Piezoelectric actuator apparatus and methods

• US 10,429,929 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Sulem, Firmansyah Kuncoko, Infanti, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Danielsen, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US12/890,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20120075198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,294 Days
• Field of Search: 345156, 345168-169, 345173-178, 3404071, 3404072, 463 30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/2047 Membrane type
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/875 Further connection or lead arrangements, e.g. flexible wiring boards, terminal pins
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/88 Mounts; Supports; Enclosures; Casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making

Abstract

Piezoelectric actuator apparatus and methods for providing tactile feedback are described herein. An example piezoelectric actuator assembly includes a support plate having a recessed well and conductive contact disposed within the recessed well of the support plate. A piezoelectric element has a first layer composed of an electrically conductive material and a second layer adjacent the first layer composed of a piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric element is disposed within the recessed well so that the first layer directly engages the conductive contact and the second layer is to be electrically coupled to a ground via a flexible conductive lead.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric actuator assembly to provide tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device, the piezoelectric actuator assembly comprising:

a support plate having a recessed surface extending partially between a first side of the support plate and a second side of the support plate;

a conductive contact directly attached to the recessed surface that provides an electrical connection to a piezoelectric element;

the piezoelectric element having a first layer composed of an electrically conductive material and a second layer adjacent the first layer and composed of a piezoelectric material, the first layer composed of the electrically conductive material being sandwiched between the conductive contact and the second layer composed of the piezoelectric material, a bottom surface of the first layer of the piezoelectric element being directly in contact with a top surface of the conductive contact, and the second layer being on top of the first layer;

a flexible conductive lead electrically coupling the second layer of the piezoelectric element to a ground; and

wherein the support plate includes a conductive trace, the conductive trace connecting the conductive contact and a connector adjacent an edge of the support plate, wherein a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element through the connector and the conductive trace, and the conductive trace is fixed on the support plate and different than the flexible conductive lead.

2. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the support plate comprises a non-conducting material.

3. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 2, wherein the non-conducting material comprises a plastic.

4. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the support plate comprises a support layer composed of metal and an electrical insulating layer composed of plastic.

5. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 4, wherein the recessed well is formed in the electrical insulating layer.

6. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the support plate includes a plurality of recessed wells, a plurality of conductive contacts disposed within the respective recessed wells and a plurality of piezoelectric elements having their first layers directly coupled to the respective conductive contacts.

7. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive contact provides an electrical connection to the first layer of the piezoelectric element without a use of a flexible conductive lead.

8. A piezoelectric actuator assembly to provide tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device, the piezoelectric actuator assembly comprising:

a support plate having a recessed well;

a conductive contact positioned within the recessed well that provides an electrical connection to a piezoelectric element;

the piezoelectric element having a first layer composed of an electrically conductive material and a second layer adjacent the first layer composed of a piezoelectric material, the first layer composed of the electrically conductive material being sandwiched between the conductive contact and the second layer composed of the piezoelectric material, the piezoelectric element being at least partially positioned within the recessed well so that a bottom surface of the first layer is directly in contact with a top surface of the conductive contact, and the second layer being on top of the first layer;

a flexible conductive lead electrically coupling the second layer of the piezoelectric element to a ground, wherein one end of the flexible conductive lead extends from the support plate and the other end of the flexible conductive lead contacts the ground; and

a conductive trace on the support plate, the conductive trace connecting the conductive contact and a connector adjacent an edge of the support plate, wherein a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element through the connector and the conductive trace, and the conductive trace is different than the flexible conductive lead.

9. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 8, wherein the support plate comprises a non-conducting material.

10. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 8, wherein the support plate comprises a support layer composed of metal and an electrical insulating layer composed of plastic.

11. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 10, wherein the recessed well is formed in the electrical insulating layer.

