# US 10,502,644 B2 · Force-sense presenting apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,644 B2 - Document ID: US10502644B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/560,231 - Filed: 2015-11-13 - Published: 2018-07-05 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-31 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Akira Ono; Mikio Takenaka; Shunki Shibaoka; Masaki Kawata; Hideaki Hayashi; Akihiro Nakata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502644B2 ## CPC - G01L 1/16: using properties of piezoelectric devices - B06B 1/06: operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction (piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices per se H10N30/00) - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - H02N 2/026: {by pressing one or more vibrators against the driven body} - H10N 30/20: with electrical input and mechanical output, e.g. functioning as actuators or vibrators - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract [Solving Means] A force-sense presenting apparatus includes a casing structure, a weight, and a drive unit. The weight is provided in the casing structure or incorporated in the casing structure. The drive unit includes a first supporting portion constituted of a pair of supporting structures that support a first side of the weight and a second side opposed to the first side, at least one of the pair of supporting structures being configured to include an actuator capable of providing the weight with biased acceleration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A force-sense presenting apparatus, comprising: a casing structure; a weight provided in the casing structure or incorporated in the casing structure; and a drive unit including a first supporting portion constituted of a first pair of supporting structures that support a first side of the weight and a second side opposed to the first side, at least one of the first pair of supporting structures being configured to include an actuator that provides the weight with biased acceleration, wherein the first supporting portion further includes a first slide structure disposed between the weight and at least one of the first pair of supporting structures, wherein the first slide structure includes a linear motion guide structure, a ball bush structure or a self-lubricating bearing structure, wherein the actuator is configured to generate first biased acceleration in a direction from the first side to the second side of the weight or a direction from the second side to the first side and wherein the first slide structure slides in a direction perpendicular to the first biased acceleration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if one of the first pair of supporting structures is the actuator, another of the first pair of supporting structures includes a passive drive unit configured to be driven in an axis direction including the direction of the first biased acceleration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second supporting portion constituted of a second pair of supporting structures respectively provided on a third side different from the first side and the second side of the weight and on a fourth side opposed thereto. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second supporting portion includes a second slide structure that slides in an axis direction including the direction of the first biased acceleration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the second pair of supporting structures that constitute the second supporting portion is configured to include an actuator capable of providing second biased acceleration in a direction from the third side to the fourth side of the weight or a direction from the fourth side to the third side. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second slide structure includes a linear motion guide structure, a ball bush structure, a self-lubricating bearing structure, or an anisotropic elastic modulus material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein both of the second pair of supporting structures that constitute the second supporting portion each include the actuator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein both of the first pair of supporting structures that constitute the first supporting portion each include the actuator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the force-sense presenting apparatus is a portable terminal apparatus, and the component is a battery, a control board, a display panel, or a touch panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a piezoelectric element, and a shim including a fixation portion fixed to the casing structure, an attachment portion to which the piezoelectric element is attached, and a bend portion provided between the fixation portion and the attachment portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the actuator is configured to vibrate with a displacement smaller than a difference in height between the fixation portion and the attachment portion, the difference in height being formed by the bend portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the bend portion is provided between the attachment portion and the fixation portion by bending the shim at at least two positions thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the bend portion has a portion between the attachment portion and the fixation portion, the portion being formed in a straight line shape, a curve shape, or a bellows shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the fixation portion is fixed to the casing structure by welding, adhesion with an adhesive, mechanical engagement, or embedding. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the attachment portion of the shim includes two or more attachment portions, and the fixation portion of the shim is common between the two attachment portions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The force-sense presenting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the shim includes an aperture.