vibrating body

Abstract

This vibrating body comprises a housing, a movable body, and a support means for supporting the movable body with respect to the housing in a vibrating manner along a right-left direction, wherein: the movable body has a core and a coil wound around the core, is fixed inside the housing on the extended line in the forward-rearward direction of the core, and has a permanent magnet, one pole and the other pole of which face the core and are installed side by side along the right-left direction; and the inertial force of the movable body in an opposite direction is alternately transmitted to the housing. The support means is a guide means for restricting the movement of the movable body in the forward-rearward direction and an up-down direction and not preventing the movement in the right-left direction. The movable body moves to the left when current in one direction flows through the coil and then is restricted in movement to the left due to the attraction between one end of the core and the one pole of the permanent magnet. The movable body moves to the right when current in the other direction flows through the coil and then is restricted in movement to the right due to the attraction between the one end of the core and the other pole of the permanent magnet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vibrating body.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in electronic devices such as information display devices mounted on vehicles such as mobile information terminals (for example, smartphones, mobile phones, tablet terminals, etc.), game machines, and automobiles, various incoming calls (for example, call incoming, mail incoming, SNS incoming) notifications and vibrations capable of generating vibrations for tactilely giving feedback to user operations to the user have been used.

[0003] As such a vibration generating device, for example, inside a housing, a vibrating body supported by an elastic support portion and a permanent magnet are provided, and an alternating magnetic field is generated around an electromagnet by supplying an alternating current to the electromagnet provided in the vibrating body, and between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet, by alternately generating attractive and repulsive forces, those capable of vibrating the vibrating body along the vertical direction and the horizontal direction (the direction orthogonal to the direction along the magnetic core) are known (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, since the conventional vibration generating device supports the vibrating body using an elastic member, it has been difficult to flatten the frequency characteristics of the vibration generating device (that is, to widen the bandwidth of the resonance frequency that becomes the peak) due to the elastic action of the elastic member.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A vibrating body according to one embodiment comprises a housing, a movable body housed inside the housing, and support means for supporting the movable body so that it can vibrate along the left-right direction relative to the housing. The movable body has a core extending in the front-rear direction and a coil wound around the core with the front-rear direction as its center. A permanent magnet is fixed inside the housing on the extension of the core in the front-rear direction, with one pole and the other pole facing the core arranged side by side along the left-right direction. The vibrating body is such that the inertial forces of the movable body in opposite directions are alternately transmitted to the housing. The support means is a guide means that restricts the movement of the movable body in the front-rear and up-down directions but does not hinder its movement in the left-right direction. When a current flows through the coil in one direction, the movable body moves to the left, and thereafter its movement to the left is restricted by the attractive force between one end of the core and one pole of the permanent magnet. When a current flows through the coil in the other direction, the movable body moves to the right, and thereafter its movement to the right is restricted by the attractive force between one end of the core and the other pole of the permanent magnet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one embodiment of the vibrating body, the frequency characteristics of the vibrating body can be flattened. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] External perspective view of a vibrating body according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Decomposed perspective view of a vibrating body according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] External perspective view showing the internal configuration of a vibrator according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] Plan view showing the internal structure of a vibrating body according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] Side view showing the internal configuration of a vibrating body according to one embodiment. [Figure 6A] A diagram illustrating the operation of a movable body in a vibrating body according to one embodiment. [Figure 6B] A diagram illustrating the operation of a movable body in a vibrating body according to one embodiment. [Figure 7A] A diagram illustrating the operation of a movable body in a vibrating body according to one embodiment. [Figure 7B] A diagram illustrating the operation of a movable body in a vibrating body according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] Cross-sectional view showing the core support structure in a vibrating body according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (Configuration of the vibrating body 10) Figure 1 is an external perspective view of the vibrating body 10 according to one embodiment. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the vibrating body 10 according to one embodiment. Figure 3 is an external perspective view showing the internal configuration of the vibrating body 10 according to one embodiment. Figure 4 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of the vibrating body 10 according to one embodiment. Figure 5 is a side view showing the internal configuration of the vibrating body 10 according to one embodiment.

