Sensory signal output device

Abstract

A sensory signal output apparatus, and more particularly to a sensory signal output apparatus includes a bone conduction output apparatus, the sensory signal output apparatus including: the magnetic circuit part 110; the coil part 120; and the case 101 in which the magnetic circuit part and the coil part are accommodated, wherein the sensory signal output apparatus generates a sound or vibration while vibrating, by the magnetic circuit part, depending on a direction of an alternating signal applied to the coil part. The case elastically supports the magnetic circuit part and the coil part so that the magnetic circuit part and the coil part are operated to repeal or attract each other, or in a state where one of the magnetic circuit part and the coil part is fixed, the other vibrates while performing a repulsion or attraction motion.

Claims

1. A sensory signal output apparatus comprising: a magnetic circuit part; a coil part; and a case in which the magnetic circuit part and the coil part are accommodated, wherein the sensory signal output apparatus generates a sound or vibration while vibrating, by the magnetic circuit part, depending on a direction of an alternating signal applied to the coil part in a state where the magnetic circuit part and the coil part are accommodated in the case at corresponding positions, and wherein the case elastically supports the magnetic circuit part and the coil part so that the magnetic circuit part and the coil part are operated to repeal or attract each other, or so that in a state where the magnetic circuit part is fixed, the coil part vibrates while performing a repulsion or attraction motion, and in a state where the coil part is fixed, the magnetic circuit part vibrates while performing a repulsion or attraction motion, wherein the case is an elastic plate body in a vertical direction, the elastic plate body being connected to an edge portion of a surface between the magnetic circuit part and the coil part and being made of a metal material or a synthetic resin material.

2. The sensory signal output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetic circuit part comprises: a magnet generating a magnetic force; a top plate laminated on an upper surface of the magnet and adopted to concentrate the magnetic force of the magnet; and a yoke adopted to provide a surface on which the magnet is fixedly seated, and a passage through which a line of magnetic force passes, the yoke having a height surface so as to provide a gap having a magnetic flux formed in a direction of an outer circumferential surface or an inner circumferential surface of the magnet and the top plate.

3. The sensory signal output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetic circuit part comprises: a magnet generating a magnetic force; a top plate laminated on an upper surface of the magnet; another magnet and another top plate having a concentric circle with the magnet and the top plate and disposed in an outer portion at an interval; and a yoke positioned to have the concentric circle and adopted to provide a surface on which the magnets are seated, and a passage through which a line of magnetic force passes.

4. The sensory signal output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coil part comprises: a voice coil vibrating according to the Fleming's left-hand law in a state of being positioned at a gap of the magnetic circuit part when an alternating signal is input from the outside; and a plate to which the voice coil 121 is fixed in the center of one surface.

5. The sensory signal output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coil part comprises: a voice coil vibrating according to the Fleming's left-hand law in a state of being positioned at a gap of the magnetic circuit part when an alternating signal is input from the outside; and a diaphragm adopted to output a sound by a vibration of the voice coil, wherein the voice coil is fixed in the center of one surface of the diaphragm.

6. The sensory signal output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the case is a plate-body shaped leaf spring arrangement connected to an edge portion of a surface between the magnetic circuit part and the coil part at an interval; or a rim-shaped leaf spring having a pierced portion and an elastic portion arranged an interval; or a rim-shaped leaf spring having elasticity.

7. The sensory signal output apparatus of claim 6, wherein a surface facing the coil part of the magnetic circuit part is one surface of the yoke on which the magnet is fixedly seated, and a surface facing the magnetic circuit part of the coil part is one surface of the plate to which the voice coil is fixed.

8. The sensory signal output apparatus of claim 1, wherein a surface of the leaf spring may be provided with a crumple zone providing an elastic force or a curved surface in an outward direction or an inward direction.

9. The sensory signal output apparatus of claim 1, wherein a surface facing the coil part of the magnetic circuit part is one surface of the yoke on which the magnet is fixedly seated, and a surface facing the magnetic circuit part of the coil part is one surface of the plate to which the voice coil is fixed.

