Force cancelling transducer

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to force-cancelling transducers. A transducer assembly is disclosed, the transducer assembly having: a frame; a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly suspended from the frame, the dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly having a first diaphragm and a first voice coil attached to the first diaphragm and a second diaphragm and a second voice coil attached to the second diaphragm, wherein the first voice coil and the second voice coil are located between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, and the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are operable to move in opposite directions along a vibration axis; a magnet assembly positioned within the frame, the magnet assembly having a first magnet and a second magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet being positioned between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm; and a rigid support member sized to fixedly connect the magnet assembly to the frame.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with application number 202010073316.9, application date January 22, 2020, and invention name “Force Compensation Transducer”. Technical Field

[0002] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to force cancellation transducers, and more particularly, to dual diaphragm and voice coil transducers for reducing or eliminating mechanical forces. Other aspects are also described and claimed. Background Art

[0003] In modern consumer electronics, with the continuous improvement of digital audio signal processing and audio content transmission, audio functions are playing an increasingly important role. In this regard, a wide range of consumer electronic devices can benefit from the improvement of audio performance. For example, smart phones include, for example, electroacoustic transducers (such as speakers), which can benefit from the improvement of audio performance. However, smart phones do not have enough space to accommodate larger high-fidelity sound output devices. This is true for some portable personal computers such as laptops, notebook computers and tablets, and to a lesser extent, for desktop personal computers with built-in speakers. The speakers combined in these devices can use moving coil motors to drive sound output. Moving coil motors may include diaphragms, voice coils and magnet assemblies positioned in a frame. However, in some cases, the force output by the moving coil motor can be transmitted to the device housing, thereby causing undesirable vibration or shaking of the system. Summary of the invention

[0004] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a transducer (e.g., a loudspeaker) that provides a force-balancing configuration to eliminate or greatly reduce mechanical forces that may be transmitted to a system in which the transducer is mounted or integrated, while maximizing acoustic output. The term "mechanical force" is intended to refer to the force caused by the transducer when the transducer assembly vibrates or shakes and physically contacts a housing or other system component. To achieve this, the transducer may include a relatively symmetrical pair of opposing diaphragms, which in one aspect move in opposite directions to provide in-phase acoustic output. In addition, the transducer may include an axially aligned voice coil attached to each diaphragm, and a magnet assembly positioned between the opposing diaphragms and voice coils. During operation, each diaphragm / voice coil assembly may move in opposite directions, which in turn generates opposing forces on the magnet assembly. By generating two opposing forces against the magnet assembly, any forces that may otherwise move the magnet assembly to cause undesirable vibration, shaking, etc. of the system effectively cancel each other, resulting in no net mechanical force transmission, or at least greatly reducing the mechanical force applied to the system to which the transducer is attached. In addition, both the diaphragm and the associated voice coil can be interconnected in that their vibrations are driven by the same magnetic return path through the magnet assembly. In addition, in order to rigidly connect the magnet assembly to the frame while still maintaining a maximum inter-coil offset gap, a relatively hard or rigid support member (or bracket) is provided. Typically, a thin and relatively rigid sheet-like support member can be positioned between the magnets and extend to the frame to connect the magnet assembly to the frame. In one aspect, the support member or bracket can be non-magnetic and thus serve as a structural element rather than a magnet return path, as is typically the case with a bracket.

[0005] Furthermore, in further aspects, the voice coils may be specially wound or reshaped to preserve the inter-coil gap (or offset space) between the coils. For example, one or more of the voice coils may be reshaped near the high stiffness connector to preserve the offset space. Typically, the voice coil may be deformed in the corners to reduce the z-height (or vertical dimension). For example, the voice coil wire may be vertically wound one layer on top of another voice coil wire and then deformed only in the corners to create a "J" shaped coil portion with a reduced z-height.

[0006] In another aspect, the support member or bracket positioned between the magnets can be an exhaust center bracket. For example, the exhaust center bracket can include cutouts around the outer periphery that allow for improved thermal efficiency and acoustic transmission across the bracket while still providing structural support as previously mentioned. Further, in this regard, the bracket can in some cases be thicker than the brackets previously discussed (in speakers with a high form factor) and made of ferromagnetic material to avoid losses due to gaps created between the magnets. Thus, in this regard, the support member or bracket can be used for magnetic purposes.

[0007] In other aspects, the transducer may include a nested coil configuration. For example, similar to the configuration discussed previously, the transducer may include a relatively symmetrical pair of opposing diaphragms and voice coils, and a magnet assembly interposed between the diaphragms and voice coils. However, in this regard, rather than axially aligning the voice coils, the voice coils may be nested within a magnet assembly having an offset magnetic gap formed within a single magnet layer of the magnet assembly.

[0008] In further aspects, a transducer assembly can be included in a device housing to produce a haptic effect. For example, the transducer assembly can have an air pressure vent or b-vent that produces a tuned acoustic circuit that resonates for an additional subsonic system.

[0009] More specifically, aspects of the present disclosure include a transducer assembly including a frame and a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly suspended from the frame. The dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly may include a first diaphragm and a first voice coil attached to the first diaphragm and a second diaphragm and a second voice coil attached to the second diaphragm. The first voice coil and the second voice coil are located between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, and the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are operable to move in opposite directions along a vibration axis. The assembly may also include a magnet assembly and a rigid support member, the magnet assembly being positioned within the frame and having a first magnet and a second magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet being positioned between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, the rigid support member being used to fixedly connect the magnet assembly to the frame. In some aspects, the support member may include a first side attached to the first magnet, a second side attached to the second magnet, and a plurality of extension members extending radially outward from the first magnet and the second magnet to fixedly connect the magnet assembly to the frame. In addition, the support member may have a z-height that is less than the z-height of the first magnet and the second magnet, and the support member may be made of a non-magnetic material. The magnet assembly may also include an annular bracket that surrounds the first magnet and the second magnet to form a single magnetic return path for the magnetic field generated by the first magnet and the second magnet and drive the vibration of the first voice coil and the second voice coil. In some aspects, the first voice coil is inward compared to the second voice coil, and the magnet assembly may include a first gap and a second gap that are horizontally aligned with each other, and the first voice coil is vertically aligned with the first gap, and the second voice coil is vertically aligned with the second gap. In addition, the first voice coil or the second voice coil may have a deformed corner that has a z-height that is shorter than another portion of the first voice coil or the second voice coil. The support member may be a bracket made of a magnetic material and a cutout in a portion of the bracket attached to the first magnet and the second magnet, and the size of the cutout is designed to allow thermal or acoustic exhaust through the bracket. The support member can be positioned between the first magnet and the second magnet, and the support member can have a vent that vents the acoustic chamber coupled to the first diaphragm and the acoustic chamber coupled to the second diaphragm to an external environment. In some cases, the transducer assembly can be operable to provide a tactile output.

