Unit and tactile sensation providing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11318498-B2
Application number	US-201816232455-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 26, 2018
Priority date	May 28, 2018
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

A unit and a tactile sensation providing apparatus which enable simplification of the assembly process of the apparatus are provided. The unit is provided with an actuator, a first fixing unit fixable to a base, a second fixing unit, and an elastic member configured to couple the first fixing unit and the second fixing unit together. The second fixing unit is fixable to a vibration object and coupled to the actuator.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A unit comprising:
an actuator having a piezoelectric element and a diaphragm;
a first fixing unit that is fixable to a base and that has two legs;
a second fixing unit that is fixable to a vibration object and coupled to the diaphragm, the second fixing unit being positioned between the two legs; and
two elastic members configured to couple the two legs with one side and an other side of the second fixing unit together, respectively.

2. The unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the unit vibrates the vibration object according to expansion and contraction displacement of the piezoelectric element.

3. The unit according to claim 2 , configured to vibrate a primary surface of the vibration object in an in-plane direction according to the expansion and contraction displacement of the piezoelectric element.

4. The unit according to claim 2 , configured to vibrate a primary surface of the vibration object in an out-of-plane direction according to the expansion and contraction displacement of the piezoelectric element.

5. The unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the elastic members are configured to directly couple the first fixing unit and the second fixing unit together.

6. The unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second fixing unit is between the actuator and the elastic members.

7. A tactile sensation providing apparatus comprising:
a vibration object and a unit,
wherein the unit is provided with:
an actuator having a piezoelectric element and a diaphragm;
a first fixing unit that is fixable to a base and that has two legs;
a second fixing unit that is fixable to the vibration object and coupled to the diaphragm, the second fixing unit being positioned between the two legs; and

two elastic members configured to couple the two legs with one side and an other side of the second fixing unit together, respectively.

8. The tactile sensation providing apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the elastic members are configured to directly couple the first fixing unit and the second fixing unit together.

9. The tactile sensation providing apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the second fixing unit is between the actuator and the elastic members.

Assignees

• Kyocera Corp

Inventors

• Nakao Fumiaki
• Takeda Jun
• Hattori Shigeto
• Koike Kazushi
• Shintani Takeshi
• Yamori Takeshi
• Hirooka Shun

Classifications

• G06F3/016 Primary

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• B06B1/06

  operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction (piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices per se H10N30/00) · CPC title

• B06B1/0603 Primary

  using a piezoelectric bender, e.g. bimorph · CPC title

• G08B6/00

  Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems · CPC title

• H02N2/04

  Constructional details · CPC title