CN115694034A - Vibration motor - Google Patents

Abstract

A vibration motor is provided. The strength of the restricting unit for restricting the vibration of the vibrating body is increased to improve the shock resistance of the vibrating motor. A vibration motor (1A) is provided with: a case (10) having a top surface section (11), a bottom surface section (12), a front surface section (13), a back surface section (14), a right side surface section (15), and a left side surface section (16); a vibrator (50) housed in the case and configured to vibrate in a direction in which the right side surface portion and the left side surface portion face each other; and a plurality of regulating sections (20) provided in the case and regulating the vibration of the vibrating body within a predetermined range. The plurality of regulating parts include a pair of lower regulating parts (23, 24) which are arranged on the bottom surface part and are arranged on both sides of the vibrating body. Each lower limiting part is a part of a bottom surface part protruding towards the top surface part and is provided with lower limiting surfaces (26) which are opposite to each other in the vibration direction of the vibrator. The entire circumference of each lower limiting surface is connected to the other surface of the bottom surface portion intersecting the lower limiting surface.

Description

Vibration motor

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a vibration motor.

Background

Nowadays, a vibration motor is built in various electronic devices such as a smartphone and a tablet terminal. The vibration motor includes at least a housing and a vibrator accommodated in the housing. The vibrator reciprocates in a predetermined direction in the case.

In some cases, a case of the vibration motor is provided with a restricting unit for restricting the vibration of the vibrator within a predetermined range. For example, a vibration motor described in patent document 1 is provided with a plurality of rising portions that restrict the vibration of a vibrating body within a predetermined range. Each standing portion is formed by cutting and raising a metal plate forming the bottom surface of the case.

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 6870996

In order to improve the shock resistance of the vibration motor, it is preferable to increase the strength of the restricting means for restricting the vibration of the vibrating body. More specifically, it is desirable that the restricting unit is not broken or deformed even if the vibrating body collides with the restricting unit due to a drop impact or the like.

Disclosure of Invention

One embodiment of the present invention is a vibration motor including: a housing having top and bottom surfaces facing each other, front and back surfaces facing each other, and right and left side surfaces facing each other; a vibrator housed in the case and configured to vibrate in a direction in which the right side surface portion and the left side surface portion face each other; and a plurality of regulating portions provided in the case and regulating the vibration of the vibrator within a predetermined range. The plurality of regulating portions include a pair of lower regulating portions provided on the bottom surface portion and arranged on both sides of the vibrator in a vibration direction of the vibrator. Each of the lower limiting portions is a part of the bottom surface portion protruding toward the top surface portion, and has lower limiting surfaces facing each other in a vibration direction of the vibrator. The entire circumference of each of the lower regulating surfaces is connected to the other surface of the bottom surface portion intersecting the lower regulating surface.

According to the present invention, the strength of the restricting unit that restricts the vibration of the vibrating body can be increased, and the shock resistance of the vibration motor can be improved.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a vibration motor.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of the vibration motor.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the housing.

Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a positional relationship between the regulating portion and the vibrator.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a case as a comparative example.

Description of the reference symbols

1A: a vibration motor; 10. 100, and (2) a step of: a housing; 11. 111: a top surface portion; 11a: a major surface; 11b, 11c: kneading; 12. 112, 112: a bottom surface portion; 12a: a major surface; 12b, 12c: kneading; 13: a front surface portion; 14: a back portion; 15: a right side face; 16: a left side face; 17: a peripheral face portion; 20: a restricting section; 21. 22, 121, 122: an upper side restricting section; 23. 24, 123, 124: a lower limiting part; 25: an upper limiting surface; 26: a lower side limiting surface; 30: a substrate; 31: a main body portion; 32: a connecting portion; 33: a connection terminal; 40: a coil; 50: a vibrating body; 51: balancing weight; 52: a back yoke; 53: a magnet; 54: a magnet housing section; 61. 62: an elastic member; 63: a 1 st fixed part (proximal end part); 64: a 2 nd fixing part (front end part); 65: an intermediate portion; 66: a shock absorber; 125. 126: an end face; 127: a through hole; l: a reference line; θ: the angle of inclination.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings for describing the embodiments, the same or substantially the same components and elements are denoted by the same reference numerals in principle, and redundant description thereof will not be repeated.

< brief summary of vibration Motor >

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a vibration motor 1A of the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of the vibration motor 1A. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the housing 10 constituting the vibration motor 1A.

