JP2003159565A - Vibration generator and electronic machinery using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vibration generator that has a simple constitution, is made miniaturized, has the reduced number of parts, is low-cost and easy to. <P>SOLUTION: The vibration generator has a reversibly rotatable motor 1, the balance weights 3 and 4 eccentrically attached to the rotary shaft 2 of the motor 1 and a clutch 5 for transmitting/cutting off the rotation of the rotary shaft 2. The balance weight 3 is revolved in connection with the rotations in both directions of the rotary shaft 2 and the balance weight 4 is revolved in connection with only the rotation in the single direction of the rotary shaft 2 through the clutch 5. By this constitution, by reversing the rotary direction of the motor 1, two kinds of vibrations, that is, large vibration generated when both of the balance weights 3 and 4 are revolved and small vibration generated when only the balance weight 3 is revolved can be simply obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vibration generator, and particularly to a vibration input device such as a portable terminal or an input device for game machines
The present invention relates to a vibration generator mounted on a small electronic device that is manually operated or worn on the body, and an electronic device equipped with this device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in electronic devices such as game machine controllers and game-capable mobile phones, it has been attempted to have multiple functions in order to enhance the realistic sensation of the game during operation and to improve the usability. As one example, a vibrator (vibration generator) is installed in an electronic device to vibrate the electronic device and give a stimulus to the tactile sensation of an operator.

In this type of vibration generator, a weight (weight) is eccentrically fixed to the rotating shaft of a DC motor, and the centrifugal force obtained by rotating the weight causes the motor to vibrate, and electronic equipment is used. Is vibrating. By the way, in many cases, there is only one kind of vibration, and various kinds of vibrations are generated by changing the length of vibration and the interval between vibrations. However, if there is only one type of vibration, only monotonous vibrations can be generated. Therefore, vibrations of electronic devices are combined by combining two types of vibrations, one with a large amplitude and the other with a small amplitude. There are means to improve.

As described above, in order to obtain two types of vibrations, for example, a structure is known in which one vibration motor is provided on each of the left and right sides inside the case. These motors were provided with eccentric weights having different moments of inertia with respect to their respective rotary shafts, and the rotary shafts were driven to rotate at different rotational speeds to generate different types of vibrations. .

[0005]

However, in the structure in which two motors are provided as described above, the wiring with the board and the vibration of the motor are transmitted to the case for each motor. There is a problem that a fixing member for fixing the motor to the case is required, the number of parts is increased, and the assembling cost of these is required, which is an obstacle to further cost reduction. Further, the two motors have different specifications in order to generate different vibration states, and accordingly, the weights also need to have different specifications, so that the number of parts increases,
There is a problem that it is difficult to further reduce costs.

Moreover, such a structure requires a space for accommodating the respective motors, and the weight of these motors accounts for a considerable proportion of the weight of the electronic equipment, so that the electronic equipment can be made smaller and lighter. It was difficult and the operability of the electronic device could be reduced. Furthermore, if you try to further increase the functionality by providing other functions to the electronic device,
This motor housing space occupies a large proportion in the volume of the electronic device, which makes implementation difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has a simple structure and can be miniaturized.
An object of the present invention is to provide a vibration generator that generates two types of vibrations with a small number of parts, is low in cost, and is easy to assemble, and an electronic device that improves the usability using this device.

[0008]

As a first solving means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a vibration generator according to the present invention is a motor capable of rotating in forward and reverse directions, and a vibration shaft mounted eccentrically to a rotating shaft of the motor. 1 and 2 and a clutch attached to the rotary shaft for transmitting / disconnecting rotation of the rotary shaft, wherein the first weight rotates in conjunction with rotation of the rotary shaft in both directions. The second weight is configured to rotate in association with the rotation of the rotary shaft in only one direction via the clutch. With this configuration, by reversing the rotation direction of the motor, it is possible to easily obtain two types of vibration, that is, vibration in which two weights rotate and vibration in which only one weight rotates. Therefore, the structure is simple, the size can be reduced, the number of parts is small, the cost is low, and the assembly is easy.

As a second means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the first weight is fixed to the rotary shaft,
The second weight is inserted through the rotary shaft, and the clutch is provided with a drive unit that is interlocked with the rotation of the rotary shaft and a driven unit that is fixed to the second weight. In the direction, the clutch transmits the power, and in the other direction of the rotation shaft, the clutch disengages. With this configuration, rotation / non-rotation of the second weight can be easily switched by transmission / disconnection of the clutch, and two types of vibration can be reliably obtained.

