Unbalanced Weight (e.g., Vibrators) Patents (Class 310/81)
  • Publication number: 20020047469
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flat careless vibrator motor for supporting a vibration calling mode in a mobile communication device. The invention provides a flat careless vibrator motor capable of preventing the formation of an idle point, thereby obtaining a high average torque, and thus, a high efficiency, while providing a sufficient redundant space for installing a weight for an increased centrifugal force. The flat careless vibrator motor comprises a stator including a flat field magnet having a plurality of alternate N and S magnetic poles, a rotor spaced apart from the field magnet by a predetermined distance to rotate freely, and a brush for supplying a current to the coils via the commutator of the rotor. The rotor includes at least three careless armature coils and a commutator connected to the coils, and at least two of the armature coils are integrally formed together at a same position to form a non-coil section in the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventor: Jei-Sung Park
  • Publication number: 20020047374
    Abstract: In a small-sized hydroelectric power generating apparatus in which a waterwheel 3 arranged in a fluid path and rotating with passage of a prescribed flow rate of fluid, a rotating body 4 coupled with the waterwheel and rotating therewith is used as a rotor portion arranged oppositely to a stator portion 6, and the rotor portion is rotated relatively to the stator portion 6 with passage of the fluid to generate electric power, the small-sized hydroelectric generation includes a continuous internal space formed when a first case 1 and a second case 5 are fit to each other, said first case having an inlet 12 and an outlet 13 of said fluid path and said second case having the internal space which communicates with said inlet and outlet and in which said rotating body is arranged and separating the internal space from the stator portion, wherein a concave portion 14 is provided at a fitting portion between said first case and said second case; an opposite wall 5a opposite to the inner wall of said concave portion
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SANKYO SEIKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Yukinobu Yumita
  • Publication number: 20020047372
    Abstract: A stator (2) is fixed to a casing (1). Bearing supports (5, 6) are fixed to the casing (1), and a rotary shaft (4) is rotatably supported by the bearing supports (5, 6) through bearings (7, 8). A rotor (3) is fixed to the rotary shaft (4), and an orbiting shaft (9) is supported eccentrically and rotatably by the rotary shaft (4) through bearings (10, 11). An upper end of the orbiting shaft (9) is protruded out of the casing (1). An orbiting plate (12) is fixed to the lower section of the orbiting shaft (9), and an Oldham's ring (13) having protrusions (14, 15) is provided between the bearing support (6) and the orbiting plate (12). Grooves (16, 17) orthogonal to each other are provided in the bearing support (6) and the orbiting plate (12), respectively, and the grooves (16, 17) are engaged with the protrusions (14, 15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: Mineo Takahashi, Naotake Yoneda
  • Patent number: 6377145
    Abstract: A vibration actuator includes an electromechanical transducer having a magnetic circuit (1-4) and a driving coil (5), a support frame (9), and a damper (270) elastically supporting the magnetic circuit onto the support frame to flexibly damp the vibration of the magnetic circuit when a driving AC current is supplied to the coil (5). The damper (270) comprises inner and outer ring portions (271, 272) and a plurality of spiral spring portions (273) determined by a plurality of spiral slits (274, 275) formed in the damper. In order to reduce the spiral spring portion determined by the adjacent two spiral slits in its compliance, each of the spiral spring portions has an effective spring length determined by an effective angle (&thgr;) which is determined as an angle (by angular degree) from an inner end of the inner spiral slit to an outer end of the outer spiral slit defining each respective spiral spring portion around a center of the damper. The effective angle is 55 angular degree or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Tokin Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Kumagai
  • Patent number: 6365995
    Abstract: Brushless motors for portable information equipment that can be simultaneously reflow-soldered to a substrate and efficiently and densely mounted thereon in such a way that the coupled portion between the motor and the substrate has a high impact resistance, thereby providing small and reliable portable information equipment having a high productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuda, Koji Kuyama, Toshio Uehara, Kazuhito Itakura, Chiaki Yamamoto, Shigeru Yoshida, Hiroyasu Fujinaka, Mikio Umehara, Noriyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 6347945
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for improving electrical contact between a printed circuit board and an electrical component, wherein the electrical components have one or more spring contacts to provide electrical connection to one or more pads on the printed circuit board. The contacting point between a spring contact may be oxidized due to humidity, condensation water, chlorides or other environment agents. The oxidation at the contact point degrades the electrical connection and, eventually, causes a total loss in electrical contact. A vibration mechanism is used to cause the electrical components to move relative to the printed circuit board and the spring contacts to rub against the pads. The vibrating motion on the spring contacts cleans the contact points of undesirable materials at the contact points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd.
