Vibration Actuator Posture Stability via Orthogonal Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration actuators face challenges in maintaining the posture of vibration elements relative to contact bodies, leading to inefficiencies and potential tilting, which affects driving performance and increases the size of the actuator in the moving direction.
Innovation Solution
A vibration actuator design that includes a vibration element unit with a first vibration element, a holding member, a base, and an urging unit, where the holding member is supported to maintain the vibration element's posture and the urging unit applies pressure intersecting with the friction sliding surface, reducing the change in posture between the vibration element and the contact body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the longitudinal direction of the urging engagement members is parallel to the axial direction of the shaft, then the structure is simple, but the size of the actuator in the axial direction becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation of the urging engagement members from parallel to perpendicular relative to the shaft's axial direction. This dimensional reorientation allows the urging force to be applied effectively while reducing the axial length requirement, as the urging members now extend in the radial direction rather than the axial direction.
2Device complexity
If the vibration element is allowed to move freely, then the structure is simple, but the posture of the vibration element changes relative to the contact body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the support function by introducing a separate supporting member that is distinct from the urging engagement member. The supporting member specifically maintains the posture of the vibration element relative to the contact body, while the urging engagement member provides the pressing force. This functional segmentation allows independent optimization of each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting member acts as an intermediary between the vibration element and the contact body, specifically tasked with maintaining the relative posture. This intermediary component ensures stable contact geometry without interfering with the vibration motion or the urging force application.
3Power
If multiple vibration elements are used to increase driving force, then the output increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple vibration elements onto a single common support structure with shared urging and supporting mechanisms. The multiple vibration elements are arranged to contact the same contact body simultaneously, and they share common urging engagement members and supporting members, thereby increasing driving force without proportionally increasing overall structural complexity.
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 solution effectively maintains the vibration element's posture parallel to the contact body's friction sliding surfaces, enhancing driving performance and reducing the actuator's size in the moving direction, thereby improving efficiency and stability over time.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration actuator that causes a vibration element to generate predetermined vibration to apply a frictional driving force (thrust) to a contact body in contact with the vibration element
Implementation Method 2
a vibration actuator that causes a vibration element to generate predetermined vibration to apply a frictional driving force (thrust) to a contact body
Data Source
AI summary
A vibration actuator that is reduced in the change of posture of a vibration element with respect to a contact body. The vibration element unit and the contact body are movable relative to each other. The vibration element unit includes a vibration element in contact with the contact body, a first holding member that holds the vibration element, a base, a first supporting member that is fixed to the base, and movably supports the first holding member in a direction orthogonal to a friction sliding surface of the contact body in slide contact with the vibration element, while maintaining the vibration element in a predetermined posture with respect to the contact body, and an urging unit that is arranged on the base independently of the first supporting member and presses the vibration element in a direction orthogonal to the friction sliding surface of the contact body.