[0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure may include a transducer assembly having a frame and a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly suspended from the frame, the dual diaphragm and voice coil being operable to move in opposite directions along a vibration axis and reduce mechanical forces output to the frame. In addition, a magnet assembly may be positioned within the frame between a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm, the magnet assembly forming a single magnetic return path for a magnetic field that is used to drive movement of both the first voice coil and the second voice coil along the vibration axis. The magnet assembly may also include a support member that attaches the magnet assembly to the frame, the support member having a plurality of extension members extending from the magnet assembly to the frame. The magnet assembly may include a first magnet and a second magnet polarized in the same direction. In some cases, a first plate may be attached to the first magnet, a second plate may be attached to the second magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet are positioned on opposite sides of the support member, and a ring bracket may surround the first magnet and the second magnet. An extension member of the support member may extend through an opening in the ring bracket to the frame. In some cases, at least one of the first voice coil and the second voice coil can have a deformed portion having a z-height that is less than a z-height of another portion of the first voice coil or the second voice coil.

[0011] In a further aspect, a transducer assembly is provided having a frame, a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly suspended from the frame, and a magnet assembly positioned between a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm, the magnet assembly having a plurality of magnets forming a first gap horizontally aligned with a second gap, and the first voice coil axially aligned with the first gap, and the second voice coil axially aligned with the second gap. In some cases, the plurality of magnets may include at least two magnets having opposite polarities. Each magnet may be horizontally aligned. In addition, the first voice coil may be a different size than the second voice coil.

[0012] The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects of the present disclosure. It is contemplated that the present disclosure includes all systems and methods that can be practiced from all appropriate combinations of the various aspects summarized above and disclosed in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the claims filed with this patent application. Such combinations have specific advantages not specifically recited in the above summary. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Several aspects are shown by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements. It should be noted that reference to "one" or "an" aspect in the present disclosure is not necessarily the same aspect, and it means at least one.

[0014] Figure 1 A cross-sectional side view of one aspect of a transducer assembly is shown.

[0015] Figure 2 A cross-sectional side view of one aspect of a transducer assembly is shown.

[0016] Figure 3 A top plan view of a support member of a transducer assembly is shown.

[0017] Figure 4 A perspective side view of one aspect of a transducer assembly is shown.

[0018] Figure 5 A cross-sectional side view of one aspect of a transducer assembly mounted within a housing is shown.

[0019] Figure 6 A cross-sectional side view of one aspect of a transducer assembly is shown.

[0020] Figure 7 A top plan view of a support member of a transducer assembly is shown.

[0021] Figure 8 A cross-sectional side view of one aspect of a transducer assembly is shown.

[0022] Fig. 9 A perspective view of the voice coil of the transducer assembly is shown.

[0023] Fig.10 A cross-sectional side view of one aspect of a transducer assembly is shown.

[0024] Fig.11 A cross-sectional side view of one aspect of a transducer assembly is shown.

[0025] Fig.12 Shown is a simplified schematic diagram of electronics in which a transducer assembly may be implemented.

[0026] Fig.13 A block diagram is shown of some of the components of an electronic device in which a transducer assembly may be implemented. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In this section, we will explain several preferred aspects of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings. Whenever the shapes, relative positions, and other aspects of the components described in various aspects are not clearly defined, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the components shown, which are only used for illustrative purposes. In addition, although many details are set forth, it should be understood that some aspects of the present disclosure can be implemented without these details. In other cases, well-known structures and technologies are not shown in detail to avoid obscuring the understanding of this description.

[0028] The terms used herein are only for describing specific aspects and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Spatially related terms, such as "under ... ", "below ... ", "below", "above ... ", "on ", etc. can be used for convenience of description in this article to describe the relationship between an element or feature and another one or more elements or one or more feature parts, as shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to cover different orientations during the use or operation of the device other than the orientation shown in the accompanying drawings. For example, if the device in the figure is turned over, the element described as "below" or "below" other elements or features can then be oriented to "above" other elements or features. Therefore, the exemplary term "below ... " can cover these two orientations above ... and below .... The device can be oriented in other ways (for example, rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially related descriptors used in this article are interpreted accordingly.

[0029] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that the terms "include", "comprise", and "comprising" define the presence of the features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0030] The terms "or" and "and / or" as used herein should be interpreted as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Thus, "A, B or C" or "A, B and / or C" means "any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C." An exception to this definition will only occur if a combination of elements, functions, steps or actions are inherently mutually exclusive in some way.

[0031] Figure 1 A cross-sectional side view of one aspect of a transducer assembly is shown. The transducer assembly 100 may be, for example, an electroacoustic transducer that converts an electrical signal into an auditory signal that can be output from a device into which the transducer assembly 100 is integrated. For example, the transducer assembly 100 may be a speaker integrated into a smart phone or other similar compact electronic device such as a laptop, notebook, tablet computer, or amplifier. The transducer assembly 100 may be enclosed within a housing or casing of the device into which the transducer assembly is integrated.

[0032] The transducer assembly 100 may include a first diaphragm 102 and a first voice coil 104 attached to the first diaphragm 102. The diaphragm 102 may be any type of flexible membrane (which may include many layers of material) that is capable of vibrating in response to an acoustic signal to produce sound waves or acoustic waves. The diaphragm 102 may include a first surface, face, or side 102A and a second surface, face, or side 102B. The first surface, face, or side 102A may face in one direction, and the second surface, face, or side 102B may face in the opposite direction. The surface, face, or side 102A may be considered a sound radiating surface, face, or side (or the top surface, face, or side in this view) because the surface, face, or side generates the sound output by the transducer assembly 100. In this regard, the surface, face, or side 102A may be acoustically coupled to the front volume chamber and acoustic output port of the transducer assembly 100 (e.g., see Figure 5 ). On the other hand, surface, face or side 102B can be acoustically isolated from first surface, face or side 102A and can be considered as the interior-facing surface, face or side (or bottom side in this view) of diaphragm 102, which is acoustically coupled to the back volume chamber of transducer assembly 100. First voice coil 104 can be attached to second surface, face or side 102B of the diaphragm, and diaphragm 102 is suspended from frame 108 by suspension member 106. Suspension member 106 can be a compliant member (e.g., a membrane) that, in one aspect, is attached to side 102A of diaphragm 102 and allows diaphragm 102 to vibrate along vibration axis 116, as shown by the arrows. Although not shown, frame 108 can be a housing or a portion of a housing that encloses all of the components of transducer assembly 100.

