Actuator

Abstract

To position a coil precisely without using a resin component in an actuator including a magnetic driving circuit.SOLUTION: An actuator 1 includes: a movable body 5; a support 3 including a case 2 which houses the movable body 5 and a coil set 13; 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 which vibrates the movable body 5 in an X direction relative to the support 3. The coil set 13 includes: a first plate 11 overlapping with a coil 10 from a Z1 direction; and a second plate 12 overlapping with the coil 10 from a Z2 direction. The first plate 11 includes cut and raised parts 50 which contact with a short side part 10b of the coil 10 from the outer periphery side. The coil 10 is positioned by the cut and raised parts 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an actuator including a movable body provided with a magnet and a support provided with a coil. By flowing a drive current through the coil, the movable body is vibrated with respect to the support. In this type of actuator, an elastic body or a viscoelastic body is used as a connecting body that connects the support 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 via the connecting body. As a result, a user who touches the support can feel the vibration.

[0003] In the actuator of Patent Document 1, the support includes a resin-made coil holder. The coil is an air-core coil and is disposed in a coil arrangement hole provided in the plate portion of the coil holder. The coil faces a magnet fixed to a first yoke facing from one side to the plate portion and a magnet fixed to a second yoke facing from the other side to the plate portion. A metal plate that overlaps the coil arrangement hole and the coil is fixed to the coil holder. This plate prevents the coil and the magnet from contacting each other when the movable body vibrates.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In Patent Document 1, since the coil holder is made of resin, a coil placement hole shaped to fit the coil can be provided, and the coil is positioned by fitting it into the coil placement hole. However, resin parts need to have sufficient thickness in each part to ensure strength. Therefore, if the outer dimensions of the actuator cannot be increased, there is a limit to how much the coil can be increased. If the coil cannot be made larger, the acceleration of the movable body cannot be increased, and large vibrations cannot be generated.

[0006] Furthermore, a structure like the one in Patent Document 1, in which a coil is fixed to a resin part and plates are then fixed from both sides, has a large number of parts and requires a lot of assembly work.

[0007] Therefore, instead of using a resin coil holder, it has been proposed to directly fix the coil to a metal plate that was conventionally fixed to a resin coil holder. However, eliminating the resin coil holder eliminates the coil positioning structure, so a structure is needed to position the coil via the plate.

[0008] In view of the above problems, the object of the present invention is to reduce the number of resin coil holders and to position the coils with high precision. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above problems, the actuator of the present invention comprises a movable body, a support body having a case for housing the movable body, a connecting body connected to the movable body and the support body, and a magnetic drive circuit comprising a coil and a magnet facing the coil in a first direction, which vibrates the movable body in a second direction intersecting the first direction with respect to the support body, wherein the support body comprises a first metal plate overlapping the coil from one side in the first direction, and the coil The coil is fixed to the case via the first plate, and the coil is an air-core coil having a pair of long sides aligned in the second direction and a pair of short sides connecting the pair of long sides, and the first plate is characterized by having a positioning portion that contacts the coil from the outer circumference and positions the coil in a direction intersecting the first direction.

[0010] According to the present invention, the coil is fixed to the case via a metal plate. The plate is provided with a positioning section for positioning the coil, thus reducing the number of resin parts and allowing the coil to be precisely positioned using only the plate. Since the metal plate does not require the same thickness as resin parts to ensure strength, the coil can be made larger. Consequently, the acceleration of the movable body can be increased, and larger vibrations can be generated. Furthermore, the reduction in resin parts reduces the number of parts and the assembly time.

[0011] In the present invention, it is preferable that the positioning portion contacts at least one of the pair of short sides from the outer circumference. Since the long sides of an oval coil tend to bulge outwards, the shape accuracy is higher in the short sides than in the long sides. Therefore, by bringing the short sides into contact with the positioning portion, the positional accuracy of the coil can be improved.