[0011] For convenience, in the following explanation, the Z-axis direction in the diagram will be considered the vertical direction, the X-axis direction the horizontal direction, and the Y-axis direction the horizontal direction. However, the positive Z-axis direction will be considered upward, the positive X-axis direction forward, and the positive Y-axis direction rightward.

[0012] The vibrating body 10 shown in Figures 1 to 5 is a device that is mounted on electronic devices such as portable information terminals (e.g., smartphones, mobile phones, tablet devices, etc.), game consoles, and information display devices mounted on vehicles such as automobiles. This vibrating body 10 is used, for example, to generate vibrations to notify users of various incoming calls (e.g., incoming calls, incoming emails, incoming SNS messages), or to provide tactile feedback to users regarding their operations.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the vibrating body 10 comprises a housing 110, a movable body 130, a support means 140, a permanent magnet 151, a permanent magnet 152, an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits) 160, a yoke 171, and a yoke 172.

[0014] The housing 110 is a container-shaped member having a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction in the figure). The housing 110 houses a movable body 130 and a support means 140 therein. For example, the housing 110 is formed using a metal material.

[0015] The housing 110 has an upper opening 110A formed in a rectangular shape in plan view on the upper surface, and a lower opening 110B formed in a rectangular shape in plan view on the lower surface. The upper opening 110A is closed by a rectangular and flat lid 111. The lower opening 110B is closed by a rectangular and flat lid 112.

[0016] Also, the housing 110 has a front holding portion 110C formed in a rectangular shape in plan view for holding a permanent magnet 151 and a yoke 171 on the front surface, and a rear holding portion 110D formed in a rectangular shape in plan view for holding a permanent magnet 152 and a yoke 172 on the rear surface.

[0017] The movable body 130 is housed inside the housing 110 and vibrates along the left-right direction (Y-axis direction in the figure). The movable body 130 has a core 131 extending in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction in the figure) and a coil 132 wound around the core 131 with the front-rear direction (X-axis direction in the figure) as the center. For example, the core 131 is formed using a ferromagnetic material such as iron. Also, for example, the coil 132 is formed using a copper wire or the like. The coil 132 is connected to the FPC 160 by soldering or the like.

[0018] When a current is supplied to the coil 132 from an external circuit via the FPC 160, the movable body 130 generates an alternating magnetic field around the movable body 130. As a result, the movable body 130 vibrates along the left-right direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) inside the housing 110 while one end of the core 131 and the other end of the core 131 are magnetized to different magnetic poles, and each of the one end of the core 131 and the other end of the core 131 is alternately magnetized to the N pole and the S pole.

[0019] The support means 140 is housed inside the housing 110 and supports the movable body 130 so that it can vibrate along the left-right direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) relative to the housing 110. The support means 140 includes a front bearing member 141, a front shaft member 142, a rear bearing member 143, and a rear shaft member 144.

[0020] The front shaft member 142 is a round rod-shaped member that is fixed to the front position of the movable body 130 and extends in the left-right direction.

[0021] The front bearing member 141 is a block-shaped, annular member attached to the front end of the core 131. The front bearing member 141 has a rectangular mounting through-hole 141A in plan view that penetrates the front bearing member 141 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction in the figure). The front bearing member 141 supports the front end of the core 131 by fitting the front end of the core 131 into the mounting through-hole 141A. The front bearing member 141 also has a guide through-hole 141B formed along the left-right direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) through which the front shaft member 142 is inserted.

[0022] The front bearing member 141 is made movable in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) by the front shaft member 142, which is inserted through the guide through hole 141B, while movement in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction in the figure) and the front-back direction (X-axis direction in the figure) is restricted.

[0023] Furthermore, the front bearing member 141, with its left and right sides acting as stoppers, contacts the inner wall surface of the housing 110, thereby restricting the amount of vibrational movement of the movable body 130 in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) to a predetermined maximum amount of movement.

[0024] The rear shaft member 144 is a round rod-shaped member that is fixed to the rear position of the movable body 130 and extends in the left-right direction.

[0025] The rear bearing member 143 is a block-shaped, annular member attached to the rear end of the core 131. The rear bearing member 143 has a rectangular mounting through-hole 143A in plan view that penetrates the rear bearing member 143 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction in the figure). The front bearing member 141 supports the rear end of the core 131 by fitting the rear end of the core 131 into the mounting through-hole 143A. The rear bearing member 143 also has a guide through-hole 143B formed along the left-right direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) through which the rear shaft member 144 is inserted.