[0033] The transducer assembly 100 may also include a second diaphragm 110 and a second voice coil 112 attached to the second diaphragm 110. The second diaphragm 110 may be substantially similar to the diaphragm 102 and include a first surface, face, or side 110A facing in one direction and a second surface, face, or side 110B facing in an opposite direction. The surface, face, or side 110A may be considered a sound radiating surface, face, or side (or a bottom surface, face, or side in this view) because the surface, face, or side generates the sound output by the transducer assembly 100. For example, the surface, face, or side 110A may be acoustically coupled to the front volume chamber and the acoustic output port of the transducer assembly 100 (e.g., see Figure 5). On the other hand, surface, face or side 110B can be considered to be the inward-facing surface, face or side (or the top side in this view) of the diaphragm 110 that is acoustically isolated from side 110A and can be acoustically coupled to the back volume chamber of the transducer assembly 100. The second voice coil 112 can be attached to side 110B of the diaphragm 110. The second diaphragm 110 and the second voice coil 112 can be suspended from the frame 108 by a suspension member 114. Similar to the suspension member 106, the suspension member 114 can be a compliant member (e.g., a membrane) that, in one aspect, is attached to the side 110A of the diaphragm 110 and allows the diaphragm 110 to vibrate along a vibration axis 116, as shown by the arrow. In addition, it should be recognized that although the first diaphragm 102 and the second diaphragm 110 are shown as planar structures, these diaphragms can have one or more out-of-plane regions or portions, for example, these diaphragms can have one or more convex regions, concave regions, or arcuate regions.

[0034] The transducer assembly 100 may also include a magnet assembly 118 positioned between the first diaphragm 102 and the second diaphragm 110. The magnet assembly 118 may include a first magnet 120 having a plate 122, a second magnet 124 having a plate 126, and a bracket 130 surrounding the magnet / plate assembly. The first magnet 120 and the second magnet 124 may be permanent magnets. The bracket 130 may be an annular bracket sized to surround the magnets 120, 124 and to form a gap 132 between the magnets. The first magnet 120 and the second magnet 124 in combination with the plates 122, 126 and the bracket 130 may form a magnetic circuit or magnetic return path for a magnetic field that is used to drive movement of the voice coils 104, 112 (and, in turn, the diaphragms 102, 110) along the vibration axis. The voice coils 104 , 112 and diaphragms 102 , 110 may move (eg, vibrate) in opposite directions such that mechanical forces are canceled while still maintaining in-phase acoustic output.

[0035] Furthermore, the vibration of both diaphragm and voice coil assemblies 102 / 104 and 110 / 112 may be driven by the same magnetic circuit such that these assemblies may be considered interconnected or interlocked. Figure 2 A representative magnetic circuit for driving both voice coils 104 and 112 is shown in FIG. Figure 1 similar, Figure 2The first diaphragm 102 and the first voice coil 104 and the second diaphragm 110 and the voice coil 112 are shown, which are positioned in opposite directions so that the first voice coil 104 and the second voice coil 112 are axially aligned with the gap 132. It can also be seen from this view that the first voice coil 104 and the second voice coil 112 are wound in the same direction (e.g., the coil wire is shown entering the page at the right side of the page and leaving the page at the left side of the page) and carry the input signal as shown. In addition, the first magnet 120 and the second magnet 124 can be polarized in the same direction. For example, the first magnet 120 and the second magnet 124 can both be polarized so that their north poles face the top (e.g., facing the first diaphragm 102) and so that their south poles face the bottom of the transducer assembly 100 (e.g., facing the second diaphragm 110). The magnetic circuit or magnetic return path 202 is also shown to run counterclockwise throughout the magnet assembly 118. Representatively, the magnetic circuit or magnetic return path 202 passes through the first magnet 120 and the plate 122, to the first voice coil 104, then to the bracket 130, from the bracket 130 down to the second voice coil 112, and then through the plate 126 and the magnet 124. In this configuration, the first diaphragm 102 and the first voice coil 104 and the second diaphragm 110 and the voice coil 112 are driven by the same magnetic circuit and can be caused to move in opposite directions along the vibration axis, as shown by the arrows. Therefore, any mechanical forces generated by the movement of the first diaphragm 102 and the first voice coil 104 and the second diaphragm 110 and the voice coil 112 cancel each other while still providing in-phase acoustic output.

[0036] See again Figure 1, in order to suspend the magnet assembly 118 between the diaphragm / voice coil assembly as shown, the transducer assembly 100 may also include a bracket or support member 128. The support member 128 may be configured to attach the magnet assembly 118 to the frame 108. Representatively, in one aspect, the support member 128 may be attached to the intersecting side of the first magnet 120 and the second magnet 124 and to the frame 108. The support member 128 may attach the magnet assembly 118 to the frame so that the magnet assembly remains relatively stationary within the assembly. In this regard, the support member 128 may be made of a rigid material that does not vibrate, bend, or otherwise change its shape in response to the vibration forces caused by the diaphragm / voice coil assembly. In addition, the support member 128 may be made relatively thin and made of a non-magnetic material to maintain a reduced z-height and / or prevent interference with the magnetic circuit or magnetic return path discussed previously. For example, the support member 128 may be made of titanium, aluminum, or plastic. In this regard, while the support member 128 may be referred to as a bracket in some cases, the support member is not considered to form part of the magnetic circuit or magnetic return path. To help maintain a reduced z-height, the support member 128 may have a thickness or z-height (h) that is less than the magnets 120, 124, and in some cases less than the thickness or z-height of the plates 122, 126.

