Patent Grant
7933427
This invention relates generally to a transducer arrangement design, and more particularly to a transducer audio porting to channel audio.
The hand-held radio industry is constantly challenged in the market place for high audio quality, low-cost products. Certain traditional markets, such as the fleet service workforce, have created an increased demand for high audio radios having speakerphone capabilities. The high audio speakerphones allow a user to engage in a voice conversation without having to hold the radio to the ear. The high audio speakerphones also allow users to engage in data communication services such as text messaging. Further, with the demand to make products smaller and with more features, speakerphone designs have started to include the high-audio speaker (transducer) within the mechanical housing of the radio to decrease product size. For example, in one arrangement, the transducer can be positioned behind the keys to project audio (port) around the keypad or through the keypad. Porting refers to channeling acoustic sound waves produced by the transducer.
Many radios also have displays for presenting digital images or video. The displays are typically low current devices, and are therefore suitable for use in portable battery-powered phones. A user typing at the keypad of the phone can simultaneously visualize text or images on the display, and listen to sound during speakerphone mode. The keypad and display arrangement allow a user to perform tasks such as text messaging while listening to audio. This allows the radio to be used in a data communications mode in addition to a traditional mode, such as hand-held person-to-person audio communication.
The orientation of the radio, when used for data communication or audio communication, can have a noticeable impact on subjective audio quality. That is, the perception of sound can vary based on the way the user holds the radio in data or audio communication mode. A need therefore exists for designing an audio porting arrangement that is suitable for both modes of usage.
Embodiments of the invention are directed to an equal audio port device. The device can include a first side with at least one first audio port providing a data communication aspect, a second side with at least one second audio port providing an audio communication aspect, and at least one transducer positioned between the first side and the second side. The at least one transducer projects sound out of the at least one first audio port and the at least one second audio port such that a quality of the sound through the at least one first audio port and the at least one second audio port are substantially the same.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the embodiments of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the method, system, and other embodiments will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present method and system are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments of the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the embodiment herein.
The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “volume area” is used to describe a volumetric region, and the term “volume level” is used to describe a sound pressure level.
Embodiments of the invention are directed to an audio porting scheme wherein audio can be ported to at least two sides of a radio. The audio porting scheme can provide equal acoustic porting to the sides of a radio. Equal acoustic porting refers to an arrangement wherein a transducer projects sound in at least two directions and the sound quality in the at least two directions is substantially the same. In particular, the sound quality in a first direction is substantially similar to a sound quality in a second direction. For example, a data communications aspect may be on a first side of a radio and an audio communications aspect may be on a second side of the radio. From the user's perspective, the sound quality generated by the radio sounds the same if the radio is oriented for a data communication aspect or oriented for an audio communications aspect. The sound quality can be measured and adjusted to achieve equal audio porting based on a spectral distortion measure or a loudness rating.
In a first arrangement, the radio can have one or more audio ports positioned at one or more sides of the radio. A sound quality at a first audio port and a second audio port will be perceptually the same regardless of which side of the radio is facing the user. For example, a front side of the radio can be used for data communication, which can include a keypad and a display. A back side of the radio can be used for audio communications. A transducer can be positioned between the front side and the back side for projecting sound out of a front audio port and a back audio port. When the user holds the radio in audio communication mode, the front side faces the user. When the user holds the radio in data communication mode, the back side faces the user. The sound emanating from the device in either mode can have the same subjective sound quality. For example, the same spectral shaping can be imparted to the sound in either mode. As another example, the loudness of the sound can be the same in either data communication mode or audio communication mode.
In a second arrangement, the radio can have one or more audio ports positioned to the left of the radio and to the right of the radio. A sound quality at a first audio port on the left side and a sound quality at a second audio port on the right side will be perceptually the same regardless of which side of the radio is facing the user. When the user holds the radio in audio communication mode, the front side faces the user. When the user holds the radio in data communication mode, the back side faces the user. The sound emanating from the device at the first audio port on the left side and the second audio port at the right side in either holding mode can have the same subjective sound quality. The left and right porting arrangements are suitable when the radio is in a belt-clip, a carry holster, or similar side carrying position. In these usage situations the front or the back of the device is obscured. In a left and right equal porting arrangement, sound can emanate in a direction that is not obscured.
