阅读说明：本技术 振动致动器 (Vibration actuator ) 是由 千叶雄介 冈崎义一 于 2020-02-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种能够防止振动致动器的振动性能或耐久性变差、并且在产生来自外部的冲击时也能够防止产生动作不良或杂音的振动致动器。本发明的振动致动器1包括：筒状的壳体2,包括第一线圈21a及第二线圈21b；可动件4,配置于壳体2的内部,且包括磁铁30；以及第一内导杆6a及第二内导杆6b,位于第一线圈21a及第二线圈21b与可动件4之间,且包括与壳体2一起夹持第一线圈21a及第二线圈21b的一部分的延伸部65a、延伸部65b。(The invention provides a vibration actuator which can prevent the vibration performance or durability of the vibration actuator from being poor and can prevent poor action or noise from being generated when an external impact is generated. The vibration actuator 1 of the present invention includes: a cylindrical case 2 including a first coil 21a and a second coil 21 b; a movable element 4 disposed inside the case 2 and including a magnet 30; and first and second inner guide bars 6a and 6b located between the first and second coils 21a and 21b and the movable element 4, and including an extension portion 65a and an extension portion 65b that sandwich a part of the first and second coils 21a and 21b together with the case 2.)

1. A vibration actuator, comprising:

a cylindrical housing including a coil;

a movable element disposed inside the housing and including a magnet; and

an inner guide including an extension located between the coil and the movable member and clamping a portion of the coil together with the housing.

2. A vibration actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a portion of the coil is exposed and clamped by the extension of the inner guide and the housing.

3. A vibration actuator as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein:

the inner guide and the housing contain the same resin material, and the housing and the inner guide are welded.

4. A vibration actuator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

a plate spring including a plurality of wrist portions supporting the movable member is included inside the housing,

the inner guide is located inside the housing on the axial direction closer to the center side of the housing than the leaf spring, and restricts movement of the leaf spring.

5. A vibration actuator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

the coil includes: a first coil provided on one side of the housing in the axial direction; and a second coil provided on the other side in the axial direction,

the inner guide rod includes: a first inner guide bar including an extension portion located between the first coil and the movable member and clamping the first coil together with the housing; and a second inner guide rod including an extension part located between the second coil and the movable member and clamping the second coil together with the housing.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a vibration actuator.

Background

Conventionally, in a communication device such as a mobile phone, as a method of notifying a person of an incoming call or an alarm, there is a method of notifying by using vibration of a vibration actuator (or a vibration motor). In recent years, in the field of movies, games, and Virtual Reality (VR), for example, a vibration actuator is used as one of a rendering effect of an action scene and a feedback means for a player, and a sense of realism is improved by stimulating human sense of touch with vibration.

Conventionally, a method of rotating an eccentric mass by a motor and generating vibration by inertial force has been used for a vibration actuator, and there are products using a voice coil type vibration actuator which has a rapid response to vibration and can obtain a realistic feeling. The vibration actuator includes a structure for electrically vibrating a movable element including a weight or the like back and forth, and the movable element is supported by an elastic body such as a spring or rubber in a housing.

For example, a vibration actuator having a structure in which shafts fixed to both ends of a movable element are supported by a disk-shaped rubber member is disclosed (see patent document 1). Further, a vibration actuator having a structure in which a movable member is supported by a compression coil spring or a leaf spring is disclosed (see patent document 2).

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent Kokoku No. 61-45745

Patent document 2: japanese patent No. 5775233

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, when an impact is applied to the vibration actuator from the outside, the movable element elastically supported swings due to the impact, and the electromagnetic driving unit such as a coil disposed with a slight gap from the outer periphery of the movable element interferes with the movable element, so that the unit may be deformed or broken, which may cause malfunction or noise. Particularly, when used in a mobile phone, a game controller, or the like, it is difficult to avoid an impact such as a drop.

