SPEAKER WITH INTEGRATED IMAGE CAPTURE MODULE

Abstract

An acoustic system (and method) for a loudspeaker comprises a base plate; a pole piece extends from a surface of the base plate. The pole piece may have a through-hole along a central axis. A magnet at least partially encloses. A diaphragm extends over the top surface of the pole piece and forms a conical shell over the top surface of the pole piece. The diaphragm may have a central opening exposing at least a portion of the top surface of the pole piece through a central channel. An imaging module is disposed on the top surface of the pole piece and extends through the central channel and at least partially into the conical shell of the diaphragm such that at least one lens associated with a camera of the imaging module is located within the conical shell but outside the central channel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 551,877, filed on February 9, 2024, pursuant to 35 USC § 119(e), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Technical area

[0002] The present application relates generally to loudspeakers, and more particularly to loudspeakers with an integrated image capture module. background

[0003] In addition to entertainment and recreational purposes, content creation or Twitch streaming is becoming increasingly popular as a powerful tool for business analysis, freelancing and entrepreneurship, leadership and management skills development, marketing, and much more. Currently, a content creator relies on a variety of equipment for high-quality audio and video recording and editing, making the experience cumbersome, expensive, inefficient, and occasionally daunting.

[0004] A content creator can benefit from tools that are portable, versatile, and cost-effective, producing high-quality audiovisual effects to highlight their work. While high-quality audiovisual playback equipment may be suitable for planned events such as conferences, seminars, concerts, etc., commercially available devices can be either expensive or cumbersome, or both. On the other hand, multifunctional handheld devices such as smartphones offer portability, but the audiovisual quality of the recorded information may not be desirable. Furthermore, a smartphone's hardware, such as the camera lens, can be difficult to replace or repair, thus rendering the device unversatile. Therefore, it is desirable to integrate audio systems with image capture capabilities to enhance the user experience while keeping costs low and producing high-quality audio and image outputs. SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure generally describe acoustic systems for an audio output device, and the systems include an integrated image capture module and methods of operating and providing the same.

[0006] Some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an electroacoustic transducer system for a loudspeaker. The electroacoustic transducer system may include a bottom plate and a pole piece extending from a surface of the bottom plate. The pole piece may have a through-hole along a central axis, and the pole piece may have a top surface at an end of the pole piece that is distal relative to the bottom plate. The electroacoustic transducer system may further include a magnet at least partially surrounding the pole piece and a diaphragm extending over the top surface of the pole piece and forming a conical shell over the top surface of the pole piece. The diaphragm may have a central opening exposing at least a portion of the top surface of the pole piece through a central channel.The electroacoustic transducer system may further comprise an image acquisition module disposed on the upper surface of the pole piece and extending through the central channel and at least partially into the conical shell of the diaphragm, such that at least one lens associated with a camera of the image acquisition module is located within the conical shell but outside the central channel.

[0007] Some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an acoustic system for a passive radiator. The system may include a diaphragm. The diaphragm includes a central opening and extends to form a conical shell. The system may further include an imaging module extending through the central opening and at least partially into the conical shell of the diaphragm, such that at least one lens associated with a camera of the imaging module is disposed within the conical shell but above the central opening.

[0008] This invention helps integrate both a speaker and a camera into a single concentric surface area, reducing the overall required area and making the camera less conspicuous and better blended into its surroundings. Furthermore, the larger movable diaphragm enables better and louder sound. It can be used for a wearable content creation device or IoT security devices, such as the Ring or Nest doorbell cameras. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S) Fig. 1A illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary electroacoustic transducer system with an image acquisition module consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. 1B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary passive radiator system with an image acquisition module consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. 1C illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a passive radiator system with an image acquisition module consistent with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2A illustrates an exemplary image capture module consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. 2B illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an exemplary electroacoustic transducer system with a dust seal consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary image acquisition module consistent with an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar parts. Although several example embodiments are described herein, changes, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to components shown in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, rearranging, removing, or adding steps to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and examples. Instead, the fair scope is defined by the appended claims.

