Tactile vibration generator
A tactile vibration generator includes a supporting block, a vibration plate, and a vibration actuator. The vibration plate includes two parts. The vibration actuator is attached to a surface of the first part and the first part is not in contact with the supporting block to reduce transferring vibration to the supporting block. The second part is fixed to the supporting block.
1. A tactile vibration generator comprising:
a supporting block;
a vibration plate, the vibration plate comprising a first part that is not in contact with the supporting block and a second part that is fixed to the supporting block; and
a vibration actuator attached to a surface of the first part,
wherein the second part is located at a central part of the vibration plate, and
the first part extends beyond two opposite sides of the supporting block when viewed from a side of the supporting block to which the second part is fixed, and weights are attached to both ends of the first part, respectively.
2. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 , wherein the first part is vibrated in a direction of flexural vibration of the vibration actuator when the flexural vibration of the vibration actuator is generated.
3. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 2 , wherein the vibration actuator is not in contact with the supporting block.
4. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration actuator is just one vibration actuator.
5. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration actuator is a piezoelectric element.
6. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first part and second part has an elongated shape, and the first part and the second part are at substantially right angles to each other.
7. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 6 , wherein the first part and the second part are at substantially right angles to each other substantially at the middle of the first part and the second part.
8. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 6 , wherein the length of the first part in a longitudinal direction of the first part is longer than the length of the second part in a longitudinal direction of the second part.
9. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration actuator has an elongated shape and extends in a same direction as the first part.
10. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 , wherein each of the two weights comprises a first plate weight and a second plate weight, and the first plate weight and the second plate weight sandwich an end of the first part.
11. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 10 , wherein a thickness of the first plate weight is different from a thickness of the second plate weight.
12. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 , wherein the second part is fixed to the supporting block by two fixing elements, and the two fixing elements are arranged at opposite sides of the vibration actuator.
13. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 12 , wherein the second part comprises two holes, and the two fixing elements are screws.
14. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 13 , wherein the supporting block comprises two holes, and each of the two holes of the supporting block corresponds to each of the two holes of the second part.
15. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration actuator is attached to a first surface of the first part, such that the vibration actuator and the supporting block are arranged at opposite sides of the first part.
16. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 14 , wherein the supporting block has two protrusions, and the two holes of the supporting block are formed on the two protrusions respectively.
17. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 , wherein the supporting block comprises a channel in a surface of the supporting block, the channel extending along the first part, and the vibration actuator is attached to a second surface of the first part such that the vibration actuator is arranged in the channel.
18. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration actuator is attached to the surface of the first part by glue.
19. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 , wherein a rigidity of the supporting block is lower than a rigidity of the vibration actuator.
20. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 19 , wherein the supporting block comprises an isotropic elastic member.
21. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 , wherein a rigidity of the vibration plate is lower than a rigidity of the vibration actuator.
22. The tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 , wherein the supporting block comprises a recess and/or a groove on a surface of the supporting block different from a surface on which the second part is fixed.
23. A touch panel device comprising the tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 .
24. A display panel comprising the tactile vibration generator according to claim 1 .