    Inventors: Marko Käkelä, Jussi Hakunti, Heikki Halkosaari
  • Publication number: 20020017824
    Abstract: A multi-functional vibration actuator comprises a vibration transmitting portion (8) forming a peripheral portion thereof, a magnetic circuit formed by a yoke (1), a permanent magnet (2), and a plate (3), a vibrator member (5) arranged at a distance from one surface of the magnetic circuit and having an outer periphery fixed to the vibration transmitting portion, a coil (6) arranged in a gap within the magnetic circuit at a distance from the magnetic circuit and fixedly attached to the vibrator member, and a suspension (4) fixed to the vibration transmitting portion and flexibly supporting the magnetic circuit. The distance (b) between the vibrator member and each of the one surface of the magnetic circuit and the suspension is greater than the distance (a) between the other surface of the magnetic circuit and a bottom cover (9) covering the magnetic circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: TOKIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuyasu Sakai
  • Patent number: 6342742
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vibrator including: a rotary member having a center plate and a unipolar magnet of an arc shape eccentrically disposed on the outer surface of the center plate, the center plate having a through hole formed in the center; a shaft inserted into the through hole of the center plate; a pair of bobbins divided into upper and lower bobbins, each bobbin having a confined space and a support hole, wherein the rotary member is rotated within the confined space and the shaft is inserted into the support holes to thereby rotate the rotary member; and a coil wound on the bobbins connected with each other, the coil generating a magnetic force with the polarity opposite to that of the magnet. The vibrator, which is embedded in communication equipments, such as mobile phones and radio pagers, generates a strong power of vibration using a low electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Won-II Communics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 6333575
    Abstract: A vibration exciter adapted for location in a cavity in a member to be vibrated. A motor coil assembly (6) has a coil rigidly fixed to a tubular member, the motor coil assembly having an outer peripheral face, and a magnet assembly (3-5) is disposed concentrically of the motor coil assembly and arranged for axial movement relative thereto. The magnet assembly has opposed generally disc-like pole pieces (4, 5), the periphery of one of which is disposed within and adjacent to the motor coil assembly, and the periphery of the other (5) of which pole pieces is formed with a flange (8) arranged to lie adjacent to and to surround the motor coil assembly. The flange has aperture portions (11) through which the outer peripheral face of motor coil assembly is adapted to be fixed directly to the cavity wall in the member to be vibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Graham Bank, Martin Colloms
  • Publication number: 20010048256
    Abstract: This invention provides a planar acoustic converting apparatus including a support having a flat plate portion, a diaphragm which has an insulating base film having a liquid crystalline polymer film and being opposed to the flat plate portion of the support and at least one spiral coil provided on one major surface or both major surfaces of the insulating base film, at least one permanent magnet supported by the support and opposing a magnetic pole to the diaphragm, and a holding portion provided to the support and holding the diaphragm such that the diaphragm can vibrate and is positioned apart from the at least one permanent magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventors: Toshiiku Miyazaki, Masashi Hori, Takeshi Nishimura, Kenji Iizuka, Masayuki Ishiwa
  • Patent number: 6326711
    Abstract: A dc brushless vibrator motor has a base member, a shaft connected to the base member, a stator having magnetically conductive cores and respective armature coils angularly uniformly disposed about the shaft and having an eccentric mass distribution. The rotor has a magnet holder, an annular permanent magnet fixedly connected to the magnet holder and concentric with the shaft and radially outside the stator. The magnet has alternating north and south magnetic poles arranged at a uniform angular pitch. In order to rotationally imbalance the rotor, an arcuate weight is fixed to the magnet holder and/or a part of the magnet holder is cut out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Tokyo Parts Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadao Yamaguchi, Naohisa Koyanagi
  • Patent number: 6323757
    Abstract: In a vibration motor assembly for use in, e.g., a portable phone, a weight is mounted on the output shaft of a motor and has a hermetically closed bore filled with a magnetic fluid. A magnetic body is disposed in the bore in the vicinity of the center of rotation of the weight. When the motor is not energized, the weight is held in a halt together with the shaft of the motor. In this condition, magnetic particles included in the magnetic fluid adhere to the magnetic body due to a magnetic force acting between the particles and the body. That is, all the magnetic particles are positioned in the vicinity of the center of rotation of the weight. Consequently, even a small torque, i.e., a small current can cause the motor to start rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hisami Nagai