As a third means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the driving portion and the driven portion have meshing surfaces facing each other and meshing with each other, and the surface opposite to the meshing surface of the driving portion. With a spring member on the side, the drive unit is movable in the axial direction of the rotating shaft, and in one direction,
The drive unit is biased toward the driven unit from the spring member,
The both meshing surfaces are meshed and rotated, and the both meshing surfaces are not meshed with each other in the other direction, and the drive portion is moved to the opposite side of the driven portion against the spring member. .
With this configuration, the transmission / disconnection of the clutch can be reliably switched by the spring member, so that two types of vibrations can be easily obtained.

As a fourth solving means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the second weight has a structure heavier than the first weight. With this configuration, the difference in magnitude between the large and small vibrations can be increased, and the two types of vibrations can be easily identified.

As a fifth means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the vibration generator according to any one of the above is used to control the rotation of the power supply unit for supplying power to the motor. And a control unit that
By inverting the polarity of the power supply of the power supply unit, two types of vibrations can be obtained from the vibration generator. With this configuration, the motor reversely rotates by simply reversing the polarity of the power supply supplied to the motor in response to the signal from the control unit, and it is possible to easily obtain two types of vibrations, large and small. Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability by, for example, giving the operator feedback of strength and weakness according to the situation of the game.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a vibration generator and electronic equipment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, FIG. 1 is a side view of a motor of a vibration generator of the present invention during normal rotation, FIG. 2 is a side view of a motor of a vibration generator of the present invention during reverse rotation, and FIG. 3 is a vibration of the present invention. It is a front view of a generator and FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an electronic device of the present invention.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, a vibration generator 11 of the present invention includes a motor 1 and a rotary shaft 2 of the motor 1.
And a first weight 3, a second weight 4, and a clutch 5.

The motor 1 is a motor such as a DC motor which can rotate in forward and reverse directions, and has two current input / output terminals 1a,
It has 1b and a rotating shaft 2. When the drive current flows from the drive current input / output terminal 1a to the current input / output terminal 1b, the rotating shaft 2 rotates in the positive direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3), and the current input / output terminal 1b moves to the current input / output terminal 1a. When a drive current flows toward, the motor rotates in the reverse direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 3). The weight 3 is a substantially semi-circular weight, is eccentrically attached to the rotary shaft 2, is inserted into the rotary shaft 2, and is fixed to the tip end side of the rotary shaft 2 so that the rotary shaft 2 is forward / backward. When it rotates, it rotates forward / backward in association with the rotation of the rotary shaft 2. The weight 4 is a substantially semicircular weight that is heavier than the weight 3, is eccentrically attached to the base side of the rotating shaft 2, is inserted into the rotating shaft 2, and is provided in the rotating shaft 2 in a groove (not shown). ), The movement in the axial direction is restricted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the clutch 5 is wholly inserted through the rotary shaft 2 and is arranged between the weights 3 and 4, and has a driving portion 5a, a driven portion 5b, and a spring member 5c. , And a washer 5d to transmit or cut the rotation of the rotary shaft 2. Further, the driving portion 5a and the driven portion 5b have saw-tooth-shaped peaks on the surfaces facing each other,
It forms a mating surface. The drive unit 5a is engaged with a groove formed in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 2, rotates forward / backward in association with the rotation of the rotary shaft 2, and is movable in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 2. Is configured. The driven portion 5b is fixed to the weight 4 at the surface opposite to the meshing surface, and when the driven portion 5b rotates, the weight 4 also rotates. Also,
A spring member 5c is provided on the opposite side of the meshing surface of the drive unit 5a.
A washer 5d is provided via the. Washer 5
The d is engaged with a groove (not shown) provided on the rotary shaft 2 and its movement in the axial direction is restricted, so that the spring member 5c is pressed.

