System and method for a thin audio device with a transducer that cancels force

Abstract

A method and system for a vehicle audio system are provided. In one or more embodiments, the audio device includes a first motor, a second motor, and a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm disposed opposite each other, and the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are each driven by both the first motor and the second motor. In one or more embodiments, the first motor and the second motor may each include a respective bias member. The bias member may be conductive and may be energized to adjust the force applied to the diaphragm.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - reference to Related Applications This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 368,007, filed on July 8, 2022, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOW - PROFILE AUDIO DEVICE WITH FORCE - CANCELLING TRANSDUCER". The entire content of the foregoing application is hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

[0002] This disclosure relates to audio devices, and more particularly to low - profile audio devices for vehicle audio systems.

Background Art

[0003] Some vehicles include audio devices configured to provide audio content to a vehicle's driver and / or passengers, such as speakers. The audio device often includes a transducer disposed at the center of a diaphragm. However, such a configuration may increase the thickness of the audio device, which may be undesirable in configurations where the audio device is disposed in a relatively small space in the vehicle and / or where the vehicle space is occupied by other components. Additionally, since the stiffness along the major axis of the diaphragm is limited, it may be more difficult to provide a diaphragm with a high aspect ratio. To provide more acceptable stiffness along the major axis of the diaphragm, multiple transducers may be included centrally. However, additional transducers may increase in size, and may increase the cost and / or weight of the audio device.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] In one or more embodiments, the audio device includes a first motor, a second motor, and a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm arranged opposite to each other. The first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are each driven by both the first motor and the second motor.

[0005] In one or more embodiments, the system includes an audio device shaped to fit within a vehicle component or housing. The audio device includes a first motor and a second motor each extending in a vertical direction of the vehicle component or housing while the audio device fits within the vehicle component or housing. The audio device further includes a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm each driven by both the first motor and the second motor.

[0006] In one or more embodiments, the method includes generating an audio output from a thin audio device by driving a first diaphragm via a first transducer and a second transducer aligned with each other. The method further includes driving a second diaphragm via a third transducer and a fourth transducer.

[0007] The present disclosure can be better understood by reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 9

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] The following description relates to systems and methods for a vehicle audio system. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a thin audio device includes a first motor disposed at a first end and a second motor disposed at a second end opposite the first motor. The first motor and the second motor may each be disposed along the spindle of the diaphragm of the thin audio device. The first motor may include a first transducer and a second transducer, and the second motor may include a third transducer and a fourth transducer. The first transducer and the third transducer may each drive a first diaphragm, and the second transducer and the fourth transducer may each drive a second diaphragm facing the first diaphragm. In this configuration, the diaphragm may have a relatively long length in the direction of the spindle of the diaphragm, but the vertical size of the thin audio device can be reduced. The thin audio device can fit within a vehicle component or housing, such as a vehicle panel or a vehicle door, where the first diaphragm may be spaced from the second diaphragm in the vertical direction of the vehicle component or housing.

[0010] By disposing a motor at opposite ends of a thin audio device, the rigidity of the diaphragm can be increased without increasing the vertical size of the thin audio device as compared to a configuration including one or more motors at the center of the diaphragm. Further, compared to a configuration including a motor at the center of the diaphragm, the configuration disclosed herein can reduce the rocking mode while providing a high aspect ratio of the diaphragm.

[0011] According to one or more embodiments, the motor can include a bias member configured to bias the transducer of each motor. The bias member can be formed of a magnetic material, can contribute to the magnetic return path of each motor, and the current flowing through each bias member can generate a reverse magnetic field for linearizing each motor.

[0012] The description of the embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Suitable modifications and variations to the embodiments are feasible in view of the foregoing description, or may be obtained from practicing the method. For example, unless otherwise specified, one or more of the methods described may be performed by a suitable device and / or combination of devices, such as the audio system 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1-2, the thin audio device 112 described with reference to FIGS. 1-5, and / or the system described with reference to FIGS. 6-7. The method may also be performed by a combination of stored instructions with one or more logic devices (e.g., a processor) and one or more additional hardware elements, such as, for example, a storage device, memory, hardware network interface / antenna, switch, actuator, clock circuit, etc. The methods and associated operations described may also be performed in various orders, in parallel, and / or simultaneously, in addition to the order described in this application. The systems described are exemplary only and may include additional elements and / or omit elements. The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of various systems and configurations, as well as the other features, functions, and / or characteristics disclosed.