The housing 10 is a box having a substantially rectangular planar shape, and forms the outer contour of the vibration motor 1A. Components of the vibration motor 1A such as the substrate 30, the coil 40, and the vibrator 50 are housed in the case 10. A vibrator 50, which is one of the components of the vibration motor 1A, vibrates inside the casing 10 in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction) of the casing 10. In other words, the vibrator 50 generates vibration in the longitudinal direction of the case 10. That is, the vibration motor 1A is a linear vibration motor that generates vibration in the longitudinal direction of the casing 10.

In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the casing 10 is sometimes referred to as the "left-right direction", and the short-side direction of the casing 10 is sometimes referred to as the "front-rear direction". In addition, a direction perpendicular to both the left-right direction and the front-rear direction may be referred to as an "up-down direction". When such a designation is used, the vibrator 50 vibrates in the left-right direction.

< housing >

The casing 10 has a top surface 11 and a bottom surface 12 facing each other in the vertical direction, a front surface 13 and a back surface 14 facing each other in the front-back direction, and a right side surface 15 and a left side surface 16 facing each other in the left-right direction. That is, the vibrator 50 that vibrates in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the case 10 vibrates in the facing direction of the right side surface portion 15 and the left side surface portion 16.

In the following description, the front surface portion 13, the back surface portion 14, the right side surface portion 15, and the left side surface portion 16 may be collectively referred to as "peripheral surface portion 17".

The case 10 is formed of a metal plate (e.g., a stainless steel plate). However, the top surface portion 11, the bottom surface portion 12, and the peripheral surface portion 17 are formed of different metal plates. That is, the case 10 is formed of a plurality of metal plates integrated.

The peripheral surface portion 17 is formed in a square tube shape by a band-shaped metal plate having both ends fixed to each other. Although not shown, both ends of the metal plate forming the peripheral surface portion 17 are located on the back surface portion 14. More specifically, both ends of the metal plate forming the peripheral surface portion 17 are located at the longitudinal center (vibration direction center) of the back surface portion 14. By disposing both ends of the metal plates fixed to each other on the back surface portion 14, the shock resistance of the vibration motor 1A can be improved. Specifically, when a force in the front-rear direction is applied to the vibration motor 1A due to dropping or the like, the vibrator 50 is less likely to collide with both ends (fixed portions) of the metal plate forming the peripheral surface portion 17. Both ends of the metal plate forming the peripheral surface portion 17 are fixed by, for example, pressure welding.

The top surface portion 11 and the bottom surface portion 12 are each formed of a flat metal plate punched out into a substantially rectangular shape. The top surface portion 11 closes an opening portion on one end side of the peripheral surface portion 17, and the bottom surface portion 12 closes an opening portion on the other end side of the peripheral surface portion 17. The peripheral edge of the metal plate forming the top surface portion 11 is welded to one end portion of the metal plate forming the peripheral surface portion 17. The peripheral edge of the metal plate forming the bottom surface portion 12 is welded to the other end of the metal plate forming the peripheral surface portion 17.

The case 10 is provided with a plurality of regulating portions 20 for regulating the vibration of the vibrator 50 within a predetermined range. Specifically, a pair of upper regulating portions 21 and 22 are provided on the left and right of the top surface portion 11. Further, a pair of lower restricting portions 23, 24 are provided on the right and left sides of the bottom portion 12. In other words, the upper regulating portions 21 and 22 are provided on the short sides of the top surface portion 11 facing each other. Further, lower regulating portions 23 and 24 are provided on the opposing short sides of the bottom portion 12, respectively.

That is, the housing 10 is provided with 4 restricting portions 20. These restricting portions 20 are disposed around the vibrator 50 to restrict the vibration of the vibrator 50 within a predetermined range. More specifically, the vibrator 50 can vibrate between the upper and lower limiting portions 21 and 23 and the upper and lower limiting portions 22 and 24 facing each other in the vibration direction. However, in the normal vibration state, the vibration body 50 does not contact any of the restricting portions 20. When the vibrator 50 vibrates (displaces) more largely than usual for some reason, the vibrator 50 is in contact with at least one of the 4 regulating portions 20. As a result, the vibrator 50 can be prevented from vibrating excessively. The restricting unit 20 will be described later.