In the clutch 5 of this structure, when the rotation of the rotary shaft 2 is forward rotation, the drive portion 5a is biased toward the driven portion 5b by the spring member 5c so that the two engagement surfaces are engaged with each other. The driven part 5b also rotates forward, and the rotation of the rotating shaft 2 is transmitted to the driven part 5b. However, when the rotating shaft 2 rotates in the reverse direction, the both meshing surfaces do not mesh with each other, and the drive portion 5a is moved to the washer 5d side against the biasing force of the spring member 5c. The portion 5b does not rotate, and the rotation of the rotary shaft 2 is cut by the driven portion 5b.

In the operation of the vibration generator 11 having the above-described structure, the weight 3 and the weight 4 are eccentrically attached to the rotating shaft 2 when the motor 1 is not rotating, and therefore, the operation shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, both of them cause the rotating shaft 2 to idle by their own weight and hang downward.

At this time, when a drive current is applied from the current input / output end 1a of the motor 1 to the current input / output end 1b, the rotary shaft 2 starts to rotate in the normal direction, and the weight 3 is fixed to the rotary shaft 2. Therefore, the weight 3 also rotates forward. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, since the driving portion 5a of the clutch 5 is biased to the driven portion 5b by the elastic force of the spring member 5c, the respective meshing surfaces of the driving portion 5a and the driven portion 5b are , Mesh and rotate. Therefore, since the weight 4 is fixed to the driven portion 5b, the weight 4 also rotates forward. In this way, when the rotating shaft 2 of the motor 1 rotates forward, the weight 3 and the weight 4 become
Both rotate in the normal direction and large vibration is obtained.

Next, when a drive current is applied from the current input / output end 1b of the motor 1 to the current input / output end 1a, the rotary shaft 2 starts reverse rotation, and the weight 3 is fixed to the rotary shaft 2. Therefore, the weight 3 also rotates in the reverse direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the drive portion 5a of the clutch 5 is biased toward the driven portion 5b by the elastic force of the spring member 5c, but the drive portion 5a and the driven portion 5b are respectively The meshing surface of is not meshed and overcomes the elastic force of the spring member 5c,
a is moved to the right in the figure, and therefore,
The weight 4 does not rotate and remains hanging. In this way, when the rotary shaft 2 of the motor 1 rotates in the reverse direction, the weight 4 does not rotate but only the weight 3 rotates, so that the weight 3 and the weight 4 are not rotated.
A smaller vibration is obtained than when and rotate together.

With the above configuration and operation, the vibration generator of the present invention generates two types of vibrations by reversing the rotation direction of the motor with one motor.

Further, by making the weight 4 heavier than the weight 3, it is possible to further increase the difference in vibration between when the rotary shaft 2 rotates in the forward direction and when it rotates in the reverse direction. The shape of the clutch 5 is not limited to that shown in the drawing. The concentric circular shape of the clutch 5 is provided with a driving portion 5a on the inner side, which is fixed to the rotary shaft 2, and a driven portion 5b on the outer side. It may be fixed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the electronic apparatus 10 of the present invention comprises a vibration generator 11 of the present invention and a power supply unit 1.
2, and a control unit 13 at a minimum, and in addition, although not shown, an input unit, a display unit, a speaker, a communication unit, and the like are provided as necessary.

The vibration generator 11 has a motor 1 and two current input / output terminals 1a and 1b.
When a has a higher potential than the current input / output end 1b, that is, when a drive current flows from the current input / output end 1a toward the current input / output end 1b, the motor 1 rotates in the forward direction, and the current input / output end 1b causes the current to flow. When the potential is higher than that of the input / output terminal 1a, that is, when the drive current flows from the current input / output terminal 1b toward the current input / output terminal 1a, the motor 1 is configured to rotate in the reverse direction. In addition, the power supply unit 12 is connected to the power supply terminal 14 and the ground 15 and supplies power to the two current input / output terminals 1 a and 1 b of the vibration generator 11.
Then, the control unit 13 uses a microcomputer or ASI.
Although not shown in the figure, it has an arithmetic unit, a storage unit, a plurality of input units and output units, etc., and controls the rotation of the motor 1 via the power supply unit 12. There is.

The internal circuit of the power supply unit 12 is composed of two switches SW1 and SW2 which can be switched by a control signal from the control unit 13 in a simplified example. One end of the movable contact of the switch SW1 is connected to the current input / output end 1a of the vibration generator 11,
One of the fixed contacts is connected to the power supply terminal 14, and the other of the fixed contacts is connected to the ground 15. Further, in the switch SW2, one end of the movable contact is connected to the current input / output end 1b of the vibration generator 11, and one of the fixed contacts is the power supply terminal 1
4 and the other fixed contact is connected to the ground 15.

