IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,161,269
Granted Patent B2
US 7,161,269 · App. 10/522,337 · Granted Jan 9, 2007

Vibration generator and electronic apparatus

Assignees: Sony Corporation; Omron Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,161,269
App. No.
10/522,337
Granted
Jan 9, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a vibration generator ( 40 ) in which a rotor with an unbalancer is rotated. The vibration generator includes a bottom plate ( 47 ) having a flat coil substrate ( 120 ) installed thereto, a stationary shaft ( 91 ) provided perpendicularly to the bottom plate, a magnet ( 85 ) installed on the stationary shaft ( 91 ) with a freely rotatable bearing being disposed between them and opposite to the surface of the flat coil substrate ( 120 ) with a slight clearance defined between them, and a weight ( 87 ) installed to the magnet ( 85 ). For generating a vibration, a current is supplied to the coil on the flat coil substrate ( 120 ) to rotate the magnet ( 85 ) and weight ( 87 ). The bottom plate ( 47 ) is formed from a nonmagnetic material. A thin magnetic plate ( 48 ) is installed at the side opposite to the magnet ( 85 ) with the bottom plate ( 47 ) being placed between the thin magnetic plate ( 48 ) and magnet ( 85 ).

Claims (31)

1. A vibration generator comprising:

a bottom plate having a flat coil substrate installed thereto;

a stationary shaft provided perpendicularly to the bottom plate;

a magnet installed on the stationary shaft with a freely rotatable bearing being disposed between them and opposite to the surface of the flat coil substrate with a slight clearance defined between them;

an unbalancer installed to the magnet; and

a magnetic plate having a predetermined thickness;

wherein, for generating a vibration, a current being supplied to a coil on the flat coil substrate to rotate the magnet and unbalancer,

the bottom plate being formed from a nonmagnetic material; and

the magnetic plate is disposed at the side opposite to the magnet with the flat coil substrate being placed under the magnet,

the magnetic plate utilizes the magnetism of the magnet to attract the magnet toward the flat coil substrate; and

the predetermined thickness of the magnetic plate is configured with a predetermined area so that the force of attraction developed between the magnetic plate and magnet will not cause a variation in clearance between the magnet and surface of the flat coil substrate even if the magnet and unbalancer are rotated.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic plate is removably installed to the bottom plate.

3. An electronic device including a vibration generator, the vibration generator comprising:

a bottom plate formed from a nonmagnetic material having a flat coil substrate installed thereto;

a stationary shaft provided perpendicularly to the bottom plate;

a magnet installed on the stationary shaft with a freely rotatable bearing being disposed between them and opposite to the surface of the flat coil substrate with a slight clearance defined between them;

an unbalancer installed to the magnet; and

a magnetic plate having a predetermined thickness being installed at the side opposite to the magnet with the bottom plate being placed between the magnetic plate and magnet, wherein

the magnetic elate utilizes the magnetism of the magnet to attract the magnet toward the flat coil substrate, and

the predetermined thickness of the magnetic plate is configured with a predetermined area so that the force of attraction developed between the magnetic plate and magnet will not cause a variation in clearance between the magnet and surface of the flat coil substrate even if the magnet and unbalancer are rotated.

4. A vibration generator comprising:

a bottom plate having a flat coil substrate installed thereto;

a stationary shaft provided perpendicularly to the bottom plate;

a magnet installed on the stationary shaft with a freely rotatable bearing being disposed between them and opposite to the surface of the flat coil substrate with a slight clearance defined between them;

an unbalancer installed to the magnet; and

a magnetic plate having a predetermined thickness,

wherein, for generating a vibration, a current being supplied to a coil on the flat coil substrate to rotate the magnet and unbalancer,

the bottom plate being formed from a nonmagnetic material; and

the magnetic plate is disposed at the side opposite to the magnet with the flat coil substrate being placed between the thin magnetic plate and the magnet

the magnetic plate utilizes the magnetism of the magnet to attract the magnet toward the flat coil substrate; and

the predetermined thickness of the magnetic plate is configured with a predetermined area so that the force of attraction developed between the magnetic plate and magnet will not cause a variation in clearance between the magnet and surface of the flat coil substrate even if the magnet and unbalancer are rotated.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2012
From: OMRON CORPORATION
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028358/0635 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 2ND ASSIGNOR'S NAME AND TO ADD 2ND ASSIGNEE. DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 016780 FRAME 0363. ASSIGNOR CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 22, 2005
From: KAYAMA, SHUN; SHIMIZU, YUKIKO; SUZUKI, MASAHIRO; YAMASUE, TOSHINORI; AZUMA, HIROSHI; KITAMURA, HIROKAZU
To: SONY CORPORATION; OMRON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017390/0597 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2005
From: KAYAMA, SHUN; SHIMZU, YUKIKO; SUZUKI, MASAHIRO; YAMASUE, TOSHINORI; AZUMA, HIROSHI; KITAMURA, HIROKAZU
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 016780/0363 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2003-157471 · Jun 3, 2003 · national
JP 2003-286438 · Aug 5, 2003 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060082231A1 · Apr 20, 2006