12. A piezoelectric actuator assembly to provide tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device, the piezoelectric actuator assembly comprising:

a support plate having a recessed well partially extending through a thickness of the support plate;

a conductive contact disposed within the recessed well that provides an electrical connection to a piezoelectric element;

a conductive trace integrally formed on the support plate, the conductive trace between the conductive contact and a connector adjacent an outer perimeter of the support plate;

the piezoelectric element having a first layer composed of an electrically conductive material and a second layer adjacent the first layer and composed of a piezoelectric material, the first layer composed of the electrically conductive material being sandwiched between the conductive contact and the second layer composed of the piezoelectric material, and the piezoelectric element being disposed within the recessed well so that a bottom surface of the first layer is directly in contact with a top surface of the conductive contact, the second layer being on top of the first layer wherein a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element through the connector and the conductive trace; and

a flexible conductive lead electrically coupling the second layer of the piezoelectric element to a ground, wherein one end of the flexible conductive lead extends from the support plate and the other end of the flexible conductive lead contacts the ground and the flexible conductive lead is different than the conductive trace.

13. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 12, wherein the support plate electrically isolates or insulates the piezoelectric element from another piezoelectric element to be positioned on the support plate.

14. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 12, wherein the connector is coupled to the piezoelectric element via the conductive trace formed on the support plate.

15. A piezoelectric actuator assembly to provide tactile feedback to a user of an electronic device, the piezoelectric actuator assembly comprising:

a support plate having a plurality of recessed wells;

a plurality of conductive contacts disposed within the respective recessed wells, wherein each conducive contact provides an electrical connection to at least one of a plurality of piezoelectric elements; and

the plurality of piezoelectric elements having a first layer composed of an electrically conductive material and a second layer adjacent the first layer and composed of a piezoelectric material, the first layer composed of the electrically conductive material being sandwiched between the conductive contact and the second layer composed of the piezoelectric material, the second layer being on top of the first layer, and the plurality of piezoelectric elements being disposed within the plurality of recessed wells and having their first layer directly coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts and between the plurality of conductive contacts and their second layer, and the second layers electrically coupled to a ground via a flexible conductive lead, the plurality of conductive contacts being separately switchable to independently power one of the plurality of piezoelectric elements via a plurality of conductive traces between the respective conductive contacts and a connector adjacent an outer edge of the support plate, the plurality of conductive traces different than the flexible conductive lead, and at least one voltage applied to the plurality of piezoelectric elements through the connector and the plurality of conductive traces.

16. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 15, wherein the connector couples the plurality of conductive traces to a microprocessor.

17. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 16, wherein each of the conductive traces provides a dedicated electrical trace between the respective conductive contacts and the connector.

18. A mobile device comprising:

a housing;

a user interface; and

an actuator assembly disposed between the housing and the user interface and being operatively coupled to the user interface to provide tactile feedback to a user, the actuator assembly comprising;

a chassis having a plurality of recessed wells, the plurality of recessed wells forming a plurality of recessed surfaces;

a plurality of conductive contacts supported by the plurality of recessed surfaces of the plurality of recessed wells, wherein each conducive contact provides an electrical connection to at least one of a plurality of piezoelectric elements;

the plurality of piezoelectric elements each having a conductive layer directly in contact with the plurality of conductive contacts, the conductive layers of the piezoelectric elements being sandwiched between the plurality of conductive contacts and piezoelectric material, the piezoelectric material being on top of the conductive layers, and the chassis configured to electrically isolate or insulate a first piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements from a second piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements;

a flexible conductive lead electrically coupling the piezoelectric material of the plurality of piezoelectric elements to a ground; and

a plurality of conductive traces between the respective conductive contacts and a connector at an outer edge of the chassis, the plurality of conductive traces different than the flexible conductive lead, each of the plurality of conductive traces providing a dedicated electrical trace between the respective conductive contacts and a connector, and at least one voltage applied to the plurality of piezoelectric elements through the connector and the plurality of conductive traces.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the user interface comprises a touch-sensitive screen or a keypad.

20. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the touch-sensitive screen comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

21. A mobile device comprising:

a housing;

a user interface; and

an actuator assembly disposed between the housing and the user interface and being operatively coupled to the user interface to provide tactile feedback to a user, the actuator assembly comprising;

a chassis having a plurality of recessed wells;

a plurality of conductive contacts disposed within the plurality of recessed wells, wherein each conducive contact provides an electrical connection to at least one of a plurality of piezoelectric elements;

the plurality of piezoelectric elements each having a conductive layer directly in contact with the plurality of conductive contacts, the conductive layers of the piezoelectric elements being sandwiched between the plurality of conductive contacts and a piezoelectric material, the piezoelectric material being on top of the conductive layers, the chassis including a plurality of conductive traces to electrically couple the conductive layer of the plurality of piezoelectric elements and the conductive contacts to a connector adjacent an outer perimeter of the chassis, wherein at least one voltage is applied to the plurality of conductive contacts independently via the connector and the plurality of conductive traces to actuate one or more of the plurality of piezoelectric elements; and

a flexible conductive lead electrically coupling the piezoelectric material of the plurality of piezoelectric elements to a ground, the flexible conductive lead different than the plurality of conductive traces.

22. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein a first piezoelectric element from the plurality of piezoelectric elements is activated to provide a first tactile feedback that is different than a tactile feedback provided by a second piezoelectric element from the plurality of piezoelectric elements.

23. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the conductive layers of the plurality of piezoelectric elements are coupled to the conductive contacts positioned on the chassis to provide an electrical connection to the plurality of piezoelectric elements.

24. A method for electrically coupling a piezoelectric actuator assembly, the method comprising:

forming a support plate with a plurality of recessed wells;

positioning a plurality of conductive contacts within the plurality of recessed wells, wherein each conducive contact provides an electrical connection to at least one of a plurality of piezoelectric elements;

directly coupling a conductive layer of the plurality of piezoelectric elements to the plurality of conductive contacts such that the conductive layer is directly in contact with the plurality of conductive contacts, the conductive layer of the piezoelectric elements being sandwiched between a piezoelectric material of the plurality of piezoelectric elements and the plurality of conductive contracts, the piezoelectric material being on top of the conductive layer, and the plurality of conductive contacts providing an electrical connection to the piezoelectric elements without using a flexible conductive lead;

forming a plurality of conductive traces on the support plate, the plurality of conductive traces between the respective conductive contacts and a connector at an outer edge of the support plate, and at least one voltage applied to the plurality of piezoelectric elements through the connector and the plurality of conductive traces; and

coupling the piezoelectric material of the plurality of piezoelectric elements to a ground via a flexible conductive lead, the flexible conductive lead different than the plurality of conductive traces.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising applying the voltage to a first piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements independently from a second piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising integrally forming the plurality of conductive contacts with the support plate.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing a first voltage to a first piezoelectric element from the plurality of piezoelectric elements to provide a first tactile feedback and providing a second voltage to a second piezoelectric element from the plurality of piezoelectric elements to provide a second tactile feedback that is different than the first tactile feedback.

28. A method for electrically coupling a piezoelectric actuator assembly, the method comprising:

forming a support plate with a recessed well defining a recessed surface;

coupling a conductive contact to the recessed surface of the recessed well, wherein the conductive contact provides an electrical connection to a piezoelectric element;

directly coupling a conductive layer of the piezoelectric element to the conductive contact such that a bottom surface of the conductive layer is directly in contact with a top surface of the conductive contact, the conductive layer of the piezoelectric element being sandwiched between a piezoelectric material of the piezoelectric element and the conductive contact, and the piezoelectric material of the piezoelectric element being on top of the conductive layer of the piezoelectric element;

coupling the piezoelectric material of the piezoelectric element to a ground via a flexible conductive lead; and

integrally forming a conductive trace on the support plate between the conductive contact and a connector adjacent an edge of the support plate, wherein a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element through the connector and the conductive trace, and the conductive trace is different than the flexible conductive lead that extends from the support plate to the ground.