Haptic actuator including flexible flexure bearings having a wishbone shape and related methods

• US 10,038,361 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2016
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hajati, Arman, Hotelling, Steven P., Pragada, Anuranjini
• Primary Examiner(s): Barakat, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US15/222,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20170085163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/00 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/028 Watch
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/00 Motors with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating magnet, armature or coil system arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with motors H02K7/00, e.g. H02K7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/16 with polarised armatures moving in alternate directions by reversal or energisation of a single coil system

Abstract

A haptic actuator may include a housing, at least one coil carried by the housing, and a field member having opposing first and second sides. The haptic actuator may also include a respective at least one flexure bearing mounting each of the first and second sides of the field member to be reciprocally movable within the housing responsive to the at least one coil. Each flexure bearing may include at least one flexible member having a wishbone shape with two diverging arms joined together at proximal ends and having spaced distal ends operatively coupled between adjacent portions of the field member and the housing.

Claims

1. A haptic actuator comprising:

a housing;

at least one coil carried by the housing;

a field member having opposing first and second sides; and

a respective at least one flexure bearing mounting each of the first and second sides of the field member to be reciprocally movable within the housing responsive to the at least one coil;

each flexure bearing comprising at least one flexible member having a wishbone shape with two diverging arms joined together at proximal ends and having spaced distal ends operatively coupled between adjacent portions of the field member and the housing.

2. The haptic actuator of claim 1 wherein the at least one flexible member has a bend therein joining together the two diverging arms at the proximal ends.

3. The haptic actuator of claim 1 wherein the two diverging arms include respective portions being spaced apart adjacent the proximal ends.

4. The haptic actuator of claim 1 wherein the two diverging arms are coupled together at the proximal ends.

5. The haptic actuator of claim 1 wherein the at least one flexible member comprises a plurality thereof.

6. The haptic actuator of claim 1 wherein each flexure bearing further comprises at least one anchor member coupled to the adjacent portion of the housing and spaced from the adjacent portion of the field member.

7. The haptic actuator of claim 6 wherein the at least one flexible member is coupled between the at least one anchor member and the field member.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

wireless communications circuitry carried by the housing;

a haptic actuator carried by the housing and comprising

an actuator housing,

at least one coil carried by the actuator housing,

a field member having opposing first and second sides, and

a respective at least one flexure bearing mounting each of the first and second sides of the field member to be reciprocally movable within the actuator housing responsive to the at least one coil,

each flexure bearing comprising at least one flexible member having a wishbone shape with two diverging arms joined together at proximal ends and having spaced distal ends operatively coupled between adjacent portions of the field member and the actuator housing; 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 operating the haptic actuator.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 wherein the at least one flexible member has a bend therein joining together the two diverging arms at the proximal ends.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 wherein the two diverging arms include respective portions being spaced apart adjacent the proximal ends.

11. The electronic device of claim 8 wherein the two diverging arms are coupled together at the proximal ends.

12. The electronic device of claim 8 wherein the at least one flexible member comprises a plurality thereof.

13. The electronic device of claim 8 wherein each flexure bearing further comprises at least one anchor member coupled to the adjacent portion of the housing and spaced from the adjacent portion of the field member.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the at least one flexible member is coupled between the at least one anchor member and the field member.

15. A method of making a haptic actuator comprising:

positioning a respective at least one flexure bearing to mount each of first and second sides of a field member to be reciprocally movable within a housing responsive to at least one coil, each flexure bearing comprising at least one flexible member having a wishbone shape with two diverging arms joined together at proximal ends and having spaced distal ends operatively coupled between adjacent portions of the field member and the housing.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one flexible member has a bend therein joining together the two diverging arms at the proximal ends.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the two diverging arms include respective portions being spaced apart adjacent the proximal ends.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the two diverging arms are coupled together at the proximal ends.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one flexible member comprises a plurality thereof.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein each flexure bearing further comprises at least one anchor member coupled to the adjacent portion of the housing and spaced from the adjacent portion of the field member.