Patent Application
20240214738
This application claims the benefit of and priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-206163 filed on Dec. 23, 2022, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
The present disclosure relates to a sound apparatus.
Sound apparatuses include a vibrometer which converts an input electrical signal to a physical vibration. Piezoelectric speakers consisting of piezoelectric devices including ferroelectric ceramic or the like are lightweight and have low power consumption, and thus, flexible for use for various purposes.
Piezoelectric devices used as piezoelectric speakers are limited in vibration width (or displacement width), and due to this, there have been disadvantages with known devices in that sound pressure level can be insufficient.
The description of the related art should not be assumed to be prior art merely because it is mentioned in or associated with this section. The description of the related art may include information that describes one or more aspects of the subject technology, and the description in this section does not limit the invention.
The inventors of the present disclosure have recognized the problems and disadvantages of the related art, have performed extensive research and experiments, including research and experiments for implementing a vibration apparatus for enhancing sound quality, and have developed a new sound apparatus for enhancing sound quality.
One or more example embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to providing a sound apparatus in which sound quality is enhanced, and a display apparatus having the same.
Additional advantages, aspects, and features of the disclosure are set forth in the present disclosure and will also be apparent from the present disclosure or may be learned by practice of the inventive concepts provided herein. Other features, advantages, and aspects of the present disclosure may be realized and attained by the descriptions provided in the present disclosure, including the claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and aspects of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, in one or more aspects, a sound apparatus may comprise a vibration device including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface and configured to vibrate an input sound signal, a first vibration member connected to the first surface, a second vibration member, and a first elastic member connecting the second surface to the second vibration member.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a sound apparatus where sound quality is enhanced.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the drawings and detailed description herein. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the following claims. Nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims. Further aspects and advantages are discussed below in conjunction with embodiments of the disclosure.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing description and the following description of the present disclosure are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the disclosures as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate aspects and embodiments of the disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain principles of the disclosure.
Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same drawing reference numerals should be understood to refer to the same elements, features, or structures. The sizes, lengths, and thicknesses of layers, regions and elements, and depiction of thereof may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and/or convenience.
Reference is now made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, when a detailed description of well-known methods, functions, structures or configurations may unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present disclosure, the detailed description thereof may have been omitted for brevity. Further, repetitive descriptions may be omitted for brevity. The progression of processing steps and/or operations described is a non-limiting example.
The sequence of steps and/or operations is not limited to that set forth herein and may be changed to occur in an order that is different from an order described herein, with the exception of steps and/or operations necessarily occurring in a particular order. In one or more examples, two operations in succession may be performed substantially concurrently, or the two operations may be performed in a reverse order or in a different order depending on a function or operation involved.
Unless stated otherwise, like reference numerals may refer to like elements throughout even when they are shown in different drawings. In one or more aspects, identical elements (or elements with identical names) in different drawings may have the same or substantially the same functions and properties unless stated otherwise. Names of the respective elements used in the following explanations are selected only for convenience and may be thus different from those used in actual products.
Advantages and features of the present disclosure, and implementation methods thereof, are clarified through the embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are examples and are provided so that this disclosure may be thorough and complete to assist those skilled in the art to understand the inventive concepts without limiting the protected scope of the present disclosure.
Shapes, dimensions (e.g., sizes, lengths, widths, heights, thicknesses, locations, radii, diameters, and areas), ratios, angles, numbers, the number of elements, and the like disclosed herein, including those illustrated in the drawings, are merely examples, and thus, the present disclosure is not limited to the illustrated details. It is, however, noted that the relative dimensions of the components illustrated in the drawings are part of the present disclosure.
When the term “comprise,” “have,” “include,” “contain,” “constitute,” “made of,” “formed of,” “composed of,” or the like is used with respect to one or more elements, one or more other elements may be added unless a term such as “only” or the like is used. The terms used in the present disclosure are merely used in order to describe particular example embodiments, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The terms of a singular form may include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
The word “exemplary” is used to mean serving as an example or illustration, unless otherwise specified. Embodiments are example embodiments. Aspects are example aspects. “Embodiments,” “examples,” “aspects,” and the like should not be construed to be preferred or advantageous over other implementations. An embodiment, an example, an example embodiment, an aspect, or the like may refer to one or more embodiments, one or more examples, one or more example embodiments, one or more aspects, or the like, unless stated otherwise. Further, the term “may” encompasses all the meanings of the term “can.”
In one or more aspects, unless explicitly stated otherwise, an element, feature, or corresponding information (e.g., a level, range, dimension, size, or the like) is construed to include an error or tolerance range even where no explicit description of such an error or tolerance range is provided. An error or tolerance range may be caused by various factors (e.g., process factors, internal or external impact, noise, or the like). In interpreting a numerical value, the value is interpreted as including an error range unless explicitly stated otherwise.
In describing a positional relationship, where the positional relationship between two parts (e.g., layers, films, regions, components, sections, or the like) is described, for example, using “on,” “upon,” “on top of,” “over,” “under,” “above,” “below,” “beneath,” “near,” “close to,” “adjacent to,” “beside,” “next to,” “at or on a side of” or the like, one or more other parts may be located between the two parts unless a more limiting term, such as “immediate(ly),” “direct(ly),” or “close(ly),” is used. For example, when a structure is described as being positioned “on,” “on a top of,” “upon,” “on top of,” “over,” “under,” “above,” “below,” “beneath,” “near,” “close to,” “adjacent to,” “beside,” “next to,” or “at or on a side of” another structure, this description should be construed as including a case in which the structures contact each other directly as well as a case in which one or more additional structures are disposed or interposed therebetween. Furthermore, the terms “front,” “rear,” “back,” “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “downward,” “upward,” “upper,” “lower,” “up,” “down,” “column,” “row,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and the like refer to an arbitrary frame of reference.
Spatially relative terms, such as “below,” “beneath,” “lower,” “on,” “above,” “upper” and the like, can be used to describe a correlation between various elements (e.g., layers, films, regions, components, sections, or the like) as shown in the drawings. The spatially relative terms are to be understood as terms including different orientations of the elements in use or in operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. For example, if the elements shown in the drawings are turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements would be oriented “above” other elements. Thus, the term “below,” which is an example term, can include all directions of “above” and “below.” Likewise, an exemplary term “above” or “on” can include both directions of “above” and “below.”
In describing a temporal relationship, when the temporal order is described as, for example, “after,” “subsequent,” “next,” “before,” “preceding,” “prior to,” or the like, a case that is not consecutive or not sequential may be included and thus one or more other events may occur therebetween, unless a more limiting term, such as “just,” “immediate(ly),” or “direct(ly),” is used.
It is understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” and the like may be used herein to describe various elements (e.g., layers, films, regions, components, sections, or the like), these elements should not be limited by these terms, for example, to any particular order, precedence, or number of elements. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be a first element, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the first element, the second element, and the like may be arbitrarily named according to the convenience of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For clarity, the functions or structures of these elements (e.g., the first element, the second element, and the like) are not limited by ordinal numbers or the names in front of the elements. Further, a first element may include one or more first elements. Similarly, a second element or the like may include one or more second elements or the like.
