U.S. patent application number 15/831750 was filed with the patent office on 2018-04-05 for vibrator.
The applicant listed for this patent is MPLUS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Joon Choi, Seung Hyeon Jeong, Jae Kyung Kim, Sang Jin Lee, Dong Su Moon, Kyung Su Park, Yeon Ho Son.
Application Number | 20180097170 15/831750 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54355854 |
Filed Date | 2018-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180097170 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Son; Yeon Ho ; et
al. |
April 5, 2018 |
VIBRATOR
Abstract
A vibrator includes: a housing having an interior space; a
vibrating member having a plate shape, having both end portions
fixedly installed within the housing, and including space forming
parts disposed on both side surfaces thereof; a piezoelectric
element fixedly installed on the vibrating member so as to be
disposed inwardly of the space forming parts; and a weighting body
disposed on the piezoelectric element and linked to the vibrating
member to be vibrated, wherein the piezoelectric element is
installed on the vibrating member so as to be disposed to be spaced
apart from inner surfaces of the space forming parts at
predetermined intervals, and the piezoelectric element includes a
main electrode formed by an electrode pair and at least one
preliminary electrode formed by an electrode pair and disposed to
be spaced apart from the main electrode.
Inventors: |
Son; Yeon Ho; (Suwon-Si,
KR) ; Jeong; Seung Hyeon; (Suwon-Si, KR) ;
Choi; Joon; (Suwon-Si, KR) ; Park; Kyung Su;
(Suwon-Si, KR) ; Lee; Sang Jin; (Suwon-Si, KR)
; Kim; Jae Kyung; (Suwon-Si, KR) ; Moon; Dong
Su; (Suwon-Si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MPLUS CO., LTD. |
Suwon-Si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
54355854 |
Appl. No.: |
15/831750 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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14626895 |
Feb 19, 2015 |
|
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15831750 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 41/0933 20130101;
H01L 41/053 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01L 41/09 20060101
H01L041/09; H01L 41/053 20060101 H01L041/053 |
Claims
1. A vibrator comprising: a housing having an interior space; a
vibrating member having a plate shape, having both end portions
fixedly installed within the housing, and including space forming
parts disposed on both side surfaces thereof; a piezoelectric
element fixedly installed on the vibrating member so as to be
disposed inwardly of the space forming parts; and a weighting body
disposed on the piezoelectric element and linked to the vibrating
member to be vibrated, wherein the piezoelectric element is
installed on the vibrating member so as to be disposed to be spaced
apart from inner surfaces of the space forming parts at
predetermined intervals, and wherein the piezoelectric element
includes a main electrode formed by an electrode pair and at least
one preliminary electrode formed by an electrode pair and disposed
to be spaced apart from the main electrode.
2. The vibrator of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is
fixedly installed on the vibrating member by an adhesive and the
adhesive is filled into a space formed between both side surfaces
of the piezoelectric element and the inner surfaces of the space
forming parts.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a division of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 14/626,895, filed Feb. 19, 2015, which claimed priority to
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0053378, filed May 2, 2014,
the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a vibrator.
2. Description of Related Art
[0003] A vibrator using a piezoelectric element having advantages
such as a high response speed and drivability at various
frequencies as compared to an existing vibrator using eccentricity
has recently been developed for use.
[0004] In the above-mentioned vibrator, a multilayer piezoelectric
element is generally used. However, at the time of a drop impact or
in a case in which external force is applied to the piezoelectric
element, cracks may easily occur due to characteristics of the
piezoelectric element.
[0005] In this case, element part regions are highly reduced, such
that an amount of generated vibrations may be significantly
reduced.
[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for development of a structure
capable of suppressing such a reduction in an amount of generated
vibrations even in a case in which cracks occur.
[0007] Related Art Document: Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication
No. 2008-0090618
SUMMARY
[0008] An aspect of the present disclosure may provide a vibrator
capable of suppressing a reduction in an amount of generated
vibrations even in a case in which a piezoelectric element is
damaged.
[0009] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a vibrator
may include: a housing having an interior space; a vibrating member
installed within the housing; a piezoelectric element installed on
a top surface of the vibrating member; and space forming parts
disposed to face side surfaces of the piezoelectric element,
respectively, and forming a space in which a filler is provided,
together with the side surfaces of the piezoelectric element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The above and other aspects, features and other advantages
of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a vibrator
according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
vibrator according to an exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
piezoelectric element included in a vibrator according to an
exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a vibrating member
and a piezoelectric element included in a vibrator according to an
exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' of
FIG. 4; and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modified
exemplary embodiment of a vibrating member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments in the present disclosure will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0018] The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different
forms and should not be construed as being limited to the
embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are
provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and
will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in
the art.