[0012] In the present invention, it is preferable that the short side portion is arc-shaped, and the positioning portion is arranged at two locations symmetrically in the second direction with respect to the center of the short side portion in the second direction. In this way, by not placing the positioning portion at the vertex of the short side portion, and instead placing the positioning portion at two locations diagonally opposite each other in the coil direction, it is possible to leave space on both sides of the longitudinal direction of the oval coil. Accordingly, a connecting body that connects the movable body and the support can be placed in this space.

[0013] In the present invention, the support comprises a power supply substrate fixed to the first plate, the power supply substrate comprises a notch into which one of the pair of short sides fits, and the positioning portion preferably contacts the other of the pair of short sides from the outer circumference. By using the power supply substrate for positioning in this way, the number of positioning portions can be reduced. Therefore, the shape of the first plate can be simplified.

[0014] In the present invention, the positioning portion is preferably a cut-out portion that rises up on the other side in the first direction. This makes it easy to form the positioning portion. Therefore, the component cost of the first plate can be reduced.

[0015] In the present invention, it is preferable that the support comprises a second metal plate that overlaps the coil from the other side in the first direction, and an adhesive layer that fills at least the central hole of the coil and fixes the coil to the first plate and the second plate. In this way, the adhesive is injected at a position different from the position where the positioning portion is located (on the outer circumference of the coil). Therefore, leakage of the adhesive from between the first plate and the second plate can be prevented or suppressed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, the coil is fixed to the case via a metal plate. The plate is provided with a positioning section for positioning the coil, thus reducing the number of resin parts and allowing the coil to be precisely positioned using only the plate. Since the metal plate does not require the same thickness as resin parts to ensure strength, the coil can be made larger. Consequently, the acceleration of the movable body can be increased, and larger vibrations can be generated. Furthermore, the reduction in resin parts reduces the number of parts and the assembly time. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an actuator to which the present invention is applied, viewed from the Z2 and Z1 directions. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional view when the actuator is cut in the longitudinal direction. [Figure 3] It is an exploded perspective view of the actuator seen from the Z2 direction. [Figure 4] It is an exploded perspective view of the actuator seen from the Z1 direction. [Figure 5] It is an exploded perspective view of the coil set. [Figure 6] It is a plan view of the first plate and the coil. [Figure 7] It is a cross-sectional view when the actuator is cut in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction. [Figure 8] It is an exploded perspective view of the yoke. [Figure 9] It is a cross-sectional view of the yoke and the magnet. [Figure 10] It is a partially enlarged view of the side surface of the actuator. [Figure 11] It is a perspective view of the first notch recess, the second notch recess, and the protruding plate portion. [Figure 12] It is a cross-sectional view of the actuator cut at the position where the case and the first plate abut in the Z direction (the cross-sectional view cut at the A-A position in FIG. 10). [Figure 13] It is a cross-sectional view of the actuator cut at the position where the hook of the second case member is locked to the first case member and the first plate (the cross-sectional view cut at the B-B position in FIG. 10).

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of an actuator to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] (Overall Configuration) Figure 1(a) is a perspective view of the actuator 1 to which the present invention is applied, viewed from the Z2 direction. Figure 1(b) is a perspective view of the actuator 1 to which the present invention is applied, viewed from the Z1 direction. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator 1 when it is cut in the longitudinal direction. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the actuator 1 viewed from the Z2 direction. Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the actuator 1 viewed from the Z1 direction. Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the coil assembly 13. Figure 6 is a plan view of the first plate 11 and coil 10. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator 1 when it is cut in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction. Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the yoke 17. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the yoke 17 and magnet 16.