  • Publication number: 20010040412
    Abstract: A radial gap, rotary yoke type brushless vibration motor which is driven by a sensor-less method includes a support body having a flat installation portion, a cylindrical coreless stator coil, one end of which is supported at the support body and the other end of which is open, a plurality of terminal portions arranged at the support body for connecting to the end of the cylindrical coreless stator coil at the support body, a shaft supported at the center of the support body, a cylindrical rotary yoke, functioning as an eccentric rotor supported by the shaft, accommodated inside the cylindrical coreless stator coil and separated from the cylindrical coreless stator coil via a radial gap, a rotor case, one end of which is fixed at the cylindrical rotary yoke, the rotor case made with a cut-out portion so as to be eccentric, and a magnet arranged inside the rotor case so as to face the outer circumference of the cylindrical coreless stator coil, the magnet separated from the cylindrical coreless stator coil via
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventor: Tadao Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20010040413
    Abstract: An eccentric rotor including a printed wiring commutator device where a hole for shaft installation is formed at the center thereof and a plurality of segment patterns are formed at the periphery of one surface thereof, a winding type armature coil integrally formed in a non-mold manner so as to be eccentric toward the other surface of the printed wiring commutator device, an end connection portion installed at such a position at the outer circumferential portion of the printed wiring commutator device that latching an end portion of the winding type armature coil is possible within a range of not deviating from the turning circumference during rotation and simultaneously electrical connection with the segment patterns is possible, and also at the position of not overlapping the winding type armature coil viewed from a plane, a resin bearing holder inserted in the shaft installation hole so that part thereof protrudes toward the segment pattern and simultaneously the other part thereof is extended toward the
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventor: Tadao Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20010035687
    Abstract: A vibration motor 18 constituted by a motor provided with a weight 57 is covered with a cover 44 having a flat portion for making the cover 44 be sucked easily and a marking for positioning, and this vibration motor is mounted on a main-body printed board 9. In this main-body printed board, line lands and main-body lands also having a function for identification are provided outside the outline of the mounted vibration motor, so that a displacement of the mounting position can be easily detected even visually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Satoh, Koutarou Hirai
  • Publication number: 20010030474
    Abstract: In a vibration actuator having a magnetic circuit component (10) and a coil (17) arranged in a gap (14) which is made at one side of the magnetic circuit in a predetermined direction, a space defining member (31, 32, 19) defines an accommodation space (34) to accommodate the magnetic circuit component and the coil. A supporting unit (16,18) supports the magnetic circuit component and the coil so that they are separately movable in the predetermined direction. The space defining member has a sound release hole (33) faced to the other side of the magnetic circuit component in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: TOKIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Sakai, Fumihiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6304170
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus with a first axis of rotation, including a surface upon which the information processing apparatus may be supported, and a motor. The motor has a rotor shaft with a second axis of rotation. The motor is activated to alert a user of the apparatus to an event. The motor is positioned within the information processing apparatus such that the second axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation, and activation of the motor produces a turning moment, causing the information processing apparatus to rotate about the first axis. The information processing apparatus can be a portable radiotelephone or a portable computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Nokia Mobiles Phones Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Armstrong, Steve Mote
  • Publication number: 20010022476
    Abstract: An electromagnetic vibrator includes a vibration generating mechanism; a case for containing at least part of the vibration generating mechanism; a power supply terminal for supplying power to the vibration generating mechanism, protruding from the case; an elastic body covering at least part of the case; and an elastic pressing body deformable under pressure, formed in part of the elastic body. When the electromagnetic vibrator is incorporated into a device, part of the device presses the case. Correspondingly, the elastic pressing body presses the power supply terminal toward a power supply land disposed on the device side, and the power supply terminal contacts the power supply land thereby electrically connecting itself to the power supply land. With this construction is provided a highly reliable electromagnetic vibrator and device incorporating the electromagnetic vibrator with electric connections having high vibration resistance and impact resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: Eiichi Ibata, Toshiaki Tsuzaki, Kodo Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 6291915
