Actuator notification system for use with a mobile communications device, a method of automatically driving an actuator on a mobile communications device, and a mobile communications device utilizing same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mobile communications device comprising:
- (a) a housing;
(b) an actuator mounted on the housing and selectively movable, by hand, between a first position and a second position;
(c) a bi-stable piezo-electric linear drive motor operatively engaging the actuator, and operatively substantially engaging the housing in substantially juxtaposed relation, the motor comprising a threaded nut and a mating elongate threaded screw, wherein the threaded nut or the mating threaded screw is a piezo-electric ceramic element and wherein the actuator securely engages the threaded nut or the mating threaded screw;
(d) a control processor operatively encoded to start the motor, so as to drive the actuator between the first position and the second position by longitudinally translating the threaded nut and the mating threaded screw relative to one another; and
(e) a first stop member and a second stop member, each securely engaging an inside wall of the housing and each operatively positioned in substantially interposed relation between the motor and the housing; and
wherein the threaded screw comprises a first end portion and a longitudinally opposing second end portion, with the first end portion operatively engaging the first stop member when the motor drives the actuator towards the second position, and with the second end portion operatively engaging the second stop member when the motor drives the actuator towards the first position.
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Abstract
An actuator notification system is for use with a mobile communications device. A device actuator is selectively movable, by hand, between first and second positions. An electric drive motor operatively engages the actuator. A control processor on-board the device is operatively encoded to start the motor, so as to drive the actuator between the first and second positions. A related method of automatically driving an actuator on a mobile communications device uses a control processor on-board the device which is encoded to start a motor and drive an actuator between first position and second positions. A related mobile communications device is also disclosed.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A mobile communications device comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) an actuator mounted on the housing and selectively movable, by hand, between a first position and a second position; (c) a bi-stable piezo-electric linear drive motor operatively engaging the actuator, and operatively substantially engaging the housing in substantially juxtaposed relation, the motor comprising a threaded nut and a mating elongate threaded screw, wherein the threaded nut or the mating threaded screw is a piezo-electric ceramic element and wherein the actuator securely engages the threaded nut or the mating threaded screw; (d) a control processor operatively encoded to start the motor, so as to drive the actuator between the first position and the second position by longitudinally translating the threaded nut and the mating threaded screw relative to one another; and (e) a first stop member and a second stop member, each securely engaging an inside wall of the housing and each operatively positioned in substantially interposed relation between the motor and the housing; and
wherein the threaded screw comprises a first end portion and a longitudinally opposing second end portion, with the first end portion operatively engaging the first stop member when the motor drives the actuator towards the second position, and with the second end portion operatively engaging the second stop member when the motor drives the actuator towards the first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An actuator notification system for use with a mobile communications device, wherein the system comprises:
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(a) an actuator able to be mounted on a housing of the device and selectively movable, by hand, between a first position and a second position; (b) a bi-stable piezo-electric linear drive motor operatively engaging the actuator, and able to operatively substantially engage the housing in substantially juxtaposed relation, the motor comprising a threaded nut and a mating elongate threaded screw, wherein the threaded nut or the mating threaded screw is a piezo-electric ceramic element and wherein the actuator securely engages the threaded nut or the mating elongate screw; and (c) a control processor on-board the device and operatively encoded to start the motor, so as to drive the actuator between the first position and the second position by longitudinally translating the threaded nut and the mating threaded screw relative to one another, wherein a first end portion of the threaded screw is able to operatively engage a first stop member of the device when the motor drives the actuator towards the second position and wherein a second end portion of the threaded screw that is longitudinally opposing the first end portion is able to operatively engage a second stop member of the device when the motor drives the actuator towards the first position, the first stop member and the second stop member securely engaging an inside wall of the housing and operatively positioned in substantially interposed relation between the motor and the housing.
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12. A method of automatically driving an actuator on a mobile communications device, with the actuator being selectively movable, by hand, between a first position and a second position, wherein the method comprises:
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(a) encoding a control processor on-board the device to start a bi-stable piezoelectric linear drive motor that operatively engages the actuator, and operatively substantially engages a housing of the device in substantially juxtaposed relation, the motor comprising a threaded nut and a mating elongate threaded screw; and (b) driving the actuator, with the motor, between the first position and the second position by performing the substeps of; (i) urging a first end portion of the threaded screw against a first stop member of the device when the motor drives the actuator towards the second position; and (ii) urging a second end portion of the threaded screw, longitudinally opposed to the first end portion, against a second stop member of the device when the motor drives the actuator towards the first position, wherein the first stop member and the second stop member are securely engaging an inside wall of the housing and operatively positioned in substantially interposed relation between the motor and the housing, and wherein the threaded nut and the mating threaded screw are longitudinally translated relative to one another. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification