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EP-4735972-A1 - HAPTIC COMPONENT COMPRISING A PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR AND REINFORCEMENT ELEMENTS

EP4735972A1EP 4735972 A1EP4735972 A1EP 4735972A1EP-4735972-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a haptic component (1) comprising: a piezoelectric actuator (2); and at least one reinforcement element (3, 4) having a lateral edge region (5) in which the reinforcement element (3, 4) is attached to the piezoelectric actuator (2), and having a central region (6) that can be moved perpendicular to a main surface of the actuator (2), wherein the reinforcement element (3, 4) has, in the central region (6), a stop structure (7) for contact with the actuator (2) and at least one non-contact structure (12) which is designed not to come in contact with the actuator (2), wherein the stop structure (7) comprises at least two stop regions (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) and the non-contact structure (12) comprises at least one non-contact region (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d), the non-contact region being located between the two stop regions.

Inventors

  • RINNER, FRANZ
  • WIMMER-TEUBENBACHER, Robert
  • BURGER, JOHANNES
  • PENTSCHER-STANI, Andreas
  • LÖNNBERG, Jockum

Assignees

  • TDK Electronics AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240628

Claims (17)

  1. 1. Haptic component (1) comprising a piezoelectric actuator (2), at least one reinforcing element (3, 4) with a lateral edge region (5) in which the reinforcing element (3, 4) is attached to the piezoelectric actuator (2), and with a central region (6) which is movable perpendicular to a main surface of the actuator (2), wherein the reinforcing element (3, 4) in the central region (6) has a stop structure (7) for stopping against the actuator (2) and at least one non-stop structure (12) which is not designed for stopping against the actuator (2), wherein the stop structure (7) has at least two stop regions (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) and the non-stop structure (12) has at least one non-stop region (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d), wherein the non-stop region is between the two stop areas.
  2. 2. Haptic component according to claim 1, wherein the stop structure (7) is formed integrally with the non-stop structure (12).
  3. 3. Haptic component according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop structure (7) has a plurality of separate partial stops (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) which are separated by the non-stop structure (12).
  4. 4. Haptic component according to one of the preceding claims, in which the stop structure (7) has several partial stops (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) in the form of circular rings or circular segments.
  5. 5. Haptic component according to claim 4, wherein the partial stops (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) are designed in the form of concentric circular rings.
  6. 6. Haptic component according to one of the preceding claims, in which the stop structure (7) is arranged within a circular area, so that an edge region (14a, 14b) of the stop structure (7) runs in the form of a circular ring or interrupted circular ring.
  7. 7. Haptic component according to one of the preceding claims, in which the stop structure (7) has a plurality of stop regions (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) which engage with non- Stop areas (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) alternate from a center point (9) of the reinforcing element (3) in the direction of the edge area (5).
  8. 8. Haptic component according to one of the preceding claims, wherein along a circular line around a center point (9) of the reinforcing element (3, 4) alternating stop areas (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) and non-stop areas (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) are arranged.
  9. 9. Haptic component according to one of the preceding claims, in which the stop regions (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) and/or the non-stop regions (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) are designed in the form of a plurality of webs.
  10. 10. Haptic component according to claim 9, wherein the webs extend from a center point (13) of the reinforcing element (3, 4) in the direction of the edge region (5).
  11. 11. Haptic component according to one of the preceding claims, in which the stop structure (7) has a plurality of circular segments and the non-stop structure (12) is designed in the form of webs between the circular segments or in which the non-stop structure (12) has a plurality of circular segments and the stop structure (7) is designed in the form of webs between the circular segments.
  12. 12. Haptic component according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop structure (7) and/or the non-stop structure (12) has the shape of a cross.
  13. 13. Haptic component according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator (2) has a square basic shape and the reinforcing element (3, 4) has a circular basic shape.
  14. 14. Haptic component according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reinforcing element (3, 4) has a hole (13), wherein the non-stop structure (12) is directly adjacent to the hole (13).
  15. 15. Haptic component according to one of the preceding claims, in which the stop structure (7) is formed only in the central region of the reinforcing element (3, 4).
  16. 16. A method for producing the haptic component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps: A) providing a sheet for forming the reinforcing element (3, 4), B) Plastic deformation of the sheet to form the stop structure (7), C) Fastening the sheet in its edge area (5) to a piezoelectric actuator (2).
  17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plastic deformation comprises deep drawing of the sheet metal.

