Multi-Suspension Flexure for Transducer Vibration Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In consumer electronics, mechanical and acoustomechanical components often transfer unwanted vibrations to sensors and users, causing co-existence issues due to limited space, which complicates vibration isolation in wearable devices.

Innovation Solution

A suspension component with multiple mechanically-compliant flexures is integrated into the transducer system, using a single piece of planar material to suspend sub-assemblies and provide vibration isolation, reducing the transmission of vibrations to the device and user.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional rigid mounting is used for transducers, then structural stability is improved, but vibration transmission to sensors and users increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The transducer assembly is divided into multiple sub-assemblies (first sub-assembly, second sub-assembly, third sub-assembly) that are independently suspended by separate sets of flexures. This segmentation allows each sub-assembly to be isolated from vibrations produced by others, reducing overall vibration transmission while maintaining structural integrity through the hierarchical suspension system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Flexures made from flexible material are used to replace rigid mounting structures. These flexible elements provide mechanical compliance that absorbs and isolates vibrations, allowing the transducer assembly to maintain structural stability while reducing harmful vibration transmission to the device and user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple separate suspension components are used, then vibration isolation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration isolationVSAvoidcomponent complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple suspension components that would traditionally be separate parts are merged into a single integrated suspension component. This unified structure contains multiple flexures and sub-assembly suspensions within one component, reducing the total number of parts and assembly steps while maintaining the vibration isolation benefits of multiple suspension stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated suspension component performs multiple functions simultaneously: it suspends multiple sub-assemblies, provides vibration isolation across different frequency ranges, and serves as the mechanical mounting structure for the entire transducer assembly. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate components for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If additional vibration isolation components are added, then vibration transmission is reduced, but available space decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration transmission reductionVSAvoidavailable space

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension system uses a nested hierarchical structure where the first sub-assembly is suspended from support brackets, the second sub-assembly is suspended from the first sub-assembly, and the third sub-assembly is suspended from the second sub-assembly. This nesting approach allows multiple vibration isolation stages to be contained within a compact volume, reducing vibration transmission without proportionally increasing the overall device size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 integrated vibration isolation system effectively minimizes the transfer of vibrations from the transducer to the device and user, enhancing the comfort and performance of wearable electronics by leveraging existing motor mass and allowing for compact form factors.

Implementation Method 1

The suspension component includes a plurality of flexures... configured to suspend sub-assemblies... providing mechanically-compliant suspensions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11234079B1Multi-suspension element for transducers

Publication Date: 2022.01.25 META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A suspension component may be used within a system for isolating vibrations produced by an electrical component. A body of the suspension component may be formed from a single piece of planar material. A suspension component includes a plurality of flexures. The plurality of flexures includes a first set of flexures configured to suspend a first sub-assembly of a transducer from support brackets, a second set of flexures configured to suspend a second sub-assembly of the transducer from the first sub-assembly, and a third set of flexures configured to suspend the second sub-assembly from the support brackets.