Vibration generator and electronic apparatus

• US 7,161,269 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation, Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Masahiro, Azuma, Hiroshi, Shimizu, Yukiko, Kayama, Shun, Yamasue, Toshinori, Kitamura, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRAN N
• Application Number:
  US10/522,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20060082231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 310/81, 310/254, 310/67.R, 310/208, 340/407.1, 340/7.3, 340/7.6
• US Class Current: 310/81
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/045 using vibrating magnet, armature or coil system
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 9/13 using electromagnetic driving means
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/1677 radially supporting the rotor around a fixed spindle; radially supporting the rotor directly
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/063 integrally combined with motor parts, e.g. motors with eccentric rotors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/09 with magnetic bearings

Abstract

There is provided a vibration generator (40) in which a rotor with an unbalancer is rotated. The vibration generator includes a bottom plate (47) having a flat coil substrate (120) installed thereto, a stationary shaft (91) provided perpendicularly to the bottom plate, a magnet (85) installed on the stationary shaft (91) with a freely rotatable bearing being disposed between them and opposite to the surface of the flat coil substrate (120) with a slight clearance defined between them, and a weight (87) installed to the magnet (85). For generating a vibration, a current is supplied to the coil on the flat coil substrate (120) to rotate the magnet (85) and weight (87). The bottom plate (47) is formed from a nonmagnetic material. A thin magnetic plate (48) is installed at the side opposite to the magnet (85) with the bottom plate (47) being placed between the thin magnetic plate (48) and magnet (85).

Claims

1. A vibration generator comprising:

a bottom plate having a flat coil substrate installed thereto;

a stationary shaft provided perpendicularly to the bottom plate;

a magnet installed on the stationary shaft with a freely rotatable bearing being disposed between them and opposite to the surface of the flat coil substrate with a slight clearance defined between them;

an unbalancer installed to the magnet; and

a magnetic plate having a predetermined thickness;

wherein, for generating a vibration, a current being supplied to a coil on the flat coil substrate to rotate the magnet and unbalancer,

the bottom plate being formed from a nonmagnetic material; and

the magnetic plate is disposed at the side opposite to the magnet with the flat coil substrate being placed under the magnet,

the magnetic plate utilizes the magnetism of the magnet to attract the magnet toward the flat coil substrate; and

the predetermined thickness of the magnetic plate is configured with a predetermined area so that the force of attraction developed between the magnetic plate and magnet will not cause a variation in clearance between the magnet and surface of the flat coil substrate even if the magnet and unbalancer are rotated.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic plate is removably installed to the bottom plate.

3. An electronic device including a vibration generator, the vibration generator comprising:

a bottom plate formed from a nonmagnetic material having a flat coil substrate installed thereto;

a stationary shaft provided perpendicularly to the bottom plate;

a magnet installed on the stationary shaft with a freely rotatable bearing being disposed between them and opposite to the surface of the flat coil substrate with a slight clearance defined between them;

an unbalancer installed to the magnet; and

a magnetic plate having a predetermined thickness being installed at the side opposite to the magnet with the bottom plate being placed between the magnetic plate and magnet, wherein

the magnetic elate utilizes the magnetism of the magnet to attract the magnet toward the flat coil substrate, and

the predetermined thickness of the magnetic plate is configured with a predetermined area so that the force of attraction developed between the magnetic plate and magnet will not cause a variation in clearance between the magnet and surface of the flat coil substrate even if the magnet and unbalancer are rotated.

4. A vibration generator comprising:

a bottom plate having a flat coil substrate installed thereto;

a stationary shaft provided perpendicularly to the bottom plate;

a magnet installed on the stationary shaft with a freely rotatable bearing being disposed between them and opposite to the surface of the flat coil substrate with a slight clearance defined between them;

an unbalancer installed to the magnet; and

a magnetic plate having a predetermined thickness,

wherein, for generating a vibration, a current being supplied to a coil on the flat coil substrate to rotate the magnet and unbalancer,

the bottom plate being formed from a nonmagnetic material; and

the magnetic plate is disposed at the side opposite to the magnet with the flat coil substrate being placed between the thin magnetic plate and the magnet

the magnetic plate utilizes the magnetism of the magnet to attract the magnet toward the flat coil substrate; and

the predetermined thickness of the magnetic plate is configured with a predetermined area so that the force of attraction developed between the magnetic plate and magnet will not cause a variation in clearance between the magnet and surface of the flat coil substrate even if the magnet and unbalancer are rotated.