[0037] Figure 3 An exemplary configuration of the support member 128 is shown in FIG. Representatively, Figure 3 is a top plan view of the support member 128. As can be seen from this view, the support member 128 can have a generally elongated or rectangular shape, including a main body portion 302 and extension portions or tabs 304, 306, 308, 310. The main body portion 302 is attached to the intersecting sides of the first magnet 120 and the second magnet 124, as previously discussed. The main body portion 302 can have a shape, size, surface area, length, and / or width that is similar to the shape, size, surface area, length, and / or width of the first magnet 120 and the second magnet 124. The tabs 304-310 can extend outwardly from the main body portion 302 and thus extend beyond the magnets 120, 124. When assembled, the tabs 304-310 can extend from the magnets 120, 124 to the frame 108 and can therefore be used to attach the support member 128 (and the associated magnets 120, 124) to the frame 108. It should be understood that Figure 1 A cross-sectional side view along the width dimension of the assembly 100 is shown, thus Figure 1 The tabs 304 - 310 are not shown.

[0038] from Figure 4-Figure 5 The support member 128 including tabs 304-310 extending from the magnets 120, 124 to the frame 108 can be more clearly understood. Representatively, Figure 4FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the transducer assembly 100. Figure 4 As shown, the bracket 130 may be an annular structure that almost entirely surrounds the magnets 120, 124. The tabs 304-310 extend from the magnets 120, 124 through the offset space between the voice coils 104, 112 and through the openings 402 in the bracket 130 to the frame 108. In order to limit any interference with other aspects of the assembly, the tabs 304-310 may extend only from certain portions of the body portion 302. For example, the tabs 304-310 may extend in the longitudinal direction from the corners of the body portion 302. In this embodiment, since the tabs 304-310 extend only from the corners of the body portion 302, only four openings are required in the bracket 130, and only the offset space between the corners of the voice coils 104, 112 is occupied by the support member 128. However, it should be understood that while four tabs 304 - 310 are shown, the support member 128 may have any number of extension members or tabs and at any location around the body portion 302 where securely and stationarily suspending the magnet assembly 118 from the frame 108 is necessary.

[0039] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the transducer assembly 100 is shown, taken through the tabs 304, 306 of the support member 128 along the length dimension of the assembly (eg, the view from Figure 1 108). As can be seen from this view, when the transducer assembly 100 is positioned within the interior chamber of the frame 108, the tabs 304 and 306 extend through the offset space between the voice coils 104, 112 and through the opening 402 in the bracket 130 to reach the frame 108. The frame 108 can be an internal frame formed within a housing or shell of the device, or can be the device housing or shell itself. Therefore, it should be understood that because the transducer assembly 100 is directly connected to the frame 108, if the transducer assembly is to vibrate, shake, or otherwise move, these mechanical forces can be transmitted to the frame 108, thereby causing undesirable vibration, shaking, or movement of the frame 108. Because the dual diaphragm configuration of the transducer assembly 100 counteracts these mechanical forces, undesirable vibration, shaking, or movement of the frame 108 is prevented or greatly reduced.

[0040] In addition, it can be seen from this view that the sound output sides, faces or surfaces 102A, 110A of the two diaphragms 102, 110 output sound to the front volume chamber 502, which is acoustically connected to the sound output port 504 of the housing or frame 108. The sound output port 504 can be formed in any part of the frame 108, such as the side (e.g., a side port device), the top (e.g., a top port device), or the bottom (e.g., a bottom port device). As previously discussed, the transducer assembly 100 can provide an in-phase acoustic output from the frame into which the transducer assembly is integrated. The opposite sides, faces or surfaces 102B, 110B of the diaphragms 102, 110 are acoustically connected to the rear volume chamber, which is shown by the volumes 506A, 506B that are acoustically connected to each other, however, are acoustically isolated from the front volume chamber 502. In Figure 5 , the transducer assembly 100 is shown mounted proximate the acoustic output port 504 , however, it is contemplated that the transducer assembly may be mounted at any location within the frame 108 suitable for outputting sound through the acoustic output port 504 .

[0041] Figure 6 A cross-sectional side view of another aspect of a transducer assembly is shown. Similar to transducer assembly 100, transducer assembly 600 includes a first diaphragm 602 having a first voice coil 604 coupled thereto, and the first voice coil and the first diaphragm are suspended from a frame 608 by a suspension member 606. Transducer assembly 600 may also include a second diaphragm 610 having a second voice coil 612 coupled thereto, and the second voice coil and the second diaphragm are suspended from the frame 608 by the suspension member 614. Further, similar to transducer assembly 100, the first voice coil 604 may be attached to an inwardly facing side, surface or face 602B of the first diaphragm 602, and the second voice coil 612 may be attached to an inwardly facing side, surface or face 610B of the second diaphragm 610. Further, the first diaphragm 602 may include an outer face or top face, surface or side 602A, and the second diaphragm 610 may include an outer face or bottom face, surface or side 610B. However, in this embodiment, the outwardly facing sides, surfaces or faces 602A, 610A of the diaphragms 602, 610 can be coupled to the rear volume chamber 650 of the assembly, while the sides, surfaces or faces 602B, 610B to which the voice coils 604, 612 are attached can be acoustically coupled to the front volume chamber 652 of the assembly (e.g., the volume extending along the top and bottom sides of the member 628 and coupled to the output port). Thus, in this configuration, the sound output is from the sides, surfaces or faces 602B and 610B of the diaphragms 602, 610 toward the center of the assembly 600, as indicated by the arrows. In addition, the diaphragms 602, 610 can be non-planar in that they include curved, arched, or out-of-plane sound radiating portions.

[0042] To facilitate transmission of sound toward the center of assembly 600 (as indicated by the arrows), transducer assembly 600 also includes a support member 628 for magnet assembly 618 that includes a vent to the exterior of assembly 600. A vent support member 628, similar to the support member of assembly 100, is attached to magnet assembly 618 between diaphragms 602, 610 and couples the magnet assembly to frame 608. To allow transmission of sound through the center of assembly 600, support member 628 includes a plurality of openings, cutouts, or vents 630. Figure 7 A top plan view of the exhaust support member 628 is shown. As can be seen from this view, the support member 628 may include lobes 702 connected at their centers and spaced apart to form vents 630. The lobes 702 and the vents 630 formed between each of the lobes 702 extend outward from the center of the member to the periphery of the member 628 and have an elongated shape. In addition, the support member 628 may have a substantially overall circular shape, but other shapes are contemplated. Furthermore, in addition to exhaust and / or sound, the exhaust support member 628 may also provide a thermal path for transferring heat generated within the assembly to the exterior, thereby improving the thermal efficiency of the assembly 600.