Sound can be channeled between the first side and the second side through one or more audio channels. The first audio port can have a first audio channel and the second audio port can have a second audio channel. The first audio channel and the second audio channel can be symmetrical with respect to mechanical design. In another configuration, the overall volume area or length of the audio channels for the first audio port and the second audio port can be matched to produce equal ported audio. A porting arrangement can be designed such that a sound wave produced from the transducer when passing through the first audio channel and the second audio channel results in the same subjective quality at the first audio port and the second audio port. In yet another arrangement, a non-symmetrical design can be provided to provide equal volume area porting for the first audio channel and the second audio channel.
Referring to
The equal port configuration can include at least one front audio port 182 and at least one back audio port 184. The front audio port 182 and back audio port 184 can be a hole or vent for allowing a passage of air due to sound generated by the transducer 110. In one arrangement, the radio 101 can include a display 120 and a keypad 125 for providing a data communication aspect, though the radio 100 is not limited to these. A microphone 127 can be included on the front side. In a first arrangement, a user can operate the device in the frontal configuration of
Referring to
One primary aspect of the invention, provides a first sound quality in the front arrangement 101 of
The quality of the sound can also be a measure of loudness between a first sound projected from the at least one front audio port 182 and a second sound projected from the at least one back audio port 184. That is, the loudness of a sound measured from the user's perspective in the front arrangement 101 is similar to a loudness of the back arrangement 102. A loudness analysis can be conducted for assessing the loudness of the sound, wherein the sound can be music, voice, or any other type of audio. The loudness analysis can assign a “sone” or “phon” rating to the sound, which are subjective measures of sound loudness. For example, the loudness of a voice playing through the speaker 110 will produce the same perceived volume level for both the front arrangement 101 of
Referring to
The transducer 110 is positioned within an enclosure 340 and pushes air through an interior passage way 107 (i.e. frontal volume). The passage way 107 consists of a front audio channel 372 and a back channel 374. The front audio channel 372 couples the front of the transducer 110 with the one or more front audio ports 182. The back audio channel 374 couples the front of the transducer 110 with the one or more back audio ports 184. In the configuration shown 300, the transducer 110 is facing towards the front section such that sound waves project in a direction of the display 120. The sound is then channeled by the front audio channel 372 and the back audio channel 374 out towards the ports 182 and 184.
The transducer 110 can also be mounted in a sealed enclosure on an interior of the back panel 350 such that air only escapes from the front of the transducer. That is, the transducer 110 can rest in the sealed back enclosure 340 and project sound towards the front side. Understandably, the sealed enclosure 340 suppresses acoustic back waves that may cancel with front acoustic waves emanating from the front of the transducer 110. The acoustic back waves generated behind the transducer 110 are confined to the interior space 108 of the enclosure 340. The sealed enclosure substantially suppresses this out-of-phase behavior which can unfavorably reduce the overall sound pressure level. The sealed back enclosure 340 also provides for a symmetric channeling of audio through the front audio ports 182 and the back audio ports 184. In one arrangement, the back of the sealed enclosure 340 can be the back panel 350. The interior of the enclosure corresponds to a back volume area 108.
The frontal volume area 107 supports a region of air which propagates as an acoustic wave toward the display 120 when the transducer 101 is active, i.e., playing audio. The frontal volume area 107 can be created by allowing a space between a transducer enclosure 340 and the display 120. The space produces an audio channel for porting sound away from the speaker 110 and towards an exterior of the radio 100 through one or more audio ports 182 and 184. Ports are generally drilled or cut through the plastic of the phone to allow air to flow through openings for passing sound. The ports are placed at locations which may be covered, or hidden, by various materials. For example, a speaker can be covered by a housing grill or a felt membrane for protecting the speaker from dust or dirt. In one mechanically artistic arrangement, holes can be created behind plastic strips of the housing grill such that an opening is created to allow air to flow from the speaker to the user. The ports can be positioned below the plastic strips of the housing grill such that a user cannot see the openings, i.e. the user only sees the housing grill which covers the openings, and not the hole openings below the plastic cross strips.
