KR20110040674A - Coating for actuator and method of applying coating - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A coating for an actuator is provided to afford a device having a touch sensitive display and to facilitate the driving of the actuator. CONSTITUTION: A method comprises: applying a lip(404), comprised of a first material, disposed along at least a portion of an outer edge of an actuator of an electronic device; and applying a coating(406), comprised of an elastic material, to cover a part of the actuator, the coating disposed to facilitate actuation of the actuator. The lip is disposed along an outer edge of the actuator.

Description

Coatings and Actuators for Actuators {COATING FOR ACTUATOR AND METHOD OF APPLYING COATING}

This application is part of US patent application Ser. No. 12 / 342,502, filed December 23, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure, by way of non-limiting example, relates to an electronic device comprising a portable electronic device having a touch-sensitive display and to a coating of an actuator in such an electronic device.

Electronic devices, including portable electronic devices, have come into widespread use and can provide a variety of functions, including, for example, telephone, electronic messaging, and other personal information manager (PIM) application functionality. Portable electronic devices include many types of devices, including simple cellular phones, smartphones, wireless PDAs, and mobile stations such as laptop computers with wireless 802.11 or Bluetooth capabilities.

Portable electronic devices such as PDAs or smart phones are generally aimed at handheld use and ease of portability. Smaller devices are generally preferred for portability. Touch-sensitive displays (also known as touchscreen displays) are particularly useful for handheld devices that are small and have limited space for user input and output. The information displayed on the touch-sensitive display can be modified according to the function and operation being performed.

There is a need for improvements in devices with touch-sensitive displays.

In the following, a lip composed of a first material is applied along at least a portion of the actuator of the electronic device and a coating composed of an elastic material to cover a portion of the actuator, the coating being arranged to facilitate driving of the actuator. A method and an electronic device comprising applying are described.

A device with an improved touch sensitive display can be provided.

1 is a block diagram of a portable electronic device according to the present disclosure.
2A is a front view of an exemplary portable electronic device in accordance with the present disclosure.
FIG. 2B is a side cross-sectional view of a portable electronic device cut along line 202 of FIG. 2A in accordance with the disclosure.
3 is a functional block diagram illustrating components of a portable electronic device in accordance with the present disclosure.
4 is a perspective view of an actuator according to the present disclosure.
5 is an exploded view of an actuator according to the present disclosure.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of protecting an actuator according to the present disclosure.

For simplicity and clarity of description, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. Embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail in order not to obscure the embodiments described herein. This description should not be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.

The present disclosure generally relates to electronic devices, and embodiments described herein describe portable electronic devices. Examples of portable electronic devices include mobile or handheld wireless communication devices such as pagers, cellular phones, cellular smartphones, wireless organizers, PDAs, wirelessly accessible notebook computers, and the like. The portable electronic device may also be a portable electronic device without wireless communication capability, such as a handheld electronic game device, digital photo album, digital camera, or other device.

An example block diagram of a portable electronic device 100 is shown in FIG. 1. The portable electronic device 100 includes a number of components, such as a processor 102 that controls the overall operation of the portable electronic device 100. Communication functions, including data and voice communications, are performed through the communication subsystem 104. Data received by the portable electronic device 100 is decompressed and decrypted by the decoder 106. Communication subsystem 104 receives a message from wireless network 150 and sends a message to wireless network 150. Wireless network 150 may be any type of wireless network including, by way of non-limiting example, a data wireless network, a voice wireless network, and a dual mode network supporting both voice and data communications. A power source 142, such as a port to one or more rechargeable batteries or other power supply, powers the portable electronic device 100.

The processor 102 also includes a display 112 with a touch-sensitive overlay 114 operatively connected to the RAM 108, memory 110, electronic controller 116, all of which are touch-sensitive displays. (118) together), one or more actuators 120, one or more force sensors 122, auxiliary input / output (I / O) subsystem 124, data ports 126, speakers 128, microphones ( 130, and other devices such as short-range communication subsystem 132 and other device subsystem 134. User interaction via the graphical user interface is performed via the touch sensitive overlay 114. Processor 102 interacts with touch-sensitive overlay 114 via electronic controller 116. Information such as text, characters, symbols, images, icons, and other items that can be displayed and rendered on the portable electronic device is displayed on the touch-sensitive display 118 via the processor 102. Processor 102 may also interact with accelerometer 136 that may be utilized to detect the direction of gravity or the direction of reaction force caused by gravity.

