Vibration device and vibration transmission method

Abstract

This vibration device is disposed in a seat on which a person can sit and which has a seating surface that comes into contact with at least a part of the person, and transmits vibration to the person. The vibration device comprises: a coil that is excited by application of electric current; a stator core made of a magnetic material that constitutes a magnetic circuit when the coil is excited; a moving core made of a magnetic material that faces the stator core across a magnetic gap, and when the coil is excited, constitutes a magnetic circuit, and is displaced in a first direction toward the stator core; a leaf spring member that biases the moving core in a second direction away from the stator core; and a cover part which is disposed facing the moving core with the leaf spring member interposed therebetween and which receives vibration of the moving core. When the person sits, the cover part receives the load of the person and comes into contact with the seat. The displacement of the moving core in the first direction and the second direction is transmitted from the cover part to the person via the seating surface of the seat. The vibration of the vibration device is efficiently transmitted to the person.

Description

Vibration device and vibration transmission method

[0006] Cross-reference to related applications

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-16874 filed in Japan on February 4, 2025, and the contents of the base application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a vibration device disposed on a seat having a seating surface and transmitting vibration to a person, and a vibration transmission method using the vibration device. The vibration device of the present disclosure is useful, for example, when used in a vehicle such as an automobile or a motorcycle to transmit vibration information to a passenger.

[0003] Disposing the vibration device on the seat is described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

[0004] U.S. Patent No. 9,266,451 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2023-138893

[0005] The vibration device described in Patent Document 1 generates vibration by rotating an eccentric weight with a motor. The motor and the weight are disposed in an actuator housing. And the actuator housing is disposed directly below the skin pad of the seat. Therefore, when a passenger touches the actuator housing, the vibration device of Patent Document 1 will cause a foreign body sensation. And the vibration of the vibration device will be dispersed within the seat. This is because the actuator housing of Patent Document 1 is configured to vibrate in all circumferential directions, so it vibrates in a direction not facing the passenger.

[0006] On the other hand, the vibration device described in Patent Document 2 generates vibration by reciprocating a moving core using a solenoid. The moving core is housed in a housing. However, the housing is attached to the seat. Therefore, even if the vibration device is disposed, the vibration does not efficiently go in the direction where a person is seated. This is because in the case of Patent Document 2, although the direction of vibration is the reciprocating direction, the reciprocating movement of the vibration device vibrates the seat, and the reciprocating vibration of the vibration device is not efficiently transmitted to a person seated on the seat.

[0007] This disclosure focuses on this point and aims to enable the efficient transmission of vibrations from a vibration device to a person.

[0008] This disclosure relates to a vibration device that is placed in a seat having a seating surface on which a person can sit and which contacts at least a part of the person, and transmits vibrations to the person. The vibration device of this disclosure comprises a coil that is energized by current, a stator core made of a magnetic material that constitutes a magnetic circuit when the coil is energized, a moving core made of a magnetic material that faces the stator core via a magnetic gap and displaces in a first direction toward the stator core as it constitutes a magnetic circuit when the coil is energized, a leaf spring member that biases the moving core in a second direction away from the stator core, and a cover portion that is positioned opposite the moving core with the leaf spring member in between and receives vibrations from the moving core.

[0009] The cover portion of the vibration device in this disclosure comes into contact with the seat when a person is seated, and the reciprocating displacement of the moving core in the first and second directions is transmitted from the cover portion to the person via the seating surface of the seat. In this disclosure, when a person is seated, the cover portion of the vibration device is in contact with the seat. Therefore, the reciprocating vibration of the vibration device is transmitted directly from the cover portion to the seat and then to the person via the seating surface. As a result, the vibration of the vibration device is efficiently transmitted to the person.

[0010] The vibration transmission method of this disclosure is a vibration transmission method using a vibration device that is arranged on a seat having a seating surface on which a person can sit and which contacts at least a part of the person, and transmits vibrations to the person. The vibration device comprises a coil that is energized by current, a stator core made of a magnetic material that constitutes a magnetic circuit when the coil is energized, a moving core made of a magnetic material that faces the stator core via a magnetic gap and constitutes a magnetic circuit when the coil is energized and is displaced in a first direction toward the stator core, a leaf spring member that biases the moving core in a second direction away from the stator core, and a cover portion that is arranged opposite the moving core with the leaf spring member in between and receives vibrations of the moving core.

[0011] In the vibration transmission method of this disclosure, when a person is seated, the cover portion comes into contact with the seat, and the reciprocating displacement of the moving core in the first and second directions is transmitted from the cover portion to the person via the seating surface of the seat. This method efficiently transmits the reciprocating movement of the vibration device to the person.

[0012] This is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vibration device of the present disclosure. This is a cross-sectional view of the vibration device shown in Figure 1. This is a perspective view showing an exploded view of the configuration of the vibration device shown in Figure 1. This is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the vibration device. This is a diagram showing another example of the arrangement of the vibration device. This is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the arrangement of the vibration device when seated. This is a circuit diagram showing the potential circuit of the vibration device shown in Figure 1. This is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the arrangement of the vibration device when seated. This is a cross-sectional view showing yet another example of the arrangement of the vibration device when seated. This is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the arrangement of the vibration device when not seated.

[0013] The vibration device 100 of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The vibration device 100 is used in haptic devices and, as shown in Figure 4, is arranged in multiples on the seat surface 201 and backrest 202 of, for example, a seat 200 of an automobile. The vibration device 100 is also arranged on the ride seat 203 of so-called saddle-type vehicles such as motorcycles, snowmobiles, and buggies, as shown in Figure 5. The structure of the seat 200 of an automobile and the ride seat 203 of a saddle-type vehicle, and the placement of the vibration device 100 on the seat 200 and ride seat 203 will be described later.

[0014] The vibration device 100 is used to transmit information to occupants, such as whether they have forgotten to fasten their seat belts or to anticipate potential hazards, through vibration. The vibration information from the vibration device 100 is information that can be directly transmitted to the occupants. Furthermore, because it is different from normal signal information such as visual and auditory information, it is a particularly useful means of transmitting information as hazard prediction information. For example, the vibration device 100 is activated when a sensor (not shown) detects the possibility of a collision. In examples where multiple vibration devices 100 are arranged, such as in the seat 200 of an automobile, the direction in which to alert the occupants can be indicated by specifying which vibration device 100 is to be activated.

