PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20120075198A1
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 10,429,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 well;

a conductive contact disposed within the recessed well; and

a 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 piezoelectric element being 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.

2. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is a piezoelectric disk where the first layer is composed of copper and the second layer is composed of ceramic.

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

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

5. 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.

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

7. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the support plate includes a conductive trace between the conductive contact and an outer perimeter or edge of the support plate.

8. 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 plurality of conductive contacts.

9. The piezoelectric actuator assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of conductive contacts are separately switchable to independently power one of the plurality of piezoelectric elements via a plurality of conductive traces between the respective conductive contacts and an outer edge of the support plate.

10. 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; and

a plurality of piezoelectric elements each having a conductive layer directly coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein a piezoelectric material of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is to be electrically coupled to a ground via a flexible conductive lead.

12. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the support plate includes 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.

13. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein a voltage is to be applied to the plurality of conductive contacts independently via the connector to actuate one or more of the plurality of piezoelectric elements.

14. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the user interface comprises a touch-sensitive screen or a keypad.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the touch-sensitive screen comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

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

forming a support plate with a plurality of recessed wells;

coupling a plurality of conductive contacts within the plurality of recessed wells;

directly coupling a conductive layer of a plurality of piezoelectric elements to the plurality of conductive contacts; and

coupling a piezoelectric material of the plurality of piezoelectric elements to a ground via a flexible conductive lead.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming a plurality of conductive traces on the support plate between the plurality of conductive contacts and a connector adjacent an edge of the support plate.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising applying a voltage to the plurality of piezoelectric elements via the connector and the plurality of conductive traces.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising applying a voltage to a first piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements independently from a second piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising integrally forming the plurality of conductive contacts with the support plate.