To identify the subscriber for network access, portable electronic device 100 uses a Subcriber Identity Module / Removable User Identity Module (SIM / RUIM) card 138 to communicate with a network, such as wireless network 150. Alternatively, user identification information can be programmed into memory 110.

The portable electronic device 100 also includes an operating system 146 and a software program or component 148 that are executed by the processor 102 and typically stored in an updateable permanent storage, such as the memory 110. Additional applications or programs may be run on the portable electronic device via wireless network 150, auxiliary I / O subsystem 124, data port 126, short range communication subsystem 132, or any other suitable subsystem 134. May be loaded on 100.

Received signals, such as text messages, e-mail messages or web page downloads, are processed by communication subsystem 104 and entered into processor 102. Processor 102 processes this received signal for output to display 112 and / or secondary I / O subsystem 124. The subscriber may create data items, such as e-mail messages, which may be transmitted, for example, via wireless network 150 via communication subsystem 104. In the case of voice communication, the overall operation of the portable electronic device 100 is similar. The speaker 128 outputs audible information converted from the electrical signal, and the microphone 130 converts the audible information into an electrical signal for processing.

The touch sensitive display 118 may be any suitable touch sensitive display, such as capacitive, resistive, infrared, or surface acoustic wave (SAW) touch sensitive display, as known in the art. The capacitive touch-sensitive display includes a display 112 and a capacitive touch-sensitive overlay 114. The overlay 114 is, for example, a collection of multiple stacked layers including a substrate, an LCD display 112, a ground shield layer, a barrier layer, one or more capacitive touch sensor layers separated by a substrate or other barrier, and a cover. Can be. The capacitive touch sensor layers can be any suitable material, such as patterned indium tin oxide (ITO).

One or more touches, also known as touch contacts or touch events, may be detected by the touch-sensitive display 118 and processed by the controller 116, for example, to determine the location of the touch. The touch position data may include a single point of contact, such as a point in the center of the contact area, or a point in the vicinity of the contact area or near it for further processing. The touch position detected on the touch sensitive display 118 may include x and y components, respectively, that are horizontal and perpendicular to the user's viewpoint of the touch sensitive display 118, respectively. For example, the x component may be determined by a signal generated from one touch sensor layer, and the y component may be determined by a signal generated from another touch sensor layer. Depending on the nature of the touch-sensitive display 118, a signal may be sent to the controller 116 in response to detection of a suitable object, such as a finger, thumb, or other item such as, for example, a stylus, pen, or other pointer. Is provided. More than one simultaneous contact location may occur and be detected.

Actuator 120 may include one or more piezoelectric (piezo) actuators that provide tactile feedback. 2A is a front view of an exemplary portable electronic device 100. In the example shown in FIG. 2A, the actuator 120 includes four piezo actuators 120 each positioned near an edge of the touch-sensitive display 118. FIG. 2B is a side cross-sectional view of the portable electronic device 100 taken along line 202 of FIG. 2A. Each piezo actuator 120 is configured within the portable electronic device 100 such that the contraction of the piezo actuator 120 exerts a force on the touch sensitive display 118 against the external force applied to the touch sensitive display 118. Supported. Each piezo actuator 120 includes a piezoelectric device such as a piezoelectric ceramic disk 206 attached to a substrate 208 such as a metal substrate. Advantageously at least partially flexible, an element 210 comprising, for example, hard rubber can be positioned between the piezoelectric disk 206 and the touch-sensitive display 118. In the example shown in FIG. 2A, as an alternative, four force sensors 122, each positioned between element 210 and substrate 208, are used. The substrate 208 is bent when the piezoelectric disk 206 shrinks in the opposite direction due to the accumulation of charge in the piezoelectric disk 206 or in response to an external force applied to the touch-sensitive display 118. This charge can be adjusted by varying the applied voltage or current, thereby controlling the force applied to the touch-sensitive display 118 by the piezo actuator 120. The charge on the piezo actuator 120 can be removed by the controlled discharge current causing the piezoelectric disk 206 to expand in opposition, thereby reducing the force exerted on the touch-sensitive display 118 by the piezo actuator. In the absence of an external force applied to the overlay 114 and the charge on the piezoelectric disk 206, the piezo actuator 120 may be slightly bent due to mechanical preloading.