[0043] Now back to Figure 6 As previously discussed, in addition to the venting, the support member 628 is used to couple the magnet assembly 618 to the frame 608. Similar to the magnet assembly 118 of the transducer assembly 100, the magnet assembly 618 may include a first magnet 620 having a plate 622 attached to the side of the magnet facing the first diaphragm 602 and a second magnet 624 having a plate 626 attached to the side of the magnet facing the second diaphragm 610. The other side of the first magnet 620 is attached to the top side of the support member 628, and the other side of the second magnet 624 is attached to the bottom side of the support member 628. To accommodate the venting, the first magnet 620 and the second magnet 624 may be annular magnets positioned concentrically outward to the voice coils 604, 612, or any other shape with an opening in the middle so that the first magnet and the second magnet can be positioned around or outward to the voice coils 604, 612. In other words, while they are still in the area between the diaphragms 602 , 610 similar to the previous configuration, they are not directly above / below or vertically aligned with the diaphragms 602 , 610 , but rather they are aligned with the suspension members 606 , 614 .

[0044] In addition, the magnet assembly 618 may also include a first bracket 632 and a second bracket 634. The first bracket 632 may be an annular structure that is positioned on the same side of the support member 628 as the first magnet 620 and concentrically inward compared to the first voice coil 604. Therefore, a gap 660 for accommodating the offset of the first voice coil 604 is formed between the first magnet 620 and the plate 622 and the first bracket 632. The second bracket 634 may be an annular structure that is positioned on the same side of the support member 628 as the second magnet 624 and concentrically inward compared to the voice coil 612. Therefore, a gap 662 for accommodating the offset of the second voice coil 612 is formed between the second magnet 624 and the plate 626 and the second bracket 634. Although the brackets 632 and 634 are described as annular structures, they may have any shape as long as they have an opening through the center that allows air (or sound or heat) to pass through the support member 628. Furthermore, although the brackets 632 and 634 are depicted as separate structures attached to opposing sides of the support member 628, it is contemplated that the support member 628 and the brackets 632, 634 may be one integrally formed structure.

[0045] As previously discussed, the support member 628 can be a relatively rigid structure that is used to vent and attach the magnet assembly 618 to the frame 608 in a relatively static configuration. In addition, in some aspects, when a relatively low z-height of the assembly 600 is not required, the support member 628 can be relatively thicker than the support members previously discussed, or have a larger z-height (h) than the support members previously discussed. For example, the support member 628 can have a thickness or z-height (h) greater than one or more of the plates 622, 626. In addition, in the aspect that the support member 628 is relatively thick or has an increased z-height, the support member 628 can be made of a ferromagnetic material to avoid magnetic flux loss due to the relatively large gap it creates between the first magnet 620 and the second magnet 624. Therefore, the support member 628 can also be referred to as a bracket and is considered to be part of the magnet assembly 618.

[0046] Although not shown, the first magnet 620 and the second magnet 624 in combination with the plates 622, 626 and brackets 632, 634 (and in some cases the support member 628) can form a magnetic circuit or magnetic return path for the magnetic field that is used to drive the movement of the voice coils 604, 612 along the vibration axis so that the mechanical forces are offset as previously discussed. It is also contemplated that in this configuration where the support member 628 can be made of a ferromagnetic material, the first magnet 620 and the second magnet 624 can be positioned in opposite directions rather than the same direction. It is contemplated that facing the magnetic poles in opposite directions helps reduce magnetic flux losses through the support member 628.

[0047] Figure 8A cross-sectional side view of another aspect of a transducer assembly is shown. Similar to the assemblies discussed previously, the transducer assembly 800 includes a first diaphragm 802 having a first voice coil 804 coupled thereto, and the first voice coil and the first diaphragm are suspended from a frame 808 by a suspension member 806. The transducer assembly 800 may also include a second diaphragm 810 having a second voice coil 812 coupled thereto, and the second voice coil and the second diaphragm are suspended from the frame 808 by a suspension member 814. Further, similar to the configurations discussed previously, the first voice coil 804 may be attached to an inwardly facing side, surface or face 802B of the first diaphragm 802, and the second voice coil 812 may be attached to an inwardly facing side, surface or face 810B of the second diaphragm 810. The first voice coil 804 and the second voice coil 812 are axially or vertically aligned with each other along a vibration axis 816 such that they occupy the same offset space or gap 850 formed around a magnet assembly 818. In addition, the first diaphragm 802 may include an outer or top surface, surface or side 802A, and the second diaphragm 810 may include an outer or bottom surface, surface or side 810A. In some embodiments, the outer or top surface, surface or side 802A and the outer or bottom surface, surface or side 810A of the diaphragms 802 and 810 may generate sound output and acoustically couple to the front volume chamber and the sound output port of the assembly, respectively. The inward-facing side, surface or face 802B of the first diaphragm 802 and the inward-facing side, surface or face 810B of the second diaphragm 810 may be acoustically coupled to a rear volume chamber that is acoustically isolated from the front volume chamber.

[0048] The transducer assembly 800 may also include a magnet assembly 818 positioned between the first diaphragm 802 and the second diaphragm 810 and coupled to the frame 808 via a support member 828. The magnet assembly 818 may include a magnet 820 having a top plate 822 attached to the side facing the first diaphragm 802 and a bottom plate 826 attached to the side facing the second diaphragm 810. The magnet 820 may be a single permanent magnet as shown. In other aspects, the magnet 820 may be two or more magnets similar to the magnet assembly previously discussed.

[0049] The transducer assembly 800 may also include a support member 828 to attach the magnet assembly 818 to the frame 808. The support member 828 may be attached to one or more sides of the magnet 820 and attach the magnet assembly 818 to the frame according to a variety of different configurations. Similar to the support members previously discussed, the support member 828 and the various configurations disclosed herein are substantially rigid members that secure the magnet assembly 818 to the frame 808 using a high stiffness connection.

[0050] Representatively, in one aspect, the support member 828A is shown as an I-shaped or H-shaped structure having vertical flanges 830A, 830B connected together by a horizontal member 830C. The flange 830B can be attached to the side of the magnet 820, and the flange 830B can be attached to the frame (not shown). The offset space or gap 850 for the voice coils 804, 812 is formed along the opposite sides of the horizontal member 830C between the flanges 830A, 830B. On the other hand, the support member 828A is shown as an I-shaped or H-shaped structure formed by two C brackets 832A, 832B facing different directions. In this regard, the top C bracket 832A forms an offset space or gap 850 for the first voice coil 804, and the bottom C bracket 832B forms an offset space or gap for the second voice coil 812. The magnet 820 in combination with the plates 822, 826 and the support member 828 (e.g., support member 828A or 828B) can form a magnetic circuit or magnetic return path for the magnetic field that passes through the gap 850 and is used to drive movement of the voice coils 804, 812 (and diaphragms 802A, 810A) along the vibration axis.

