Magnetic coupling enhanced speaker assembly

• US 8,340,336 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2007
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frerking, Melvin Duane, Hirvela, George O'Quinn
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US11/626,423
• Time in Patent Office: 2,162 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/315, 381/322, 381/331, 381/401, 381/396, 381/400, 381/402, 381/406, 379/52, 379/55.1, 379/443, 379/444, 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 381/331
• 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 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• 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 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 31/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor manufacture of microstructural arrangements of deformable or non-deformable structures in general B81C1/00182
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/025 Magnetic circuit

Abstract

A speaker assembly, a method for manufacturing a speaker assembly and a wireless device are provided. Such a speaker assembly may include a diaphragm for generating sound, a transducer for causing the diaphragm to generate sound and an integrated inductive element that is electrically connected to the transducer. The diaphragm, transducer and integrated inductive element are contained within the speaker assembly.

Claims

1. A speaker assembly comprising:

a diaphragm for generating sound;

a permanent magnet wound by a coil, wherein the permanent magnet causes the diaphragm to generate sound; and

an inductive element that is electrically connected to the coil, wherein;

the inductive element, the diaphragm and the permanent magnet and contained within the speaker assembly; and

the inductive element is positioned to surround the permanent magnet and the coil and not surround the diaphragm;

the inductive element and the coil are integrated within the speaker assembly; and

the inductive element is oriented to magnetically couple with an external telecoil.

2. The speaker assembly of claim 1, wherein the inductive element is connected to the coil in parallel.

3. The speaker assembly of claim 1, wherein the inductive element is connected to the coil in series.

4. The speaker assembly of claim 1, wherein the inductive element generates a magnetic field in a direction to operatively couple with a telecoil that is external to the speaker assembly.

5. The speaker assembly of claim 4, wherein the inductive element is oriented at a substantially 90 degree angle with respect to the permanent magnet.

6. The speaker assembly of claim 4, wherein the inductive element is positioned proximate the diaphragm.

7. The speaker assembly of claim 1, wherein the speaker assembly forms at least a portion of a micro speaker.

8. A method comprising:

electrically connecting an inductive element to a coil, wherein;

a permanent magnet is wound by the coil;

the permanent magnet causes a diaphragm to generate sound;

orienting the inductive element to magnetically couple with an external telecoil;

integrating the inductive element and the coil with a speaker assembly of a wireless device;

positioning the inductive element to surround the permanent magnet and the coil and not surround the diaphragm; and

containing the diaphragm, the permanent magnet, and the inductive element within the speaker assembly.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising connecting the inductive element to the coil in parallel or in series.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising orienting the inductive element at a 90 degree angle to the permanent magnet.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a plurality of inductive elements, each of the plural of inductive elements being provided at predetermined angles with respect to the permanent magnet.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising positioning the inductive element proximate to the diaphragm.

13. A wireless device comprising:

a diaphragm that generates sound;

a permanent magnet wound by a coil, wherein the permanent magnet causes the diaphragm to generate sound; and

an inductive element that is electrically connected to the coil, wherein;

the diaphragm, the permanent magnet and the inductive element are contained within a speaker assembly of the wireless device;

the inductive element is oriented to magnetically couple with an external telecoil;

the inductive element and the coil are integrated within the speaker assembly; and

the inductive element is positioned to surround the permanent magnet and the coil and not surround the diaphragm.

14. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the inductive element is electrically connected to the coil in parallel or in series.

15. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the inductive element is oriented at a substantially 90 degree angle with respect to the permanent magnet.

16. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the inductive element is positioned proximate the diaphragm.