[0020] Actuator 1 is used as a haptic device that transmits information through vibration. As shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), the external shape of Actuator 1 is a rectangular parallelepiped. Actuator 1 generates vibration in the short direction of its external shape. In the following description, the short direction in which vibration occurs will be referred to as the X direction (second direction), and the long direction of Actuator 1 that is perpendicular to the X direction will be referred to as the Y direction (third direction). In the following description, the thickness direction (height direction) of Actuator 1 that is perpendicular to both the X and Y directions will be referred to as the Z direction (first direction). The X, Y, and Z directions are orthogonal to each other. Furthermore, one direction in the X direction will be referred to as the X1 direction and the other as the X2 direction. One direction in the Y direction will be referred to as the Y1 direction and the other as the Y2 direction. One direction in the Z direction will be referred to as the Z1 direction and the other as the Z2 direction.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1-4, the actuator 1 comprises a support body 3 having a case 2 that defines its external shape, and a movable body 5 housed inside the case 2. The actuator 1 also includes 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 Figures 2 and 7) that moves the movable body 5 relative to the support body 3 in the X direction.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2 and 7, the support 3 comprises a coil assembly 13 assembled from three components: a coil 10, a first plate 11 superimposed on the coil 10 in the Z1 direction, and a second plate 12 superimposed on the coil 10 in the Z2 direction. 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 in the center of the case 2 in the Z direction.

[0023] Furthermore, the support 3 includes a power supply board 14 held at the Y1 end of the first plate 11. 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 circuit board. The coil 10 has 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. Power is supplied to the coil 10 via the power supply board 14.

[0024] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the coil 10 is an elongated oval air-core coil that is long in the Y direction, and comprises a pair of long sides 10a extending parallel to the Y direction, and an arc-shaped short side 10b connecting the Y-direction ends of the pair of long sides 10a. A central hole 10c extending in the Y direction is provided between the pair of long sides 10a.

[0025] The movable body 5 comprises a magnet 16 and a yoke 17. As shown in Figures 2 and 7, the magnet 16 faces the coil 10 in the Z direction. The coil 10 and the magnet 16 constitute a magnetic drive circuit 8. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first connector 6 and the second connector 7 are each rectangular parallelepiped-shaped members. The first connector 6 and the second connector 7 each possess at least one of elasticity and viscoelasticity.

[0026] (movable body) As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the movable body 5 comprises a first magnet 21 and a second magnet 22 as 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 directions in the X direction. When the movable body 5 and the support 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 it in the Z2 direction.

[0027] The yoke 17 is made of a magnetic material. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the yoke 17 comprises a first yoke 23 and a second yoke 24. As shown in Figure 8, the first yoke 23 comprises a first flat plate portion 25 that is long in the Y direction, and a pair of first connecting plate portions 26 that protrude outward in the X direction from the central portion in the Y direction at both ends of the first flat plate portion 25 in the Y direction 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 comprises a second flat plate portion 27 that is opposite to 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 central portion in the Y direction at both ends of the second flat plate portion 27 in the Y direction and extend in the Z1 direction. The second magnet 22 is held on the Z1 direction surface of the second flat plate portion 27.

[0028] The yoke 17 is assembled integrally by press-fitting a pair of second connecting plate portions 28 of the second yoke 24 into the inside of a pair of first connecting plate portions 26 of the first yoke 23, and then joining the first connecting plate portions 26 and the second connecting plate portions 28 with adhesive. As shown in Figures 2 and 7, when the movable body 5 is assembled so that the yoke 17 surrounds the coil assembly 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, since the coil assembly 13 is equipped with a first plate 11 that overlaps the coil 10 from the Z1 direction and a second plate 12 that overlaps the coil 10 from the Z2 direction, the first magnet 21 and the second magnet 22 are prevented from coming into contact with the coil 10.

[0029] As shown in Figure 9, the second yoke 24 before assembly has a pair of second connecting plate portions 28 extending in directions in which they are inclined in opposite directions, and the distance between the pair of second connecting plate portions 28 widens slightly as it moves toward the Z1 direction. Note that in Figure 9, the inclination angle θ of each second connecting plate portion 28 with respect to the Z direction is shown to be larger than it actually is in order to make the configuration easier to understand. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, each of the pair of second connecting plate portions 28 is a convex protruding from the surface facing outward in the X direction. It is equipped with a portion 29. The protrusion 29 extends linearly in the Y direction. In this way, the second yoke 24 is in a press-fit state when inserted between the pair of first connecting plate portions 26 because the distance between the pair of second connecting plate portions 28 widens towards the tip and the protrusion 29 is provided on the surface facing outward in the X direction.

