DUST PROTECTION APPARATUS FOR FLAT LOUDSPEAKERS

• US 20120033846A1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audio Pixels Ltd. (Audio Pixels Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Audio Pixels Ltd. (Audio Pixels Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kaplan, Shay, Cohen, Yuval, Ben Simon, Meir, Lewin, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,811,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/386
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/023 Screens for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 31/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor manufacture of microstructural arrangements of deformable or non-deformable structures in general B81C1/00182
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 Acoustic transducer

Abstract

A method for fabricating flat loudspeakers comprising manufacturing a flat loudspeaker including at least one microspeaker array, having first and second main surfaces; and covering at least one of the main surfaces of the loudspeaker with a cover member including an airtight sound-pressure wave transparent thin polymer film.

Claims

1-35. -35. (canceled)

36. Dust protection cover apparatus for flat loudspeakers including at least one microspeaker array, the apparatus comprising:

a cover member including an airtight sound-pressure wave transparent thin polymer film,

wherein the thickness of the film is less than 10 microns thick.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said loudspeaker includes a plurality of speaker element arrays on a substrate;

and wherein loudspeaker is surrounded with at least one frame on which the sound-pressure wave transparent thin polymer film is mounted, and wherein said frame has two main sides and is operative to equalize pressure between its said two main sides.

38. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the thickness of the film is of an order of magnitude of 2 microns.

39. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said polymer is selected from the following group:

Nitrocellulose, Polyimide, Polyethylene, Polyester, Parylene.

40. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the film is mounted offset from the surface using a spacer frame.

41. Apparatus according to claim 40 wherein said sound-pressure wave transparent thin polymer film is attached via an adhesive to said frame.

42. Apparatus according to claim 40 wherein said sound-pressure wave transparent thin polymer film is thermally bonded to said frame.

43. Apparatus according to claim 40 wherein said sound-pressure wave transparent thin polymer film is ultrasonically welded to said frame.

44. Apparatus according to claim 40 wherein said sound-pressure wave transparent thin polymer film is laser welded to said frame.

45. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said film is made from a polymer able to withstand temperatures used during solder reflow.

46. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said flat loudspeaker surface is treated to become hydrophobic.

47. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said loudspeaker includes a plurality of speaker element arrays.

48. Apparatus according to claim 40 wherein said frame has two main sides and wherein said pressure is equalized by said frame having vent holes connecting said two sides of said frame.

49. Apparatus according to claim 41 wherein said loudspeaker has at least one recess for controlling the flow of an adhesive used to attach said film to said frame.

50. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said sound-pressure wave transparent thin polymer film is attached to both top and bottom surfaces of said flat loudspeaker.

51. Apparatus according to claim 48 wherein said holes contain a porous material.

52. Apparatus according to claim 40 wherein said pressure is equalized by said frame having on at least one of its surfaces a groove allowing air transfer from one side of the frame to the other.

53. Apparatus according to claim 52 wherein said groove comprises a meandering groove.

54. Apparatus according to claim 36 and also comprising a flat loudspeaker including at least one microspeaker array which is covered by said cover member.

55. Apparatus according to claim 37 and wherein pressure equalization is achieved by using vent holes in the frame.

56. Apparatus according to claim 40 wherein said pressure is equalized by said frame such that said frame includes a wall disposed over a groove formed in the surface to which said frame is attached allowing air transfer from one side of the frame to the other.

58. Apparatus according to claim 41 wherein said adhesive is porous and allows air to flow through it.

59. Apparatus according to claim 55 wherein a dust filter is deployed inside said vent holes to filter dust out of incoming air.

60. Apparatus according to claim 40 and wherein pressure equalization is achieved by forming the frame of porous material defining holes, so as not to let airborne particles larger than a few microns pass through the holes.

61. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the film is mounted offset from the surface using a spacer frame and wherein pressure equalization is achieved by using a frame whose surface has at least one meandering channels crossing from the outside to the inside of the frame.

62. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said loudspeaker includes a plurality of speaker element arrays on a substrate;

and wherein loudspeaker is surrounded with at least one frame on which the sound-pressure wave transparent thin polymer film is mounted, and wherein said frame is an integral part of said substrate onto which at least one said array is attached.

63. Apparatus according to claim 62 wherein said frame and film also cover at least one electrical connection connecting said substrate to at least one said array.

57. A method for fabricating flat loudspeakers comprising:

manufacturing a flat loudspeaker having first and second main surfaces; and

covering at least one of the main surfaces of the loudspeaker with a cover member including an airtight sound-pressure wave transparent thin polymer film,

wherein the thickness of the film is less than 10 microns thick.

64. A method according to claim 57 wherein said covering comprises adhesively attaching a sound-pressure wave transparent thin polymer film to the loudspeaker.

65. A method according to claim 57 and wherein said covering comprises:

surrounding the loudspeaker with at least one frame; and

mounting a sound-pressure wave transparent thin polymer film onto the frame.

66. A method according to claim 65 wherein said mounting is performed before said surrounding by pre-mounting said film onto said at least one frame.

67. A method according to claim 65 wherein said frame'"'"'s surface is treated to become hydrophilic.