[0010] Some aspects of this disclosure may relate to systems and methods associated with an electroacoustic transducer system for a loudspeaker. An electroacoustic transducer, in this context, may refer to a device that converts electrical energy into acoustic energy or sound waves having a frequency typically in the range of 10 Hz to 40 kHz. In some embodiments, although not discussed herein, the electroacoustic transducer system may further include components and associated circuitry to convert an acoustic input signal into an electrical signal and to convert the electrical signal back into an acoustic output signal. The acoustic output signal may comprise a modified audio signal with respect to the acoustic input signal.A loudspeaker may include a pressure-generating output device used to amplify or modify an input signal using a sound transducer system, such as an electroacoustic transducer system. The input signal may comprise an audio signal, an electrical signal, or a combination thereof. Although this application discusses a loudspeaker, other audio output devices such as woofers, subwoofers, tweeter horns, etc., may also be used.

[0011] Fig. 1A illustrates an exemplary electroacoustic transducer system 100 for an electrodynamic loudspeaker, in accordance with disclosed embodiments. The electroacoustic transducer system 100, which has a central axis 102, may include a diaphragm 104 having a central opening 126, a spider 106, a voice coil 108, a bobbin 110, a through-hole 112 in a pole piece 114, a bottom plate 116, a magnet 118, a cover plate 120, a surround 122 connecting the diaphragm 104 to a basket 124, and an image acquisition module 130. The Fig. The central axis 102 shown for illustrative purposes in Figure 1A may represent an axis of rotational symmetry. The electroacoustic transducer system 100 may include more or fewer components as needed.

[0012] The electroacoustic transducer system 100 includes a base plate 116. In some embodiments, the base plate 116 may comprise a plate, a disk, a ring, or, broadly speaking, a structure configured to provide support to at least one of the pole piece 114 and the magnet 118 (including the top plate 120). The magnet 118 and the top plate 120 may be substantially coaxial with the pole piece 114. Furthermore, the magnet 118 and the top plate 120 may at least partially enclose the pole piece 114. The base plate 116 may be made of ferromagnetic materials, including, but not limited to, iron, cobalt, nickel, or their alloys. Alternatively, the base plate 116 may be made of non-magnetic metals, alloys, composites, or other materials suitable for providing structural support.

[0013] The electroacoustic transducer system 100 may further include a pole piece 114 extending from a surface of the bottom plate 116. In some embodiments, the pole piece 114 may be coupled to or integrated with the bottom plate 116 such that the bottom plate 116 forms a continuous extension of the pole piece 114. In the context of this disclosure, the term "coupled" may mean that two or more elements may be directly coupled to each other or may be coupled to each other via one or more intermediate elements. The pole piece 114 may be coupled to the bottom plate 116 such that a top surface at one end of the pole piece 114 distal to the bottom plate 116 is partially exposed and the other end is coupled to the bottom plate 116. In some embodiments, the bottom plate 116 and the pole piece 114 may form a seamless structure without any joints or discontinuities.

[0014] In some disclosed embodiments, the pole piece 114 may have a through-hole 112 extending along the central axis 102. The through-hole 112 of the pole piece 114 may be substantially aligned with the central axis 102. The through-hole 112 may comprise a through-hole extending from the top surface of one end of the pole piece 114 through the bottom plate 116. The through-hole 112 may have a circular, elliptical, rectangular, triangular, or non-circular cross-section, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the through-hole 112 may have a cylindrical shape, a conical shape, a cubic shape, or any combination thereof.

[0015] The electroacoustic transducer system 100 may include a diaphragm 104 extending over the upper surface of the pole piece 114 (e.g., viewed from the side as in Fig. 1A). In some embodiments, the membrane 104 may form a conical shell that extends over the top surface of the pole piece 114, as shown in Fig. 1A. The diaphragm 104 may be made from any material suitable for use in sound reproduction. For example, the diaphragm may include materials including cloth, paper, plastic, lightweight metal, or various other materials. The diaphragm 104 may be fixedly attached to an outer surface of the basket 124 via a flexible bead 122. The diaphragm 104 may be truncated along a frusto-conical surface to form a "truncated cone." The frusto-conical surface may be substantially perpendicular to the central axis 102 and may truncate a region proximate to and including the apex of the conical diaphragm 104, thereby forming a central opening 126 in the diaphragm 104. In some embodiments, the central opening 126 may expose at least a portion of the top surface of the pole piece 114 through a central channel 128. The diaphragm 104 and the central channel 128 may be coaxially disposed relative to the pole piece 114.