[0030] (case) As shown in Figures 1-4, case 2 comprises 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 assembly 13 from the Z1 direction. The second case member 32 is attached to the coil assembly 13 and the first case member 31 from the Z2 direction.

[0031] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first case member 31 comprises a substantially rectangular first end plate portion 33 and four first case side plate portions 34 extending in the Z2 direction from both ends in the Y direction at the edges of the first end plate portion 33 in the X direction. Therefore, the first case member 31 is provided with a pair of first case side plate portions 34 facing each other in the X direction at the Y1 direction end and the Y2 direction end of the first end plate portion 33. As will be described later, in this embodiment, the first case member 31 and the coil assembly 13 are assembled by fitting the first plate 11 inside the two sets of first case side plate portions 34 facing each other in the X direction. The positioning structure of the coil assembly 13 relative to the case 2 will be described later.

[0032] Furthermore, the first case member 31 includes a pair of first case bent plate portions 35 that are bent in the Z2 direction from both edges in the X direction at the central portion in the Y direction of the first end plate portion 33, and a pair of first case bent plate portions 36 that are bent in the Z2 direction from both edges in the Y1 direction of the first end plate portion 33.

[0033] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second case member 32 comprises a substantially rectangular second end plate portion 37, a pair of second case side plate portions 38 extending in the Z1 direction from both edges of the second end plate portion 37 in the Y direction, and a pair of second case side plate portions 39 extending in the Z1 direction from both edges of the second end plate portion 37 in the X direction. The second end plate portion 37 has a protruding portion that extends to both sides in the X direction from the central part in the Y direction. Therefore, each second case side plate portion 39 comprises a side plate central portion 39a extending in the Z1 direction from the tip of the protruding portion of the second end plate portion 37, and a side plate end portion 39b provided on both sides of the side plate central portion 39a in the Y direction, at a position shifted toward the center in the X direction from the side plate central portion 39a. The Y-direction ends of the central portion 39a of the side plate are connected to stepped portions that are bent at approximately a right angle toward the center in the X-direction of the second case member 32, and the central portion 39a of the side plate and the end portion 39b of the side plate are connected via these stepped portions.

[0034] The second case member 32 is equipped with 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 tips of each hook 58 are locked onto the first plate 11 fitted into the first case member 31. In this way, the first case member 31, the coil assembly 13, and the second case member 32 are assembled to form the support 3. Details of the locking structure of the hooks 58 will be described later.

[0035] (Coil assembly) The first plate 11 and the second plate 12 are made of a non-magnetic metal. As shown in Figure 5, the first plate 11 includes a first plate portion 40 extending in the Y direction. A power supply substrate 14 is fixed to the Y1 end of the first plate portion 40. The power supply substrate 14 includes a first substrate portion 141 fixed to the surface of the first plate portion 40, and a second substrate portion 142 that is bent at approximately a right angle in the Z1 direction from the Y1 end of the first substrate portion 141 and positioned on the Y1 side of the case 2.

[0036] The first plate portion 40 has a pair of notches 41 formed by cutting inward the central portion in the Y direction at both edges in the X direction. The first plate 11 is the inner peripheral edge in the X direction of the pair of notches 41 The first plate 11 includes a pair of first plate bent plate portions 42 that are bent in the Z2 direction from the front. The first plate 11 also includes four first plate side plate portions 43 that are bent in the Z1 direction from both ends of the first plate portion 40 in the X direction on both sides in the Y direction of each notch portion 41. Furthermore, the first plate 11 includes first plate bent plate portions 44 that are bent in the Z1 direction from the Y1 direction edge and the Y2 direction edge of the first plate portion 40.