In describing elements of the present disclosure, the terms “first,” “second,” “A,” “B,” “(a),” “(b),” or the like may be used. These terms are intended to identify the corresponding element(s) from the other element(s), and these are not used to define the essence, basis, order, or number of the elements.
For the expression that an element (e.g., layer, film, region, component, section, or the like) is “connected,” “coupled,” “attached,” “adhered,” or the like to another element, the element can not only be directly connected, coupled, attached, adhered, or the like to another element, but also be indirectly connected, coupled, attached, adhered, or the like to another element with one or more intervening elements disposed or interposed between the elements, unless otherwise specified.
For the expression that an element (e.g., layer, film, region, component, section, or the like) “contacts,” “overlaps,” or the like with another element, the element can not only directly contact, overlap, or the like with another element, but also indirectly contact, overlap, or the like with another element with one or more intervening elements disposed or interposed between the elements, unless otherwise specified.
The phase that an element (e.g., layer, film, region, component, section, or the like) is “provided in,” “disposed in,” or the like in another element may be understood as that at least a portion of the element is provided in, disposed in, or the like in another element, or that the entirety of the element is provided in, disposed in, or the like in another element. The phase that an element (e.g., layer, film, region, component, section, or the like) “contacts,” “overlaps,” or the like with another element may be understood as that at least a portion of the element contacts, overlaps, or the like with a least a portion of another element, that the entirety of the element contacts, overlaps, or the like with a least a portion of another element, or that at least a portion of the element contacts, overlaps, or the like with the entirety of another element.
The terms such as a “line” or “direction” should not be interpreted only based on a geometrical relationship in which the respective lines or directions are parallel or perpendicular to each other, and may be meant as lines or directions having wider directivities within the range within which the components of the present disclosure can operate functionally. For example, the terms “first direction,” “second direction,” and the like, such as a direction parallel or perpendicular to “x-axis,” “y-axis,” or “z-axis,” should not be interpreted only based on a geometrical relationship in which the respective directions are parallel or perpendicular to each other, and may be meant as directions having wider directivities within the range within which the components of the present disclosure can operate functionally.
The term “at least one” should be understood as including any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example, each of the phrases “at least one of a first item, a second item, or a third item” and “at least one of a first item, a second item, and a third item” may represent (i) a combination of items provided by two or more of the first item, the second item, and the third item or (ii) only one of the first item, the second item, or the third item.
The expression of a first element, a second elements “and/or” a third element should be understood as one of the first, second and third elements or as any or all combinations of the first, second and third elements. By way of example, A, B and/or C may refer to only A; only B; only C; any of A, B, and C (e.g., A, B, or C); some combination of A, B, and C (e.g., A and B; A and C; or B and C); or all of A, B, and C. Furthermore, an expression “A/B” may be understood as A and/or B. For example, an expression “A/B” may refer to only A; only B; A or B; or A and B.
In one or more aspects, the terms “between” and “among” may be used interchangeably simply for convenience unless stated otherwise. For example, an expression “between a plurality of elements” may be understood as among a plurality of elements. In another example, an expression “among a plurality of elements” may be understood as between a plurality of elements. In one or more examples, the number of elements may be two. In one or more examples, the number of elements may be more than two. Furthermore, when an element (e.g., layer, film, region, component, sections, or the like) is referred to as being “between” at least two elements, the element may be the only element between the at least two elements, or one or more intervening elements may also be present.
In one or more aspects, the phrases “each other” and “one another” may be used interchangeably simply for convenience unless stated otherwise. For example, an expression “different from each other” may be understood as being different from one another. In another example, an expression “different from one another” may be understood as being different from each other. In one or more examples, the number of elements involved in the foregoing expression may be two. In one or more examples, the number of elements involved in the foregoing expression may be more than two.
In one or more aspects, the phrases “one or more among” and “one or more of” may be used interchangeably simply for convenience unless stated otherwise.
The term “or” means “inclusive or” rather than “exclusive or.” That is, unless otherwise stated or clear from the context, the expression that “x uses a or b” means any one of natural inclusive permutations. For example, “a or b” may mean “a,” “b,” or “a and b.” For example, “a, b or c” may mean “a,” “b,” “c,” “a and b,” “b and c,” “a and c,” or “a, b and c.”
Features of various embodiments of the present disclosure may be partially or entirely coupled to or combined with each other, may be technically associated with each other, and may be variously operated, linked or driven together in various ways. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented or carried out independently of each other or may be implemented or carried out together in a co-dependent or related relationship. In one or more aspects, the components of each apparatus and device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure are operatively coupled and configured.
Unless otherwise defined, the terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It is further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is, for example, consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined otherwise herein.
The terms used herein have been selected as being general in the related technical field; however, there may be other terms depending on the development and/or change of technology, convention, preference of technicians, and so on. Therefore, the terms used herein should not be understood as limiting technical ideas, but should be understood as examples of the terms for describing example embodiments.
Further, in a specific case, a term may be arbitrarily selected by an applicant, and in this case, the detailed meaning thereof is described herein. Therefore, the terms used herein should be understood based on not only the name of the terms, but also the meaning of the terms and the content hereof.
In the following description, various example embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. With respect to reference numerals to elements of each of the drawings, the same elements may be illustrated in other drawings, and like reference numerals may refer to like elements unless stated otherwise. The same or similar elements may be denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different drawings. In addition, for convenience of description, a scale, dimension, size, and thickness of each of the elements illustrated in the accompanying drawings may be different from an actual scale, dimension, size, and thickness. Thus, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to a scale, dimension, size, or thickness illustrated in the drawings.
A sound apparatus 1 may include a vibration device 11. The vibration device 11 may be a device which is displaced based on an inverse piezoelectric effect when a voltage is applied based on a sound signal (or a driving signal) input thereto. The vibration device 11, for example, may be an element which is displaced based on a voltage, such as a bimorph, unimorph, or multimorph. The displacement can be by bending or flexing of the vibration device. An input sound signal may be an alternating current (AC) voltage generally, and thus, the vibration device 11 may vibrate based on the input sound signal to output a vibration and/or a sound. For example, the vibration device 11 may be a vibration generating device, a sound generating device, or a voice generating device, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
A host system 2 may be a system including an apparatus or a plurality of apparatuses, which supply the sound signal to control the sound apparatus 1. However, the host system 2 may further supply other signals, such as an image signal (for example, red-green-blue (RGB) data or red-green-blue-white (RGBW) data) and a timing signal (for example, a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, and a data enable signal, etc.) or the like, based on the purpose of the sound apparatus 1. The host system 2 may be, for example, a source sound reproduction apparatus, a local broadcast apparatus, a radio broadcast reproduction system, a television (TV) system, a set-top box, a navigation system, an optical disk player, a computer, a home theater system, a video phone system, or the like. Further, the sound apparatus 1 and the host system 2 may be an integrated apparatus or separate apparatuses.
