Actuator

Abstract

To increase the weight of a yoke assembled in a shape which encloses a periphery of a coil in an actuator including a magnetic driving circuit.SOLUTION: An actuator 1 includes: a movable body 5 and a support 3; a first connection body 6 and a second connection body 7 connected to the movable body 5 and the support 3; and a magnetic driving circuit 8. The movable body 5 includes: a first yoke 23 including a first plate part 25 overlapping with a coil 10 from a Z1 direction and a pair of first connection plate parts 26 extending from both ends of the first plate part 25 in a Z2 direction; and a second yoke 24 including a second plate part 27 overlapping with the coil 10 from the Z2 direction and a pair of second connection plate parts 28 extending in the Z1 direction from both ends of the second plate part 27. The pair of second connection plate parts 28 is press-fitted in the inner side of the pair of first connection plate parts 26 to assemble the first yoke 23 and the second yoke 24 to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an actuator that vibrates a movable body. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an actuator that includes a movable body with a magnet and a support body with a coil, and that vibrates the movable body relative to the support body by passing a drive current through the coil. This type of actuator uses an elastic or viscoelastic body as a connector that connects the support body and the movable body. When the movable body is vibrated, a reaction force corresponding to the vibration of the movable body is applied to the support body via the connector. As a result, a user who touches the support body can feel the vibration.

[0003] In the actuator of Patent Document 1, the support body includes a resin coil holder. The coil is an air-core coil and is placed in a coil placement hole provided in the plate portion of the coil holder. The movable body includes a first yoke facing the plate portion from one side and a second yoke facing the plate portion from the other side, and magnets are fixed to the first yoke and the second yoke, respectively.

[0004] The first yoke has a pair of connecting parts that bend and extend from both ends toward the second yoke, and the connecting parts of the first yoke are joined to both ends of the second yoke by welding, etc. This structure forms a magnetic circuit through which the magnetic flux of two magnets facing each other on both sides of the coil passes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-102901 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] There is a demand for actuators that can achieve desired vibration characteristics by increasing the acceleration at which the moving body vibrates. While the acceleration can be increased by increasing the weight of the moving body, the above structure requires a separate weight to be fixed to the first or second yoke. However, using a separate part increases the number of parts and the assembly man-hours.

[0007] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to increase the weight of the yoke assembled in a shape surrounding the periphery of the coil. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an actuator of the present invention includes a movable body, a support having a case for accommodating the movable body, a connector connected to the movable body and the support, a coil, and a magnet facing the coil in a first direction, and a magnetic drive circuit for vibrating the movable body relative to the support in a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein the movable body includes a first yoke having a first flat plate portion overlapping the coil from one side in the first direction, and a second flat plate portion overlapping the coil from the other side in the first direction. and a second yoke comprising: a first yoke having a pair of first yoke side plates extending from both ends of the first flat plate portion toward the other side in the first direction; the magnet is fixed to at least one of the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion; the first yoke has a pair of first yoke side plates extending from both ends of the first flat plate portion toward the other side in the first direction; the second yoke has a pair of second connecting plates extending from both ends of the second flat plate portion toward one side in the first direction; and one of the pair of first yoke side plates and the pair of second connecting plates is press-fitted inside the other of the pair of first yoke side plates and the pair of second connecting plates.

[0009] According to the present invention, the first yoke and the second yoke each include a side plate portion (first yoke side plate portion, second connecting plate portion). Therefore, the assembled yoke has twice the thickness of the side plate portion, so the weight of the movable body can be increased without using a separate weight. Increasing the weight of the movable body can increase the acceleration when the movable body vibrates. Furthermore, the weight of the movable body can be increased without increasing the height of the movable body in the first direction. Therefore, it is possible to avoid increasing the height of the actuator in the first direction. Furthermore, because the two yokes are fixed by press-fitting, it is possible to avoid gaps between the parts due to part tolerances. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress the generation of chatter noise during vibration.

[0010] In the present invention, it is preferable that one of the first yoke side plate and the second connecting plate has a protrusion provided on a surface that contacts the other of the first yoke side plate and the second connecting plate, thereby ensuring that one of the first yoke and the second yoke can be press-fitted into the other.

[0011] In the present invention, it is preferable that the distance between the pair of first yoke side plates and one of the pair of second connecting plates increases toward the tip end, thereby ensuring that one of the first yoke and the second yoke can be press-fitted into the other.

