Directional Elastic Coupling in Vibration Devices for Fall Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration devices lack sufficient fall resistance, which can lead to damage when subjected to impacts.
Innovation Solution
A vibration device with a support member that includes a fixed portion, a movable portion, and an elastic coupling portion. The elastic coupling portion has a first elastic coefficient in the left-right direction and a second elastic coefficient in the up-down direction, where the second elastic coefficient is smaller than the first elastic coefficient, enhancing the device's ability to absorb impact forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the elastic coupling portion has high elastic coefficients in both directions, then the structural strength is improved, but the fall resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic coupling portion is designed with different elastic coefficients in different directions: a first elastic coefficient in the left-right direction and a second elastic coefficient in the up-down direction, where the second is smaller than the first. This anisotropic design allows the structure to be strong in the vibration direction while being compliant in the impact direction, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and fall resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the elastic coefficient parameter spatially by creating an asymmetric structure where the elastic coupling portion has different stiffness characteristics in different directions. This parameter variation allows the same component to provide both strength and impact absorption capabilities
2Reliability
If the elastic coupling portion is made more compliant, then the fall resistance is improved, but the structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic coupling portion exhibits different compliance levels in different directions: it is more compliant in the up-down direction (smaller elastic coefficient) to absorb impact forces, while maintaining higher stiffness in the left-right direction (larger elastic coefficient) to support vibration functionality, thus resolving the contradiction between fall resistance and structural strength
3Reliability
If the support structure is made rigid, then the vibration transmission is improved, but the impact resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure transitions from a uniformly rigid design to one with direction-dependent stiffness parameters. The elastic coupling portion has a larger first elastic coefficient for effective vibration transmission in the left-right direction, while the smaller second elastic coefficient in the up-down direction provides impact resistance, resolving the contradiction between vibration transmission and impact resistance
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the support structure is made flexible, then the impact resistance is improved, but the vibration transmission deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic coupling portion is designed with anisotropic elastic properties where the stiffness is directionally dependent. This allows the structure to be flexible in the up-down direction for impact resistance while remaining sufficiently rigid in the left-right direction for vibration transmission, resolving the contradiction between impact resistance and vibration transmission
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 vibration device achieves improved fall resistance by allowing the elastic coupling portion to deform more easily in the up-down direction, thereby distributing impact forces and reducing the likelihood of plastic deformation.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic coupling portion that elastically couples the fixed portion and the movable portion in a left-right direction
Implementation Method 2
when voltage is applied to the film, the film is deformed so that a distance between the first end portion and the second end portion changes. By the above, the vibration unit vibrates with respect to the frame member
Data Source
AI summary
A vibration device including: a support member that includes a fixed portion, a movable portion having an upper main surface and a lower main surface arranged in an up-down direction, the movable portion constructed to support a vibrated member; an actuator attached to the fixed portion and the movable portion or the vibrated member, and constructed to vibrate the vibrated member in a left-right direction; an elastic coupling portion that elastically couples the fixed portion and the movable portion in a left-right direction, the elastic coupling portion having a first elastic coefficient in the left-right direction and a second elastic coefficient in the up-down direction, and the second elastic coefficient is smaller than the first elastic coefficient.