[0015] 120 is a housing made of iron material, and has a bottomed multi-stage cylindrical shape with a small cylindrical portion 121 and a large cylindrical portion 125. The diameter of the large cylindrical portion 125 is about 70 millimeters. The small cylindrical portion 121 and the large cylindrical portion 125 each have a small diameter bottom 122 and a large diameter bottom 126, respectively. Therefore, in this example, the bottom of the housing 120 is formed by the small diameter bottom 122 and the large diameter bottom 126. The side surface of the housing 120 is also formed by the small cylindrical portion 121 and the large cylindrical portion 125.

[0016] 130 is a bobbin made of an insulating resin material such as polypropylene, and is held by the small cylindrical portion 121 and the small diameter bottom portion 122 of the housing 120. A coil 140 is wound around the bobbin 130 by winding enamel-coated copper wire many times. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the components of the vibration device 100 of Figures 1 and 2 in an exploded view. As shown in Figure 3, a disc-shaped flange portion 131 is integrally formed on the bobbin 130. Furthermore, a first arm portion 132 and a second arm portion 133 extend outward from the flange portion 131. These first arm portion 132 and second arm portion 133 are fixed to the large diameter bottom portion 126 of the housing 120 by a first rivet 134 and a second rivet 135, respectively. The first rivet 134 and the second rivet 135 are connected to a terminal 145 located at the large diameter bottom portion 126 of the housing 120. Terminal 145 has terminals formed therein for electrical connection to the positive and negative terminals of the onboard battery 210 (shown in Figure 7). The first rivet 134 and the second rivet are made of a conductive material such as iron, and the pair of rivets connects the coil 140, with the first rivet 134 connecting to the positive terminal and the second rivet 135 connecting to the negative terminal.

[0017] More specifically, the first arm portion 132 and the second arm portion 133 are provided with a first and second energizing terminal, respectively, one of which is electrically connected to the positive terminal of terminal 145, and the other is conductive to the negative terminal. However, the negative terminal of coil 140 can also be grounded to the vehicle via housing 120.

[0018] From the flange portion 131 of the bobbin 130, a third arm portion 136 extends outward and is integrally formed on the opposite side from the first arm portion 132 and the second arm portion 133. This third arm portion 136 is fixed to the large-diameter bottom portion 126 of the housing 120 by a third rivet 137. In other words, the flange portion 131 is held in place by the housing 120 by three-point support. Note that the third rivet 137 does not need to be made of a conductive material; in this example, it is made of aluminum.

[0019] A stator core 150 made of iron is positioned on the inner circumference of the bobbin 130. The stator core 150 is exposed through a hole 123 formed in the bottom 122 of the small diameter portion of the housing 120. More specifically, the stator core 150 is fixed to the inner circumference of the hole 123. The fixing method may be to fit the stator core 150 into the hole 123 and crimp it, or to screw the stator core 150 into the hole 123. The example in Figure 2 is crimp fixing. A threaded portion 151 is formed on the outer circumference of the stator core 150, and a nut 152 (shown in Figure 6) is screwed to it.

[0020] The moving core 160 is positioned between the stator core 150 and a magnetic gap. The size of the magnetic gap varies depending on the degree of vibration required for the vibration device 100. In this example, the magnetic gap is approximately 1 to 2 millimeters. The moving core 160 is also made of a magnetic material, and in this example, it is made of iron. The moving core 160 has a cylindrical shape with a flange portion 162.

[0021] A leaf spring member 180 is positioned on the side of the moving core 160 opposite to the stator core 150. The outer circumference 181 of the leaf spring member 180 is crimped and fixed to the opening 127 of the large cylindrical portion 125 of the housing 120, together with the cover portion 190, which will be described later. The outer circumference 181 of the leaf spring member 180 is formed by drawing into a ring shape. Furthermore, an annular leaf spring wall portion 1812 is bent outwards from the leaf spring crimping portion 1811 toward the side opposite to the housing 120.

[0022] The inner circumference 182 of the leaf spring member 180 is crimped and connected to the assembly projection 163 formed at the end of the moving core 160. Specifically, it is assembled to the assembly projection 163 via a wave washer 164 and a flat washer 165. The leaf spring member 180 then biases the moving core 160 away from the stator core 150. In this example, the leaf spring member 180 is a spring steel plate made of stainless steel, which is a magnetic material, and constitutes part of the magnetic circuit of the coil 140. However, since the magnetic circuit also includes magnetic flux flowing from the housing 120 to the moving core 160, the leaf spring member 180 does not necessarily have to be made of a magnetic material.

[0023] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the leaf spring member 180 has three connecting portions 183 that radiate from the center point, connecting the inner circumference 182 and the outer circumference 181. That is, the connecting portions 183 connect the leaf spring wall portion 1812 of the outer circumference 181 to the inner circumference 182. Three gaps 184 are formed between the three connecting portions 183. In this example, the leaf spring member 180 has a point-symmetric shape around the central axis. As a result, even if the connecting portions 183 undergo elastic deformation, no component is generated in the direction that causes the leaf spring member 180 to rotate due to that deformation.

[0024] The leaf spring member 180 guides the moving core 160 as it reciprocates within the housing 120. As a result of the leaf spring member 180 not generating a rotational movement component, the moving core 160 can always reciprocate along its axis. This effectively suppresses tilting or rolling of the moving core 160. Since the reciprocating motion of the moving core 160 is the source of vibration of the vibration device 100, the guidance of the leaf spring member 180 stabilizes the behavior of the vibration device 100. Furthermore, by providing the gap 184, the rigidity of the leaf spring member 180, which is made of a single plate, can be reduced.

