Vibration device and method for vibrating the same

Abstract

To provide a vibration device which has a larger variety of vibration patterns, and a method for vibrating the vibration device.SOLUTION: In an IC card 1, a control circuit 20 includes a first control unit 21 for generating a voice vibration signal; and an amplification circuit 22 for amplifying the voice vibration signal generated by the first control unit 21. As a driving signal which drives a piezoelectric element 18, a driving signal amplified by the amplification circuit 22 is used. The vibrations of the piezoelectric element 18 thus show behaviors according to a voice vibration signal. In other words, vibrations of the piezoelectric element 18 show continuous and smooth behaviors rather than behaviors according to square pulse signals, and the vibration patterns of the piezoelectric element 18 are made diversified.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vibration device and a vibration method thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Cited Document 1 discloses a contactless IC card equipped with a vibration mechanism as a type of vibration device, and a piezoelectric element or a vibration motor is used as the vibration source of the vibration mechanism. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-132404 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The inventors have conducted extensive research into vibration patterns of vibration devices, and as a result have discovered a new technique for diversifying vibration patterns.

[0005] An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a vibration device and a vibration method thereof that are capable of diversifying vibration patterns. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A vibration device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a power receiving unit that receives contactless power from a power supply device, a control unit that generates a drive signal using the power received by the power receiving unit, and a piezoelectric vibrator that vibrates in response to the drive signal generated by the control unit, and the control unit includes a first control unit that generates an audio vibration signal, and a second control unit that amplifies the audio vibration signal generated by the first control unit to generate the drive signal.

[0007] A vibration method for a vibration device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a power receiving unit that receives power contactlessly from a power supply device, a control unit that generates a drive signal using power received by the power receiving unit, the control unit including a first control unit that generates an audio vibration signal and a second control unit that amplifies the audio vibration signal generated by the first control unit to generate a drive signal, and a piezoelectric vibrator, in which the piezoelectric vibrator vibrates in response to the drive signal generated by the second control unit of the control unit.

[0008] In the above vibration device and its vibration method, the control unit includes a first control unit that generates an audio vibration signal and a second control unit that amplifies the audio vibration signal generated by the first control unit, and by using the signal amplified by the second control unit as a drive signal for driving the piezoelectric vibrator, vibration corresponding to the audio vibration signal can be realized and the vibration pattern of the piezoelectric vibrator can be diversified. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to various aspects of the present disclosure, a vibration device and a vibration method thereof that are capable of diversifying vibration patterns are provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an IC card according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the IC card shown in FIG. 1 is held over a reader / writer. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a layered structure of the IC card shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the vibration circuit of the IC card shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a vibration circuit of an IC card according to a different embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a vibration circuit of an IC card according to a different embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Various embodiments and examples will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or corresponding parts in each drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0012] An IC card 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be taken as an example of a type of vibration device. The IC card 1 has an IC module 10 built-in that performs arithmetic processing. The IC card 1 according to this embodiment is of a non-contact type, and has an antenna coil 16 built-in, which will be described later. As shown in FIG. 2, when the IC module 10 is held over a reader / writer 2, which is a type of power supply device (i.e., held in a state separated by a predetermined distance), power is supplied to the IC module 10 from the reader / writer 2 in a non-contact manner, and communication is performed between the IC module 10 and the reader / writer 2. In this specification, "non-contact power supply" includes not only power transmission, but also non-contact communication such as near field communication (NFC).

[0013] The IC card 1 has a plate-like outer shape and has a front surface 1a and a back surface 1b. An IC module 10 is exposed on the front surface 1a. The IC card 1 has a layered structure as shown in Fig. 3, in which a plastic plate 11, an antenna sheet 12, a base material 13, and a metal plate 14 are layered in this order from the back surface 1b side. The layers of the IC card 1 are bonded together with a known adhesive layer (e.g., a double-sided adhesive tape, an adhesive layer) not shown.

[0014] The plastic plate 11 is made of a resin material that does not impede magnetic flux. The surface of the plastic plate 11 forms the back surface 1b of the IC card 1. The metal plate 14 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel or titanium. The surface of the metal plate 14 forms the front surface 1a of the IC card 1. The IC module 10 is fitted into a partial area of ​​the metal plate 14.