In the electronic device 10 thus constructed, normally, the other ends of the movable contacts of the switches SW1 and SW2 are both connected to the ground 15, and the two current input / output terminals 1a and 1b are connected to each other. Since the power is not supplied, the motor 1 of the vibration generator 11 does not operate and no vibration occurs.

At this time, the other end of the movable contact of the switch SW1 of the power supply unit 12 is moved from the ground 15 to the power supply terminal according to a control signal of the control unit 13 according to an instruction of an internal program of the control unit 13 or a signal from the outside. When switched to the 14 side, a positive power source is supplied to the two current input / output terminals 1a and 1b, and the motor 1 of the vibration generating device 11 rotates in the normal direction to generate a large vibration.

When the other end of the movable contact of the switch SW2 of the power supply unit 12 is switched from the ground 15 to the power supply terminal 14 side by the control signal of the control unit 13, the two current input / output terminals 1a and 1b are connected. When the negative power is supplied, the motor 1 of the vibration generator 11 rotates in the reverse direction, and a small vibration can be generated.

As described above, the electronic device 10 can generate two kinds of vibrations only by reversing the polarity of the power source supplied to the motor 1 by the control signal from the control unit 13, and the controller of the game machine. In the case of mobile phones, it is possible to improve the usability by giving the operator feedback of strength and weakness according to the game situation.

[0030]

As described above, the vibration generator according to the present invention includes a motor capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions, first and second weights eccentrically attached to the rotating shaft of the motor, and the rotating shaft. And a clutch for transmitting / disconnecting rotation of the rotary shaft, the first weight rotates in conjunction with rotation of the rotary shaft in both directions, and the second weight is Since it is configured to rotate only in one direction of rotation of the rotary shaft via the clutch, by reversing the rotation direction of the motor, the vibration in which two weights rotate and only one weight It is possible to easily obtain two types of vibrations, that is, the vibration of rotating the. Therefore, the structure is simple, the size can be reduced, the number of parts is small, the cost is low, and the assembly is easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a motor of a vibration generator according to the present invention during normal rotation.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the vibration generator of the present invention when the motor is rotated in the reverse direction.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the vibration generator of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an electronic device of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 motor 2 rotation axes 3 First weight 4 Second weight 5 clutch 5a drive unit 5b Driven part 5c spring member 5d washer 10 electronic devices 11 Vibration generator 12 Power supply section 13 Control unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification Code FI Theme Coat (Reference) H02K 7/10 H02K 7/10

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A forward / reverse rotatable motor, first and second weights eccentrically attached to a rotation shaft of the motor, and a rotation shaft attached to the rotation shaft to transmit / disconnect rotation of the rotation shaft. A first weight, the first weight rotates in conjunction with rotation of the rotary shaft in both directions, and the second weight rotates in one direction of the rotary shaft via the clutch. A vibration generator characterized in that it is adapted to rotate only in conjunction. 2. The first weight is fixed to the rotary shaft,
The second weight is inserted through the rotary shaft, and the clutch is provided with a drive unit that is interlocked with the rotation of the rotary shaft and a driven unit that is fixed to the second weight. The vibration generator according to claim 1, wherein the clutch transmits the torque when rotating in one direction, and the clutch disengages when rotating in the other direction of the rotating shaft. 3. The driving portion and the driven portion have meshing surfaces that face each other and mesh with each other, and a spring member is provided on a surface side of the driving portion opposite to the meshing surface, and the driving portion rotates the rotary member. It is movable in the axial direction of the shaft, and in one direction,
The drive unit is biased toward the driven unit from the spring member,
The both meshing surfaces are meshed and rotated, and in the other direction, the both meshing surfaces are not meshed with each other, and the driving portion is moved against the spring member to the opposite side of the driven portion. The vibration generator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: 4. The vibration generator according to claim 1, wherein the second weight is heavier than the first weight. 5. The vibration generator according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply unit that supplies power to the motor, and a control unit that controls rotation of the motor.
The said control part was able to obtain two types of vibrations from the said vibration generator by inverting the polarity of the said power supply of the said power supply part, The electronic device characterized by the above-mentioned.