For example, in the vibration actuator of patent document 1, only in order to insert and fix a coil case having a coil mounted on an inner periphery thereof into an inner periphery of a substantially cylindrical yoke, a movable element is supported by a support member including a rubber member. Therefore, when an impact is applied to the vibration actuator from the outside, the movable element comes into contact with the coil when moving in the radial direction (direction perpendicular to the vibration direction).

On the other hand, in the vibration actuator of patent document 2, since a shaft (draft) along the vibration direction penetrates the movable element and the movable element vibrates along the shaft, the movement in the radial direction is restricted. Further, since the inner periphery of the coil is covered with the bobbin, the movable element and the coil do not directly contact each other.

However, although the bonding with an adhesive is used for the joining of the coil to the coil case in patent document 1 or the joining of the bobbin to the housing in patent document 2, the vibration actuator is given an impact from the outside, and the joining may be released, which may cause the coil or the bobbin to fall off.

In addition, in a structure in which the entire area of the coil is covered with the bobbin as in the vibration actuator of patent document 2, heat dissipation of the coil is deteriorated, and insulation of the coil may be deteriorated at an early stage.

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a vibration actuator capable of preventing deterioration of vibration performance and durability of the vibration actuator and preventing occurrence of malfunction or noise even when an external impact is generated.

Means for solving the problems

To achieve the object, a vibration actuator of the present disclosure includes: a cylindrical housing including a coil; a movable element disposed inside the housing and including a magnet; and an inner guide including an extension located between the coil and the movable member and clamping a portion of the coil together with the housing.

In the vibration actuator, a part of the coil may be exposed and clamped by the extension of the inner guide and the housing.

In addition, in the vibration actuator, the inner guide and the housing may contain the same resin material, and the housing and the inner guide may be welded.

In the vibration actuator, a plate spring may be provided inside the housing, the plate spring may include a plurality of arm portions supporting the movable element, and the inner guide may be located inside the housing on the center side of the housing in the axial direction with respect to the plate spring and may restrict movement of the plate spring.

In addition, in the vibration actuator, the coil may include: a first coil provided on one side of the housing in the axial direction; and a second coil disposed at the other side of the axial direction, the inner guide rod including: a first inner guide bar including an extension portion located between the first coil and the movable member and clamping the first coil together with the housing; and the second inner guide rod comprises an extension part which is positioned between the second coil and the movable piece and clamps the second coil together with the shell.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the vibration actuator of the present disclosure using the above-described member, it is possible to prevent the vibration performance or durability of the vibration actuator from being deteriorated, and also to prevent malfunction or noise from being generated when an impact from the outside is generated.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vibration actuator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the vibration actuator with the first cover case and the first elastic member omitted.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2.

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of the first inner guide.

FIG. 4B is a plan view of the first inner guide.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the vibration actuator.

FIG. 6A is a sectional view showing a state where the movable element is moved to one side in the oscillation axis direction.

FIG. 6B is a sectional view showing a state where the movable element is moved to the other side in the oscillation axis direction.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vibration actuator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, fig. 2 is a plan view of a state in which a first cover case and a first elastic member of the vibration actuator are omitted, fig. 3 is a sectional view of fig. 2 taken along a cutting line III-III, fig. 4A is a perspective view of a first inner guide, fig. 4B is a plan view of the first inner guide, fig. 5 is a view explaining an operation of the vibration actuator, fig. 6A is a sectional view of a state in which a movable element moves to one side in a vibration axis direction, and fig. 6B is a sectional view of a state in which the movable element moves to the other side in the vibration axis direction. Hereinafter, the structure of the vibration actuator will be described based on these drawings.

The vibration actuator 1 mainly includes: a cylindrical case 2 forming an outer shell; a case-side electromagnetic drive unit 3 provided inside the case 2; a movable element 4 that can be vibrated by the case-side electromagnetic drive unit 3; a first support unit 5a and a second support unit 5b that elastically support both ends of the movable member 4, respectively; and a first inner guide bar 6a and a second inner guide bar 6b that restrict movement of the first support unit 5a and the second support unit 5 b. The vibration actuator 1 is mounted on, for example, a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a smartphone, a controller of a game machine, or the like.