[0016] The electroacoustic transducer system 100 may further include a voice coil assembly, e.g., having a voice coil 108 wound around a bobbin 110. The voice coil 108 may include an electrical conductor, such as one or more metal wires wound around an outer surface of the bobbin 110. Electrical currents flowing through the voice coil 108 generate corresponding electromagnetic fields that can interact with the magnetic field of the magnet 118 to cause controlled movement of the voice coil 108 and, thus, the diaphragm 104 to reproduce sounds. The bobbin 110 may include a rigid cylinder made of a material, including, but not limited to, paper, cardboard, or the like, around which the voice coil 108 is wound. In some embodiments, as in Fig. 1A, the coil former 110 may be attached to the diaphragm 104 at the cut end. The spider 106 may include a flexible, corrugated support that holds the voice coil 108 in place while allowing the voice coil 108 to move longitudinally along the central axis 102 in response to the polarity and magnitude of the electrical currents supplied to the voice coil 108.

[0017] The electroacoustic transducer system 100 may further include an image acquisition module 130 disposed on the upper surface of the pole piece 114. In some embodiments, the image acquisition module 130 may be attached to the pole piece 114 using a coupling mechanism, including mechanical coupling, thermal coupling, adhesive coupling, or other suitable means. As shown in Fig. 1A, the image capture module 130 may be attached to the pole piece 114 such that at least a portion of the image capture module 130 extends below the top surface of the pole piece 114 to position the image capture module 130 within a recess of the top surface of the pole piece 114. In some embodiments, the image capture module 130 may be disposed coaxially with the pole piece 114 and may be attached to or disposed on the top surface of the pole piece 114 without including a recess for receiving a base of the image capture module 130.

[0018] The central channel 128 may refer to a cylindrical space or region formed within the coil body 110 and the frustoconical surface 105 of the diaphragm 104. The conical shell of the diaphragm 104 may refer to the conical space formed between the frustoconical surface 105 and a base plane 107 of the diaphragm 104. As shown in Fig. 1A, the image capture module 130 may be disposed at least partially within the central channel 128. In some embodiments, the image capture module 130 may extend through the central channel 128 and at least partially into the conical shell of the membrane 104. The projection of the image capture module 130 into the conical shell of the membrane 104 extending through the central channel 128 may provide a larger field of view for capturing visual information from a wider area.

[0019] Fig. Figure 1B illustrates an exemplary acoustic system 300 for a passive radiator, consistent with disclosed embodiments. The system 300 has a central axis 302 and may include a diaphragm 304 having a central opening 326, a bead 322 connecting the diaphragm 304 to a basket 324, a support 314, and an image acquisition module 330. The Fig. The central axis 302 shown for illustrative purposes in Figure 1B may represent an axis of rotational symmetry. The system 300 may include more or fewer components as needed.

[0020] The system 300 may include membrane 304 extending across the central opening 326 (e.g., viewed from the side as in Fig. 1B). In some embodiments, the membrane 304 may form a conical shell that extends over the central opening 326, as shown in Fig. 1B. The diaphragm 304 may be made from any material for use in sound reproduction applications. For example, the diaphragm may include materials including cloth, paper, plastic, lightweight metal, or various other materials. The diaphragm 304 may be fixedly attached to an outer surface of the basket 324 via a flexible bead 322. The diaphragm 304 may be truncated along a frustoconical surface 305 to form a "truncated cone." The frustoconical surface may be substantially perpendicular to the central axis 302 and may truncate a region proximal to and including the apex of the conical diaphragm 304, creating a central opening 326 in the diaphragm 304.

[0021] The conical shell of the membrane 304 may refer to the conical space formed between the frustoconical surface 305 and a base plane 307 of the membrane 304. In some embodiments, the image capture module may extend through the central opening 326 and at least partially into the conical shell of the membrane 304. A projection of the image capture module 330 into the conical shell may provide a larger field of view to capture visual information from a wider area.