< substrate >

The substrate 30 shown in fig. 2 is a flexible substrate on which electric wiring for supplying power to the coil 40 shown in fig. 2 is formed. The substrate 30 is disposed on the bottom surface portion 12 of the case 10. Most of the substrate 30 is disposed inside the housing 10, and a part of the substrate 30 is drawn out of the housing 10. In the following description, most of the substrate 30 disposed inside the casing 10 may be referred to as a "main body portion 31", and a part of the substrate 30 drawn out of the casing 10 may be referred to as a "connection portion 32".

The connection portion 32 is provided with a connection terminal 33 electrically connected to an input end of an electric wiring formed on the body portion 31. As shown in fig. 1, the connection portion 32 extends across one short side of the housing 10 toward the right side of the housing 10. Specifically, the connection portion 32 is drawn out to the right side of the housing 10 through between the bottom portion 12 and the right side portion 15.

As can be understood from fig. 2, connection portion 32 of substrate 30 passes through between lower regulation portion 23 and back surface portion 14. That is, the space between lower limiting portion 23 and rear surface portion 14 is used as a passage for leading out connection portion 32 of substrate 30 to the outside of case 10.

However, the drawing direction of the connection portion 32 is not limited to the above direction. For example, the connection portion 32 may be drawn out from the long side of the case 10 to the front or rear of the case 10.

< coil >

The coil 40 shown in fig. 2 is a coreless coil (air core coil). More specifically, the coil 40 is formed of a conductive wire wound around an imaginary axis extending in the up-down direction. The coil 40 is connected to an output terminal of an electric wiring formed on the main body portion 31 of the substrate 30. Therefore, when a voltage is applied to the connection terminal 33 formed on the connection portion 32, the voltage is applied to the coil 40 via the electric wiring. When a voltage is applied to the coil 40, the coil 40 is magnetized to generate a magnetic flux.

< vibration body >

The vibrator 50 shown in fig. 2 includes a weight 51, a back yoke 52, and a magnet 53. The weight 51 is a mass of a metal alloy, such as a tungsten alloy. At the center of the weight 51, 2 magnet accommodating portions 54 penetrating the weight 51 in the vertical direction are formed.

Each magnet housing portion 54 houses a magnet 53. Each magnet 53 is a permanent magnet having a prism shape extending in the front-rear direction. Each magnet 53 is disposed in the magnet housing 54 in an orientation in which the longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the counterweight 51.

When a voltage is applied to the coil 40, the vibrator 50 including the magnet 53 vibrates in the left-right direction due to the interaction between the magnetic flux generated by the coil 40 and the magnetic flux generated by the magnet 53.

The back yoke 52 is overlapped on the weight 51 to close the magnet housing 54. In other words, the back yoke 52 covers the magnet 53 accommodated in the magnet accommodating portion 54. The back yoke 52 and the magnet 53 form a magnetic circuit, and the power of the vibration motor 1A is increased.

< elastic Member >

The 2 elastic members 61 and 62 shown in fig. 2 are leaf springs extending in the front-rear direction. A first fixing portion 63 fixed to the case 10 is provided on one end side (base end side) in the longitudinal direction of the elastic members 61, 62, and a second fixing portion 64 fixed to the vibrator 50 (weight 51) is provided on the other end side (tip end side) in the longitudinal direction of the elastic members 61, 62.

In the following description, the 1 st fixing portion 63 of the elastic members 61 and 62 may be referred to as a "base end portion 63", and the 2 nd fixing portion 64 of the elastic members 61 and 62 may be referred to as a "tip end portion 64".

The proximal end portions 63 and the distal end portions 64 of the elastic members 61 and 62 are connected via an intermediate portion 65. The base end portion 63 and the tip end portion 64 are bent at a right angle or substantially a right angle with respect to the intermediate portion 65. As a result, the elastic members 61 and 62 have a substantially rectangular planar shape of "12467.

The weight 51 shown in fig. 2 is disposed between the opposing elastic members 61 and 62, and is supported by these elastic members 61 and 62 so as to be able to vibrate. In other words, the elastic members 61 and 62 are support members that support the weight 51 so as to be able to vibrate.

The intermediate portion 65 of each elastic member 61, 62 is tapered from both outer sides toward the inner side in the longitudinal direction. In other words, the vertical dimension of the intermediate portion 65 gradually decreases from both outer sides toward the inner side in the longitudinal direction. The intermediate portion 65 is thinnest at or near the longitudinal center.