[0051] from Figure 8 As can be seen, the size of the excursion space or gap 850 for the voice coils 804, 812 is limited by the horizontal portion of the support member 828. As previously discussed, the diaphragms 802, 810 and the associated voice coils 804, 812 can move in opposite directions, so it is critical to maintain the gap between the voice coils 804, 812 to ensure maximum excursion. In this regard, the portion of the voice coils 804, 812 that is vertically or axially aligned with the gap 850 formed by the support member 828 can have a reduced z-height so that the under-coil gap is retained. Representatively, in one aspect, the z-height is reduced by deforming the bottom portions 804A, 812A of the voice coils 804 and 812, respectively. For example, the bottom portions 804A, 812A can bend outwardly or inwardly so that the overall z-height is reduced and the under-coil gap between the bottom portions 804A, 812A and the horizontal member of the support member 828 is increased.

[0052] Fig. 9 An enlarged perspective view of the voice coil 804 with a deformed portion is shown. Representatively, from Fig. 9It can be seen that in one aspect, the voice coil 804 includes deformed ends 804A only at the corners of the voice coil 804. For example, in some aspects, the support member 828 extends between the voice coils 804, 812 only at the corners. Therefore, the under-coil clearance is reduced by the support member 828 only at the corners of the voice coils 804, 812. In this regard, only the corner portions of the voice coil 804 are deformed. The reduction in z-height of the corners compared to the rest of the voice coil 804 can be more clearly seen from the exploded views along the length dimension section line AA and the corner dimension section line BB. In particular, from these views, it can be seen that the corners of the voice coil 804 have deformed ends 804A that reduce the overall z-height in those areas. It should be understood that although the deformations are only shown at the corners of the voice coil 804, they can be formed at any portion of the voice coil 804 where under-coil clearance is an issue. The voice coils 804, 812 can be deformed during the manufacturing process. For example, when a voice coil wire is being wound one layer on top of another voice coil wire (in a rectangular or circular configuration) and is still hot, the end portion that needs to be deformed can be bent or squeezed as shown. The coil wire can then be cooled to set the final voice coil shape with permanently deformed corners. The deformation applied during the winding process can be achieved with minimal additional cycle time or cost. Advantageously, the portion of the coil that is deformed can be minimized compared to the total circumference of the coil so as to have minimal impact on the coil / magnetic gap topology in the remainder of the coil.

[0053] Furthermore, it is also contemplated that, although support member 828 is shown as having a flange, support member 828 may be a substantially planar structure, similar to support member 128, and include substantially flat extension members or tabs, as previously discussed. In other words, the voice coil having a deformable portion may be used in any of the previously discussed configurations.

[0054] Fig.10A cross-sectional side view of another aspect of a transducer assembly is shown. The transducer assembly 1000 can be similar to the assemblies previously discussed in that the transducer assembly includes a first diaphragm 1002 having a first voice coil 1004 coupled thereto, and the first voice coil and the first diaphragm are suspended from a frame 1008 by a suspension member 1006. The transducer assembly 1000 can also include a second diaphragm 1010 having a second voice coil 1012 coupled thereto, and the second voice coil and the second diaphragm are suspended from the frame 1008 by the suspension member 1014. Further, similar to the configurations previously discussed, the first voice coil 1004 can be attached to an inwardly facing side, surface, or face 1010B of the first diaphragm 1002, and the second voice coil 1012 can be attached to an inwardly facing side, surface, or face 1010B of the second diaphragm 1010. In addition, the first diaphragm 1002 may include an outer or top surface, surface or side 1002A, and the second diaphragm 1010 may include an outer or bottom surface, surface or side 1010A. In some embodiments, the outer or top surface, surface or side 1002A and the outer or bottom surface, surface or side 1010A of the diaphragms 1002 and 1010 may generate sound output and acoustically couple to the front volume chamber and the sound output port of the assembly, respectively. The inward-facing side, surface or face 1002B of the first diaphragm 1002 and the inward-facing side, surface or face 1010B of the second diaphragm 1010 may be acoustically coupled to a rear volume chamber that is acoustically isolated from the front volume chamber.

[0055] However, in this regard, the magnet assembly 1018 positioned between the diaphragms 1002, 1010 forms magnetic gaps or air gaps 1050, 1052 that are horizontally aligned as opposed to vertical, and the voice coils 1004, 1012 are aligned with each of the gaps 1050, 1052 in a nested configuration. In this regard, the transducer assembly 1000 has a substantially reduced z-height. For example, the magnet assembly 1018 may include a central magnet assembly 1020 that has a top plate assembly 1022 attached to the top side and a bottom plate assembly 1026 attached to the bottom side. The central magnet assembly 1020 includes a plurality of permanent magnets 1020A, 1020B, and 1020C that are horizontally aligned and spaced apart to form horizontally aligned gaps 1050 and 1052 therebetween. The gap 1050 may be considered an internal gap that is inward or closer to the center of the assembly than the gap 1052. The void 1052 may be considered an outer void that is outward or further from the center of the assembly than the void 1052. The top plate assembly 1022 includes a plurality of plates 1022A and 1022B that are attached to the sides of the magnets 1020A-1020C that face the diaphragm 1002 to form portions of the sides or bottoms of the voids 1050 and 1052, as shown. The bottom plate assembly 1026 includes a plurality of plates 1026A and 1026B that are attached to the sides of the magnets 1020A-1020C that face the diaphragm 1010 to form portions of the sides or bottoms of the voids 1050 and 1052, as shown. The permanent magnets 1020A-1020C, in combination with the plates 1022A-1022B and the plates 1026A-1026B, form a magnetic circuit or magnetic return path for a magnetic field across each of the gaps 1050, 1052, which can be used to drive movement of the voice coils 1004, 1012 along the vibration axis 1016, as shown by the arrows. In this regard, the magnets 1020A-1020C on each side of a respective one of the gaps 1050, 1052 can be polarized in opposite directions. For example, the magnets 1020A and 1020B forming the gap 1052 can have opposite polarities, and the magnets 1020B and 1020C forming the gap 1050 can have opposite polarities. Representatively, in one aspect, magnets 1020A and 1020C may have north and south poles facing the same direction, while magnet 1020B has north and south poles facing the opposite direction from magnets 1020A and 1020C. For example, magnets 1020A and 1020C may have north poles facing diaphragm 1002 and south poles facing diaphragm 1010, while magnet 1020C has north poles facing diaphragm 1010 and south poles facing diaphragm 1002. Additionally, although now shown, transducer assembly 1000 may have a support member for rigidly attaching magnet assembly 1018 to frame 1008, as previously discussed.

