Speaker apparatus

• US 8,891,805 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Han, Jung-Eun, Kang, Jang-Hoon, Kim, Ki-Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Eason, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Sean H
• Application Number:
  US13/440,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20120321120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 381/162, 381/165, 381/313, 381/387, 181/185, 181/186, 181/198, 181/199, 131/62, 131/65, 133/13, 133/87
• US Class Current: 381/387
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/025 Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/34 by using a single transducer with sound reflecting, diffracting, directing or guiding means specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/402
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/025 Transducer mountings or cabinet supports enabling variable orientation of transducer of cabinet
• 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 9/06 Loudspeakers

Abstract

A speaker apparatus selects a path which emits a speaker sound. The speaker apparatus includes a speaker unit for outputting the sound generated from voice data, a body including at least one or more emission paths for guiding and emitting the sound output from the speaker unit, and a member for opening or shutting out at least one emission path.

Claims

1. A speaker apparatus comprising:

a speaker unit for outputting a sound;

a body including a plurality of emission paths for guiding and emitting the sound output from the speaker unit, the body including a guide part; and

a member for opening or shutting at least one of the plurality of emission paths, wherein the member comprises;

a bar that is slidably movable, wherein the guide part is configured to guide movement of the bar, and wherein slidable movement of the bar in a first direction opens at least one of the plurality of emission paths and slidable movement of the bar in a second direction closes at least one of the plurality of emission paths.

2. The speaker apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bar comprises a through hole for being opened to outside the body, and wherein the through hole is opened to or is not opened to the at least one emission path according to the movement position of the bar.

3. The speaker apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide part is slantingly installed relative to a predetermined surface of the body.

4. The speaker apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide part comprises at least one projection therein for frictionally engaging the bar for obstructing movement of the bar.

5. The speaker apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bar has a streamlined configuration.

6. The speaker apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body is a case frame having an appearance of a portable terminal.

7. The speaker apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bar, responsive to a load of the bar, moves along a slope of the guide part.

8. The speaker apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least on electromagnet capable of generating an electromagnetic field when an electrical current is supplied, for moving the bar to a corresponding position in the guide part, wherein the bar includes a metallic member for being attracted by the electromagnetic field.

9. The speaker apparatus of claim 8, wherein the speaker unit, installed in a portable terminal for performing a plurality of functions, supplies the electrical current to the at least one electromagnet when a selected function is performed.

10. An electronic device comprising at least one speaker apparatus according to claim 1.

11. A speaker apparatus comprising:

an external surface with an externally exposed outlet therethrough;

a speaker unit for outputting a sound;

a plurality of internal emission paths for conveying the sound from the speaker unit to the outlet;

a guide adjacent to the outlet; and

a bar, slidably movable within the guide, for selectively blocking at least one of the emission paths, thereby controlling the outputting of the sound.

12. The speaker apparatus of claim 11, wherein the bar includes:

a bar surface; and

a through hole extending through the bar surface;

wherein, when the bar is in a first position in the guide, the bar surface is adjacent to the emission path and the outlet, thereby blocking the outputting of the sound from the speaker to the outlet; and

wherein, when the bar is in a second position in the guide, the though hole is adjacent to the emission path and the outlet, thereby allowing the outputting of the sound from the speaker to the outlet.

13. The speaker apparatus of claim 11, wherein the guide is oriented at a slant relative to the external surface, whereby orientation of the speaker apparatus and gravity cause the movement of the bar in the guide to control the outputting of the sound.

14. The speaker apparatus of claim 11, wherein the guide includes a projection therein for frictionally engaging the bar for obstructing movement of the bar.

15. The speaker apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one electromagnet, capable of generating an electromagnetic field when an electrical current is supplied, for moving the bar in the guide to control the outputting of the sound,

wherein the bar includes at least one metallic member for being attracted by the electromagnetic field when the electrical current is supplied to the electromagnet.

16. The speaker apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one metallic member includes:

a pair of metallic members disposed on opposite ends of the bar; and

wherein the at least one electromagnet includes;

a pair of electromagnets disposed at opposite ends of the guide, with each electromagnet for attracting a respective metallic member on the bar, thereby moving the bar within the guide to control the outputting of the sound.