Display enclosure having thin speaker

• US 6,789,642 B1
• Filed: 10/03/2003
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Long, Joseph D., Gromatzky, Jonathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): San Martin, Edgardo
• Application Number:
  US10/678,630
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 181/149, 181/148, 181/150, 181/199, 381/152, 381/388, 381/333, 381/431, 381/306, 359/444, 359/445, 353/15-19, 235/380, 235/381, 235/379
• US Class Current: 181/149
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/06 Loudspeakers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a LCD display that has a thin depth, rigid enclosure and includes a thin speaker so that the depth of the enclosure does not have to be increased to accommodate the speaker. The speaker is used to generate audio output that may correlate to the graphical information displayed on the LCD display. The enclosure has an opening for inclusion of a semi-rigid lens for viewing of an internal LCD module that is also used as a planar surface for the thin speaker. In order to provide a thin device in the enclosure that is driven by a driver to move air to generate sound, the driver is attached to the semi-rigid lens.

Claims

1. A kiosk that interacts with a user, comprising:

a housing;

a control system in said housing;

an input device coupled to said control system;

a display coupled to said control system, comprising;

an rigid enclosure having an opening that is smaller in size than the dimensions of said rigid enclosure;

a semi-rigid lens placed in said opening; and

a magnetic driver inside of said rigid enclosure and attached to said semi-rigid lens wherein said magnetic driver vibrates said semi-rigid lens to create sound;

said control system adapted to receive the user'"'"'s input from said input device and to control information to said display in response thereto;

said semi-rigid lens is attached to a thin semi-rigid surface that is attached to the outside of said rigid enclosure.

2. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein said input device is comprised from the group consisting of a keypad, soft keys, touch screen keys, wireless communication device, magnetic-stripe card, optical-coded card, and voice recognition module.

3. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein said magnetic driver further comprises a magnetic coil and a diaphragm attached to said semi-rigid lens.

4. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein said semi-rigid lens is constructed from a material comprised from the group consisting of plastic, and glass.

5. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein said semi-rigid lens is transparent.

6. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein said rigid enclosure contains a LCD module that is viewable through said semi-rigid lens.

7. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein said semi-rigid lens is attached to said rigid enclosure.

8. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein said thin semi-rigid surface is larger in size to said semi-rigid lens.

9. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprising a mounting bracket for a attaching said magnetic driver to said semi-rigid lens.

10. The kiosk of claim 9, where said mounting bracket is rectangular in shape and has a left and a right end and said magnetic driver is attached in between said left end and said right end.

11. The kiosk of claim 10, wherein said mounting bracket is attached to said semi-rigid lens for increased vibration of said semi-rigid lens for increased sound volume.

12. The kiosk of claim 9, wherein said mounting bracket is attached to said semi-rigid lens.

13. The speaker of claim 1, wherein said rigid enclosure is environmentally-sealed.

14. A fuel dispenser for dispensing fuel into a vehicle, comprising:

a housing;

a hose attached to said housing;

a nozzle attached to said hose;

a control system in said housing that controls the dispensing of fuel through said hose and said nozzle into the vehicle;

an input device coupled to said control system for receiving information from the user during the fueling of the vehicle;

a display coupled to said control system that displays information and generates sound to the customer during the fueling of the vehicle, comprising;

a rigid enclosure having an opening that is smaller in size than the dimensions of said rigid enclosure;

a LCD module in said enclosure and coupled to said control system;

a transparent semi-rigid lens placed in said opening and in front of said LCD module; and

a magnetic driver inside of said rigid enclosure and attached to said semi-rigid lens wherein said magnetic driver vibrates said semi-rigid lens to create sound;

said control system adapted to receive the user'"'"'s input from said input device and to control information and sound to said display in response thereto;

said semi-rigid lens is attached to a thin membrane that is attached to the outside of said rigid enclosure.