    Abstract: An eccentric rotor including a printed wiring commutator device where a hole for shaft installation is formed at the center thereof and a plurality of segment patterns are formed at the periphery of one surface thereof, a winding type armature coil integrally formed in a non-mold manner so as to be eccentric toward the other surface of the printed wiring commutator device, an end connection portion installed at such a position at the outer circumferential portion of the printed wiring commutator device that latching an end portion of the winding type armature coil is possible within a range of not deviating from the turning circumference during rotation and simultaneously electrical connection with the segment patterns is possible, and also at the position of not overlapping the winding type armature coil viewed from a plane, a resin bearing holder inserted in the shaft installation hole so that part thereof protrudes toward the segment pattern and simultaneously the other part thereof is extended toward the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Tokyo Parts Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadao Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6288459
    Abstract: A vibration generating device having a weight which is formed semicircular in section and provided with a recess in the vicinity of an insertion hole of a shaft. The weight, after insertion on the shaft, is supported in an inclined position on a support block. Then, a tapered pressing member is moved downwardly to apply the pressure to the recess. In this case, the direction of pressure application of the pressing member is deviated from the axis of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Furudate, Yuji Inada, Shinichi Hosobuchi
  • Publication number: 20010013730
    Abstract: An eccentric rotor including a printed wiring commutator device where a hole for shaft installation is formed at the center thereof and a plurality of segment patterns are formed at the periphery of one surface thereof, a winding type armature coil integrally formed in a non-mold manner so as to be eccentric toward the other surface of the printed wiring commutator device, an end connection portion installed at such a position at the outer circumferential portion of the printed wiring commutator device that latching an end portion of the winding type armature coil is possible within a range of not deviating from the turning circumference during rotation and simultaneously electrical connection with the segment patterns is possible, and also at the position of not overlapping the winding type armature coil viewed from a plane, a resin bearing holder inserted in the shaft installation hole so that part thereof protrudes toward the segment pattern and simultaneously the other part thereof is extended toward the
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventor: Tadao Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20010013729
    Abstract: A vibration generator comprises a first vibrator having a permanent magnet and supported by a first spring body on a fixing member, and a second vibrator having a coil so disposed as to intersect the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet and supported by a second spring body on the fixing member. One of the first vibration system and the second vibration system serves as a sound source for producing sound waves of audio-frequency for propagation to the outside, and the other vibration system serves as a vibration source for transmitting vibration to the fixing member and vibrating a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: TOSHIHIDE HAMAGUCHI, KOUICHI KAWAKAMI
  • Patent number: 6274956
    Abstract: An end shield is provided, particularly for electrical machines, which because of its design in sectors can be used to vary the natural system frequencies of the electric machine and foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Andreas-Alexander Eule
  • Patent number: 6274955
    Abstract: A vibration motor 18 constituted by a motor provided with a weight 57 is covered with a cover 44 having a flat portion for making the cover 44 be sucked easily and a marking for positioning, and this vibration motor is mounted on a main-body printed board 9. In this main-body printed board, line lands and main-body lands also having a function for identification are provided outside the outline of the mounted vibration motor, so that a displacement of the mounting position can be easily detected even visually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Satoh, Koutarou Hirai
  • Publication number: 20010011849
