JP7444550B2 - Vibration actuators and haptic devices - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vibration actuator and a haptic device that vibrate a movable body.

As a device that notifies information through vibration, it is equipped with a support body having a permanent magnet and a movable body having a coil facing the permanent magnet. An actuator that vibrates the body is known (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-127789

In the actuator described in Patent Document 1, the coil is fitted into a through hole formed in a plate-like member of the movable body and held by the movable body, but there is a concern that the coil may fall off. Although it is possible to prevent the coil from falling off by sandwiching the plate member between the pair of cover plates, it takes time and effort to assemble the pair of cover plates. Furthermore, as the number of parts increases, the manufacturing cost of the actuator also increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vibration actuator and a haptic device that have excellent assembly workability and can suppress an increase in manufacturing costs.

A vibration actuator according to one aspect of the present invention includes a movable body, a support body, and at least one of elasticity and viscoelasticity, and at a position where the movable body and the support body face each other, both the movable body and the support body a connecting body disposed so as to be in contact with the movable body and the support body, an air-core coil provided on one side member of the movable body and the support body, and facing the coil on at least one side in a first direction. a magnetic drive circuit that has a permanent magnet provided on the other side member of the movable body and the support body, and vibrates the movable body in a second direction intersecting the first direction with respect to the support body; One side member of the movable body and the support body provided with the coil includes a base plate to which the coil is joined, a cover that covers the coil and is positioned and fixed to the base plate; The cover has a recess into which the coil fits.

Further, the haptic device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a movable body, a support body, and at least one of elasticity and viscoelasticity, and the movable body and the support body are arranged at a position where the movable body and the support body face each other. an air-core coil provided on one side member of the movable body and the support body, and facing the coil on at least one side in a first direction; a permanent magnet provided on the other side member of the movable body and the support body, the magnetism vibrating the movable body in a second direction intersecting the first direction with respect to the support body; A drive circuit, one side member of the movable body and the support body provided with the coil includes a base plate to which the coil is joined, and a cover that covers the coil and is positioned and fixed to the base plate. and the cover has a recess into which the coil fits.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vibration actuator and a haptic device that have excellent assembly workability and can suppress an increase in manufacturing costs.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a vibration actuator (tactile device) for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the vibration actuator of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the actuator body of the vibration actuator of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the actuator main body shown in FIG. 3 into a supporting body, a movable body, and a connecting body. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the magnetic drive circuit of the actuator main body in FIG. 3; FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the coil of the magnetic drive circuit of FIG. 5, and the base plate and cover that hold the coil. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 6 seen from the back.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the vibration direction (second direction) of the movable body is designated as X, one side of the second direction X is designated as X1, and the other side is designated as X2. Further, a first direction that intersects with the second direction X is Z, and a third direction that intersects with the first direction Z and the second direction X is Y.

(overall structure)
The vibration actuator 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a cylindrical shape, and its axial direction coincides with the second direction X, which is the vibration direction of the movable body. The vibration actuator 1 notifies a user holding the vibration actuator 1 of information by vibration of the movable body in the second direction X, and can be used as, for example, an operating member of a game machine. The vibration actuator 1 can also be used as a tactile device that provides a tactile sensation through vibration.

The vibration actuator 1 includes an outer case 2 that defines the outer shape of the vibration actuator 1, and an actuator main body 10 housed in the outer case 2. The outer case 2 is formed into a cylindrical shape. Note that the shape of the outer case 2 can be changed in various ways depending on how the vibration actuator 1 is used.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the actuator main body 10 includes a support body 11, a movable body 12, and a connection body 13. The support body 11 has an inner case 20, a base plate 30, a coil 40, and a cover 70, and the movable body 12 has a permanent magnet 60 and a yoke 61. A magnetic drive circuit 14 is formed by the coil 40 and the permanent magnet 60, and the magnetic drive circuit 14 causes the movable body 12 to vibrate in the second direction X with respect to the support body 11. The connecting body 13 has at least one of elasticity and viscoelasticity, and is in contact with both the support body 11 and the movable body 12 . By interposing the connecting body 13 between the support body 11 and the movable body 12, the movable body 12 is supported by the support body 11 so as to be able to vibrate in the second direction X.

