Low-Frequency Vibration Actuator Using a DC Motor
In our previous study, we found that a normal DC motor can be used for vibro-tactile and pseudo-force presentation. In the present study, we developed a new vibration actuator using a DC motor that can generate much stronger vibrations than a normal DC mo
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Abstract. In our previous study, we found that a normal DC motor can be used for vibro-tactile and pseudo-force presentation. In the present study, we developed a new vibration actuator using a DC motor that can generate much stronger vibrations than a normal DC motor and produce very low frequency of vibrations. We proposed that the stator of the motor could be used as both the vibration mass and fixed rotor of the actuator. To evaluate this design concept, we developed a prototype actuator that can be driven in two modes: stator mode (i.e., the new design concept) and normal mode. The experiment results revealed that stronger vibrations can be obtained on a fingertip in stator mode because the fixed part that comprises the rotor was lighter and the vibration mass using the stator was heavier. We also confirmed that the actuator can be driven at very low frequency (1 Hz) in stator mode. Keywords: Vibration actuator
DC motor Low frequency
1 Introduction Vibration actuators are important for haptic feedback and for simulating tactile experiences. They are currently used in mobile phones, game controllers, and guiding devices for visually impaired persons, to alert or provide environment information to users [1–3]. Eccentric rotation mass (ERM) and linear resonant actuator (LRA) vibration motors are commonly used in these devices because they are small and lightweight, but are still able to produce a strong vibration [4]. However, because of the lack of haptic information, they are not suitable for simulating certain types of tactile experience, such as button clicks [5, 6], heartbeats [7], or the sensation of touching a texture or shape [8, 9]. Successful actuators that are used to provide high-fidelity vibration for tactile experience are the voice coil [10], the Haptuator from Tactile Labs Inc. [11], and the Force Reactor from Alps Electric Co. [12]. These actuators were also found to be able to produce a pseudo-force when the input signal is asymmetric [13– 15]. However, they are not suitable for operation in the low-frequency range (e.g., the peak amplitude of vibration is about 100 Hz for the Haptuator and above 200 Hz for the Force Reactor). In our previous study, we found that a normal DC motor can produce high-fidelity vibration and a pseudo-force, comparable to the voice coil type actuators [16]. The frequency response characteristics were similar to those of the Haptuator when vibrations were applied to a human fingertip, and the peak amplitude was about 40 Hz. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 F. Bello et al. (Eds.): EuroHaptics 2016, Part II, LNCS 9775, pp. 317–325, 2016. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-42324-1_31
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The advantage of using a DC motor is that it has a potential to produce low-frequency vibrations because the rotor can be used as a vibration mass to rotate infinitely without collision with the stator (i.e., the case of the motor), and it does not have a spring component that is the cause of resonance characteristics. In the present study, we present a new design
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