Moving magnet audio transducer

• US 8,811,648 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pance, Aleksandar, Leong, Craig, Johnson, Martin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): FALEY, KATHERINE A
• Application Number:
  US13/076,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20120250928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 381/152, 381/163, 381/386, 381/396, 381400-402
• US Class Current: 381/386
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/066 using the principle of inertia

Abstract

An electronic device having an enclosure including an upper panel and a bottom panel operably connected to the upper panel. A transducer is operably connected to the enclosure and the transducer is configured to mechanically vibrate the enclosure. The transducer includes a magnet, an electromagnetic coil and a retention element maintaining a relationship between the magnet and the electromagnetic coil.

Claims

1. A consumer electronic device, comprising:

a processor, a memory, a display, and a user interface;

an enclosure partially formed by an outer wall of the device and surrounding the processor, memory, display, and user interface; and

an audio transducer having

a stable surface being a portion of one wall of the enclosure;

an electromagnetic coil that is affixed to the stable surface;

a magnet in electromagnetic communication with the coil such that the magnet moves and the coil remains substantially stationary when the coil is energized;

a diaphragm the entirety of which is a portion of the outer wall of the device, wherein the magnet is affixed to the diaphragm; and

a first alignment element attached to the stable surface and a second alignment element attached to the diaphragm, wherein the first alignment element and the second alignment element abut each other to maintain a spatial relationship between the coil and the magnet, wherein the first alignment element is a cylindrical wall that encloses the coil.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm comprises at least one deformation formed in the outer wall and surrounding the magnet to enable sound production by the diaphragm.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second alignment element is a guide flange, wherein the first alignment element abuts the second alignment element to align the coil and magnet.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising an energy transmission material disposed between the coil and the stable surface.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the energy transmission material increases energy transferred to the diaphragm when the coil is energized.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein each of the first alignment element and the second alignment element comprises one of a flange, a wall, and a wing.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first alignment element and the second alignment element are made from elastic materials.

8. A method for producing audible sound, comprising the operations of:

energizing an electromagnetic coil in a consumer electronic device thereby causing a magnet to move in response, wherein the coil is affixed to a stable surface;

transferring a motion of the magnet to a diaphragm through a mechanical connection between the diaphragm and the magnet, thereby creating an audible sound, wherein the entire diaphragm is integral to an outer housing wall of the consumer electronic device; and

maintaining alignment of the coil and the magnet while the coil is energized through a first alignment element and a second alignment element that abut each other, wherein the first alignment element is attached to the stable surface and the second alignment element is attached to the diaphragm, wherein the first alignment element is a cylindrical wall that encloses the coil.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second alignment element is a guide wall, wherein the first alignment element abuts the second alignment element to maintain a spatial relationship between the coil and the magnet.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the first alignment element and the second alignment element comprises one of a flange, a wall, and a wing.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first alignment element and the second alignment element are made from elastic materials.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the diaphragm comprises at least one deformation formed in the outer housing wall and surrounding the magnet to enable sound production by the diaphragm.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein an energy transmission material is disposed between the coil and the stable surface.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the energy transmission material increases energy transferred to the diaphragm when the coil is energized.