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Synchronized array of vibration actuators in an integrated module

  • US 10,507,493 B2
  • Filed: 01/16/2019
  • Issued: 12/17/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A vibration device assembly comprising:

  • a mounting platform;

    a pair of vibration motors attached to the mounting platform, the pair of vibration motors comprising a first vibration motor having a first eccentric rotating mass (“

    ERM1”

    ) and an associated first eccentricity (“

    E1”

    ), and a second vibration motor having a second eccentric rotating mass (“

    ERM2”

    ) and an associated second eccentricity (“

    E2”

    );

    a third vibration motor attached to the mounting platform and interposed between the first and second vibration motors, the third vibration motor having a third eccentric rotating mass (“

    ERM3”

    ) and an associated third eccentricity (“

    E3”

    ), wherein the first, second and third vibration motors are arranged to have collinear axes of rotation along a common axis of revolution and are attached to the mounting platform so that vibrations from each of the first, second and third vibration motors superimpose on the mounting platform; and

    at least one sensor attached to the mounting platform, the at least one sensor being configured to sense angular position information of the first, second and third eccentric rotating masses, the at least one sensor being configured to provide the information regarding angular positions to a controller;

    wherein the eccentricity of each respective eccentric rotating mass is defined as the radius (r) from the axis of revolution of the respective eccentric rotating mass to a mass center of that eccentric rotation mass, multiplied by the mass (m) of that eccentric rotating mass, so that E=r×

    m;

    wherein the vibration device assembly is configured for closed loop control of one or both of angular velocity or angular position of each eccentric rotating mass; and

    wherein each of the eccentricities are selected, and distances between projections of the mass centers of each of the eccentric rotating masses onto the common axis of revolution are chosen, such that in response to a control signal received from the controller, the first, second and third eccentric rotating masses are controllable to have a same angular velocity, and relative phase angles of each of the first, second and third eccentric rotating masses are controllable so that forces of the first, second and third vibration motors cancel out, including a net sum of vibration forces of the vibration device assembly canceling out and a net sum of torques of the vibration device assembly canceling out.

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