Vibration device
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a vibration device having a coil for generating an electromagnetic field and affixed to a body, a moveable mass of magnetic material at least partly encircled by the coil, a nonlinear spring device coupled at a first end thereof to the moveable mass and affixed at a second end thereof to the body, and a driving circuit coupled to the coil and operable to generate a modulation signal for directing operation of the coil, wherein the nonlinear spring device has an effective stiffness, the method comprising:
- driving the coil at a frequency within an operating range of the vibration device;
generating a control signal;
supplying the control signal to the driving circuit; and
varying the control signal driving the coil to correspondingly vary the effective stiffness of the nonlinear spring device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention pertains to vibration devices that do not require a rotating mass. In accordance with aspects of the invention, a coil causes a plunger to move linearly. A spring device is coupled to one end of the plunger. Activation of the coil causes the plunger to move in a first direction relative to a body and coil deactivation enables the spring device to move the plunger in an opposite direction relative to the body. Activating the coil at a predetermined frequency causes vibration of the plunger. Vibratory forces are transferred via the spring device and coil onto the body at predetermined locations. Opposing spring devices may be affixed to either end of the plunger. Spring devices may be linear or non-linear. Such spring devices may be used in conjunction with magnetic spring devices. A controller and a driver circuit may be used to control system operation.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a vibration device having a coil for generating an electromagnetic field and affixed to a body, a moveable mass of magnetic material at least partly encircled by the coil, a nonlinear spring device coupled at a first end thereof to the moveable mass and affixed at a second end thereof to the body, and a driving circuit coupled to the coil and operable to generate a modulation signal for directing operation of the coil, wherein the nonlinear spring device has an effective stiffness, the method comprising:
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driving the coil at a frequency within an operating range of the vibration device; generating a control signal; supplying the control signal to the driving circuit; and varying the control signal driving the coil to correspondingly vary the effective stiffness of the nonlinear spring device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vibration device, comprising:
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a coil for generating an electromagnetic field and affixed to a body; a moveable mass including magnetic material magnetically associated with the coil; a nonlinear spring device coupled at a first end thereof to the moveable mass and affixed at a second end thereof to the body; and a driving circuit coupled to the coil and operable to generate a modulation signal for directing operation of the coil, wherein the nonlinear spring device has an effective stiffness, the driving circuit being configured to; drive the coil at a frequency within an operating range of the vibration device, generate a control signal, supply the control signal to the driving circuit, and vary the control signal driving the coil to correspondingly vary the effective stiffness of the nonlinear spring device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of controlling a vibration device having a coil for generating an electromagnetic field and affixed to a body, a moveable mass of magnetic material at least partly encircled by the coil, a nonlinear spring device coupled at a first end thereof to the moveable mass and affixed at a second end thereof to the body, and a driving circuit coupled to the coil and operable to generate a modulation signal for directing operation of the coil, wherein the nonlinear spring device has an effective stiffness, the method comprising:
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generating a control signal; supplying the control signal to the driving circuit; and driving a frequency of the coil to cause the position of the moveable mass to change in response to a control signal so that the effective stiffness of the nonlinear spring device changes.
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Specification