Balanced armature receiver

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a balanced armature receiver comprising a housing having a diaphragm including movable blades (116) disposed within the housing and dividing the housing into a rear cavity volume (112) and a front cavity volume (110), the front cavity volume being partially defined by a space between a top plate of the housing and the diaphragm, wherein the blades are oriented non-parallel to the top plate. A sound port (142) in the housing acoustically connects the front cavity volume to the outside of the housing, wherein the sound port is located on an end wall between the diaphragm and the top plate. A motor disposed in the rear cavity volume includes a coil magnetically coupled to an armature having an end movably disposed between magnets held by a yoke, and the armature being coupled to the blades.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to balanced armature receivers, and more specifically, to balanced armature receivers with improved acoustic performance. Background Technology

[0002] Balanced armature receivers (also referred to herein as "receivers" and "acoustic receivers") capable of generating sound in response to an electrical input signal are generally known. Such receivers include a diaphragm housed within a housing, dividing the interior of the housing into a front cavity volume and a rear cavity volume. A motor located in the rear cavity volume includes coils arranged around the armature, a portion of which can move between permanent magnets held by a yoke when an electrical input signal is applied to the coils. The movable portion of the armature is connected to a movable portion of the diaphragm. The movement of the diaphragm produces sound, which is emitted from a sound port connected to the front cavity volume of the housing. The sound port is typically located on the end wall of the housing, but this location limits the size of the sound port, particularly in low-profile receivers. However, a small sound port limits the receiver's high-frequency response. Top-port receivers can accommodate larger sound ports, but top-port receivers are not suitable for many customer applications. Summary of the Invention

[0003] One aspect of the present invention relates to a balanced armature receiver comprising: a housing having a top plate between a first end wall and a second end wall of the housing; a diaphragm including movable blades disposed in the housing and dividing the housing into a rear cavity volume and a front cavity volume, the front cavity volume being partially defined by a space between the top plate and the diaphragm, the blades being oriented non-parallel to the top plate, a first end of the blades being adjacent to the first end wall and a second end of the blades being adjacent to the second end wall; a sound port disposed through the housing and acoustically connecting the front cavity volume to the outside of the housing, the sound port being located on a portion of the first end wall defining the front cavity volume, the area of ​​the first end wall being smaller than the area of ​​the top plate; and a motor disposed in the rear cavity volume, the motor including a coil magnetically coupled to an armature having an end movably disposed between magnets held by a yoke, and the armature being coupled to the blades.

[0004] Another aspect of the invention relates to a balanced armature receiver comprising: a housing having a top plate located between a first end wall and a second end wall of the housing; a diaphragm including movable blades disposed in the housing and dividing the housing into a rear cavity volume and a front cavity volume, a first end of the diaphragm being adjacent to the first end wall and a second end of the diaphragm being adjacent to the second end wall, the blades being oriented non-parallel to the top plate, a first end of the blades being adjacent to the first end wall and a second end of the blades being adjacent to the second end wall; a sound port disposed through the housing and acoustically connecting the front cavity volume to the outside of the housing; and a motor disposed in the rear cavity volume, the motor including a coil magnetically coupled to an armature having an end movably disposed between magnets held by a yoke, and the armature being coupled to the blades. Attached Figure Description

[0005] To better understand this disclosure, the following detailed description and accompanying drawings are provided, in which:

[0006] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of a balanced armature receiver including paddles oriented at a certain angle within the housing.

[0007] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of another balanced armature receiver, which includes blades oriented at a certain angle within the housing.

[0008] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the balanced armature receiver including the curved blades.

[0009] Figure 4 This is a partial perspective view of a balanced armature receiver with a ribbon that connects the armature to the receiver.

[0010] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the components in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity. It should also be recognized that specific actions and / or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of appearance, and those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity regarding order is not actually necessary. It should also be understood that, unless otherwise set forth herein in a specific manner, the terms and expressions used herein have their general meanings, as they are intended to be within the scope of their respective investigations and studies. Detailed Implementation

[0011] This disclosure generally relates to a balanced armature receiver comprising a diaphragm having blades oriented at an angle within a housing of the receiver. This orientation provides a larger space on the end wall of the housing for the sound port than would have been available without increasing the height of the receiver.