The host system 2 may include an input part 201, a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 211, a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit 212, transistors 221 and 222, a coil 223, and a capacitor 224. The input part 201 may input a digital signal to control the vibration device 11. The D/A converter 211 may convert the digital signal input from the input part 201 into an analog signal. The PWM circuit 212 may pulse-width-modulate the analog signal input from the D/A converter 211 to output a pulse signal. The transistors 221 and 222 may include a PNP type transistor 221 and an NPN type transistor 222. The PNP type transistor 221 and the NPN type transistor 222 may be configured as a push-pull circuit. For example, a collector terminal of each of the transistors 221 and 222 may be connected to each other, and a base terminal of each of the transistors 221 and 222 may be connected to each other. A positive voltage +Vdd may be applied to an emitter terminal of the transistor 221. A negative voltage −Vdd may be applied to an emitter terminal of the transistor 222. The pulse signal may be applied to the base terminals of the transistors 221 and 222 from the PWM circuit 212, and the transistors 221 and 222 may be complementarily turned on or turned off based on the pulse signal. For example, when a positive pulse signal is applied to the base terminals of the transistors 221 and 222, the transistor 221 may be turned on, and the transistor 222 may be turned off. Therefore, a voltage at the collector terminal of each of the transistors 221 and 222 may be a voltage +Vdd. On the other hand, when a negative pulse signal is applied to the base terminals of the transistors 221 and 222, the transistor 221 may be turned off, and the transistor 222 may be turned on. Therefore, a voltage at the collector terminal of each of the transistors 221 and 222 may be a voltage −Vdd. Further, when a potential of the pulse signal is a ground potential, the transistors 221 and 222 may be turned off simultaneously. The coil 223 and the capacitor 224 may each function as a low pass filter and may smooth the pulse signal at the collector terminal of each of the transistors 221 and 222 to output a sound signal (or a driving signal) to the vibration device 11.
As illustrated in
The first surface 11a of the vibration device 11 may be connected to the first vibration member 12. As illustrated in
The second surface 11b of the vibration device 11 may be connected to the second vibration member 14 by the elastic member 13. As illustrated in
An embodiment of a structure of the vibration device 11 is described in more detail with reference to
The vibration device 11 may include an adhesive layer 111, an electrode 112, a vibration layer 113, an electrode 114, and a protection layer 115. The adhesive layer 111 may be a layer which connects the vibration device 11 to the first vibration member 12. The electrode 112 and the electrode 114 may be disposed with the vibration layer 113 therebetween in a thickness direction (or z-axis) and may be configured to apply a voltage to the vibration layer 113. The protection layer (or a protection member) 115 may protect an upper surface of the electrode 114. In another example, the protection member 115 may be omitted. A polarization direction of the vibration layer 113 may be a positive direction or a negative direction with respect to the z-axis. Further, lines configured to apply a voltage to each electrode may be connected to the electrodes 112 and 114 through soldering or the like.
The material of the vibration layer 113 may include ferroelectric ceramic, having effective piezoelectric properties, such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT)-based materials or the like so as to increase the amount of displacement, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the material of the vibration layer 113 may be configured as a piezoelectric material of a ceramic-based material capable of implementing a relatively high vibration, or may be configured as a piezoelectric ceramic material having a perovskite-based crystal structure. For example, the material of the vibration layer 113 may have a polycrystalline structure or a single-crystalline structure. For example, the material of the vibration layer 113 may be configured as polycrystalline ceramic or single-crystalline ceramic, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the vibration layer 113 may be configured as a piezoelectric material including lead (Pb) or a piezoelectric material without lead (Pb). For example, the piezoelectric material including lead (Pb) may include one or more of a lead zirconate titanate (PZT)-based material, a lead zirconate nickel niobate (PZNN)-based material, a lead magnesium niobate (PMN)-based material, a lead nickel niobate (PNN)-based material, a lead zirconate niobate (PZN)-based material, or a lead indium niobate (PIN)-based material, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the piezoelectric material not including lead (Pb) may include one or more of barium titanate (BaTiO3), calcium titanate (CaTiO3), or strontium titanate (SrTiO3), but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. Furthermore, a lateral surface of the vibration device 11 may be covered by an insulator such as resin or the like so as to prevent an electrical short circuit between the vibration device 11 and the other members.
A voltage applied to the vibration device 11 may be based on the sound signal, and thus, may be an AC voltage corresponding to a frequency of a sound which is to be generated. In FIG. 5, an alternating current (AC) voltage may be represented by a circuit sign of an AC power source V. One terminal (or a first terminal) of the AC power source V may be connected to the electrode 112, and the other terminal (or a second terminal) of the AC power source V may be connected to the electrode 114.
When an AC voltage is applied to the electrode 112 (or a first electrode or a first electrode layer) and the electrode 114 (or a second electrode or a second electrode layer), the vibration layer 113 may contract and expand and a periodic stress may be applied to the first vibration member 12, and thus, a vibration may be generated. The vibration device 11 may transfer the periodic stress to the first vibration member 12, and thus, the first vibration member 12 may vibrate (including flexing and/or bending). Accordingly, the first vibration member 12 may vibrate and may generate a vibration and/or a sound based on a sound signal. The electrodes 112 and 114 may be formed of a transparent conductive material, a semitransparent conductive material, or an opaque conductive material. For example, the transparent conductive material or the semitransparent conductive material may include indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO), but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. The opaque conductive material may include an aluminum (Al), a copper (Cu), a gold (Au), a silver (Ag), a molybdenum (Mo), a magnesium (Mg), or the like, or an alloy thereof, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the electrode 112 may be formed of a different material from the electrode 114.
In the first example embodiment of the present disclosure, in addition to the first vibration member 12, the second vibration member 14 may be connected to the vibration device 11 through the elastic member 13. Accordingly, a portion of a vibration generated by the vibration layer 113 may be transferred to the second vibration member 14. Advantageously, because an undesired resonance of the sound apparatus 1 is diminished or reduced, a peak-dip width of a sound characteristic may be reduced. The peak-dip width reflects the quality of the sound reproduction a wider peak dip reflects a flatness in on the frequency range, which means poorer clarity, poorer accuracy in the sound reproduction. A reduction on the width of the peak dips means an improvement in the low frequency sounds.
An effect of reducing a peak-dip width is described in more detail with reference to real measurement data.
In
In a second example embodiment of the present disclosure, a modified example of a structure of the elastic member 13 in the sound apparatus 1 according to the first example embodiment of the present disclosure is described. A structure of each of the vibration device 11, the first vibration member 12, and the second vibration member 14 may be substantially the same as the first example embodiment of the present disclosure, and thus, repeated descriptions thereof are omitted.
As illustrated in
The plurality of elastic members 13 may be disposed at a region between the vibration device 11 and the second vibration member 14. For example, the first elastic member 13a, the second elastic member 13b, the third elastic member 13c, and the fourth elastic member 13d may be disposed at a region between the vibration device 11 and the second vibration member 14. The plurality of elastic members 13 may configure or provide a space (or a gap space, GS) between the vibration device 11 and the second vibration member 14. For example, each of the plurality of elastic members 13 may be disposed to be sloped (or curved) or inclined with respect to a side (or a lateral surface) of the vibration device 11 (or the second vibration member 14), and thus, may configure or provide the space (or the gap space, GS) between the vibration device 11 and the second vibration member 14. The space (or the gap space, GS) may configure or provide a resonance space or volume for a sound wave generated by a vibration of the vibration device 11. Therefore, sound quality may be enhanced (increased amplitude and quality of reproduction). Accordingly, according to the second example embodiment of the present disclosure, a sound apparatus having enhanced sound quality may be provided.