[0022] The system 300 may further include the image capture module 330 disposed on the support 314. In some embodiments, the image capture module 330 may be attached to the support 314 using a coupling mechanism, including mechanical coupling, thermal coupling, adhesive coupling, or other suitable means. As shown in Fig. 1B, the image capture module 330 may be attached to the support 314 such that at least a portion of the image capture module 330 extends below the top surface of the support 314 to position the image capture module 330 within a recess of the support 314. In some embodiments, the image capture module 330 may be coaxial with the support 314 and may be attached to or disposed on the top surface of the support 314 without including a recess for receiving a base of the image capture module 330.

[0023] Fig. 1C illustrates another exemplary acoustic system 300' for a passive radiator, consistent with disclosed embodiments. The system 300' has a central axis 302' and may include a diaphragm 304' including a central opening 326', a through-hole 312 in a support 314', a bead 322' connecting the diaphragm 304' to a basket 324', and an image acquisition module 330'. In some embodiments, the central opening 326' may expose at least a portion of the top surface of the support 314' through a central channel 328. The diaphragm 304' and the central channel 328 may be arranged coaxially with the support 314'. The Fig. The central axis 302' shown for illustrative purposes in Figure 1C may represent an axis of rotational symmetry. The acoustic system 300' may include more or fewer components as needed.

[0024] In some embodiments, the membrane 304' may form a conical shell extending over the central opening 326', as shown in Fig. 1C. The conical shell of the membrane 304' may refer to the conical space formed between a frustoconical surface 305' and a base plane 307' of the membrane 304'. In some embodiments, the image capture module 330' may extend through the central opening 326' and at least partially into the conical shell of the membrane 304'. A projection of the image capture module 330' into the conical shell may provide a larger field of view to capture visual information from a wider area.

[0025] Fig. 2A shows a close-up of the image capture module 130. The image capture module 130 may be configured to capture still photos, videos, or other visual information. The image capture module 130 may include a lens 234 associated with a camera 235 disposed on a standoff 236, and an electrical connector 132. The lens 234 may be disposed on a top surface of the camera 235 distal from the standoff 236. In some disclosed embodiments, the image capture module 130 may be disposed on a top surface of the pole piece 114 (as shown in Fig. 1A) such that at least the lens 234 associated with the camera 235 is located within the conical shell but outside the central channel 128. In some embodiments, the camera 235 may be positioned along the central axis 102 such that the camera 235 associated with the image capture module 130 is located entirely within the conical shell.

[0026] Fig. 3 shows a close-up of the image capture module 330. The image capture module 330 may be configured to capture still photographs, videos, or other visual information. The image capture module 330 may include a lens 334 connected to a camera 335 disposed on a standoff 336, and an electrical connector 332. The lens 334 may be disposed on a top surface of the camera 335 distal from the standoff 336. In some disclosed embodiments, the image capture module 330 may be disposed on the support 314 such that at least the lens 334 associated with the camera 335 is within the conical shell but outside the central opening 326. In some embodiments, the camera 335 may be positioned along the central axis 302 such that the camera 335 associated with the image capture module 330 is entirely within the conical shell.

[0027] The field of view (FOV) associated with a camera (e.g., camera 235) refers to the maximum area the camera can image and can be determined based on the focal length of the lens and the size of the sensor. Angular field of view (AFOV) refers to the angle between light collected on the optical axis and light collected at the edge of the lens. For a fixed sensor size, increasing the focal length of the lens can decrease the AFOV, and decreasing the focal length of the lens can increase the AFOV and thus also increase the FOV.

[0028] In some disclosed embodiments, a view angle 150 associated with the camera 235 (in Fig. 1A) may be greater than an angle associated with a vertex of the conical shell of the diaphragm 104. Positioning the camera 235 on the standoff element 236 such that either the lens 234 or the camera 235 including the lens 234 is located entirely within the conical shell and protrudes from the central channel 128 may provide several potential advantages. For example, the angle of view (AFOV) associated with the camera 235 including the lens 234 protruding beyond the frustoconical surface into the conical shell of the diaphragm 104 may be larger compared to the AFOV associated with a camera lens located below the frustoconical surface. Such a configuration may enable a user to capture images depicting larger areas of an environment compared to cameras with more limited AFOVs. In some embodiments, the angle of view associated with the camera 235 is at least 90°.In some embodiments, the angle of view associated with camera 235 is at least 135°.

