A vibrating apparatus including a body; a shaft and a hub disposed in the body with the hub connected to the shaft; and a resilient member coupled to the shaft. The hub is operable to rotate in a first direction in response to an electrical signal with such rotation operable to generate a load on the resilient member and to rotate in a second direction when the load is released. A vibrator including a vibrating apparatus in a housing. A method for vibrating an apparatus using pulse-width modulation including generating pulses to cause a hub coupled to a shaft in a body of the apparatus to rotate the shaft in a first direction; and changing a direction of rotation of the shaft to a second direction between pulses, wherein a duty factor of a pulse width and pulse spacing is selected to cause the apparatus to vibrate.

A vibration generation device is provided with a housing, a vibration target component provided to be movable relatively to the housing, an actuator which has a metal base portion, a metal movable portion, a beltlike shape memory alloy disposed between the base portion and the movable portion and in which, when the shape memory alloy receives current application to be changed so that the outer shape becomes small, the movable portion is pushed out in one direction of separating from the base portion in a state where the base portion abuts on a first wall surface of the housing, a resin holder component fixed to the vibration target component and abutting on a pushing surface facing the one direction of the movable portion, and an elastic member elastically energizing the movable portion in a direction opposite to the one direction.

A vibration generation device is provided with a housing, a vibration target component provided to be movable relatively to the housing, an actuator which has a metal base portion, a metal movable portion, a beltlike shape memory alloy disposed between the base portion and the movable portion and in which, when the shape memory alloy receives current application to be changed so that the outer shape becomes small, the movable portion is pushed out in one direction of separating from the base portion in a state where the base portion abuts on a first wall surface of the housing, a resin holder component fixed to the vibration target component and abutting on a pushing surface facing the one direction of the movable portion, and an elastic member elastically energizing the movable portion in a direction opposite to the one direction.

The invention relates to a device for producing sound and vibration (10) for a user to hear and feel via surface contact, which comprises a damper mass plate (15) and an inertial actuator (16) attached thereto, which inertial actuator (16) comprises a damper mass (14), which is via a primary suspension (11) supported in a springing manner on the inertial actuator (16) to be moving substantially in one linear direction, which inertial actuator comprises a power source for the damper mass (14). The device (10) comprises a secondary suspension (12) and a mechanical limiter (13) for improving the performance of the inertial actuator and/or protecting it from external disturbances.

Rendering of a haptic effect at a target frequency or frequency range by providing a moveable mass configured to be driven at a resonance frequency of a primary spring coupled to the moveable mass. Then, an auxiliary spring is temporarily engaged with the moveable mass to tune the resonance frequency to the target frequency or frequency range.

A clothing treatment apparatus includes a frame, a hanger body provided to hang clothing or a hanger, and a vibration module generating vibration, and configured to move the hanger body with respect to the frame. The vibration module includes a first eccentric portion rotating about a predetermined first rotation axis, a second eccentric portion rotating about a predetermined second rotation axis that is spaced apart from and parallel to the first rotation axis, and a vibrating body fixed to a predetermined central axis that is fixed to the frame and disposed between the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis. The first eccentric portion and the second eccentric portion rotate in the same direction to rotate the vibrating body about the central axis.

A clothing treatment apparatus includes a frame, a hanger body provided to hang clothing or a hanger, and a vibration module generating vibration, and configured to move the hanger body with respect to the frame. The vibration module includes a first eccentric portion rotating about a predetermined first rotation axis, a second eccentric portion rotating about a predetermined second rotation axis that is spaced apart from and parallel to the first rotation axis, and a vibrating body fixed to a predetermined central axis that is fixed to the frame and disposed between the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis. The first eccentric portion and the second eccentric portion rotate in the same direction to rotate the vibrating body about the central axis.

A haptic actuator may include first and second bodies movable along an arcuate path of travel. The haptic actuator may also include a biasing member coupled between the first and second bodies. At least one electrical coil may be configured to move the first and second bodies to produce a haptic effect.

A haptic actuator may include first and second bodies movable along an arcuate path of travel. The haptic actuator may also include a biasing member coupled between the first and second bodies. At least one electrical coil may be configured to move the first and second bodies to produce a haptic effect.

Methods for creating undulating structures are disclosed in which an elastic sheet and a rigid restraining member having different curvatures are joined. The structures incorporate stopping members, such as stopped grooves, to manage the transverse deformations of the elastic sheet. The joint is such that the transverse deformations may migrate along the undulating structure in a coordinated, wave, either to gather kinetic energy, or to propel the structure relative to a fluid. To facilitate such a wave, the elastic sheet can be joined to the retaining member via passive stopping members that oscillate about their points of attachment to the retaining member. These are also constructed to limit the elastic sheet from reverting to its original configuration. The retaining member can be annular structures, and the elastic sheet members can be tubular. Stopping members can be actuated to power the transverse deformations of the elastic sheet to oscillate.