[0025] The cover portion 190 is disc-shaped with the same diameter as the opening 127 of the housing 120. The opening 127 of the housing 120 is flange-shaped, widening radially outward, and the cover opening end 191 of the cover portion 190 is a crimping portion 192 that crimps and fixes the flange-shaped opening 127 of the housing 120 together with the leaf spring crimping portion 1811 of the outer circumference 181 of the leaf spring member 180. Therefore, when the cover opening end 191, which is the periphery of the cover portion 190, is held in the opening 127 of the housing 120, the outer circumference of the leaf spring member 180 is clamped between the cover opening end 191 of the cover portion 190 and the opening 127 of the housing 120. Note that the cover portion 190 does not need to be made of a magnetic material; rather, it is preferable to make it of a non-magnetic material so as not to form a magnetic circuit of the coil 140. However, in this example, an iron-based material is used so that it can be crimped and fixed.

[0026] The cover portion 190 is composed of a smooth surface that gently bulges toward the seating surface of the seat 200 or ride seat 203. The reason for the gently bulging smooth surface is that the cover portion 190 faces the occupant 400 via the seat cushion 206 and seat surface 207 of the seat 200 or ride seat 203. Figure 6 shows an example of the seat 200, which is equipped with a seat frame 205 that fixes the seat. The seat cushion 206 is held in place by this seat frame 205. The seat cushion 206 is made of an elastic material such as urethane foam. The surface of the seat cushion 206 is covered with a seat surface 207. The seat surface 207 is made of a water-resistant material, which enhances the durability of the seat 200. When an occupant 400 is seated on the seat 200, the occupant 400 will feel the presence of the cover portion 190 through the seat cushion 206 and the seat surface 207, but only through parts of their body. In normal use, these parts of the body include at least parts of the head, abdomen, back, buttocks, and legs. However, this does not exclude cases where the presence of the cover portion 190 is felt on other parts of the body. To prevent the occupant 400 from feeling a foreign object when seated, the cover portion 190 has a smooth surface and a gently bulging shape. As mentioned above, "parts of the body" can include any part of the body, including the head, where the occupant can feel the presence of the cover portion 190. Therefore, in this disclosure, "seated" refers to the state of using the seat 200 or ride seat 203. The seating surface refers to the surface that the occupant contacts with the seat 200 or ride seat 203 when using it.

[0027] The cover portion 190 is positioned opposite the moving core 160, with the leaf spring member 180 in between. Therefore, the inner surface of the center of the cover portion 190 faces the assembly projection 163 of the moving core 160. Furthermore, the gap between the inner surface of the center of the cover portion 190 and the assembly projection 163 of the moving core 160 is set to a width of 2 millimeters or more. Here, the direction in which the moving core 160 moves toward the stator core 150 when the coil 140 is energized is defined as the first direction. Conversely, the direction in which the moving core 160 moves away from the stator core 150 due to the biasing force of the leaf spring member 180 when the coil 140 is de-energized is defined as the second direction. In this example, the gap between the moving core 160 and the assembly projection 163 is set to the minimum gap that prevents the moving core 160 from contacting the cover portion 190 when it is displaced in the second direction. As a result of the moving core 160 not contacting the cover portion 190, the generation of loud collision noises is suppressed. Consequently, the durability of the cover portion 190 is also improved.

[0028] However, the contact of the moving core 160 with the cover portion 190 is not entirely negative. The contact of the moving core 160 with the cover portion 190 allows the displacement of the moving core 160 in the second direction to be directly transmitted to the cover portion 190. This direct transmission, in turn, makes it easier to transmit the vibrations of the vibration device 100 to the occupant 400. In this example, the gap between the cover portion 190 and the moving core 160 is set to the minimum gap required for the moving core 160 to contact the cover portion 190 when displaced in the second direction. This allows the vibrations of the moving core 160 to be easily transmitted to the cover portion 190 while maintaining the aforementioned quietness and durability.

[0029] The assembly of the vibration device 100, which has the above configuration, will now be described. Each component, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, is manufactured in advance. First, the stator core 150 is press-fitted and fixed into the hole 123 in the small diameter bottom 122 of the housing 120. Next, the coil 140 is arranged in the small cylindrical part 121 of the housing 120 so as to surround the stator core 150. The terminal 145 is also placed in the large diameter bottom 126 of the housing 120. Then, the first arm 132 and the second arm 133 of the bobbin 130 of the coil 140 and the terminal of the terminal 145 are connected with the first rivet 134 and the second rivet 135. At this time, if a gap occurs between the first rivet 134 or the second rivet 135 and the first arm 132 or the second arm 133, the gap is adjusted using the collar 138. Furthermore, the third arm portion 136 and the large-diameter bottom portion 126 of the housing 120 are connected by a third rivet 137. The coil 140 is fixed to the housing 120 by these first rivets 134 to the third rivets 137.

[0030] After the above steps, or in parallel with the above steps, the assembly projection 163 formed in the center of the moving core 160 is inserted into the central hole 185 of the leaf spring member 180. Next, a flat washer 165 and a wave washer 164 are press-fitted onto the assembly projection 163. Then, the side of the assembly projection 163 closest to the cover portion 190 is crimped to prevent the leaf spring member 180 from coming out of the assembly projection 163. In this state, the circular portion around the central hole 185 of the leaf spring member 180 corresponds to the flange portion 162 of the moving core 160.

[0031] In this manner, the moving core 160 with the leaf spring member 180 incorporated is placed inside the housing 120. In this position, the moving core 160 faces the stator core 150 via a magnetic gap. Also, the outer circumference 181 of the leaf spring member 180 faces the flange portion formed in the opening 127 of the housing 120.

[0032] Next, the cover opening end 191 of the cover portion 190 is assembled to the opening 127 of the housing 120. As described above, the opening 127 of the housing 120 is flange-shaped, widening radially outward. The outer circumference 181 of the leaf spring member 180 is positioned in this flange-shaped opening 127. In this state, the crimping portion 192 of the cover opening end 191 of the cover portion 190 is used to crimp and fix the flange-shaped opening 127 of the housing 120. As a result, the leaf spring crimping portion 1811 of the outer circumference 181 of the leaf spring member 180 is also fixed to the flange-shaped opening 127 of the housing 120 by the crimping portion 192 of the cover portion 190. In other words, when the cover opening end 191 of the cover portion 190 is held in the opening 127 of the housing 120, the outer periphery 181 of the leaf spring member 180 is sandwiched between the cover opening end 191 and the opening 127 of the housing 120.

[0033] The assembly of the vibration device 100 into the seat 200, as assembled in this manner, will be explained with reference to Figure 6. The vibration device 100 is assembled into the seat 200 of the automobile by fixing it to the seat frame 205 with nuts 152 via an elastic member 208 made of spring steel. In this disclosure, a fixing method that inhibits vibration is called a rigid connection, and the seat frame 205 is rigidly connected to the vehicle. The elastic member 208 is also welded to the seat frame 205, and the connection between the elastic member 208 and the seat frame 205 is also a rigid connection. Furthermore, the connection between the vibration device 100 and the elastic member 208 by nuts 152 is also a rigid connection. However, the elastic member 208 is interposed between the seat frame 205 and the vibration device 100. Therefore, even if the connection of the elastic member 208 is a rigid connection by welding or nuts 152, it is movable due to the elasticity of the elastic member 208 itself, so vibration of the vibration device 100 is permitted. Specifically, the stator core 150 is attached to the seat frame 205 via an elastic member 208, and this elastic member 208 allows the vibration device 100 to vibrate. In this way, the stator core 150 is attached to the seat frame 205 in a manner that allows the vibration device 100 to vibrate. More specifically, the vibration of the vibration device 100 is transmitted to the seat cushion 206 of the seat seat 200 by the elastic member 208.

[0034] Furthermore, the elasticity of the elastic member 208 causes the vibration device 100 to be pressed against the seat 200. In this example, a key feature is that when the occupant 400 is seated, the cover portion 190 of the vibration device 100 is in contact with the seat cushion 206. This contact is achieved by the seat cushion 206 being pressed against the cover portion 190 by the weight of the occupant 400, and by the elasticity of the elastic member 208 pressing the cover portion 190 against the seat cushion 206.

[0035] Next, the operation of the vibration device 100, which has the above configuration, will be explained. When current is supplied to the coil 140, the coil 140 is excited and a magnetic circuit is formed around the coil 140. In this example, the magnetic circuit is formed by the housing 120, the stator core 150, the moving core 160, and the leaf spring member 180. Within this magnetic circuit, a magnetic gap is formed between the moving core 160 and the stator core 150, so the moving core 160 is attracted to the stator core 150 and displaced in the first direction. The cover portion 190 is designed not to form a magnetic circuit, although as a result, some magnetic flux may flow through it. This is because if the cover portion 190 were to form a magnetic circuit, a magnetic gap would be created between the cover portion 190 and the moving core 160. If a magnetic gap is created between the cover portion 190 and the moving core 160, a force will be generated in a direction that cancels out the magnetic attractive force between the moving core 160 and the stator core 150, which is undesirable.

[0036] The leaf spring member 180 restricts the movement of the moving core 160 when it is displaced in the first direction. When the moving core 160 moves toward the stator core 150, the leaf spring member 180 elastically deforms, and the elastic force associated with this deformation biases the moving core 160 in a direction that pulls it away from the stator core 150. This biasing force of the leaf spring member 180 suppresses the movement of the moving core 160 in the first direction. Then, when the excitation of the coil 140 ends, the biasing force of the leaf spring member 180 causes the moving core 160 to displace in the second direction. In this example, even when the moving core 160 is displaced toward the stator core 150 in the first direction, measures are taken to prevent the moving core 160 and the stator core 150 from colliding. Specifically, the attractive force of the moving core 160 is controlled by adjusting the excitation force of the coil 140. More specifically, the duty cycle control adjusts the energizing time to the coil 140, thereby controlling the time during which the suction force is applied.

[0037] The moving core 160 is displaced in the second direction by the biasing force of the leaf spring member 180, but as described above, even when the leaf spring member 180 is displaced to its maximum extent in the second direction, the mounting projection 163 of the moving core 160 does not come into contact with the cover portion 190. In other words, the biasing force of the leaf spring member 180 and the attractive force of the coil 140 are adjusted so that the moving core 160 does not collide with the cover portion 190. Since collision between the moving core 160 and the cover portion 190 is avoided, no loud impact noise is generated. However, the displacement of the moving core 160 in the second direction is set to be as large as possible while still not coming into contact with the cover portion 190.

[0038] Next, the operation of the vibration system 300 incorporating the vibration device 100 having the above configuration will be explained. In the vibration system 300, as shown in Figure 7, power is supplied to the coil 140 of the vibration device 100 from the onboard battery 210. This power supply is controlled by the control device 220. In other words, the vibration system 300 is a system that vibrates by controlling the power supply to the vibration device 100. In addition, the vibration system 300 only needs to be able to control the power supply to the vibration device 100, and it is also possible to use a transformer such as an inverter instead of the onboard battery 210. Furthermore, if a generator such as an alternator that charges the onboard battery 210 is used, power will be supplied from the generator when the generator is generating power.

[0039] The control device 220 does not necessarily have to be a dedicated device for the vibration device 100. For example, it is possible to make some of the functions of the engine ECU into the control device 220. If the engine ECU is used, the control device 220 will be located in the engine compartment of the automobile or below the ride seat 203 of a passenger vehicle. In the example in Figure 7, the control device 220 itself controls the power supply from the onboard battery 210, but in many cases, the power supply from the onboard battery 210 to the vibration device 100 is switched by a switching element such as a relay or semiconductor switch. In that case, the control device 220 will send a control signal to that switching element.

[0040] The control device 220 is supplied with a square wave of approximately 50 to 100 Hz, with duty cycle control enabled. For example, when one turn is set to 20 milliseconds, the control device 220 energizes for 6 milliseconds and then de-energizes for 14 milliseconds, resulting in 30 percent energization. This 30 percent energization is continued for 100 milliseconds to create the vibration mode. After that, the coil 140 is de-energized for 100 milliseconds to create the non-vibration mode.

[0041] In this example, the vibration mode and non-vibration mode are alternated. When the vibration device 100 is used as a haptic device, the vibration mode 221 and non-vibration mode 222 will be alternated for a period of time during which the occupant 400 needs to be alerted based on signals from sensors, etc.