10. The sensory signal output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the case is a leaf spring arrangement connected to an edge portion of a surface between the magnetic circuit part and the coil part at an interval, and having a plate body whose center portion is bent to protrude in an inward direction; a rim-shaped leaf spring connected to the edge portion of the surface between the magnetic circuit part and the coil part, and having a rim whose center portion is bent to protrude in an inward direction, the rim-shaped leaf spring having a pierced portion and an elastic portion arranged on a surface thereof at an interval.

11. The sensory signal output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the case is a leaf spring arrangement connected to the edge portion of the surface between the magnetic circuit part and the coil at an interval, and having a plate body whose center portion is bent to protrude in an outward direction; a rim-shaped leaf spring connected to the edge portion of the surface between the magnetic circuit part and the coil part, having a rim whose center portion is bent to protrude in an outward direction, and having a pierced portion and an elastic portion arranged on a surface thereof at an interval; or a rim-shaped leaf spring connected to the edge portion of the surface between the magnetic circuit part and the coil part, and having a rim whose center portion is bent to protrude in an outward direction.

12. The sensory signal output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the case is an inclined leaf spring arrangement made of a metal material or a synthetic resin material, one of which is connected to a surface facing the coil part of the magnetic circuit part, and another end of which diagonally extends along an outer edge line of the magnetic circuit part and the coil part, thereby the inclined spring arrangement being connected to the surface facing the magnetic circuit part of the coil part.

13. The sensory signal output apparatus of claim 1, wherein a number of windings or a degree of elasticity of a first coil spring positioned at a portion in which an interval of the surface between the magnetic circuit part and the coil part is narrow is smaller or lower than the number of windings or the degree of elasticity of a second coil spring located at a portion in which an interval of the surface between the magnetic circuit part and the coil part is wide.

14. The sensory signal output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coil part further comprises a diaphragm adopted to output a sound by a vibration of the voice coil, wherein the voice coil is fixed in the center of one surface of the diaphragm, and wherein a rim type support member is connected to an outer circumferential surface of the diaphragm to which one surface of the voice coil is fixed in the center.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a conventional sensory signal output apparatus;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a sensory signal output apparatus according to one embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating, in greater detail, the configuration of the sensory signal output apparatus according to one embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another configuration of the sensory signal output apparatus according to one embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the detailed configuration of the sensory signal output apparatus according to one embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a further configuration of the sensory signal output apparatus according to one embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operational state of the sensory signal output apparatus according to one embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a sensory signal output apparatus according to another embodiment (second embodiment) of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a sensory signal output apparatus according to a further embodiment (third embodiment) of the present invention;

(10) FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of a sensory signal output apparatus according to a yet another embodiment (fourth embodiment) of the present invention;

(11) FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a sensory signal output apparatus according to a still another embodiment (fifth embodiment) of the present invention;

(12) FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operational state of the sensory signal output apparatus according to the still another embodiment (fifth embodiment) of the present invention; and

(13) FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of a sensory signal output apparatus according to a still further embodiment (sixth embodiment) of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

(14) TABLE-US-00001 100: Sensory signal output device 101: Case 110: Magnetic circuit part 111, 111: Magnets 112, 112: Top plate 113, 113: Yoke 122: Plate 123: Diaphragm 124: Support member 125: Cover

BEST MODE

(15) The present invention will be hereinafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(16) First, explaining the configuration of a sensory signal output apparatus according to one embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, a sensory signal output apparatus 100 generates a sound or vibration while vibrating, by the magnetic circuit part 110, depending on a direction of an alternating signal applied to the coil part 120 in the state where the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 are accommodated in the case 101 at corresponding positions.

(17) The case 101 elastically supports the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 so that the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 can be operated to repeal or attract each other, or in a state of one of the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 being fixed, the other can vibrate while performing a repulsion or attraction motion.

