Piezoelectric assembly

• US 8,629,843 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Steeves, Cameron Russell, Paleczny, Todd Robert, Weber, Arnett Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDIN, SHAHEDA A
• Application Number:
  US12/571,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20110080347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/156, 345/204, 345/169, 348/335, 310/316.01
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/2047 Membrane type

Abstract

A piezoelectric assembly is provided, including an electrode assembly, a signal electrical connector, and a reference electrical connector. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material. The signal electrical connector is in electrical communication with the first electrode and configured to be connected to the current or voltage source so as to provide electrical communication with a current or voltage source. The reference electrical connector is in electrical communication with the second electrode and configured to be connected to the reference source so as to provide electrical communication with a reference source. One of the signal electrical connector and the reference electrical connector includes a metal shim for supporting the electrode assembly. A flexible printed circuit board is provided including a trace. An interconnecting structure effects electrical communication between the trace and the metal shim. The interconnecting structure is disposed within a passage provided between a first side surface and an opposite second side surface of the flexible printed circuit board, and extends through the first side surface to provide a coupling structure coupled to the metal shim at a coupling structure surface interface, and also extends through the second side surface to provide a retainer disposed in opposition to the first side surface to provide a retainer disposed in opposition to the first side surface.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric assembly comprising:

an electrode assembly including;

a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material in electrical communication with each one of the first and second electrodes and being disposable in an electric field generated between the first and second electrodes, wherein the piezoelectric material is provided in an un actuated state in the absence of the generated electric field and is provided in an actuated state in the presence of the generated electric field;

a metal shim supporting the electrode assembly and being electrically connected to one of the first electrode and the second electrode;

a printed circuit board including a trace, the printed circuit board having a first side surface and an opposite second side surface, and a passage provided between the first side surface and the second side surface;

the passage being a plated drill hole;

an interconnecting structure effecting electrical communication between the trace and the metal shim wherein the interconnecting structure being disposed within the passage of the printed circuit board; and

extending through the first side surface of the printed circuit board to provide a coupling structure coupled to the metal shim at a coupling structure surface interface, and the interconnecting structure also extending through the second side surface of the printed circuit board to provide a retainer disposed in opposition to the second side surface.

2. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling structure extends radially from a first opening for the passage provided in the first side surface.

3. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the retainer extends radially from a second opening for the passage provided in the second side surface.

4. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board is a flexible printed circuit board.

5. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flexible circuit board includes a copper foil laminated to a resin substrate using an adhesive.

6. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interconnecting structure is disposed in contact engagement with the trace.

7. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trace includes copper.

8. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interconnecting structure is defined by solder which is connected to the printed circuit board.

9. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling structure surface interface includes solder.

10. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the solder of the coupling structure surface interface defines a joint between the printed circuit board and the metal shim.

11. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling structure surface interface includes solder distributed across at least a portion of a surface of a first copper pad coupled to the second side surface of the flexible printed circuit board.

12. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the coupling structure surface interface includes a surface area of at least 125% of the surface area of the surface portion of the first copper pad across which the solder is distributed.

13. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retainer opposes forces applied to the coupling structure which are normal to the coupling structure surface interface.

14. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retainer includes solder which is connected to the printed circuit board.

15. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retainer includes solder distributed across at least a portion of a surface of a second copper pad coupled to the first side surface of the flexible printed circuit board.

16. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the passage is defined by a via.

17. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board is flexible.

18. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board includes a flexible polymer substrate.

19. A method manufacturing a piezoelectric assembly, the method comprising:

providing at least an intermediate assembly including;

an electrode assembly including;

a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material in electrical communication with each one of the first and second electrodes and being disposable in an electric field generated between the first and second electrodes, wherein the piezoelectric material is provided in an un actuated state in the absence of the generated electric field and is provided in an actuated state in the presence of the generated electric field; and

a metal shim supporting the electrode assembly and being electrically connected to one of the first electrode and the second electrode;

providing a printed circuit board having a first side surface and an opposite side surface, and a passage provided between the first side surface and the second side surface;

the passage being a plated drill hole;

laser soldering the intermediate assembly to the printed circuit board with solder such that flow of solder is effected through the passage, such that, after the solder has cured, the solder provides a coupling structure coupling the metal shim of the intermediate assembly to the printed circuit board at a coupling structure interface and extends from the coupling structure interface and into the passage.

20. The piezoelectric assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the laser soldering of the intermediate assembly to the printed circuit board effects flow of solder through a first opening in the second side surface of the printed circuit board, across the passage, and through a second opening in the first side surface of the printed circuit board, such that, after the solder has cured, the solder extends from the coupling structure interface, through the passage, and across the second side surface to provide a retainer disposed in opposition to the second side surface.