[0029] In the context of this disclosure, the term "resolution" of a camera refers to the pixel resolution, which is considered equivalent to the number of pixels within a particular area of ​​an image. For example, an image comprising 2048 pixels wide and 1536 pixels high has a total of 3,145,728 pixels, or 3.1 megapixels. In some embodiments, the camera 235 may have a resolution of at least 1.3 megapixels. It will be appreciated that the pixel resolution of a camera may be determined by the number of pixels available in an image sensor, and that a higher pixel resolution may result in better image quality.

[0030] The image capture module 130 may include the spacer 236 configured to connect the camera 235 to the top surface of the pole piece 114. In some embodiments, one end of the spacer 236 may be attached to the camera 235 and the other end may be attached to the pole piece 114, thereby forming a connection between the camera 235 and the pole piece 114, as shown in Fig. 2. In some embodiments, the camera 235 may be removably attached to the standoff 236 by an attachment mechanism, such as a mechanical coupling. Such an attachment mechanism may provide several advantages. For example, the attachment mechanism may allow a user to easily and quickly replace a camera and lens assembly based on a desired output or application. An upper end of the standoff 236 may be configured to receive and / or releasably secure the camera 235, and a lower end may be configured to be attached (e.g., fixedly or releasably) to the pole piece 114.

[0031] In some embodiments, the length of the standoff 236 may be adjustable to allow selective positioning of the camera 235 along the central axis 102. In some disclosed embodiments, the standoff 236 may have a length greater than a depth of the central channel 128. The length of the standoff 236 may be adjustable, at least based on a desired AFOV. For example, for a particular camera and lens assembly, a longer standoff 236 may extend farther into the conical shell of the diaphragm 104, thus providing a larger AFOV compared to a shorter standoff 236. In some embodiments, the position of the standoff 236 may be adjustable to adjust the position of the camera 235 attached to the standoff 236, thereby adjusting the AFOV of the camera 235.

[0032] The length of the spacer 236 may be extendable along the central axis 102. In some embodiments, a minimum contracted length of the spacer 236 may be substantially equal to or greater than the depth of the central channel 128. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the minimum contracted length may be less than the depth of the central channel 128, but the fully extended length may be greater than the depth of the central channel 128.

[0033] The image capture module 130 may further include a control circuit 238 configured to control the operation of the camera 235. The control circuit 238 may include one or more electronic circuit components, including, but not limited to, resistors, capacitors, inductors, power sources, power management components, timers, or the like. Controlling the operation of the camera 235 may include, for example, enabling and disabling the camera 235 by managing the power supply. The control circuit 238 may also be configured to perform other suitable functions. In some embodiments, the control circuit may include an integrated circuit, a microprocessor, a processor, a data storage mechanism, a data transmission mechanism, or other relevant components.

[0034] In some disclosed embodiments, the spacer 236 may be arranged coaxially relative to the pole piece 114. The spacer 236 may be cylindrical, cubic, conical, or otherwise shaped. In some embodiments, the spacer 236 and the pole piece 114 are cylindrical, and the lower end of the spacer 236 has one of an external thread or an internal thread, and the upper end of the pole piece 114 has a cylindrical cavity, with the other of an external thread and an internal thread corresponding to one of an external thread and an internal thread of the spacer 236. That is, when the lower end of the spacer 236 has the external thread, the cavity of the pole piece 114 has the internal thread; when the lower end of the spacer 236 has the internal thread, the cavity of the pole piece 114 has the external thread.The radius of the cavity is larger than the radius of the spacer 236 so that the spacer 236 can be inserted into the cavity and secured by the threads. In some embodiments, the spacer 236 and the pole piece 114 are cylindrical, and the lower end of the spacer 236 has a cylindrical cavity that has either an external thread or an internal thread, and the upper end of the pole piece 114 has the other of the external threads and internal threads that correspond to the threads of the cavity of the spacer 236. That is, if the cavity of the spacer 236 has an external thread, the pole piece 114 has an internal thread; if the cavity of the spacer 236 has an internal thread, the pole piece 114 has an external thread. The radius of the cavity is larger than the radius of the area of ​​the upper end of the pole piece 114 so that the upper end of the pole piece 114 can protrude into the cavity and be secured by the threads.In some embodiments, the control circuit 238 may be housed within the spacer 236. The control circuit 238 may be located outside the spacer 236, but within the electroacoustic transducer system 100, or at a remote location.