In the configuration shown 300, a volume area of the front audio channel 372 and a volume area of the back audio channel 372 are approximately the same. That is, the front audio channel 372 and the back audio channel 274 can pass an approximately equal volume of air produced by the transducer 110. The front audio channel 372 can also lead to one or more audio ports 182, and the back audio channel 374 can also lead to one or more back ports 184. The length of the front audio channel 372 and the length of the back audio channel 374 are also substantially the same. In the configuration shown, the area of the passage way for the front audio channel 372 and the back audio channel 374 is also symmetric. Understandably, acoustic sound waves are produced from the movement of a speaker cone which is part of the transducer 110. The sound pressure level (SPL) associated with the acoustic sound waves are a function of the force of the transducer pushing the speaker cone, the mass of the speaker cone, and a reactance of the transducer 110. The transducer converts electrical signals to acoustic pressure waves by moving the speaker cone in and out of a magnetic coil. The sound generated by the transducer 110 can be funneled through the front audio channel 372 and the back audio channel 374 out through the front audio port 182 and back audio port 184, respectively. The approximately equal volume area design of
The equal porting design of
In yet another configuration, the orientation of the transducer 110 can be reversed for providing yet another equal porting arrangement. That is, the speaker can be flipped 180 degrees for reversing the direction of sound propagation. Referring to
Embodiments of the invention are also directed to an equal porting arrangement wherein a first audio port is to the left of a speaker enclosure and a second audio port is to the right of a speaker enclosure. Referring to
Embodiments of the invention are also directed to an equal audio porting arrangement wherein two transducers are employed to achieve substantially the same sound quality at either a front side or a back side. For example, referring to
Referring to
The method can begin in a state wherein a radio, such as that shown in
Based on the front and back sound quality measurements, a porting arrangement is configured such that the front sound quality and the back sound quality are substantially the same. Understandably, the PESQ system produces a score for the front sound quality and the back sound quality. Designers can adjust aspects of the mechanical housing design, the porting arrangement, the transducer size, the transducer position, in order to achieve a score that is equal for both the front sound quality measurement and the back sound quality measurement.
For example, briefly referring to
The step 806 for configuring a transducer arrangement can include adjusting a first volume area of a front audio channel (808) and adjusting a second volume area of a back audio channel (810). As shown in
Referring to
At step 902, a first spectral analysis can be performed on a front sound for identifying a first spectrum. For example, a spectral analyzer can analyze a sound captured from an external microphone positioned at the front side of a radio. The microphone can be positioned at a location and distance corresponding to where a listener would hear the sound, for example, at a location corresponding to the listener's ear. The radio 100 can be tilted or positioned in an orientation that corresponds to a data communications aspect for evaluating the front sound quality. In one case, the spectral analyzer can capture a first time averaged spectrum of sound projected from the front of the device. At step 904, a second spectral analysis can be performed on the back sound for producing a second spectrum. For example, the spectral analyzer can analyze a sound captured from a microphone positioned at the back side of the radio 100 (See
At step 906, a spectral distortion can be measured between the first spectrum and the second spectrum. For example, a first logarithm norm (L1) or a second logarithm norm (L2) can be applied to evaluate the difference in the first spectrum and the second spectrum. A norm can be defined as a standard, or normal metric, of measurement. The L1 and L2 norm are based on logarithms of the magnitude spectrum which can approximate human level sensitivity. Numerous spectral distortion measures are herein contemplated. At step 908, the porting arrangement can be adjusted until the first spectrum and the second spectrum are substantially the same. For example, a dimension of the one or more of the front audio channels 182 (See
Referring to
At step 952, a first loudness analysis can be performed on the front sound for identifying a first loudness rating. As an example, a loudness analysis can be performed by a PESQ system, as is known in the art. The PESQ system can include a microphone that is positioned at a location and distance corresponding to where a listener would hear the sound. The radio 100 (See
At step 954, a second loudness analysis can be performed on the back sound for producing a second loudness rating. The loudness rating can be conducted in a manner similar to step 952. For example, the PESQ system can analyze a sound captured from a microphone positioned at the back side of the radio 100 (See
At step 956, a loudness difference can be evaluated between the first loudness rating and the second loudness rating. A loudness difference can correspond to subtracting the front critical loudness rating from the back critical loudness rating. The units of measure can correspond to sones or phones. When the units are sones, the subtraction results in a measure of subjective loudness difference between the front data communications aspect and the back audio communications aspect. At step 958, a porting arrangement can be adjusted (See
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the embodiments of the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present embodiments of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20060128440 | Murray et al. | Jun 2006 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2008002694 | Jan 2008 | WO |
| 2008002694 | Jan 2008 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20070297629 A1 | Dec 2007 | US |