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an audio system 100 including a thin audio device 112. In the illustrated example, the thin audio device 112 is configured to fit within an opening 114 of a vehicle component 102, which can be a housing such as a vehicle panel (e.g., trim or sheet metal of a seat), a vehicle seat, etc., that is included within the interior of the vehicle and / or forms part of the vehicle body. In the illustrated example, the vehicle component or housing is a vehicle door, and is referred to herein as vehicle door 102. The vehicle may be a car, a truck, etc., and the vehicle door 102 may be a door of a car, a truck, etc. (e.g., a passenger door, a driver door, etc.). In some examples, the thin audio device 112 may be configured to fit within a housing 134, and the housing 134 may be configured to fit within the opening 114 of the vehicle door 102. For example, the thin audio device 112 may be supported within the housing 134, and the housing 134 may be inserted into the opening 114 and supported by the vehicle door 102 within the opening 114.

[0014] The vehicle door includes a first end portion 108 and a second end portion 110 that are disposed opposite each other. In some examples, the first end portion 108 may be disposed toward the front end of the vehicle including the vehicle door 102, where the front end of the vehicle is a part of the vehicle including a windshield, a steering wheel, a driver's seat, etc., and the rear end of the vehicle is the portion of the vehicle opposite the front end (e.g., the portion of the vehicle including a rear passenger seat, a trunk, a rear window, etc.).

[0015] In the view shown by FIG. 1, the thin audio device 112 is removed from the vehicle door 102. The axis 120 is shown to extend vertically through the center of the opening 114, and the axis 116 is shown to extend in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction through the center of the opening. The horizontal direction extends from the first end to the second end 110 of the vehicle door 102. The vertical direction extends between the lower end 106 and the upper end 104 of the vehicle door 102. Further, the axis 118 is shown to extend in a direction perpendicular to each of the horizontal and vertical directions (e.g., perpendicular to each of the axis 116 and the axis 120) through the center of the opening 114. The axis 116, the axis 118, and the axis 120 are each disposed with respect to the opening 114.

[0016] FIG. 1 further shows an axis 132 extending vertically through the center of the thin audio device 112, an axis 130 extending horizontally through the center of the thin audio device 112, and an axis 128 extending in a direction perpendicular to each of the horizontal and vertical directions (e.g., perpendicular to the axis 132 and the axis 130) through the center of the thin audio device 112. The axes 124 and 122 are additionally shown, and both the axis 124 and the axis 122 extend in a vertical direction parallel to the axis 132. As will be further described below, the axis 124 and the axis 122 are disposed at opposite ends of the thin audio device 112. While the thin audio device 112 is received within the opening 114, the axis 132 disposed along the vertical direction can be coaxially disposed with the axis 120 disposed along the vertical direction, as will be further described below.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 2, the thin audio device 112 is shown to fit within the opening 114 without the housing 134 (however, in some examples, the thin audio device 112 may be enclosed within the housing 134 within the opening 114 in the orientation shown in FIG. 2). In this configuration, the axis 120 and the axis 132 are coaxially disposed, the axis 130 extending along the horizontal direction and the axis 116 are coaxially disposed, the axis 118 and the axis 128 are coaxially disposed, and the axis 118 and the axis 128 are each perpendicular to the horizontal and vertical directions.

[0018] The thin audio device 112 is configured such that, as compared with other configurations, the vertical size of the thin audio device 112 is reduced, and the amount of space occupied by the thin audio device 112 within the vehicle door 102 (e.g., within the opening 114) can be decreased. Due to the reduction in the vertical size of the thin audio device 112, the vehicle door 102 can be configured to have a smaller opening 114, thereby increasing the amount of space for other vehicle components within the vehicle door 102. Further, when the size of the thin audio device 112 is reduced, the cost of the thin audio device 112 may decrease, as further described below. The orientation of the thin audio device 112 within the opening 114 of the vehicle door 102 can improve the quality of the audio (e.g., music, voice, etc.) generated by the thin audio device 112. For example, the configuration of the thin audio device 112 may increase the force cancellation of the thin audio device 112, and as a result, the audio quality may be improved.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 3, a front view of the thin audio device 112 is shown. In the figure shown by FIG. 3, the thin audio device 112 is removed from the vehicle door 102 shown in FIGS. 1-2. However, for comparison purposes, some of the axes shown by FIGS. 1-2 are also shown in FIG. 3. For example, the axis 132 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the axis 132 that is arranged along the vertical direction while the thin audio device 112 is coupled to the vehicle door 102 as shown in FIGS. 1-2 (e.g., fitted within the opening 114 of the vehicle door 102 as described above).