[0037] The second plate 12 includes a second plate portion 45 extending in the Y direction. The second plate portion 45 has a pair of notches 46 formed by cutting inward the central portion in the Y direction at both ends in the X direction. The second plate 12 also includes a pair of second plate bent plate portions 47 that are bent in the Z1 direction from the inner peripheral edges in the X direction of the pair of notches 46. Furthermore, the second plate 12 has four second plate side plate portions 48 on both sides in the Y direction of each notch 46, which are bent in the Z1 direction from both ends in the X direction of the second plate portion 45. From the Z1 end of each second plate side plate portion 48, there is a joining plate portion 49 that is bent at approximately a right angle and extends outward in the X direction.

[0038] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second plate 12 has four joint 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 abutment points between the joint plate portions 49 and the first plate portion 40 with 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.

[0039] As shown in Figure 5, the first plate 11 is provided with cut-out sections 50 that rise from the first plate portion 40 in the Z2 direction. There is one cut-out section 50 in the Y2 direction of each first plate bent plate portion 42. Each cut-out section 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 circumference (see Figure 6). Here, the first plate 11 has a shape that is symmetrical with respect to a virtual center line L (see Figure 6) that passes through the center of the first plate portion 40 in the X direction, and the two cut-out sections 50 are arranged in two symmetrical locations with respect to the virtual center line L.

[0040] (How to assemble a coil assembly) An arc-shaped notch 143 is provided at the Y2 edge of the power supply board 14 connected to the coil 10. When assembling the coil assembly 13, first, the first board portion 141 of the power supply board 14 is positioned at the Y1 end of the first plate portion 40 of the first plate 11 and fixed with adhesive. Next, the coil 10 is positioned on the first plate 11. At this time, as shown in Figure 6, the short side portion 10b of the coil 10 in the Y1 direction is fitted into the notch 143 of the power supply board 14, and the short side portion 10b of the coil 10 in the Y2 direction is fitted inside the two cut-out portions 50. This positions the coil 10 in the Y direction. In addition, the two cut-out 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.

[0041] Next, the coil wires drawn from the coil 10 are connected to the power supply board 14. Then, adhesive is placed in the center hole 10c of the coil 10, and the second plate 12 is placed over it from the Z2 side, fixing the coil 10 to the first plate 11 and the second plate 12 with the adhesive. In addition, the joining plate portion 49 of the second plate 12 is brought into contact with the first plate portion 40 of the first plate 11 and fixed with 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 Figures 2 and 7). The long side portion 10a of the coil 10 is covered from the X1 direction and the X2 direction by the first plate bent plate portion 42 and the second plate bent plate portion 47.

[0042] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a pair of first plate side plates 43 extending in the Z1 direction are provided at the Y1 direction end and the Y2 direction end of the coil assembly 13, respectively. The coil assembly 13 is assembled to the first case member 31 by bending a pair of first plate side plate portions 43 inward and inserting them into the inside of the first case side plate portion 34 provided on the first case member 31.

[0043] (Positioning structure for case and coil assembly) Figure 10 is a partially enlarged view of the side of the actuator 1, and Figure 11 is a perspective view of the first notched recess 51, the second notched recess 52, and the protruding plate portion 56. Figures 12 and 13 are cross-sectional views of the actuator 1. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken at the position where the case 2 and the first plate 11 abut in the Z direction (a cross-sectional view taken at position AA in Figure 10), and Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken at the position where the hook 58 of the second case member 32 is engaged with the first case member 31 and the first plate (a cross-sectional view taken at position BB in Figure 10).

[0044] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first case member 31 has four first notched recesses 51 formed by cutting out the edge of the first case side plate portion 34 in the Z2 direction in the Z1 direction. The second case member 32 also has four second notched recesses 52 formed by cutting out the edge of the side plate end portion 39b in the Z1 direction in the Z2 direction. The second notched recesses 52 have a shape that is the opposite of the first notched recesses 51 in the Z direction and face the first notched recesses 51 in the Z direction.

[0045] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the first curved portion 53 protrudes in the Z2 direction from the center in the Y direction at the edge in the Z1 direction of the first notch recess 51. The tip of the first curved portion 53 is an arc shape that protrudes in the Z2 direction. Similarly, the second curved portion 54 protrudes in the Z1 direction from the center in the Y direction at the edge in the Z2 direction of the second notch recess 52. The tip of the second curved portion 54 faces the tip of the first curved portion 53 and is an arc shape that protrudes in the Z1 direction.