[0035] The image capture module 130 may further include an electrical connector 132. In some cases, the electrical connector 132 may supply power to the image capture module 130 and / or one or more components of the control circuit 238. The electrical connector 132 may also be configured to enable communication between an external control device 260 and the control circuit 238 housed within the spacer 236. Some examples of communication between the external control device 260 and the control circuit 238 may include, but are not limited to, shutter release signals, enabling and disabling power saving mode, autofocus, feature detection, etc. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the electrical connector 132 may be part of the electroacoustic transducer system 100.The electrical connector 132 may comprise one or more of a power cable, a signal cable, a data transmission cable, or an electronic communication cable suitable for transmitting power and / or electrical signals between the external controller 260 and / or various power sources and the control circuitry 238 and / or the components of the image capture module 130. The spacer 236 may have a central opening in the bottom surface configured to allow passage of the electrical connector 132. In some embodiments, the opening may be coaxial with the pole piece 114. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the electrical connector 132 is disposed within the through-hole 112 of the pole piece 114, as shown in FIG. Fig. 1A and Fig. 2A.

[0036] The external control device 260 may include a computer, a processor, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, or a circuit configured to communicate with the control circuitry 238. In some embodiments, the external control device 260 may be connected to a graphical user interface (GUI) such as an interactive display, a touchscreen, an input / output device, or other means for interaction between a user and the electroacoustic transducer system 100. The external control device 260 may further include a data storage mechanism, including, but not limited to, a database, a server, or a memory configured to receive, store, or process data from the image acquisition module 130, for example. In some embodiments, the external control device 260 may be remotely controlled using a wireless communication means.

[0037] For example, a user may remotely issue an input command using the GUI interface of external control device 260, where the input command instructs control circuitry 238 to activate camera 235 by supplying it with power via an activation circuit. In another example, the user may wish to capture some visual information within the field of view of camera 235. In such a case, the user may issue a corresponding command to external control device 260 to instruct control circuitry 238 to initiate the capture of an image or sequence of images in a video format. In some embodiments, the captured information may be transferred from a temporary data storage medium of control circuitry 238 to a data storage component of external control device 260 using electrical connector 132 (e.g., a data cable).

[0038] In some disclosed embodiments, as in Fig. 3, the image capture module 330 may further include a control circuit 338 configured to control the operation of the camera 335. The control circuit 338 may include one or more electronic circuit components, including, but not limited to, resistors, capacitors, inductors, power sources, power management components, timers, or the like. Controlling the operation of the camera 335 may include, for example, enabling and disabling the camera 335 by managing the power supply. The control circuit 338 may be configured to perform other suitable functions as well. In some embodiments, the control circuit may include an integrated circuit, a microprocessor, a processor, a data storage mechanism, a data transmission mechanism, or other relevant components.

[0039] The image capture module 330 may further include an electrical connector 332. In some cases, the electrical connector 332 may provide power to the image capture module 330 and / or one or more components of the control circuit 338. The electrical connector 332 may also be configured to enable communication between an external control device 360 ​​and the control circuit 338 housed within the standoff element 336. Some examples of communication between the external control device 360 ​​and the control circuit 338 may include, but are not limited to, shutter release signals, enabling and disabling power saving mode, autofocus, feature detection, etc.The electrical connector 332 may comprise one or more of a power cable, a signal cable, a data transmission cable, or an electronic communication cable suitable for transmitting power and / or electrical signals between the external control device 360 ​​and / or various power sources and the control circuit 338 and / or the components of the image acquisition module 330. The spacer element 336 may have a central opening in the bottom surface configured to allow passage of the electrical connector 332.

[0040] The external control device 360 ​​may include a computer, a processor, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, or circuitry configured to communicate with the control circuitry 338. In some embodiments, the external control device 360 ​​may be associated with a graphical user interface (GUI), such as an interactive display, a touchscreen, an input / output device, or other means for interaction between a user and the acoustic system 300. The external control device 360 ​​may further include a data storage mechanism, including, but not limited to, a database, a server, or a memory configured to receive, store, or manipulate data from the image acquisition module 330, for example. In some embodiments, the external control device 360 ​​may be remotely controlled using a wireless communication means.

