THERMOACOUSTIC DEVICE WITH FLEXIBLE FASTENER AND LOUDSPEAKER USING THE SAME

• US 20110158446A1
• Filed: 08/02/2010
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing FUNATE Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Beijing FUNATE Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: QIAN, LI, LIU, LIANG, FENG, CHEN, WANG, YU-QUAN
• Granted Patent: US 8,284,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 23/002 using electrothermic-effect transducer
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2307/023 Diaphragms comprising ceramic-like materials, e.g. pure ceramic, glass, boride, nitride, carbide, mica and carbon materials

Abstract

A thermoacoustic device includes a base, a plurality of first fasteners, at least one first electrode, at least one second electrode and a sound wave generator. Each of the first fasteners includes a body engaging with the base and a flexible element extending from the body. The at least one first electrode has a first end and a second end. The first end engages with the flexible element of the plurality of first fasteners, and the second end is secured on the base. The at least one second electrode has a third end and a fourth end. The third end engages with the flexible element of the plurality of first fasteners, and the fourth end is secured on the base. The sound wave generator is electrically connected to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode.

Claims

1. A thermoacoustic device comprising:

a base;

a plurality of first fasteners each comprising a body engaging with the base and a flexible element extending from the body;

at least one first electrode having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end engages with the flexible element of one of the plurality of first fasteners, and the second end is secured to the base;

at least one second electrode having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end engages with the flexible element of one of the plurality of first fasteners, and the fourth end is secured to the base, wherein the first end and the third end are not engaged to the same flexible element; and

a sound wave generator electrically connected to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode.

2. The thermoacoustic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible element comprises a neck portion and an installing portion, the neck portion extends from the body in a direction away from the base, and the installing portion extends from a neck portion distal end.

3. The thermoacoustic device of claim 2, wherein the installing portion and the neck portion together form a cantilever beam.

4. The thermoacoustic device of claim 2, wherein the body comprises a first holding piece, a second holding piece, and a first connecting piece extending between the first holding piece and the second holding piece, the body engages with the base via the first holding piece and the second holding piece;

and the neck portion extends from the first connecting piece.

5. The thermoacoustic device of claim 4, wherein the flexible element further comprises a first extending portion, and the first extending portion is substantially parallel to the first holding piece and substantially perpendicularly formed on the installing portion.

6. The thermoacoustic device of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of first fasteners further comprises a first rib protruding from the first holding piece in a direction away from the second holding piece and a first wiring channel under the first rib, and the first wiring channel aims directly at the installing portion, wherein the first end extends through the first wiring channel and is secured on the flexible element.

7. The thermoacoustic device of claim 6, wherein the first wiring channel is substantially straight and extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the installing portion.

8. The thermoacoustic device of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of second fasteners disposed on the base, each of the plurality of second fasteners comprising a third holding piece, a fourth holding piece, a second connecting piece, and a second extending portion;

wherein the second connecting piece extends between the third holding piece and the fourth holding piece, and the second extending portion extends from the second connecting piece in a direction away from the third holding piece;

wherein each of the plurality of second fastener engages with the base via the third holding piece and the fourth holding piece, and the second end of the at least one first electrode and the fourth end of the at least one second electrode engage with second extending portions of the plurality of second fasteners in a one-to-one manner.

9. The thermoacoustic device of claim 8, wherein the second extending portion comprises a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion extends substantially perpendicularly from the second connecting piece and is substantially perpendicularly to the third and fourth holding pieces, and the second portion extends substantially perpendicularly from a first portion distal end and is substantially parallel to the second connecting piece.

10. The thermoacoustic device of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of second fastener further comprises a guiding portion extending from a joint portion between the third holding piece and the second connecting piece in a direction away from the third holding piece, and the guiding portion has a height equal to a height of the first portion measured from the second connecting piece.

11. The thermoacoustic device of claim 9, wherein the second fastener further comprises a second rib protruding from the third holding piece in a direction away from the fourth holding piece, and a second wiring channel under the second rib and opposite to the fourth holding piece;

and the second end of the at least one first electrode and the fourth end of the second electrode are extended through second wiring channels of the plurality of second fasteners and secured on the second extending portions of the plurality of second fasteners in a one-to-one manner.

12. The thermoacoustic device of claim 4, wherein the base is a substantially flat substrate having a surface, the first holding piece is located on the surface of the flat substrate, and the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode are disposed on the surface of the flat substrate.

13. The thermoacoustic device of claim 4, wherein the base is a frame comprising a plurality of member joined end to end, the base comprises a first slot and a second slot defined in one of the members, the first holding piece and the at least one first electrode are received in the first slot, and the second holding piece are received in the second slot.

14. The thermoacoustic device of claim 13, wherein a beam is defined between the first slot and the second slot and has a width in a direction from the first slot to the second slot, and the width of the beam is equal to or larger than a distance between the first holding piece and the second holding piece.

15. The thermoacoustic device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of second fasteners disposed on the base, each of the plurality of second fasteners comprising a third holding piece, a fourth holding piece, a second connecting piece, and a second extending portion;

wherein the second connecting piece extends between the third holding piece and the fourth holding piece, and the second extending portion extends from the second connecting piece in a direction away from the third holding piece;

wherein each of the plurality of second fastener engages with the base via the third holding piece and the fourth holding piece, and the second end of the at least one first electrode and the fourth end of the at least one second electrode engage with second extending portions of the plurality of second fasteners in a one-to-one manner.

16. A loudspeaker comprising:

a base;

a plurality of first fasteners, each of the plurality of first fasteners comprising a body engaging with the base and a flexible element extending from the body;

at least one linear first electrode having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end engages with the flexible element of one of the plurality of first fasteners, and the second end is secured on the base;

at least one linear second electrode substantially parallel to the at least one linear first electrode, the at least one linear second electrode having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end engages with the flexible element of one of the plurality of first fasteners, and the fourth end is secured on the base; and

a sound wave generator comprising a carbon nanotube structure electrically connected to the at least one linear first electrode and the at least one linear second electrode;

wherein the flexible element has elasticity in a direction from the first end to the second end of the at least one linear first electrode, and the first end and the third end are not engaged to the same flexible element.

17. The loudspeaker of claim 16, wherein the body comprises a first holding piece, a second holding piece, and a first connecting piece extending between the first holding piece and the second holding piece;

the body engages with the base via the first holding piece and the second holding piece; and

the flexible element comprises a neck portion and an installing portion, the neck portion extends from the body in a direction away from the base, and the installing portion extends diagonally or substantially perpendicularly from a neck portion distal end.

18. The loudspeaker of claim 17, wherein the installing portion and the neck portion together form a cantilever beam.

19. A loudspeaker comprising:

a base;

a fastener comprising a body engaging with the base and a plurality of spaced flexible elements extending from the body;

at least one first electrode having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end engages with one of the plurality of flexible elements, and the second end is secured on the base;

at least one second electrode having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end engages with one of the plurality of flexible elements, and the fourth end is secured on the base; and

a sound wave generator comprising a carbon nanotube structure electrically connected to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode.

20. The loudspeaker of claim 19, wherein the body comprises a first holding piece, a second holding piece, and a first connecting piece extending between the first holding piece and the second holding piece, the body engages with the base via the first holding piece and the second holding piece;

and each of the plurality of flexible elements comprises a neck portion and an installing portion, the neck portion extend from the body in a direction away from the base, the installing portion diagonally or substantially perpendicularly extends from a the neck portion distal end.