[0015] The substrate 13 is a film made of an insulating resin material, and may be made of, for example, acrylic. The voltage regulator 15, the piezoelectric element 18, and the control circuit 20 are mounted on the substrate 13. The piezoelectric element 18 is a type of piezoelectric vibrator, and the piezoelectric vibrator may be made of only a piezoelectric element, or may be a combination of a piezoelectric element and a vibration plate. The vibration plate may be a plate made of resin, or may be a plate made of metal. In this embodiment, the piezoelectric element 18 is accommodated in a through hole provided in the substrate 13 and is adhered to the back surface 14a of the metal plate 14. By adhering and fixing the piezoelectric element 18 to the metal plate 14, the displacement and vibration of the piezoelectric element 18 are transmitted to the metal plate 14. That is, the vibration generated in the piezoelectric element 18 is transmitted from the inside of the IC card 1 to the surface portion, and is directly felt by the user of the IC card 1. The IC card 1 may be in a form in which it vibrates overall, or in which a part of the surface portion vibrates locally.

[0016] The antenna sheet 12 is made of an insulating resin material or a magnetic material. The antenna sheet 12 is provided with an antenna coil 16 including a coil pattern wound around the outer edge. The antenna coil 16 is electrically connected to the voltage regulator 15 of the substrate 13. The antenna coil 16 is magnetically connected to a coil included in the IC module 10 of the metal plate 14.

[0017] The IC card 1 has a vibration circuit 30 including the configuration shown in Fig. 4. That is, the IC card 1 has a power receiving unit 17 that receives contactless power from the reader / writer 2, a control circuit 20 (control unit) that generates a drive signal from the power received by the power receiving unit 17, and the vibration circuit 30 that includes a piezoelectric element 18 that vibrates in response to the drive signal generated by the control circuit 20.

[0018] The power receiving unit 17 includes the voltage regulator 15 and the antenna coil 16 described above, and receives contactless power from the reader / writer 2 to output a drive voltage for driving the control circuit 20. The control circuit 20 includes a first control unit 21 and an amplifier circuit 22 (second control unit). In this embodiment, the first control unit 21 includes a microcomputer 23 (signal generating unit) that generates a square pulse signal, and an RC filter 24 (filter unit) that converts the square pulse signal generated by the microcomputer 23 into an analog signal. Therefore, the first control unit 21 outputs an audio vibration signal obtained by converting the square pulse signal into an analog signal. A drive voltage V1 is applied from the power receiving unit 17 to each of the microcomputer 23 and the amplifier circuit 22 of the first control unit 21. The drive voltage V1 applied to the microcomputer 23 and the amplifier circuit 22 of the first control unit 21 has the same value (+5V, for example). The audio vibration signal generated by the first control unit 21 is amplified (boosted) in the amplifier circuit 22, and the amplified drive signal is sent to the piezoelectric element 18. The piezoelectric element 18 vibrates in response to a drive signal sent from a control circuit 20 .

[0019] The power supply used in the amplifier circuit 22 does not have to be a single power supply common to the power supply used in the microcontroller 23, and may be, for example, a high voltage V2 (i.e., V2>V1) that can be output from a diode bridge to the power receiving unit 17 as in the oscillator circuit 30A shown in FIG. 5.

[0020] The first control unit 21 may output a digital audio vibration signal, and in this case, the digital audio vibration signal may be demodulated into analog and amplified in the amplifier circuit 22 including a DA converter.

[0021] In the IC card 1, the control circuit 20 includes a first control unit 21 that generates an audio vibration signal and an amplifier circuit 22 that amplifies the audio vibration signal generated by the first control unit 21, and the drive signal amplified by the amplifier circuit 22 is used as the drive signal for driving the piezoelectric element 18. Therefore, the vibration of the piezoelectric element 18 exhibits a behavior corresponding to the audio vibration signal. In other words, the vibration of the piezoelectric element 18 exhibits a continuous and smooth behavior compared to the behavior corresponding to a square pulse signal, and the vibration pattern of the piezoelectric element 18 is diversified.