[0019] In the drawings, the shapes and dimensions of elements maybe
exaggerated for clarity, and the same reference numerals will be
used throughout to designate the same or like elements.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a vibrator
according to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, a vibrator 100 according to an
exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure may include a
housing 110 having a parallelepipedal shape. The housing 110 may
include an upper case 112 having an interior space and a bracket
114 which is coupled to a lower end portion of the upper case
112.
[0022] Meanwhile, one end portion of a circuit board 120 may be led
out from an interior of the housing 110 to an exterior thereof. In
addition, the circuit board 120 may include a main circuit board
122 which is led out from one end of the housing 110 and a
preliminary circuit board 124 which is led out from the other end
of the housing 110. A detailed description thereof will be provided
hereinafter.
[0023] Hereinafter, a configuration of the vibrator 100 according
to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure will be
described in greater detail.
[0024] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
vibrator according to an exemplary embodiment in the present
disclosure.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, the vibrator 100 according to an
exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure may include the
housing 110, the circuit board 120, a vibrating member 130, and a
piezoelectric element 140.
[0026] The housing 110 may have an interior space and may include
the upper case 112 and the bracket 114.
[0027] The upper case 112 may have a box shape having an open lower
portion. That is, the upper case 112 may have a parallelepipedal
shape having an interior space. Meanwhile, the bracket 114 may be
coupled to the lower end portion of the upper case 112.
[0028] Meanwhile, the upper case 112 may be provided with a lead
groove 112a so that one end portion of the circuit board 120 may be
led out from the housing 110. That is, one end portion of the
circuit board 120 may be led out from the interior of the housing
110 through the lead groove 112a even in a case in which the upper
case 112 and the bracket 114 are coupled.
[0029] The bracket 114 may have a plate shape and may include
support parts 114a formed at both end portions thereof to support
the vibrating member 130. The support part 114a may be formed to
protrude from the bracket 114.
[0030] Meanwhile, the bracket 114 may be formed to have a length
greater than that of the upper case 112. That is, the bracket 114
may have the length greater than that of the upper case 112 so that
one end portion of the circuit board 120 which is led out to the
exterior of the bracket 114 may be seated thereon. In other words,
the bracket 114 may be provided with a seating part 114b on which
one end portion of the circuit board 120 is seated.
[0031] The circuit board 120 may be connected to the piezoelectric
element 140 and may include the main circuit board 122 and the
preliminary circuit board 124. One end portion of the main circuit
board 122 may be led out from one end portion of the housing 110,
and one end portion of the preliminary circuit board 124 may be led
out from the other end portion of the housing 110.
[0032] Meanwhile, the main circuit board 122 and the preliminary
circuit board 124 are different only in terms of installation
positions and may have substantially the same configuration.
Therefore, hereinafter, only the main circuit board 122 will be
described and a description of the preliminary circuit board 124
will be omitted.
[0033] As described above, one end portion of the main circuit
board 122 which is fixedly installed on the seating part 114b of
the bracket 114 may be provided with an electrode connecting part
122a, and the other end of the main circuit board 122 may be
provided with a connecting electrode 122b for an electrical
connection to the piezoelectric element 140.
[0034] In addition, the electrode connecting part 122a may be
provided with an external connecting electrode 122c for a
connection to an external power source.
[0035] Reference numerals 124a, 124b, and 124c denoted in the
drawings each indicate the electrode connecting part, the
connecting electrode, and the external connecting electrode which
are included in the preliminary circuit board 124.
[0036] The vibrating member 130 may be installed within the housing
110. That is, the vibrating member 130 may have both end portions
which are bonded to the support parts 114a of the bracket 114 to
thereby be fixedly installed within the housing 110. However,
although the case in which the vibrating member 130 is fixedly
installed on the bracket 114 is described by way of example in the
present embodiment, the installation position of the vibrating
member 130 is not limited thereto. For example, the vibrating
member 130 may also be installed in the upper case 112.
