ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING A CONTACT MICROPHONE

• US 20110182443A1
• Filed: 01/26/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gant, Anthony W.
• Application Number:
  US12/694,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20110182443A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/005 using a piezoelectric polymer
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/02 Microphones

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a contact microphone for an electronic device. According to one embodiment, the electronic device includes a display lens having a front side and a backside opposite the front side, with the display lens being formed around the perimeter of a display unit. Furthermore, a contact microphone is coupled to a backside of the display lens and configured to convert acoustic signals received on the front side of the display lens.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a display unit;

a display lens having a front side and a backside opposite the front side, wherein the display lens is formed around the perimeter the display unit; and

a contact microphone coupled to a backside of the display lens and configured to convert acoustic signals received on the front side of the display lens.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the contact microphone is a piezoelectric transducer.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display lens is a glass touch sensor for facilitating touch interaction with a user.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display lens does not include an aperture for allowing sound to reach the contact microphone.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a front surface of the display lens is vertically-aligned with a front surface of the display unit.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display unit does not include a bezel.

7. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the contact microphone is coupled to a processing engine, and

wherein the contact microphone is configured to receive audio vibrations from the front side of the display lens and convert the audio vibrations to corresponding electrical signals capable of audible translation by the processing engine.

8. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the touch sensor comprises of one or more layers of transparent conductive material patterned on a substrate.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a handheld computer, or a tablet personal computer.

10. A method for integrating a microphone in an electronic device having bezel-less display enclosure;

forming a display lens around the perimeter of a video display unit; and

attaching a contract microphone to a backside of the display lens, wherein the contact microphone is configured to convert acoustic signals received on the front side of the display lens.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the contact microphone is a piezoelectric transducer.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the display lens is a glass touch sensor for facilitating touch interaction with a user.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the display lens does not include an aperture for allowing sound to reach the contact microphone.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein a front surface of the display lens is vertically-aligned with a front surface of the video display unit.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the contact microphone is coupled to a processing engine, and

wherein the contact microphone is configured to receive audio vibrations from the front side of the display lens and convert the audio vibrations to corresponding electrical signals capable of audible translation by the processing engine.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the touch sensor comprises of one or more layers of transparent conductive material patterned on a substrate.

17. A display enclosure for an electronic device having a display unit, the display enclosure comprising:

a display lens formed around the perimeter of the display unit; and

a piezoelectric transducer coupled to a backside of the display lens and configured to convert acoustic signals received on the front side of the display lens,

wherein the display lens does not include an aperture for allowing sound to reach the piezoelectric transducer.

18. The display enclosure of claim 17, wherein the display lens is a glass touch sensor for facilitating touch interaction with a user.

19. The display enclosure of claim 17, wherein a front surface of the display lens is vertically-aligned with a front surface of the display unit.

20. The display enclosure of claim 17, wherein the contact microphone is coupled to a processing engine, and

wherein the contact microphone is configured to receive audio vibrations from the front side of the display lens and convert the audio vibrations to corresponding electrical signals capable of audible translation by the processing engine.