[0026] The rear bearing member 143 is made movable in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) by the rear shaft member 144 inserted through the guide through hole 143B, while movement in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction in the figure) and the front-back direction (X-axis direction in the figure) is restricted.

[0027] Furthermore, the rear bearing member 143, with its left and right sides acting as stoppers, contacts the inner wall surface of the housing 110, thereby restricting the amount of vibrational movement of the movable body 130 in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) to a predetermined maximum amount of movement.

[0028] Therefore, the movable body 130, supported by the front bearing member 141 and the rear bearing member 143, can move along the left-right direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) together with the front bearing member 141 and the rear bearing member 143, while its movement along the up-down direction (Z-axis direction in the figure) and the front-back direction (X-axis direction in the figure) is restricted.

[0029] In other words, the support means 140 is a "guiding means" that restricts the movement of the movable body 130 in the front-rear and up-down directions, but does not hinder its movement in the left-right direction.

[0030] As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5, in the front bearing member 141, the guide through-hole 141B is located below the mounting through-hole 141A (negative Z-axis side in the figures). On the other hand, in the rear bearing member 143, the guide through-hole 143B is located above the mounting through-hole 143A (positive Z-axis side in the figures).

[0031] As a result, in one embodiment, the vibrating body 10 can support the front end and rear end of the core 131 in a balanced manner with the front bearing member 141 and the rear bearing member 143, and therefore can guide the vibration of the movable body 130 in the left-right direction in a balanced manner.

[0032] The permanent magnet 151 is fitted into the front holding portion 110C of the housing 110 together with the yoke 171, and is held by the front holding portion 110C in a position facing the front end of the core 131. The permanent magnet 151 has a horizontally elongated rectangular shape when viewed from the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction in the figure). Of the region of the permanent magnet 151 facing the front end of the core 131, the left half is magnetized as the south pole and the right half is magnetized as the north pole.

[0033] The permanent magnet 152 is fitted into the rear holding portion 110D of the housing 110 together with the yoke 172, and is held by the rear holding portion 110D in a position facing the rear end of the core 131. The permanent magnet 152 has a horizontally elongated rectangular shape when viewed from the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction in the figure). Of the region of the permanent magnet 152 facing the rear end of the core 131, the left half is magnetized as the north pole and the right half is magnetized as the south pole.

[0034] The FPC160 is a component that connects the coil 132 of the movable body 130 to an external circuit (not shown) in order to supply alternating current to the coil 132. The FPC160 is a film-like component having a structure in which wiring made of a metal film is sandwiched between resin materials such as polyimide. Because the FPC160 is flexible, it can be bent. As shown in Figure 1, a part of the FPC160 is provided exposed from the upper surface of the housing 110, and two electrode terminals 161A and 161B made of a metal film and connected to the external circuit are formed on this exposed portion.

[0035] In the vibrating body 10 configured as described above, an alternating magnetic field is generated around the coil 132 when an alternating current is supplied to the coil 132 from an external circuit via the FPC 160. As a result, the movable body 130 vibrates along the left-right direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) due to the attractive and repulsive forces generated between it and the permanent magnets 151 and 152. The vibration of the movable body 130 along the left-right direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) alternately transmits the inertial force of the movable body 130 in the opposite direction to the housing 110.

[0036] In this case, in the vibrating body 10 according to one embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which the movable body 130 is supported by the support means 140. As a result, the movable body 130 is guided to move in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) by the support means 140, while its movement in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction in the figure) and the front-back direction (X-axis direction in the figure) is restricted.

[0037] As a result, according to the vibrating body 10 of one embodiment, the frequency characteristics of the vibrating body can be flattened (i.e., the bandwidth of the peak resonant frequency can be expanded).

[0038] In particular, in the vibrating body 10 according to one embodiment, the support means 140 supports the movable body 130 so that it can vibrate along the left-right direction relative to the housing 110 without using an elastic member.

[0039] As a result, according to the vibrating body 10 of one embodiment, the frequency characteristics of the vibrating body can be flattened (i.e., the bandwidth of the peak resonant frequency can be expanded) compared to the conventional technology that uses an elastic member to support a movable body.