[0020] The thin audio device 112 includes a first diaphragm 324 disposed opposite to a second diaphragm 326 in a vertical direction. Specifically, the center of the first diaphragm 324 and the center of the second diaphragm 326 may be aligned such that the axis 132 intersects each of the center of the first diaphragm 324 and the center of the second diaphragm 326. The first diaphragm 324 is disposed at the upper end 300 of the thin audio device 112, and the second diaphragm 326 is disposed at the lower end 302 of the thin audio device 112. While the thin audio device 112 is coupled to the vehicle door 102 as shown in FIG. 2, the length between the upper end 300 of the thin audio device 112 and the lower end 106 of the vehicle door 102 (e.g., shown in FIGS. 1-2) is greater than the length between the lower end 302 of the thin audio device 112 and the lower end 106 of the vehicle door 102. Further, while the thin audio device 112 is coupled to the vehicle door 102 as shown in FIG. 2, the first end 304 of the thin audio device 112 is disposed toward the first end 108 of the vehicle door 102, and the second end 306 of the thin audio device 112 is disposed toward the second end 110 of the vehicle door 102 (having the first end portion 108 and the second end portion 110 of the vehicle door 102 shown in FIG. 2).

[0021] The thin audio device 112 includes a first transducer 308 and a second transducer 310 disposed at a first end 304, and a third transducer 314 and a fourth transducer 316 disposed at a second end 306. The second transducer 310 and the fourth transducer 316 are disposed toward the lower end 302 of the thin audio device 112, and the first transducer 308 and the third transducer 314 are disposed toward the upper end 300 of the thin audio device 112. The first transducer 308 and the second transducer 310 are coaxially arranged. Specifically, the first transducer 308 and the second transducer 310 are each centered along an axis 124, and the axis 124 extends vertically as described above. Further, the third transducer 314 and the fourth transducer 316 are in a coaxial arrangement, and each of the third transducer 314 and the fourth transducer 316 is centered along an axis 122, and the axis 122 extends vertically parallel to the axis 124.

[0022] The first transducer 308 may be horizontally aligned with the third transducer 314 along an axis 336, and the second transducer 310 and the fourth transducer 316 may be horizontally aligned along an axis 338. The axis 336 and the axis 338 are each disposed parallel to an axis 130 and extend horizontally.

[0023] The first transducer 308 is coupled to the first support 312 toward the upper end 300 of the thin audio device 112, and the second transducer 310 is coupled to the first support 312 toward the lower end 302 of the thin audio device 112. Further, the third transducer 314 is coupled to the second support 318 toward the upper end 300 of the thin audio device 112, and the fourth transducer 316 is coupled to the second support 318 toward the lower end 302 of the thin audio device 112. The first transducer 308, the second transducer 310, and the first support 312 may be collectively referred to as a first motor 340 herein. The third transducer 314, the fourth transducer 316, and the second support 318 may be collectively referred to as a second motor 342 herein. In this configuration, the first motor 340 is disposed at the first end 304 of the thin audio device 112, and the second motor 342 is disposed at the second end 306 on the opposite side of the thin audio device 112.

[0024] While the thin audio device 112 is operating (e.g., the thin audio device 112 receives a signal from an electronic controller such as a controller of a system further described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7), the first motor 340 and / or the second motor 342 can be energized to generate an audio output of the thin audio device 112. For example, the thin audio device 112 may convert analog and / or digital signals received by the controller into sound waves to provide audio (e.g., acoustic signals) to the driver and passengers of the vehicle (e.g., provide music, voice, etc.). The audio output can be generated by the movement of a transducer in response to a signal provided to the transducer by the controller. For example, the signal provided to the thin audio device 112 by the controller can instruct the thin audio device 112 to generate an audio output by energizing the first transducer 308 to move the first transducer 308 in a vertical direction (e.g., vibrate the first transducer 308 in a vertical direction). The vertical movement of the first transducer 308 can drive the movement of the first diaphragm 324, and the vertical movement of the first diaphragm 324 can result in the generation of sound waves based on the signal received by the thin audio device 112.