    Abstract: A non-circular flat motor in which terminal portions are installed at dead space and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. Since a flexible sheet type feeder terminal is not adopted, the motor can be easily held by a transferring apparatus and automatically mounted. Also, the feeder terminal has solderability and is easy to be reflow-soldered. A rotor and a housing supporting the rotor are formed to be non-circular when viewed in a plane. Feeder terminals or installation terminals are arranged at corner portions at the side surfaces of the housing which are angled and using a circle as an inscribed circle. At least one feeder terminal of a high electric potential is insulated from the other portion. The corner portion is formed to be concave so that each of the terminals is prevented from protruding outward from the housing. Each of the terminals are bent to be easily reflow-soldered and exposed to the side of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventor: Tadao Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6271610
    Abstract: An electromagnetic vibrator includes a vibration generating mechanism; a case for containing at least part of the vibration generating mechanism; a power supply terminal for supplying power to the vibration generating mechanism, protruding from the case; an elastic body covering at least part of the case; and an elastic pressing body deformable under pressure, formed in part of the elastic body. When the electromagnetic vibrator is incorporated into a device, part of the device presses the case. Correspondingly, the elastic pressing body presses the power supply terminal toward a power supply land disposed on the device side, and the power supply terminal contacts the power supply land thereby electrically connecting itself to the power supply land. With this construction is provided a highly reliable electromagnetic vibrator and device incorporating the electromagnetic vibrator with electric connections having high vibration resistance and impact resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Ibata, Toshiaki Tsuzaki, Kodo Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 6268671
    Abstract: A vibration generation apparatus allows vibration frequency and amplitude to be independently controlled and to produce various modes of vibration involving shocks in addition to simple modes of vibration. The apparatus comprises a coil and a vibratory assembly comprising a-yoke providing a magnetic circuit, the coil being supplied with a drive current for a rectangular pulse of a constant peak value to cause the vibratory assembly to vibrate such that the amplitude of the vibration assembly corresponds to the duration of the rectangular-pulse drive current. The vibration generation apparatus allows the frequency and the duration of the rectangular-pulse drive current to be varied independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeru Furuki
  • Patent number: 6265838
    Abstract: A flat-shaped vibration motor is described. The vibration motor has a base plate at its bottom. A cover is mounted on the base plate so as to define a space for installing elements therein. A shaft is vertically and rotatably mounted between the center of the base plate and the center of the cover. A lower PCB is mounted on the upper surface of the base plate. A magnet is positioned outside the lower PCB and has poles of 2n (n: a positive integer). An upper plate is fitted around the shaft and unbalanced in weight. A commutator is positioned on the central lower portion of the upper PCB and consists of multiple segments. A pair of brushes are mounted between the lower PCB and the commutator with their lower ends respectively and electrically connected to the lower PCB and their upper ends in contact with the commutator, an interval angle between the brushes being greater than an electric angle of Π/2 and less than an electric angle of 3Π/2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electro Mechanics Co., LTD
    Inventor: Sung-Hong Won
  • Patent number: 6254416
    Abstract: A vibrator motor holder for a wireless telephone vibrator motor is described. The holder is integrally formed on the I/O connector of the telephone. The holder comprises a device insertion cavity adapted to receive the vibrator motor. The inner walls of the cavity are dimensioned so as to correspond with the inserted vibrator motor, thereby ensuring a snug fit when the motor is contained therein. A locking piece is provided which is moveable across an entry port of the cavity. The obstruction of a portion of the entry port by the locking piece is sufficient to contain the motor within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Eugene Folan, Pat White
  • Patent number: 6246143
    Abstract: A flat coreless vibrator motor holds a rotor in a specific position by magnetic flux from a magnet, increasing vibration by increasing the eccentricity of the center of gravity of the rotor, easily moving since the adjacent segments of a commutator are not short-circuited, and having reduced manufacturing costs. In the flat coreless vibrator motor, a four-pole magnet which has alternate north and south poles for providing a magnetic field to an eccentric rotor faces the eccentric rotor, in one side of which at least one coreless coil is located and in which a commutator having four segments, each diametrically-opposite pair of which are short-circuited, is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Tokyo Parts Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadao Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6232685