[0041] In some disclosed embodiments, the electroacoustic transducer system 100 may further include a dust seal 240 configured to prevent the entry of particles into the central channel 128, as shown in Fig.2B. The ingress of dust particles, debris, particles, or the like into the central channel 128 may impede the movement of the voice coil 108 along the central axis 102, thereby causing a change in the sonic characteristics of the output audio signals and, consequently, a degradation in sound quality. The dust seal 240 may be configured to minimize the occurrence of degradation in sound quality by preventing the ingress of unwanted particles into the central channel 128. The dust seal 240 may comprise a mesh, a screen, a filter, paper, or other suitable material for preventing dust particles from falling into the central channel 128. The dust seal 240 may comprise at least one transparent dust cover such that the dust seal 240 does not block or absorb the light to be captured by the camera 235.In some embodiments, the dust seal 240 may be radially attached to an inner surface of the diaphragm 104. Although the dust seal 240 is shown as being disposed substantially perpendicular to the central axis 102, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other profiles of the dust seal 240, such as dome-shaped, semi-dome-shaped, or conical, may be used, with the radius being as small as possible without compromising the camera module. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 63 / 551,877

[0001]

Claims

[1] Acoustic system comprising: - a support having a top surface and a through hole along a central axis of the support; - a membrane extending to form a conical shell and comprising a central opening; and - an image acquisition module comprising a camera with a lens arranged on the upper surface of the support and extending through the central opening and at least partially into the conical shell of the membrane, such that at least the lens is located inside and above the conical shell. [2] The system of claim 1, wherein the camera of the image acquisition module is located entirely within the conical shell formed by the membrane. [3] The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein a view angle associated with the camera is greater than an angle associated with a vertex of the conical hull, and wherein the camera has a resolution of at least 1.3 megapixels. [4] The system of claim 3, wherein the angle of view associated with the camera is at least 90°. [5] The system of claim 3, wherein the angle of view associated with the camera is at least 135°. [6] A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the image acquisition module further comprises: - a control circuit adapted to control the operation of the camera; and - a spacer element configured to connect the camera to the upper surface of the support. [7] The system of claim 6, wherein the control circuit is housed within the spacer element connecting the image acquisition module to the upper surface of the support. [8] The system of claim 6 or claim 7 further comprising an electrical connector configured to enable communication between an external control device and the control circuit. [9] The system of claim 8, wherein the electrical connector comprises one or more of a power cable, a signal cable, a data transmission cable, or an electronic communication cable. [10] The system of claim 8 or 9, wherein at least a portion of the electrical terminal is disposed within the through-hole of the support. [11] A system according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the camera is removably attached to the spacer element. [12] A system according to any preceding claim, further comprising one or more dust seals configured to prevent the entry of particles into the central opening. [13] The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more dust seals are radially attached to an inner surface of the diaphragm. [14] The system of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the one or more dust seals comprise at least one transparent dust cover. [15] System according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - a base plate; and - a magnet; where the support is a pole piece extending from a surface of the base plate, the magnet at least partially surrounds the pole piece, the pole piece has an upper surface at an end of the pole piece that is distal relative to the base plate, and wherein the central opening of the diaphragm exposes at least a portion of the upper surface of the pole piece through a central channel. [16] System according to claim 15, wherein the spacer element and the pole piece are cylindrical, the lower end of the spacer element has one of an external thread or an internal thread, the upper end of the pole piece has a cylindrical cavity having the other of the external thread and the internal thread corresponding to one of the external thread and the internal thread of the spacer element, and wherein a radius of the cavity is larger than a radius of the spacer element, so that the spacer element can be placed in the cavity and fastened by the threads. [17] System according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the spacer element and the pole piece are cylindrical, the lower end of the spacer element has a cylindrical cavity with an external thread and an internal thread, the upper end of the pole piece has the other of an external thread or an internal thread corresponding to one of the external threads or internal threads of the spacer element, and wherein a radius of the cavity is greater than a radius of a portion of the upper end of the pole piece, so that the upper end of the pole piece can protrude into the cavity and be secured by the threads. [18] A system according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the spacer element has a length greater than a depth of the central channel.

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