This disclosure relates to speakers or receivers and, more specifically, to shock protection approaches for these speakers or receivers.
Different types of acoustic devices have been used through the years. One type of device is a speaker or receiver. In a speaker, an electrical signal is converted into sound energy. Using an electrical coil, magnets, and an armature, electrical current flowing through the electrical coil creates a changing electrical field with respect to the magnets. In this “balanced armature” approach, the changing electrical field moves the armature, which moves a drive rod, which, in turn, moves a diaphragm to create sound.
One problem associated with speakers is that they are subjected to forces and shock. For example, the speaker may be dropped or struck by some object. When these situations occur, the internal components of the speaker can become damaged or dislodged. If these components become damaged or dislodged, then the speaker may become completely inoperative or may not function properly. The user of the device in which the speaker is deployed may become frustrated since they can no longer use the device.
Various methods have been used in previous systems to prevent damage from shocks. However, these approaches are typically expensive to implement and/or do not work well in all circumstances.
The problems of previous approaches have resulted in some user dissatisfaction with these previous approaches.
For a more complete understanding of the disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity. It will be further appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.
The present approaches describe speaker or receiver assemblies with improved shock protection and provide protection from mechanical shocks or forces from damaging or disabling the receiver. The approaches described herein are easy and cost effective to implement, and provide improved shock protection for speakers or receivers.
In many of these embodiments, a speaker assembly (including, for example, a diaphragm, magnets, coil, and yoke) is coupled to a sound tube or hollow sound carrier. A wire is attached to, coupled to, disposed in proximity to, or disposed along a first longitudinal length or portion of the tube so as to form a spine-like structure with the sound tube. The tube also includes a second longitudinal length or portion in which the wire is not disposed. The second portion (without the wire) is thus relatively free to move (compared to the first portion) so that the second portion can absorb energy. This arrangement allows the speaker assembly to be positioned in a variety of different positions, but still allows the speaker assembly to absorb shock energy. In other words, the wire is bendable and allows the speaker assembly to be positioned and dangle at different positions within some other structure. However, the arrangement still provides shock protection.
Advantageously, the present approaches provide versatile options to provide both positioning and shock protection for receivers disposed in other devices such as earphones. The present approaches also provide space savings and are adjustable to provide custom fits.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In operation, an electrical current is received and this excites the coil 134. The excitation of the coil (with the magnets 132) provides a changing field that moves the armature 136, thereby moving the drive rod 138, and consequently moving the diaphragm 140. Movement of the diaphragm 140 produces sound that traverses the sound tube 104 and exits at the opening 115. The receiver assembly 100 (as will be discussed below) can be deployed in another device.
It will be appreciated that the portion 112 of the tube 104 is floppy and unsupported by the wire 110. Consequently, the portion 112 can absorb shocks and forces that are created when (for example) the assembly is dropped or subjected to an exterior force or forces. On the other hand, the stiffened portion 114 (with the wire 110) allows the assembly 100 to be custom-deployed within another device. In these regards and since the portion 114 is relatively stiff (i.e., the portion 114 can support the speaker assembly 102 without significant bending or movement), the portion 114 can be bent or adjusted (thereby adjusting the position of the assembly 102). In this way, the position of the assembly 102 can be adjusted and fixed within another device such as an earphone. So configured, the assembly 102 can be moved into a variety of different positions within, for example, an earphone shell (or housing).
In some aspects, adhesive is used to attach the tube 104 both at the receiver end (to the assembly 102) and at the end that attaches to the earphone (as shown below with respect to
Referring now to
As shown in
As mentioned, the ears 108 and tube 104 may be formed around the wire 110 with the wire 110 being deployed along the entire length of the tube 104. At this point, the wire 110 may overhang the sides of the tube 104 and then be trimmed to the correct length. The next step is to shape and remove the wire section to produce the device shown in
Referring now to
It will be appreciated that the portion 112 of the tube 104 is floppy and unsupported by the wire 110. Consequently, the portion 112 can absorb shocks and forces that are created when (for example) the earphone shell 150 is dropped or subjected to an exterior force.
On the other hand the stiffened portion 114 (with the wire 110) allows the assembly 100 to be custom-deployed within the earphone shell 150. In these regards and since the portion 114 is relatively stiff (i.e., the portion 114 can support the speaker assembly 102 without significant bending or movement), the portion 114 can be bent or adjusted (thereby adjusting the position of the assembly 102). In this way, the position of the assembly 102 can be adjusted and fixed within the earphone 150.
It will be appreciated that although the assembly 100 is shown as being deployed within an earphone shell, the assembly can be deployed in various other types of devices and achieve the same advantages.
Preferred embodiments of this disclosure are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventor(s). It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the appended claims.
This patent claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/155,736 entitled “Receiver Shock Mount Spine” filed May 1, 2015, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62155736 | May 2015 | US |