[0025] The first transducer 308 and the third transducer 314 may each be coupled to a first diaphragm 324 to drive the first diaphragm 324 in a vertical direction in response to a signal received by the thin audio device 112 from a controller. Further, the second transducer 310 and the fourth transducer 316 may each be coupled to a second diaphragm 326 to drive the second diaphragm 326 in a vertical direction in response to a signal received by the thin audio device 112 from a controller. In this configuration, the first transducer 308 and the third transducer 314 each drive the first diaphragm 324 (e.g., drive the vibration of the first diaphragm 324 in a vertical direction), and the second transducer 310 and the fourth transducer 316 drive the second diaphragm 326 (e.g., drive the vibration of the second diaphragm 326 in a vertical direction).

[0026] In the configuration shown by FIG. 3, the first diaphragm 324 has a length 332 in a horizontal direction along the main axis of the first diaphragm 324, and the second diaphragm 326 has a length 334 in a horizontal direction along the main axis of the second diaphragm 326. The main axis of the first diaphragm 324 and the main axis of the second diaphragm 326 are parallel to each other in the illustrated example (e.g., the length 332 is in the same direction as the length 334). The length 334 may be equal to the length 332. Further, the first diaphragm 324 has a depth 328 in a vertical direction (e.g., a direction parallel to the axis 132), and the second diaphragm 326 has a depth 330 in a vertical direction. The depth 328 is in the same direction as the depth 330, and the depth 328 may be equal to the depth 330.

[0027] By configuring the first motor 340 and the second motor 342 to be at opposite ends of the thin audio device 112, the first diaphragm 324 and the second diaphragm 326 of the thin audio device 112 each have a high aspect ratio without increasing the overall depth 344 of the thin audio device 112 in the vertical direction with respect to a configuration including a motor disposed at the center of the diaphragm.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, the first diaphragm 324 has a width 400 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of length 332 shown in FIG. 3 and perpendicular to the direction of depth 328 shown in FIG. 3. The second diaphragm 326 has a width 402 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of length 334 shown in FIG. 3 and perpendicular to the direction of depth 330 shown in FIG. 3. The width 400 may be equal to the width 402. The width 400 extends along the minor axis of the first diaphragm 324, and the width 402 extends along the minor axis of the second diaphragm 326. When a motor is configured at the opposing ends of the thin audio device 112 as described above, the rigidity of the diaphragm may increase. As a result, the sizes of the width 400, width 402, length 332, and length 334 may be relatively large compared to the depth 328 and depth 330. The smaller depths 328 and 330 may reduce the vertical space occupied by the thin audio device 112 within the vehicle door. In some examples, the reduction in the vertical space occupied by the thin audio device 112 enables the thin audio device 112 to be retrofitted to a vehicle door configured for other audio devices, thereby reducing costs.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, a top view of the thin audio device 112 is shown. Each diaphragm may have an elliptical shape including a major axis and a minor axis as shown in the figure. For example, the major axis of the first diaphragm 324 is indicated by axis 500 in FIG. 5, and the minor axis of the first diaphragm 324 is indicated by axis 502 in FIG. 5. The axis 500 and the axis 502 are arranged parallel to each other. The axis 500 and / or the axis 502 may be referred to herein as the major axis of the thin audio device 112.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary partial view of the interior of a passenger compartment 600 of a vehicle 602 in which a driver and / or one or more passengers may be seated, which is one type of environment for an audio system including an audio device such as the thin audio device 112 described above. The vehicle 602 of FIG. 6 can be an automobile including a drive wheel (not shown) and an internal combustion engine 604. The internal combustion engine 604 can include one or more combustion chambers that can receive intake air via an intake flow path and discharge combustion gases via an exhaust flow path. The vehicle 602 can be a road vehicle among other types of vehicles. In some examples, the vehicle 602 can include a hybrid propulsion system including an energy conversion device that can absorb vehicle motion and / or energy from the engine and convert the absorbed energy into an energy form suitable for storage by an energy storage device. The vehicle 602 can include a fully electric vehicle incorporating a fuel cell, a solar energy capture element, and / or other energy storage systems for powering the vehicle.

