Patent Application
20120027224
The present invention relates generally to sound systems for mobile devices and, more particularly, to a sound system for a slide-type mobile device having two or more relatively moveable housing sections.
Mobile devices, such as mobile phones, may be designed with a variety of form factors depending on functional or aesthetic considerations. For example, a flip or clam-shell type phone comprises two or more sections that are connected by hinges, allowing the phone to fold when the phone is not in use. A slider phone typically comprises two or more housing sections that slide relative to each other. A swivel phone typically comprises two or more housing sections that swivel or pivot about a central axis.
In the case of a slider phone, the top section of the housing typically includes a display, one or more input controls, and a speaker for outputting audio during voice calls. Typically, there is a separate loudspeaker disposed in the bottom section for playing back ring tones and other multimedia files. The speaker for voice calls takes up valuable and limited space within the top section of the housing and limits design flexibility. Therefore, it would be beneficial to eliminate the requirement of a separate speaker in the top section for voice calls.
The present invention relates to sound systems for slide-type mobile devices, such as a mobile phone, having two or more sections that slide relative to one another. The mobile device includes a first speaker for outputting speech or voice during voice communications. An acoustic port extends from the speaker in the bottom section and through the top section to project sound from the top side of the mobile device. A first acoustic channel in the bottom section of the housing conveys sound from the speaker to the top surface of the bottom section. A second acoustic channel extends from the bottom to the top surface of the top section to convey sound when the top section is in the closed position. In some embodiments, the voice speaker may also be used for playing ring tones and multimedia files, thus eliminating the need for two separate speakers.
According to another aspect of the invention, an audio processing circuit is provided to compensate for differences in the acoustic port configuration when the top section of the phone is in the open and closed positions. A sensor detects the position of the top section relative to the bottom section. Depending on the position of the top section, the audio processing circuit can vary the gain and/or frequency contact of the audio signal, depending on whether the top section is in an open or closed position.
Referring now to the drawings, a mobile device according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown therein and indicated generally by the numeral 100. The illustrated embodiment of the mobile device comprises a mobile phone. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mobile device may also comprise other devices, such as a tablet, laptop computer, audio player, or other mobile device.
The mobile device 100 comprises a housing 102 having first and second housing sections 104, 106. The first housing section 104, referred to herein as the top section, includes an electronic display 120 and control buttons 122. The electronic display 120 preferably comprises a touchscreen display, but may comprise a conventional liquid crystal display or other types of electronic displays. The second housing section 106, referred to herein as the bottom section, includes a text entry keypad 126.
The top and bottom sections 104, 106 of the housing 102 slide relative to one another between closed (
A second acoustic port 140 is formed in the bottom section 106 of the housing 102 to project sound generated by the secondary speaker 132. The secondary speaker 132 may be used, for example, to play back multimedia sounds such as ringtones or music. In some embodiments of the invention, the primary speaker 130 may also be used to play back multimedia sounds. If speaker 130 is used for playback of multimedia sounds, speaker 132 may be eliminated so that the mobile device 100 has a single speaker.
The audio processing circuit 152 may receive input from a position sensor 160 and counter 162. The position sensor 160 detects the relative positions of the top and bottom sections 104, 106 of the housing 102 and generates a position signal indicating whether the top section 106 is in the open or closed position. Based on the position of the top section 104 relative to the bottom section 106, the audio processing circuit 152 may vary a characteristic of the audio signal that is output to the speaker 132 to compensate for variation in the acoustic port configuration. For example, the audio processing circuit 152 may vary the gain or frequency content of the audio signal, depending on whether the top section 104 is in the open or closed position. Different gains may be applied to different frequencies within the audio signal.
The counter 162 counts the number of times the top section 104 is moved between the open and closed positions. Movement of the top section 104 between open and closed positions will wear the seal 108 between the top and bottom sections 104, 106, resulting in some leakage of sound from the gap between the housing sections. The audio processing circuit 152 may vary a characteristic of the audio signal output to speaker 132 to compensate for the wear of the seal. As one example, the audio processing circuit 152 may vary the gain or frequency content of audio signal, depending on the count from the counter 162.
The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.
