MEMS-based audio speaker system with modulation element
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A speaker device, comprising:
- a planar oscillation element configured to generate an ultrasonic acoustic signal in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the planar oscillation element;
a shutter element configured to alternatively obscure and reveal an aperture positioned to receive the ultrasonic acoustic signal;
a blind element wherein the aperture is formed in the blind element, and wherein the blind element is separated from the shutter element by a gap; and
a controller coupled to the shutter element and configured to displace the shutter element to alternately obscure and reveal the aperture, in response to an application of a modulation signal to the shutter element, wherein the shutter element is further configured to modulate the ultrasonic, acoustic signal to generate an audio signal in response to the shutter element being displaced,wherein a portion of the shutter element is configured to obscure the aperture by overlap of a distance that is equal to or greater than the gap, and wherein the portion of the shutter element is larger than the aperture.
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Abstract
Techniques described herein generally include methods and systems related to a MEMS-based audio speaker system configured for generating an audio signal. The speaker system includes one or more apertures in the speaker system positioned to receive the ultrasonic carrier signal and one or more movable and over-sized obstruction elements that are configured to modulate the ultrasonic carrier signal and thereby generate an audio signal. Because the movable obstruction elements are configured to overlap one or more edges of the apertures when in the closed position, modulation depth of the generated audio signal can be substantially improved or otherwise varied.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A speaker device, comprising:
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a planar oscillation element configured to generate an ultrasonic acoustic signal in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the planar oscillation element; a shutter element configured to alternatively obscure and reveal an aperture positioned to receive the ultrasonic acoustic signal; a blind element wherein the aperture is formed in the blind element, and wherein the blind element is separated from the shutter element by a gap; and a controller coupled to the shutter element and configured to displace the shutter element to alternately obscure and reveal the aperture, in response to an application of a modulation signal to the shutter element, wherein the shutter element is further configured to modulate the ultrasonic, acoustic signal to generate an audio signal in response to the shutter element being displaced, wherein a portion of the shutter element is configured to obscure the aperture by overlap of a distance that is equal to or greater than the gap, and wherein the portion of the shutter element is larger than the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method to generate an audio signal, the method comprising:
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generating an ultrasonic acoustic signal with a planar oscillation element of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) speaker; directing the ultrasonic acoustic signal through an aperture positioned to receive the ultrasonic acoustic signal; and modulating the ultrasonic acoustic signal to generate the audio signal by alternately obscuring and revealing the aperture using a shutter element of the MEMS speaker, wherein the aperture is formed in a blind element, and wherein the blind element is separated from the shutter element by a gap, wherein the shutter element includes a portion configured to obscure the aperture by overlapping the aperture by a distance that is equal to or greater than the gap, and wherein the portion of the shutter element is larger than the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A speaker device to generate an audio signal, the speaker device comprising:
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a planar oscillation element configured to generate an ultrasonic acoustic signal in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the planar oscillation element; and
,a shutter element configured to alternatively obscure and reveal an aperture positioned to receive the ultrasonic acoustic wherein the aperture is formed in a blind element, wherein the blind element is substantially parallel to the shutter element and is separated from the shutter element by a gap, wherein the shutter element is configured to modulate the ultrasonic acoustic signal to generate the audio signal, wherein the shutter element comprises a portion larger than the aperture, wherein the portion is configured to completely obscure the aperture by overlap of a distance that is equal to or greater than the gap, and wherein the overlapped distance is selected to vary a modulation depth of the audio signal.
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Specification