[0040] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the vibrating body 10, the support means 140 (guide means) includes a front bearing member 141, a front shaft member 142, a rear bearing member 143, and a rear shaft member 144, which makes it possible to suppress the forward-backward and left-right movement of the movable body 130 when the movable body 130 vibrates.

[0041] (Movement of movable body 130) Figures 6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating the operation of the movable body 130 of the vibrating body 10 according to one embodiment.

[0042] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the permanent magnet 151 has the left half of the region facing the front end of the core 131 magnetized as the south pole and the right half magnetized as the north pole. Similarly, the permanent magnet 152 has the left half of the region facing the rear end of the core 131 magnetized as the north pole and the right half magnetized as the south pole.

[0043] In the vibrating body 10 of this embodiment, when no alternating current flows through the coil 132 constituting the movable body 130, the core 131 maintains an intermediate position in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction in the figures) due to the magnetic attraction force of the permanent magnets 151 and 152, as shown in Figures 6A and 7A.

[0044] Furthermore, in the vibrating body 10 of this embodiment, an alternating magnetic field is generated around the movable body 130 by passing an alternating current through the coil 132 that constitutes the movable body 130, thereby magnetizing both ends of the core 131 so that the ends of the core 131 have opposite polarities.

[0045] For example, as shown in Figure 6A, when a current flows through the coil 132 in one direction, the front end of the core 131 is magnetized to the north pole, and the rear end of the core 131 is magnetized to the south pole.

[0046] In this case, the front end of the core 131 experiences an attractive force, being drawn to the left half of the permanent magnet 151 (the south pole), and a repulsive force, being repelled by the right half of the permanent magnet 151 (the north pole).

[0047] At the same time, an attractive force is generated at the rear end of the core 131, which is attracted to the left half of the permanent magnet 152 (the N pole), and a repulsive force is generated, which is repelled by the right half of the permanent magnet 152 (the S pole).

[0048] As a result, as shown in Figure 6B, the movable body 130 moves to the left (negative Y-axis direction in the figure), and then its movement to the left (negative Y-axis direction in the figure) is restricted by the attractive force between the front end of the core 131 and the left half of the S pole of the permanent magnet 151, and the attractive force between the rear end of the core 131 and the left half of the N pole of the permanent magnet 152.

[0049] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7A, for example, when a current in the other direction flows through the coil 132, the front end of the core 131 is magnetized to the south pole, and the rear end of the core 131 is magnetized to the north pole.

[0050] In this case, the front end of the core 131 experiences an attractive force, being drawn to the right half of the permanent magnet 151's north pole, and a repulsive force, being repelled by the left half of the permanent magnet 151's south pole.

[0051] At the same time, an attractive force is generated at the rear end of the core 131, which is attracted to the right half of the permanent magnet 152 (the south pole), and a repulsive force is generated, which is repelled by the left half of the permanent magnet 152 (the north pole).

[0052] As a result, as shown in Figure 7B, the movable body 130 moves to the right (positive Y-axis direction in the figure), and then its movement to the right (positive Y-axis direction in the figure) is restricted by the attractive force between the front end of the core 131 and the right half of the N pole of the permanent magnet 151, and the attractive force between the rear end of the core 131 and the right half of the S pole of the permanent magnet 152.

[0053] (Support configuration of Core 131) Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the support configuration of the core 131 in a vibrating body 10 according to one embodiment. Figure 8 shows cross-sections of the core 131, the front bearing member 141, and the rear bearing member 143 parallel to the XY plane.

[0054] As shown in Figure 8, front side chamfers 131A are formed at the front end (both left and right corners) of the core 131. On the other hand, a front contact portion 141C is formed in the mounting through hole 141A of the front bearing member 141, protruding inward and contacting the front side chamfers 131A of the core 131.

[0055] Then, as shown in Figure 8, when the front end of the core 131 is inserted into the mounting through hole 141A of the front bearing member 141, the front side trim portion 131A of the core 131 comes into contact with the front contact portion 141C of the front bearing member 141.