    Abstract: A motor for use with an alternating current electrical outlet includes a retaining member, a rotor and a nutational actuator for nutating the rotor. The retaining member has at least one circumferential surface extending about an axis. The rotor is located adjacent to the retaining member and includes a magnet. The rotary actuator includes at least one magnetic member proximate the rotor, an electrically conductive coil about the at least one magnetic member and a plug having first and second prongs electrically connected to first and second ends of the coil. When the prongs are inserted into the electrical outlet, the alternating current flowing through the coil causes the rotor to nutate about the axis defined by the retaining member. In one exemplary embodiment, the rotor has a center of mass such that the rotor gyrates about the center of mass in response to alternating electrical currents flowing through the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Johnson Outdoors Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Swetish, Todd A. Rathe
  • Patent number: 6229234
    Abstract: The invention concerns a rotating electric motor system capable of vibrating and a method for operating a rotary electric motor capable of vibrating. The system comprises an electric motor having a rotor and the stator, the rotor and the stator forming a unit vibrating within an audio frequency range; a power amplifier powering the electric motor, the power amplifier having a passband including at least the audio frequency range; and a signal generator generating the signal controlling the power amplifier. The signal generator comprises at least the audio frequency range. The control signal has a continuous component for rotating the rotor with respect to the stator, and an alternating component for inducing mechanical vibration in the unit capable of vibrating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Ghislain Lambert, Christian Pronovost, Bruno Francoeur, Pierre Couture
  • Patent number: 6169348
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flat type two-phase vibration motor. The flat type two-phase vibration motor comprises a lower board attached to an upper surface of a lower case; a stator magnet disposed on the lower board and having magnetic poles of the number of 2n where n is an integer of 1 or more; a shaft supported between the lower case and an upper case; an upper board rotatably coupled to the shaft to be eccentrically supported thereby; an armature coil of two phases attached to the upper board such that it has a phase difference of &pgr;/2; a commutator attached to the upper board around the shaft and having a plurality of segments of the number which is two times the number of the magnetic poles; and a pair of brushes having lower ends which are attached to the lower board and upper ends which are arranged such that they can be brought into contact with the segments of the commutator while being separated from each other by an electrical angle of &pgr;.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Hong Won
  • Patent number: 6160331
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for reducing noise and vibration in an electric motor. In order to reduce the generation of vibrations and the resultant audible noise, vibration damping material is used to de-couple vibrations from the rotor and stator which would otherwise be transmitted to other parts of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: BEI, Kimco Magnetics Division
    Inventor: Anthony Peter Morreale
  • Patent number: 6140723
    Abstract: An oral hygiene device comprises a rotating body 22 mounted to a rotating shaft 21 of an electric motor 14, an output shaft 11 resiliently supported via a resonance pin 25 to be swingable finely, a drive magnetic body 23 provided on the rotating body 22, and a driven magnetic body 31 provided on the output shaft 11 to face the drive magnetic body 23 so as to be out of contact therewith. The drive magnetic body 23 and the driven magnetic body 31 are composed of permanent magnets, and as the rotating body 22 revolves, a varying magnetic field is generated between the both magnetic bodies 23, 31 to cause vibration of the output shaft 11 at high speed. In this manner, there are provided a vibration generating device, which can be manufactured at low cost and efficiently transmits vibration, and an oral hygiene device using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Sunstar Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuguo Matsui, Michihisa Sugimoto, Masaharu Kita
  • Patent number: 6140724
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vibration motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., LTD
    Inventor: In Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 6137200
    Abstract: A disk drive has a sleeve-bearing spindle motor having a rotor for rotating the disk of removable data storage cartridge. A retainer which is compliant in the direction of axial movement of the rotor stops the axial movement. The retainer is mounted on a moveable platform which mounts the disk cartridge as it is inserted into the drive. The retainer includes a cantilevered beam which is compliant in the direction of axial movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Iomega Corporation
    Inventors: Arulmani Ethirajan, Dennis D. Ogden
  • Patent number: 6133657
