AUDIO MODULE FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20180084323A1
• Filed: 09/08/2017
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Luce, Thomas R., Grazian, Anthony P., Tao, Hongdan, Wilk, Christopher, Jarvis, Daniel W., Pakula, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,219,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/023 Screens for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/025 Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2811 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2400/11 Aspects regarding the frame of loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/18 at the periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/025 Magnetic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/06 Loudspeakers

Abstract

An electronic device is disclosed that includes one or more sealed audio modules that are unaffected by changes in the internal pressure within the electronic device. The audio modules can also include one or more features that increase the audible bandwidth of the electronic device.

Claims

1. An audio module for an electronic device, the audio module comprising:

a driver assembly comprising;

a diaphragm defining a speaker plane; and

a voice coil attached to the diaphragm and positioned adjacent one or more magnets; and

an enclosure surrounding the driver assembly and defining;

a front volume positioned on a first side of the speaker plane and coupled to a sound port;

a back volume positioned on the first side of the speaker plane and on a second side of the speaker plane; and

a resonant cavity coupled to the front volume via a resonant cavity port and separated from the back volume by a resonant cavity cover.

2. The audio module of claim 1 wherein a first portion of the resonant cavity is positioned on the first side of the speaker plane and a second portion of the resonant cavity is positioned on the second side of the speaker plane.

3. The audio module of claim 1 wherein the back volume is further defined by a frame, the diaphragm and a rear cover attached to the frame.

4. The audio module of claim 3 wherein the driver assembly includes a bottom flux plate that forms a portion of the rear cover.

5. The audio module of claim 1 wherein a substantially U-shaped channel couples the front volume to the sound port.

6. The audio module of claim 5 further comprising a panel of acoustic mesh positioned within the substantially U-shaped channel and partially embedded within one or more walls that define the substantially U-shaped channel.

7. The audio module of claim 6 wherein the panel of acoustic mesh is oriented at an angle with respect to the speaker plane.

8. The audio module of claim 1 wherein the resonant cavity is sized to resonate at a frequency that extends a bandwidth of the audio module.

9. The audio module of claim 1 further comprising a barometric vent coupling the front volume to the back volume.

10. An audio module for an electronic device, the audio module comprising:

a frame;

a driver assembly disposed within the audio module and including a diaphragm positioned within a speaker opening in the frame;

a front cover attached to the frame and positioned parallel to and spaced apart from the diaphragm in a first direction, wherein the front cover, the diaphragm and the frame define a front volume;

a front volume aperture positioned transverse to the diaphragm such that sound from the diaphragm exits the front volume in a direction parallel to the diaphragm;

a rear cover attached to the frame and positioned parallel to and spaced apart from the diaphragm in a second direction that is opposite the first direction;

a substantially U-shaped channel that couples acoustic energy from the front volume aperture to a sound port defined by the frame; and

a panel of acoustic mesh positioned within the substantially U-shaped channel and having a perimeter embedded within a portion of the frame.

11. The audio module of claim 10 wherein the substantially U-shaped channel includes:

a first portion that receives sound from the front volume and is positioned adjacent a perimeter of the diaphragm;

a second portion that receives sound from the first portion and is oriented transverse to the first portion;

a third portion that directs sound received from the second portion to the sound port and is coupled to a distal end of the second portion.

12. The audio module of claim 10 wherein a portion of the substantially U-shaped channel is formed by a channel cover that is attached to the frame.

13. The audio module of claim 10 wherein the panel of acoustic mesh is oriented at an angle with respect to a plane of the diaphragm.

14. The audio module of claim 10 wherein the panel of acoustic mesh is insert-molded within the frame.

15. An electronic device comprising:

a device enclosure;

a display assembly coupled to the device enclosure, the combination thereof defining an interior volume, wherein the display assembly includes a touch sensitive layer and a force sensitive layer; and

an audio module disposed within the interior volume and comprising;

(1) a driver assembly including;

a diaphragm defining a speaker plane; and

a voice coil attached to the diaphragm and positioned adjacent one or more magnets; and

(2) an audio module enclosure surrounding the driver assembly and defining;

a front volume coupled to a speaker opening formed in the device enclosure;

a back volume positioned on the first side of the speaker plane and on a second side of the speaker plane; and

a resonant cavity coupled to the front volume via a resonant cavity port and separated from the back volume by a resonant cavity cover.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 further comprising a top flux plate in contact with a top surface of the one or more magnets and a bottom flux plate in contact with a bottom surface of the one or more magnets.

17. The audio module of claim 15 further comprising a substantially U-shaped channel that couples the front volume to the speaker opening.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 wherein a panel of acoustic mesh is positioned within the substantially U-shaped channel and is oriented at an angle with respect to the speaker plane.

19. The electronic device of claim 15 wherein the back volume is further defined by a frame, the diaphragm and a rear cover attached to the frame.

20. The electronic device of claim 15 further comprising a barometric vent coupling the front volume to the back volume.