[0012] In the present invention, the first yoke and the second yoke are preferably fixed with an adhesive. This increases the fixing strength between the first yoke and the second yoke. Furthermore, since the first yoke and the second yoke can be fixed without welding, it is possible to prevent or suppress iron chips generated during welding from getting into the gap between the magnet and the yoke.

[0013] In the present invention, it is preferable that the support member includes a first metal plate overlapping the coil from one side in the first direction and a second metal plate overlapping the coil from the other side in the first direction, the coil being fixed to the case via one of the first plate and the second plate, and the connector includes a first connector disposed between the first plate and the first flat plate portion and a second connector disposed between the second plate and the second flat plate portion. In this configuration, the support member includes a coil assembly formed by assembling the first plate, the second plate, and the coil, and the coil assembly and the yoke are connected by a connector inside the yoke. Therefore, there is no need to secure space for a connector in the gap between the case and the yoke, thereby reducing the dimension of the actuator in the first direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, the first yoke and the second yoke each include a side plate portion (first yoke side plate portion, second connecting plate portion). Therefore, the assembled yoke has twice the thickness of the side plate portion, so the weight of the movable body can be increased without using a separate weight. Increasing the weight of the movable body can increase the acceleration when the movable body vibrates. Furthermore, the weight of the movable body can be increased without increasing the height of the movable body in the first direction. Therefore, it is possible to avoid increasing the height of the actuator in the first direction. Furthermore, because the two yokes are fixed by press-fitting, it is possible to avoid gaps between the parts due to part tolerances. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress the generation of chatter noise during vibration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an actuator to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from the Z2 direction and the Z1 direction. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator cut in the longitudinal direction. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the actuator as viewed from the Z2 direction. [Figure 4]FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the actuator as viewed from the Z1 direction. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a first plate and a coil. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator cut in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a yoke and a magnet. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged side view of the actuator. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first notched recess, a second notched recess, and a protruding plate portion. [Figure 12] 11 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator taken at a position where the case and the first plate come into contact in the Z direction (a cross-sectional view taken at the position AA in FIG. 10). [Figure 13] 11 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator taken at a position where the hook of the second case member is engaged with the first case member and the first plate (a cross-sectional view taken at position BB in FIG. 10). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an actuator to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] (Overall composition) FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view of an actuator 1 to which the present invention is applied, as seen from the Z2 direction. FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view of an actuator 1 to which the present invention is applied, as seen from the Z1 direction. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator 1 when cut in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the actuator 1 when viewed from the Z2 direction. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the actuator 1 when viewed from the Z1 direction. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the coil set 13. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the first plate 11 and the coil 10. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator 1 when cut in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the yoke 17. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the yoke 17 and the magnet 16.

[0018] The actuator 1 is used as a tactile device that transmits information by vibration. As shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), the outer shape of the actuator 1 is a rectangular parallelepiped. The actuator 1 generates vibration in the short direction of its outer shape. In the following description, the short direction in which vibration occurs is referred to as the X direction (second direction), and the longitudinal direction of the actuator 1, which is perpendicular to the X direction, is referred to as the Y direction (third direction). In the following description, the thickness direction (height direction) of the actuator 1, which is perpendicular to the X and Y directions, is referred to as the Z direction (first direction). The X, Y, and Z directions are perpendicular to each other. In addition, one of the X directions is referred to as the X1 direction, and the other is the X2 direction. One of the Y directions is referred to as the Y1 direction, and the other is the Y2 direction. One of the Z directions is referred to as the Z1 direction, and the other is the Z2 direction.

[0019] 1 to 4, the actuator 1 has a support body 3 equipped with a case 2 that defines the outer shape, and a movable body 5 housed inside the case 2. The actuator 1 also has connectors (first connector 6 and second connector 7) that connect the support body 3 and the movable body 5, and a magnetic drive circuit 8 (see FIGS. 2 and 7) that moves the movable body 5 relative to the support body 3 in the X direction.

[0020] As shown in Figures 2 and 7, the support body 3 includes a coil set 13 that is an assembly of three members: a coil 10, a first plate 11 that is stacked in the Z1 direction of the coil 10, and a second plate 12 that is stacked in the Z2 direction of the coil 10. As shown in Figure 5, the coil 10 is a flat air-core coil, with its thickness direction oriented in the Z direction. As shown in Figures 2 and 7, the coil 10 is located at the center of the case 2 in the Z direction.

