Haptic actuators

• US 9,373,993 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2013
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saia Burgess Inc (Johnson Electric Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: Saia Burgess Inc (Johnson Electric Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Irwin, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US13/935,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20140009005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 318/460, 318/128, 318/451
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 3/02 made from sheets
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/127 Assembling
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/00 Motors with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating magnet, armature or coil system arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with motors H02K7/00, e.g. H02K7/06

Abstract

A haptic actuator (20(X)) provides compact mounting for a haptically-actuated assembly by mounting at least a portion of the haptically-actuated assembly to magnetic circuit members of the haptic actuator. The haptic actuator comprises a first magnetic member (62); a second magnetic member (60); a field generator (30); and a resilient connector (70). The first magnetic member (62) is configured to have a driven part (124) of the haptically-actuated assembly mounted to the first magnetic member (62). The second magnetic member (60) is selectively separated by at least one air gap from the first magnetic member (62) and is configured to have a stationary part of the haptically-actuated assembly (122) connected to the second magnetic member (62). The second magnetic member (60) is positioned at least partially within the field generator (30) and the first magnetic member (62) is positioned externally to the field generator (30). The resilient connector (70) is configured to connect together the first magnetic member (62) and the second magnetic member (60) in a manner to allow selective closing and opening of the at least one air gap upon selective activation and de-activation of the field generator (30).

Claims

1. A haptic actuator configured for use with a haptically-actuated assembly, the haptic actuator comprising:

a first magnetic member configured to have a first part of the haptically-actuated assembly mounted to the first magnetic member;

a second magnetic member which is selectively separated by at least one air gap from the first magnetic member, second magnetic member configured to have a second part of the haptically-actuated assembly connected to the second magnetic member;

a field generator, the second magnetic member being positioned at least partially within the field generator and the first magnetic member being positioned externally to the field generator;

a resilient connector configured to connect together the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member in a manner to allow selective closing and opening of the at least one air gap upon selective activation and de-activation of the field generator;

wherein at least one of the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member is directly mounted to the haptically-actuated assembly.

2. The haptic actuator of claim 1,

wherein the first magnetic member comprises a mounting feature to which the first part of the haptically-actuated assembly is directly mounted;

and

further comprising a non-magnetic member connected to second magnetic member, the non-magnetic member comprising a mounting feature configured to have the second part of the haptically-actuated assembly directly mounted thereto.

3. The haptic actuator of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic member comprises at least a first portion of a perimeter of the haptic actuator.

4. The haptic actuator of claim 3, further comprising a non-magnetic member connected to second magnetic member, the non-magnetic member configured to have the second part of the haptically-actuated assembly mounted to the non-magnetic member.

5. The haptic actuator of claim 4, wherein the non-magnetic member comprises at least a second portion of a perimeter of the haptic actuator, the second portion of the perimeter being essentially parallel to the first portion of the perimeter comprised by the first magnetic member, the first portion of the perimeter and the second portion of the perimeter being orthogonal with respect to a height dimension of the haptic actuator.

6. The haptic actuator of claim 5, wherein the resilient connector comprises a first post member and a second post member which is parallel to the first post member, wherein the first post and the second post respectively comprise a third of portion of the perimeter and a fourth portion of the perimeter of the haptic actuator, the third of portion of the perimeter and the fourth of portion of the perimeter being separated by a length dimension of the haptic actuator, the third portion of the perimeter and the fourth portion of the perimeter being orthogonal to both the first portion of the perimeter and the second portion of the perimeter.

7. The haptic actuator of claim 1, wherein the second magnetic member comprises a mounting feature configured to have the second part of the haptically-actuated assembly directly mounted thereto.

8. The haptic actuator of claim 7, wherein the first magnetic member comprises at least a first portion and a third portion of a perimeter of the haptic actuator, wherein the second member comprises a fourth portion of a perimeter of the haptic actuator, wherein the field generator comprises a second portion of a perimeter of the haptic actuator, and wherein the resilient connector is situated within the perimeter of the haptic actuator.

9. The haptic actuator of claim 1, wherein the resilient connector does not contact the haptically-actuated assembly.

10. The haptic actuator of claim 1, wherein the resilient connector does not have the haptically-actuated assembly connected directly thereto.

11. The haptic actuator of claim 1, wherein the resilient connector comprises plural resilient portions;

and wherein the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member are attached to different resilient portions of the resilient connector.

12. The haptic actuator of claim 1, wherein the resilient connector comprises a bridging spring member which extends between opposing spring post members, wherein the first magnetic member is connected to the bridging spring member, wherein the second magnetic member is connected to a first of opposing spring post members.

13. The haptic actuator of claim 12, wherein a second of the opposing spring post members is connected to a field generator connector assembly.

14. The haptic actuator of claim 12, wherein the first magnetic member comprises at least one first magnetic member aperture which is aligned with at least one bridging spring aperture;

and wherein a fastener extends through the at least one first magnetic aperture and the at least one bridging spring aperture to connect the first magnetic member to the bridging spring member.

15. The haptic actuator of claim 13, wherein the first magnetic member comprises plural laminations, and wherein the bridging spring member comprises two lamination capture brackets which are spaced apart to retain the plural laminations comprising the first magnetic member.