[0046] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, in the first plate 11 that constitutes the coil assembly 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 that protrudes 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 that protrude 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.

[0047] As described above, when assembling the coil assembly 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. At this time, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the protruding plate portion 56 provided at the X-direction end of the first plate 11 is fitted from the Z2 direction into the first notched recess 51 provided at 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. As a result, the coil assembly 13 is positioned in the Y direction relative to the first case member 31, and the coil assembly 13 is positioned in the Z direction relative to the first case member 31.

[0048] 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 the X direction. Then, as shown in Figure 11, the tip of the protruding plate portion 56 that protrudes 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 that opens in the Z1 direction, so that the protruding plate portion 56 abuts against the apex of the second curved portion 54 (see Figures 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 positioned in the Z direction.

[0049] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the four first case side plate portions 34 have protrusions that are located in the Z1 direction relative to the first notched recess 51 and protrude toward the inside of the first case member 31 (towards the center in the X direction). A hemispherical case-side protrusion 57 is provided. The case-side protrusion 57 is formed, for example, by a half-cutting process. The tip of the first plate side plate portion 43, which is fitted inside each first case side plate portion 34, elastically contacts the apex of the case-side protrusion 57, as shown in the partially enlarged view of Figure 12.

[0050] As described above, the second case member 32 is provided with four hooks 58 extending in the Z1 direction, and the tips of the hooks 58 are bent at approximately a right angle and extend toward the center in the X direction. As shown in Figure 4, the first case member 31 is provided with a case opening 59 that penetrates 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, which are bent in the X direction, are inserted into the inside of the first case member 31 through the case opening 59.

[0051] As shown in the enlarged view of Figure 13, inside each hook 58, two plate materials, the first case side plate portion 34 and the first plate side plate portion 43, are arranged so as to overlap in the X direction. The tip of the hook 58 inserted into the inside of the first case member 31 from the case opening 59 is locked to the tip of the first case side plate portion 34 and the tip of the first plate side plate portion 43. As shown in Figure 13, the tips of the two hooks 58 provided on the X2 side of the case 2 are provided with locking portions 60 that are bent in the Z2 direction. The locking portions 60 are locked to the tip of the first case side plate portion 34 in the Z1 direction and the tip of the first plate side plate portion 43 in the Z1 direction.

[0052] (connector) As shown in Figure 2, the first connecting body 6 is positioned between the first yoke 23 and the first plate 11. The first connecting body 6 consists of two members of the same shape and is sandwiched in two places: between the Y1 end portion of the first yoke 23 and the Y1 end portion of the first plate 11, and between the Y2 end portion of the first yoke 23 and the Y2 end portion of the first plate 11. As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment, the first connecting body 6 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that extends long in the X direction.

[0053] The second connector 7 is positioned between the second yoke 24 and the second plate 12. The second connector 7 consists of two members of the same shape and is sandwiched in two places: between the Y1 end portion of the second yoke 24 and the Y1 end portion of the second plate 12, and between the Y2 end portion of the second yoke 24 and the Y2 end portion of the second plate 12. In this embodiment, the second connector 7 has the same shape as the first connector 6. The first connector 6 and the second connector 7 are compressed in the Z direction between the support 3 and the movable body 5.

[0054] The first connector 6 and the second connector 7 are gel-like members made of silicone gel. Silicone gel is a viscoelastic material in which the spring constant when deformed in the stretching direction is about three times that when deformed 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 stretching due to tension, and therefore has deformation characteristics in which the linear component is larger than the nonlinear component. Furthermore, when compressed and deformed by being pressed in the thickness direction, it has stretching characteristics in which the nonlinear component is larger than the linear component, while when stretched by being pulled in the thickness direction, it has stretching characteristics in which the linear component is larger than the nonlinear component.