[0012] exist Figure 1 In this receiver 100, a housing 102 has an interior 104 containing a diaphragm 106 that divides the interior 104 into a front cavity volume 110 and a rear cavity volume 112. A motor 108 disposed in the rear cavity volume includes a coil 132 magnetically coupled to an armature 136 having an end 148 movably disposed in a space 144 between magnets 138 held by a yoke 134. The armature 136 is coupled to movable blades 116 of the diaphragm, wherein the armature moves the blades in response to an excitation signal applied to the coil.

[0013] exist Figure 1 In this design, the diaphragm includes a diaphragm body 114, which includes blades 116 flexibly connected to a frame 118 via one or more hinges 120. A gap separates at least a portion of the blades from the frame, and this gap is covered by a membrane, which is further described herein. Figure 1 In one embodiment, the diaphragm body is a non-assembled single component comprising blades, a frame, and hinges. In other embodiments, the diaphragm body is an assembly formed by discrete blades flexibly fastened to a discrete frame. Alternatively, the diaphragm has no hinges, and the blades exhibit pseudo-piston-like motion when driven by the motor. Figures 2 to 3 In this implementation, the blades are also hinged to the frame. However, in other implementations, Figures 1 to 3 The blades can be configured for pseudo-piston-like movement. In some implementations, with or without hinges, a portion of the housing forms a frame, with the blades moving relative to this frame, and a gap forming between the housing sidewalls and the blades.

[0014] The diaphragm also includes a flexible diaphragm that bridges the gap between the blades and the frame. This flexible diaphragm is configured to allow the blades to move relative to the frame without undue constraint. The diaphragm also forms an acoustic seal between the front and rear cavity volumes of the housing. Atmospheric relief vents are typically formed in the diaphragm and can be formed in the diaphragm or the blades. Figure 1In this diaphragm, diaphragm 128 covers the gap between blade 116 and frame 118 and has a shape that allows the blade to move relative to the frame. In a hingeless diaphragm, the diaphragm covers the gap between the periphery of the blade and the frame and allows pseudo-piston-like movement of the blade when driven by a motor. The diaphragm may include polyurethane, polyester film (Mylar), or siloxanes such as silicone, and other suitable materials. The flexible diaphragm may be applied as a layer or film, which may be applied to the entire surface of the diaphragm body or only to a selected portion of the diaphragm body sufficient to cover the gap.

[0015] Typically, the armature is directly or indirectly connected to the blades. For example... Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the linkage 130 connects the blade to the armature 136. In Figures 1 to 3 In this configuration, the linkage is a drive rod, one end 150 of which is welded, glued, or otherwise secured to the end 148 of the armature, while the second portion 152 is secured to the opening of the filler adhesive of the blade. For clarity, the adhesive is not shown. Figure 4 In this configuration, the linkage 130 is a strip comprising a first end 150 and a second portion 152. The first end 150 has a hole at least partially surrounding an end of the armature 136, and the second portion 152 is fastened to an opening in the filler adhesive of the blade. Alternatively, Figures 1 to 4 The end 152 of the drive rod can be bent and fastened to the underside of the blade by glue or another fastening mechanism. In other implementations, the armature is directly connected to the blade without an intermediate link.

[0016] An electrical signal representing the sound to be generated by the receiver is applied to coil 132, causing armature 136 to oscillate in direction 140 and drive blade 116, as... Figure 1 As shown. The movement of the blade 116 generates sound, which is emitted through a sound port 142 that acoustically connects the front cavity volume 110 to the exterior 170 of the housing.

[0017] exist Figure 1 In this receiver housing, a top plate 160 is located between a first end wall 162 and a second end wall 164. The front cavity volume is partially defined by the space between the top plate 160 and the diaphragm 106. Blades are oriented non-parallel to the top plate, with a first end 166 of the blade immediately adjacent to the first end wall 162 and a second end 168 of the blade immediately adjacent to the second end wall 164. A sound port 142 is disposed through a portion of the end wall 162.

[0018] exist Figure 2In this embodiment, the primary dimension 172 of the diaphragm is aligned with the primary dimension 174 of the top plate 160, and the first end wall 62 and the second end wall 164 extend along the secondary dimensions of the top plate and the diaphragm in the corresponding yz plane shown by the compass 180. In other implementations, the receiver housing does not have primary and secondary dimensions.

