Inertial/audio unit and construction
First Claim
1. A device housing comprisinga shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, the shell being contoured to cover or at least partially enclose a device, and an electroactive assembly comprising at least a laver of electroactive material;
- an electrode in direct electrical contact with said material; and
an insulating film, wherein the material, electrode, and insulating film are each adhesively bonded to the other so as to form a unit in which in-plane strain in said electroactive material is shear coupled between said material, said electrode, and said insulating film, and wherein said assembly includes registration apertures in said film for positioning the sheet on said shell and said assembly is mechanically attached to said inner surface of the shell such that when actuated the assembly transmits energy through the shell as a user-detectable signal.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrically driven signal unit is adapted for one-step assembly or injection molding with a device housing to vibrate, flex, beep or emit audio signals, or to sense and provide tactile feedback or control. The signal unit is a package with one or more active areas each containing a layer of ferroelectric or piezoelectric material, connected by inactive areas which may position, align and conduct electricity to the active areas. The active areas may be coupled over a region to transmit compressional, shear or flxural wave energy into the housing, or may contact at discrete regions while bending or displacing elsewhere to create inertial disturbances or impulses which are coupled to create a tactile vibration of the housing. The unit may be assembled such that the housing, the sheet or discrete areas thereof form a bender to provide tactile or sub-auditory signals to the user, or may be dimensioned, attached and actuated to produce audio vibration in the combined structure and constitute a speaker. In other embodiments one or more active regions of piezo material are attached to thin or movable wall regions of the unit to sense strain and, in conjunction with a conditioning circuit, produce electrical switching or control signals for the device. The invention also includes electroactive sheet structures having a polymer block, bracket or functional body formed therearound, which serves as a mounting, coupling or functional operating structure for the driven device.
218 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A device housing comprising
a shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, the shell being contoured to cover or at least partially enclose a device, and an electroactive assembly comprising at least a laver of electroactive material; - an electrode in direct electrical contact with said material; and
an insulating film,wherein the material, electrode, and insulating film are each adhesively bonded to the other so as to form a unit in which in-plane strain in said electroactive material is shear coupled between said material, said electrode, and said insulating film, and wherein said assembly includes registration apertures in said film for positioning the sheet on said shell and said assembly is mechanically attached to said inner surface of the shell such that when actuated the assembly transmits energy through the shell as a user-detectable signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- an electrode in direct electrical contact with said material; and
Specification