[0042] However, the above example is an example of the vibration of the vibration device 100. The control device 220 can set the magnitude and pattern of the vibration of the vibration device 100 with a high degree of freedom. Setting the duty ratio to 30% is also an example. The duty ratio can be smaller or larger. As described above, the excitation force of the coil 140 can be adjusted by controlling the duty ratio. Also, the length of one cycle when performing duty ratio control is not limited to 20 milliseconds. The time of one cycle may be less than 20 milliseconds.

[0043] Also, in the above example, both the vibration mode and the non-vibration mode have a length of 100 milliseconds, but the length may be changed to change the vibration pattern. Furthermore, only the vibration mode may be continued. The vibration mode also has a plurality of types of vibration patterns, and these may be repeated. Furthermore, a plurality of types of vibration patterns may be randomly generated. The vibration pattern can be appropriately selected according to the type of signal to be notified to the occupant 400.

[0044] In the example shown in FIG. 7, the excitation of the coil 140 is detected using the magnetic sensor 225. The magnetic sensor 225 is composed of, for example, a Hall element, and feeds back the excitation of the coil 140 to the control device 220. Also, a switch 226 is provided in the control device 220, and if necessary, the switch 226 can be turned off to stop the operation of the vibration device 100. However, the magnetic sensor 225 and the switch 226 may be abolished if necessary.

[0045] Next, we will explain how the vibrations of the vibration device 100 controlled by the control device 220 are transmitted to the occupant 400 via the seat 200. When the occupant 400 is seated on the seat 200, the load of the occupant 400 is applied to the seat cushion 206, causing the seat cushion 206 to deform. Since the seat 200 is supported by the seat frame 205, the seat 200 remains stable even when the seat cushion 206 deforms. As mentioned above, since the seat frame 205 is rigidly connected to the vehicle, the load of the occupant 400 is absorbed by the seat frame 205. However, when the occupant 400 is seated, a portion of the load of the occupant 400 is applied to the cover portion 190 of the vibration device 100. In other words, since the cover portion 190 is positioned to face the seating surface of the occupant 400 via the seat cushion 206, when at least a part of the occupant 400's head, feet, buttocks, stomach, and back is in contact with the seating surface, the occupant 400's load is transmitted to the cover portion 190. As a result, the cover portion 190 receives the load of the occupant 400 when the occupant 400 is seated and comes into contact with the seat 200. This causes the occupant 400 to feel the presence of the cover portion 190 with at least a part of their body.

[0046] As described above, the vibration device 100 is controlled by the control device 220 to perform a predetermined vibration. The vibration of this vibration device 100 is transmitted directly to the seat 200 in contact with it. Although the seat 200 is interposed between the occupant 400 and the vibration device 100, the reciprocating displacement of the moving core 160 in the first and second directions is transmitted from the cover portion 190 to at least a portion of the occupant 400's feet, buttocks, back, abdomen, and head via the seating surface of the seat 200.

[0047] Here, assume an assembled state where the vibration device 100 is simply assembled to the seat frame 205 and there is a gap between the vibration device 100 and the seat cushion 206. In that case, the vibration of the vibration device 100 is transmitted to the seat frame 205, causing the seat frame 205 to vibrate. Then, the vibration of the seat frame 205 is transmitted to the seat cushion 206, causing the seat cushion 206 to also vibrate. Next, the vibration of the seat cushion 206 is transmitted to the occupant 400.

[0048] Even in this case, the vibration of the vibration device 100 is transmitted to the occupant 400, but it is quite indirect. This is because the seat frame 205 is arranged over the entire seating seat 200 so as to be able to hold the seat cushion 206. Therefore, vibrating the seat frame 205 means vibrating the entire seating seat 200.

[0049] On the other hand, in this example, as described above, the seat cushion 206 directly abuts against the cover portion 190 when seated. Therefore, the vibration of the vibration device 100 is transmitted to the seat cushion 206 instead of the seat frame 205. For the occupant 400, although it is through the seat cushion 206, the presence of the cover portion 190 can be directly sensed. Specifically, when seated, the occupant 400 directly touches the seat cushion 206, which is a vibration transmission member. Also, the cover portion 190 directly touches the seat cushion 206, which is also a vibration transmission member. Therefore, when the cover portion 190 vibrates so as to reciprocally displace in the first direction and the second direction, the reciprocal vibration of the cover portion 190 is accurately transmitted to the occupant 400 through the seat cushion 206, which is a vibration transmission member. Of course, the fact that the occupant 400 directly senses the reciprocal vibration of the cover portion 190 includes the case of experiencing the reciprocal vibration through clothing or the like. In the seating seat 200 where a plurality of vibration devices 100 are arranged, by vibrating a predetermined vibration device 100, information on whether the vibration source is in the right direction or the left direction can also be transmitted to the occupant 400.

[0050] When this disclosure is considered as a vibration transmission method using a vibration device 100, it is as follows: A vibration transmission method for a vibration device 100 that is placed on a seat having a seating surface on which a person can sit and which contacts at least a part of the person, and transmits vibrations to a person. The vibration device 100 used in the vibration transmission method comprises a coil 140 that is energized by current, a stator core 150 made of a magnetic material that forms a magnetic circuit when the coil 140 is energized, a moving core 160 made of a magnetic material that faces the stator core 150 via a magnetic gap and forms a magnetic circuit when the coil 140 is energized and is displaced in a first direction toward the stator core 150, a leaf spring member 180 that biases the moving core 160 in a second direction away from the stator core 150, and a cover portion 190 that is positioned opposite the moving core 160 with the leaf spring member 180 in between and receives vibrations of the moving core 160.