[0019] exist Figure 1 In the middle, the first end 166 of the blade is separated from the top plate 160 by a first distance 182, and the second end 168 of the blade is separated from the top plate by a second distance 184 that is smaller than the first distance (both along the z-axis). Figures 2 to 3 It is also shown that the first end 166 of the blade is farther from the top plate than the second end 168 of the blade. Figures 1 to 3 In this receiver housing, the sound port is located on the end wall 162 between the first end of the blade and the top plate. The angled orientation of the blade relative to the top plate provides space in the end wall 162 to accommodate a larger sound port 142 than would be available if the blade were parallel to the top plate. The larger sound port provides an improved frequency response, particularly at higher frequencies.

[0020] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this design, blade 116 is a generally planar component, and the angle 186 between the top plate and the blade varies from about 3 degrees to about 10 degrees. More generally, this angle can be up to 20 degrees or greater. The specific angle achieved by any particular receiver depends on dimensional constraints and performance requirements, as well as other factors.

[0021] exist Figure 3 In this context, the blade is a non-planar member having a substantially curved or bow-shaped portion 188 between a first end 166 and a second end 168. A generally curved non-planar blade provides more space on the end wall of the housing between the diaphragm end and the top plate than would normally be provided by a generally planar blade. For a given motor size, the available space on the end wall for the sound port can be increased by increasing the curvature of the blade. As described herein, a generally curved or curved blade is one whose curve is larger than the curve associated with features used to reinforce a generally planar blade. Such reinforcing features include ribs, so-called caps, curved edges, protrusions, and arrays of other features formed in or on the blade.

[0022] In one implementation, the motor is smaller than the diaphragm and occupies only a portion of the rear cavity volume. This configuration allows the motor to be offset to the side of the rear cavity volume furthest from the blade's top plate of the housing. Offsetting the motor in the rear cavity volume accommodates greater blade tilt without increasing the housing height. Depending on where the armature is attached to the blade, offsetting the motor in the rear cavity volume also provides mechanical advantages for actuating the blade. Figures 1 to 3 In the middle, motor (such as Figure 1 The motor (as shown in Figure 108) is positioned closer to the second end wall 164 than the first end wall 162 of the housing. In one implementation, the motor occupies approximately half of the rear cavity volume. However, in other implementations, the motor may occupy more or less of the rear cavity volume of the housing, depending on the size of the motor, the desired frequency response, and other considerations. Such a configuration accommodates more blade tilt, thus allowing for a larger sound port on the housing end wall. In other implementations, the motor extends along the entire length of the rear cavity volume.

[0023] In some implementations, the armature can be connected to the middle of the blade. As used herein, "middle" of the blade refers to approximately 15% of the blade's length. Connecting the armature to the middle of the blade may be desirable for blades exhibiting pseudo-piston-like movement (i.e., for blades without hinges). Connecting the armature to the middle portion of a hinged blade can provide mechanical advantages because connecting the armature closer to the hinge to the blade will provide a greater blade deflection for a given armature deflection. An offset motor in the rear cavity volume can provide greater flexibility where the armature is connected to the blade without requiring repositioning the linkage where it is connected to the armature. Figures 1 to 3 In this configuration, the motor is offset from the sound port within the rear cavity volume, and the connecting rod connects to the end of the armature and the middle of the blade. Figure 1 In this configuration, the blade is flexibly hinged to a frame opposite the sound port 142, and the end 148 of the armature is connected to the middle of the blade via a drive rod 130. Figure 2 In this configuration, the blade is flexibly hinged to a frame adjacent to the sound port 142, and the end of the armature is connected to the middle of the blade via a drive rod. Figure 2 In this design, there is a trade-off between moving the motor to accommodate the larger sound port 142 and connecting the armature to the blade closer to the hinge, because moving the motor closer to the hinge could ultimately interfere with the tilting blade. Figure 3 In one embodiment, the hinge for the generally bent blade is positioned relative to the sound port 142. In another embodiment, the hinge for bending the blade may be positioned adjacent to the sound port. In yet another implementation, the drive link is connected to one end of the armature and to a position on the blade that is less than approximately two-thirds of the distance from the hinge to the opposite end of the blade.