A base end 63 of the elastic member 61 is welded to the front surface portion 13 of the case 10, and a tip end 64 of the elastic member 61 is welded to one surface (the back surface of the weight 51) of the vibrator 50 facing the back surface portion 14 of the case 10. Similarly, a base end 63 of the elastic member 62 is welded to the front surface portion 13 of the case 10, and a tip end 64 of the elastic member 62 is welded to one surface (the back surface of the weight 51) of the vibrator 50 facing the back surface portion 14 of the case 10.

As a result, the intermediate portion 65 of the elastic member 61 passes between the right side surface 15 of the housing 10 and the right side surface of the counterweight 51 in the left-right direction. In addition, the intermediate portion 65 of the elastic member 62 passes between the left side surface portion 16 of the case 10 and the left side surface of the counterweight 51 in the left-right direction.

Further, the intermediate portion 65 of the elastic member 61 passes between the lower regulating portion 23 and the top surface portion 11 in the vertical direction. Further, the intermediate portion 65 of the elastic member 62 passes between the lower regulating portion 24 and the top surface portion 11 in the vertical direction. More specifically, the intermediate portion 65 of the elastic member 61 passes between the lower limiting portion 23 and the upper limiting portion 21. Further, the intermediate portion 65 of the elastic member 62 passes between the lower limiting portion 24 and the upper limiting portion 22.

Therefore, the elastic member 61 may interfere with the regulating portion 20 (the lower regulating portion 23 or the upper regulating portion 21) in accordance with the vibration of the weight 51. Further, there is a possibility that the elastic member 62 interferes with the regulating portion 20 (the lower regulating portion 24 or the upper regulating portion 22) with the vibration of the weight 51.

Therefore, the thinnest portion of the intermediate portion 65 of the elastic member 61 is disposed between the lower limiting portion 23 and the upper limiting portion 21. Further, the thinnest portion of the intermediate portion 65 of the elastic member 62 is disposed between the lower limiting portion 24 and the upper limiting portion 22.

By disposing the thinnest portion of the intermediate portion 65 of the elastic member 61 at the position described above, the possibility of interference between the elastic member 61 and the regulating portion 20 is minimized. Further, by disposing the thinnest portion of the intermediate portion 65 of the elastic member 62 at the above-described position, the possibility of interference between the elastic member 62 and the regulating portion 20 is minimized.

As shown in fig. 2, dampers 66 are provided on the elastic members 61 and 62, respectively. The damper 66 is formed of rubber, and shortens the time required for damping the vibration of the vibrating body 50 (weight 51).

< restriction part >

Reference is again made to fig. 3. The upper regulating portions 21 and 22 provided on the top surface portion 11 are convex portions formed at predetermined positions of the top surface portion 11 by press working, and protrude downward. In other words, the upper regulating portions 21 and 22 are parts of the top surface portion 11 protruding toward the bottom surface portion 12.

The lower regulating portions 23 and 24 provided on the bottom portion 12 are convex portions formed at predetermined positions of the bottom portion 12 by press working, and protrude upward. In other words, the lower restricting portions 23 and 24 are portions of the bottom surface portion 12 protruding toward the top surface portion 11.

The upper limiting portion 21 and the upper limiting portion 22 face each other in the left-right direction (the longitudinal direction of the top surface portion 11/the vibration direction of the vibrator 50). Similarly, the lower limiting portion 23 and the lower limiting portion 24 face each other in the left-right direction (the longitudinal direction of the bottom portion 12/the vibration direction of the vibrator 50).

In other words, the upper limiting portion 21 and the upper limiting portion 22 face each other through the vibrator 50. Similarly, the lower limiting portion 23 and the lower limiting portion 24 face each other through the vibrator 50.

Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the regulating portion 20 and the vibrator 50. The upper limiting portions 21 and 22 each have an upper limiting surface 25 facing the vibrator 50 in the vibration direction of the vibrator 50. Similarly, the lower limiting portions 23 and 24 each have a lower limiting surface 26 facing the vibrator 50 in the vibration direction of the vibrator 50.

The entire circumference of the upper regulating surface 25 of the upper regulating portions 21 and 22 is connected to the other surface of the top surface portion 11 intersecting the upper regulating surface 25. For example, one side of the upper regulating surface 25 of the upper regulating portion 21 is connected to the main surface 11a of the top surface portion 11. One side of upper regulating surface 25 of upper regulating portion 22 is also connected to main surface 11a of top surface portion 11.