[0031] As shown, the instrument panel 606 can include various displays and control devices accessible to the driver (also referred to as the user) of the vehicle 602. For example, the instrument panel 606 can include a touch screen 608 of an in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 (e.g., an infotainment system), an audio system control panel, and an instrument cluster 610. The touch screen 608 can receive user input to the in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 for controlling audio output, visual display output, user settings, control parameter selection, etc. The exemplary system shown in FIG. 6 includes an audio system control device that can be executed via a user interface such as the touch screen 608 of the in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 without using a separate audio system control panel. However, in other embodiments, the vehicle can include an audio system control panel that can include a control device for conventional vehicle audio systems such as a radio, a compact disc player, an MP3 player, etc. The audio system control device can include functions for controlling one or more aspects of the audio output via one or more speakers 612 of the vehicle speaker system. For example, the in-vehicle computing system or the audio system control device can control the volume of the audio output, the distribution of sound among individual speakers of the vehicle speaker system, the equalization of the audio signal, and / or any other aspect of the audio output. The audio system control can, as an example, control the audio output via the thin audio device 112 described above. In a further example, the in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 can adjust radio station selection, playlist selection, the source of the audio input (e.g., from radio, CD, or MP3), etc., based on user input received directly via the touch screen 608 or based on user-related data (such as the user's physical state and / or environment) received via one or more external devices 650 and / or mobile devices 628.The vehicle's audio system may include an amplifier (not shown) coupled to a plurality of loudspeakers (not shown). In some embodiments, one or more hardware elements of the in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609, such as the touchscreen 608, the display screen 611, various control dials, knobs and buttons, memory, processor(s), and any interface elements (e.g., connectors or ports), may form an integrated head unit mounted to the vehicle's instrument panel 606. The head unit may be fixedly or removably attached to the instrument panel 606. In additional or alternative embodiments, one or more hardware elements of the in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 may be modular and may be attached at multiple locations in the vehicle.

[0032] The passenger compartment 600 may include one or more sensors for monitoring the vehicle, the user, and / or the environment. For example, the cabin 600 may include one or more seat-mounted pressure sensors configured to measure the pressure applied to the seat to determine the presence of a user, door sensors configured to monitor the operation of the doors, humidity sensors configured to measure the humidity content of the cabin, microphones for receiving user input in the form of voice commands, enabling the user to make a phone call, and / or measuring ambient noise within the passenger compartment 600. It should be understood that the sensors described above and / or one or more additional or alternative sensors may be disposed at any suitable location in the vehicle. For example, the sensors may be disposed within the engine compartment, on the exterior of the vehicle, and / or at other suitable locations for providing information regarding the operation of the vehicle, the surrounding conditions of the vehicle, and the users of the vehicle. Information regarding the surrounding conditions of the vehicle, the vehicle state, or the vehicle driver may also be received from sensors external to the vehicle / separate from the vehicle (i.e., not part of the vehicle system), such as sensors coupled to the external device 650 and / or the mobile device 628.

[0033] The passenger compartment 600 may also include one or more user objects, such as a mobile device 628, that are stored within the vehicle before, during, and / or after movement. The mobile device 628 may include a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a portable media player, and / or any suitable mobile computing device. The mobile device 628 may be connected to the in-vehicle computing system via a communication link 630. The communication link 630 may be wired (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL), High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI™), Ethernet™, etc.) or wireless (e.g., Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi Direct®, Near Field Communication (NFC), cellular connectivity, etc.) and may be configured to provide two-way communication between the mobile device and the in-vehicle computing system. (Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. of Kirkland, Washington, and Wi-Fi® and Wi-Fi Direct® are registered trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance of Austin, Texas.) The mobile device 628 may include one or more wireless communication interfaces for connecting to one or more communication links (e.g., one or more of the exemplary communication links described above). The wireless communication interface may include one or more physical devices, such as an antenna(s) or port(s) coupled to a data line for carrying the transmitted or received data, and one or more modules / drivers for operating the physical devices in accordance with other devices within the mobile device. For example, the communication link 630 may provide sensor and / or control signals from various vehicle systems (vehicle audio system, environmental control system, etc.) and the touch screen 608 to the mobile device 628, and control and / or display signals from the mobile device 628 to the in-vehicle system and the touch screen 608.The communication link 630 may also provide power from the vehicle power source to the mobile device 628 to charge the built-in battery of the mobile device.

[0034] The in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 may also be communicatively coupled to additional devices that are operated and / or accessed by the user but are located external to the vehicle 602, such as one or more external devices 650. In the illustrated embodiment, the external device is located outside the vehicle 602, but it is understood that in alternative embodiments, the external device may be located inside the passenger compartment 600. The external devices may include a server computing system, a personal computing system, a portable electronic device, an electronic wristband, an electronic headband, a portable music player, an electronic activity tracking device, a pedometer, a smartwatch, a GPS system, and the like. The external device 650 may be connected to the in-vehicle computing system via a communication link 636 that may be wired or wireless, as discussed with reference to the communication link 630, and may be configured to provide two-way communication between the external device and the in-vehicle computing system. For example, the external device 650 may include one or more sensors, and the communication link 636 may transmit sensor outputs from the external device 650 to the in-vehicle computing system 609 and the touchscreen 608. The external device 650 may also store and / or receive information regarding context data, user actions / preferences, operation rules, and the like, and may transmit such information from the external device 650 to the in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 and the touchscreen 608.

