# US 2014/0197936 A1 · Flexure, apparatus, system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197936 A1 - Document ID: US20140197936A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/979,869 - Filed: 2012-01-17 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-01-18 - Inventors: Silmon J. Biggs; Roger N. Hitchcock; Anthony J. Obispo; Ilya Polyakov; Xina Quan; Marcus A. Rosenthal; Mikyong Yoo; Alireza Zarrabi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197936A1 ## CPC - G08B 6/00: Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems - H02N 2/028: {along multiple or arbitrary translation directions, e.g. XYZ stages} - H10N 30/206: {using only longitudinal or thickness displacement, e.g. d33 or d31 type devices} - H04M 1/0262: {for a battery compartment} - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract An actuator module is disclosed. The actuator module includes an actuator having at least one elastomeric dielectric film disposed between first and second electrodes. A suspension system having at least one flexure is coupled to the actuator. The flexure enables the suspension system to move in a predetermined direction when the first and second electrodes are energized. A mobile device that includes the actuator module and a flexure where the actuator module assembly is used to provide haptic feedback also are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An actuator module, comprising: an actuator disposed between first and second electrodes; and a suspension system comprising at least one flexure coupled to the actuator, wherein the flexure enables the suspension system to move in a predetermined direction when the first and second electrodes are energized. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The actuator module according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises at least one elastomeric dielectric film disposed between first and second electrodes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) The actuator module according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the actuator is flat or planar. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2, 3) The actuator module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the suspension system comprises at least one travel stop to limit movement of the suspension system in the predetermined direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4) The actuator module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further including a flexure tray, wherein the flexure tray comprises the at least one flexure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The actuator module according to claim 5, wherein the flexure tray comprises at least one travel stop to limit movement of the suspension system in the predetermined direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The actuator module according to claim 5, wherein the at least one flexure is formed integrally with the flexure tray. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The actuator module according to claim 5, wherein the flexure tray defines an opening to receive a battery therein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The actuator module according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is coupled to the flexure tray on one side, and wherein the actuator is coupled to a mounting surface on the other side. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) The actuator module according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the actuator comprises first and second plates and wherein the flexure couples the first plate to the second plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) A mobile device, comprising: the actuator module according to any one of claims 1 to 10; and a mass coupled to the actuator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the mass comprises a touch surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11, 12) The mobile device according to one of claims 11 and 12, wherein the actuator module provides haptic feedback. ### Claim 14 A mobile device, comprising an active bumper, the active bumper comprising: a movable bumper stop configured to engage a mass within an actuator module; and a bumper actuator having a first side coupled to the movable bumper stop and a second side coupled to a mounting surface; wherein the movable bumper stop is configured to engage the mass when the bumper actuator is energized. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The mobile device according to claim 14, wherein the movable bumper stop comprises a compliant material configured to contract in a first direction and expand in a second direction when the bumper actuator is energized. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11, 12, 13, 14) The mobile device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, further including: a display subassembly coupled to a touch surface; and a body subassembly coupled to the display subassembly, wherein the actuator is disposed between the display subassembly and the body subassembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the body subassembly comprises slide rails configured to couple to the touch surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the display subassembly comprises clips coupled to the touch surface and to the slide rails. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the actuator is located within the body subassembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16, 17, 18, 19) The mobile device according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the body subassembly comprises at least one limit screw to provide a mechanical hard stop in a predetermined direction to limit movement. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) The mobile device according to claim 11, comprising a housing comprising at least one electrical connection, wherein the housing is configured to receive a battery, wherein the flexure is configured to suspend the battery and to electrically couple the battery to the at least one electrical connection. ### Claim 22 (depends on 11) The actuator module according to claim 11, wherein the flexure comprises: a longitudinally extending elongate body having a first end and a second end, the elongate body extending; a first clip extending outwardly from the first end of the body, wherein the first clip is configured to engage an edge of the first plate; and a second clip extending outwardly from the second end of the body, wherein the second clip is configured to engage an edge of the second plate; wherein the first and second clips are offset in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinally extending elongate body to define a gap between the first and second plates. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The actuator module according to claim 22, wherein the first and second clips each define a slot suitable to receive corresponding edges of the first and second plates. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The actuator module according to claim 22, wherein the first clip comprises first and second tongues and the second clip comprises first and second tongues, and wherein the first and second tongues of the first clip define a first slot to engage the edge of the first plate, and wherein the first and second tongues of the second clip define a second slot to engage the edge of the second plate. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The actuator module according to claim 24, wherein the first and second tongues of the corresponding first and second clips each comprise teeth configured to engage corresponding slots formed in the first and second plates.