Wearable Vibrating Actuator Shell Structure for Clear Low-Frequency Haptics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibrating actuators used in wearable devices face challenges related to cost, reliability, and frequency response, primarily due to complex designs.
Innovation Solution
A vibrating actuator comprising a single, continuous ferritic material plate between two magnetic material plates, surrounded by a conductive coil, with a shell providing structural support and protection, allowing direct contact without intervening materials, and inducing electromechanical responses through controlled electric currents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex design is used for the vibrating actuator, then reliability and frequency response are improved, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is divided into distinct functional segments: a stationary magnet assembly with permanent magnets arranged in alternating polarity patterns, and a movable armature assembly with ferritic material. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A dielectric material is introduced as an intermediary between the magnetic material and ferritic material plates. This intermediary layer prevents direct magnetic coupling while allowing mechanical vibration transmission, resolving the contradiction by providing reliable electrical isolation without requiring complex magnetic shielding designs.
2Device complexity
If direct physical contact between magnetic material and ferritic material is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A dielectric material layer is placed between the magnetic material plate and ferritic material plate to prevent direct contact. This intermediary layer compensates for manufacturing tolerances and alignment variations, allowing simpler assembly procedures while maintaining reliable operation and consistent performance across production batches.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple actuator design is used, then cost is reduced, but frequency response and electromechanical performance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The magnet assembly uses alternating polarity patterns with specific local magnetic field characteristics optimized for the ferritic material's magnetic hysteresis properties. This local optimization of magnetic field distribution achieves superior electromechanical response and frequency response without requiring complex overall actuator architecture, maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator employs composite construction combining permanent magnetic materials, ferritic material with specific magnetic hysteresis characteristics, and dielectric materials. This composite approach leverages the complementary properties of each material to achieve high-performance electromechanical response while using simple, cost-effective individual components.
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 actuator achieves improved electromechanical response, lower frequency ranges, and clearer vibratory signals, enhancing user experience while being mechanically simple, low-cost, and durable in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
a controller circuit structured to apply a control voltage across the first terminal and the second terminal of the conductive coil, wherein responsive to the control voltage, the conductive coil generates a magnetic field that induces magnetic flux in the ferritic material plate
Implementation Method 2
responsive to the control voltage, the vibrating actuator exhibits an electromechanical response
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a vibrating actuator for use with a wearable electronic device. The vibrating actuator includes a plate of ferritic material situated between two plates of magnetic material, with a conductive coil situated around and electrically insulated from the plate of ferritic material. The three material plates and the coil are encased in a shell that protects and structurally supports the elements of the vibrating actuator such that no adhesive material or any other intervening material is required between the plate of ferritic material and the two plates of magnetic material. Responsive to a control voltage applied to the conductive coil which creates an electromagnetic field, at least one of the material plates is induced into a desired electromechanical response, such as a pattern of vibrations at a preselected frequency, beat, and/or intensity for a preselected duration.