# US 2017/0285751 A1 · Tactile vibration applying device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0285751 A1 - Document ID: US20170285751A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/627,877 - Filed: 2017-06-20 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-25 - Assignees: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited - Applicants: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited - Inventors: Katsuhiko NAKANO; Takanori MURASE; Masaki NASU - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170285751A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - B06B 1/0292: {Electrostatic transducers, e.g. electret-type} - B06B 1/0644: {using a single piezoelectric element (B06B1/0688 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/041: Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means - H04R 7/06: comprising a plurality of sections or layers - H10N 30/02: Forming enclosures or casings - H10N 30/03: Assembling devices that include piezoelectric or electrostrictive parts - H10N 30/206: {using only longitudinal or thickness displacement, e.g. d33 or d31 type devices} - H10N 30/886: {Additional mechanical prestressing means, e.g. springs} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - 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) - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract To provide a tactile vibration applying device that efficiently outputs vibrations using an electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator. The tactile vibration applying device includes the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator formed in a flat shape, and expanding and contracting in a thickness direction, a first elastic body having an elastic modulus smaller than an elastic modulus of the actuator in the thickness direction and disposed to contact a surface of the actuator on a side of the first electrode, and a first cover covering a surface of the first elastic body opposite to a surface of the first elastic body contacting the actuator, pressing the actuator and the first elastic body in the thickness direction of the actuator, and holding the first elastic body in a state that the first elastic body is compressed more than the actuator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tactile vibration applying device comprising: an electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator formed in a flat shape, having a first electrode and a second electrode opposing to each other in a thickness direction, and expanding and contracting at least in the thickness direction; a first elastic body having an elastic modulus smaller than an elastic modulus of the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator in the thickness direction, and disposed in contact with a surface of the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator on a side of the first electrode; and a first cover covering a surface of the first elastic body opposite to a surface of the first elastic body contacting the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator, pressing the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator and the first elastic body in the thickness direction of the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator, and holding the first elastic body in a state that the first elastic body is compressed more than the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tactile vibration applying device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second elastic body having an elastic modulus smaller than the elastic modulus of the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator in the thickness direction, and disposed to contact a surface of the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator on a side of the second electrode; and a second cover covering a surface of the second elastic body opposite to a surface of the second elastic body contacting the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator, pressing the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator, the first elastic body and the second elastic body together with the first cover in the thickness direction of the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator, and holding the first elastic body and the second elastic body in a state that the first elastic body and the second elastic body are compressed more than the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tactile vibration applying device according to claim 2, wherein the second cover is electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode and functions as a circuit board unit for controlling a voltage applied to the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tactile vibration applying device according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator expands and contracts in a flat surface direction, and the tactile vibration applying device, further comprising: a peripheral elastic body having an elastic modulus smaller than an elastic modulus of the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator in the flat surface direction, and disposed to contact a peripheral surface of the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator; and a peripheral cover covering a surface of the peripheral elastic body opposite to a surface of the peripheral elastic body contacting the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator, pressing the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator and the peripheral elastic body in the flat surface direction of the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator, and holding the peripheral elastic body in a state that the peripheral elastic body is compressed more than the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tactile vibration applying device according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of the elastic modulus of the first elastic body to the elastic modulus of the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator in the thickness direction is equal to or less than 15%. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tactile vibration applying device according to claim 1, wherein a loss coefficient tan δ of the first elastic body is equal to or less than a loss coefficient tan δ of the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator under predetermined conditions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The tactile vibration applying device according to claim 5, wherein the first elastic body is formed of an elastomer in a flat shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tactile vibration applying device according to claim 1, wherein the first cover includes, on a surface of the first cover, a plurality of projections functioning as tactile vibration applying parts for a user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tactile vibration applying device according to claim 1, wherein the first cover is a touch panel member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tactile vibration applying device according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator is an electrostatic actuator that includes the first electrode and the second electrode; and a dielectric body that is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and is formed of an elastomer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tactile vibration applying device according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic or piezoelectric actuator is a piezoelectric actuator that includes the first electrode and the second electrode; and a piezoelectric body that is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.