The other side of the upper regulating surface 25 of the upper regulating portion 21 is connected to the other surface 11b of the top surface portion 11 parallel to the main surface 11 a. The other side of upper regulating surface 25 of upper regulating portion 22 is connected to the other surface 11c of top surface portion 11 parallel to main surface 11 a. The surface 11b of the top surface portion 11 is also the top surface of the upper regulating portion 21. Further, the surface 11c of the top surface portion 11 is also the top surface of the upper regulating portion 22.

The entire circumference of the lower regulating surface 26 of the lower regulating portions 23 and 24 is connected to the other surface of the bottom surface portion 12 intersecting the lower regulating surface 26. For example, one side of the lower regulating surface 26 of the lower regulating portion 23 is connected to the main surface 12a of the bottom surface portion 12. One side of the lower regulating surface 26 of the lower regulating portion 24 is also connected to the main surface 12a of the bottom portion 12.

The other side of lower regulating surface 26 of lower regulating portion 23 is connected to the other surface 12b of bottom surface portion 12 parallel to main surface 12 a. The other side of lower regulating surface 26 of lower regulating portion 24 is connected to the other surface 12c of bottom surface portion 12 parallel to main surface 12 a. The surface 12b of the bottom surface portion 12 is also a top surface of the lower regulating portion 23. The surface 12c of the bottom surface portion 12 is also a top surface of the lower regulating portion 24.

In other words, the upper regulating portions 21 and 22, which are a part of the top surface portion 11, are connected to the other part of the top surface portion 11. The lower regulating portions 23 and 24, which are a part of the bottom surface portion 12, are connected to other portions of the bottom surface portion 12.

When the vibrator 50 shown in fig. 4 moves (displaces) more largely than normal in the rightward direction for some reason, it abuts against the upper limiting surface 25 of the upper limiting portion 21 and the lower limiting surface 26 of the lower limiting portion 23, and further movement is limited. When the vibrator 50 shown in fig. 4 moves (displaces) more largely than the normal leftward direction for some reason, it abuts against the upper limiting surface 25 of the upper limiting portion 22 and the lower limiting surface 26 of the lower limiting portion 24, and further movement is limited.

The upper regulating surface 25 of the upper regulating portion 21 and the upper regulating surface 25 of the upper regulating portion 22 are inclined so as to be distant from each other as they approach the bottom portion 12. Similarly, the lower regulating surface 26 of the lower regulating portion 23 and the lower regulating surface 26 of the lower regulating portion 24 are inclined so as to be away from each other as they approach the top surface portion 11.

In other words, each upper limiting surface 25 is not perpendicular to the main surface 11a of the top surface portion 11, but obliquely intersects. Similarly, the lower limiting surfaces 26 do not intersect the main surface 12a of the bottom surface portion 12 at an inclination, but intersect each other. More specifically, in the cross section shown in fig. 4, the upper limiting surface 25 has an inclination angle θ with respect to a reference line L perpendicular to the main surface 11a of the top surface portion 11. In the cross section shown in fig. 4, the lower limiting surface 26 has an inclination angle θ with respect to a reference line L perpendicular to the main surface 12a of the bottom surface portion 12.

By inclining the upper regulating surface 25 with respect to the main surface 11a of the top surface portion 11, the upper regulating portions 21 and 22 including the upper regulating surface 25 can be formed without applying excessive stress to the metal plate forming the top surface portion 11. Further, by inclining the lower regulating surface 26 with respect to the main surface 12a of the bottom surface portion 12, the lower regulating portions 23, 24 including the lower regulating surface 26 can be formed without applying excessive stress to the metal plate forming the bottom surface portion 12. In short, the seamless regulating portion 20 can be formed while avoiding the breakage or deformation of the metal plate forming the top surface portion 11 and the bottom surface portion 12.

However, depending on the processing method and processing technique, it is not necessary to incline the upper limiting surface 25 and the lower limiting surface 26 as described above.

< comparative example >

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a case 100 as a comparative example. The housing 100 shown in fig. 5 is provided with upper regulating portions 121 and 122 corresponding to the upper regulating portions 21 and 22 in the present embodiment. Further, the housing 100 shown in fig. 5 is provided with lower restricting portions 123, 124 corresponding to the lower restricting portions 23, 24 of the present embodiment.

