Method and system for retracting an unbalanced mass in a vibrator
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorsMARTIN R. PAIS, MANGARAJU VUPPALA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vibrator assembly (108) comprising a shaft (112) that is connected to a motor (110), to produce vibration in a communication device (500), is disclosed. The shaft (112) includes a track that defines a path with a first component that travels circumferentially around the shaft (112), and a second component that travels along the length of the shaft (112). The shaft (112) rotates due to a rotational force that is generated when the motor (110) is activated. The unbalanced mass (114) travels along the track towards an end of the path proximate a free-end of the shaft (112) when the motor (110) is activated, and retracts due to a biasing force from a tension device (212) when the motor (110) is deactivated.
Claims19
A vibrator assembly comprising:
- a shaft connected to a motor, the shaft including a track defining a path having a first component which travels circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and a second component which travels at least partially along a length of the shaft, wherein the shaft rotates under an action of a rotational force that is generated when the motor is activated;
- and
- an unbalanced mass connected to the shaft, the unbalanced mass including a coupling for engaging and traveling along the track of the shaft, when the shaft is rotated, wherein when the motor is activated and the shaft is initially rotationally accelerated, the rotational speed of the unbalanced mass is less than the rotational speed of the shaft due to the rotational inertia of the unbalanced mass, such that when the unbalanced mass rotates at a speed less than the shaft, the unbalanced mass travels along the track toward an end of the path proximate a free-end of the shaft.
A communication device comprising:
- a vibrator assembly comprising:
- a shaft connected to a motor, the shaft including a track defining a path having a first component which travels circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and a second component which travels at least partially along a length of the shaft, wherein the shaft rotates under an action of a rotational force that is generated when the motor is activated;
- and
- an unbalanced mass connected to the shaft, the unbalanced mass including a coupling for engaging and traveling along the track of the shaft, when the shaft is rotated, wherein when the motor is activated and the shaft is initially rotationally accelerated, the rotational speed of the unbalanced mass is less than the rotational speed of the shaft due to the rotational inertia of the unbalanced mass, such that when the unbalanced mass rotates at a speed less than the shaft, the unbalanced mass travels along the track toward an end of the path proximate a free-end of the shaft.
A method for producing vibrations in a device, wherein the device comprises a motor, a shaft and an unbalanced mass, the method comprising:
- activating the motor for rotating the shaft attached to the motor, wherein the shaft rotates under an action of a rotational force that is generated when the motor is activated;
- and
- rotating the unbalanced mass, where upon rotation of the unbalanced mass, the unbalanced mass is initially displaced from a rest position along a length of the shaft, the shaft including a path to which the unbalanced mass is coupled and along which the unbalanced mass can travel, the path having a first component which travels circumferentially at least partially around the shaft and a second component which travels at least partially along a length of the shaft, wherein when the motor is activated and the shaft is initially rotationally accelerated, the rotational speed of the unbalanced mass is less than the rotational speed of the shaft due to the rotational inertia of the unbalanced mass, such that when the unbalanced mass rotates at a speed less than the shaft, the unbalanced mass is displaced toward an end of the path proximate a free-end of the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.