[0055] Alternatively, the first connector 6 and the second connector 7 may be 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 elastomers, and modified materials thereof.

[0056] (Actuator operation) When a current in a predetermined direction is supplied to the coil 10 via the power supply board 14, the support 3 is supported The movable body 5 moves relative to the support 3 in one direction in the X direction due to the driving force of the magnetic drive circuit 8. Then, when the direction of the current reverses, the movable body 5 moves relative to the support 3 in the other direction in the X direction. The movable body 5 vibrates as the direction of the current supplied to the coil 10 is repeatedly reversed.

[0057] (Main effects and benefits of this form) As described above, the actuator 1 of this embodiment includes a movable body 5, a support body 3 having a case 2 that houses the movable body 5, a connector (first connector 6 and second connector 7) connected to the movable body 5 and the support body 3, and a magnetic drive circuit 8 having a coil 10 and a magnet 16 facing the coil 10 in the Z direction (first direction), which vibrates the movable body 5 in the X direction (second direction) that intersects the Z direction (first direction) with respect to the support body 3. The support body 3 has a first metal plate 11 that overlaps the coil 10 from the Z1 direction (one side of the first direction), and the coil 10 is fixed to the case 2 via the first plate 11. The coil 10 is an air-core coil having a pair of long sides 10a aligned in the X direction (second direction) and a pair of short sides 10b connecting the pair of long sides 10a, and the first plate 11 has a cut-out portion 50 (positioning portion) that contacts the coil 10 from the outer circumference and positions the coil 10 in a direction intersecting the Z direction (first direction).

[0058] In this embodiment, the coil 10 is fixed to the case 2 via a metal plate. The plate is provided with a cut-out portion 50 for positioning the coil 10, thus eliminating the need for the conventionally used resin coil holder, and allowing the coil 10 to be precisely positioned using only the plate. Since the metal plate does not require thickness to ensure strength compared to resin parts, the coil 10 can be made larger. Consequently, the acceleration of the movable body 5 can be increased without increasing the external dimensions of the actuator 1, and large vibrations can be generated. In addition, the number of parts can be reduced by eliminating resin parts, and the assembly man-hours can be reduced.

[0059] In this embodiment, the cut-and-bent portion 50 contacts the short side portion 10b of the coil 10 from the outer circumference. In the oval-shaped coil 10, the long side portion 10a tends to bulge outwards during manufacturing, so the shape accuracy of the short side portion 10b is higher than that of the long side portion 10a. Therefore, by bringing the short side portion 10b into contact with the cut-and-bent portion 50 (positioning portion), the positional accuracy of the coil 10 can be improved.

[0060] In this embodiment, the short side portion 10b is arc-shaped, and the cut-up portion 50 is positioned at two symmetrical locations in the X direction (second direction) with respect to a virtual center line L extending in the Y direction at the center of the X direction (second direction) of the short side portion 10b. In this way, by not placing the cut-up portion 50 (positioning portion) at the vertex of the short side portion 10b, and instead placing the cut-up portion 50 (positioning portion) at two diagonally opposite locations on the coil 10, it is possible to leave space on both sides of the longitudinal direction of the oval-shaped coil 10. Therefore, by placing the connecting body (first connecting body 6 and second connecting body 7) that connects the movable body 5 and the support body 3 in this space, interference between the connecting body and the cut-up portion 50 can be avoided.

[0061] It should be noted that the arrangement of the cut-up section 50 is not limited to the arrangement described above. For example, if the actuator 1 is configured such that connecting bodies are placed between the first yoke 23 and the first end plate section 33, and between the second yoke 24 and the second end plate section 37, then it is not necessary to secure space for the connecting bodies on the first plate 11. Therefore, a configuration in which the cut-up section 50 is placed at the vertex of the short side section 10b may also be adopted.

[0062] In this embodiment, the support 3 includes a power supply board 14 fixed to the first plate 11, the power supply board 14 has a notch 143 into which one of a pair of short sides 10b fits, and the cut-out portion 50 contacts the other of the pair of short sides 10b from the outer circumference. In this way, the power supply board 14 is positioned By using this method for shaping, the number of cut-out sections 50 can be reduced. Consequently, the shape of the first plate 11 can be simplified.

