FLEXURE, APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140197936A1
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bayer Materialscience AG (Covestro AG)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Materialscience AG (Covestro AG)
• Inventors: Hitchcock, Roger N., Polyakov, Ilya, Quan, Xina, Rosenthal, Marcus A., Zarrabi, Alireza, Biggs, Silmon J., Obispo, Anthony J., Yoo, Mikyong
• Application Number:
  US13/979,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20140197936A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/028 along multiple or arbitrary translation directions, e.g. XYZ stages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/206 using only longitudinal or thickness displacement, e.g. d33 or d31 type devices

Abstract

An actuator module is disclosed. The actuator module includes an actuator having at least one elastomeric dielectric film disposed between first and second electrodes. A suspension system having at least one flexure is coupled to the actuator. The flexure enables the suspension system to move in a predetermined direction when the first and second electrodes are energized. A mobile device that includes the actuator module and a flexure where the actuator module assembly is used to provide haptic feedback also are disclosed.

Claims

1. An actuator module, comprising:

an actuator disposed between first and second electrodes; and

a suspension system comprising at least one flexure coupled to the actuator, wherein the flexure enables the suspension system to move in a predetermined direction when the first and second electrodes are energized.

2. The actuator module according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises at least one elastomeric dielectric film disposed between first and second electrodes.

3. The actuator module according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the actuator is flat or planar.

4. The actuator module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the suspension system comprises at least one travel stop to limit movement of the suspension system in the predetermined direction.

5. The actuator module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further including a flexure tray, wherein the flexure tray comprises the at least one flexure.

6. The actuator module according to claim 5, wherein the flexure tray comprises at least one travel stop to limit movement of the suspension system in the predetermined direction.

7. The actuator module according to claim 5, wherein the at least one flexure is formed integrally with the flexure tray.

8. The actuator module according to claim 5, wherein the flexure tray defines an opening to receive a battery therein.

9. The actuator module according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is coupled to the flexure tray on one side, and wherein the actuator is coupled to a mounting surface on the other side.

10. The actuator module according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the actuator comprises first and second plates and wherein the flexure couples the first plate to the second plate.

11. A mobile device, comprising:

the actuator module according to any one of claims 1 to 10; and

a mass coupled to the actuator.

12. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the mass comprises a touch surface.

13. The mobile device according to one of claims 11 and 12, wherein the actuator module provides haptic feedback.

16. The mobile device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, further including:

a display subassembly coupled to a touch surface; and

a body subassembly coupled to the display subassembly, wherein the actuator is disposed between the display subassembly and the body subassembly.

17. The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the body subassembly comprises slide rails configured to couple to the touch surface.

18. The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the display subassembly comprises clips coupled to the touch surface and to the slide rails.

19. The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the actuator is located within the body subassembly.

20. The mobile device according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the body subassembly comprises at least one limit screw to provide a mechanical hard stop in a predetermined direction to limit movement.

21. The mobile device according to claim 11, comprising a housing comprising at least one electrical connection, wherein the housing is configured to receive a battery, wherein the flexure is configured to suspend the battery and to electrically couple the battery to the at least one electrical connection.

22. The actuator module according to claim 11, wherein the flexure comprises:

a longitudinally extending elongate body having a first end and a second end, the elongate body extending;

a first clip extending outwardly from the first end of the body, wherein the first clip is configured to engage an edge of the first plate; and

a second clip extending outwardly from the second end of the body, wherein the second clip is configured to engage an edge of the second plate;

wherein the first and second clips are offset in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinally extending elongate body to define a gap between the first and second plates.

23. The actuator module according to claim 22, wherein the first and second clips each define a slot suitable to receive corresponding edges of the first and second plates.

24. The actuator module according to claim 22, wherein the first clip comprises first and second tongues and the second clip comprises first and second tongues, and wherein the first and second tongues of the first clip define a first slot to engage the edge of the first plate, and wherein the first and second tongues of the second clip define a second slot to engage the edge of the second plate.

25. The actuator module according to claim 24, wherein the first and second tongues of the corresponding first and second clips each comprise teeth configured to engage corresponding slots formed in the first and second plates.

14. A mobile device, comprising an active bumper, the active bumper comprising:

a movable bumper stop configured to engage a mass within an actuator module; and

a bumper actuator having a first side coupled to the movable bumper stop and a second side coupled to a mounting surface;

wherein the movable bumper stop is configured to engage the mass when the bumper actuator is energized.

15. The mobile device according to claim 14, wherein the movable bumper stop comprises a compliant material configured to contract in a first direction and expand in a second direction when the bumper actuator is energized.