Thin film speaker apparatus for use in a thin film video monitor device

• US 5,796,854 A
• Filed: 03/04/1997
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Markow, Mitchell A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Nuyen
• Application Number:
  US08/810,432
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 381/24, 381/61, 381/88, 381/89, 381/90, 381/188, 381/205, 381/190, 381/153, 381/154, 381/159, 381/182, 381/186, 181/141, 181/150, 181/199, 361/683
• US Class Current: 381/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/022 Plurality of transducers corresponding to a plurality of sound channels in each earpiece of headphones or in a single enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/04 Plane diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/06 comprising a plurality of sections or layers

Abstract

A speaker system for use in a thin film video monitor apparatus is disclosed. The video monitor apparatus includes a thin film video display panel as well as a stiffening panel adjacent to the thin film video display panel. Next, a plurality of piezo speaker transducers are attached to one of the sides of the stiffening panel. The stiffening panel typically is composed of a material such as aluminum honeycomb sheets or a polycarbonate sheet. Other materials for use as the stiffener may include magnesium shells or ABS plastic. The speakers are defined so that a first sound channel and a second sound channel are provided, and these sound channels can define a left and right channel for proper stereo imaging. Between the video monitor and the stiffening panel is located an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield. Further, a transmission line is provided to connect a first piezo transducer to a second piezo transducer in such a way so that frequency overlap can occur between the two transducers based upon the transmission line distance defined for the first piezo transducer and for the second piezo transducer. Further, the transmission line may have the same distance between both speakers where frequency overlap is not a concern. The stiffening panel is provided to increase the mobile energy in the lower frequencies during operation.

Claims

1. A thin film video monitor apparatus comprising:

a thin film video display panel;

a stiffening panel, placed adjacent said thin film video display panel;

a plurality of piezo transducers, attached to at least a first side of said stiffening panel, and

an acoustic labyrinth transmission line for connecting a first piezo transducer and a second piezo transducer selected from said plurality of piezo transducers to provide a first distance for said first piezo transducer and a second distance for said second piezo transducer and to provide frequency overlap between said two piezo transducers.

2. A thin film video monitor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said stiffening panel comprises an aluminum honeycomb sheet.

3. A thin film video monitor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said stiffening panel comprises a polycarbonate sheet.

4. A thin film video monitor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of piezo transducers include at least a first sound channel and a second sound channel corresponding to the first piezo transducer and the second piezo transducer, respectively.

5. A thin film video monitor apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield placed adjacent a rear portion of said thin film video display panel and said stiffening panel.

6. A thin film video monitor apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an air gap between said thin film video display panel and said stiffening panel.

7. A thin film video monitor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of said piezo transducers further comprises a low-frequency channel speaker transducer and is mounted to said stiffening panel so as to preserve the modal energy in said lower frequencies.

8. A thin film speaker apparatus comprising:

a thin film video display panel;

a stiffening panel, placed adjacent said thin film video display panel;

a plurality of piezo transducers, attached to at least a first side of said stiffening panel; and

an acoustic labyrinth transmission line for connecting a first piezo transducer and a second piezo transducer selected from said plurality of piezo transducers to provide a first distance for said first piezo transducer and a second distance for said second piezo transducer and to provide frequency overlap between said two piezo transducers.

9. A thin film speaker apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said stiffening panel comprises an aluminum honeycomb sheet.

10. A thin film speaker apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said stiffening panel comprises a polycarbonate sheet.

11. A thin film speaker apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of piezo transducers include at least a first sound channel and a second sound channel corresponding to the first piezo transducer and the second piezo transducer, respectively.

12. A thin film speaker apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield placed adjacent a rear portion of said thin film video display panel and said stiffening panel.

13. A thin film speaker apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a plurality of sound equalizers, each coupled to a respective one of said plurality of piezo transducers.

14. A thin film speaker apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising an air gap between said thin film video display panel and said stiffening panel.

15. A thin film speaker apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said thin film video display is coupled to a portable computer unit, thereby forming a portable computer.

16. An audio speaker system for use in a computer component having a limited form factor, said audio speaker system comprising:

a first piezo speaker transducer mounted on a first position of said computer component;

a second piezo speaker transducer mounted to a second location of said computer component;

a first and second sound equalizer, each coupled to said first and second speaker transducer, respectively;

an acoustic labyrinth transmission line connecting said first piezo speaker transducer to said second piezo speaker transducer and having a first distance for said first piezo speaker transducer and a second distance for said second piezo speaker transducer so as to overlap frequencies between said first and second piezo speaker transducers.

17. A laptop computer according to claim 16 further comprising:

a first channel corresponding to said first piezo speaker transducer; and

a second channel corresponding to said second piezo speaker transducer.

18. A laptop computer according to claim 16 wherein said transmission line further comprises a sound chamber.

19. A laptop computer according to claim 17 wherein said first channel corresponds to a left channel, and said second channel corresponds to a right channel for providing stereo imaging of said sound emanating from said first piezo speaker transducer and said second piezo speaker transducer.

20. A laptop computer according to claim 16 wherein said audio speaker system includes up to five separate channels and conforms to the AC-3 sound processing system.

21. A laptop computer according to claim 16 wherein said audio speaker system provides for said speaker transducers to be mounted in such a fashion as to direct the sound pressure away from a user when said computer is in use.

22. The laptop computer according to claim 16 wherein said transmission line is a single-sided labyrinth.

23. A laptop computer according to claim 16 further comprising a time delayer, coupled to one of said plurality sound equalizers.