Haptic actuator assembly with a spring pre-load device

Abstract

A haptic actuator assembly includes a haptic actuator configured to output displacement along a perpendicular axis and a pre-load device. The pre-load device is disposed adjacent to the haptic actuator and configured to generate a compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis to oppose expansion of the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis. The pre-load device includes a casing and at least a first spring component. The casing includes a cover and a base spaced apart from and extending parallel to the cover. The haptic actuator is disposed between the cover and the base, and the first spring component is configured to exert a force in order to create the compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A haptic actuator assembly, comprising:
 a haptic actuator having a planar surface and configured to generate a displacement of the haptic actuator along a perpendicular axis that is perpendicular to the planar surface of the haptic actuator; and   a pre-load device configured to exert an elastic force to generate a compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis.   
     
     
         22 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the pre-load device comprises:
 a casing having a cover and a base spaced apart from and extending parallel to the cover, wherein the haptic actuator is disposed between the cover and the base, the cover and the base being disposed at respective opposite ends of the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis thereof, and   at least one elastic component disposed within the casing and configured to exert the elastic force to generate the compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis.   
     
     
         23 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one elastic component includes a first elastic component, and wherein a first end of the first elastic component is coupled to an interior surface of the cover and a second opposing end of the first elastic component is coupled to an outer surface of the haptic actuator. 
     
     
         24 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one elastic component includes a second elastic component, and wherein a first end of the second elastic component is coupled to an interior surface of the base and a second opposing end of the second elastic component is coupled to the outer surface of the haptic actuator, the first component and the second component being configured to collectively exert the force in order to create the compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis 
     
     
         25 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the first elastic component has a first spring constant and the second elastic component has a second spring constant, the first spring constant being different than the second spring constant. 
     
     
         26 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one elastic component comprises a first elastic component and a second elastic component, and each of the first elastic component and the second elastic component extends between the cover and the base. 
     
     
         27 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the first elastic component and the second elastic component are configured to collectively exert the elastic force to generate the compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis. 
     
     
         28 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the first elastic component and the second elastic component are disposed at respective opposite ends of the cover 
     
     
         29 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the first elastic component and the elastic spring component are attached to the cover and are releasably attached to the base. 
     
     
         30 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the pre-load device is configured to exert the elastic force on the haptic actuator regardless of whether the displacement of the haptic actuator is generated or not. 
     
     
         31 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the haptic actuator is configured to expand or contract along the perpendicular axis to generate the displacement of the haptic actuator. 
     
     
         32 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the haptic actuator is configured to generate strain along a parallel axis that is parallel to the planar surface and to convert the strain to the displacement of the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis. 
     
     
         33 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the haptic actuator comprises:
 a layer of piezoelectric material configured to generate the strain along the parallel axis, and   a displacement conversion device configured to convert the strain of the layer of piezoelectric material along the parallel axis to expansion or contraction of the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis,   wherein the expansion or contraction of the haptic actuator is configured to generate the displacement of the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis   
     
     
         34 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one elastic component includes at least one of a spring plunger or a spring-loaded device. 
     
     
         35 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one elastic component includes a screw and a flexible film component, the screw being configured to adjust a spring force of the flexible film component. 
     
     
         36 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the compressive load along the perpendicular axis generated by the first component and the second component of the pre-load device is in a range of 2 N to 4 N. 
     
     
         37 . A haptic actuator assembly, comprising:
 a haptic actuator having a planar surface and configured to generate strain along a parallel axis that is parallel to the planar surface and to convert the strain to expansion or contraction of the haptic actuator along a perpendicular axis, the perpendicular axis being perpendicular to the planar surface of the haptic actuator, wherein the expansion or contraction of the haptic actuator is configured to generate a displacement of the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis; and   a pre-load device configured to exert an elastic force to generate a compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis.   
     
     
         38 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the haptic actuator comprises:
 a layer of piezoelectric material configured to generate the strain along the parallel axis, and   a displacement conversion device configured to convert the strain of the layer of piezoelectric material along the parallel axis to expansion or contraction of the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis,   
     
     
         39 . The haptic actuator assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the pre-load device comprises:
 a casing having a cover and a base spaced apart from and extending parallel to the cover, wherein the haptic actuator is disposed between the cover and the base, the cover and the base being disposed at respective opposite ends of the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis thereof, and   at least one elastic component disposed within the casing and configured to exert the elastic force to generate the compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis.   
     
     
         40 . A haptic-enabled device, comprising:
 a housing;   a power source;   a haptic actuator assembly configured to generate a haptic effect at an outer surface of the housing, the haptic actuator assembly comprising
 a haptic actuator having a planar surface and configured to generate a displacement of the haptic actuator along a perpendicular axis that is perpendicular to the planar surface; and 
 a pre-load device and configured to exert an elastic force to generate a compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis; and 
   a control unit configured to control the power source to provide power to the haptic actuator.