Each of the first elastic member 13a, the second elastic member 13b, the third elastic member 13c, and the fourth elastic member 13d may be configured in a cuboid shape (or a rectangular parallelepiped shape). Other shapes are also envisaged such as circular as an example. When seen in a plane from the z-axis direction, the cuboid shape may be configured in a rectangular shape including a long side and a short side. As illustrated in
The vibration device 11 (or the second vibration member 14) may include a cuboid shape (or a rectangular parallelepiped shape). When seen in a plane from the z-axis direction, the cuboid shape may be configured in a rectangular shape including a long side and a short side. For example, the plurality of elastic members 13 may be grouped into a first group and a second group. For example, the first group may include the first elastic member 13a, the second elastic member 13b, the third elastic member 13c, and the fourth elastic member 13d of the plurality of elastic members 13. The second group may include the fifth elastic member 13e, the sixth elastic member 13f, the seventh elastic member 13g, and the eighth elastic member 13h of the plurality of elastic members 13. For example, the elastic member of the first group and the elastic member of the second group may be disposed at positions which are symmetric with each other with respect to a first center line CL1 of the vibration device 11. For example, each of the first elastic member 13a, the second elastic member 13b, the third elastic member 13c, and the fourth elastic member 13d may be disposed at a position which is symmetric with a corresponding elastic member of the fifth elastic member 13e, the sixth elastic member 13f, the seventh elastic member 13g, and the eighth elastic member 13h, with respect to the first center line CL1 of the vibration device 11. For example, each of the first elastic member 13a, the fourth elastic member 13d, the fifth elastic member 13e, and the eighth elastic member 13h may be disposed at a position which is symmetric with a corresponding elastic member of the second elastic member 13b, the third elastic member 13c, the sixth elastic member 13f, and the seventh elastic member 13g, with respect to a second center line CL2 of the vibration device 11.
In the second example embodiment of the present disclosure, the second vibration member 14 may be connected to a portion of the second surface 11b of the vibration device 11 through the elastic member 13. Therefore, the vibration device 11 may be weakly coupled to or connected to the second vibration member 14 by the elastic member 13. Accordingly, in the sound apparatus 1, a resonance frequency may be reduced, and thus, a sound pressure level of a low-pitched sound region (or a low-pitched sound band) of a sound characteristic may increase.
An effect of increasing a sound pressure level of a low-pitched sound region is described in more detail with reference to real measurement data.
In
In a third embodiment of the present embodiment, a modified example of a shape of the elastic member 13 in the sound apparatus 1 according to the second example embodiment of the present disclosure is described. A structure of each of the vibration device 11, the first vibration member 12, and the second vibration member 14 may be substantially the same as the first example embodiment of the present disclosure, and thus, repeated descriptions thereof are omitted.
As illustrated in
Each of the plurality of elastic members 13 may be configured in a square shape. For example, each of the first elastic member 13a, the second elastic member 13b, the third elastic member 13c, and the fourth elastic member 13d may be configured in a cuboid shape (or a rectangular parallelepiped shape). When seen in a plane from the z-axis direction, the cuboid shape may be configured in a square shape. Each of the plurality of elastic members 13 may be disposed at a periphery portion of the vibration device 11. The first elastic member 13a, the second elastic member 13b, the third elastic member 13c, and the fourth elastic member 13d may be disposed at the periphery portion of the vibration device 11 so as to be symmetric with one another with respect to a center of a vibration device. As illustrated in
As described above, in the third example embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of elastic members 13 may be disposed to have high symmetry therebetween, based on the symmetry of a vibration. Further, in the third example embodiment of the present disclosure, an example is illustrated where there are four symmetries because the number of elastic members 13 is four, but the plurality of elastic members 13 may have a rotational symmetry based on the number and arrangement of elastic members 13 and symmetry between them.
The third example embodiment of the present disclosure may obtain substantially the same effect as the second example embodiment of the present disclosure. An effect of the third example embodiment of the present disclosure is described in more detail with reference to real measurement data.
In
In a fourth example embodiment of the present disclosure, a modified example of a structure of the second vibration member 14 in the sound apparatus 1 according to the third example embodiment of the present disclosure is described. A structure of each of the vibration device 11, the first vibration member 12, the second vibration member 14, and the first elastic member 13a to the fourth elastic member 13d may be substantially the same as the third example embodiment of the present disclosure, and thus, repeated descriptions thereof are omitted.
As illustrated in
Based on such a configuration, a space (or a gap space) may be formed (or configured) between the first vibration member 12 and the second vibration member 14. For example, a closed space may be formed (or configured) between the first vibration member 12 and the second vibration member 14. The closed space may form or configure a resonance space of a sound wave generated based on a vibration of the vibration device 11. Therefore, sound quality may be enhanced as previously described. Accordingly, according to the fourth example embodiment of the present disclosure, a sound apparatus having enhanced sound quality may be provided.
In a fifth example embodiment of the present disclosure, a modified example of the arrangement of the adhesive part 15 in the sound apparatus 1 according to the fourth example embodiment of the present disclosure is described. A structure of each of the vibration device 11, the first vibration member 12, and the first elastic member 13a to the fourth elastic member 13d may be substantially the same as the fourth example embodiment of the present disclosure, and thus, repeated descriptions thereof are omitted.
As illustrated in
Based on such a configuration, like the fourth example embodiment of the present disclosure, a space (or a gap space, GS) may be formed (or configured) between the first vibration member 12 and the second vibration member 14. For example, a closed space may be formed (or configured) between the first vibration member 12 and the second vibration member 14. The closed space may form or configure a resonance space of a sound wave generated based on a vibration of the vibration device 11. Therefore, sound quality may be enhanced. Accordingly, according to the fifth example embodiment of the present disclosure, a sound apparatus having enhanced sound quality may be provided.
An effect of the fifth example embodiment of the present disclosure is described in more detail with reference to real measurement data.
In
Substantially likewise, comparing a curve according to the fifth example embodiment of the present disclosure with a curve of a case where a hole is additionally configured at the second vibration member 14, sound pressure level characteristics may be changed based on a desired frequency. Accordingly, whether to install (or configure) a hole at the second vibration member 14 may be appropriately configured based on a characteristic of the sound apparatus, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
In a sixth example embodiment of the present disclosure, a modified example of a connection method between the vibration device 11 and the first vibration member 12 in the sound apparatus 1 according to the fourth example embodiment of the present disclosure is described. A structure of the vibration device 11, the first vibration member 12, and the first elastic member 13a to the fourth elastic member 13d, and the second vibration member 14 may be substantially the same as the fourth example embodiment of the present disclosure, and thus, repeated descriptions thereof are omitted.