[0021] The support 3 also includes a power supply board 14 held at the end of the first plate 11 in the Y1 direction. In this embodiment, the power supply board 14 is a flexible printed circuit board. However, the power supply board 14 may also be a rigid board. The coil 10 includes two coil wires drawn out in the Y1 direction, and the coil wires are connected to a wiring pattern provided on the surface of the power supply board 14. Electric power is supplied to the coil 10 via a power supply board 14.

[0022] 5 and 6, the coil 10 is an elliptical air-core coil that is long in the Y direction and includes a pair of long sides 10a extending parallel to the Y direction and arc-shaped short sides 10b connecting the Y-direction ends of the pair of long sides 10a. A center hole 10c extending in the Y direction is provided between the pair of long sides 10a.

[0023] The movable body 5 includes a magnet 16 and a yoke 17. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the magnet 16 faces the coil 10 in the Z direction. The coil 10 and the magnet 16 form a magnetic drive circuit 8. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first connecting body 6 and the second connecting body 7 are each rectangular parallelepiped members. The first connecting body 6 and the second connecting body 7 each have at least one of elasticity and viscoelasticity.

[0024] (movable body) As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the movable body 5 includes a first magnet 21 and a second magnet 22 as the magnets 16. The first magnet 21 is located in the Z1 direction of the coil 10. The second magnet 22 is located in the Z2 direction of the coil 10. The first magnet 21 and the second magnet 22 are polarized in two in the X direction. When the movable body 5 and the support body 3 are assembled, the first magnet 21 faces the long side portion 10a of the coil 10 in the Z1 direction, and the second magnet 22 faces the long side portion 10a of the coil 10 in the Z2 direction.

[0025] The yoke 17 is made of a magnetic material. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the yoke 17 includes a first yoke 23 and a second yoke 24. As shown in FIG. 8, the first yoke 23 includes a first flat plate portion 25 elongated in the Y direction and a pair of first connecting plate portions 26 that protrude outward in the X direction from the center in the Y direction at both Y-direction edges of the first flat plate portion 25 and extend in the Z2 direction. The first magnet 21 is held on the Z2-direction surface of the first flat plate portion 25. The second yoke 24 includes a second flat plate portion 27 facing the first flat plate portion 25 in the Z direction and a pair of second connecting plate portions 28 that protrude outward in the X direction from the center in the Y direction at both Y-direction edges of the second flat plate portion 27 and extend in the Z1 direction. The second magnet 22 is held on the Z1-direction surface of the second flat plate portion 27.

[0026] The yoke 17 is integrally assembled by press-fitting the pair of second connecting plate portions 28 of the second yoke 24 into the pair of first connecting plate portions 26 of the first yoke 23 and then bonding the first connecting plate portions 26 and the second connecting plate portions 28 with an adhesive. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 , when the movable body 5 is assembled so that the yoke 17 surrounds the coil set 13, the first flat plate portion 25 and the first magnet 21 of the yoke 17 overlap the coil 10 from the Z1 direction, and the second flat plate portion 27 and the second magnet 22 overlap the coil 10 from the Z2 direction. Here, the coil set 13 includes the first plate 11 that overlaps the coil 10 from the Z1 direction and the second plate 12 that overlaps the coil 10 from the Z2 direction, preventing the first magnet 21 and the second magnet 22 from contacting the coil 10.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 9 , in the second yoke 24 before assembly, the pair of second connecting plates 28 extend in directions inclined in opposite directions, and the spacing between the pair of second connecting plates 28 increases slightly in the Z1 direction. Note that in FIG. 9 , the inclination angle θ of each second connecting plate 28 relative to the Z direction is exaggerated to make the configuration easier to understand. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , each of the pair of second connecting plates 28 includes a protrusion 29 protruding from the surface facing outward in the X direction. The protrusion 29 extends linearly in the Y direction. Because the spacing between the pair of second connecting plates 28 increases toward the tip end and the protrusion 29 is provided on the surface facing outward in the X direction, the second yoke 24 is reliably press-fitted when inserted between the pair of first connecting plates 26.

[0028] (case) As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the case 2 includes a first case member 31 and a second case member 32 stacked in the Z direction. The first case member 31 is attached to the coil set 13 from the Z1 direction. The second case member 32 is attached to the coil set 13 and the first case member 31 from the Z2 direction.

