Vibration motor and mobile terminal having the same

• US 9,467,033 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Hongki, Choi, Jaecheon, Jun, Minsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Kenerly, Terrance
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSON, RASHAD H
• Application Number:
  US13/756,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20130200732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 310/12.16, 310/15, 310/16, 310/23, 310/25, 310/28, 310/51, 310/81, 310/91, 335/185, 335/19, 335/193
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/045 using vibrating magnet, armature or coil system
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/16 with polarised armatures moving in alternate directions by reversal or energisation of a single coil system
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/00 Generators with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating coil system, magnet, armature or other part of the magnetic circuit arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with generators H02K7/00, e.g. H02K7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/04 Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/24 specially adapted for suppression or reduction of noise or vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/08 Structural association with bearings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components

Abstract

A vibration motor includes a housing, a coil, a moving portion, an elastic member and a roller member. The housing has a top surface, a bottom surface, and first to fourth side surfaces joining the top surface to the bottom surface, the first to fourth surfaces defining an inner circumferential surface of the housing. The coil is provided in the housing. The moving portion provided in the housing and the moving portion is configured to reciprocate between the first and third sides arranged opposite to each other. The elastic member is provided between the moving portion and the housing. The roller member is provided in the housing and arranged to come into rolling contact with the top or bottom surface of the housing.

Claims

1. A vibration motor comprising:

a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and first to fourth side surfaces joining the top surface to the bottom surface, the first to fourth surfaces defining an inner circumferential surface of the housing;

a coil provided in the housing;

a moving portion provided in the housing, the moving portion being configured to reciprocate between the first and third side surfaces arranged opposite to each other;

an elastic member provided between the moving portion and the housing; and

a roller member provided in the housing and arranged to come into rolling contact with the top or bottom surface of the housing, the roller member having a cylindrical body and shaft coupling portions respectively protruded from both ends of the cylindrical body,

wherein a diameter of the cylindrical body is greater than a thickness of the moving portion,

wherein the roller member is coupled to the moving portion,

wherein the elastic member comprises;

a first elastic member located between the moving portion and the first side surface; and

a second elastic member located between the moving portion and the third side surface, and

wherein an elastic coefficient of the first elastic member is different from an elastic coefficient of the second elastic member.

2. The vibration motor of claim 1, wherein the moving portion or the housing has insertion grooves into which the elastic members are inserted.

3. The vibration motor of claim 1, wherein the moving portion has a magnet and a yoke formed to determine the direction of an electromagnetic force of the magnet.

4. The vibration motor of claim 1, wherein the housing has first and second covers coupled to each other, the first or second cover has a mounting groove recessed from one surface thereof, and the coil is mounted in the mounting groove.

5. The vibration motor of claim 1, wherein a reciprocating direction of the moving portion is arranged such that the moving portion moves closer to and further away from the first side surface while reciprocating.

6. A mobile terminal comprising:

a terminal main body; and

a vibration motor coupled to the terminal main body to vibrate the terminal main body, the vibration motor including;

a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and first to fourth side surfaces joining the top surface to the bottom surface, the first to fourth side surfaces defining an inner circumferential surface of the housing;

a coil provided in the housing;

a moving portion provided in the housing, the moving portion configured to reciprocate between the first and third side surfaces arranged opposite to each other;

an elastic member provided between the moving portion and the housing; and

a roller member provided in the housing and arranged to come into rolling contact with the top or bottom surface of the housing, the roller member having a cylindrical body and shaft coupling portions respectively protruded from both ends of the cylindrical body,

wherein a diameter of the cylindrical body is formed greater than a thickness of the moving portion,

wherein the roller member is coupled to the moving portion,

wherein the elastic member comprises;

a first elastic member located between the moving portion and the first side surface; and

a second elastic member located between the moving portion and the third side surface, and

wherein an elastic coefficient of the first elastic member is different from an elastic coefficient of the second elastic member.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the moving portion or the housing has insertion grooves into which the elastic members are inserted.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the moving portion has a magnet and a yoke formed to determine the direction of an electromagnetic force of the magnet.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the housing has first and second covers coupled to each other, the first or second cover has a mounting groove recessed from one surface thereof, and the coil is mounted in the mounting groove.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein a reciprocating direction of the moving portion is arranged such that the moving portion moves closer to and further away from the first side surface while reciprocating.