[0051] The vibration transmission method by the vibration device 100 is such that when a person is seated, the cover portion comes into contact with the seat (seating seat 200), and the displacement of the moving core 160 in the first and second directions is transmitted from the cover portion 190 to the person via the seating surface of the seat (seating seat 200). Furthermore, when considering the vibration transmission method of the vibration device 100 placed on a seat (seating seat 200) which includes a seat cushion 206 on which a person sits and a seat frame 205 that supports the seat cushion 206, it is as follows: The cover portion 190 is positioned so as to face the seating surface via the seat cushion 206, and when a person is in contact with the seating surface, the displacement of the moving core 160 in the first and second directions is transmitted from the cover portion 190 to at least a part of the person via the seat cushion 206, which is a vibration transmission member, resulting in a vibration transmission method that the person can directly feel.

[0052] Next, another example of the arrangement of the vibration device 100 will be described using Figure 8. In this example, the vibration device 100 is arranged on the ride seat 203 of a saddle-type vehicle. In the ride seat 203, the seat base plate 209 functions as the seat frame 205. Therefore, in this disclosure, the seat base plate 209 is defined as one type of seat frame 205. In other words, the seat frame 205 in this disclosure is not limited to a metal skeleton, but refers to a member capable of supporting the seat cushion 206, including resin plates. In the example in Figure 8, the seat cushion 206 of the ride seat 203 is held by the seat base plate 209. From this, it can be confirmed that the seat base plate 209 is an example of a seat frame 205. In the ride seat 203, the seat cushion 206 is covered by the seat surface 207.

[0053] The seat base plate 209 is part of the seat frame 205 and is therefore fixed to the saddle vehicle, but the seat base plate 209 itself is elastic. Therefore, even if the vibration device 100 is rigidly connected to the seat base plate 209 by a nut 152, the seat base plate 209 can vibrate, and the vibration of the vibration device 100 is transmitted to the ride seat 203. Corresponding to the example of the seated seat 200 shown in Figure 6, the seat base plate 209 has the function of an elastic member 208. The load of the occupant 400 when seated is applied directly to the vibration device 100 via the seat cushion 206, just as in the seated seat 200 in Figure 6. Therefore, the effect that when the cover portion 190 described above is reciprocated displacement (vibration) in the first and second directions, the vibration is accurately transmitted to the occupant 400 is similarly exhibited in the ride seat 203.

[0054] It should be noted that the application of the occupant's load to the cover portion 190 of the vibration device 100 is not limited to cases where the entire load of the occupant 400 is applied to the cover portion 190. For the occupant 400, a larger surface area facing the cover portion 190 is preferable, and it is desirable that the occupant 400 is more susceptible to the reciprocating vibrations of the vibration device 100 transmitted from the cover portion 190. From the perspective of the occupant's load, it is desirable that the load of the occupant 400 is easily transmitted to the cover portion 190. However, this disclosure only requires that the vibrations of the vibration device 100 be efficiently transmitted from the cover portion 190 to the occupant 400. For this reason, as shown in Figure 9, it is also acceptable even if the occupant 400 is seated in a location away from the position where the vibration device 100 is located. In the example in Figure 9, the load of the occupant 400 is supported by the seat frame 205 via the seat cushion 206, the vibration device 100, and the elastic member 208. Therefore, at least a portion of the load of the occupant 400 is applied to the vibration device 100, which is positioned between the occupant 400 and the seat frame 205. The reciprocating displacement (vibration) of the vibration device 100 in the first and second directions is also efficiently transmitted to the occupant 400.

[0055] In this disclosure, it is sufficient that the occupant 400 can feel the reciprocating vibration of the cover portion 190 via the seat 200 or ride seat 203; it is not required that the seat cushion 206 be pressed against the cover portion 190 by the weight of the occupant 400. The seat cushion 206 may be in contact with the cover portion 190 due to the elasticity of the elastic member 208 or the seat base plate 209. For example, in an example where the vibration device 100 is positioned on the side of the seat cushion 206, the weight of the occupant 400 is not directly applied to the cover portion 190. However, even in such an example, the vibration of the vibration device 100 is transmitted directly from the cover portion 190 to the seat cushion 206. Therefore, the occupant 400 in contact with the seat cushion 206 can efficiently feel the vibration of the vibration device 100. Figure 6 shows the seated position, but even when the occupant 400 is not seated, the cover portion 190 is pressed against the seat cushion 206 due to the elasticity of the elastic member 208. Similarly, in the embodiment shown in Figure 8, when the occupant 400 is not seated, the cover portion 190 is in contact with the seat cushion 206 due to the elasticity of the seat base plate 209.

[0056] However, it is only when the occupant 400 is seated that the cover portion 190 of the vibration device 100 needs to contact the seat 200 or ride seat 203 and for the occupant 400 to feel the cover portion 190. As shown in Figure 10, when the occupant 400 is not seated, it is acceptable for there to be a gap between the cover portion 190 of the vibration device 100 and the seat cushion 206. However, if there is a gap as shown in Figure 10, the vibration device 100 may come into contact with the seat cushion 206, potentially causing abnormal noise. Therefore, it is desirable that the cover portion 190 be pressed against the seat cushion 206 even when the occupant 400 is not seated.

[0057] The above description represents a preferred example of the present disclosure, but various modifications are possible beyond the above example. Dimensions and materials are examples and can be changed in various ways depending on the required application. For example, the housing 120 may be cylindrical, eliminating the distinction between the small diameter and large diameter sections. The outer diameter of the housing 120 may also be reduced. The stator core 150 may be integrally formed at the bottom of the housing 120. Furthermore, the fixing between the bobbin 130 and the housing 120 may be done by adhesive bonding rather than by using the first rivet 134 and the second rivet 135, and press-fitting or secondary molding is also possible.

[0058] In the example above, the cover portion 190 was made of iron, but the cover portion 190 may be made of metal or resin. Even if it is made of metal, it does not need to be made of magnetic material as the cover portion 190 does not form a magnetic circuit. If it is made of resin, the cover portion 190 may be fixed to the opening 127 of the housing 120 by adhesive. Whether it is made of metal or resin, various fixing methods can be selected. Adhesion or locking claws may be used, or it may be fixed with screws or the like. In addition, reinforcing ribs may be formed on the cover portion 190. In particular, since the cover portion 190 will bear the load of the occupant 400, reinforcing ribs are desirable in order to suppress deformation of the cover portion 190.

