Haptic Actuator with Slidably Coupled Masses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Haptic actuators in electronic devices face challenges in providing increased force feedback while maintaining a compact size, as existing designs often compromise between force and space efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A haptic actuator design featuring a housing with ferritic top and bottom, loop-shaped coils, a field member with permanent magnets and masses, and biasing members, which includes a shaft coupling mechanism to enhance force feedback and reduce height, allowing for more momentum in a smaller package.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a haptic actuator uses a single mass design, then the structure is simpler, but the force feedback capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic actuator divides the single mass into multiple discrete masses (first mass, second mass, third mass) arranged in sequence along the movement direction. Each mass can be independently actuated by electromagnetic coils, enabling the system to generate more complex force feedback patterns and tactile sensations while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through modular design.
2Force
If the haptic actuator increases in size to provide more momentum, then the force feedback improves, but the device occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-mass design to a multi-mass arrangement along the movement direction (vertical dimension). By stacking multiple masses sequentially rather than increasing the size of a single mass, the actuator achieves greater total mass and momentum while maintaining a compact footprint and controlled height, effectively utilizing spatial arrangement to resolve the contradiction between force output and device volume.
3Weight of moving object
If the haptic actuator uses more masses, then the momentum increases, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator employs segmented masses that can be manufactured as separate components and then assembled in a standardized sequence. This segmentation allows each mass to be optimized independently for manufacturing while the modular nature of the design simplifies the overall assembly process, reducing the impact of increased component count on manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple masses with a common housing structure and shared electromagnetic actuation system. By merging the support infrastructure (housing, coils, magnets) while keeping masses modular, the design achieves increased total mass for greater momentum without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity, as the shared components can be produced using the same processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves increased force haptic feedback with reduced height, enabling more efficient and compact haptic experiences in electronic devices, such as mobile wireless communications devices.
Implementation Method 1
a field member carried by the housing. The field member may include at least one permanent magnet between the first and second coils
Implementation Method 2
a first set of biasing members between the first end of the field member and the housing and a second set of biasing members between the second end of the field member and the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A haptic actuator may include a housing having a top and a bottom, and first and second coils carried by the top and bottom, respectively, of the housing. The haptic actuator may also include a field member carried by the housing. The field member may include a permanent magnet between the first and second coils, first and second ends, and a first mass between the first end and the permanent magnet, and a second mass between the second end and the permanent magnet. A first shaft may slidably couple the first mass to the housing, and a second shaft may slidably couple the second mass to the housing. The haptic actuator may also include a first set of biasing members between the first end of the field member and the housing and a second set of biasing members between the second end of the field member and the housing.