[0035] An in-vehicle computing system or an infotainment system 609 analyzes inputs received from an external device 650, a mobile device 628, and / or other input sources, selects settings for various in-vehicle systems (such as an environmental control system or an audio system), provides outputs to a thin audio device such as the thin audio device 112 described above via a touch screen 608 and / or a speaker 612, communicates with the mobile device 628 and / or the external device 650, and / or may perform other operations based on the evaluation. In some embodiments, all or part of the evaluation may be performed by the mobile device 628 and / or the external device 650.

[0036] In some embodiments, one or more of the external devices 650 may be indirectly communicatively coupled to the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 via the mobile device 628 and / or another external device 650. For example, a communication link 636 may communicatively couple the external device 650 to the mobile device 628 such that the output from the external device 650 is relayed to the mobile device 628. Then, the data received from the external device 650 may be aggregated with the data collected by the mobile device 628 at the mobile device 628, and then the aggregated data may be transmitted to the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 and the touch screen 608 via a communication link 630. Similar data aggregation may occur at a server system and then be transmitted to the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 and the touch screen 608 via the communication link 636 and / or the communication link 630.

[0037] FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an in-vehicle computing system or an infotainment system 609 configured and / or integrated within vehicle 602. The in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 may, in some examples, be referred to herein as a controller and / or an electronic controller. The in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 may, in some embodiments, execute one or more of the methods described herein. In some embodiments, the in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 may be a vehicle infotainment system configured to provide information-based media content (including audio and / or visual media content such as entertainment content, navigation services, etc.) to vehicle users to enhance the driver's in-vehicle experience. The in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 may include or be coupled to various vehicle systems, subsystems, hardware components, as well as software applications and systems that are integrated within or integratable within vehicle 602 to enhance the in-vehicle experience of the driver and / or passengers. By way of example, the infotainment system 609 may include or be coupled to a thin audio device such as the thin audio device 112 described above.

[0038] The in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 may include one or more processors including an operating system processor 714 and an interface processor 720. The operating system processor 714 may execute an operating system on the in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 and may control the input / output, display, playback, and other operations of the in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609. The interface processor 720 may interact with a vehicle control system 730 via a vehicle-to-vehicle system communication module 722.

[0039] The inter-vehicle system communication module 722 can output data to one or more other vehicle systems 731 and / or one or more vehicle control elements 761 while receiving data inputs from other vehicle systems 731 and other vehicle control elements 761, for example, by a vehicle control system 730. When outputting data, the inter-vehicle system communication module 722 can provide a signal via a bus corresponding to any state of the vehicle, the surroundings of the vehicle, or the output of any other information source connected to the vehicle. Vehicle data outputs can include, for example, analog signals (such as the current speed), digital signals provided by individual information sources (such as position sensors like a clock, a thermometer, a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, etc.), and digital signals propagated via a vehicle data network (such as a controller area network (CAN) bus where engine-related information can be communicated, an environmental control CAN bus where environmental control-related information can be communicated, and a multimedia data network where multimedia data is communicated between multimedia components within the vehicle, etc.). For example, an in-vehicle computing system or an infotainment system 609 may obtain the current speed of the vehicle estimated by a wheel sensor, the power state of the vehicle via the vehicle's battery and / or power distribution system, the state of the vehicle's ignition device, etc. from the engine CAN bus. Further, other interface means such as Ethernet (registered trademark) may also be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0040] The memory device 708 may be included within an in-vehicle computing system or an infotainment system 609 and store data such as instructions executable by the operating system processor 714 and / or the interface processor 720 in a non-volatile form. The memory device 708 may store application data including pre-recorded sounds so that the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 can execute an application to collect information for connection to and / or transmission to a cloud-based server. The application may obtain information collected by vehicle systems / sensors, input devices (e.g., the user interface 718), data stored in a memory device such as the volatile memory 719A or the non-volatile memory 719B, devices communicating with the in-vehicle computing system (e.g., a mobile device connected via a Bluetooth® link). (Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. of Kirkland, Washington.) The in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 may further include the volatile memory 719A. The volatile memory 719A may be a random access memory (RAM). The non-transitory memory devices (e.g., the non-volatile memory device 708 and / or the non-volatile memory 719B) may store instructions and / or code that, when executed by a processor (e.g., the operating system processor 714 and / or the interface processor 720), control the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 to execute instructions and / or code for performing one or more of the operations described in this disclosure.