The housing 2 includes a cylindrical housing body 10, a first cover 11a and a second cover 11b, and both open ends of the housing body 10 are closed by the first cover 11a and the second cover 11 b. The housing body 10, the first cover 11a, and the second cover 11b each include a resin material such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). A terminal 12 to which a lead wire, not shown, is connected is formed on the outer surface of the case body 10.

The electromagnetic drive unit includes a yoke 20, coils 21a and 21b of the case-side electromagnetic drive unit 3, a magnet 30 of the movable-member-side electromagnetic drive unit, and magnetic pole pieces 31a and 31 b. The case 2 is provided with a yoke 20 made of a cylindrical soft magnetic material and arranged along the inner periphery thereof, and a first coil 21a and a second coil 21b attached to the inner periphery of the yoke 20 in an electrically insulated state from the yoke 20.

The first coil 21a and the second coil 21b are wound along the inner circumference of the yoke 20. The first coil 21a and the second coil 21b can generate a magnetic field by being energized from the terminal 12. The first coil 21a and the second coil 21b may be temporarily fixed to the yoke 20 or the first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6b by an adhesive or the like at the time of assembly.

The first coil 21a and the second coil 21b surround the movable element 4 with a gap therebetween. The movable element 4 is arranged to vibrate along the vibration axis O (the axial direction of the case 2). The movable element 4 includes a disc-shaped magnet 30, disc-shaped first and second magnetic pole pieces 31a and 31b arranged so as to sandwich the magnet 30, and first and second mass blocks (weight and weight) 32a and 32b arranged so as to sandwich the magnet 30, the first and second magnetic pole pieces 31a and 31 b.

The magnetization direction of the magnet 30 is the oscillation axis O direction. The first and second pole pieces 31a and 31b are made of a soft magnetic material and attached to the magnet 30 by the magnetic attraction force of the magnet 30, an adhesive, or the like. The first and second pole pieces 31a and 31b have through holes 31a1 and 31b1 formed in the center portions thereof, respectively, along the oscillation axis O, and the corresponding first and second masses 32a and 32b have central protrusions 32a1 and 32b1 formed in the center portions thereof, respectively, along the oscillation axis O. Then, the center protrusion 32a1 and the center protrusion 32b1 are press-fitted into the through hole 31a1 and the through hole 31b1, whereby the first magnetic pole piece 31a and the first mass 32a, the second magnetic pole piece 31b and the second mass 32b are integrated.

In this way, the magnet 30, the first pole piece 31a, the second pole piece 31b, the first mass 32a, and the second mass 32b constituting the movable element 4 are integrated. The integration of the magnet 30, the first pole piece 31a, the second pole piece 31b, the first mass 32a, and the second mass 32b is not limited to the above-described attachment by magnetic attraction force, adhesive, or press-fitting, and may be integrated by fixing by a mechanical method such as screwing or by another method.

The first mass 32a and the second mass 32b each include a nonmagnetic material, and include a columnar portion 32a2 extending in the direction of the oscillation axis O, a columnar portion 32b2, and a bottomed cylindrical portion 32a3 and a bottomed cylindrical portion 32b3 each having a U-shaped cross section and opening outward in the direction of the oscillation axis O, the bottomed cylindrical portion 32a3 and the bottomed cylindrical portion 32b3 extending in the direction perpendicular to the oscillation axis O from the root portion (the center side in the direction of the oscillation axis O) of the columnar portion 32a2 and the columnar portion 32b 2.

As shown in fig. 3, in the movable element 4, the outer shape of the magnet 30 is smaller than the first and second pole pieces 31a and 31b, and the first and second mass blocks 32a and 32b in the radial direction. That is, the outer peripheries of the first magnetic pole piece 31a, the second magnetic pole piece 31b, the bottomed cylindrical portion 32a3 of the first mass block 32a, and the bottomed cylindrical portion 32b3 of the second mass block 32b are located on the outermost periphery side of the mover 4 and are closest to the inner peripheries of the first coil 21a and the second coil 21 b.

