Shaped loudspeaker output in a communications handset

• US 7,881,759 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Eaton, William Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Jamal; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/299,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20070135180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: 381/345, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets

Abstract

Loudspeaker sounds in a communications handset may be amplified in predetermined frequency ranges through positioning the loudspeaker between ported and unported spaces. In one embodiment, an empty volume of space disposed in front of the loudspeaker is included to shape the frequency response of the loudspeaker. A port connecting this volume of space to the environment may be located at a longitudinal end of the handset. In one embodiment, the port may pass through a space formed by an antenna loop. An additional empty volume of space may be disposed behind the loudspeaker to further shape the frequency response of the loudspeaker.

Claims

1. A mobile communications handset comprising:

a housing having a first lateral side, a second lateral side, and a longitudinal end;

a wireless transceiver disposed within said housing for transmitting and receiving signals;

an antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver, the antenna traversing from the first lateral side to the second lateral side and spaced at least partly from the housing; and

a loudspeaker port passing through the space between the antenna and the housing.

2. The handset of claim 1 wherein the loudspeaker port extends between the exterior of the housing and a front acoustic volume disposed in front of a loudspeaker.

3. The handset of claim 2 wherein the front acoustic volume and the loudspeaker port are tuned to amplify sounds from the loudspeaker falling within a predetermined frequency range.

4. The handset of claim 3 wherein the predetermined frequency range is between about 2000 Hz and about 4000 Hz.

5. The handset of claim 1 wherein the loudspeaker port extends parallel to a keypad on the handset.

6. The handset of claim 1 wherein the loudspeaker port extends perpendicular to a keypad on the handset.

7. The handset of claim 1 wherein the antenna is disposed at the longitudinal end.

8. A method of shaping loudspeaker output in a communications handset, the method comprising:

providing a loudspeaker in a communications handset for selectively operating the communications handset in a speakerphone mode;

exciting resonant frequencies within a predetermined range by emitting sounds from the loudspeaker; and

porting the loudspeaker sounds out to the environment through an antenna loop that traverses the communications handset from a first lateral side to a second lateral side, and that is spaced at least partly away from an exterior surface of the communications handset.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the predetermined range falls between about 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein exciting resonant frequencies within a predetermined range comprises positioning the loudspeaker between a ported front acoustic volume and a rear acoustic volume.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein exciting resonant frequencies within a predetermined range comprises at least partially confining sound waves produced by the loudspeaker to a ported front acoustic volume having a size between about 1 to 2 cubic centimeters.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising exciting resonant frequencies within a second predetermined range by sealing a rear acoustic volume disposed behind the loudspeaker.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein porting the loudspeaker sounds out to the environment through an antenna loop comprises directing sounds in a direction that is parallel to a keypad on the device.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein porting the loudspeaker sounds out to the environment through an antenna loop comprises directing sounds in a direction that is perpendicular to a keypad on the device.