[0022] The square pulse signal generated by the microcomputer 23 of the first control unit 21 may be a signal with a uniform pulse width, or may be a signal with a modulated pulse width (i.e., a PWM signal). When the microcomputer 23 of the first control unit 21 generates a PWM signal, the vibration of the piezoelectric element 18, which vibrates in response to the drive signal of the control circuit 20, is modulated, whereby the piezoelectric element 18 can produce a desired sound.

[0023] The first control unit 21 can generate an audio vibration signal related to music as a sound source (DSP sound source), and can play music by the piezoelectric element 18.

[0024] The first control unit 21 may be a combination of the microcomputer 23 and the RC filter 24 as described above, and can be replaced with a microcomputer 23A that can directly output an audio vibration signal like the vibration circuit 30B shown in FIG.

[0025] The microcomputer 23A, which is the first control unit 21, may be configured to output a digital audio vibration signal. In this case, the amplifier circuit 22 may include a DA converter, and the digital audio vibration signal output from the microcomputer 23A may be demodulated into analog and amplified in the amplifier circuit 22.

[0026] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified in various ways. For example, the first control unit is not limited to a microcomputer, and may be an IC chip such as a timer IC. The vibration device is not limited to a card, and may be in the form of various small items (fashion items, gadgets, accessories, etc.). The power supply device is not limited to a reader / writer, and may be a payment terminal, etc.

[0027] As can be understood from the above description, the present specification discloses the following. [Appendix 1] A power receiving unit that receives wireless power from a power supply device; A control unit that generates a drive signal using the power received by the power receiving unit; a piezoelectric vibrator that vibrates in response to a drive signal generated by the control unit; Equipped with A vibration device, wherein the control unit includes a first control unit that generates an audio vibration signal, and a second control unit that amplifies the audio vibration signal generated by the first control unit to generate the drive signal. [Appendix 2] The vibration device according to claim 1, wherein the first control unit includes a signal generating unit that generates a square pulse signal, and a filter unit that converts the square pulse signal generated by the signal generating unit into an analog signal. [Appendix 3] 3. The vibration device of claim 2, wherein the square pulse signal generated by the signal generating unit of the first control unit is a PWM signal. [Appendix 4] 4. The vibration device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration device is an IC card. [Appendix 5] A vibration method for a vibration device comprising: a power receiving unit that receives contactless power from a power supply device; a control unit that generates a drive signal using the power received by the power receiving unit, the control unit including a first control unit that generates an audio vibration signal and a second control unit that amplifies the audio vibration signal generated by the first control unit to generate the drive signal; and a piezoelectric vibrator, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator vibrates in response to the drive signal generated by the second control unit of the control unit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1...IC card, 2...reader / writer, 10...IC module, 17...power receiving unit, 18...piezoelectric element, 20...control circuit, 21...first control unit, 22...amplification circuit, 23, 23A...microcomputer, 30, 30A, 30B...vibration circuit.

Claims

1. A power receiving unit that receives wireless power from a power supply device; A control unit that generates a drive signal using the power received by the power receiving unit; a piezoelectric vibrator that vibrates in response to a drive signal generated by the control unit; Equipped with A vibration device, wherein the control unit includes a first control unit that generates an audio vibration signal, and a second control unit that amplifies the audio vibration signal generated by the first control unit to generate the drive signal.

2. The vibration device according to claim 1 , wherein the first control unit includes a signal generating unit that generates a square pulse signal, and a filter unit that converts the square pulse signal generated by the signal generating unit into an analog signal.

3. The vibration device according to claim 2 , wherein the square pulse signal generated by the signal generating section of the first control section is a PWM signal.

4. The vibration device according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration device is an IC card.

5. A vibration method for a vibration device comprising: a power receiving unit that receives contactless power from a power supply device; a control unit that generates a drive signal using the power received by the power receiving unit, the control unit including a first control unit that generates an audio vibration signal and a second control unit that amplifies the audio vibration signal generated by the first control unit to generate the drive signal; and a piezoelectric vibrator, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator vibrates in response to the drive signal generated by the second control unit of the control unit.

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