The movable element 4 thus configured has both ends in the direction of the oscillation axis O, that is, the tip end portions 32a4 and 32b4 of the first mass 32a and the second mass 32b, respectively, supported by the first support unit 5a and the second support unit 5 b.

The first support unit 5a includes a first damper 40a (first leaf spring) and a first elastic member 41a provided on one surface of the first damper 40 a.

As shown in fig. 2, the first damper 40a is formed with a support portion 51a including a hole 50a (shown in fig. 3) at a central portion. The first damper 40a is coupled to the movable element 4 through the hole 50 a. Specifically, the tip end portion 32a4 of the first mass 32a is inserted through the hole 50a, and the tip end portion 32a4 is pressed to be riveted. The method of fixing the first damper 40a to the movable element 4 is not limited to caulking, and may be fixed (coupled) by another method such as screwing or bonding.

Further, the first damper 40a includes three arm portions 52a extending spirally from the support portion 51a to the outer periphery. The wrist portions 52a are formed at equal intervals of 120 ° around the oscillation axis O. The outer peripheral end of each arm 52a is connected to an annular frame 53a along the inner periphery of the housing body 10. The frame portions 53a are connected to three positions on the inner periphery of the casing body 10 at positions spaced at 120 ° around the vibration axis O by flange portions 13a (only one portion is shown in fig. 3) protruding radially inward. Specifically, the boss portion 14a erected from the flange portion 13a is inserted into the through hole formed in the frame portion 53a of the first damper 40a, and the tip end of the boss portion 14a is heated and pressed to be swaged. The method of fixing the frame portion 53a and the first damper 40a is not limited to caulking, and may be fixed (coupled) by another method such as screwing or bonding.

The first damper 40a includes one or more metal plate springs, and in the present embodiment, for example, a thin plate of stainless steel (spring material) is used. The material of the first damper 40a is not limited to metal, but may be a composite raw material containing resin or fiber. The material of the first damper 40a is preferably a material having high fatigue resistance and excellent flexibility.

The first damper 40a configured as described above is elastically deformable within a specific range in a crossing direction including the vibration axis O direction and a vertical radial direction perpendicular to the vibration axis O. The specific range corresponds to the amplitude range of the movable element 4 in the case of being generally used as the vibration actuator 1. Therefore, the specific range is at least a range where the first damper 40a does not contact the housing 2, and is a range not exceeding the limit of elastic deformation of the first damper 40 a.

As shown in fig. 3, the first elastic member 41a is formed in a plate shape having an outer shape extending along a fixed range from the support portion 51a of the first damper 40a to each arm portion 52a, and is fixed to one surface of the first damper 40 a. Specifically, the first elastic member 41a includes a first adhesive layer formed of an adhesive, a PE layer formed of Polyethylene (PE), a second adhesive layer formed of an adhesive, and an elastomer layer formed of an elastomer (Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) is an elastomer, but not limited thereto) laminated on the first damper 40 a. Then, the first damper 40a performs vibration damping by elastic deformation of the first elastic member 41a (in the present embodiment, shear deformation of the PE layer, bending deformation of the elastic body layer). The method of fixing the first elastic member 41a and the first damper 40a is not limited to the above-described adhesion, and other fixing methods such as thermally fusing the first elastic member 41a made of resin to the first damper 40a may be used.

