Provided is an actuator that lends itself to a reduction in size.

An actuator S1 is provided with an elastic support body 16 including attachment member-side fixing portions 92 fixed to an attachment member 12, a movable element-side fixing portion 94 fixed to a movable element 14, and a deformable portion 80 positioned between the attachment member-side fixing portions 92 and the movable element-side fixing portion 94. Finish ends 80E of the deformable portion 80 (ends on the attachment member-side fixing portion 92 sides of the deformable portion 80) are only positioned in a region on one side in an X direction with respect to the movable element-side fixing portion 94 and a region on another side in the X direction with respect to the movable element-side fixing portion 94 (X direction outside regions).

Provided is an actuator that lends itself to a reduction in size.

An actuator S1 is provided with an elastic support body 16 including attachment member-side fixing portions 92 fixed to an attachment member 12, a movable element-side fixing portion 94 fixed to a movable element 14, and a deformable portion 80 positioned between the attachment member-side fixing portions 92 and the movable element-side fixing portion 94. Finish ends 80E of the deformable portion 80 (ends on the attachment member-side fixing portion 92 sides of the deformable portion 80) are only positioned in a region on one side in an X direction with respect to the movable element-side fixing portion 94 and a region on another side in the X direction with respect to the movable element-side fixing portion 94 (X direction outside regions).

Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatuses for controlling an operation of a vibrational output system and/or an operation of an input sensor system, wherein the controller is for use in a device comprising the vibrational output system and the input sensor system. A controller comprises an input configured to receive an indication of activation or de-activation of an output of the vibrational output system; and an adjustment module configured to adjust the operation of the vibrational output system and/or the operation of the input sensor system based on the indication to reduce an interference expected to be caused by the output of the vibrational output system on the input sensory system.

A method for manufacturing a millimeter scale electromechanical device includes coupling a stainless steel ply to a polymer carrier ply, coating the stainless steel ply in a photo resist material, masking the photoresist material, exposing the photoresist material to cure a portion of the photoresist material, developing the photoresist material to remove uncured photoresist material from the stainless steel ply, chemically etching the stainless steel ply to remove a patterned portion of the stainless steel ply, dissolving the polymer carrier ply to release unwanted chips of the stainless steel ply, and adhering the patterned stainless steel ply to a flexible material ply to form a sub-laminate.

An actuator may include a movable body; a support body; a connecting body arranged where the movable body and the support body face each other to contact both of the movable body and the support body; and a magnetic drive circuit. The magnetic drive circuit may include an air-core coil provided on a first-side member among the movable body and the support body; and a permanent magnet provided on a second-side member among the movable body and the support body to face the coil in a first direction, the magnetic drive circuit being configured to vibrate the movable body with respect to the support body in a second direction crossing the first direction. In the first-side member, the coil may be fixed by an adhesive to a surface of a plate-shaped coil holder on a first side in the first direction while an air-cores is directed in the first direction.

For a resonator system such as a (haptic) LRA, a methodology for resonant frequency (F0) tracking/control with continuous resonator drive, based on estimating back-emf, including estimating resonator resistance based at least in part on the sensed resonator drive signals, with back-emf estimated based at least in part on the sensed resonator drive signals and the estimated resonator resistance. A phase difference is detected between the resonator drive signals, and the estimated back-emf signals, generating control for resonator drive frequency, which can be used to iteratively adjust the resonator drive frequency until phase coherent with the estimated back-emf signals (F0 lock), such as for driving the resonator at or near a resonant frequency. An amplitude control loop can be used to iteratively adjust resonator drive amplitude based on a difference between estimated back-emf and a target back-emf derived from a rated back-emf and the resonator frequency resonant frequency.

An oscillating device includes a vibrating table to which an oscillated object is to be attached, and an oscillating unit that oscillates the vibrating table in a predetermined direction. The vibrating table includes a hollow part in which the oscillated object is accommodated, a bottom plate, a frame part that protrudes perpendicularly from an edge portion of the bottom plate, and an intermediate plate arranged inside the frame part. The intermediate plate has a shape of a lattice protruding perpendicularly from the bottom plate.

An oscillating device includes a vibrating table to which an oscillated object is to be attached, and an oscillating unit that oscillates the vibrating table in a predetermined direction. The vibrating table includes a hollow part in which the oscillated object is accommodated, a bottom plate, a frame part that protrudes perpendicularly from an edge portion of the bottom plate, and an intermediate plate arranged inside the frame part. The intermediate plate has a shape of a lattice protruding perpendicularly from the bottom plate.

An input device includes an operation unit to receive an operation, the operation unit including a magnetic member having a magnetic property, at least one load detection unit to detect a load on the operation unit and detect the load according to capacitance between a pair of conductors, a substrate on which an electrode as one of the pair of conductors of the load detection unit is arranged, and a drive unit including a coil to generate a magnetic field for driving the magnetic member. The coil is arranged on the substrate.

An input device and an input module are provided that vibrate in a direction along the surface of a cantilevered operation unit. The input device includes a fixed member rotatably supporting a rotation shaft, an operation unit having an end rotatably supported by the rotation shaft and being rotatable relative to the fixed member, and a vibrating element that generates vibration of the operation unit in the axial direction of the rotation shaft in response to a rotation operation performed on the operation unit.