Laptop computer with loudspeaker(s)

• US 6,243,473 B1
• Filed: 05/13/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: New Transducers Limited (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: New Transducers Limited (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Harris, Neil, Colloms, Martin, Azima, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): DABNEY, PHYLESHA LARVINIA
• Application Number:
  US09/029,059
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 381/152, 381/184, 381/423, 381/426, 381/FOR.162, 381/FOR.163, 381/431, 361/681, 361/682, 361/683, 181/167
• US Class Current: 381/152
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/022 combined with permanently fastened sound-producing or light-emitting means or carrying sound records
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• 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 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/02 using wired connections, e.g. plugboards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/32 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/642 Disposition of sound reproducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/021 incorporating only one transducer
• 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 1/24 Structural combinations of separate transducers or of two parts of the same transducer and responsive respectively to two or more frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/26 Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2811 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2834 for loudspeaker transducers
• 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 2201/021 Transducers or their casings adapted for mounting in or to a wall or ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/024 : Positioning of loudspeaker enclosures for spatial sound reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2307/029 : Diaphragms comprising fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2307/201 : Damping aspects of the outer suspension of loudspeaker diaphragms by addition of additional damping means
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2400/07 : Suspension between moving magnetic core and housing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2440/03 : Resonant bending wave transducer used as a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2440/05 : Aspects relating to the positioning and way or means of mounting of exciters to resonant bending wave panels
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2440/07 : Loudspeakers using bending wave resonance and pistonic motion to generate sound
• 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 2499/13 : Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 : Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 : for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/14 : Cross-over networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 31/003 : for diaphragms or their outer suspension
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 : Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/027 : Spatial or constructional arrangements of microphones, e.g. in dummy heads
• 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 7/06 : comprising a plurality of sections or layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/08 : comprising superposed layers separated by air or other fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/10 : comprising superposed layers in contact
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/12 : Non-planar diaphragms or cones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/20 : Securing diaphragm or cone resiliently to support by flexible material, springs, cords, or strands
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/025 : Magnetic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/045 : Mounting H04R9/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/066 : using the principle of inertia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 : Acoustic transducer

Abstract

A lap-top computer (128) comprising a combined keyboard (137) and display screen (129), characterised by an opposed pair of loudspeakers (39, 40) attached to the computer, and in that each loudspeaker comprises a distributed mode acoustic radiator having a transducer (9) wholly and exclusively mounted thereon to vibrate the radiator to cause it to resonate.

Claims

1. In a lap-top computer having a keyboard and a display screen, the improvement wherein the display screen comprises:

a member having selected values of certain physical parameters which enable the member to sustain and propagate input vibrational energy in a predetermined frequency range by a plurality of resonant bending wave modes in at least one operative area extending transversely of thickness such that the frequencies of the resonant bending wave modes along at least two conceptual axes of the operative area are interleaved and spread so that there are substantially minimal clusterings and disparities of spacings of said frequencies, the member when resonating having at least one site at which the number of vibrationally active resonance anti-nodes is relatively high; and

a transducer mounted wholly and exclusively on the member at one of said sites on the member, the transducer being capable of vibrating the member in the predetermined frequency range to couple to and excite the resonant bending wave modes in the member and cause the member to resonate and produce an acoustic output.

2. In a lap-top computer having a keyboard and a display screen, the improvement comprising:

an opposed pair of panel form loudspeakers attached to the display screen for operation in a predetermined frequency range, each loudspeaker comprising;

a member having selected values of certain physical parameters which enable the member to sustain and propagate input vibrational energy in a predetermined frequency range by a plurality of resonant bending wave modes in at least one operative area extending transversely of thickness such that the frequencies of the resonant bending wave modes along at least two conceptual axes of the operative area are interleaved and spread so that there are substantially minimal clusterings and disparities of spacings of said frequencies, the member when resonating having at least one site at which the number of vibrationally active resonance anti-nodes is relatively high; and

a transducer mounted wholly and exclusively on the member at one of said sites on the member, the transducer being capable of vibrating the member in the predetermined frequency range to couple to and excite the resonant bending wave modes in the member and cause the member to resonate and produce an acoustic output.