface, and wherein the sealing portion seals the joint portion in a manner that the recess portion and the recessed portion are communicated.

2. The vibration actuator according to claim 1, wherein the inner peripheral portion is engaged with an outer periphery of at least one of two end portions of the movable body that are spaced apart in the vibration direction, and the sealing portion is provided in a manner that the joint portion of the inner peripheral portion and the one end portion is covered from the outside without a gap.

3. The vibration actuator according to claim 1, wherein the sealing portion is composed of an adhesive that has at least one of thermosetting, UV curability, and anaerobic property, and seals a gap of the joint portion.

4. The vibration actuator according to claim 1, wherein the recess portion of the inner peripheral portion has a notch shape that is continuous to a boundary of the joint portion when engaged with the movable body, and is exposed to the outside, and the sealing portion closes and seals the boundary of the recess portion and the joint portion.

5. The vibration actuator according to claim 1, wherein the fixed body has a cylindrical coil holding portion that holds the coils, and a housing that houses the coil holding portion, and the housing has a flat surface portion that extends in parallel with the vibration direction on an outer peripheral surface.

6. The vibration actuator according to claim 5, wherein a coil wiring portion is arranged on the flat surface portion.

7. The vibration actuator according to claim 5, wherein the housing has another flat surface portion that extends in parallel with the flat surface portion on the outer peripheral surface.

8. The vibration actuator according to claim 5, wherein an inner peripheral flat surface portion and an outer peripheral flat surface portion that face each other are provided to an inner peripheral surface of the coil holding portion and an outer peripheral surface of the magnet at a position corresponding to the flat surface portion, and a width of the outer peripheral flat surface portion is narrower than a width of the inner peripheral flat surface portion in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction.

9. The vibration actuator according to claim 5, wherein an outer shape of the coil holding portion is circular when viewed in the vibration direction, and the coil holding portion is arranged eccentrically with respect to a center of an outer shape of the housing or a center of an outer diameter arc of the housing when viewed in the vibration direction. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 10. The vibration actuator according to claim 9, wherein The coil wiring portion is disposed on the outer shape side of the housing on the side of the coil holding portion with respect to the side on which the center of the coil holding portion is located with respect to the center of the outer shape of the housing.

11. The vibration actuator according to claim 9, wherein In the coil holding portion, the coil wiring portion is disposed on the side of the planar portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the housing.

12. An electronic device in which the vibration actuator according to claim 1 is installed.

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