[0037] Meanwhile, the vibrating member 130 may have a plate like
shape and may have a central portion which is vertically vibrated
in a case in which the piezoelectric element 140 is deformed. In
other words, the vibrating member 130 may be vibrated in a
thickness direction.
[0038] The vibrating member 130 may be provided with space forming
parts 160 which are disposed to face side surfaces of the
piezoelectric element 140, respectively, and form a space in which
a filler A is provided as illustrated in FIG. 4, together with the
side surfaces of the piezoelectric element 140.
[0039] Here, terms with respect to directions will be defined. As
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a length direction refers to X
direction, a width direction refers to Y direction, and a thickness
direction refers to Z direction.
[0040] In addition, terms with respect to side surfaces and end
portion surfaces will be defined. The vibrating member 130 and the
piezoelectric element 140 may have a parallelepipedal plate shape.
As a result, the vibrating member 130 and the piezoelectric element
140 may each have a total of six surfaces. That is, the vibrating
member 130 and the piezoelectric element 140 may each have a top
surface, a bottom surface, and four surfaces connecting the top
surface and the bottom surface to one another. Among the four
surfaces, two surfaces having relatively large areas refer to the
side surfaces and the other two surfaces having areas smaller than
those of the side surfaces refer to the end portion surfaces.
Hereinafter, outer surfaces of the vibrating member 130 and the
piezoelectric element 140 will be described using the
above-mentioned terms.
[0041] The above-mentioned space forming parts 160 may be formed to
be extended from both side surfaces of the vibrating member 130 in
the thickness direction thereof. That is, the space forming parts
160 may be formed as ribs formed to be extended from both side
surfaces of the vibrating member 130. In addition, in the case in
which the piezoelectric element 140 is installed on the vibrating
member 130, the space forming parts 160 may serve to form a
predetermined space, together with the piezoelectric element
140.
[0042] Meanwhile, a ratio of a height of the space forming part 160
to a thickness of the piezoelectric element 140 may be 0.5:1 to
1:1. That is, in a case in which the height of the space forming
part 160 is less than half of the thickness of the piezoelectric
element 140, the filler A may not be sufficiently provided, and in
a case in which the height of the space forming part 160 is greater
than the thickness of the piezoelectric element 140, the filler A
may be provided to an excessive extent, and as a result, the filler
may be coated on the top surface of the piezoelectric element 140.
Accordingly, the height of the space forming part 160 may be formed
to be greater than half of the thickness of the piezoelectric
element 140 and to be less than the thickness of the piezoelectric
element 140.
[0043] The piezoelectric element 140 may be installed on the
vibrating member 130. That is, the piezoelectric element 140 may be
installed on the top surface of the vibrating member 130.
Meanwhile, in the case in which the piezoelectric element 140 is
installed on the vibrating member 130, the piezoelectric element
140 may be installed so that both side surfaces thereof are
disposed to be spaced apart from inner surfaces of the space
forming parts 160 of the vibrating member 130 at predetermined
intervals, respectively.
[0044] In addition, the piezoelectric element 140 may be fixedly
installed on the vibrating member 130 using the above-mentioned
filler A, wherein the filler A may be an adhesive by way of
example. In other words, once the adhesive is applied onto the top
surface of the vibrating member 130 and the piezoelectric element
140 is then seated on the top surface of the vibrating member 130,
the adhesive may be filled into the space formed by the space
forming parts 160 and both side surfaces of the piezoelectric
element 140. As such, the filler A, that is, the adhesive, may bond
the vibrating member 130 onto the bottom surface of the
piezoelectric element 140 and both side surfaces of the
piezoelectric element 140.
[0045] A detailed description thereof will be provided
hereinafter.
[0046] Meanwhile, the piezoelectric element 140 may include the
main electrode 141 formed by an electrode pair and at least one
preliminary electrode 142 formed by an electrode pair and disposed
to be spaced apart from the main electrode 141.
[0047] In addition, the piezoelectric element 140 may be deformed
even in a case in which only one of the main electrode 141 and the
preliminary electrode 142 is connected to the external power
source.
[0048] A more detailed description thereof will be provided
below.
[0049] Meanwhile, the vibrator 100 according to the exemplary
embodiment in the present disclosure may further include a
weighting body 150.