3 is a functional block diagram of the components of the portable electronic device 100. In this example, each force sensor 122 is connected to a controller 302 that includes an amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The force sensor 122 may be a force sensing resistor in the electrical circuit, the resistance value being changed in response to the applied force. As the force applied to the touch-sensitive display 118 increases, the resistance value decreases. This change is determined by the controller 116 for each force sensor 122. The applied touch force is determined based on the value of the force at each of the force sensors 122.

The piezo actuator 120 is connected to a piezo driver 304 in communication with the controller 302. The controller 302 also communicates with the main processor 102 of the portable electronic device 100 and can provide a signal to the main processor 102. The controller 302 controls the piezo driver 304, which controls the voltage for the piezoelectric disk 206, thereby controlling the force and charge applied to the touch-sensitive display 118 by the piezo actuator 120. Each piezoelectric disc 206 may be controlled substantially identically simultaneously. As an alternative, the piezoelectric disks 206 may be individually controlled. If the force applied to the touch-sensitive display 118 exceeds the first threshold, the charge on the piezo actuator 120 may be adjusted to force the touch-sensitive display to simulate the collapse of the dome switch. After driving of the piezo actuator 120, if the force applied to the touch sensitive display 118 falls below the second threshold, the charge on the piezo actuator 120 is controlled by the piezo actuator 120 by the touch sensitive display ( Force 118 to simulate the release of the dome switch. The second threshold is lower than the first threshold.

A perspective view of the piezo actuator 120 is shown in FIG. 4, and an anatomical view of the piezo actuator 120 is shown in FIG. 5. Each piezo actuator 120 is connected to the piezo driver 304 via a conductor 402, which is typically made of metal, such as a silver conductor attached on each side of the piezoelectric disk 206. The piezo driver 304 applies a voltage across the piezoelectric disk 206 and adjusts the force on the touch sensitive display 118 to drive the actuator 120. For example, a voltage of 150V can be applied across each piezoelectric disk 206. In the presence of an electric field, metal movement, such as silver movement when a silver conductor is used, causes metal ions to move in the direction of increasing electrical potential from the conductor 402 on one side of the piezoelectric disk 206. The microcracks formed during the drive of the piezoelectric disk 206 may join together to produce larger cracks. Once the cracks are large enough, the cracks promote the movement of silver to another conductor (not shown) on the opposite side of the piezoelectric disk 206, ie, between the piezoelectric disk 206 and the substrate 208, to another conductor (not shown). It causes a short circuit of the piezoelectric disk 206. The movement of metal ions is affected by the presence of moisture, such as humidity in the atmosphere, and is stopped in the absence of moisture and in the absence of movement of moisture.

In order to stop the movement of the metal, such as silver, from the conductor, a raised lip 404 of polymeric material is applied to each piezo actuator 120 to surround the piezoelectric disk 206. The polymeric material may be a silicone based material such as, for example, P / N 9186L. In the example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lip 404 is in the shape of a ring surrounding the periphery of the piezoelectric disk 206. Lip 404 may, for example, have a thickness ranging from about 200 μm to about 400 μm. A thin coating 406 of a second polymeric material of silicon-based material, such as, for example, 3-1953, covers the piezoelectric disk 206 and the conductor 402 in the ring formed by the lip 404. Thin coatings may, for example, have a thickness ranging from about 100 μm to about 200 μm. The coating 406 is thinner than the lip 404, and the elasticity of the coating 406 facilitates the drive of the piezo actuator 120. The coating 406 is less viscous than the lip 404 when applied to the piezo actuator 120, resulting in exposing some areas of the piezo actuator 120 when the lip 404 is not used. May be applied during application. Lip 404 acts as a barrier where thin coating 406 is applied and promotes coverage of piezo actuator 120 within lip 404. As described above, the piezo actuator 120 bends when an external force is applied to the touch sensitive display 118. Lip 404 may be used as a stop to stop further bending of piezo actuator 120.