(Configuration of support body 11)
The inner case 20 of the support body 11 has a rectangular tube shape, and its axial direction coincides with the second direction X, which is the vibration direction of the movable body 12. The inner case 20 includes a first case member 21 disposed on one side Z1 in the first direction Z and a second case member 22 disposed on the other side Z2.

The first case member 21 includes a first flat plate part 211 arranged substantially perpendicular to the first direction Z, and extends from both ends of the first flat plate part 211 in the third direction Y to the other side Z2 in the first direction Z. It has a pair of first side plate parts 212 and a pair of first lid plate parts 214 extending from both ends of the first flat plate part 211 in the second direction X to the other side Z2 in the first direction Z. A rectangular notch 215 and a pair of first flange portions 213 are formed at the end of the first side plate portion 212 . has been done.

The second case member 22 includes a second flat plate portion 221 arranged substantially perpendicular to the first direction Z, and extends from both ends of the second flat plate portion 221 in the third direction Y to one side Z1 in the first direction Z. It has a pair of second side plate parts 222 and a pair of second lid plate parts 224 extending from both ends of the second flat plate part 221 in the second direction X to one side Z1 in the first direction Z. A second flange portion 223 is formed at the end of the second side plate portion 222 .

The pair of first flange portions 213 of the first case member 21 and the second flange portion 223 of the second case member 22 are joined to form the cylindrical inner case 20. The base plate 30, coil 40, and cover 70 of the support body 11, the permanent magnet 60 and yoke 61 of the movable body 12, and the connecting body 13 are housed in the inner case 20.

The base plate 30 is made of a non-magnetic metal material such as copper or aluminum alloy. The base plate 30 has a rectangular flat plate portion 31 to which the coil 40 is fixed, a pair of flange portions 32, and a pair of side plate portions 33. The pair of flange portions 32 extend from a pair of opposite sides of the flat plate portion 31, and the pair of side plate portions 33 are erected along the other pair of opposite sides of the flat plate portion 31.

The flange portion 32 protrudes from the inner case 20 through the notch portion 215 and is joined to the second flange portion 223 of the inner case 20 . Therefore, the base plate 30 is spanned between a pair of second side plate portions 222 facing each other in the third direction Y inside the inner case 20 . The flat plate part 31 to which the coil 40 is fixed faces the first flat plate part 211 and the second flat plate part 221 of the inner case 20 in the first direction Z. A gap is provided between the flat plate part 31 and the coil 40 and the second flat plate part 221.

A power supply board 41 is fixed to one flange portion 32 . The power supply board 41 is provided with a pair of first lands 42, a pair of second lands 43, and a circuit pattern connecting the first lands 42 and the second lands 43. An end portion 45 of a coil wire drawn out from the coil 40 is electrically connected to the first land 42, and an end portion of a lead wire 44 is electrically connected to the second land 43. The lead wire 44 extends in the second direction X through the gap between the inner case 20 and the outer case 2 and is drawn out from the outer case 2. The coil 40 is supplied with power via a lead wire 44 and a power supply board 41 .

(Configuration of movable body 12)
The yoke 61 of the movable body 12 also has a rectangular tube shape. However, the axial direction of the yoke 61 coincides with the third direction Y. The yoke 61 includes a first yoke 62 disposed on one side Z1 in the first direction Z and a second yoke 63 disposed on the other side Z2. The first yoke 62 and the second yoke 63 are made of a magnetic material such as steel.