An effect of the sixth example embodiment of the present disclosure is described in more detail with reference to real measurement data.
In
In a seventh example embodiment of the present disclosure, a modified example of a structure of the second vibration member 14 and the first elastic member 13a to the fourth elastic member 13d in the sound apparatus 1 according to the fourth example embodiment of the present disclosure is described. A structure of the vibration device 11 and the first vibration member 12 may be substantially the same as the fourth example embodiment of the present disclosure, and thus, repeated descriptions thereof are omitted.
As illustrated in
Moreover, shapes of a first elastic member 13a, a second elastic member 13b, a third elastic member 13c, and a fourth elastic member 13d may be substantially the same as the second example embodiment of the present disclosure. A second surface 11b of the vibration device 11 may be connected to the second vibration member 14a (or the first sub-vibration member) through the first elastic member 13a, the second elastic member 13b, the third elastic member 13c, and the fourth elastic member 13d. The second vibration member 14a may be connected to the second vibration member 14b (or the second sub-vibration member) at a surface (or a different surface) opposite to a side connected to the first elastic member 13a, the second elastic member 13b, the third elastic member 13c, and the fourth elastic member 13d. An end portion (or a periphery portion) of the second vibration member 14b may be connected to the first vibration member 12 at an adhesive part 15. A structure of the second vibration member 14b may be substantially equal to the second vibration member 14 according to the fourth example embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, when seen in a plane from a z-axis direction, the second vibration member 14a may be smaller than the vibration device 11. For example, the first vibration member 12 may be extended to an outer portion of the vibration device 11 to have a larger size than the second vibration member 14a and the vibration device 11 or to attach the second vibration member 14b to the first vibration member 12. For example, the vibration device 11 may be disposed at a region between the elastic member 13 and the first vibration member 12. For example, the elastic member 13 may be disposed at a region between the vibration device 11 and the second vibration member 14. An end portion (or one side or one portion) of the second vibration member 14 may include a different shape than a center part in order to connect (or attach) to the first vibration member 12. For example, when seen at a cross-sectional surface, the second vibration member 14 may include a curved shape where around an end portion (or one side or one portion) thereof is curved.
An elastic modulus (or a second elastic modulus) of the second vibration member 14b may be less than an elastic modulus (or a first elastic modulus) of the second vibration member 14a. The second vibration member 14b may include, for example, resin such as polyurethane or PET (relatively low elastic modulus) or the like, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. The second vibration member 14b may include, for example, metal such as stainless steel (relatively high elastic modulus). As described above, the second vibration member may be configured with a plurality of materials having different elastic modulus, and thus, the degree of freedom in material selection may be enhanced. There is thus greater flexibility on choice of materials.
As also shown in
In an eighth example embodiment of the present disclosure, a modified example of a connection structure of the second vibration member 14b and the first vibration member 12 in the sound apparatus 1 according to the seventh example embodiment of the present disclosure is described. A structure of the vibration device 11, the first vibration member 12, the first elastic member 13a to the fourth elastic member 13d, and the second vibration member 14a may be substantially the same as the seventh example embodiment of the present disclosure, and thus, repeated descriptions thereof are omitted.
In a ninth example embodiment of the present disclosure, a modified example of a structure of the second vibration member 14 in the sound apparatus 1 according to the eighth example embodiment of the present disclosure is described. A structure of the vibration device 11, the first elastic member 13a to the fourth elastic member 13d, and the connection member 17 may be substantially the same as the eighth example embodiment of the present disclosure, and thus, repeated descriptions thereof are omitted. The inclusion of connection 17 between adhesive member 15 and first vibration member 12, additionally creates a space advantageous for sound reproduction.
In a tenth example embodiment of the present disclosure, a modified example of a structure of the second vibration member 14b in the sound apparatus 1 according to the eighth example embodiment of the present disclosure is described. A structure of the vibration device 11, the first vibration member 12, the first elastic member 13a to the fourth elastic member 13d, and the second vibration member 14a may be substantially the same as the seventh example embodiment of the present disclosure, and thus, repeated descriptions thereof are omitted.
As illustrated in
The holes 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d may be formed to pass through the second vibration member 14b and may connect (or communicate) an inner portion of a resonance space and an outer portion of the resonance space to each other. A resonance state—helping with low frequency reproduction (see
As also seen in
In an eleventh example embodiment of the present disclosure, a modified example where the hole of the tenth example embodiment of the present disclosure is additionally configured at the sound apparatus 1 according to the eighth example embodiment of the present disclosure is described. Except for that a hole is additionally configured, a structure may be substantially the same as the eighth example embodiment of the present disclosure, and thus, a description thereof is omitted.
Furthermore, in the eleventh example embodiment of the present disclosure, the holes 18b and 18d may be formed at a second vibration member 14b instead of the connection member 17, like the tenth example embodiment of the present disclosure, and in this case, the eleventh example embodiment of the present disclosure may obtain substantially the same effect. For example, the first vibration member 12 may be extended to an outer portion of the vibration device 11. For example, the vibration device 11 may be disposed at a region between the elastic member 13 and the first vibration member 12. For example, the elastic member 13 may be disposed at a region between the vibration device 11 and the second vibration member 14. The adhesive part 15 may be disposed at the second vibration member 14. Again, this is particularly helpful for the low frequency sounds.
In a twelfth example embodiment of the present disclosure, a modified example where the hole of the tenth example embodiment of the present disclosure is additionally configured at the sound apparatus 1 according to the ninth example embodiment of the present disclosure is described. Except for that a hole is additionally configured, a structure may be substantially the same as the ninth example embodiment of the present disclosure, and thus, a description thereof is omitted.
In the twelfth example embodiment of the present disclosure, the holes 18b and 18d may be formed at a connection member 17 instead of the second vibration member 14b, like the eleventh example embodiment of the present disclosure, and in this case, the twelfth example embodiment of the present disclosure may obtain substantially the same effect.
In a configuration of the eleventh example embodiment of the present disclosure or the twelfth example embodiment of the present disclosure, the holes 18b and 18d may be formed at both sides of the connection member 17 and a second vibration member 14b. The number of holes illustrated in the tenth to twelfth embodiments of the present disclosure may be examples. The number of holes may be at least one, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the first vibration member 12 may be extended to an outer portion of the vibration device 11. For example, the vibration device 11 may be disposed at a region between the elastic member 13 and the first vibration member 12. For example, the elastic member 13 may be disposed at a region between the vibration device 11 and the second vibration member 14. The adhesive part 15 may be disposed at the connection member 17.
In a thirteenth embodiment of present disclosure, a modified example of a structure of the vibration device 11 in the sound apparatus 1 according to the thirteenth example embodiment of the present disclosure is described.
Each of the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B may be electrically separated and disposed while being spaced apart from each other along the x-axis direction. The first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B may alternately and repeatedly contract and/or expand based on a piezoelectric effect to vibrate. For example, the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B may be disposed or tiled at a certain interval (or distance) D1 along the x-axis direction from each other. Each of the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B may be disposed or tiled on the same plane, and thus, the vibration device 11 may have an enlarged area based on tiling of the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B having a relatively small size. Thus, the vibration device 11 in which the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B are tiled may be a vibration array, a vibration array part, a vibration module array part, a vibration array structure, a tiling vibration array, a tiling vibration array module, or a tiling vibration film, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
Each of the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B may be disposed or tiled at a certain interval (or distance) D1, and thus, may be implemented as one vibration apparatus (or a single vibration apparatus) which is driven as one complete single-body without being independently driven. With respect to the x-axis direction, a first separation distance (or first distance or first interval) D1 between the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B may be 0.1 mm or more and less than 3 cm, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. By having two small vibration parts, rather than one large, there can be a significant cost saving and the sounds can be better produced.
The first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B may be disposed in the first interval D1 of 0.1 mm or more and less than 5 mm, in order to increase a reproduction band of a sound generated by interconnecting a single-body vibration of the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B and to increase a sound of a low-pitched sound band (for example, a sound pressure level characteristic in 500 Hz or less). For example, when the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B are disposed in the interval D1 of less than 0.1 mm (other dimensions are possible such as less than 0.2 mm, or less than 0.05 mm say) or without the interval D1, the reliability of the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B or the vibration device 11 may be reduced due to damage or a crack caused by a physical contact therebetween which occurs when each of the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B vibrates (i.e., they vibrate to an extent that they touch each other).
Each of the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B may include a vibration layer 113, a first electrode 112 at a first surface of the vibration layer 113, and a second electrode 114 at a second surface different from (or opposite to) the first surface of the vibration layer 113. The vibration layer 113 is substantially the same as the vibration layer 113 described above with reference to
The vibration device 11 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a first protection layer (or a first protection member) 115a and a second protection layer (or a second protection member) 115b. The first protection layer 115a may be connected to a first surface (or a front surface or an upper surface) of each of the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B in common. The first protection layer 115a may protect the first surface of each of the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B. The second protection layer 115b may be connected to a second surface (or a rear surface or a lower surface) of each of the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B in common. The second protection layer 115b may protect the second surface of each of the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B. Any one of the first protective layer 115a and the second protective layer 115b may be connected or coupled to the first vibration member 12 through an adhesive layer. For example, any one of the first protective layer 115a and the second protective layer 115b may be omitted.
The first protection layer 115a may be connected or coupled to the first electrode 112 by a first adhesive layer 116a. The second protection layer 115b may be connected or coupled to the second electrode 114 by a second adhesive layer 116b. The first adhesive layer 116a and second adhesive layer 116b may be configured at a region between the first protection layer 115a and the second protection layer 115b to surround the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B. For example, the first adhesive layer 116a and second adhesive layer 116b may be configured at a region between the first protection layer 115a and the second protection layer 115b to completely surround the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B. The first adhesive layer 116a and second adhesive layer 116b may be connected to each other at a region between the first vibration generating part 11A and the second vibration generating part 11B. For example, the first and second vibration generating parts 11A and 11B may be embedded or built-in at a region between the first adhesive layer 116a and the second adhesive layer 116b.
Some of the elastic members of the plurality of elastic members 13 may be disposed at the first vibration generating part 11A, and the remaining elastic members of the plurality of elastic members 13 may be disposed at the second vibration generating part 11B (preferably, placing is symmetrical). For example, a first elastic member 13a and a third elastic member 13c may be disposed on the first vibration generating part 11A. A second elastic member 13b and a fourth elastic member 13d may be disposed at the second vibration generating part 11B.
In a fourteenth embodiment of present disclosure, a modified example of a structure of the vibration layer 113 in the vibration device 11 of the sound apparatus 1 according to the thirteenth example embodiment of the present disclosure is described.
Each of the plurality of first portions 113a may include an inorganic material having a piezoelectric characteristic. For example, each of the plurality of first portions 113a may be an inorganic material portion or a piezoelectric material portion. Each of the plurality of first portions 113a may have a first width W1 parallel to the x-axis direction and may be extended along the y-axis direction. Each of the plurality of first portions 113a may be substantially the same as the vibration layer 113 described above with reference to
Each of the plurality of second portions 113b may be disposed at a region between the plurality of first portions 113a. For example, each of the plurality of first portions 113a may be disposed at a region between two adjacent second portions 113b of the plurality of second portions 113b. The plurality of first portions 113a and the plurality of second portions 113b may include a line shape or a stripe shape which has the same size or different sizes.
Each of the plurality of second portions 113b may be configured to fill a gap between two adjacent first portions of the plurality of first portions 113a. Each of the plurality of first portions 113a and the plurality of second portions 113b may be disposed (or arranged) at the same plane (or the same layer) in parallel with each other. Each of the plurality of second portions 113b may absorb an impact applied to the first portions 113a, and thus, may enhance the durability of the first portions 113a and provide flexibility to the vibration device 11. Each of the plurality of second portions 113b may include an organic material having a ductile characteristic. For example, each of the plurality of second portions 113b may include one or more of an epoxy-based polymer, an acrylic-based polymer, and a silicone-based polymer, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, each of the plurality of second portions 113b may be an organic portion, an organic material, an adhesive portion, a stretch portion, a bending portion, a damping portion, an elastic portion, an elasticity portion, or a ductile portion, or the like, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
A first surface of each of the plurality of first portions 113a and the plurality of second portions 113b may be connected to the first electrode 112 in common. A second surface of each of the plurality of first portions 113a and the plurality of second portions 113b may be connected to the second electrode 114 in common.
In the vibration device 11 of the sound apparatus 1 according to the fourteenth example embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of first portions 113a and the plurality of second portion 113b may be disposed on (or connected to) the same plane, and thus, the vibration layer 113 may have a single thin film-type. Accordingly, the vibration device 11 may be vibrated in a vertical direction (or a up and down direction) by the first portions 113a having a vibration characteristic (ability to vibrate) and may be bent in a curved shape by the second portions 113b which have the ability to flex or bend, i.e., they have flexibility. For example, the vibration device 11 including the vibration layer 113 may have a 2-2 composite structure, and thus, may have a resonance frequency of 20 kHz or less, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
In a fifteenth embodiment of present disclosure, a modified example of a structure of the vibration layer 113 in the vibration device 11 of the sound apparatus 1 according to the thirteenth example embodiment of the present disclosure is described.
Each of the plurality of first portions 113a may be disposed to be spaced apart from one another along each of the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction. For example, each of the plurality of first portions 113a may have a cube shape having the same size and may be disposed in a lattice shape. Other shapes are possible such as rectangular, rhombus, circular, and so on. Each of the plurality of first portions 113a may be substantially the same as the first portion 113a described above with reference to
The second portion 113b may be disposed between the plurality of first portions 113a along each of the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction. The second portion 113b may be configured to fill a gap or a space between two adjacent first portions 113a or to surround each of the plurality of first portions 113a, and thus, the second portion 113b may be connected to or attached to a lateral surface of an adjacent first portion 113a. The second portion 113b may be substantially the same as the second portions 113b described above with reference to
A first surface of each of the plurality of first portions 113a and the second portion 113b may be connected to the first electrode in common. A second surface of each of the plurality of first portions 113a and the second portion 113b may be connected to the second electrode in common.
