Magnet Actuator with Ferromagnetic Shield for Display Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Haptic devices face challenges in effectively conveying tactile feedback while minimizing magnetic flux leakage, which can interfere with nearby sensitive objects, and in providing stable and controlled deformation of touch displays for enhanced user interaction.
Innovation Solution
The design includes an actuator with a ferrous material actuator body, a movable magnet within a channel, and a coil-driven mechanism that deforms the display, with optional ferromagnetic or magnetic actuator tops to manage flux leakage and a restoring biasing member to stabilize movement, ensuring controlled haptic feedback and reduced magnetic interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a haptic actuator uses a magnet and coil to generate tactile feedback, then haptic feedback effectiveness is improved, but magnetic flux leakage increases which interferes with nearby sensitive objects
Solution Approach 1:
A ferromagnetic shield is introduced as an intermediary component between the magnet and the external environment. This shield captures and redirects magnetic flux lines, preventing them from leaking into nearby sensitive objects while maintaining the magnetic field's effectiveness for haptic feedback generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful magnetic flux leakage is extracted and redirected through the ferromagnetic shield structure. The shield separates the useful magnetic field (acting on the display for haptic feedback) from the harmful leakage (that would interfere with sensitive objects), channeling the flux through a controlled path.
2Ease of operation
If an actuator uses a coil-driven mechanism to deform the display, then tactile feedback is generated, but control stability and deformation precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the controller monitors the actuator's position and force output, adjusting coil current in real-time to maintain precise control. This closed-loop control ensures stable deformation of the display while generating accurate tactile feedback, compensating for variations in magnetic field strength and mechanical resistance.
3Ease of operation
If a magnet is made movable within a channel to enable actuator operation, then haptic feedback control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is divided into distinct functional segments: a movable magnet portion within the channel, a coil assembly, a ferromagnetic shield, and a display interface. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while simplifying the overall design and assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable magnet is nested within the channel structure, which itself is integrated into the actuator body. The ferromagnetic shield is positioned to envelop the magnet-coil interaction region, creating a compact nested arrangement that reduces overall device footprint while maintaining functional complexity only where necessary.
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
This solution enables effective tactile feedback generation with minimized magnetic flux leakage, allowing for precise deformation of touch displays and improved user interaction, while maintaining stability and reducing interference with sensitive objects.
Implementation Method 1
a controller configured to drive the at least one coil to relatively move the actuator bottom and actuator top
Implementation Method 2
The actuator body may include a ferrous material, for example, ferrous steel
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may include a device housing and a display carried by the device housing. The electronic device may also include an actuator carried between the device housing and the display. The actuator may include an actuator body having an actuator bottom and a sidewall extending upwardly therefrom, a first guide member carried by the actuator bottom and spaced inwardly from adjacent portions of the sidewall to define a channel, and at least one coil carried by the sidewall. The actuator may also include a magnet being moveable within the channel and an actuator top coupled to the magnet and that includes a second guide member cooperating with the first guide member. The electronic device may also include a controller configured to drive the at least one coil to relatively move the actuator bottom and actuator top to thereby deform the display.