The first yoke 62 is formed into a flat plate shape and is arranged approximately perpendicular to the first direction Z between the coil 40 fixed to the base plate 30 and the first flat plate part 211 of the inner case 20. . The second yoke 63 has a flat plate portion 631 and a pair of side plate portions 632. The flat plate part 631 is arranged substantially perpendicularly to the first direction Z between the base plate 30 and the second flat plate part 221 of the inner case 20. The side plate part 632 extends from both ends of the flat plate part 631 in the second direction X to one side Z1 in the first direction Z, and is arranged to sandwich the base plate 30 and the coil 40 in the second direction X. Then, the end portions of the side plate portions 632 are joined to both ends of the first yoke 62 in the second direction X, thereby forming the cylindrical yoke 61. The base plate 30 and the coil 40 are arranged inside a cylindrical yoke 61.

The first yoke 62 faces the first flat plate part 211 of the inner case 20 in the first direction Z, and the flat plate part 631 of the second yoke 63 faces the second flat plate part 221 of the inner case 20 in the first direction Z. is facing. Connection bodies 13 are provided between the first yoke 62 and the first flat plate portion 211 of the inner case 20 and between the flat plate portion 631 of the second yoke 63 and the second flat plate portion 221 of the inner case 20. ing. The yoke 61 is supported by the inner case 20 via these connecting bodies 13 and is arranged without contacting the base plate 30 and the coil 40.

In this example, a weight 64 is interposed between the first yoke 62 and the connecting body 13, and the weight 64 is fixed to the first yoke 62. Further, a weight 65 is interposed between the flat plate portion 631 of the second yoke 63 and the connecting body 13, and the weight 65 is fixed to the flat plate portion 631 of the second yoke 63. Vibration characteristics (for example, resonance frequency) of the movable body 12 are adjusted as appropriate by these weights 64 and 65.

The permanent magnet 60 of the movable body 12 includes a first magnet 66 and a second magnet 67. The first magnet 66 is fixed on the first yoke 62 inside the cylindrical yoke 61, and faces the coil 40 in the first direction Z. The second magnet 67 is fixed on the flat plate portion 631 of the second yoke 63 inside the cylindrical yoke 61, and faces the coil 40 in the first direction Z.

The first magnet 66 has a pair of magnets 661 and 662 arranged adjacent to each other in the second direction X. The magnets 661 and 662 are formed into a flat plate shape and are magnetized in the thickness direction. The magnetic poles of the surfaces of the magnets 661 and 662 facing the coil 40 are opposite to each other. The second magnet 67 also includes a pair of magnets 671 and 672 arranged adjacent to each other in the second direction X. The magnets 671 and 672 are formed into a flat plate shape and are magnetized in the thickness direction. The magnetic poles of the surfaces of the magnets 671 and 672 facing the coil 40 are opposite to each other.

One magnet 671 of the second magnet 67 faces one magnet 661 of the first magnet 66 in the first direction Z, and the magnetic poles of the surfaces of the magnets 661 and 671 facing the coil 40 are mutually It is considered to be of opposite polarity. Similarly, the other magnet 672 of the second magnet 67 faces the other magnet 662 of the first magnet 66 in the first direction Z, and the magnetic poles of the surfaces of the magnets 662 and 672 facing the coil 40 are as follows: They are considered to have opposite polarities. For example, when the surface of one magnet 661 of the first magnet 66 facing the coil 40 is the south pole, the surface of the other magnet 662 of the first magnet 66 facing the coil 40 is the north pole. The surface of one magnet 671 of the second magnet 67 facing the coil 40 is the north pole, and the surface of the other magnet 672 of the second magnet 67 facing the coil 40 is the south pole.

(Configuration of magnetic drive circuit 14)
The coil 40 is an air-core coil formed by winding a coil wire in a large number of oval shapes. The coil wire crosses between one magnet 661 of the first magnet 66 and one magnet 671 of the second magnet 67 from one side Y1 to the other side Y2 in the third direction Y, and It is wound so as to cross between the other magnet 662 of the second magnet 67 and the other magnet 672 of the second magnet 67 from the other side Y2 to the one side Y1 in the third direction Y.