The second support unit 5b also has the same configuration as the first support unit 5a, and includes a second damper 40b (second leaf spring) and a second elastic member 41 b. In the present embodiment, the second damper 40b and the first damper 40a have the same shape and are made of the same material, and the second elastic member 41b and the first elastic member 41a have the same shape and are made of the same material. As shown in fig. 3, the three arm portions 52b of the second damper 40b extend from the support portion 51b formed with the hole 50b to the annular frame portion 53 b. The second damper 40b is connected to the movable element 4 by inserting the tip end portion 32b4 of the second mass 32b into the hole 50b, and then pressing and caulking the same. The second damper 40b is connected to the three flange portions 13b of the annular frame portion 53b protruding from the inner periphery of the case body 10 by inserting the boss portion 14b of the flange portion 13b through the through hole formed in the frame portion 53b, and by pressing and caulking the boss portion. The spiral direction of each arm portion 52b of the second damper 40b is opposite to the spiral direction of each arm portion 52a of the first damper 40 a. Accordingly, the movable element 4 receives the torques in the opposite directions from the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b during the vibration, and therefore does not rotate about the vibration axis O even if it is displaced in the vibration axis O direction.

(first inner guide 6a, second inner guide 6b)

The first inner guide 6a is provided on one side of the vibration actuator 1 in the vibration axis O direction and on the other side (the center side of the housing 2) in the vibration axis O direction than the first support unit 5 a. The second inner guide 6b is provided on the other side of the vibration actuator 1 in the vibration axis O direction, and is located on the one side (the center side of the housing 2) in the vibration axis O direction with respect to the second support unit 5 b. That is, as shown in fig. 3, the first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6b are provided on the center side in the vibration axis O direction of the first support unit 5a and the second support unit 5b in the housing 2. The first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6b are formed of a resin material such as ABS. However, the material of the first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6b is not limited to the resin material.

As shown in fig. 4A and 4B, the first inner guide 6a includes an annular frame portion 60a along the inner periphery of the housing body 10, and step portions 61a that are spirally inclined toward the inner side in the radial direction of the housing body 10 and toward the other side in the vibration axis O direction are formed at three positions of the frame portion 60a at intervals of 120 ° around the vibration axis O. The spiral shape of the step portion 61a is a shape along a portion on the outer peripheral side (base end side) of the spiral shape of each arm portion 52a of the first damper 40a, and has a space that does not contact each arm portion 52a when the first damper 40a is elastically deformed within a specific range and contacts each arm portion 52a when the first damper 40a is deformed beyond the specific range.

Specifically, each step portion 61a includes a side wall 61aw forming a plane parallel to the inner periphery of the housing body 10, and a bottom portion 61ab extending radially inward from the side wall 61 aw. The inner edge of each bottom portion 61ab forms an inner circumference (concentric circle) coaxial with the inner circumference of the housing body 10 in a plan view, and each side wall 61aw forms an arc shape extending from the inner circumference side of the housing body 10 toward the inner circumference. When the first damper 40a deforms beyond a specific range in the direction of the oscillation axis O, the movement in the direction of the intersection is restricted by contact with the side wall 61aw, and when the first damper 40a deforms beyond the specific range in the direction of the oscillation axis O, the movement in the direction of the oscillation axis O is restricted by contact with the bottom portion 61 ab.

Further, a hole 62a for reducing the weight is formed in each step portion 61 a. Further, notch portions 63a are formed at three positions along the shape of each flange portion 13a of housing body 10 on the outer peripheral edge side of frame portion 60a of first inner guide bar 6a, depending on the shape of flange portion 13 a.

Further, the first inner guide bar 6a is formed with a locking portion 64a protruding radially outward from a part of the frame portion 60 a. The first inner guide 6a is positioned with respect to the housing 2 by the engagement of the locking portion 64a with the opening groove portion of the housing main body 10.

Further, a claw portion 67a protruding toward the center in the vibration axis O direction is formed on the back surface side of the frame portion 60a except for the notch portion 63 b. In the first inner guide 6a shown in fig. 4A, claw portions 67a are formed at three places. The first inner guide 6a and the case body 10 are joined by melting and welding the claw portion 67a of the first inner guide 6a to the case body 10 by, for example, ultrasonic welding. Further, the case body 10 of the present embodiment and the first inner guide 6a (the claw portion 67a) are firmly joined to each other by welding by containing the same resin material. The housing body 10 and the first inner guide 6a may be made of a resin material containing glass fiber or the like. However, the joining method is not limited to welding, and joining may be performed by other methods such as adhesion with an adhesive, caulking, or screwing.