The plurality of first portions 113a and the second portion 113b may be disposed on (or connected to) the same plane, and thus, the vibration layer 113 according to the fifteenth example embodiment of the present disclosure may have a single thin film-type. Accordingly, the vibration device 11 may be vibrated in a vertical direction by the first portions 113a having a vibration characteristic and may be bent in a curved shape by the second portions 113b having flexibility. For example, the vibration device 11 including the vibration layer 113 may have a 1-3 composite structure, and thus, may have a resonance frequency of 20 kHz or less, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
In a sixteenth example embodiment of the present disclosure, a detailed configuration example is described where the sound apparatus 1 according to the first to twelfth embodiments of the present disclosure is a display apparatus and the first vibration member 12 performs a function of a display panel of the display apparatus. Descriptions of common elements which are the same as the first to twelfth example embodiments of the present disclosure are omitted or may be briefly given below.
As illustrated in
The panel controller 30 may control the data driving circuit 40 and the gate driving circuit 50 based on image data and a timing signal input from the host system 2. The data driving circuit 40 may supply data voltages or the like to a plurality of pixels P through a driving line 41 disposed at each column of the plurality of pixels P. The gate driving circuit 50 may supply a control signal to the plurality of pixels P through a driving line 51 disposed at each row of the plurality of pixels P. Further, each of the driving line 41 and the driving line 51 may be provided in a plurality lines.
The display panel 60 may include the plurality of pixels P disposed to configure a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. The display apparatus 3 may be, for example, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display using the display panel 60 where an OLED is provided as a light emitting device of the pixel P. Alternatively, the display apparatus 3 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) where a liquid crystal panel including a liquid crystal material and a polarizer, or the like is used as the display panel 60. Based on such a structure, the display panel 60 may be thinned, and thus, the structure may be suitable for thinning the display apparatus 3. When the display apparatus 3 is capable of displaying a color image, the pixel P may be a subpixel which displays one of a plurality of colors (for example, RGB or RGBW) implementing a color image.
Each of the controller 20, the panel controller 30, the data driving circuit 40, and the gate driving circuit 50 may be configured with one semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or a plurality of semiconductor ICs. Further, some or all of the controller 20, the panel controller 30, the data driving circuit 40, and the gate driving circuit 50 may be integrally configured as one semiconductor IC (or one body or a single body).
The display apparatus 3 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may be supplied with an image signal (for example, RGB data or RGBW data), a sound signal and a timing signal (a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, and a data enable signal, or the like) from the host system 2, and thus, may display an image and simultaneously may generate a sound. The display panel 60 may include an image display surface configured to display an image and a rear surface (or a backside surface) which is opposite to or different from the image display surface. The vibration devices 11 may be connected to the rear surface of the display panel 60. Therefore, the display panel 60 may include a function of displaying an image and a function of the vibration member 12 in the first to twelfth embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, in an example embodiment of the present disclosure, the display apparatus 3 having an acoustic effect where a sound is output from an image displayed by the display panel 60 may be provided.
The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely illustrative of some embodiments to which the present disclosure may be applied, and the technical scope of the present disclosures should not be construed as being limited according to the above-described embodiments. In addition, the present disclosure may be implemented in various embodiments through appropriate modifications and/or variations without departing from the technical idea or scope of the disclosures. For example, an embodiment should be understood where an embodiment where some elements of an arbitrary embodiment is added to another embodiment or an embodiment where some elements of an arbitrary embodiment are replaced with some elements of another embodiment may be applied to the present disclosure.
In the embodiments described above, an example where a shape of an elastic member is a cuboid shape is illustrated, but a shape of an elastic member may be a shape in addition to a cuboid shape.
In
Moreover, a size of an elastic member or a position relationship between a plurality of elastic members is not limited to the embodiments described above.
In
A sound apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to a sound apparatus disposed at an apparatus. The apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to mobile apparatuses, video phones, smart watches, watch phones, wearable apparatuses, foldable apparatuses, rollable apparatuses, bendable apparatuses, flexible apparatuses, curved apparatuses, sliding apparatuses, variable apparatuses, electronic organizers, electronic book, portable multimedia players (PMPs), personal digital assistants (PDAs), motion pictures expert group audio layer 3 (MP3) players, mobile medical devices, desktop personal computers (PCs), laptop PCs, netbook computers, workstations, navigation apparatuses, automotive navigation apparatuses, automotive display apparatuses, automotive apparatuses, theater apparatuses, theater display apparatuses, TVs, wall paper display apparatuses, signage apparatuses, game apparatuses, notebook computers, monitors, cameras, camcorders, home appliances, and the like. In addition, the sound apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to organic light-emitting lighting apparatuses or inorganic light-emitting lighting apparatuses. When the sound apparatus of an example embodiment of the present disclosure is applied to lighting apparatuses, the lighting apparatus may act as a lighting device and a speaker. Furthermore, when the sound apparatus of an example embodiment of the present disclosure is applied to a mobile device, or the like, the sound apparatus may act as one or more of a speaker, a receiver, and a haptic apparatus, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
A sound apparatus according to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure are described below.
A sound apparatus according to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure may comprise a vibration device including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface and configured to vibrate by an input sound signal, a first vibration member connected to the first surface, a second vibration member, and a first elastic member connecting the second surface to the second vibration member.
A sound apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure may comprise a vibration device including a first surface and a second surface opposite to or facing each other, the vibration device being configured to vibrate according to or by a (input) voltage and/or sound signal; a first vibration member connected or coupled to the first surface; a second vibration member; and a first elastic member connecting the second surface to the second vibration member.
