Vibration output apparatus and portable electronic device comprising vibration output apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for outputting vibration, and an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may provide an apparatus for outputting vibration, the apparatus including: a magnetic circuit which generates vibration; a yoke which is in contact with an upper surface of the magnetic circuit and has a raised spot with different heights in a height direction in at least one of lateral surfaces of the yoke such that one or more spaces are formed in an upper surface of the yoke; and an elastic body which is in contact with at least a part of the upper surface of the yoke, and vibratorily moves in the one or more spaces, wherein the elastic body includes a first elastic unit, a second elastic unit and a third elastic unit, and wherein the third elastic unit is in contact with at least one of an upper surface of the first elastic unit and an upper surface of the second elastic unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for outputting vibration, the apparatus comprising:
 a magnetic circuit which generates vibration;
 a yoke which is in contact with an upper surface of the magnetic circuit and has a raised spot with different heights in a height direction in at least one of lateral surfaces of the yoke such that one or more spaces are formed in an upper surface of the yoke; and 
   an elastic body which is in contact with at least a part of the upper surface of the yoke, and vibratorily moves in the one or more spaces,
 wherein the elastic body includes a first elastic unit, a second elastic unit and a third elastic unit, and 
 wherein the third elastic unit is in contact with at least one of an upper surface of the first elastic unit and an upper surface of the second elastic unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first elastic unit and the second elastic unit includes:
 a vibrating part which is in contact with at least a part of the upper surface of the yoke;   a fixed part which is in contact with an upper surface of at least one of a front surface, a rear surface, a left surface, and a right surface of a housing to provide a reference point so as for the vibrating part to vibrate;   a connecting part which connects the vibrating part and the fixed part, and   wherein the third elastic unit is in contact with all of the vibrating part, the fixed part, and the connecting part.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the third elastic unit is divided into a first lateral portion, a second lateral portion in a direction opposite to the first lateral portion, and a body formed between the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion, and
 wherein steps are formed between the first lateral portion and the body and between the second lateral portion and the body, so that spaces are formed between the body and the first elastic unit and between the body and the second elastic unit.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the body is not in contact with the first elastic unit and the second elastic unit. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a housing, which has an upper surface and a lower surface which are opened, and a front surface, a rear surface, a left surface, and a right surface which are closed, to have an internal space,   wherein each of the first elastic unit and the second elastic unit includes:   a vibrating part which is in contact with at least a part of the upper surface of the yoke; and   a fixed part which is in contact with an upper surface of at least one of the front surface, the rear surface, the left surface, and the right surface of the housing to provide a reference point so as for the vibrating part to vibrate, and   wherein the first lateral portion of the third elastic unit is in contact with an upper surface of the fixed part of the first elastic unit, and the second lateral portion of the third elastic unit is in contact with an upper surface of the fixed part of the second elastic unit.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic unit, the second elastic unit, and the third elastic unit are integrally formed. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the third elastic unit includes an open space exposed to the outside in a central region. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing, which has an upper surface and a lower surface which are opened, and a front surface, a rear surface, a left surface, and a right surface, which are closed, to have an internal space; and   a coil which is positioned inside the housing and receives an alternating current signal provided from the outside,   wherein the magnetic circuit vibrates according to a change in a magnetic field provided by the coil.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing, which has an upper surface and a lower surface which are opened, and a front surface, a rear surface, a left surface, and a right surface, which are closed, to have an internal space,
 wherein each of the first elastic unit and the second elastic unit is attached onto an upper surface of the left surface or the right surface of the housing, so that the elastic body is seated on an upper surface of the housing,   wherein a coil and the magnetic circuit are positioned in the internal space of the housing, and   wherein a cap is positioned in the lower surface of the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vibration plate which is in contact with the upper surface of the yoke,   wherein the vibration plate outputs the vibration to the outside according to vibration of the yoke.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic body further includes a first unit connecting part and a second unit connecting part,
 wherein the first unit connecting part is attached onto one side surface of a fixed part of the first elastic unit and one side surface of a fixed part of the second elastic unit to connect the first elastic unit and the second elastic unit,   wherein the second unit connecting part is attached onto one side surface of a fixed part of the first elastic unit and one side surface of a fixed part of the second elastic unit in a direction facing the first unit connecting part to connect the first elastic unit and the second elastic unit,   wherein the first elastic unit, the second elastic unit, the first unit connecting part, and the second unit connecting part are integrally molded, and   wherein the third elastic unit is in contact with at least one of the upper surface of the first elastic unit, the upper surface of the second elastic unit, an upper surface of the first unit connecting part and an upper surface of the second unit connecting part.