[0029] 3 and 4, the first case member 31 includes a substantially rectangular first end plate 33 and four first case side plates 34 extending in the Z2 direction from both Y-direction edges of the first end plate 33. Therefore, the first case member 31 is provided with a pair of first case side plates 34 facing each other in the X direction at the Y1-direction end and the Y2-direction end of the first end plate 33. As described below, in this embodiment, the first case member 31 and the coil set 13 are assembled by fitting the first plate 11 inside the two pairs of first case side plates 34 facing each other in the X direction. The positioning structure of the coil set 13 relative to the case 2 will be described later.

[0030] The first case member 31 also has a pair of first case bent plate portions 35 bent in the Z2 direction from both edges in the X direction at the center of the first end plate portion 33 in the Y direction, and a pair of first case bent plate portions 36 bent in the Z2 direction from both edges in the Y1 direction of the first end plate portion 33.

[0031] 3 and 4, the second case member 32 includes a substantially rectangular second end plate 37, a pair of second case side plates 38 extending in the Z1 direction from both Y-direction edges of the second end plate 37, and a pair of second case side plates 39 extending in the Z1 direction from both X-direction edges of the second end plate 37. The second end plate 37 has protruding portions protruding to both sides in the X direction at its center in the Y direction. Therefore, each second case side plate 39 includes a side plate central portion 39a extending in the Z1 direction from the tip of the protruding portion of the second end plate 37, and side plate end portions 39b located on both sides of the side plate central portion 39a in the Y direction, shifted toward the center in the X direction relative to the side plate central portion 39a. Both ends of the side panel central portion 39a in the Y direction are connected to a step portion bent at approximately a right angle toward the center of the second case member 32 in the X direction, and the side panel central portion 39a and the side panel end portion 39b are connected via the step portion.

[0032] The second case member 32 has hooks 58 extending in the Z1 direction from each side plate end portion 39b, and the tips of the four hooks 58 are inserted inside the first case member 31. The tip of each hook 58 is locked to the first plate 11 fitted into the first case member 31. In this way, the first case member 31, the coil set 13, and the second case member 32 are assembled to form the support body 3. The locking structure of the hooks 58 will be described in detail later.

[0033] (Coil assembly) The first plate 11 and the second plate 12 are made of a non-magnetic metal. As shown in Fig. 5, the first plate 11 includes a first plate portion 40 extending in the Y direction. A power supply board 14 is fixed to the Y1-direction end of the first plate portion 40. The power supply board 14 includes a first board portion 141 fixed to the surface of the first plate portion 40, and a second board portion 142 bent at a substantially right angle in the Z1 direction from the Y1-direction end of the first board portion 141 and disposed on the Y1-direction side surface of the case 2.

[0034] The first plate portion 40 has a pair of notched portions 41 formed by cutting inward the center portion in the Y direction at both edges in the X direction. The first plate 11 has a pair of first plate bent plate portions 42 bent in the Z2 direction from the inner peripheral edges in the X direction of the pair of notched portions 41. The first plate 11 also has four first plate side plate portions 43 bent in the Z1 direction from both ends in the X direction of the first plate portion 40 on both sides in the Y direction of each notched portion 41. The first plate 11 also has first plate bent plate portions 44 bent in the Z1 direction from the Y1-direction edge and the Y2-direction edge of the first plate portion 40.

[0035] The second plate 12 includes a second plate portion 45 extending in the Y direction. The second plate portion 45 includes a pair of notches 46 formed by cutting inward a central portion in the Y direction at both X-direction edge portions. The second plate 12 includes a pair of second plate bent plate portions 47 bent in the Z1 direction from the inner peripheral edges in the X direction of the pair of notches 46. The second plate 12 also includes four second plate side plate portions 48 bent in the Z1 direction from both ends in the X direction of the second plate portion 45 on both sides in the Y direction of each notch 46. A joining plate portion 49 is provided from the Z1-direction tip of each second plate side plate portion 48, bending at a substantially right angle and extending outward in the X direction.

[0036] 3 and 4 , the second plate 12 has four joining plate portions 49 that abut against the first plate portion 40 of the first plate 11. The second plate 12 is fixed to the first plate 11 by fixing the abutting points between the joining plate portions 49 and the first plate portion 40 with an adhesive. The coil 10 is held between the first plate portion 40 of the first plate 11 and the second plate portion 45 of the second plate 12.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 5, the first plate 11 has cut-and-raised portions 50 that rise from the first plate portion 40 in the Z2 direction. One cut-and-raised portion 50 is provided in the Y2 direction on each of the first plate bent plate portions 42. Each cut-and-raised portion 50 is inclined with respect to the X and Y directions and contacts the short side portion 10b of the coil 10 from the outer periphery (see Fig. 6). Here, the first plate 11 has a shape that is line-symmetrical with respect to an imaginary center line L (see Fig. 6) that passes through the center of the first plate portion 40 in the X direction, and the two cut-and-raised portions 50 are arranged at two locations symmetrical with respect to the imaginary center line L.

[0038] (Coil assembly method) An arc-shaped notch 143 is provided on the Y2-direction edge of the power supply board 14 connected to the coil 10. When assembling the coil set 13, first, the first board portion 141 of the power supply board 14 is positioned on the Y1-direction end of the first plate portion 40 of the first plate 11 and fixed with an adhesive. Next, the coil 10 is positioned on the first plate 11. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6 , the Y1-direction short side portion 10b of the coil 10 is fitted into the notch 143 of the power supply board 14, and the Y2-direction short side portion 10b of the coil 10 is fitted inside the two cut-and-raised portions 50. In this way, the coil 10 is positioned in the Y direction. Furthermore, the two cut-and-raised portions 50 contact the short side portion 10b from both sides in the X direction, so that the coil 10 is positioned in the center of the first plate 11 in the X direction.

[0039] Next, the coil wire drawn from the coil 10 is connected to the power supply board 14. Then, adhesive is poured into the center hole 10c of the coil 10, and the second plate 12 is placed on top of it from the Z2 side, fixing the coil 10 to the first plate 11 and the second plate 12 with the adhesive. The joining plate portion 49 of the second plate 12 is then brought into contact with the first plate portion 40 of the first plate 11 and fixed with the adhesive, thereby fixing the second plate 12 to the first plate 11. As a result, an adhesive layer 15 made of hardened adhesive is formed in the center hole 10c of the coil 10 (see FIGS. 2 and 7). The long side portions 10a of the coil 10 are covered in the X1 and X2 directions by the first plate bending plate portion 42 and the second plate bending plate portion 47.

[0040] 3 and 4, a pair of first plate side plate portions 43 extending in the Z1 direction is provided at the Y1-direction end of the coil set 13 and at the Y2-direction end of the coil set 13. The coil set 13 is assembled to the first case member 31 by bending the pair of first plate side plate portions 43 inward and inserting them into the inside of the first case side plate portions 34 provided on the first case member 31.

[0041] (Case and coil assembly positioning structure) Fig. 10 is a partially enlarged view of the side of actuator 1, and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of first notched recess 51, second notched recess 52, and protruding plate portion 56. Figs. 12 and 13 are cross-sectional views of actuator 1, with Fig. 12 being a cross-sectional view taken at a position where case 2 and first plate 11 abut in the Z direction (a cross-sectional view taken at position AA in Fig. 10), and Fig. 13 being a cross-sectional view taken at a position where hook 58 of second case member 32 engages with first case member 31 and the first plate (a cross-sectional view taken at position BB in Fig. 10).

[0042] 3 and 4, the first case member 31 has four first cutout recesses 51 formed by cutting out the Z2-direction edge of the first case side plate portion 34 in the Z1 direction. The second case member 32 has four second cutout recesses 52 formed by cutting out the Z1-direction edge of the side plate end portion 39b in the Z2 direction. The second cutout recesses 52 have a shape that is opposite to the first cutout recesses 51 in the Z direction, and face the first cutout recesses 51 in the Z direction.

[0043] 10 and 11, a first curved portion 53 protrudes in the Z2 direction from the center in the Y direction of the Z1-direction edge of the first cutout recess 51. The tip of the first curved portion 53 has an arc shape that protrudes in the Z2 direction. Similarly, a second curved portion 54 protrudes in the Z1 direction from the center in the Y direction of the Z2-direction edge of the second cutout recess 52. The tip of the second curved portion 54 faces the tip of the first curved portion 53 and has an arc shape that protrudes in the Z1 direction.

[0044] 3, 4, and 5, in the first plate 11 constituting the coil set 13, each of the four first plate side plate portions 43 is provided with a rectangular plate opening 55 and a protruding plate portion 56 protruding from the edge of the plate opening 55 in the Z2 direction. The plate opening 55 extends to the edge of the first plate portion 40, and the protruding plate portion 56 is located on the same plane as the first plate portion 40. Therefore, the first plate 11 is provided with a pair of protruding plate portions 56 protruding from the first plate portion 40 on both sides in the X direction. One pair of protruding plate portions 56 is provided at each end of the first plate 11 in the Y direction.

[0045] As described above, when assembling the coil set 13 to the first case member 31 from the Z2 direction, the first plate side plate portion 43 is fitted inside the first case side plate portion 34, and at this time, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the protruding plate portion 56 provided on the X-direction end of the first plate 11 is fitted from the Z2 direction into the first notched recessed portion 51 provided on the Z2-direction edge of the first case side plate portion 34, so that the protruding plate portion 56 abuts against the apex of the first curved portion 53. This positions the coil set 13 relative to the first case member 31 in the Y direction, and also positions the coil set 13 relative to the first case member 31 in the Z direction.

[0046] Next, the second case member 32 is assembled to the first case member 31 from the Z2 direction, with the tip of the first case side plate portion 34 inserted inside the side plate end portion 39b facing in the X direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the tip of the protruding plate portion 56 protruding outward in the X direction from the first notched recess 51 of the first case member 31 is fitted into the second notched recess 52 opening in the Z1 direction, and the protruding plate portion 56 is brought into contact with the apex of the second curved portion 54 (see FIGS. 10 and 12). As a result, the second case member 32 is positioned in the Y direction via the first plate 11, and the second case member 32 is also positioned in the Z direction.

[0047] 3 and 4, the four first case side plates 34 are provided with hemispherical case side protrusions 57 that protrude toward the inside of the first case member 31 (toward the center in the X direction) at positions further in the Z1 direction than the first cutout recesses 51. The case side protrusions 57 are formed, for example, by half-punching. The tip ends of the first plate side plates 43 fitted inside the respective first case side plates 34 elastically contact the apexes of the case side protrusions 57, as shown in the partially enlarged view of FIG.

[0048] As described above, the second case member 32 is provided with hooks 58 at four locations, extending in the Z1 direction, and the tips of the hooks 58 are bent at approximately right angles and extend toward the center in the X direction. As shown in Fig. 4, the first case member 31 is provided with case openings 59 that penetrate the corner where the first case side plate portion 34 and the first end plate portion 33 are connected, and the tips of the four hooks 58 that are bent in the X direction are inserted into the inside of the first case member 31 through the case openings 59.

[0049] 13, two plates, the first case side plate 34 and the first plate side plate 43, are arranged inside each hook 58 so as to overlap in the X direction, and the tip of the hook 58 inserted into the inside of the first case member 31 through the case opening 59 is engaged with the tip of the first case side plate 34 and the tip of the first plate side plate 43. As shown in FIG. 13, the tip of each of the two hooks 58 provided on the side surface of the case 2 in the X2 direction is provided with a locking portion 60 bent in the Z2 direction. The locking portion 60 is engaged with the Z1-direction tip of the first case side plate 34 and the Z1-direction tip of the first plate side plate 43.

[0050] (connector) 2, the first connection body 6 is disposed between the first yoke 23 and the first plate 11. The first connection body 6 is made up of two identically shaped members, and is sandwiched between the Y1-direction end portion of the first yoke 23 and the Y1-direction end portion of the first plate 11, and between the Y2-direction end portion of the first yoke 23 and the Y2-direction end portion of the first plate 11. As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the first connection body 6 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that extends long in the X direction.

[0051] The second connecting body 7 is disposed between the second yoke 24 and the second plate 12. The second connecting body 7 is made up of two members of the same shape and is sandwiched between the Y1-direction end portion of the second yoke 24 and the Y1-direction end portion of the second plate 12, and between the Y2-direction end portion of the second yoke 24 and the Y2-direction end portion of the second plate 12. In this embodiment, the second connecting body 7 has the same shape as the first connecting body 6. The first connecting body 6 and the second connecting body 7 are compressed in the Z direction between the support body 3 and the movable body 5.

[0052] The first connecting body 6 and the second connecting body 7 are gel-like members made of silicone gel. Silicone gel is a viscoelastic material whose spring constant when deforming in the expansion / contraction direction is about three times the spring constant when deforming in the shear direction. When a viscoelastic material deforms in a direction intersecting the thickness direction (shear direction), it is deformed in the direction of extension due to tension, and therefore has deformation characteristics in which the linear component is greater than the nonlinear component. Furthermore, when compressed and deformed in the thickness direction, it has expansion / contraction characteristics in which the nonlinear component is greater than the linear component, while when stretched and stretched in the thickness direction, it has expansion / contraction characteristics in which the linear component is greater than the nonlinear component.

[0053] Alternatively, various rubber materials such as natural rubber, diene rubber (e.g., styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, etc.), non-diene rubber (e.g., butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, fluororubber, etc.), thermoplastic elastomer, and modified materials thereof may be used for the first connector 6 and the second connector 7.

[0054] (Actuator operation) When a current in a predetermined direction is supplied to coil 10 via power supply board 14, movable body 5 supported by support 3 moves relative to support 3 in one direction in the X direction due to the driving force of magnetic drive circuit 8. When the direction of the current is then reversed, movable body 5 moves relative to support 3 in the other direction in the X direction. The repeated reversal of the direction of the current supplied to coil 10 causes movable body 5 to vibrate.

[0055] (Main effects of this embodiment) As described above, the actuator 1 of this embodiment includes the movable body 5, the support body 3 including the case 2 that houses the movable body 5, connectors (first connector 6 and second connector 7) connected to the movable body 5 and the support body 3, and a magnetic drive circuit 8 that includes the coil 10 and the magnet 16 facing the coil 10 in the Z direction (first direction) and vibrates the movable body 5 in the X direction (second direction) that intersects with the Z direction (first direction) relative to the support body 3. The movable body 5 includes a first yoke 23 including a first plate portion 25 that overlaps the coil 10 from the Z1 direction (one side of the first direction), and a second yoke 24 including a second plate portion 27 that overlaps the coil 10 from the Z2 direction (the other side of the first direction). The magnet 16 includes a first magnet 21 fixed to the first plate portion 25 and a second magnet 22 fixed to the second plate portion 27. Alternatively, a magnet may be fixed to one of the first flat plate portion 25 and the second flat plate portion 27. The first yoke 23 includes a pair of first connecting plate portions 26 extending in the Z2 direction (the other side of the first direction) from both ends of the first flat plate portion 25. The second yoke 24 includes a pair of second connecting plate portions 28 extending in the Z1 direction (one side of the first direction) from both ends of the second flat plate portion 27. The pair of second connecting plate portions 28 are press-fitted into the inside of the pair of first connecting plate portions 26.

[0056] In this embodiment, the first yoke 23 and the second yoke 24 each have a side plate portion (first connecting plate portion 26, second connecting plate portion 28), and are assembled so that the side plate portions overlap. Therefore, the assembled yoke has twice the thickness of the side plate portions, which allows the weight of the movable body 5 to be increased without using a separate weight. Increasing the weight of the movable body 5 allows for increased acceleration when the movable body 5 vibrates. Furthermore, the weight of the movable body 5 can be increased without increasing the height of the movable body 5 in the Z direction (first direction). Therefore, it is possible to avoid increasing the height of the actuator in the Z direction (first direction). Furthermore, because the two yokes are fixed by press-fitting, it is possible to avoid gaps between the parts due to part tolerances. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress the generation of chatter noise during vibration.

[0057] In this embodiment, the second connecting plate 28, which is press-fitted inside the first connecting plate 26, has a protrusion 29 on the surface that comes into contact with the first connecting plate 26. Therefore, even if gaps occur between the components due to component tolerances, the second yoke 24 can be reliably press-fitted into the first yoke 23.

[0058] In this embodiment, the pair of second connecting plate portions 28, which are press-fitted inside the pair of first connecting plate portions 26, are shaped so that the distance between them increases toward the tip end. By using such a component shape, the second yoke 24 can be reliably press-fitted into the first yoke 23.

[0059] In this embodiment, the first yoke 23 and the second yoke 24 are fixed with an adhesive, which increases the fixing strength between the first yoke 23 and the second yoke 24. Furthermore, since the first yoke 23 and the second yoke 24 can be fixed without welding, it is possible to prevent or suppress iron chips that are generated during welding from getting into the gap between the magnet 16 and the yoke.