16. The haptic actuator of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic member comprises plural laminations stacked in a stacking direction, wherein the resilient connector comprises a first resilient member and a second resilient member which are spaced apart in the stacking direction, both the first resilient member and the second resilient member being configured to permit oscillation in the size of the at least one air gap, and wherein the plural laminations comprising the first magnetic member are at least partially situated between a portion of the first resilient member and a portion of the second resilient member in the stacking direction.

17. The haptic actuator of claim 13, wherein:

the first resilient member comprises;

a first resilient member spine situated at a first end of the field generator;

a pair of spaced apart first resilient member cantilever arms which are attached to the first resilient member spine;

the second resilient member comprises;

a second resilient member spine situated at a second end of the field generator;

a pair of spaced apart second resilient member cantilever arms which are attached to the second resilient member spine and which extend toward the pair of spaced apart first resilient member cantilever arms; and

wherein the first magnetic member is positioned between and connected to the pair of spaced apart first resilient member cantilever arms and the pair of spaced apart second resilient member cantilever anus.

18. The haptic actuator of claim 17, wherein the pair of spaced apart first resilient member cantilever arms and the pair of spaced apart second resilient member cantilever anus overlap each other.

19. The haptic actuator of claim 17, wherein the second magnetic member is connected to the second resilient member spine.

21. The haptic actuator of claim 1,

wherein the field generator comprises a coil body, the coil body comprising a coil wound about a coil axis to form a coil interior space, the coil body comprising apertures in two opposing axial ends of the coil body;

plural pairs of magnetic laminations lying in corresponding plural parallel planes, each pair of laminations comprising;

the second magnetic member comprising a coil-accommodated lamination extending in an axial direction parallel to the coil axis, through the coil interior space, and protruding in the axial direction out of the apertures in the two opposing axial ends of the coil body;

the first magnetic member comprising a coil-external lamination extending in a direction parallel to the coil axis and outside the coil body;

wherein the resilient connector comprises at least one resilient member configured to permit oscillation in the axial direction of the size of the at least one air gap between the coil-accommodated lamination and the coil-external lamination of each pair in accordance with application and removal of power to the coil.

27. The haptic actuator of claim 1, wherein the a second magnetic member is selectively separated from the first magnetic member by a first air gap and a second air gap, where wherein the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member are positioned whereby upon the activiation of the field generator, flux lines traveling though the second magnetic member, across the first air gap to the first magnetic member, across the second air gap and back to the second magnetic member.

28. The haptic actuator of claim 1, wherein the first part of the haptically-actuated assembly which is mounted to the first magnetic member is a driven part of the haptically-actuated assembly and therein the second part of the haptically-actuated assembly which is connected to the second magnetic member is a stationary part of the haptically-actuated assembly.

20. The haptic actuator of claim I, wherein the resilient connector comprises one resilient member configured to permit oscillation in the size of at least one air gap, and wherein the one resilient member comprises:

a resilient member spine to which the second magnetic member is connected;

a pair of spaced apart resilient member cantilever arms which are attached to the resilient member spine and between which the first magnetic member is connected.

22. A haptic actuator configured for use with a haptically-actuated assembly, the haptic actuator comprising:

a first magnetic member which forms at least a portion of a perimeter of the haptic actuator;

a second magnetic member which forms at least another portion of the perimeter of the haptic actuator and which is selectively separated by at least one air gap from the first magnetic member;

a field generator, the second magnetic member being positioned at least partially within the Held generator and the first magnetic member being positioned externally to the field generator;

a resilient connector configured to connect together the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member in a manner to allow selective closing and opening of the at least one air gap upon selective activation and de-activation of the field generator, the resilient connector further being configured to be located essentially within the perimeter of the haptic actuator.

23. The haptic actuator of claim 22, wherein al least one of the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member are configured to be directly mounted to the haptically-actuated assembly.

24. The haptic actuator of claim 23, wherein the first magnetic member is configured to have a first part of the haptically-actuated assembly mounted to the first magnetic member and wherein the second magnetic member is configured to have a second part of the haptically-actuated assembly connected to the second magnetic member.

25. The haptic actuator of claim 22, wherein at least a portion of the resilient connector extends between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member in a direction parallel to the air gap which is selectively opened and closed between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member.

26. The haptic actuator of claim 25, wherein the first magnetic member comprises plural laminations, and wherein the portion of the resilient connector which extends between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member comprises two lamination capture brackets which are spaced apart to retain the plural laminations comprising the first magnetic member.

29. The haptic actuator of claim 24, wherein the first part of the haptically-actuated assembly which is mounted to the first magnetic member is a driven part of the haptically-actuated assembly and therein the second part of the haptically-actuated assembly which is connected to the second magnetic member is a stationary part of the haptically-actuated assembly.

30. A haptic actuator configured for use with a haptically-actuated assembly, the haptic actuator comprising:

a first magnetic member;

a second magnetic member which is selectively separated by at least one air gap from the first magnetic member;

a field generator, the second magnetic member being positioned at least partially within the field generator and the first magnetic member being positioned externally to the field generator;

a resilient connector configured to connect together the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member in a manner to allow selective closing and opening of the at least one air gap upon selective activation and dc-activation of the field generator,

wherein the resilient connector comprises plural resilient portions; and

wherein the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member are attached to different resilient portions of the resilient connector.