Patent Application
20150036866
An embodiment of the invention is directed to a speaker assembly suspension system for low rise micro-speakers. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
In modern consumer electronics, audio capability is playing an increasingly larger role as improvements in digital audio signal processing and audio content delivery continue to happen. There is a range of consumer electronics devices that are not dedicated or specialized audio playback devices, yet can benefit from improved audio performance. For instance, smart phones are ubiquitous. These devices, however, do not have sufficient space to house high fidelity speakers. This is also true for portable personal computers such as laptop, notebook, and tablet computers, and, to a lesser extent, desktop personal computers with built-in speakers. Such devices typically require speaker enclosures or boxes that have a relatively low rise (i.e. height or thickness as defined along the z-axis), as compared to, for instance, stand alone high fidelity speakers and dedicated digital music systems for handheld media players.
An embodiment of the invention is a speaker assembly (e.g. a speaker driver) including a frame, a magnet assembly, a sound radiation surface, a suspension member and a voice coil. The magnet assembly is positioned within the frame and the sound radiating surface is suspended over the magnet assembly by the suspension member. The suspension member may have a top side connected to a bottom face of the sound radiating surface and a bottom side connected to the magnet assembly such that it extends in the z-height direction of the speaker driver. The voice coil may extend from the bottom face of the sound radiating surface such that it is aligned with a magnetic flux gap formed within the magnet assembly. The suspension member may be resilient such that it can expand and contract in the z-height direction in response to movement of the sound radiating surface. In addition, the suspension member may be confined to an area below the sound radiating surface and within a footprint of the sound radiating surface such that it does not extend radially beyond the perimeter of the sound radiating surface. In this aspect, an acoustic radiation surface area of the sound radiating surface may be improved, e.g., increased.
In some embodiments, the speaker assembly may be a micro-speaker assembly which is integrated within a portable audio device. In this aspect, an acoustic output port of the speaker assembly may be aligned with an acoustic opening of the portable audio device such that sound generated by the speaker assembly may be output from the portable audio device.
The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is contemplated that the embodiments may include all systems and methods that can be practiced from all suitable combinations of the various aspects summarized above, as well as those disclosed in the Detailed Description below and particularly pointed out in the claims filed with the application. Such combinations may have particular advantages not specifically recited in the above summary.
The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one.
In this section we shall explain several preferred embodiments with reference to the appended drawings. Whenever the shapes, relative positions and other aspects of the parts described in the embodiments are not clearly defined, the scope of the embodiments is not limited only to the parts shown, which are meant merely for the purpose of illustration. Also, while numerous details are set forth, it is understood that some embodiments may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description.
Speaker assembly 100 may include a magnet assembly 104, sound radiating surface (SRS) 106 and coil 108 (also referred to as a voice coil). SRS 106 may be any type of speaker or micro-speaker diaphragm capable of inter-converting mechanical motion and sound. Coil 108 may be attached to a bottom face 116 of SRS 106 in any suitable manner, e.g., chemical bonding, mechanically attached or the like. Coil 108 may be any type of voice coil suitable for use in a speaker, for example, a micro-speaker. Magnet assembly 104 may define a magnetic flux gap 118 within which a portion of coil 108 may be positioned. A magnetic field of magnet assembly 104 helps to drive an up and down movement of coil 108, which in turn vibrates or moves SRS 106 in a similar manner with respect to magnet assembly 104 (as illustrated by arrows) to generate sound waves.
SRS 106 may be movably suspended over magnet assembly 104 by a suspension member 112. Suspension member 112 may be positioned between the bottom face 116 of SRS and magnet assembly 104 such that it suspends SRS 106 above magnet assembly 104. In addition to facilitating vibration of SRS 106 back and forth as illustrated by the arrows, suspension member 112 helps to maintain side to side alignment of coil 108 within gap 118.
In some embodiment, suspension member 112 is dimensioned to suspend a resilient portion of SRS 106 above magnet assembly 104 without extending into an area above top face 114 of SRS 106 (i.e. the area between top face 114 and the top wall of frame 102). In this aspect, a z-height between top face 114 of SRS 106 and frame 102 (illustrated as Z1), and in turn an overall z-height of frame 102 (illustrated as Z2) need not be increased to accommodate suspension member 112. As such, a z-height of speaker assembly 100 can be reduced, as compared to speakers using radially extending half-arc suspension systems that extend above the diaphragm they are suspending. Consider for example a typical speaker assembly having a Z1 to Z2 height ratio of about 1 to 5, speaker assembly 100 may allow for this ratio to be reduced such that Z1 to Z2 is, for example, from about 1 to 4, or from 1 to 3, or 1 to 2. The reduced z-height of speaker assembly 100 allows speaker assembly 100 to be integrated within relatively low rise devices.
In addition to not extending above SRS 106, suspension member 112 is substantially confined to an area below SRS 106, in other words SRS 106 overlaps suspension member 112. Described another way, suspension member 112 is substantially within a footprint of SRS 106 such that it does not extend radially beyond a perimeter of SRS 106. In this aspect, the acoustic radiation surface area of SRS 106 is improved (i.e. increased). The acoustic radiation surface area generally refers to the surface area of SRS 106 which can vibrate and produce sound. Representatively, the area of the frame within which a typical SRS is supported has a predefined length and width. When the SRS is suspended within the frame using a suspension system that extends radially from the SRS to the frame (e.g. a half-arc suspension system), the overall area of the SRS must be reduced to accommodate the surrounding suspension system. Since suspension member 112, however, does not extend radially beyond a perimeter of SRS 106, the acoustic radiation surface area of SRS 106 does not need to be reduced to accommodate suspension member 112. Rather, SRS 106 can extend into the area of frame 102 typically reserved for a radially extending suspension member thereby increasing its acoustic radiation surface area. In addition, because suspension member 112 extends vertically between SRS 106 and magnet assembly 104, SRS 106 has a higher stiffness in the in-plane direction, as compared to diaphragms suspended using radially extending suspensions. This in turn helps to stabilize SRS 106 displacement and minimize rocking or tilting of SRS 106.
