Integrally Molded Vibration Actuator Projection for Noise Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration actuators face issues with abnormal noise and reduced stability due to separate projections bonded to a planar elastic member, leading to potential displacement and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A vibration actuator with an elastic body formed integrally with projections and an electromechanical conversion device, featuring a spring portion with a smaller thickness than other parts, which exhibits a spring characteristic when pressed, reducing noise and improving stability while simplifying manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate projections are bonded to a planar elastic member, then the actuator can be manufactured with simple processes, but the projections may be displaced leading to unstable spring stiffness and increased manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The projection and elastic member are merged into a single integrally-formed elastic body. The projection is formed as an integral part of the elastic member through a single molding process, eliminating the need for separate bonding operations. This integration ensures precise positioning of the projection relative to the elastic member while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision.
2Ease of operation
If separate projections are bonded to the elastic member, then the structure can be assembled easily, but abnormal noise is generated and stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the projection and elastic member into an integral structure, the patent eliminates the bonding interface that causes displacement and instability. The integrally-formed projection maintains consistent positioning and spring characteristics, preventing abnormal noise and improving movement stability, while the overall assembly process remains simple.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate projections are bonded to the elastic member, then the design is flexible, but the number of manufacturing steps increases and costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the projection and elastic member into a single component reduces the number of manufacturing steps from multiple processes (molding + bonding) to a single molding process. This merger maintains design flexibility by allowing the projection's shape, size, and position to be optimized during the molding design phase, while eliminating the complexity of assembly operations.
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 provides stable spring stiffness and reduced manufacturing complexity, minimizing noise and enhancing the actuator's performance while lowering production costs.
Implementation Method 1
The spring portion causes the projection to exhibit a spring characteristic when the contact portion is pressed as a result of the contact with the driven member
Implementation Method 2
a vibrating body including an electromechanical conversion device... when an alternating driving voltage is applied to the electromechanical conversion device
Data Source
AI summary
A vibration actuator includes an elastic body on which at least one projection is formed and a vibrating body including an electromechanical conversion device, and drives a driven member that is in contact with a contact portion of the projection by causing an end portion of the projection to perform an ellipsoidal movement in response to a combination of two vibration modes generated in the vibrating body when an alternating driving voltage is applied. The elastic body is formed integrally with the projection and a bonding portion between the projection and the electromechanical conversion device. A space is provided between the contact portion and the electromechanical conversion device to which the projection is bonded. The spring portion is provided between the bonding portion and the contact portion and causes the projection to exhibit a spring characteristic when the contact portion is pressed by the driven member.