(18) In this case, the magnetic circuit part 110 of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, may include: a magnet 111 generating a magnetic force; a top plate 112 laminated on an upper surface of the magnet and adopted to concentrate the magnetic force of the magnet; another magnet 111 and another top plate 112 having a concentric circle with the magnet 111 and the top plate 112 and disposed in an outer portion at a regular interval; and a yoke 113 positioned to have the concentric circle and adopted to provide a surface on which the magnets are seated, and a passage through which a line of magnetic force passes.

(19) Further, the magnetic circuit part 110, as illustrated in FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawings, may include: the magnet 111 generating a magnetic force; the top plate 112 laminated on the upper surface of the magnet 111 and adopted to concentrate the magnetic force of the magnet; a yoke 113 adopted to provide a surface on which the magnet 111 is fixedly seated, and a passage through which a line of magnetic force passes, the yoke having a height surface so as to provide a gap having a magnetic flux formed in a direction of an outer circumferential surface or an inner circumferential surface.

(20) Meanwhile, the coil part 120 may include a voice coil 121 vibrating according to the Fleming's left-hand law in a state of being positioned at the gap of the magnetic circuit part 110 when an alternating signal is input from the outside.

(21) In addition, the coil part 120 may further include a plate 122 to which the voice coil 121 is fixed in the center of one surface.

(22) Further, the case 101 may be an elastic plate body in a vertical direction, the elastic plate body being connected to an edge portion of a surface between the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 and being made of a metal material or a synthetic resin material.

(23) In this case, the case 101 may be a plate-body shaped leaf spring arrangement connected to the edge portion of the surface between the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 at a regular interval (see FIG. 3); a rim-shaped leaf spring connected to the edge portion of the surface between the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120, and having a pierced portion and an elastic portion arranged on a surface thereof at an interval (see FIG. 4); or a rim-shaped leaf spring connected to the edge portion of the surface between the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120, and having elasticity (complete rim type having no pierced portion).

(24) In the above case, although it is exemplified that the number of the leaf spring arrangements, which are arranged as an example, is 3-6, it is not limited thereto. The number of the leaf the leaf spring arrangements may be increased depending on the level of a magnetic force, an object to which the sensory signal output apparatus is used, or the like.

(25) In addition, a surface of the leaf spring may be provided with a crumple zone providing an elastic force or a curved surface in an outward direction or an inward direction.

(26) In the above case, a surface facing the coil part 120 of the magnetic circuit part 110 may be one surface of the yoke 113 on which the magnet 111 is fixedly seated, and a surface facing the magnetic circuit part 110 of the coil part 120 may be one surface of the plate 122 to which the voice coil 121 is fixed.

(27) In addition, the case 101 may be inserted into and connected to a groove formed in the surface facing the magnet circuit part 110 and the coil part 120, or may be fixed by welding or bonding after being inserted.

(28) In this case, a surface facing the coil part 120 of the magnetic circuit part 110 may be one surface of the yoke 113 on which the magnet 111 is fixedly seated, and a surface facing the magnetic circuit part 110 of the coil part 120 may be one surface of the plate 122 to which the voice coil 121 is fixed.

(29) The operation of the present invention configured as described above will be hereinafter described.

(30) First, explaining the operation of the configuration of the sensory signal output apparatus according to one embodiment (first embodiment) of the present invention, the sensory signal output apparatus 100 includes: the magnetic circuit part 110; the coil part 120; and the case 101 in which the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part are accommodated, wherein the sensory signal output apparatus 100 generates a sound or vibration while vibrating, by a magnetic circuit part 110, depending on a direction of an alternating signal applied to the coil part 120 in the state where a magnetic circuit part 110 and a coil part 120 are accommodated in the case 101 at corresponding positions, and

(31) wherein the case 101 elastically supports the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 so that the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 are operated to repeal or attract each other, or in a state where one of the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 is fixed, the other vibrates while performing a repulsion or attraction motion.