[0060] In this embodiment, the support 3 includes a first metal plate 11 that overlaps the coil 10 from the Z1 direction (one side in the first direction) and a second metal plate 12 that overlaps the coil 10 from the Z2 direction (the other side in the first direction). The coil 10 is fixed to the case 2 via the first plate 11. The connectors connecting the movable body 5 and the support 3 include a first connector 6 disposed between the first plate 11 and the first flat plate portion 25 and a second connector 7 disposed between the second plate 12 and the second flat plate portion 27. That is, the actuator 1 includes 10 coil sets each consisting of the first plate 11, the second plate 12, and the coil 10 assembled together, and the 10 coil sets and the yoke are connected by connectors (the first connector 6 and the second connector 7) inside the yoke. With this configuration, there is no need to secure space for connectors in the gap between the case 2 and the yoke 17. Therefore, the actuator 1 has a large area in the Z direction (first direction) Furthermore, since the weight of the yoke 17 is increased without changing the dimension of the yoke 17 in the Z direction, this is advantageous for reducing the size of the actuator 1 in the Z direction.

[0061] Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which a pair of first connecting plate portions 26 provided on the first yoke 23 are press-fitted inside a pair of second connecting plate portions 28 provided on the second yoke 24. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1...actuator, 2...case, 3...support, 5...movable body, 6...first connecting body, 7...second connecting body, 8...magnetic drive circuit, 10...coil, 10a...long side portion, 10b...short side portion, 10c...center hole, 11...first plate, 12...second plate, 13...coil set, 14...power supply board, 15...adhesive layer, 16...magnet, 17...yoke, 21...first magnet, 22...second magnet, 23...first yoke, 24...second yoke, 25...first flat plate portion, 26...first connecting plate portion, 27...second flat plate portion, 28...second connecting plate portion, 29...projection portion, 31...first case member, 32...second case member, 33...first end plate portion, 34...first case side plate portion, 35, 36...first case bent plate portion, 37...second end plate portion, 38...second case case side plate portion, 39...second case side plate portion, 39a...side plate center portion, 39b...side plate end portion, 40...first plate portion, 41...cutout portion, 42...first plate bent plate portion, 43...first plate side plate portion, 44...first plate bent plate portion, 45...second plate portion, 46...cutout portion, 47...second plate bent plate portion, 48...second plate side plate portion, 49...joint plate portion, 50...cut-out portion, 51...first notched recess, 52...second notched recess, 53...first curved portion, 54...second curved portion, 55...plate opening, 56...protruding plate portion, 57...case side convex portion, 58...hook, 59...case opening, 60...locking portion, 141...first board portion, 142...second board portion, 143...cutout portion, L...virtual center line, θ...inclination angle

Claims

1. A movable body and a support body having a case for accommodating the movable body; a connecting body connected to the movable body and the support body; a magnetic drive circuit including a coil and a magnet facing the coil in a first direction, and configured to vibrate the movable body relative to the support in a second direction intersecting the first direction; the movable body includes a first yoke having a first plate portion overlapping the coil from one side in the first direction, and a second yoke having a second plate portion overlapping the coil from the other side in the first direction, the magnet is fixed to at least one of the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion, the first yoke includes a pair of first connecting plate portions extending from both ends of the first flat plate portion toward the other side in the first direction, the second yoke includes a pair of second connecting plate portions extending from both ends of the second flat plate portion toward one side in the first direction, one of the pair of first connecting plate portions and the pair of second connecting plate portions is entirely press-fitted into the other of the pair of first connecting plate portions and the pair of second connecting plate portions; When a portion of the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion where the other of the pair of first connecting plate portions and the other of the pair of second connecting plate portions is connected to both ends is defined as the other-side flat plate portion, An actuator, wherein a tip of one of the pair of first connecting plate portions and the pair of second connecting plate portions extends to a position where it abuts against the flat plate portion on the other side.

2. The actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the first connecting plate portion and the second connecting plate portion has a convex portion provided on a surface that contacts the other of the first connecting plate portion and the second connecting plate portion.

3. 3. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the pair of first connecting plate portions and one of the pair of second connecting plate portions increases toward the tip end.

4. 4. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the first yoke and the second yoke are fixed together by an adhesive.

5. the support body includes a first metal plate overlapping the coil from one side in the first direction, and a second metal plate overlapping the coil from the other side in the first direction, the coil is fixed to the case via one of the first plate and the second plate; 5. An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the connecting body comprises a first connecting body arranged between the first plate and the first flat plate portion, and a second connecting body arranged between the second plate and the second flat plate portion.

Images