The sound apparatus according to any one of these aspects may include one or more of the following features:
The vibration device may be configured to vibrate by a voltage applied thereto, the voltage corresponding to the sound signal.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first elastic member may be connected to a portion of the second surface, e.g., only to a portion of the second surface. For instance, the first elastic member may expose a portion (e.g., 25-50%, or 75% say, up to all) of the second surface.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first elastic member may be connected to the whole second surface. For instance, the first elastic member may cover the whole second surface.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the sound apparatus may further comprise a second elastic member connecting the second surface to the second vibration member.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first elastic member and the second elastic member may have symmetry when seen in a plane from a direction perpendicular to the second surface. For example, the first elastic member and the second elastic member may be symmetrically disposed to each other on the second surface.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the sound apparatus may further comprise a third elastic member and a fourth elastic member connecting the second surface to the second vibration member. In this case, the first elastic member, the second elastic member, the third elastic member, and the fourth elastic member may have a rotational symmetry when seen in a plane. The first elastic member, the second elastic member, the third elastic member, and the fourth elastic member may be disposed on the second surface to have a rotation symmetry, e.g., with respect to a perpendicular center line of the second surface and/or of the first vibration member. A perpendicular center line denotes a line perpendicular to the second surface and/or to the first vibration member and passing through a center of second surface and/or of the first vibration member.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the sound apparatus may further comprise a connection portion connecting the second surface to the second vibration member, e.g., the connection portion being disposed between and/or adjacent to the first elastic member, the second elastic member, the third elastic member, and the fourth elastic member. The connection portion may be disposed between and/or adjacent to and/or spaced apart from the first elastic member, the second elastic member, the third elastic member, and the fourth elastic member. The connection portion may be an adhesive part.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first elastic member, the second elastic member, the third elastic member, and the fourth elastic member may have a rotational symmetry with respect to the connection portion when seen in a plane. For example. the first elastic member, the second elastic member, the third elastic member, and the fourth elastic member may be disposed on the second surface to have a rotational symmetry with respect to the connection portion.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the second vibration member may be connected to the first vibration member.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the second vibration member may have a curved or bent or kinked shape when seen in a cross-sectional surface vertical to the second surface. For example, the second vibration member may have a curved or bent or kinked shape in a cross-section.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the second vibration member is disposed so that a resonance space may be configured between the first vibration member and the second vibration member.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the second vibration member may comprise at least one hole connecting the resonance space to an outside of the resonance space.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the sound apparatus may further comprise at least one connection member connecting the first vibration member to the second vibration member and/or to the first surface.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first vibration member and the second vibration member may be disposed in parallel when seen in a cross-sectional surface vertical to the second surface. That is, the first vibration member and the second vibration member may be parallel to each other, i.e., may extend in parallel planes.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the second vibration member and the at least one connection member may be disposed so that a resonance space is provided between the second vibration member, the at least one connection member, and the first vibration member.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the second vibration member may comprise at least one hole connecting the resonance space to an outside of the resonance space.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the connection member may comprise at least one hole connecting the resonance space to an outside of the resonance space.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the second vibration member may comprise a first portion having a first elastic modulus, and a second portion having a second elastic modulus being smaller than the first elastic modulus.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first portion may be connected to the first elastic member.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the second portion may be connected to the first vibration member.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first vibration member may be connected to the whole first surface.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first vibration member may be connected to a portion of the first surface.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first elastic member may have a rectangular shape in a planar view, i.e., when seen in a plane from a direction perpendicular to the second surface. For example, the first elastic member may be disposed on the second surface to have a rectangular shape.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first elastic member may have a square shape in a planar view, i.e., when seen in a plane from a direction perpendicular to the second surface. For example, the first elastic member may be disposed on the second surface to have a square shape.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first elastic member may have a circular shape in a planar view, i.e., when seen in a plane from a direction perpendicular to the second surface. For example, the first elastic member may be disposed on the second surface to have a circular shape.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first vibration member may be a display panel of a display apparatus, the display panel may comprise an image display surface configured to display an image and a rear surface opposite to the image display surface, and a vibration of the vibration device may be for being transferred to the rear surface of the display panel.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first vibration member may be a display panel of the display apparatus and the first surface of the vibration device may be coupled to a rear surface of the display panel, the rear surface being opposite to an image display surface of the display panel, to transfer vibration of the vibration device to the rear surface of the display panel.
The sound apparatus according to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure may include a first vibration member, a vibration device connected to the first vibration member, a second vibration member connected to the vibration device, and a plurality of elastic members which configure or provide a space (or a gap space, GS) between the vibration device and the second vibration member.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, a plurality of elastic members may be disposed at positions which are symmetry with one another with respect to a center of a vibration device.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of elastic members may be disposed at periphery portions of the vibration device so as to be symmetric with one another with respect to the center of the vibration device.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of elastic members may be disposed to be inclined with respect to a side of the vibration device.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of elastic members may include a long side and a short side, and the long side of each of the plurality of elastic members may be extended in a direction toward a center of the vibration device from one corner of the vibration device.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the second vibration member may have a size which is greater than that of the vibration device.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the second vibration member may be extended to an outer portion of the vibration device.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the second vibration member may have an octagonal shape.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the sound apparatus may further include an adhesive part between the first vibration member and the second vibration member.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the sound apparatus may further include a first adhesive part between a periphery portion of the second vibration member and the first vibration member, and a second adhesive part between a center portion of the second vibration member and the vibration device.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the sound apparatus may further include a plurality of connection members which configure or provide a space between the first vibration member and the vibration device.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of connection members may overlap a respective one of the plurality of elastic members.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the second vibration member may include a first sub-vibration member connected to the plurality of elastic members, and a second sub-vibration member, which covers the first sub-vibration member and is connected to the first vibration member.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the sound apparatus may further include a connection member which is between the first vibration member and the second vibration member and surrounds the vibration device.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the connection member may configure or provide a space which surrounds the vibration device between the first vibration member and the second vibration member. The second vibration member may include one or more holes which connect (or communicate) with each other an inner portion and an outer portion of the space surrounding the vibration device.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the connection member may include one or more holes which connect (or communicate), with each other, the inner portion and the outer portion of the space surrounding the vibration device.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the one or more holes may be configured or provided at the second vibration member to overlap one or more respective corner portions of the vibration device.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the second vibration member may include a first sub-vibration member connected to the plurality of elastic members and a second sub-vibration member which covers the first sub-vibration member and is connected to the first vibration member. The one or more holes may be formed at the second sub-vibration member to overlap one or more respective corner portions of the vibration device.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the vibration device may include at least two or more vibration generating parts. Each of the at least two or more vibration generating parts may include a vibration layer, a first electrode at a first surface of the vibration layer, and a second electrode at a second surface of the vibration layer. The second surface of the vibration layer may be different from the first surface of the vibration layer.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the vibration device may further include a first protection member connected to a first surface of each of the first and second vibration generating parts in common, and a second protection member connected to a second surface of each of the first and second vibration generating parts in common.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the vibration device may further include a first adhesive layer between the at least two or more vibration generating parts and the first protection member, and a second adhesive layer between the at least two or more vibration generating parts and the second protection member.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer may be connected to each other between the at least two or more vibration generating parts.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, some of the plurality of elastic members may be disposed at some of two or more vibration generating parts, and the other elastic members of the plurality of elastic members may be disposed at the other vibration generating parts of two or more vibration generating parts.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the vibration layer may include (i) a plurality of first portions and (ii) one or more second portions between the plurality of first portions.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of first portions may include an inorganic material having a piezoelectric characteristic, and the one or more second portion may include an organic material having a ductile characteristic.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first vibration member may be configured with, or may include, material of metal, resin, glass, hard paper, wood, rubber, plastic, fiber, cloth, paper, leather, or carbon.
According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure, the first vibration member may include a display panel including a pixel configured to display an image, a screen panel on which an image is to be projected from a display apparatus, a lighting panel, a light emitting diode lighting panel, an organic light emitting lighting panel, an inorganic light emitting lighting panel, a signage panel, a vehicular interior material, a vehicular glass window, a vehicular exterior material, a vehicular seat interior material, a vehicular ceiling material, a building ceiling material, a building interior material, a building glass window, an aircraft interior material, an aircraft glass window, or a mirror.
According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a display apparatus may be provided including a sound apparatus according to any one of the herein disclosed aspects or embodiments.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the technical idea or scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers the modifications and variations of this disclosure that come within the scope of the claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-206163 | Dec 2022 | JP | national |