(32) In this case, the magnetic circuit part 110 may include: the magnet 111 generating a magnetic force; the top plate 112 laminated on an upper surface of the magnet 111 and adopted to concentrate the magnetic force of the magnet; another magnet 111 and another top plate 112 having a concentric circle with the magnet 111 and the top plate 112 and disposed in an outer portion at a regular interval; and the yoke 113 positioned to have the concentric circle and adopted to provide a surface on which the and magnets are seated, and a passage through which a line of magnetic force passes.

(33) Meanwhile, in the present invention, the coil part 120 may include the voice coil 121 vibrating according to the Fleming's left-hand law in a state of being positioned at the gap of the magnetic circuit part 110 when an alternating signal is input from the outside. The coil part 120 may further include the plate 122 to which the voice coil 121 is fixed in the center of one surface.

(34) According to the present invention configured as described above, the voice coil 121 is positioned in the gap between the pair of magnets 111, 111 seated on the yoke 113, and the top plates 112, 112, and at this time, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the magnetic circuit part including the yoke 113, magnets 111, 111 and the top plates 112, 112, and the coil part including the voice coil 121 generate a vibration force while vibrating by responding to a magnetic flux formed in the gap according to a direction of an alternating signal applied to the voice coil 121.

(35) In this case, when one of the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 is fixed, the other, which is not fixed, outputs a vibration force and/or sound while vibrating.

(36) The vibration described above may be realized thanks to the fact that the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 are elastically supported by the case 101 while being connected to the case 101 having elasticity at an interval.

(37) That is, the vibration may be realized by an elastic support force generated from the case 101 erectly located between the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120.

(38) According to the present invention configured as described above, since the case elastically supports the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 while receiving the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120, a vibration structure may be supported without a separate leaf spring so that the whole constituent elements or structures of the sensory signal output apparatus 100 can be simplified. Furthermore, since there is no need to secure a space for the movement of a leaf spring, a volume (size) of the sensory signal output apparatus 100 can be reduced up to the extent of a size corresponding to the space.

(39) In addition, since the present invention does not require a separate leaf spring, a fixation process of the leaf spring to the case can be omitted, thereby it is effective for improving manufacturing efficiency.

(40) Also, according to the present invention, since a vibration generated from a vibration structure formed by the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 is directly transmitted to, for examples, a smart phone, an MP3, a laptop computer, or the like, which is intended to ultimately output a vibration force via the case 101, without going through a leaf spring, it is effective for preventing the vibration from being diminished and improving output efficiency.

(41) Another embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be hereinafter reviewed.

(42) First, reviewing the second embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 8 of the accompanying drawings, the case 101 may be a leaf spring connected to the edge portion of the surface between the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 at an interval, and having a plate body whose center portion is bent to protrude in an inward direction; a rim-shaped leaf spring connected to the edge portion of the surface between the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120, and having a rim whose center portion is bent to protrude in an inward direction (complete rim type having no pierced portion).

(43) In this case, the bent portion may be created by performing bending in a -like shape, a -like shape, or a >-like shape.

(44) Next, reviewing the third embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 9 of the accompanying drawings, the case 101 may be a leaf spring connected to the edge portion of the surface between the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 at an interval, and having a plate body whose center portion is bent to protrude in an outward direction; a rim-shaped leaf spring connected to the edge portion of the surface between the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120, and having a rim whose center portion is bent to protrude in an outward direction, and a pierced portion and an elastic portion arranged on a rim at an interval (see FIG. 4); or a leaf spring connected to the edge portion of the surface between the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120, and having a rim whose center portion is bent to protrude in an outward direction (complete rim type having no pierced portion).

(45) In this case, the bent portion may result from performing bending in a -like shape or a -like shape.

(46) As such, depending on the direction of an alternating signal applied to the voice coil 121 located between the pair of magnets 111, 111 and the top plates 112, 112, as illustrated, the magnetic circuit part 110 including the yoke 113, the magnets 111, 111 and the top plates 112, 112, and the coil part 12 including the voice coil 121 generate a vibration force while vibrating. This vibration may be realized by an elastic support force of the case erectly located between the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120.