The upper regulating portions 121 and 122 shown in fig. 5 are formed on the top surface portion 111 by cutting. The lower regulating portions 123 and 124 shown in fig. 5 are formed on the bottom surface portion 112 by cutting. As a result, the end face 125 of the upper regulating parts 121 and 122 shown in fig. 5 is partially connected to only the other face of the top surface part 111 intersecting the end face 125. The end surfaces 126 of the lower regulating portions 123 and 124 shown in fig. 5 are partially connected to only the other surfaces of the bottom surface portion 112 intersecting the end surfaces 126. At least the end surface 125 is not connected to the main surface of the top surface portion 111, and the end surface 126 is not connected to the main surface of the bottom surface portion 112. In other words, the upper regulating parts 121 and 122 shown in fig. 5 are a part of the top surface part 111, but are disconnected from the other parts of the top surface part 111. The lower regulating portions 123 and 124 shown in fig. 5 are a part of the bottom surface portion 112, but are separated from the other part of the bottom surface portion 112.

Therefore, the upper restrictions 121, 122 and the lower restrictions 123, 124 shown in fig. 5 are lower in strength than the upper restrictions 21, 22 and the lower restrictions 23, 24 shown in fig. 3. In other words, the strength of the upper restrictions 21, 22 and the lower restrictions 23, 24 in the present embodiment is higher than the strength of the upper restrictions 121, 122 and the lower restrictions 123, 124 in the comparative example.

Further, the top surface portion 111 formed with the upper regulating portions 121 and 122 by the cutting process has a plurality of through holes 127. Similarly, a plurality of through holes 127 are formed in the bottom surface portion 112 in which the lower regulating portions 123 and 124 are formed by the cutting process. In other words, the case 100 as the comparative example has a plurality of through holes 127 communicating between the inside and the outside. Therefore, in order to prevent foreign matter and dust from entering the housing 100, it is necessary to attach a seal or the like that closes the through hole 127 to the top surface portion 111 or the bottom surface portion 112. On the other hand, no through-hole corresponding to the through-hole 127 is present in the top surface portion 11 or the bottom surface portion 12 constituting the case 10 of the present embodiment. Therefore, in order to prevent foreign matter and dust from entering the housing 10, it is not necessary to attach a seal or the like to the top surface portion 11 or the bottom surface portion 12.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, if a pair of restricting portions is provided on both sides of the vibrating body in the vibrating direction, the vibration of the vibrating body is restricted within a predetermined range. For example, if a pair of lower restricting portions is provided on both sides of the vibrator, the vibration of the vibrator is restricted within a predetermined range. Further, if 1 lower limiting portion is provided on one side of the vibrator and 1 upper limiting portion is provided on the other side of the vibrator, the vibration of the vibrator is limited within a predetermined range. Therefore, several of the regulating units 20 shown in fig. 2 and 3 can be omitted. For example, the upper restricting portions 21 and 22 can be omitted.

Either one of the elastic members 61, 62 shown in fig. 2 may be reversed. For example, elastic member 62 may be reversed to fix base end portion 63 to rear surface portion 14 and fix tip end portion 64 to counterweight 51.

Claims (4)

1. A vibration motor having:

a housing having opposing top and bottom sections, opposing front and back sections, and opposing right and left side sections;

a vibrator housed in the case and configured to vibrate in a direction in which the right side surface portion and the left side surface portion face each other; and

a plurality of restricting portions provided in the case to restrict vibration of the vibrator within a predetermined range,

the plurality of regulating portions include a pair of lower regulating portions provided on the bottom surface portion and arranged on both sides of the vibrator in a vibration direction of the vibrator,

each of the lower regulating portions is a part of the bottom surface portion protruding toward the top surface portion,

each of the lower limiting portions has lower limiting surfaces facing each other in a vibration direction of the vibrator,

the entire circumference of each of the lower limiting surfaces is connected to another surface of the bottom surface portion intersecting the lower limiting surface.

2. The vibration motor of claim 1,

the lower limiting surface of one of the lower limiting portions and the lower limiting surface of the other of the lower limiting portions are inclined so as to be away from each other as they approach the top surface portion.

3. The vibration motor according to claim 1 or 2,

the plurality of restricting portions include a pair of upper restricting portions provided on the top surface portion and arranged on both sides of the vibrator in a vibration direction of the vibrator,

each of the upper regulating portions is a part of the top surface portion protruding toward the bottom surface portion,

each of the upper limiting portions has upper limiting surfaces facing each other in a vibration direction of the vibrator,

the entire circumference of each of the upper regulating surfaces is connected to another surface of the top surface portion intersecting the upper regulating surface.

4. The vibration motor of claim 3,

the upper limiting surface of one of the upper limiting portions and the upper limiting surface of the other upper limiting portion are inclined so as to be away from each other as they approach the bottom surface portion.

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