Haptic actuator including field member within slotted opening of suspended coil and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11837937-B2
Application number	US-202016989559-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2020
Priority date	Aug 30, 2019
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

A haptic actuator may include a base, a field member coupled to the base and that may include spaced apart permanent magnets. The haptic actuator may also include a coil having a loop shape defining a slotted opening therein, and a spring member suspending the coil so that the field member is within the slotted opening and permitting relative movement of the field member and the coil.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A haptic actuator comprising:
a base;
a field member coupled to the base and comprising a plurality of spaced apart permanent magnets including a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet;
a coil having a loop shape defining a slotted opening therein; and
a spring member suspending the coil so that the field member is within the slotted opening and permitting relative movement of the field member and the coil; the first permanent magnet at least partially disposed within the slotted opening, and the second permanent magnet disposed at least partially between the first permanent magnet and the coil.

2. The haptic actuator of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spaced apart permanent magnets comprises first and second sets of permanent magnets; and further comprising a bearing coupled to the base between the first and second sets of permanent magnets.

3. The haptic actuator of claim 1 further comprising a magnet spacer coupled between the field member and the base.

4. The haptic actuator of claim 1 wherein the spring member has a spring member opening therein sized to permit passage of the field member therethrough.

5. The haptic actuator of claim 1 wherein the field member comprises a ferritic body disposed between permanent magnets of the plurality of spaced apart permanent magnets.

6. The haptic actuator of claim 5 wherein the ferritic body comprises stainless steel.

7. The haptic actuator of claim 1 wherein the base comprises stainless steel.

8. The haptic actuator of claim 1 further comprising a coil tray carrying the coil and coupled to the base.

9. The haptic actuator of claim 1 wherein the spring member comprises a ferritic material.

10. The haptic actuator of claim 1 further comprising at least one spacer carried by the spring member opposite the field member.

11. The haptic actuator of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of mechanical stops adjacent opposing ends of the field member.

12. An electronic device comprising:
a housing;
wireless communications circuitry carried by the housing;
a haptic actuator carried by the housing and comprising
a base,
a field member coupled to the base and comprising a plurality of spaced apart permanent magnets,
at least one coil having a loop shape defining a slotted opening therein, and
a spring member suspending the at least one coil so that the field member is within the slotted opening and permitting relative movement of the field member and the at least one coil; the permanent magnets of the plurality of spaced apart permanent magnets spaced apart from each other, and spaced apart from the at least one coil, along a same direction; and

a controller coupled to the wireless communications circuitry and the haptic actuator and configured to perform at least one wireless communications function and selectively operate the haptic actuator.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the plurality of spaced apart permanent magnets comprises first and second sets of permanent magnets; and wherein the haptic actuator further comprises a bearing coupled to the base between the first and second sets of permanent magnets.

14. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the haptic actuator further comprises a magnet spacer coupled between the field member and the base.

15. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the spring member has a spring member opening therein sized to permit passage of the field member therethrough.

16. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the field member comprises a ferritic body disposed between permanent magnets of the plurality of spaced apart permanent magnets.

17. The electronic device of claim 12 wherein the spring member comprises a ferritic material.

18. A method of making a haptic actuator comprising:
coupling a field member to a base, the field member comprising a plurality of spaced apart permanent magnets including a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet;
positioning a spring member to suspend a coil having a loop shape defining a slotted opening therein so that the field member is within the slotted opening and permits relative movement of the field member and the coil, and so that the first permanent magnet is at least partially disposed within the slotted opening, and the second permanent magnet is disposed at least partially between the first permanent magnet and the coil.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the plurality of spaced apart permanent magnets comprises first and second sets of permanent magnets; and further comprising coupling a bearing to the base between the first and second sets of permanent magnets.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising coupling a magnet spacer between the field member and the base.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the spring member has a spring member opening therein sized to permit passage of the field member therethrough.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the field member comprises a ferritic body disposed between permanent magnets of the plurality of spaced apart permanent magnets.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Wopat Kathryn K
• Huang Fu-Ying
• Vasudevan Hari
• Wu Xin Alice
• Yoneoka Shingo

Classifications

• H02K33/18 Primary

  with coil systems moving upon intermittent or reversed energisation thereof by interaction with a fixed field system, e.g. permanent magnets · CPC title

• B06B1/045

  using vibrating magnet, armature or coil system · CPC title

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title