Alternatively, other materials may be used for the lip 404. For example, materials that repel water or trap water, such as acrylic, urethane, or fluorine-based materials, may be used for the lip 404. Likewise, other materials may be used for the coating 406. For example, materials that repel water or confine water, such as acrylic, urethane, or fluorine based materials, can be used for the coating 406.

A flow diagram illustrating one example of a method of protecting a piezo actuator 120 is shown in FIG. 6. Lip 404 is applied to each piezo actuator 120 by a needle that ejects a polymeric material around the periphery of each piezoelectric disk 206. The polymeric material of the lip 404 has an appropriate viscosity to form the lip 404 when applied to the piezo actuator 120. Lip 404 is cured 606 in the atmosphere for a suitable period of time to act as a barrier when a coating is applied therein. Coating 406 is sprayed 606 on each piezo actuator 120, on the area of the piezo actuator 120 in the lip 404. The coating can be sprayed using any suitable manual or automatic jet or spray coating machine. The coating cures in the atmosphere (608).

The application of the lip 404 prior to the application of the coating 406 facilitates the formation of a coating covering the surface area of the piezoelectric disk 206 inside the lip 404. The coating 406 forms a seal on one side of the piezoelectric disk 206 and the conductor 402 to stop the movement of metal, such as silver ions, from the conductor 402 to the use of each piezo actuator 120. To increase the life possible.

The method includes applying a lip comprised of a first material along at least a portion of an actuator of an electronic device and applying a coating comprised of an elastic material to cover a portion of the actuator, the coating facilitating driving of the actuator. To be arranged.

The electronic device includes an actuator, a lip composed of a first material positioned along at least a portion of the actuator, and a coating composed of an elastic material on a portion of the actuator, the coating disposed to facilitate driving of the actuator.

The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

142: power, 146: operating system
148: program, 136: accelerometer
110: memory, 106: decoder
104: communication subsystem, 150: network
134: other device subsystems, 102: the main processor
124: auxiliary I / O, 126: data port
122: force sensor, 120: actuator
128: speaker, 130: microphone
116: controller, 114: overlay
112: display, 132: short-range communication subsystem
302: controller, 304: piezoelectric driver

Claims (23)

Applying a lip comprised of a first material to be disposed along at least a portion of an outer edge of an actuator of the electronic device; And
Applying a coating of elastic material to cover a portion of the actuator
Including;
And the coating is arranged to facilitate driving of the actuator. The method of claim 1, wherein the lip is disposed along an outer edge of the actuator. The method of claim 1, wherein the second material covers a silver electrode on the actuator. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric actuator, the portion of the actuator comprising a ceramic piezoelectric device. The method of claim 1, wherein the second material comprises a polymeric material. The method of claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a polymeric material. The method of claim 1, wherein the second material has a greater viscosity than the first material. The method of claim 1, wherein the second material comprises any one of a silicon based material, an acrylic, a urethane, a fluorine based material, or a combination thereof. The method of claim 1, wherein the lip comprises any one of a silicone based material, an acrylic, a urethane, a fluorine based material, or a combination thereof. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the lip comprises applying the lip by a needle that ejects the first material around the actuator. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the coating comprises spraying the coating on the actuator. The method of claim 1, wherein the coating is thin compared to the lip. In an electronic device,
Actuators;
A lip comprised of a first material disposed along at least a portion of an edge of the actuator; And
A coating of elastic material disposed on a portion of the actuator to be arranged to facilitate driving of the actuator
Comprising an electronic device. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the lip is disposed along an outer edge of the actuator. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the actuator comprises a piezoelectric actuator, and a portion of the liquid comprises a ceramic piezoelectric device. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the second material covers the silver electrode on the actuator. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the second material comprises a polymeric material. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the first material comprises a polymeric material. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the second material has a greater viscosity than the first material. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the second material comprises any one of a silicon based material, an acrylic, a urethane, a fluorine based material, or a combination thereof. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the lip comprises any one of a silicon-based material, an acrylic, a urethane, a fluorine-based material, or a combination thereof. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the coating is thin compared to the lip. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the lip is arranged to limit the bending of the actuator upon receipt of an externally applied force.

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