Eccentric rotor and vibration motor incorporating the eccentric rotor

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to a vibration motor, and more particularly to an eccentric rotor of the vibration motor.

#2. Description of Related Art

#Many aspects of the present vibration motor can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present vibration motor. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

#FIG. 1 is an isometric, exploded view of a vibration motor in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is an isometric, assembled view of the vibration motor of FIG. 1;

#Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a vibration motor according to a preferred embodiment can be used in a communication equipment, such as a calling machine, a mobile phone or the like, which includes a housing 30, a stator 10 received in the housing 30, and an eccentric rotor 20 being rotatably supported by the stator 10.

#The housing 30 is cylindrical-shaped, including a lower portion 30b and an upper portion 30a located above and facing the lower portion 30b. Alternatively the housing 30 can be integrally formed. Each of the lower and upper portions 30a, 30b defines a cutout 32a, 32b in a free end thereof. When assembled the free ends of the two portions 30a, 30b abut against each other, and cooperatively the cutouts 32a, 32b define a passage in the housing 30 for connecting the motor with a power source (not shown). It is to be understood that the passage can be only formed in one of the portions 30a, 30b of the housing 30, according to the shape of the stator 10, for conveniently connecting the motor to the power source.

#Also referring to FIG. 3, the stator 10 includes upper and lower claw-pole assemblies 11 having size and shape the same with each other. Each of the claw-pole assemblies 11 includes an outer yoke 10a and an inner yoke 10b facing towards each other. Each of the inner yokes 10b of the claw-pole assemblies 11 is ring-shaped with a circular hole 14 defined therein. A plurality of pole teeth 16a, 16b extend perpendicularly from an inner circumference of each yoke 10a, 10b. Each tooth 16a, 16b forms an arc-shaped free end. In this embodiment, each yoke 10a, 10b forms five teeth 16a, 16b. It is to be understood that the number of the teeth 16a, 16b formed on the yokes 10a, 10b is decided by the precision requirement of the motor, being not limited to the disclosed embodiment. The pole teeth 16a, 16b of the yokes 10a, 10b are evenly spaced from each other along a circumferential direction thereof and thus define a plurality of slots 19 therebetween. Each pole tooth 16a, 16b has a shape and size the same as those of other teeth 16a, 16b. Each of the slots 19 has a size a little larger than that of the tooth 16a, 16b so as to receive a corresponding tooth 16a, 16b therein when the outer and inner yokes 10a, 10b are assembled together.