[0059] Furthermore, an opening may be formed in the cover portion 190. The opening connects the inside and outside, facilitating air movement and smoothing the reciprocating motion of the moving core 160 in the first and second directions. It can also be used as a drain hole in case water vapor condenses. Moreover, forming an opening in the cover portion 190 makes it possible to reduce the weight of the cover portion 190. To reduce weight, the size of the opening can also be increased.

[0060] In the example described above, the cover portion 190 was formed as a smooth surface that gently bulged toward the seating surface of the seat 200. This shape is desirable in order to avoid causing discomfort to the occupant 400. However, the shape of the cover portion 190 is not limited to the shapes shown in Figures 1 to 3. The cover portion 190 can be polygonal instead of circular. Furthermore, the cover portion 190 may be strip-shaped or cross-shaped. When it is strip-shaped or cross-shaped, the cover opening end 191 of the cover portion 190 will be partially crimped and fixed to the opening 127 of the housing 120.

[0061] In the example described above, the amplitude of the moving core 160 was omitted, but it is also possible to change the amplitude of the moving core 160 by changing the voltage applied to the coil 140. Applying a large voltage will increase the amplitude of the moving core 160. Conversely, decreasing the voltage applied to the coil 140 will decrease the amplitude of the moving core 160. Therefore, adjusting the voltage applied to the coil 140 is not limited to the embodiment described above. The voltage applied to the coil 140 is controlled by the control device 220.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the leaf spring member 180 has three connecting parts 183, but the number of connecting parts 183 can be set as appropriate. The number and shape of the connecting parts 183 may also be changed. The shape of the connecting parts 183 and the gap 184 can also be set as appropriate. For example, the gap 184 may be fan-shaped, oval-shaped, or trapezoidal-shaped.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the elastic member 208 was welded to the seat frame 205, resulting in a rigid connection between the elastic member 208 and the seat frame 205. However, the connection between the elastic member 208 and the seat frame 205 may not always be rigid. For example, a rubber cushion such as a grommet may be interposed between the elastic member 208 and the seat frame 205. If the grommet functions as an elastic member, it is possible to increase the rigidity of the member designated as the elastic member 208 in the example of Figure 6.

[0064] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the area of ​​the gap 184 in the leaf spring member 180 is large, and when the coil 140 is energized, the magnetic circuit may saturate at the connecting portion 183. However, even in this case, the magnetic circuit is formed by passing through the gap 184. Therefore, while making the leaf spring member 180 from a magnetic material is a desirable design for forming a magnetic circuit, non-magnetic materials such as stainless steel or resin can also be used. In that case, the magnetic flux will travel from the housing 120 to the moving core 160, and although the magnetic efficiency will decrease, it will still be possible to make it function as a vibration device 100.

[0065] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, a gap 184 is formed between the connecting portions 183 of the leaf spring member 180. This is a desirable embodiment for adjusting the rigidity of the leaf spring member 180 and suppressing the generation of sound by the leaf spring member 180. Moreover, the shape of the gap 184 can be devised to prevent the generation of a rotational component during the elastic deformation of the connecting portion 183, and in that sense, it is also a desirable embodiment. However, the gap 184 may be made smaller or eliminated by devising the material and thickness of the leaf spring member 180.

[0066] Furthermore, a desirable application of the vibration device 100 of this disclosure is as a haptic device for attracting the attention of an occupant 400 in automobiles or saddle-type vehicles. In particular, in vehicles, haptic devices that can attract the attention of an occupant 400 without appealing to the occupant 400's vision will become increasingly important in the future. However, the application of the vibration device 100 is not necessarily limited to vehicles. It can be used as a device that generates vibrations in various types of seats. For example, it can be used in massage chairs and sofas. Therefore, the vibrations from the vibration device 100 do not necessarily have to be vibration information for attracting attention. For example, it is possible to generate vibrations in sync with the rhythm of music for a person sitting on a sofa listening to music. In this way, the vibration device 100 of this disclosure can provide vibrations to people in many use cases, not just to occupants 400. In the above example, occupant 400 is just one example of a person. The seats in this disclosure include not only seating seats 200 and ride seats 203, but also a wide range of seats that have a seating surface on which a person can sit. Depending on the usage conditions, it may be desirable to place the vibration device 100 in a location where no human weight is applied. Even in such cases, the vibration device 100 is pressed against the sheet. Therefore, the person can efficiently experience the vibration of the cover portion 190.

[0067] In the above example, the vibration device 100 was placed on the bottom surface of the seat 200 and ride seat 203, but the placement of this vibration device 100 can be changed in various ways depending on the application. In the case of a massage chair, for example, the vibration device 100 may be placed on the side or top surface of the seat. The important thing is that the reciprocating vibration of the cover part 190 is efficiently transmitted to the person through the seat.

[0068] (Disclosure of Technical Ideas) This specification discloses several technical ideas as described in the following paragraphs. Some paragraphs may be written in a multiple dependency form, where subsequent paragraphs alternately refer to preceding paragraphs. Furthermore, some paragraphs may be written in a multiple dependency form, referring to other multiple dependency forms. These paragraphs written in multiple dependency forms define several technical ideas.

[0069] (Technical Concept 1) A vibration device (100) that is placed on a seat having a seating surface on which a person can sit and which contacts at least a part of the person, and transmits vibrations to the person, comprising: a coil (140) that is energized by current; a stator core (150) made of a magnetic material that constitutes a magnetic circuit when the coil is energized; a moving core (160) made of a magnetic material that faces the stator core via a magnetic gap, constitutes a magnetic circuit when the coil is energized, and is displaced in a first direction toward the stator core; a leaf spring member (180) that biases the moving core in a second direction away from the stator core; and a cover portion (190) that is positioned opposite the moving core with the leaf spring member in between and receives vibrations of the moving core, wherein the cover portion contacts the seat when a person is seated, and the displacement of the moving core in the first and second directions is transmitted from the cover portion to the person via the seating surface of the seat.

