Vibration structure, panel module, and housing module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024275254-A1
Application number	US-202418643041-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 23, 2024
Priority date	Dec 20, 2021
Publication date	Aug 15, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vibration structure that includes: a housing; a panel having a main surface; an inner frame physically connected to the panel and the housing, the inner frame including a first portion overlapping the housing as viewed in a normal direction of the main surface; an outer frame physically connected to the panel and the housing, the outer frame surrounding the inner frame as viewed in the normal direction, and the outer frame including a second portion overlapping the panel as viewed in the normal direction; and a vibration body that vibrates the panel, wherein (A) or (B): (A) the vibration body is attached to the panel or the inner frame; or (B) the vibration body is attached across the panel or the inner frame, and the housing or the outer frame.

First claim

1 . A vibration structure comprising:
a housing; a panel having a main surface; an inner frame physically connected to the panel and the housing, the inner frame including a first portion overlapping the housing as viewed in a normal direction of the main surface; an outer frame physically connected to the panel and the housing, the outer frame surrounding the inner frame as viewed in the normal direction, and the outer frame including a second portion overlapping the panel as viewed in the normal direction; and a vibration body that vibrates the panel, wherein (A) or (B): (A) the vibration body is attached to the panel or the inner frame; or (B) the vibration body is attached across the panel or the inner frame, and the housing or the outer frame.

2 . The vibration structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first cushioning material overlapping the first portion as viewed in the normal direction and physically connecting the housing and the inner frame; and a second cushioning material overlapping the second portion as viewed in the normal direction and physically connecting the panel and the outer frame.

3 . The vibration structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the inner frame includes a first wide portion having a wide width and a first narrow portion having a narrow width, the outer frame includes a second wide portion having a wide width and a second narrow portion having a narrow width, the inner frame is physically connected to the housing by the first wide portion, and the outer frame is physically connected to the panel by the second wide portion.

4 . The vibration structure according to claim 2 , wherein
a number of the first cushioning materials is two or more, a number of the second cushioning materials is two or more, the inner frame and the outer frame each have a shape extending along one side of the main surface as viewed in the normal direction, and the first cushioning material and the second cushioning material are alternately arranged on a straight line parallel to a first direction in which the inner frame and the outer frame extend.

5 . The vibration structure according to claim 4 , wherein the first cushioning material and the second cushioning material are in contact with each other on the straight line parallel to the first direction.

6 . The vibration structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the housing includes a third portion overlapping the first cushioning material as viewed in the normal direction, the panel includes a fourth portion overlapping the second cushioning material as viewed in the normal direction, and a sum of a length in the normal direction of the third portion and a length in the normal direction of the first cushioning material is equal to a sum of a length in the normal direction of the fourth portion and a length in the normal direction of the second cushioning material.

7 . The vibration structure according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a first adhesive material physically connecting the housing and the outer frame; a second adhesive material physically connecting the panel and the inner frame; the housing includes a fifth portion overlapping the first adhesive material as viewed in the normal direction; and the panel includes a sixth portion overlapping the second adhesive material as viewed in the normal direction, wherein a sum of a length in the normal direction of the fifth portion and a length in the normal direction of the first adhesive material is equal to a sum of a length in the normal direction of the sixth portion and a length in the normal direction of the second adhesive material.

8 . The vibration structure according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a second adhesive material physically connecting the panel and the inner frame; the housing includes a third portion overlapping the first cushioning material as viewed in the normal direction; and the panel includes a sixth portion overlapping the second adhesive material as viewed in the normal direction, wherein a sum of a length in the normal direction of the third portion and a length in the normal direction of the first cushioning material is equal to a sum of a length in the normal direction of the sixth portion and a length in the normal direction of the second adhesive material.

9 . The vibration structure according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a first adhesive material physically connecting the housing and the outer frame; the housing includes a fifth portion overlapping the first adhesive material as viewed in the normal direction; and the panel includes a fourth portion overlapping the second cushioning material as viewed in the normal direction, a sum of a length in the normal direction of the fifth portion and a length in the normal direction of the first adhesive material is equal to a sum of a length in the normal direction of the fourth portion and a length in the normal direction of the second cushioning material.

10 . The vibration structure according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a first electrode; and a second electrode, wherein the first cushioning material has conductivity, the first cushioning material is electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, and the first electrode is disposed with a space from the second electrode.

11 . The vibration structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the outer frame has conductivity, the second cushioning material includes a first conductive cushioning material having conductivity and a second conductive cushioning material having conductivity, the first conductive cushioning material and the second conductive cushioning material are electrically connected to the outer frame, and the first conductive cushioning material is disposed with a space from the second conductive cushioning material.

12 . The vibration structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor that detects bending of the panel, and wherein (C) or (D): (C) the sensor is attached to the panel or the inner frame; or (D) the sensor is attached across the panel or the inner frame, and the housing or the outer frame.

13 . The vibration structure according to claim 12 , wherein the sensor is any one of a strain gauge, a capacitive sensor, and a piezoelectric sensor.

14 . The vibration structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a spring portion having elasticity, the spring portion physically connecting the inner frame and the outer frame.

15 . The vibration structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the housing includes an opening, the panel is surrounded by the opening as viewed in the normal direction, and the main surface is exposed from the opening.

16 . A panel module comprising:
a panel having a main surface; an inner frame physically connected to the panel, the inner frame including a first portion extending outwardly past the panel as viewed in a normal direction of the main surface; an outer frame physically connected to the panel, the outer frame surrounding the inner frame as viewed in the normal direction, and the outer frame including a second portion overlapping the panel as viewed in the normal direction; and a vibration body that vibrates the panel, wherein (A) or (B): (A) the vibration body is attached to the panel or the inner frame; or (B) the vibration body is attached across the panel and the outer frame, or the inner frame and the outer frame.

17 . The panel module according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a first cushioning material overlapping

Assignees

• Murata Manufacturing Co

Inventors

• Otera Shozo
• Endo Jun
• Ishiura Yutaka

Classifications

• G06F3/03547

  Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface · CPC title

• G06F3/016

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

• 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

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title

• G06F3/01

  Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer (G06F3/16 takes precedence) · CPC title