(47) Next, reviewing Example 4 of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 10 of the accompanying drawings, the case 101 may be an inclined leaf spring arrangement made of a metal material or a synthetic resin material, one of which is connected to a surface facing the coil part 120 of the magnetic circuit part 110, and another end of which diagonally extends along an outer edge line of the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120, thereby the inclined spring arrangement being connected to the surface facing the magnetic circuit part 110 of the coil part 120.

(48) In the above, it is exemplified that the number of the arranged inclined leaf springs is 3 to 6 as one example. The number of the arranged inclined leaf springs may be increased according to the extent of a magnetic force, an object in which the sensor signal output apparatus is used, or the like.

(49) As such, according to the principle as described above, the magnetic circuit part 110 including the yoke 113 the magnets 111, 111, and the top plates 112, 112, and the coil part 120 including the voice coil 121 vertically vibrate while being horizontally rotated by the case 101, which is diagonally arranged, within a predetermined range.

(50) Next, reviewing Example 5 of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 11 of the accompanying drawings, the case 101 may be a coil spring arrangement connected to the edge portion of the surface between the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 at an interval.

(51) It is exemplified that the number of arranged coil springs is 3 to 6 as one example. The number of the arranged inclined leaf springs may be increased according to the extent of a magnetic force, an object in which the sensor signal output apparatus is used, or the like.

(52) Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 12 of the accompanying drawings, when a portion to which the magnetic circuit part 110 is fixed, and a portion to which coil part 120 is fixed are not maintained in a horizontal state and are beyond a horizontal line at a predetermined angle, the coil springs may flexibly react to such a situation so that fixing can be performed.

(53) At this time, the number of windings or the degree of elasticity of the coil spring positioned at a portion in which an interval of the surface between the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 is narrow may be smaller or lower than the number of windings or the degree of elasticity of the coil spring located at a portion in which an interval of the surface between the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 is wide.

(54) Thus, when a portion to which the magnetic circuit part 110 is fixed, and a portion to which coil part 120 is fixed are not maintained in a horizontal state and are beyond a horizontal line at a predetermined angle, the unbalance of elastic forces between a side at which the interval is narrow and a side at which the interval is wide can be prevented from occurring during vibration due to the inclination. Due to this, the distortion of vibration can be prevented.

(55) Lastly, reviewing Example 6 of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 13 of the accompanying drawings, the coil part 120 may further include a diaphragm 123 adopted to output a sound by a vibration of the voice coil 121 wherein the voice coil 121 is fixed in the center of one surface of the diaphragm.

(56) In the above case, a rim type support member 124 is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the diaphragm 123 to which the voice coil 121 is fixed so that a portion coupled to the case 101 can be provided. A cover 125 protecting the diaphragm may be connected to an inner circumferential surface of one opening portion of the rim type support member 124.

(57) Thus, a vibration force generated by vibrations of the magnetic circuit part 110 and the coil part 120 and a sound generated by a vibration of the diaphragm 123 may be simultaneously outputted.

(58) As described above, although the present invention has been explained and illustrated based on the embodiments for exemplifying the principle of the present invention, the elements and operations of the present invention should not be limited to those explained and illustrated above.

(59) For example, the sensory signal output apparatus 100 having the structure as the present invention can perform a bone conduction output. Bone conduction means that a vibration is directly transmitted from the bone to the inner ear without going through air so as to be heard, and that the vibration occurs when a vibrating screen is attached to a head cover or is placed in the cranial bone. When the sensory signal output apparatus is used as a bone conduction output apparatus, it may be applied to an earphone (including a headphone, a back earphone, or the like), may be also used as an acoustic or vibration output apparatus of a smartphone, or may be applied to the temples of sunglasses or glasses. As can be seen from the title of the present invention, the sensory signal output apparatus is not limited to a bone conduction output apparatus, but is available as other vibration and/or acoustic output apparatuses.

(60) In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

(61) Accordingly, all appropriate modification, additions and substitutions, and equivalents should be deemed to fall within the scope of the present invention.