Suspension member 112 can be any size, shape and/or material suitable for suspending SRS 106 above magnet assembly 104 in the manner previously discussed. Representatively, suspension member 112 may be made of any structure and/or materials which allow suspension member 112 to be contracted down to the excursion limit of SRS 106, with the excursion limit being one which avoids coil 108 from contacting frame 102. In addition, the structure and/or material of suspension member 112 should be that which allows maximal and symmetrical displacement of SRS 106 in the upward direction so as to minimize rocking of SRS 106. In this aspect, suspension member 112 should be resilient and capable of expanding and contracting along the z-height direction to accommodate SRS movement with respect to magnet assembly 104. Representatively, suspension member 112 may be made of a resilient material including, but not limited to, silicone, rubber, or a gel material encapsulated within any of these materials, or any combination of these materials. In some embodiments, suspension member 112 is made of any non-metal material.
In one embodiment, suspension member 112 may be an elongated structure which is attached along its top side 132 to the bottom face 116 of SRS 106 and along its bottom side 134 to magnet assembly 104. Suspension member 112 may be attached to an area of bottom face 116 which is outside of coil 108 and near the edge of SRS 106 as illustrated in
Representatively, in some embodiments, suspension member 112 may be made of a hollow tube which can expand or contract in the z-height direction. Representatively,
A process of manufacturing any one or more of the speaker assemblies described above, and in particular a speaker assembly including a frame 102, magnet assembly 104, SRS 106, coil 108 and one or more suspension members 112, 212, 312A-312B may proceed as follows. Coil 108 may be obtained as a pre-wound unit, which is then secured to SRS 106. Next, the magnet assembly 104 is mounted within frame 102 and, at the same time, or just before or just after, the suspension member (for example, suspension member 112) is attached to magnet assembly 104. Alternatively, the suspension member may first be attached to SRS 106. SRS 106, which may be a rigid plate or dome having coil 108 attached thereto, is then attached to a top side of the suspension member.
As previously discussed,
Wireless device 600 may include an antenna system 602. Wireless device 600 may also include a radio frequency (RF) transceiver 604, coupled to the antenna system 602, to transmit and/or receive voice, digital data and/or media signals through antenna system 602.
A digital processing system 606 may further be provided to control the digital RF transceiver and to manage the voice, digital data and/or media signals. Digital processing system 606 may be a general purpose processing device, such as a microprocessor or controller for example. Digital processing system 606 may also be a special purpose processing device, such as an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or DSP (digital signal processor). Digital processing system 606 may also include other devices to interface with other components of wireless device 600. For example, digital processing system 606 may include analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters to interface with other components of wireless device 600.
A storage device 608, coupled to the digital processing system, may further be included in wireless device 600. Storage device 608 may store data and/or operating programs for the wireless device 600. Storage device 608 may be, for example, any type of solid-state or magnetic memory device.
One or more input devices 610, coupled to the digital processing system 606, to accept user inputs (e.g., telephone numbers, names, addresses, media selections, etc.) or output information to a far end user may further be provided. Exemplary input devices may be, for example, one or more of a keypad, a touchpad, a touch screen, a pointing device in combination with a display device or similar input device.
Display device 618 may be coupled to the digital processing system 606, to display information such as messages, telephone call information, contact information, pictures, movies and/or titles or other indicators of media being selected via the input device 610. Display device 618 may be, for example, an LCD display device. In one embodiment, display device 618 and input device 610 may be integrated together in the same device (e.g., a touch screen LCD such as a multi-touch input panel which is integrated with a display device, such as an LCD display device). It will be appreciated that the wireless device 600 may include multiple displays.
Battery 614 may further be provided to supply operating power to components of the system including digital RF transceiver 604, digital processing system 606, storage device 608, input device 610, audio transducer 616, sensor(s) 622, and display device 618. Battery 614 may be, for example, a rechargeable or non-rechargeable lithium or nickel metal hydride battery. Wireless device 600 may also include audio transducers 616, which may include one or more speakers (e.g. speaker assemblies 100-400), receivers and at least one microphone.
Sensor(s) 622 may be coupled to the digital processing system 606. The sensor(s) 622 may include, for example, one or more of a light and/or proximity sensor. Based on the data acquired by the sensor(s) 622, various responses may be performed automatically by the digital processing system, such as, for example, activating or deactivating the backlight, changing a setting of the input device 610 (e.g., switching between processing or not processing, as an intentional user input, any input data from an input device), and other responses and combinations thereof. It is noted that other types of sensors may also be included in wireless device 600, such as an accelerometer, touch input panel, ambient noise sensor, temperature sensor, gyroscope, a hinge detector, a position determination device, an orientation determination device, a motion sensor, a sound sensor, a radio frequency electromagnetic wave sensor, and other types of sensors and combinations thereof.
In addition, although not illustrated, other types of devices and/or components may also be associated with wireless device 600, for example, a camera.
While certain embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive, and that the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, although the drawings show a substantially rectangular SRS, it is contemplated that SRS may have any shape and size suitable for use in a speaker assembly, for example, SRS may be round. In addition, although the speaker assembly is described as a micro-speaker assembly, it is further contemplated that suspension members such as those described herein may be used to suspend any type of diaphragm used in any type of speaker assembly, for example, a diaphragm used in high fidelity speaker systems for stereo systems, radios, televisions or the like. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.