[0050] The weighting body 150 may be disposed on an upper portion
of the piezoelectric element 140 and may be linked to the vibrating
member 130 so as to be vibrated. The weighting body 150 may serve
to amplify vibration of the vibrating member 130 vibrated due to
the deformations of the piezoelectric element 140. To this end, the
weighting body 150 may be formed of a material having relatively
great specific gravity, for example, tungsten (W).
[0051] Meanwhile, the weighting body 150 may be installed on the
top surface of the piezoelectric element 140 by an adhering member
152. However, the weighting body 150 is not limited as being
installed on the top surface of the piezoelectric element 140 by
the adhering member 152. For example, the weighting body 150 may
also be installed on the vibrating member 130 and may be connected
to the vibrating member 130 by a separate installing member.
[0052] In addition, the vibrator 100 according to the exemplary
embodiment in the present disclosure may further include a
plurality of damper members 170. The damper members 170 may serve
to prevent collisions amongst the vibrating member 130, the
weighting body 150, and the housing 110 at the time of the
vibrations of the vibrating member 130 and the weighting body 150,
and may be installed on at least one of the vibrating member 130,
the weighting body 150, and the housing 110.
[0053] In addition, in order to prevent damage and noise occurring
due to such collisions, the damper member 170 may be formed of a
material having elasticity, for example, a rubber or a synthetic
resin.
[0054] As described above, the piezoelectric element 140 may be
installed on the vibrating member 130 so as to be disposed inwardly
of the space forming parts 160, such that the filler A, for
example, the adhesive, may be filled into the space formed between
both side surfaces of the piezoelectric element 140 and the inner
surface of the space forming part 160.
[0055] Therefore, even in the case in which damage, for example,
cracks, occurs in the piezoelectric element 140, an expansion of
the damage may be alleviated. A detailed description thereof will
be provided hereinafter.
[0056] FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view illustrating
a piezoelectric element included in a vibrator according to an
exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 3, the piezoelectric element 140 according
to an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure may include
the main electrode 141 and at least one preliminary electrode 142
as described above.
[0058] In addition, the piezoelectric element 140 may include an
electrode layer 143 in which a positive electrode layer 143a and a
negative electrode layer 143b are vertically stacked to alternate
with each other repeatedly, and an element part layer 144
interposed between the positive electrode layer 143a and the
negative electrode layer 143b.
[0059] In addition, the piezoelectric element 140 may include a
main positive electrode connecting member 145 connected to one end
of the positive electrode layer 143a, a preliminary positive
electrode connecting member 146 connected to the other end of the
positive electrode layer 143a, a main negative electrode connecting
member 147 connected to one end of the negative electrode layer
143b, and a preliminary negative electrode connecting member 148
connected to the other end of the negative electrode layer
143b.
[0060] Meanwhile, the above-mentioned main electrode 141 may be
connected to the main positive electrode connecting member 145 and
the main negative electrode connecting member 147, and the
preliminary electrode 142 may be connected to the preliminary
positive electrode connecting member 146 and the preliminary
negative electrode connecting member 148.
[0061] In addition, the main positive electrode connecting member
145, the preliminary positive electrode connecting member 146, the
main negative electrode connecting member 147, and the preliminary
negative electrode connecting member 148 as mentioned above may
include a via-hole.
[0062] In addition, the positive electrode layer 143a, the negative
electrode layer 143b, the main positive electrode connecting member
145, the preliminary positive electrode connecting member 146, the
main negative electrode connecting member 147, and the preliminary
negative electrode connecting member 148 as mentioned above may be
formed of a conductive metal material. However, the type of
material forming the positive electrode layer 143a, the negative
electrode layer 143b, the main positive electrode connecting member
145, the preliminary positive electrode connecting member 146, the
main negative electrode connecting member 147, and the preliminary
negative electrode connecting member 148 is not limited to such a
metal material. For example, any material may be readily used as
long as it is a conductive material. Further, the element part
layer 144 may be formed of a piezoelectric material, for example, a
lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic material.
[0063] Meanwhile, the electrode layer 143 may further include a
dummy layer 149 for electrically separating the positive electrode
layer 143a and the negative electrode layer 143b from one another.
That is, negative electrode dummy patterns 149a which are separated
from the positive electrode layer 143a may be disposed on both end
portions of the positive electrode layer 143a, and positive
electrode dummy patterns 149b which are separated from the negative
electrode layer 143b may be disposed on both end portions of the
negative electrode layer 143b.