[0063] Furthermore, if the power supply board is not placed on the first plate 11 but fixed to the case 2, the power supply board 14 cannot be used to position the coil 10. In this case, a configuration can be adopted in which the cut-out portion 50 contacts not only one of the short sides 10b, but both short sides 10b from the outer circumference.

[0064] In this embodiment, the positioning portion for positioning the coil 10 is a cut-out portion that rises from the first plate portion 40 of the first plate 11 in the Z2 direction (the other side of the first direction). Since the cut-out portion 50 can be easily formed during the manufacturing of the first plate 11, an increase in the component cost of the first plate 11 can be avoided. Note that the positioning portion may have a configuration other than the cut-out portion 50. For example, it may be an embossed portion that protrudes in the Z2 direction.

[0065] In this embodiment, the support 3 comprises a second metal plate 12 that overlaps the coil 10 from the Z2 direction (the other side of the first direction), and an adhesive layer 15 that fills at least the central hole 10c of the coil 10 and fixes the coil 10 to the first plate 11 and the second plate 12. By positioning the cut-out portion 50 at a location different from the central hole 10c where the adhesive is filled, leakage of the adhesive from between the first plate 11 and the second plate 12 can be prevented or suppressed. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0066] 1...Actuator, 2...Case, 3...Support, 5...Movable body, 6...First connector, 7...Second connector, 8...Magnetic drive circuit, 10...Coil, 10a...Long side, 10b...Short side, 10c...Center hole, 11...First plate, 12...Second plate, 13...Coil assembly, 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, 26...First connecting plate, 27...Second flat plate, 28...Second connecting plate, 29...Protrusion, 31...First case member, 32...Second case member, 33...First end plate, 34...First case side plate, 35, 36...First case bent plate, 37...Second end plate, 38...Second case - Side plate section, 39...Second case side plate section, 39a...Center of side plate, 39b...End of side plate, 40...First plate section, 41...Notch section, 42...First plate bent plate section, 43...First plate side plate section, 44...First plate bent plate section, 45...Second plate section, 46...Notch section, 47...Second plate bent plate section, 48...Second plate side plate section, 49...Joint plate section, 50...Cut and bent section, 51...First notched recess, 52...Second notched recess, 53...First curved section, 54...Second curved section, 55...Plate opening, 56...Protruding plate section, 57...Case side protrusion, 58...Hook, 59...Case opening, 60...Locking section, 141...First substrate section, 142...Second substrate section, 143...Notch section, L...Virtual center line, θ...Inclination angle

Claims

1. Movable body and, A support comprising a case for housing the movable body, The movable body and the connecting body connected to the support, The device comprises a coil and a magnet facing the coil in a first direction, and a magnetic drive circuit that causes the movable body to vibrate in a second direction intersecting the first direction with respect to the support, The support comprises a first metal plate that overlaps the coil from one side in the first direction, and the coil is fixed to the case via the first plate. The coil is an air-core coil having a pair of long sides aligned in the second direction and a pair of short sides connecting the pair of long sides. The first plate includes a positioning portion that contacts the coil from the outer circumference and positions the coil in a direction intersecting the first direction, The positioning portion is a cut-up portion that rises up on the other side in the first direction, The positioning portion contacts one and the other of the pair of short sides from the outer circumference, The actuator is characterized in that the support body comprises a power supply board fixed to the first plate, and the power supply board comprises a notch into which one of the pair of short sides fits.

2. The aforementioned short side portion is arc-shaped, The actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning portion is arranged at two locations symmetrically in the second direction with reference to the center of the short side portion in the second direction.

3. The aforementioned support is The coil is fitted with a second metal plate that overlaps it from the other side in the first direction, The actuator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: an adhesive layer that fills at least the central hole of the coil and fixes the coil to the first plate and the second plate.

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