[0070] (Technical Concept 2) A vibration device disposed on a seat comprising a seat cushion (206) on which a person sits and a seat frame (205) that supports the seat cushion, wherein the cover portion is disposed so as to face the seating surface via the seat cushion, and the displacement of the moving core in the first and second directions is transmitted from the cover portion to at least a part of the person via the seat cushion and the seating surface, as described in Technical Concept 1.

[0071] (Technical Concept 3) The stator core is a vibration device according to Technical Concept 2, wherein the vibration device is mounted to the seat frame in a vibratory manner, and the load of a person is transmitted to the cover portion via the seat cushion while at least a part of the person is in contact with the seating surface.

[0072] (Technical Idea 4) The stator core is attached to the seat frame via an elastic member (208), the vibration device is made vibratable by the elasticity of the elastic member, and the cover portion comes into contact with the seat cushion by the elasticity of the elastic member, as described in Technical Idea 2 or Technical Idea 3.

[0073] (Technical Idea 5) The vibration device according to Technical Idea 2 or Technical Idea 3, wherein the seat frame is elastic, the vibration device is able to vibrate due to the elasticity of the seat frame, and the cover portion comes into contact with the seat cushion due to the elasticity of the seat frame.

[0074] (Technical Idea 6) The vibration device further comprises a housing (120) made of a magnetic material having a bottom, side and opening, holding the coil inside and forming a magnetic circuit when the coil is excited, the stator core is held at the bottom of the housing, the leaf spring member has an inner circumference (182) held by the moving core and an outer circumference (181) held by the opening of the housing, and the cover portion has a cover opening end (191) held by the opening of the housing, as described in any of Technical Ideas 1 to 5.

[0075] (Technical Idea 7) The vibration device according to any one of Technical Ideas 1 to 6, wherein the cover portion is formed of a smooth surface that gently bulges toward the seating surface.

[0076] (Technical idea 8) A vibration device according to technical idea 6 or technical idea 7 which is subordinate to technical idea 6, wherein the outer periphery of the leaf spring member is clamped between the cover opening end of the cover portion and the opening of the housing, with the cover opening end of the cover portion being held in the opening of the housing.

[0077] (Technical Idea 9) A vibration transmission method using a vibration device (100) that is placed on a seat having a seating surface on which a person can sit and which contacts at least a part of the person, and which transmits vibrations to a person, wherein the vibration device comprises a coil (140) that is energized by current, a stator core (150) made of a magnetic material that constitutes a magnetic circuit when the coil is energized, a moving core (160) made of a magnetic material that faces the stator core via a magnetic gap and constitutes a magnetic circuit when the coil is energized and is displaced in a first direction toward the stator core, a leaf spring member (180) that biases the moving core in a second direction away from the stator core, and a cover portion (190) that is positioned opposite the moving core with the leaf spring member in between and receives vibrations of the moving core, wherein when a person sits, the cover portion contacts the seat and transmits the displacement of the moving core in the first and second directions from the cover portion to the person via the seating surface of the seat.

Claims

1. A vibration device (100) that is placed on a seat having a seating surface on which a person can sit and which contacts at least a part of the person, and transmits vibrations to the person, comprising: a coil (140) that is energized by current; a stator core (150) made of a magnetic material that constitutes a magnetic circuit when the coil is energized; a moving core (160) made of a magnetic material that faces the stator core via a magnetic gap, constitutes a magnetic circuit when the coil is energized, and is displaced in a first direction toward the stator core; a leaf spring member (180) that biases the moving core in a second direction away from the stator core; and a cover portion (190) that is positioned opposite the moving core with the leaf spring member in between and receives vibrations of the moving core, wherein the cover portion contacts the seat when a person is seated, and the displacement of the moving core in the first and second directions is transmitted from the cover portion to the person via the seating surface of the seat.

2. A vibration device disposed on a seat comprising a seat cushion (206) on which a person sits and a seat frame (205) that supports the seat cushion, wherein the cover portion is disposed toward the seating surface via the seat cushion, and the displacement of the moving core in the first and second directions is transmitted from the cover portion to at least a part of the person via the seat cushion and the seating surface, according to claim 1.

3. The vibration device according to claim 2, wherein the stator core is mounted to the seat frame in a vibratory manner, and the load of a person is transmitted to the cover portion via the seat cushion while at least a portion of the person is in contact with the seating surface.

4. The vibration device according to claim 2, wherein the stator core is attached to the seat frame via an elastic member (208), the vibration device is made vibrable by the elasticity of the elastic member, and the cover portion is in contact with the seat cushion by the elasticity of the elastic member.

5. The vibration device according to claim 2, wherein the seat frame is elastic, the vibration device is able to vibrate due to the elasticity of the seat frame, and the cover portion comes into contact with the seat cushion due to the elasticity of the seat frame.

6. The vibration device further comprises a housing (120) made of a magnetic material having a bottom, side portions and an opening, holding the coil inside and forming a magnetic circuit when the coil is excited, the stator core is held at the bottom of the housing, the leaf spring member has an inner circumference (182) held by the moving core and an outer circumference (181) held by the opening of the housing, and the cover portion has a cover opening end (191) held by the opening of the housing, as described in claim 1.

7. The vibration device according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion is formed of a smooth surface that gently bulges toward the seating surface.

8. The vibration device according to claim 6, wherein the outer periphery of the leaf spring member is clamped between the cover opening end of the cover portion and the opening of the housing, while the cover opening end of the cover portion is held in the opening of the housing.

9. A vibration transmission method using a vibration device (100) that is placed on a seat on which a person can sit and which has a seating surface that contacts at least a part of the person, and which transmits vibrations to a person, wherein the vibration device comprises a coil (140) that is energized by current, a stator core (150) made of a magnetic material that constitutes a magnetic circuit when the coil is energized, a moving core (160) made of a magnetic material that faces the stator core via a magnetic gap and constitutes a magnetic circuit when the coil is energized and is displaced in a first direction toward the stator core, a leaf spring member (180) that biases the moving core in a second direction away from the stator core, and a cover portion (190) that is positioned opposite the moving core with the leaf spring member in between and receives vibrations of the moving core, wherein when a person sits, the cover portion contacts the seat and transmits the displacement of the moving core in the first and second directions from the cover portion to the person via the seating surface of the seat.

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