[0064] That is, both end portions of the positive electrode layer
143a may be provided with the negative electrode dummy patterns
149a through which the main negative electrode connecting member
147 and the preliminary negative electrode connecting member 148
pass, in order to connect the negative electrode layers 143b to one
another. In addition, both end portions of the negative electrode
layer 143b may be provided with positive electrode dummy patterns
149b through which the main positive electrode connecting member
145 and the preliminary positive electrode connecting member 146
pass, in order to connect the positive electrode layers 143a to one
another.
[0065] As such, the main electrodes 141 may be connected to the
positive electrode layer 143a and the negative electrode layer
143b, and the preliminary electrodes 142 maybe connected to the
positive electrode layer 143a and the negative electrode layer
143b.
[0066] Consequently, even in the case in which power is supplied to
only one of the main electrode 141 and the preliminary electrode
142, the power may be supplied to the positive electrode layer 143a
and the negative electrode layer 143b of the piezoelectric element
140.
[0067] Further, since power may be supplied through the main
electrode 141 and the preliminary electrode 142 even in a case in
which such cracks occur due to an external impact, a reduction of
an effective electrode surface may be prevented.
[0068] A description thereof will be provided in greater detail. In
a case in which the preliminary electrode 142 is not provided in
the piezoelectric element 140, when such cracks occur in the
central portion of the piezoelectric element 140, the cracks may
occur in the electrode layer 143 as well as the element part layer
144. In this case, the electrode layer 143 may be divided into two
portions based on a portion in which the cracks occur.
[0069] Therefore, power may be supplied to the electrode layer 143
connected to the main electrode 141; however, the power may not be
supplied to the electrode layer 143 which is disposed on the
opposite side of the main electrode 141 based on the portion in
which the cracks occur. As a result, the effective electrode
surface may be reduced, such that an amount of vibrations in the
piezoelectric element 140 may be reduced.
[0070] However, as described above, since the main electrode 141
and the preliminary electrode 142 are provided in the piezoelectric
element 140, power may be supplied to the electrode layer 143
through the main electrode 141 and the preliminary electrode 142.
Accordingly, since the power is supplied to both portions of the
electrode layer 143 based on the portion in which the cracks occur
even in the case in which the cracks occur, the reduction in the
effective electrode surface may be prevented, such that the
reduction in the amount of vibrations may be prevented.
[0071] Hereinafter, effects obtainable through the use of the space
forming parts provided in the vibrator according to an exemplary
embodiment in the present disclosure will be described in greater
detail with reference to the drawings.
[0072] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a vibrating member
and a piezoelectric element included in a vibrator according to an
exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure, and FIG. 5 is a
cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' of FIG. 4.
[0073] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the vibrating member 130 may be
provided with the space forming parts 160 disposed to face the side
surfaces of the piezoelectric element 140, respectively, and
forming a space in which a filler A is provided, together with the
side surfaces of the piezoelectric element 140. That is, the space
forming parts 160 may be formed as ribs formed to be extended from
both side surfaces of the vibrating member 130. In addition, in the
case in which the piezoelectric element 140 is installed on the top
surface of the vibrating member 130, both side surfaces of the
piezoelectric element 140 and the inner surfaces of the space
forming parts 160 formed as the ribs may be disposed to be spaced
apart from one another at predetermined intervals, respectively, to
thereby form the space in which the filler A, that is, the adhesive
is provided.
[0074] Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the filler A may be
applied onto the bottom surface of the piezoelectric element 140
and both side surfaces of the piezoelectric element 140.
[0075] As such, the filler A, that is, the adhesive, may be applied
onto the bottom surface of the piezoelectric element 140 and both
side surfaces of the piezoelectric element 140 so as to allow the
piezoelectric element 140 to be bonded onto the top surface of the
vibrating member 130 and the inner surfaces of the space forming
parts 160.
[0076] Meanwhile, as described above, since the piezoelectric
element 140 includes the main electrode 141 and the preliminary
electrode 142, power may be supplied to the piezoelectric element
140 through the main electrode 141 and the preliminary electrode
142 even in the case in which cracks occur due to an external
impact, thereby preventing a reduction of an effective electrode
surface.