Further, the first inner guide bar 6a is formed with a substantially cylindrical extension portion 65a extending from the inner edge of each stepped portion 61a, i.e., the inner edge of each bottom portion 61ab toward the center side in the vibration axis O direction. As shown in fig. 3, the extension portion 65a is located between the first coil 21a and the movable element 4, and sandwiches a part of the first coil 21a with the case 2. Specifically, one end portion of the first coil 21a in the vibration axis O direction is sandwiched by the extension portion 65a of the first inner guide 6a and the case body 10. In the present embodiment, the extension portion 65a is located between the first coil 21a and the movable element 4 except for the central portion in the vibration axis O direction of the vibration actuator 1, and the extension portion 65a exposes a part of the first coil 21a to the inside of the case 2 without covering the entire inner circumference of the first coil 21 a. In the present embodiment, the extension portion 65a of the first inner guide 6a abuts against one end portion of the first coil 21a in the vibration axis O direction to hold the first coil 21a from falling off the case body 10. The extension portion 65a does not need to directly contact the first coil 21a, and may indirectly hold the first coil 21a with another member interposed therebetween.

In the first inner guide bar 6a configured as described above, the movable element 4 can move forward and backward in the direction of the oscillation axis O from the extending portion 65a in the radial direction.

The second inner guide 6b has the same shape as the first inner guide 6a, and the second inner guide 6b has the same structure as the first inner guide 6 a. That is, as the parenthesized symbols in fig. 4A and 4B show the parts of the second inner guide bar 6B, the parts of the first inner guide bar 6a and the second inner guide bar 6B correspond to each other. Specifically, the second inner guide bar 6b includes an annular frame portion 60b, and a stepped portion 61b including a side wall 61bw and a bottom portion 61bb is formed in the frame portion 60 b. Further, a hole 62b is formed in each step portion 61b, and a cutout portion 63b is formed in the frame portion 60 b. Further, a locking portion 64b that protrudes radially outward is formed in the frame portion 60b, the locking portion 64b is engaged with the housing body 10, and the housing body 10 and the second inner guide bar 6b are welded via the claw portions 67b of the frame portion 60 b.

Further, a substantially cylindrical extension portion 65b extending toward the center side in the direction of the oscillation axis O is formed in the second inner guide 6 b. The extension portion 65b is positioned between the second coil 21b and the movable element 4, and sandwiches a part of the second coil 21b with the case 2. In fig. 3, one end portion of the second coil 21b in the vibration axis O direction is sandwiched by the extension portion 65b and the case body 10. In the present embodiment, the extending portion 65b of the second inner guide 6b abuts against the other end portion of the second coil 21b in the direction of the vibration axis O to hold the second coil 21b from falling off the case body 10.

(running)

In the vibration actuator 1 configured as described above, in a state where the first coil 21a and the second coil 21b are not energized, as shown in fig. 3, the movable element 4 supported by the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b is positioned at the center of the first coil 21a and the second coil 21 b.

When the movable element 4 is vibrated, ac current is supplied to the first coil 21a and the second coil 21b through the terminal 12 in a direction in which magnetic fields of opposite polarities are alternately generated. That is, the adjacent portions of the first coil 21a and the second coil 21b generate the same polarity.

For example, in the case of the polarity shown in fig. 5, the mover 4 generates a thrust toward the other side (lower side in fig. 5) in the vibration axis O direction shown by the solid arrow a, and when the currents flowing in the first coil 21a and the second coil 21B are reversed, the mover 4 generates a thrust toward the one side (upper side in fig. 5) in the vibration axis O direction shown by the broken arrow B.

When the ac current is applied to the first coil 21a and the second coil 21b in this manner, the movable element 4 receives the urging forces from the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b from both sides and vibrates along the vibration axis O.

Furthermore, the thrust generated by the movable member 4 substantially follows the thrust exerted on the basis of the fleming's left-hand rule. In the present embodiment, since the first coil 21a and the second coil 21b are fixed to the case 2, the mover 4 to which the magnet 30 or the like is attached generates a thrust force as a reaction force to the forces generated by the first coil 21a and the second coil 21 b.

Thereby, the horizontal component of the magnetic flux of the magnet 30 of the movable element 4 (component orthogonal to the axial direction of the magnet 30) contributes to the thrust. The yoke 20 increases the horizontal component of the magnetic flux of the magnet 30.

As described above, during normal vibration of the movable element 4, the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b are elastically deformed within a specific range in the vibration axis O direction and the radial direction, and the movable element 4 and the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b do not come into contact with the first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6 b.

On the other hand, when an impact is applied to the vibration actuator 1 from the outside, for example, when the apparatus on which the vibration actuator 1 is mounted is dropped, the movable element 4 may move with an excessive amplitude and the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b may move beyond a specific range, but the movement is restricted by contact with the first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6 b.

Specifically, when the movable element 4 vibrates excessively toward the vibration axis O side and the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b move beyond a predetermined range as compared with the case shown in fig. 6A, the wrist portion 52b of the second damper 40b contacts the bottom portion 61bb of the step portion 61b of the second inner guide bar 6 b. This restricts the movement of the mover 4 further to one side in the direction of the oscillation axis O, and prevents the mover 4 from coming into contact with the case 2 (first cover case 11 a).

In addition, when the movable element 4 vibrates excessively toward the other side in the vibration axis O direction and the first damper 40a and the second damper 40B move beyond a certain range as compared with the case shown in fig. 6B, the wrist portion 52a of the first damper 40a contacts the bottom portion 61ab of the stepped portion 61a of the first inner guide bar 6 a. This restricts the movement of the mover 4 further to the other side in the direction of the oscillation axis O, and prevents the mover 4 from coming into contact with the case 2 (second cover case 11 b).

Although not shown, when a radial impact is applied to the housing 2, the movable element 4 also moves in the radial direction. In this case, when the movable element 4 moves in the radial direction and the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b move beyond a certain range in the radial direction, the arm portions 52a and 52b of the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b come into contact with the step portions 61a and the side walls 61aw and 61bw of the step portions 61b and the step portions 61a of the first inner guide bar 6a and the second inner guide bar 6 b.

Further, even if the movable element 4 further moves in the radial direction, the extending portions 65a and 65b of the first inner guide bar 6a and the second inner guide bar 6b are positioned between the coil 21a and the coil 21b and the movable element 4, and therefore the extending portions 65a and 65b contact the movable element 4.

As described above, according to the vibration actuator 1 of the present embodiment, the first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6b regulate the movement of the mover 4 in the radial direction, and the extension portions 65a and 65b prevent the mover 4 from contacting the first coil 21a and the second coil 21b of the case-side electromagnetic drive unit 3. In addition, both the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b do not necessarily contact the corresponding first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6b, and one of the contacts also exerts the same effect.

Further, the first coil 21a and the second coil 21b are mechanically held so as not to fall off the case 2 by the extension portions 65a and 65b sandwiching the first coil 21a and the second coil 21b together with the case body 10. Thus, for example, the first coil 21a and the second coil 21b can be fixed more firmly than when the first coil 21a and the second coil 21b are attached only by an adhesive. The first coil 21a and the second coil 21b may be held without using an adhesive.

Further, since the extending portions 65a and 65b do not cover the central portions of the first coil 21a and the second coil 21b in the direction of the oscillation axis O, a part of the first coil 21a and the second coil 21b is exposed to the inside of the case, so that heat dissipation can be secured, and insulation deterioration of the first coil 21a and the second coil 21b can be prevented.

Further, the movement of the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b is restricted by the first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6b, and the excessive amplitude of the movable element 4 can be suppressed. Further, since the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b include leaf springs, when the first inner guide bar 6a and the second inner guide bar 6b contact the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b, the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b are elastically deformed, and thus shock can be absorbed. Further, since the first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6b are provided inside the housing 2 in the direction of the oscillation axis O than the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b, the housing 2 can be prevented from being enlarged. This can suppress the shock to the movable element 4 when the shock from the outside is generated while preventing the vibration actuator 1 from being increased in size.

In particular, the first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6b restrict the movement of the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b in the oscillation axis O direction, thereby suppressing the excessive amplitude of the movable element 4 in the oscillation axis O direction.

Further, the movement of the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b in the direction intersecting the vibration axis O including the radial direction of the case 2 is restricted by the first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6b, and the movement of the movable element 4 in the radial direction can be suppressed.

Since the first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6b include the spiral step portions 61a and 61b centered on the oscillation axis O direction corresponding to the spiral shapes of the arm portions 52a and 52b of the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b, the movement in the oscillation axis O direction and the direction intersecting the oscillation axis O can be restricted according to the shapes of the first damper 40a and the second damper 40 b. Since the step portions 61a and 61b include the bottom portions 61ab and 61bb along the shapes of the respective arm portions 52a and 52b when the movable element 4 vibrates, the arm portions 52a and 52b can be brought into surface contact with the bottom portions 61ab and 61bb, and impact can be dispersed.

Further, the first inner guide 6a is positioned between the first coil 21a and the first damper (first leaf spring) 40a in the amplitude range of the movable element 4, and the second inner guide 6b is positioned between the second coil 21b and the second damper (second leaf spring) 40b in the amplitude range of the movable element 4, whereby contact between the respective coils 21a, 21b and the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b can be prevented.

Further, by providing the first damper 40a and the second damper 40b that support both ends of the movable element 4, the first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6b corresponding thereto are responsible for the restriction in one side direction and the other side direction of the vibration axis O direction, respectively, and the occupied space of the inner guide can be reduced, thereby enabling downsizing.

The description of the embodiments of the present disclosure is completed above, but the aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to the embodiments.

For example, in the above embodiment, the shape of the extending portions 65a and 65b of the first inner guide bar 6a and the second inner guide bar 6b is substantially cylindrical, but the shape of the extending portions is not limited thereto. The shape may be other shapes such as a shape in which the extension portion includes a slit, as long as the shape is a shape that sandwiches the coils 21a and 21b together with the case 2, is positioned between the movable element 4 and the coils 21a and 21b, and prevents the movable element 4 from contacting the first coil 21a and the second coil 21 b.

Further, in the first inner guide 6a and the second inner guide 6b in the above embodiment, the claw portions 67a and 67b formed in the frame portions 60a and 60b, respectively, are welded to the case body 10 and joined, but the number and positions of the claw portions are not limited thereto, and a configuration capable of joining to a case is sufficient.

In the above embodiment, the first support unit 5a and the second support unit 5b include the first elastic member 41a and the second elastic member 41b, but may not necessarily include the elastic members.

Further, although the housing 2 of the above embodiment is cylindrical and the movable element 4 is substantially cylindrical, the shapes of the housing and the movable element are not limited thereto, and may be polygonal or other shapes.

In the above embodiment, the first and second support units 5a and 5b that support the movable element 4 use the first and second dampers 40a and 40b including the spiral arm portions 52a and 52b, but other plate springs may be used as the support units. For example, a spiral, cross-like, or swastika-like plate spring having not only a curved line but also a combination of straight lines can be used. In this case, the inner guide is also shaped to follow the shape of the leaf spring.

Description of the symbols

1: vibration actuator

2: shell body

3: casing side electromagnetic drive unit

4: movable part

5 a: first support unit

5 b: second supporting unit

6 a: first inner guide rod

6 b: second inner guide rod

20: magnetic yoke

21 a: first coil

21 b: second coil

40 a: first damper

40 b: second damper

61a, 61 b: step difference part

64a, 64 b: stop part

65a, 65 b: extension part

67a, 67 b: claw part