[0041] The microphone 702 is included in an in-vehicle computing system or an infotainment system 609, receives voice commands from a user, measures ambient noise within the vehicle, and can determine whether the voice from the vehicle's speakers and / or a thin audio device (such as the thin audio device 112 described above) is adjusted according to the vehicle's acoustic environment, etc. The voice processing unit 704 may process voice commands such as the voice commands received from the microphone 702. In some embodiments, the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 may also receive voice commands and sample ambient vehicle noise using a microphone included in the vehicle's audio system 732.

[0042] One or more additional sensors may be included in the sensor subsystem 710 of the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609. For example, the sensor subsystem 710 may include cameras such as a rear camera to assist the user in parking the vehicle and / or a cabin camera to identify the user (e.g., using face recognition and / or the user's gestures). The sensor subsystem 710 of the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 may communicate with various vehicle sensors, receive inputs therefrom, and further receive user inputs. For example, the inputs received by the sensor subsystem 710 may include the transmission gear position, transmission clutch position, gas pedal input, brake input, transmission selector position, vehicle speed, engine speed, airflow through the engine, ambient temperature, intake temperature, etc., as well as inputs from the environmental control system sensors (heat transfer fluid temperature, antifreeze temperature, fan rotation speed, passenger compartment temperature, desired passenger compartment temperature, ambient humidity, etc.), a voice sensor that detects voice commands issued by the user, a fob sensor that receives and optionally tracks commands from the geographical location / proximity of the vehicle's smart key, etc.

[0043] A particular vehicle system sensor may communicate with the sensor subsystem 710 alone, while other sensors may communicate with both the sensor subsystem 710 and the vehicle control system 730, or may communicate with the sensor subsystem 710 indirectly via the vehicle control system 730. The navigation subsystem 711 of the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 may generate and / or receive navigation information such as location information, road guidance, traffic information, point of interest (POI) identification, etc. (e.g., via a GPS sensor and / or other sensors from the sensor subsystem 710), and / or may provide other navigation services to the driver.

[0044] The external device interface 712 of the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 may be coupled to and / or communicate with one or more external devices 650 located outside the vehicle 602. The external devices are shown located outside the vehicle 602, but it should be understood that they may be temporarily housed within the vehicle 602, such as when the user is operating the external device while operating the vehicle 602. In other words, the external devices 650 are not integrated into the vehicle 602. The external devices 650 may include a mobile device 628 (e.g., connected via Bluetooth®, NFC, Wi-Fi Direct®, or other wireless network connections) or an alternative Bluetooth®-compatible device 752. (Wi-Fi Direct® is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance in Austin, Texas.)

[0045] The mobile device 628 can be a mobile phone, a smartphone, a wearable device / sensor that can communicate with an in-vehicle computing system via wired and / or wireless communication, or other portable electronic device(s). Other external devices include the external service 746. For example, the external device may include an out-of-vehicle device located outside the vehicle away from the vehicle. Further other external devices include one or more external storage devices 754 such as a solid state drive, a pendrive, a universal serial bus (USB) drive. The external device 650 can communicate with the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 either wirelessly or via a connector without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the external device 650 can communicate with the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 through the external device interface 712 via a network 760, a USB connection, a direct wired connection, a direct wireless connection, and / or other communication links.

[0046] The external device interface 712 can provide a communication interface to enable the in-vehicle computing system to communicate with a mobile device associated with the driver's phone book. For example, the external device interface 712 can enable a call to be established and / or a text message (e.g., a short message service (SMS), a multimedia message service (MMS), etc.) to be sent to a mobile device associated with the driver's phone book (e.g., via a cellular communication network). The external device interface 712 can additionally or alternatively provide a wireless communication interface to enable the in-vehicle computing system to synchronize data with one or more devices within the vehicle (e.g., the driver's mobile device) via Wi-fi Direct (registered trademark), as will be described in more detail below.