[0077] However, in the case in which the space forming parts 160
are not formed in the piezoelectric element 140, only the bottom
surface of the piezoelectric element 140 may be bonded to the top
surface of the vibrating member 130 by the adhesive. In this case,
cracks may occur. In the case in which power is supplied through
the main electrode 141 and the preliminary electrode 142, such
cracks may not be widened in a lower portion of the piezoelectric
element 140 which is bonded by the adhesive, but a gap due to the
cracks may be gradually increased in an upper portion of the
piezoelectric element 140 onto which the adhesive is not applied.
In other words, damage due to the cracks may be expanded throughout
the piezoelectric element 140.
[0078] Consequently, an amount of deformations in the piezoelectric
element 140 may be reduced, thereby reducing an amount of
vibrations thereof.
[0079] However, by providing the filler A, that is, the adhesive,
between both side surfaces of the piezoelectric element 140 and the
inner surfaces of the space forming parts 160, a phenomenon in
which the gap is increased by the cracks in the upper portion of
the piezoelectric element 140 may be prevented through the use of
the space forming parts 160.
[0080] As a result, the reduction in the amount of vibrations
thereof may be avoided by preventing the expansion of damage to the
piezoelectric element 140 through the use of the space forming
parts 160.
[0081] As described above, in the vibrator 100 according to the
exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure, the reduction in
the amount of vibrations in the piezoelectric element 140 maybe
prevented by using the piezoelectric element 140 including the main
electrode 141 and the preliminary electrode 142 even in the case in
which the cracks due to the external impact occur.
[0082] Further, even in the case in which such cracks occur, the
filler A may be provided into the space formed between the inner
surfaces of the space forming parts 160 and both side surfaces of
the piezoelectric element 140, such that the phenomenon of the gap
being increased due to the cracks occurring in the piezoelectric
element 140 may be prevented, thereby preventing the reduction in
the amount of vibrations.
[0083] Hereinafter, a modified exemplary embodiment of the
vibrating member will be described with reference to the
drawings.
[0084] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modified
exemplary embodiment of a vibrating member.
[0085] Referring to FIG. 6, a vibrating member 230 may have a plate
like shape, and may be provided with space forming parts 260 which
are disposed to face the side surfaces of the piezoelectric element
140, respectively and form a space in which the filler A is
provided as illustrated in FIG. 4, together with the side surfaces
of the piezoelectric element 140.
[0086] In addition, the space forming parts 260 may be formed to be
extended from both side surfaces of the vibrating member 230 in the
thickness direction thereof. That is, the space forming parts 260
may be formed as ribs formed to be extended from both side surfaces
of the vibrating member 230.
[0087] Meanwhile, the space forming parts 260 may be provided with
a guide protrusion 262 for guiding an installation position of the
piezoelectric element 140. The guide protrusion 262 may include a
plurality of guide protrusions and may be formed to protrude
inwardly from the inner surfaces of the space forming part 260.
Further, the plurality of guide protrusions 262 may be disposed to
be spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals in the
lengthwise direction of the piezoelectric element 140.
[0088] The guide protrusions 262 may serve to guide the installing
position of the piezoelectric element 140 so that an interval from
one side surface of the piezoelectric element 140 to the inner
surface of the space forming part 260 disposed to face one side
surface of the piezoelectric element 140 is equal to an interval
from the other side surface of the piezoelectric element 140 to the
inner surface of the space forming part 260 disposed to face the
other side surface of the piezoelectric element 140 at the time of
the installation of the piezoelectric element 140.
[0089] Accordingly, an installation of the piezoelectric element
140 on the vibrating member 230 while being eccentric to only one
of the inner surfaces of the space forming parts 260 formed on both
side surfaces of the vibrating member 230, respectively, may be
prevented.
[0090] As a result, an issue of the filler A being unable to be
provided due to a relatively narrow space between one side surface
of the piezoelectric element 140 and the inner surface of the space
forming part 260 disposed to face one side surface of the
piezoelectric element 140 since the piezoelectric element 140 is
installed to be eccentric to one side of the vibrating member 230
may be prevented.
[0091] As such, a gap on the piezoelectric element 140 being
widened due to cracks occurring thereon may be prevented by
allowing an appropriate amount of filler A to be provided onto both
side surfaces of the piezoelectric elements 140 by using the guide
protrusions 262.
[0092] As set forth above, according to exemplary embodiments in
the present disclosure, since the expansion of damage to the
piezoelectric element may be prevented, the reduction in the amount
of vibrations therein may be suppressed.
[0093] While exemplary embodiments have been shown and described
above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
modifications and variations could be made without departing from
the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *