Electrical generator or motor structure – Dynamoelectric – Rotary
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-19
2001-07-31
Nguyen, Tran (Department: 2834)
Electrical generator or motor structure
Dynamoelectric
Rotary
C310S015000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06268671
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vibration generation apparatus for a game machine operation unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 10
, a conventional vibration apparatus is described below.
The conventional apparatus is made of a columnar direct-current (DC) motor
51
having an eccentric rotating mass
52
, such as a weight in the form of a segment or a semicircular disc, on a rotation axis
51
a
thereof. In such a construction of the conventional vibration generation apparatus, DC voltage is provided from a power source (not shown) to power terminals
51
b
of the DC motor
51
so that vibration occurs.
When DC voltage is applied and the DC motor
51
rotates, the eccentric rotating mass
52
, disposed on the rotation axis
51
a
, generates centrifugal force causing the entire DC motor
51
to vibrate.
In such a conventional vibration generation apparatus, however, when the speed of the DC motor rotation is increased, the centrifugal force caused by the eccentric rotating mass
52
is proportionally increased; the amplitude is thereby also increased so that frequency and amplitude cannot be controlled independently of each other. Because of this problem, game machine operations are limited in regard to the production of a variety of vibration modes to provide adequate simulation effects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a vibration generation apparatus that allows frequency and amplitude of vibration to be controlled independently of each other, and that generates, in addition to simple modes of vibration, other various modes of vibration involving shocks.
In order to do this, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vibration generation apparatus that comprises a vibratory assembly comprising a coil and a yoke, in which the yoke provides a magnetic circuit and rectangular-pulse drive current of a constant peak value is supplied to the coil to vibrate the vibratory assembly such that the amplitude of the vibration corresponds to the duration of the rectangular pulse. This allows the frequency of the rectangular-pulse drive current supplied by the driver and the duration of the rectangular pulse to be varied independently of each other. Therefore, the frequency and the amplitude of vibration of the vibratory assembly can be controlled independently of each other in order to provide various modes of vibration.
The vibration generation apparatus may further comprise a columnar plunger which cooperates with the yoke in providing the magnetic circuit and which is slidably received in the vibratory assembly, and an urging member comprising a protrusion formed on the yoke so as to oppose an end of the plunger and which is magnetized in a polarity opposite to that of the end of the plunger, whereby the plunger and the protrusion are urged away from each other. This allows the vibratory assembly to cause vibration simply by supplying it with the rectangular-pulse drive current.
The vibration generation apparatus may further comprise a stopper arranged to collide with the vibratory assembly when a predetermined amplitude of vibration of the vibratory assembly is exceeded, thereby controlling the vibration of the vibratory assembly so as not to exceed the predetermined amplitude, the vibratory assembly generating shocks upon collision with the stopper. Therefore, it is possibile to produce, in addition to simple modes of vibration, various other modes of vibration involving shocks.
The stopper may comprise a first stopper constituted by the end of the plunger, and the rectangular-pulse drive current is arranged to flow to the coil for a period sufficient to cause the protrusion on the yoke to collide with the first stopper. Therefore, vibration involving shocks can be easily produced by simply prolonging the duration of the rectangular-pulse drive current.
The stopper may comprise a second stopper for limiting the movement of the vibratory assembly away from the first stopper, thereby allowing the vibratory assembly to generate shocks upon collision with the second stopper. Therefore, two shocks in one cycle of vibration are generated, allowing a grater variety of vibration modes to be provided.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of the preferred embodiments.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4350243 (1982-09-01), Weyandt
patent: 4370602 (1983-01-01), Jones, Jr. et al.
patent: 4545042 (1985-10-01), Fomin et al.
patent: 5341057 (1994-08-01), Yamaguchi et al.
patent: 5373207 (1994-12-01), Yamaguchi et al.
patent: 5587615 (1996-12-01), Murray et al.
patent: 5668423 (1997-09-01), You et al.
patent: 5760527 (1998-06-01), Ashizawa
patent: 5903076 (1999-05-01), Suyama
patent: 248084A (1990-02-01), None
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Nguyen Tran
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