Vibration Actuator Buffer Structure for Quiet Impact Limiting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vibration presenting apparatuses experience strong vibrations and impacts that can generate excessive noise and stress on sensors, leading to potential failure and maintenance needs.

Innovation Solution

A vibration actuator with a movable part, vibration generating part, and elastic support part, featuring a load detecting part and movement regulating part to manage strain and movement, reducing impact and sound through a buffer mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the movable part is allowed to move freely in the approaching/separating direction, then the vibration generation capability is improved, but the impact resistance deteriorates when strong impacts occur from outside

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidsound of collision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a buffer member between the movement regulating part and the engaged part. This buffer member is positioned in advance to cushion any potential collision that may occur during strong impacts, thereby preventing direct contact between hard surfaces and reducing collision sounds while maintaining impact resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The buffer member serves as an intermediary element between the movement regulating part and the engaged part. Instead of allowing direct contact between these components, the buffer member mediates the interaction, absorbing impact energy and preventing direct collision, thus reducing sound generation while maintaining the structural integrity and impact resistance of the vibration actuator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the movable part is constrained to prevent collision, then the sound of collision is reduced, but the vibration generation capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound of collisionVSAvoidvibration generation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The movement regulating part is designed to dynamically adjust its constraint level based on operating conditions. During normal vibration generation, the movable part can move freely within acceptable ranges to maintain vibration capability. When strong impacts occur, the movement regulating part engages to provide temporary constraints, preventing excessive collision while allowing normal operation to proceed uninterrupted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the movement parameter of the movable part dynamically. Under normal conditions, the movable part has full movement freedom for effective vibration generation. When impact is detected or anticipated, the movement regulating part activates to change the movement parameter by engaging with the engaged part, thereby limiting movement to prevent collision sounds without permanently restricting vibration generation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If the sensor is exposed to detect pressing operations, then the operation detection capability is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to excessive stress from strong impacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing operation detectionVSAvoidsensor durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The movement regulating part with buffer member provides beforehand cushioning for the sensor by preventing excessive movement of the movable part during strong impacts. This protective mechanism is positioned in advance to cushion any potential excessive stress that may reach the sensor, thereby protecting the sensor from damage while maintaining its ability to detect normal pressing operations accurately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The movement regulating part acts as an intermediary protective element between the external impact forces and the sensor. It mediates the transmission of forces, allowing normal operational forces to pass through for accurate detection while blocking or cushioning excessive impact forces that would otherwise damage the sensor, thus protecting sensor durability without compromising detection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enhances impact resistance and reduces sound generation, improving the durability and operational reliability of the vibration presenting apparatus.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic support part that supports the movable part with respect to the base part in a vibratable manner in an approaching/separating direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a load detecting part provided between a presentation-part side fixing part and a support-part side fixing part and detecting, as a load, strain due to the pressing operation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStrain detection: Deformation

Implementation Method 3

The movement regulating part regulates movement of the movable part by engaging with an engaged part of the base part via a buffer member when the movable part moves in a direction separating from the base part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact absorption: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4606492A1Vibration presenting apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 MINEBEAMITSUMI INC
  • EP4606492A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4606492A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4606492A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vibration presenting apparatus, comprising: a device (2) on which an operator performs a pressing operation; an actuator (10) that gives vibration to the device (2); a strain part (97) provided continuously between a first fixing part (94) having a plate shape and a second fixing part having a plate shape, the first fixing part (94) being fixable to the device (2), the second fixing part being fixable to the actuator (10); and a sensor (99) that detects, on the strain part (97), strain generated in the strain part (7) due to the pressing operation; and a regulating part (96) provided in the first fixing part (94), the regulating part (96) regulating movement of the actuator (10) by engaging with the actuator (10) when the device (2) moves in a direction separating from the actuator (10), wherein the regulating part (96) includes: a first portion extending from the first fixing part (94) in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the strain part (97) and the first fixing part (94) extend; and a second portion that extends from an end of the first portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first portion extends.