[0056] The voice coils 1004, 1012 may be aligned with each of the gaps 1050, 1052. For example, the voice coils 1004, 1012 may have different sizes such that the first voice coil 1004 is aligned with the gap 1050 and the second voice coil 1012 is aligned with the gap 1052. Representatively, the first voice coil 1004 may be narrower than the second voice coil 1012, or have a shorter dimension along the x-axis, such that the first voice coil 1004 is inward and aligned with the gap 1050 compared to the second voice coil 1012. In other words, the voice coil 1012 may be considered to surround or outward to the voice coil 1004. The voice coils 1004, 1012, and in turn their associated diaphragms 1002, 1010, may be driven in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows.

[0057] Fig.11 A cross-sectional side view of another aspect of the transducer assembly is shown. The transducer assembly 1100 is similar to the configurations previously discussed, except that the assembly 1100 includes a shared vent 1140 (e.g., a pneumatic vent or b-vent) that creates a tuned circuit for force cancellation and / or haptic effects. Representatively, the transducer assembly 1100 includes a first diaphragm 1102 having a first voice coil 1104 coupled thereto, and the first voice coil and the first diaphragm are suspended from a frame 1108 by a suspension member 1106. The transducer assembly 1100 may also include a second diaphragm 1110 having a second voice coil 1112 coupled thereto, and the second voice coil and the second diaphragm are suspended from the frame 1108 by a suspension member 1114. In addition, similar to the configurations discussed previously, the first voice coil 1104 may be attached to the inwardly facing side, surface or face 1102B of the first diaphragm 1102, and the second voice coil 1112 may be attached to the inwardly facing side, surface or face 1110B of the second diaphragm 1110. In addition, the first diaphragm 1102 may include an outer or top surface, surface or side 1102A, and the second diaphragm 1110 may include an outer or bottom surface, surface or side 1110A. One of the surfaces 1102A, 1102B of the diaphragm 1102 may be acoustically coupled to the front volume chamber, and the other surface may be coupled to the rear volume chamber. In addition, one of the surfaces 1112A, 1112B may be acoustically coupled to the front volume chamber, and the other surface may be coupled to the rear volume chamber.

[0058] The magnet assembly 1118 may be positioned between the diaphragms 1102, 1110 and coupled to the frame 1108 via a support member 1128. The magnet assembly 1118 may include a first magnet 1120 having a first plate 1122 surrounded by a bracket 1130A to form an air gap for the first voice coil 1104. The magnet assembly 1118 may also include a second magnet 1124 having a second plate 1126 surrounded by a bracket 1130B to form an air gap for the second voice coil 1110.

[0059] The support member 1128 can be positioned between the magnets 1120, 1124, e.g., attached to the intersecting sides of the brackets 1130A, 1130B, and extend outwardly from the magnets to attach the magnet assembly 1118 to the frame 1108. The support member 1128 can be similar to the support members discussed previously (e.g., a rigid structure), except that in this configuration, the support member 1128 also includes a shared vent 1140 (e.g., a pneumatic vent or b-vent) between the acoustic volumes (e.g., a rear volume) located on opposite sides of the support member 1128. Representatively, as Fig.11 As shown, the vents 1140 connect the acoustic volume on each side of the support member 1128 to the external environment. In this regard, the vents 1140 can be used to create a tuned circuit for additional subsonic system resonance. For example, in some aspects, the assembly 1100 can be configured to drive the movement of the voice coils 1104, 1112 and the associated diaphragms 1102, 1110 in the same direction to generate a force output to the system that can be used to generate a haptic effect. Alternatively, the diaphragms 1102, 1110 can be driven in opposite directions as previously discussed for force cancellation.

[0060] Fig.12 A simplified schematic perspective view of an exemplary electronic device in which a transducer assembly as described herein may be implemented is shown. Fig.12 As shown, the transducer assembly can be integrated into a consumer electronic device 1202 such as a smart phone, and the user can make a call with a remote user of the communication device 1204 through a wireless communication network; in another example, the transducer assembly can be integrated into the housing of a tablet computer 1206. These are just two examples of where the transducer assembly described herein can be used; however, it is contemplated that the transducer assembly can be used with any type of electronic device, for example, a home audio system, any consumer electronic device with audio capabilities, or an audio system in a vehicle (e.g., a car infotainment system).

[0061] Fig.13 1300 is a block diagram showing some of the components of an electronic device in which a transducer assembly as disclosed herein may be implemented. Device 1300 may be, for example, any of a variety of different types of consumer electronic devices, such as the Fig.13 Discussed.

[0062] In this regard, the electronic device 1300 includes a processor 1312 that interacts with the camera circuit 1306, the motion sensor 1304, the storage device 1308, the memory 1314, the display 1322, and the user input interface 1324. The main processor 1312 can also interact with the communication circuit 1302, the main power supply 1310, the speaker 1318, and the microphone 1320. The speaker 1318 can be a transducer assembly as described herein, for example, a micro speaker assembly. The various components of the electronic device 1300 can be digitally interconnected and used or managed by a software stack executed by the processor 1312. Many of the components shown or described herein can be implemented as one or more dedicated hardware units and / or programmed processors (software executed by a processor, such as the processor 1312).

[0063] The processor 1312 controls the overall operation of the device 1300 by executing instructions (software code and data) that may be found in the storage device 1308, by performing some or all of the operations of one or more application programs or operating system programs implemented on the device 1300. The processor 1312 may, for example, drive the display 1322 and receive user input through the user input interface 1324 (which may be integrated with the display 1322 as part of a single touch-sensitive display panel). In addition, the processor 1312 may send audio signals to the speaker 1318 to facilitate the operation of the speaker 1318.

[0064] Storage 1308 provides relatively large amounts of "permanent" data storage using non-volatile solid-state memory (e.g., flash memory storage) and / or dynamic non-volatile storage devices (e.g., spinning disk drives). Storage 1308 may include both local storage space and storage space on remote servers. Storage 1308 may store data as well as software components that control and manage different functions of device 1300 at a higher level.