The coil 40 is fixed at a predetermined position on the flat plate portion 31 of the base plate 30 using the cover 70 . The cover 70 is formed into a rectangular plate shape and is placed on the flat plate portion 31 of the base plate 30. A recess 71 is provided on the back side of the cover 70 in contact with the flat plate portion 31, and the recess 71 is formed in an oval shape corresponding to the coil 40. The coil 40 fits into the recess 71, and the cover 70 is placed on the flat plate 31 so as to cover the coil 40. By positioning and fixing the cover 70 to the base plate 30, the coil 40 sandwiched between the bottom wall 72 of the recess 71 and the flat plate 31 is also fixed at a predetermined position on the flat plate 31.

As a fixing means for fixing the cover 70 to the base plate 30, engaging parts are provided on a pair of side plate parts 33 of the base plate 30 that sandwich the cover 70 in the second direction X, and on a side surface of the cover 70 in contact with the side plate parts 33. It is being In this example, the engagement portion of the side plate portion 33 is constituted by an engagement hole 34, and the engagement hole 34 is formed at both ends of the side plate portion 33 in the third direction Y. On the other hand, the engaging portion of the cover 70 is constituted by an engaging claw 73 that fits into the engaging hole 34. When the cover 70 is placed on the flat plate part 31 of the base plate 30, the engaging claws 73 fit into the engaging holes 34, whereby the cover 70 is placed at a predetermined position on the flat plate part 31, and the positioning It is fixed to the base plate 30 in this state. Note that an engagement hole may be provided in the cover 70 and an engagement claw may be provided in the side plate portion 33.

A pair of slits 75 are provided in the side wall portion 74 of the recessed portion 71, and a through hole 76 is provided in the bottom wall portion 72 of the recessed portion 71. With the coil 40 fitted into the recess 71 and the cover 70 fixed to the base plate 30, the end portion 45 of the coil wire is pulled out to the outside of the cover 70 through the slit 75, and is electrically connected to the power supply board 41. connected to. Further, a portion of the coil 40 is exposed through the through hole 76.

(motion)
An alternating current is supplied to the coil 40. As power is supplied to the coil 40, a Lorentz force in the second direction X acts on the coil 40 on the support body 11 side, and a reaction force acts on the first magnet 66 and the second magnet 67 on the movable body 12 side. Due to the reaction force acting on the first magnet 66 and the second magnet 67, the movable body 12 is displaced in the second direction X with shear deformation of the connecting body 13 in the second direction X. Then, the direction of action of the Lorentz force is reversed every half cycle of alternating current. As a result, the movable body 12 vibrates in the second direction X.

(action/effect)
The coil 40 is positioned on the cover 70 by fitting into the recess 71, and when the cover 70 is positioned on the base plate 30, the coil 40 is also automatically positioned on the base plate 30. Then, by fixing the cover 70 to the base plate 30 while covering the coil 40, the coil 40 is fixed to the base plate 30 while being sandwiched between the base plate 30 and the cover 70. This eliminates the need to position the coil 40 on the base plate 30 using a jig and remove the jig after fixing the coil 40 to the base plate 30 by adhesion or the like, resulting in excellent assembly workability. In addition, compared to the case where a plate-like member in which the coil is fitted into a through hole is sandwiched between a pair of cover plates, the coil 40 can be held by two members, the base plate 30 and the cover 70, reducing the number of parts and manufacturing costs. can be reduced.

Further, since the base plate 30 has a pair of side plate parts 33 sandwiching the cover 70, and the side plate part 33 is provided with an engaging part for positioning the cover 70, positioning of the cover 70 is easy and assembly is easy. Work efficiency can be further improved.

Further, the engaging portion of the side plate portion 33 of the base plate 30 is the engaging hole 34 , the engaging portion of the side surface of the cover 70 in contact with the side plate portion 33 is the engaging claw 73 , and the engaging portion of the side plate portion 33 of the base plate 30 is the engaging hole 34 . By fitting the cover 70, the cover 70 can be positioned and fixed at the same time. This further improves assembly workability.