Description

Description HAPTIC COMPONENT WITH PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR AND AMPLIFIER ELEMENTS The present invention relates to a haptic component for generating a haptic signal. Such a device has an actuator that generates a movement of a movable element. The movable element is designed, for example, as a touch-sensitive surface or tip of a pen-like device. The actuator is, for example, a piezoelectric actuator, in particular a piezoceramic actuator. The haptic component can be designed to generate haptic feedback when touched. The haptic component can be used, for example, in a touchscreen, trackpad, push button or stylus (pen-like device). In particular, the haptic component can be used in the automotive sector. Devices for generating haptic feedback are known from WO 2017/060011 Al, WO 2018/046201 Al and WO 2022/248244 Al, in which a reinforcing element for stroke amplification is attached to a piezoelectric actuator. The reinforcing element is in the form of a metal sheet. According to WO 2022/248244 Al, excessive deformation of the reinforcing element when too great a force is applied is prevented by a mechanical stop. The mechanical stop is formed by deep drawing a central area of the reinforcing element or by attaching an additional element to an inner side of the reinforcing element. The object of the present invention is to provide a haptic component with improved properties. According to a first aspect, a haptic component has a piezoelectric actuator and at least one reinforcing element with a lateral edge region, in which the reinforcing element is attached to the piezoelectric actuator, and with a central region that is movable perpendicular to a main surface of the actuator. In the central region, a stop structure is formed for stopping against the actuator. The central region also has a non-stop structure that is not formed for stopping against the actuator. The stop structure has at least two stop regions, between which a non-stop region of the non-stop structure is arranged. In particular, this arrangement of stop regions and non-stop region can be seen in a cross-section of the haptic component perpendicular to a main surface of the actuator. Structuring a stop in this way can increase the stability of the reinforcing element, compared to a stop that is only designed in the form of a homogeneous circular surface, which may also have a hole inside for pressure equalization. In addition, the stop structure can achieve a more uniform force effect on the actuator when the stop structure rests on the actuator, so that the force effect is not concentrated on a small area. It has been found that excessive force causes deformation of the reinforcing element can occur in such a way that a force is exerted on the actuator mainly at edge areas of the stop. In addition, excessive deformation can lead to damage to the reinforcing element. By structuring the reinforcing element, the total area of the edge areas, i.e. those stop areas that border on non-stop areas, can be increased. This can prevent damage to the actuator and the reinforcing element even at higher forces. The actuator can be arranged between the reinforcing element and a further reinforcing element. The reinforcing elements can be designed in the same way, in particular they can have similar stop structures. The actuator is designed, for example, as a piezoceramic actuator. The stop structure can prevent the piezoceramic from breaking if excessive force is applied. For example, the actuator has a square basic shape. The basic shape corresponds to a main surface of the actuator. The actuator can also have an elongated rectangular basic shape, for example. The reinforcing element has, for example, a circular basic shape. It is also possible for the reinforcing element to have a rectangular basic shape. The reinforcing element can be made from a sheet metal. The sheet metal has, for example, the shape of a basin or a truncated cone. The stop structure can be formed integrally with the non-stop structure. In particular, the Stop structure is an integral part of other areas of the reinforcing element, for example also the edge area. If the reinforcing element is designed as a sheet metal, the stop structure can be designed as a formed part of the sheet metal. For example, the stop structure is formed by deep drawing the sheet metal. The non-stop structure is not deep drawn. The stop structure may have several separate partial stops, wherein the partial stops are separated by the non-stop structure. For example, the stop structure has one or more circular rings or circular segments. The non-stop structure can also have one or more circular rings or circular segments. For example, the stop structure has several concentrically arranged circular rings. The circular rings can be arranged concentrically around a center point of the reinforcing element. One or more non-stop areas can also be in the form of circular rings or in the form of webs between the circu