[0065] In addition to storage 1308, there may be memory 1314, also referred to as main memory or program memory, which provides relatively fast access to stored code and data being executed by processor 1312. Memory 1314 may include solid-state random access memory (RAM), such as static RAM or dynamic RAM. There may be one or more processors, such as processor 1312, which run or execute various software programs, modules, or instruction sets (e.g., applications) that, while permanently stored in storage 1308, have been transferred to memory 1314 for execution to perform the various functions described above.

[0066] Device 1300 may include communication circuitry 1302. Communication circuitry 1302 may include components for wired or wireless communication, such as two-way conversation and data transmission. For example, communication circuitry 1302 may include RF communication circuitry coupled to an antenna so that a user of device 1300 can make or receive calls over a wireless communication network. The RF communication circuitry may include an RF transceiver and a cellular baseband processor to enable calls over a cellular network. For example, communication circuitry 1302 may include Wi-Fi communication circuitry so that a user of device 1300 can make or initiate calls using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) connection to transmit data over a wireless local area network.

[0067] The device may include a speaker 1318. The speaker 1318 may be a transducer assembly, such as a reference Figure 1-Figure 11 The transducer assembly described herein. The speaker 1318 can be an electroacoustic transducer or sensor that converts an electrical signal input (e.g., an acoustic input) into sound. The speaker's circuitry can be electrically connected to the processor 1312 and the power supply 1310 to facilitate speaker operation (e.g., diaphragm displacement, etc.) as previously discussed.

[0068] The device 1300 may also include a motion sensor 1304, also known as an inertial sensor, which may be used to detect movement of the device 1300, a camera circuit 1306 that implements a digital camera function of the device 1300, and a main power source 1310, such as a built-in battery serving as the main power source.

[0069] Although certain aspects have been described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the present disclosure and not restrictive, and that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, as various other modifications may occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the description is to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive. Furthermore, to assist the Patent Office and any reader of any patent issued in this application in interpreting the appended claims, applicants wish to note that they do not intend for any appended claim or claim element to refer to 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the phrase "means for" or "step for" is expressly used in a particular claim.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising: A housing having a housing wall defining an enclosed space; a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly suspended from the housing wall, the dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly having a first diaphragm and a first voice coil attached to the first diaphragm, and a second diaphragm and a second voice coil attached to the second diaphragm, wherein the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are operable to move in opposite directions along a vibration axis and reduce mechanical forces output to the housing wall; a magnet assembly positioned between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, the magnet assembly forming a single magnetic return path for a magnetic field that drives both the first voice coil and the second voice coil to move in opposite directions along the vibration axis; as well as A support member attaches the magnet assembly to the housing wall.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the magnet assembly comprises a first magnet and a second magnet and a ring bracket, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are positioned on opposite sides of the support member and are concentrically outward relative to the first voice coil and the second voice coil, respectively, and the ring bracket is positioned concentrically inward relative to the first voice coil and the second voice coil.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein: The support member includes a magnetic material, and the first magnet and the second magnet are polarized in opposite directions. 4 . The electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein each of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm is operable to output sound from a sound output surface to which the first voice coil and the second voice coil are respectively attached. 5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the support member comprises a plurality of radially extending lobes and air holes formed between the lobes to allow output sound to be transmitted through the support member. 6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the magnet assembly includes a single magnet, and the support member is attached around a perimeter of the single magnet. 7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the support member defines a first gap and a second gap surrounding the single magnet assembly, and the first voice coil and the second voice coil are axially aligned with the first gap and the second gap, respectively. 8 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first voice coil and the second voice coil includes a deformation portion having a z-height that is less than a z-height of another portion of the first voice coil or the second voice coil.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising air pressure vents connecting the acoustic volume on each side of the support member to the external environment to create a tuned acoustic circuit that resonates for an additional subsonic system.

10. A transducer assembly comprising: frame; a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly suspended from the frame, the dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly having a first diaphragm and a first voice coil attached to the first diaphragm, and a second diaphragm and a second voice coil attached to the second diaphragm, wherein the first voice coil and the second voice coil are located between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, and the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are operable to move in opposite directions along a vibration axis; a magnet assembly positioned within the frame, the magnet assembly having first and second magnets positioned between the first and second diaphragms and concentrically outwardly relative to the first and second voice coils, respectively; as well as A rigid support member is provided for fixedly connecting the magnet assembly to the frame.

11. The transducer assembly of claim 10, wherein the support member comprises a first side attached to the first magnet, a second side attached to the second magnet, and a plurality of lobes extending radially outward from the first magnet and the second magnet to securely connect the magnet assembly to the frame.

12. The transducer assembly of claim 10, wherein: The support member includes a magnetic material.

13. The transducer assembly of claim 10, wherein the magnet assembly further comprises an annular bracket positioned concentrically inwardly relative to the first magnet and the second magnet to form a single magnetic return path for the magnetic field generated by the first magnet and the second magnet and driving the first voice coil and the second voice coil to vibrate.

14. The transducer assembly of claim 10, wherein the first voice coil is inward relative to the second voice coil, the magnet assembly comprises a first gap and a second gap horizontally aligned with each other, and the first voice coil is vertically aligned with the first gap and the second voice coil is vertically aligned with the second gap.

15. A transducer assembly comprising: frame; a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly connected to the frame, the dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly having a first diaphragm and a first voice coil attached to the first diaphragm, and a second diaphragm and a second voice coil attached to the second diaphragm, wherein the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are operable to move in opposite directions along a vibration axis and reduce mechanical forces output to the frame; a magnet assembly positioned between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, the magnet assembly forming a single magnetic return path for a magnetic field that drives both the first voice coil and the second voice coil to move in opposite directions along the vibration axis; as well as A support member is coupled to the frame and a perimeter of the magnet assembly.

16. The transducer assembly of claim 15, wherein the magnet assembly comprises a single magnet and the support member is attached around a perimeter of the single magnet.

17. The transducer assembly of claim 15, wherein the support member defines a first offset space and a second offset space around a single magnet assembly, and the first voice coil and the second voice coil are axially aligned with the first gap and the second gap, respectively.

18. The transducer assembly of claim 15, wherein the support member comprises a first vertical member coupled to a perimeter of the magnetic assembly, a horizontal member extending from the vertical member, and a second vertical member connecting the horizontal member to the frame.

19. The transducer assembly of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first voice coil and the second voice coil comprises a first end attached to the first diaphragm or the second diaphragm, and a second end bent to reduce an overall z-height of the first voice coil or the second voice coil.

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