Further, a pair of slits 75 are provided in the side wall portion 74 of the recessed portion 71 of the cover 70 , and the end portion 45 of the coil wire is drawn out to the outside of the cover 70 through the slit 75 and is electrically connected to the power supply board 41 . has been done. As a result, even if an excessive impact is applied to the vibration actuator 1, contact between the end portion 45 of the coil wire and other members such as the yoke 61 and the permanent magnet 60 can be suppressed, and breakage of the coil wire can be prevented. .

Furthermore, a through hole 76 is provided in the bottom wall portion 72 of the recess 71 of the cover 70 to expose a portion of the coil 40, so that the heat dissipation of the coil 40 is enhanced. Thereby, deterioration of the coil 40 due to heat can be suppressed, and the performance of the vibration actuator 1 can be maintained over a long period of time. The material of the inner case 20 (the first case member 21 and the second case member 22) may be a resin material, but is preferably a metal material with high thermal conductivity, such as an aluminum alloy. Thereby, the heat generated in the coil 40 can be quickly guided from the base plate 30 to the inner case 20, and the heat dissipation performance of the coil 40 can be further improved.

(Other embodiments)
Note that in the vibration actuator 1 described above, the coil 40 is provided on the support 11 and the permanent magnet 60 is provided on the movable body 12; may be provided.

As described above, the vibration actuator disclosed in this specification includes a movable body, a support body, and at least one of elasticity and viscoelasticity, and the vibration actuator is movable at a position where the movable body and the support body face each other. a connecting body disposed so as to be in contact with both the movable body and the supporting body; an air-core coil provided on one side member of the movable body and the supporting body; and a connecting body arranged in a first direction with respect to the coil. a permanent magnet provided on the other side member of the movable body and the support body so as to face each other on at least one side; a magnetic drive circuit that vibrates in the direction, one side member of the movable body and the support body provided with the coil includes a base plate to which the coil is joined, and a magnetic drive circuit that covers the coil and is attached to the base plate. and a cover that is positioned and fixed, and the cover has a recess into which the coil fits.

Further, in the vibration actuator disclosed in this specification, the base plate is provided with a flat plate part on which the coil and the cover are installed, and a flat plate part, and are arranged facing each other with the coil and the cover in between. a pair of side plate portions, and a plurality of engaging portions for positioning the cover on the base plate are provided on the side plate portions of the base plate and a side surface of the cover in contact with the side plate portions.

Further, in the vibration actuator disclosed in this specification, the engaging portion includes an engaging hole provided in one of the side plate portion of the base plate and the side surface of the cover, and the side plate portion of the base plate and the cover. and an engaging pawl provided on the other side of the side surface and fitting into the engaging hole.

Further, the vibration actuator disclosed in this specification includes a power feeding board to which both ends of the coil wire forming the coil are connected, and a pair of slits are provided in the side plate of the recess. , both ends of the coil wire are drawn out to the outside of the cover through the slit.

Further, in the vibration actuator disclosed in this specification, a through hole is formed in the bottom wall of the recess to expose a part of the coil.

Further, in the vibration actuator disclosed in this specification, the support body has a metal case that houses the movable body, and the base plate is made of a non-magnetic metal material and is joined to the case. .

Further, the haptic device disclosed in this specification includes a movable body, a support body, and at least one of elasticity and viscoelasticity, and the movable body and the support body are arranged at a position where the movable body and the support body face each other. a connecting body disposed so as to be in contact with both sides of the body; an air-core coil provided on one side member of the movable body and the support body; and at least one side of the coil in a first direction with respect to the coil. A permanent magnet is provided on the other side member of the movable body and the support body so as to face each other, and the movable body is vibrated in a second direction intersecting the first direction with respect to the support body. a magnetic drive circuit, and one side member of the movable body and the support body provided with the coil is positioned and fixed to the base plate to which the coil is joined, and covers the coil. and a cover, the cover having a recess into which the coil fits.

