Flexible electronic device with flexible speaker

• US 7,957,550 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Ming-Daw, Chen, Jih-Fon, Huang, Dar-Ming, Chiang, Wen-Ching, Ko
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRITCHARD, JASMINE L
• Application Number:
  US11/086,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20050254674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,267 Days
• Field of Search: 381/87, 381332-334, 381/386, 381/173, 381/190, 381/191
• US Class Current: 381/334
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence

Abstract

A flexible electronic device with flexible speaker is disclosed, comprising: a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), having a circuit layout arranged thereon; an input unit, electrically connected to the FPC for setting an information; a flexible speaker, electrically connected to the FPC for outputting the information; a display unit, electrically connected to the FPC for displaying the information; a power supply, electrically connected to the FPC for outputting the information for providing electricity to the FPC, the input device, the display device and the flexible speaker; a thin-film substrate; a film made of poly ethylene terephthalate (PET), referring as PET film hereinafter; wherein, the thin-film substrate completely cover the FPC, the power supply, and all the FPC, the input unit, the display unit, the power supply, the thin-film substrate and the flexible speaker are flexible.

Claims

1. A flexible electronic device with flexible speaker, comprising:

a flexible printed circuit board (FPC);

an input unit, electrically connected to the FPC for setting a data including a video data and an audio data;

a display unit, electrically connected to the FPC for outputting the video data;

a flexible speaker, electrically connected to the FPC for outputting the audio data;

a power supply, electrically connected to the FPC for providing electricity to the FPC, the input unit, the display unit, the flexible speaker; and

a thin-film substrate, covering the FPC and the power supply completely;

wherein, the FPC, the input unit, the display unit, the flexible speaker, the power supply, and the thin-film substrate are all flexible;

wherein the FPC directly connects electrically to the power supply and the thin-film substrate.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, the device further comprising a crystal oscillator (OSC), electrically connected to the FPC for providing accurate timing.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein a film made of poly ethylene terephthalate, referring as PET film, is disposed on the surface of the flexible electronic device with flexible speaker.

4. The device as recited in claim 3, wherein the PET film is integrally formed.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein a circuit layout arranged on the FPC is connected to the power supply for enabling the power supply to provide electricity to the FPC, the input unit, the display unit, and the flexible speaker.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein a circuit layout arranged on the display unit is connected to the power supply for enabling the power supply to provide electricity to the FPC, the input unit, the display unit, and the flexible speaker.

7. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the display unit is an active display.

8. The device as recited in claim 7, wherein the active display is an organic light-emitting device (OLED).

9. The device as recited in claim 7, wherein the active display is an active-matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD).

10. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the display unit is a passive display.

11. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the power supply is a polymer battery.

12. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the polymer battery is a lithium polymer battery.

13. The device as recited in claim 1, the flexible electronic device further comprising an adhesive unit coupling to the same, capable of being attached onto a curved and rugged surface.

14. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein the adhesive unit is substantially composed of convenient glue.

15. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein the adhesive unit is substantially composed of Velcro tape.

16. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein the adhesive unit is substantially composed of magnetic set.

17. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the total thickness of the flexible electronic device with flexible speaker is less than 5 mm.

18. The device as recited in claim 1, the FPC is a COP (Chip-On-Film).

19. The device as recited in claim 1, a metal foil is sandwiched between the thin-film substrate and the power supply.

20. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexible speaker further comprises:

a first ferroelectret layer, disposed on the thin-film substrate, being electrically connected to the FPC by way of a silver glue;

a polymer dielectric diaphragm, having a conductive layer coated thereon and being disposed over the first ferroelectret layer without coming into contact with the first ferroelectret layer; and

a second ferroelectret layer, disposed over the polymer dielectric diaphragm without coming into contact with the polymer dielectric diaphragm, being electrically connected to the FPC by way of another silver glue.

21. The device as recited in claim 20, wherein the flexible speaker further comprises at least a spacer, being sandwiched between the first ferroelectret layer and the polymer dielectric diaphragm.

22. The device as recited in claim 20, wherein the flexible speaker further comprises at least a spacer, being sandwiched between the polymer dielectric diaphragm and the second ferroelectret layer.

23. The device as recited in claim 20, wherein the flexible speaker further comprises:

at least a first spacer, being sandwiched between the first ferroelectret layer and the polymer dielectric diaphragm; and

at least a second spacer, being sandwiched between the polymer dielectric diaphragm and the second ferroelectret layer.