[0024] The blades can include conventional materials such as steel or aluminum. In implementations where the diaphragm body is a single component, the frame and hinges comprise the same materials as the blades. In implementations where the diaphragm body is an assembly, the frame can comprise the same or different materials as the blades. In one embodiment, the frame comprises aluminum, stainless steel, nickel, copper, and other materials and combinations thereof.

[0025] While this disclosure and its presently best mode have been described in a manner that enables those skilled in the art to make and use them, it should be understood and appreciated that many equivalents exist for the selected embodiments described herein, and various modifications and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which are not limited to the embodiments described but rather to the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A balanced armature receiver, the balanced armature receiver comprising: A housing having a top plate located between a first end wall and a second end wall of the housing; A diaphragm, comprising movable blades and hinges, the blades being coplanar with a surrounding frame, the hinges connecting the blades to the frame, the diaphragm being disposed within a housing and dividing the housing into a rear cavity volume and a front cavity volume, the front cavity volume being partially defined by the space between the top plate and the diaphragm. The blade is oriented not parallel to the top plate, with a first end of the blade adjacent to the first end wall and a second end of the blade adjacent to the second end wall; A sound port extends through the housing and acoustically connects the front cavity volume to the outside of the housing. The sound port is located on a portion of the front cavity volume defined by the first end wall, the area of ​​which is smaller than the area of ​​the top plate. A motor is disposed within the rear cavity volume, and the motor includes a coil magnetically coupled to an armature having ends movably disposed between magnets held by a yoke, and the armature being coupled to the blades. Wherein, the distance between the first end of the blade and the top plate is greater than the distance between the second end of the blade and the top plate, and the sound port is located between the first end of the blade and the top plate.

2. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 1, wherein, The primary dimensions of the diaphragm are aligned with the primary dimensions of the top plate, and the first end wall and the second end wall extend along the secondary dimensions of the top plate and the diaphragm.

3. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 1, wherein, The blade includes reinforcing features.

4. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 3, wherein, The angle between the top plate and the blade varies from 3 degrees to 10 degrees.

5. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 1, wherein, The motor is positioned closer to the second end wall of the housing than to the first end wall of the housing.

6. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 5, wherein, The motor occupies half of the rear cavity volume.

7. The armature receiver according to claim 5, wherein the armature receiver further comprises a link connecting the armature to the middle of the blade.

8. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 5, wherein, The blade is hinged to the second end wall.

9. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 5, wherein, The blade is hinged to the first end wall having the sound port.

10. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 1, wherein, The blade is hinged to the first end wall having the sound port.

11. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 1, wherein, The frame, the hinge, and the blade constitute a single, unassembled component.

12. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 11, wherein, The blade is a planar component.

13. A balanced armature receiver, the balanced armature receiver comprising: A housing having a top plate located between a first end wall and a second end wall of the housing; A diaphragm, comprising movable blades, is disposed within the housing and divides the housing into a rear cavity volume and a front cavity volume, wherein a first end of the diaphragm is adjacent to a first end wall and a second end of the diaphragm is adjacent to a second end wall. The blade is oriented not parallel to the top plate, with a first end of the blade adjacent to the first end wall and a second end of the blade adjacent to the second end wall; A sound port extends through the housing and acoustically connects the front cavity volume to the outside of the housing; as well as A motor is disposed within the rear cavity volume, and the motor includes a coil magnetically coupled to an armature having ends movably disposed between magnets held by a yoke, and the armature being coupled to the blades. The blade is curved between the first end and the second end of the blade. Wherein, the distance between the first end of the blade and the top plate is greater than the distance between the second end of the blade and the top plate, and the sound port is located on the first end wall between the first end of the blade and the top plate.

14. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 13, wherein, The angle between the top plate and the blade varies from 5 degrees to 20 degrees.

15. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 13, wherein, The motor is positioned closer to the second end wall of the housing than to the first end wall of the housing.

16. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 15, wherein, The motor occupies half of the rear cavity volume.

17. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 16, wherein, The balance armature receiver also includes a link connected to the middle of the blade.

18. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 16, wherein, The blade is hinged to the second end wall.

19. The balanced armature receiver according to claim 16, wherein, The blade is hinged to the first end wall having the sound port.

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