1 Vibration actuator 2 Outer case 3 Outer case body 10 Actuator body 11 Support body 12 Movable body 13 Connection body 14 Magnetic drive circuit 20 Inner case 21 First case member 22 Second case member 30 Base plate 31 Flat plate part 32 Flange part 33 Side plate part 34 Engagement hole 40 Coil 41 Power supply board 42 First land 43 Second land 44 Lead wire 45 End portion 60 of coil wire Permanent magnet 61 Yoke 62 First yoke 63 Second yoke 64 Weight 65 Weight 66 First magnet 67 Second Magnet 70 Cover 71 Recess 72 Bottom wall 73 Engaging claw 74 Side wall 75 Slit 76 Through hole 211 First flat plate 212 First side plate 213 First flange 214 First cover plate 215 Notch 221 Second flat plate Part 222 Second side plate part 223 Second flange part 224 Second cover plate part 631 Flat plate part 632 Side plate part 661 Magnet 662 Magnet 671 Magnet 672 Magnet X Second direction Y Third direction Z First direction

Claims (5)

A movable body,
a support and
a connecting body having at least one of elasticity and viscoelasticity and arranged so as to be in contact with both the movable body and the support body at a position where the movable body and the support body face each other;
an air-core coil provided on one side member of the movable body and the support body; and an air-core coil provided on one side member of the movable body and the support body so as to face the coil on at least one side in the first direction. a magnetic drive circuit that has a permanent magnet provided on the other side member and vibrates the movable body in a second direction intersecting the first direction with respect to the support body;
Equipped with
One side member of the movable body and the support body provided with the coil,
a base plate to which the coil is fixed;
a cover that covers the coil and is positioned and fixed to the base plate;
has
The cover has a recess into which the coil fits,
The base plate is
a flat plate part on which the coil and the cover are installed;
a pair of side plate parts that stand upright on the flat plate part and are arranged to face each other with the coil and the cover in between;
has
A plurality of engaging portions for positioning the cover on the base plate are provided on the side plate portion of the base plate and a side surface of the cover in contact with the side plate portion,
The engaging portion is
an engagement hole provided in one of the side plate portion of the base plate and the side surface of the cover;
an engagement pawl provided on the other of the side plate portion of the base plate and the side surface of the cover and fitted into the engagement hole;
A vibration actuator composed of . The vibration actuator according to claim 1 ,
comprising a power supply board to which both ends of the coil wire forming the coil are connected;
A pair of slits are provided in the side plate portion of the recess,
Both ends of the coil wire are drawn out to the outside of the cover through the slit. The vibration actuator according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A vibration actuator, wherein a through hole is formed in a bottom wall of the recess to expose a part of the coil. The vibration actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The support body has a metal case that houses the movable body,
In the vibration actuator, the base plate is made of a non-magnetic metal material and is joined to the case. A movable body,
a support and
a connecting body having at least one of elasticity and viscoelasticity and arranged so as to be in contact with both the movable body and the support body at a position where the movable body and the support body face each other;
an air-core coil provided on one side member of the movable body and the support body; and an air-core coil provided on one side member of the movable body and the support body so as to face the coil on at least one side in the first direction. a magnetic drive circuit that has a permanent magnet provided on the other side member and vibrates the movable body in a second direction intersecting the first direction with respect to the support body;
Equipped with
One side member of the movable body and the support body provided with the coil,
a base plate to which the coil is fixed;
a cover that covers the coil and is positioned and fixed to the base plate;
has
The cover has a recess into which the coil fits,
The base plate is
a flat plate part on which the coil and the cover are installed;
a pair of side plate parts that stand upright on the flat plate part and are arranged to face each other with the coil and the cover in between;
has
A plurality of engaging portions for positioning the cover on the base plate are provided on the side plate portion of the base plate and a side surface of the cover in contact with the side plate portion,
The engaging portion is
an engagement hole provided in one of the side plate portion of the base plate and the side surface of the cover;
an engagement pawl provided on the other of the side plate portion of the base plate and the side surface of the cover and fitted into the engagement hole;
A tactile device composed of

Images