Vibration Actuator Yoke Bonding via Segmented Protrusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vibration actuators, the bonding of the yoke to the plate-shaped elastic body is prone to issues such as the yoke coming off during operation, and securing a welding space restricts design freedom and increases the risk of adhesion failures.

Innovation Solution

A vibration actuator design that eliminates the need for a welding space by using a sandwiched configuration with deformable components, where the elastic support portion is fixed between the upper and lower fixing bodies, allowing for reliable bonding without the need for additional space and enhancing design flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If press-fitting or adhesion is used to bond the yoke to the plate-shaped elastic body, then the bonding process is simple, but the yoke may come off during operation due to applied forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding process simplicityVSAvoidbonding reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bonding structure is divided into two functional parts: a protrusion portion on the yoke for insertion, and a corresponding hole in the elastic body for reception. This segmentation allows the components to be manufactured separately with standard processes while achieving reliable connection through their geometric interlocking during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion portion of the yoke is inserted into the hole of the plate-shaped elastic body, creating a nested configuration where one component fits within another. This nesting provides mechanical interlocking that prevents detachment during operation while maintaining a compact structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Strength

If welding is used to bond the yoke to the plate-shaped elastic body, then the bonding strength is high, but additional space for welding must be secured which reduces design freedom

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding strengthVSAvoiddesign freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the thermal welding process with a mechanical insertion system. The protrusion-hole configuration provides sufficient bonding strength through geometric interlocking and friction, eliminating the need for welding operations and the associated space requirements, thereby restoring design freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Strength

If welding or adhesion is used to bond the yoke to the plate-shaped elastic body, then the bonding strength is improved, but the design freedom of the plate-shaped elastic body (spring) is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding strengthVSAvoidspring design freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the bonding interface into a protrusion on the yoke and a corresponding hole in the elastic body, the design allows the elastic body to maintain its spring functionality without requiring additional welding spaces or adhesive areas, thus preserving design freedom while achieving strong bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The nested protrusion-hole configuration enables the yoke to be securely attached to the elastic body without requiring external bonding operations. This allows the elastic body to be designed as a spring with optimized geometry for its mechanical function, unrestricted by bonding process requirements.

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

This design ensures robust bonding of the movable body to the elastic support, preventing yoke detachment and allowing for increased design freedom, while maintaining effective vibration functionality with reduced assembly complexity and power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

a coil that is wound around a coil bobbin surrounding the permanent magnet at an outside in a radial direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

driving the vibration actuator to transmit vibration to a user

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLorentz force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 3

a spring member that is connected to the coil bobbin. The movable element is supported by the spring member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3534515B1Vibration actuator
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 MINEBEAMITSUMI INC
  • EP3534515B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3534515B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3534515B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A vibration actuator (10) has a movable body (60) including one of a coil (48) and a magnet (65), a fixing body (20) including the other one of the coil (48) and the magnet (65), and an elastic support portion (48) supporting the movable body (60) to freely move with respect to the fixing body (20). The movable body (60) vibrates with respect to the fixing body (20) in a magnetization direction of the magnet (65) in cooperation with the coil (48) to which power is supplied and the magnet (65). The fixing body (20) has a peripheral wall portion (20a) that is disposed to surround the movable body (60) in a direction intersecting the magnetization direction. The elastic support portion (48) is a plate spring which has one end portion fixed to an outer periphery of the movable body (60) opposing an inner surface of the peripheral wall portion (20a) and the other end portion fixed to the peripheral wall portion (20a) and is disposed in a radial direction from the outer periphery of the movable body (60). The one end portion of the elastic support portion (50) is bonded by a fixing portion (6124) provided in the movable body.