Resonant panel-form loudspeaker

• US 20010026625A1
• Filed: 01/03/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Azima, Henry, Morecroft, Denis
• Application Number:
  US09/752,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20010026625A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/152
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/045 using the distributed mode principle, i.e. whereby the acoustic radiation is emanated from uniformly distributed free bending wave vibration induced in a stiff panel and not from pistonic motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/066 using the principle of inertia

Abstract

A loudspeaker drive unit comprising a visual display screen, a resonant panel-form member positioned adjacent to the display screen and at least a portion of which is transparent and through which the display screen is visible, and vibration exciting means to cause the panel-form member to resonate to act as an acoustic radiator.

Claims

1. A loudspeaker drive unit comprising a visual display screen, a resonant panel-form member positioned adjacent to the display screen and at least a portion of which is transparent and through which the display screen is visible, and vibration exciting means to cause the panel-form member to resonate to act as an acoustic radiator.

2. A loudspeaker drive unit according to

claim 1

, wherein the whole of the resonant panel-form member is transparent.

3. A loudspeaker drive unit as claimed in

claim 1

or

claim 2

, wherein the resonant panel-form member is of plastics.

4. A loudspeaker drive unit as claimed in any one of

claims 1

to

3

, wherein the resonant panel-form member is of polystyrene, polycarbonate or glass or a laminate of plastics and glass.

5. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the panel-form member is a laminate comprising a core of plastics or aerogel with skins of glass.

6. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any preceding claim, comprising more than one vibration exciting means.

7. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each vibration exciting means is mounted to an edge or marginal portion of the panel-form member.

8. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any preceding claim, comprising vibration exciters mounted in pairs to an edge or edges or marginal portions of the panel-form member.

9. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each vibration exciting means is coupled directly to the panel-form member.

10. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the vibration exciting means is electrodynamic.

11. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the vibration exciting means is inertial.

12. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any preceding claim, comprising associated supporting means in which the drive unit is mounted.

13. A loudspeaker drive unit according to

claim 12

, wherein the associated supporting means is a frame or chassis.

14. A loudspeaker drive unit according to

claim 12

or

claim 13

, wherein the resonant panel-form member is resiliently supported on the associated supporting means.

15. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any one of

claims 12

to

14

, wherein the or each vibration exciter is resiliently mounted in the associated supporting means.

16. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any one of

claims 12

to

15

, wherein the panel-form member is rectangular, and wherein the resilient panel support extends along at least three adjacent edges of the panel-form member.

17. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any one of

claims 1

to

9

or

12

to 16, wherein the vibration exciter comprises a transparent piezoelectric or electret on or in at least a part of the panel-form member.

18. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more marginal portions of the panel-form member are clamped or restrained.

19. A loudspeaker drive unit according to

claim 18

, wherein the whole periphery of the panel-form member is mechanically clamped.

20. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any preceding claim, wherein panel-form member is mounted in an associated cavity defining means or enclosure enclosing a face of the panel-form member whereby acoustic radiation from the said face is at least partly contained within the enclosure or cavity.

21. A loudspeaker drive unit according to

claim 20

, wherein the enclosure or cavity is such as to modify the modal behaviour of the panel-form member.

22. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the display screen is integral with the panel-form member.

23. A loudspeaker according to

claim 22

, wherein the integral display screen comprises light emitting or transmitting or reflective means.

24. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the panel-form member forms the external face of a visual display unit or the like.

25. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any preceding claim, comprising a polymer-film liquid crystal display bonded or otherwise mounted on the panel-form member.

26. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the resonant panel-form member has a user-accessible surface and means on or associated with the surface and responsive to user contact.

27. A loudspeaker drive unit according to

claim 26

, comprising pads, areas, switches or buttons on the panel-form member and which provide a means for instructions or information to be entered.

28. A loudspeaker drive unit according to

claim 26

or

27

, comprising visible areas on the panel-form member and delineated by printing or labelling to sense the presence or contact by a user.

29. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any one of

claims 26

to

28

comprising metallised user responsive contacts of transparent metal oxide film or thin metal film on the panel-form member.

30. A loudspeaker drive unit according to any one of

claims 26

to

29

, wherein the user responsive means is positioned at the perimeter of the panel-form member.

31. A loudspeaker comprising a loudspeaker drive unit as. claimed in any preceding claim.

32. A display screen module comprising a loudspeaker drive unit as claimed in any preceding claim, and a chassis or frame supporting the display screen and resiliently supporting the transparent panel-form member.

33. A telephone receiver comprising a loudspeaker drive unit as claimed in any preceding claim.

34. A portable personal computer comprising a loudspeaker drive unit as claimed in any preceding claim.

35. A portable personal computer as claimed in

claim 34

, comprising a body having a key pad and a lid adapted to enclose the key pad and carrying a display screen, and wherein the display screen comprises a loudspeaker drive unit as claimed in any one of

claims 1

to

30

.