[0056] As a result, in one embodiment of the vibrating body 10, the mounting position of the front bearing member 141 relative to the core 131 is restricted. In other words, in one embodiment of the vibrating body 10, the accuracy of the mounting position of the core 131 relative to the front bearing member 141 can be improved, and thus disturbances in the alternating magnetic field generated around the movable body 130 can be suppressed.

[0057] Similarly, rear side chamfers 131B are formed at the rear end (both left and right corners) of the core 131. On the other hand, a rear contact portion 143C is formed in the mounting through hole 143A of the rear bearing member 143, protruding inward and contacting the rear side chamfers 131B of the core 131.

[0058] Then, when the rear end of the core 131 is inserted into the mounting through hole 143A of the rear bearing member 143, the rear side trim portion 131B of the core 131 comes into contact with the rear contact portion 143C of the rear bearing member 143.

[0059] As a result, in one embodiment of the vibrating body 10, the mounting position of the rear bearing member 143 relative to the core 131 is restricted. In other words, in one embodiment of the vibrating body 10, the accuracy of the mounting position of the core 131 relative to the rear bearing member 143 can be improved, and thus disturbances in the alternating magnetic field generated around the movable body 130 can be suppressed.

[0060] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications or changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention as described in the claims.

[0061] This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-196421, filed on 8 December 2022, and the entire contents of said application are incorporated herein by reference. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 10 Vibrating body 110 Housing 110A top opening 110B Bottom opening 110C Front holding part 110D Rear holding part 111,112 lid 130 Movable body 131 cores 131A Front side take-up section 131B Rear side chamfer 132 coils 140 Support means (guiding means) 141 Front bearing member 141A Mounting through hole 141B Guide through hole 141C Front contact part 142 Front shaft member 143 Rear bearing member 143A Mounting through hole 143B Guide through hole 143C Rear contact part 144 Rear shaft member 151,152 Permanent Magnets 160 FPC 171,172 York

Claims

1. Housing and A movable body housed inside the aforementioned housing, Support means for supporting the movable body so that it can vibrate along the left-right direction relative to the housing, Equipped with, The movable body has a core extending in the front-rear direction and a coil wound around the core with respect to the front-rear direction. The housing has a permanent magnet fixed inside the housing on the extension line of the core in the front-rear direction, with one pole facing the core and the other pole arranged side by side along the left-right direction, A vibrating body in which inertial forces in the opposite direction to the movable body are alternately transmitted to the housing, The support means is a guide means that restricts the movement of the movable body in the front-rear and up-down directions, but does not hinder its movement in the left-right direction. The movable body moves to the left when a current flows through the coil in one direction, and its movement to the left is then restricted by the attractive force between one end of the core and one pole of the permanent magnet. When a current flows through the coil in the other direction, it moves to the right, and its movement to the right is then restricted by the attractive force between one end of the core and the other pole of the permanent magnet. A vibrating body characterized by the following features.

2. The aforementioned guiding means is A front shaft member fixed to the front position of the movable body and extending in the left-right direction, A front bearing member is attached to the front end of the core and has a guide through-hole formed along the left-right direction through which the front shaft member is inserted, A rear shaft member fixed to the rear position of the movable body and extending in the left-right direction, A rear bearing member is attached to the rear end of the core and has a guide through-hole formed along the left-right direction through which the rear shaft member is inserted. The vibrating body according to claim 1, characterized by having the following features.

3. The aforementioned front bearing member is It consists of an annular member having a mounting through-hole that penetrates along the front-to-back direction and into which the front end of the core is inserted, and the guide through-hole through which the front shaft member is inserted is located below the mounting through-hole, The aforementioned rear bearing member is, It consists of an annular member having a mounting through-hole that penetrates along the front-to-back direction and into which the rear end of the core is inserted, and the guide through-hole through which the rear shaft member is inserted is located above the mounting through-hole. The vibrating body according to feature 2.

4. A front side chamfer is formed on the front end of the core, and a front contact portion is formed on the front bearing member that abuts against the front side chamfer. The mounting position of the front bearing member relative to the core is restricted by the contact of the front contact portion with the front side chamfer. The vibrating body according to claim 2, characterized in that it is as described above.

5. The support means supports the movable body so that it can vibrate along the left-right direction relative to the housing without using an elastic member. The vibrating body according to claim 2, characterized in that it is as described above.

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