    Abstract: A vibrator bracket 224 for mounting a vibrator 226 including a motor 228, a shaft 231 controlled by the motor and weight 232. The bracket has members (260, 261) to engage the motor. The bracket has a shaft support, including an opening 275 for receipt of an end of the shaft remote form the motor whereby the shaft is positioned in the opening and deflection of the shaft is limited by the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Semenik, Frank Annerino, Martin J. Kimball
  • Patent number: 6107715
    Abstract: A spring system for a vibration driver provides a non-linear stiffening reaction force as the deflection of the spring system increases. In a vibration driver, particularly an electromagnetic vibration driver, a reciprocating plate provides opposing bumpers which engage opposing elastomer blocks alternately during the stroke of the plate. Elastomer blocks include on three or four sides an elastomer impregnated fabric. The fabric controls the bulging of the elastomer block during impact by the bumper, substantially changing the spring rate of the elastomer block, to increase the resonant frequency of the spring system as the machine stroke increases. Increasing resonant frequency controls the stroke amplitude of the plate for a consistent feed rate of resonant tuned vibratory material handling equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Harold E. Patterson, Paul I. Sleppy
  • Patent number: 6084327
    Abstract: An internal vibrator for compacting concrete and having a vibrator housing in which is disposed an eccentric mass and an electric motor for driving the eccentric mass. The electric motor is supplied via a power supply cord with electric current having a frequency that is greater than line frequency. The vibrator comprises a switch for controlling the electric motor, and also includes a transformer for supplying to the electric motor the electric current having the frequency that is greater than line frequency. The switch and the transformer are combined in a common housing to form a miniaturized built-in unit on the power supply cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Wacker Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Steffen
  • Patent number: 6081055
    Abstract: A vibration motor (10) having a metal holder frame (30) provided with a motor accommodation portion (31) for receiving and holding a substantially tubular drum portion of a vibration motor body (20) and terminal pieces (40) for being affixed and connected to end portions of the vibration motor body. The metal holder frame has a bottom plate portion (32) adapted for soldering to a pattern on a printed circuit board. The bottom plate has a bulge portion formed by making a depression in the rear side of the bulge portion to make a projection on the front side of the bulge portion at least one position of the bottom plate portion, whereby when driving the vibration motor, the portion of the bulge portion acts as a turn-stopping device and prevents rotational deviation so that the vibration motor can be simultaneously mounted in a double-side mounting process by reflow soldering to a printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignees: Sanyo Seimitsu Corporation, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuto Narusawa
  • Patent number: 6060804
    Abstract: A vibration generating mechanism includes first and second permanent magnets spaced from each other with the same magnetic poles opposed to each other, and an electromotive actuator for driving the first permanent magnet. The electromotive actuator moves the first permanent magnet periodically and reciprocatingly relative to the second permanent magnet to change the opposing area of the first and second permanent magnets thereby causing the second permanent magnet to vibrate relative to the first permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignees: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Special Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Yutaka Sakamoto, Hitoshi Mikami, Yasuhiro Marukawa
  • Patent number: 6057753
    Abstract: A vibrating transducer or alarm for a pager, cellular telephone and the like, includes a single coil wound in a longitudinal direction to enclose a chamber extending in the longitudinal direction; a planar substrate, bonded to an outer wall formed by the coil; a switching power source, operatively coupled to the coil, for producing an oscillating magnetic field within the chamber; and an eccentric weight rotor assembly extending within the chamber, where the rotor assembly includes a permanent magnet that provides a rotational force to the rotor assembly when acted upon by the oscillating magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Projects Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Myers
  • Patent number: 6051900
    Abstract: One end of a shaft is fixed to a first portion of a housing. An eccentric rotor is located in the housing rotatably on the shaft. The other end of the shaft is fitted into a concave portion on a second portion of the housing, so the rotor may be assembled in the housing in a simple manner and radial movement of the shaft can be prevented without enlarging the fixing portion of the shaft. Even if the diameter of the shaft is small, the shaft can withstand an impact resulting from dropping of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Tokyo Parts Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadao Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6011333
