Linear vibrator

The present disclosure relates to linear vibrators and, more particularly, to a linear vibrator having a suspension.

A linear vibrator may be used in various electronic equipments such as mobile communication terminals. Representatively, such a linear vibrator performs a vibration function for informing signal arrival and signal input in the portable communication terminals.

A typical linear vibrator, for transmitting a vibration to an outside component, includes a cover directly connected with the outside component, a base forming a hollow space together with the cover, a magnetic system attached on the base, a plate suspension fixed on the base, and an oscillating portion suspended in the hollow space by the plate suspension. However, the typical linear vibrator can not transmit the vibration to the outside component rapidly and the height of the liner vibrator is increased.

The present invention is provided to solve the problems mentioned above.

In one embodiment of the invention, a linear vibrator includes a base forming a hollow space, a suspension fixed on the base, and an oscillating portion suspended in the hollow space by the suspension. The suspension defines a flat part, a connecting portion bent downward from the flat part, and a spring portion extended horizontally in a direction parallel to flat part from the end of the connecting portion.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a linear vibrator includes a base forming a hollow space, a suspension fixed on the base and defined a flat part, a pair of connecting portion bent downward from the flat part, a projecting portion connected with the end of the connecting portion and protruded horizontally in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the linear vibrator, a spring portion separated from the projecting portion and engaged with the projecting portion, and an oscillating portion attached on the suspension.

Other features of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description of exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a linear vibrator according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the linear vibrator in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a base of the linear vibrator according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a linear vibrator according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 .

Reference will now be made to describe the exemplary embodiments of the present invention in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 , a linear vibrator 100 in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a base 1 forming a hollow space 11 , a cylindrical voice coil 2 received in the hollow space 11 , a suspension 3 fixed on the base 1 and resiliently supporting the voice coil 2 , a securing plate 4 mounted on the base 1 for securing to the suspension 3 , a contact 5 received in the base 1 , a PCB 6 attached on the base 11 and connected with the contact 5 for supplying an alternating current to the linear vibrator 100 , and a magnetic system 7 mounted on the PCB 6 and received in the hollow space 11 .

The voice coil 2 defines a pair of terminals 21 for receiving alternating currents from out source.

The magnetic system 7 defines a cup-shaped yoke 71 placed coaxially with respect to the voice coil 2 . The magnetic system 7 further defines a magnet 72 and a top plate 73 successively stacked in the yoke 71 in coaxial relation to the voice coil 2 . The yoke 71 defines a bottom portion 711 for fixing the magnet 72 firmly and a lateral 712 extending from the bottom portion 711 for engaging with the base 1 . The voice coil 2 is inserted into a magnetic gap (no labeled) between the outer peripheral surface of the magnet 72 and the inner peripheral surface of the yoke 71 .

The base 1 is coaxial with respect to the voice coil 2 and defines a plurality of sidewalls 12 for forming a hollow space 11 and an opening 15 communicating with the hollow space 11 , a step portion 13 extending from the inner peripheral surface of the sidewalls 12 toward the outer peripheral surface of the sidewalls 12 at an upper end thereof for holding the securing plate 4 , a plurality of engaging portions 16 extending from the inner peripheral surface of the sidewalls 14 toward the hollow space 11 at a lower end for engaging with the lateral 712 of the yoke 71 , and a protruding portion 14 protruding from the upper end of the engaging portion 16 toward the hollow space 11 for limiting the movement of the yoke 7 toward the suspension 3 . The sidewalls 12 of the base 1 define a receiving groove 15 extending from the outer peripheral surface thereof toward the inner peripheral surface thereof for receiving the contact 5 .

The securing plate 4 , ring-shaped, is mounted on the step portion 13 . While assembled, the suspension 3 is sandwiched between the step portion 13 and the securing plate 4 .

The suspension 3 defines a flat part 31 orthogonal to the axis of the voice coil 2 and exposed out of the opening 15 for directly connecting with an outside component, a connecting portion 32 bent downward from the flat part 31 , and a spring portion 34 extended horizontally in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the linear vibrator 100 from the end of the connecting portion 32 . The spring portion 34 defines an inner ring portion 341 connected with the connecting portion 32 , an outer ring portion 342 , and a plurality of arcuate portions 343 connected with the inner and outer ring portions 341 and 342 and set in a space between these ring portions 341 and 342 , respectively. At least a part of the connecting portion 32 is projected from the opening 15 .

The contact 5 defines a fixing portion 51 retained in the receiving groove 15 of the base 1 and a soldering portion 52 bent from the fixing portion 51 for being soldered on the PCB 6 . The soldering portion 52 is configured to be a plate.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrates a linear vibrator 100 ′ in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The suspension 3 ′ is divided into two parts. One part 302 ′, separating from another part 301 ′, defines a flat part 31 ′, a pair of connecting portion 32 ′ bent downward from the flat part 31 ′, a plurality of projecting portions 33 ′ connected with the end of the connecting portion 32 ′ and protruded out of the periphery of the connecting portion 32 ′ in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the linear vibrator 100 ′. Another part 301 ′ defines a spring portion 34 ′ located on an upper surface of the projecting portion 33 ′ and parallel to the flat part 31 ′. An oscillating portion 2 ′ attached to a lower surface of the projecting portion 33 ′ opposite to the upper surface and adapted to vibrate along an axial direction of the linear vibrator 100 ′. The spring portion 34 ′ defines an inner ring portion 341 ′ for abutting against the upper surface of the projecting portion 33 ′, an outer ring portion 342 ′ having a diameter that is larger than that of the inner ring portion 341 ′, and a plurality of arcuate portions 343 ′ connected with the inner and outer ring portions 341 ′ and 342 ′ and set in a space between these ring portions 341 ′ and 342 ′, respectively. Each projecting portion 33 ′ is separated from others. The inner ring portion 341 ′ has a through hole 3411 ′ for receiving the connecting portion 32 ′ and a surrounding portion 3412 ′ surrounding the through hole 3411 ′ and connected with an upper surface of the projection portion 33 ′. When assembled, the connecting portion 32 ′ is inserted into the through hole 3411 ′ and the projecting portion 33 ′ is connected with a lower surface of the surrounding portion 3412 ′, thereby reducing the height of the linear vibrator.

It is understood that in an alternative exemplary embodiment, the upper surface of the spring portion engages with the lower surface of the projecting portion and the lower surface of the spring portion fixes the oscillating portion.

According to the aforementioned linear vibrator, the suspension is directly connected with the outside component, thereby transmitting the vibration to the outside component rapidly. Another advantage of this invention is that the height of the linear vibrator can be reduced. In addition, the suspension is divided into two parts. One part connects with the outside component for transmitting the vibration to the outside component and another part flexibly supports the oscillating portion for preventing the deformation of the flat part when the oscillating portion vibrates in the axial direction of the linear vibrator.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments, the description of the invention is illustrative and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various of modifications to the present invention can be made to the exemplary embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.