    Abstract: A vibrator motor has a generally sector-shaped eccentric armature rotor that has a nonmagnetic body including core parts, around which armature coils are individually wound. The core parts are disposed at an even pitch angle, but within a 180.degree. angular range, about the rotational axis of the rotor. A rotor body of one embodiment consists of a first part and a second part that includes the core parts and the first part is made of a synthetic resin and the second part is made of a synthetic resin or a nonmagnetic but electrically-conductive metal. A rotor of an additional embodiment has a single-piece body of a synthetic resin that integrally has the core parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Tokyo Parts Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadao Yamaguchi, Koichi Nakajima, Toru Arai
  • Patent number: 5986367
    Abstract: In a motor mounting mechanism, a cylindrical motor includes a frame (6) serving as a stator and an electric power supply terminal (2) attached to a bottom surface of a bracket (1). When the motor is mounted to a motor attachment device, a first external electrode (10) is mechanically and electrically connected to a cylindrical side surface of the frame (6) while a second external electrode (11) is mechanically and electrically connected to the power supply terminal (2). The first and second external electrodes are both located outside the motor, and thus, the process of providing lead wires for connecting the external electrodes to the printed board can be omitted, allowing the total size of the motor mounting mechanism to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Tsuzaki, Koji Kuyama, Eiichi Ibata, Kodo Fukuoka, Hideki Shimada
  • Patent number: 5952745
    Abstract: A coreless motor device having a rotor comprised of a cylindrical coil, a coil support, a rotary shaft inserted and stabilized in the center of the coil support, and a commutator installed either on the coil support or rotary shaft is disclosed. A cylindrical field magnet is positioned on the inside of the cylindrical coil, and one end of the cylindrical field magnet is affixed at a bottom of a cylindrical housing that surrounds the outer circumference of the cylindrical coil. The rotary shaft of the motor is supported by a thrust bearing at the end of the cylindrical field magnet opposite the end that is affixed at the bottom of the cylindrical housing, and it is also supported by a multiple number of radial bearings installed at intervals on the upper part of the cylindrical housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Namiki Precision Jewel Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisafumi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 5945749
    Abstract: The invention provides an on-board electrical power generator for application on railway cars as a power supply for Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) brake equipment and other on-board electronic devices, such as an end of train unit. The generator unit can by operated by vehicle vibration when the train is moving, or by fluid pressure from the brake line when the train is stopped. The generator unit has a magnetic piston surrounded by a coil and is engaged on either end by diaphragm-spring combinations. This arrangement creates a mass-spring system in which the magnetic piston vibrates under external excitation. The oscillation of the magnetic piston as a result of vehicle movement allows interaction between the magnetic piston and a coil and thus generates electrical voltage across the coil as a result of vibration. The diaphragms of the diaphragm-spring combinations create two sealed chambers on the first and second ends of the generator which allows the piston to be actuated by fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: Wei Li
  • Patent number: 5943214
    Abstract: The structure of the present invention includes a flexible printed circuit board (10) having a mounting portion 13 and a motor connecting member (11); a vibration motor (1) connected to the motor connecting member (11) and capable of generating vibrations; a motor cushion (25) for elastically holding the vibration motor (1); and a rectangular frame (52) for holding the motor cushion (25), wherein a second bent portion (60) and a third bent portion (61) for preventing transmission of vibrations generated by the vibration motor (1) are provided between the mounting portion (13) of the flexible printed circuit board (10) and the motor connecting member (11) of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Sato, Kazuhiro Konishi
  • Patent number: 5942833
    Abstract: A flat coreless vibrator motor has a case and a flat generally sector-shaped armature rotor. The rotor has a body that comprises a first part made of a first synthetic resin having a density of less than 1.8 and a second part made of a second synthetic resin having a density of greater than 5.0. The first part is disposed generally radially inside of the second part. A plurality of flat armature coils are molded in the first part and arranged at a predetermined pitch angle within an angular range of 180.degree. about the rotating axis of the rotor in non-overlapping relationship with one another. Alternatively, at least a portion of the second part is interposed between a field magnet of the motor and a cylindrical side plate of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Tokyo Parts Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadao Yamaguchi