[0047] One or more applications 744 may be operable on mobile device 742. As an example, mobile device application 744 may be operated to aggregate user data regarding the interaction between the user and the mobile device. For example, mobile device application 744 may aggregate data regarding a music playlist listened to by the user on the mobile device, a call log (including the frequency and duration of calls received by the user), location information including places frequently visited by the user and the amount of time spent at each place, and the like. The collected data may be transferred by application 744 via network 760 to external device interface 712. Additionally, specific user data requests may be received at mobile device 628 via external device interface 712 from an in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609. Specific data requests may include requests to determine where the user is geographically located, requests regarding the noise level and / or music genre around the user's location, requests regarding the ambient weather conditions (temperature, humidity, etc.) around the user's location, and the like. Mobile device application 744 may send control instructions to components of mobile device 628 (e.g., microphone, amplifier, etc.) or other applications (e.g., navigation application) to enable collection of the requested data on the mobile device or performance of the requested adjustments to the components. Next, mobile device application 744 may relay the collected information back to the in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609.

[0048] Similarly, one or more applications 748 may be operable on an external service 746. As an example, the external service application 748 may be operated to aggregate and / or analyze data from multiple data sources. For example, the external service application 748 may aggregate data from one or more of a user's social media accounts, data from an in-vehicle computing system (e.g., sensor data, log files, user input, etc.), data from Internet queries (e.g., weather data, POI data), and the like. The collected data may be sent to another device and / or analyzed by an application to determine the context of the driver, vehicle, and environment and perform operations based on the context (e.g., request / send data to other devices).

[0049] The vehicle control system 730 may include a control device for controlling aspects of various vehicle systems 731 related to different in-vehicle functions. These may include, for example, aspects of a vehicle audio system 732 for providing audio entertainment to vehicle occupants, aspects of an environmental control system 734 for meeting the desire of vehicle occupants to cool or warm the vehicle cabin, and aspects of a communication system 736 for enabling vehicle occupants to establish a communication network with others.

[0050] The audio system 732 can include one or more acoustic playback devices including electromagnetic transducers such as one or more speakers 735, and thin audio devices such as the thin audio device 112 described above. The vehicle audio system 732 can be passive or active, for example, by including a power amplifier. In some examples, the in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 can be the only sound source for the acoustic playback device, or there can be other sound sources (e.g., an external device such as a mobile phone) connected to the audio playback system. Any such connection of an external device to the audio playback device can be analog, digital, or any combination of analog and digital technologies.

[0051] The environmental control system 734 can be configured to provide a comfortable environment in the passenger compartment or cabin of the vehicle 602. The environmental control system 734 includes components that enable controlled ventilation, such as vents, heaters, air conditioners, and integrated heater and air conditioner systems. Other components related to heating and air conditioning settings can include a front windshield defrost and anti-fog system that can clean the front windshield, and a ventilation filter for cleaning the outside air entering the passenger compartment through the air intake.

[0052] The vehicle control system 730 may also include a control device for adjusting the settings of one or more steering control devices 762 (e.g., an audio system control device attached to the steering wheel, a driving control device, a front windshield wiper control device, a headlight control device, a turn signal control device, etc.), an instrument panel control device, a microphone(s), an accelerator / brake / clutch pedal, a gear shift, a door / window control device arranged on the driver's or passenger's door, a seat control device, a cabin lighting control device, an audio system control device, a cabin temperature control device, etc., various vehicle control elements 761 (or vehicle control devices, or vehicle system control elements) related to the vehicle's engine and / or auxiliary elements inside the vehicle cabin. The vehicle control elements 761 may also include an internal engine and a vehicle operation control device configured to receive commands via the vehicle's CAN bus and change the operation of one or more of the engine, the exhaust system, the transmission, and / or other vehicle systems. The control signal may also control the audio output at one or more speakers 735 of the vehicle audio system 732. For example, the control signal may adjust audio output characteristics such as volume, equalization, sound image (e.g., the configuration of an audio signal that generates an audio output visible to the user as originating from one or more defined positions), audio distribution among multiple speakers, and thin audio devices (such as the thin audio device 112 described above). Similarly, the control signal may control the vents, air conditioner, and / or heater of the environmental control system 734. For example, the control signal may increase the delivery of cooled air to a specific area of the vehicle cabin.

[0053] Control elements (e.g., control devices for safety systems) arranged outside the vehicle may also be connected to the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 via a vehicle-to-vehicle system communication module 722 or the like. Control elements of the vehicle control system 730 may be physically and permanently arranged on and / or within the vehicle to receive user input. In addition to receiving control commands from the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609, the vehicle control system 730 may also receive input from one or more external devices 650 operated by the user, such as the mobile device 628. This enables aspects of the vehicle system 731 and the vehicle control device 761 to be controlled based on user input received from the external device 650.

[0054] The in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 may further include one or more antennas 706. The in-vehicle computing system may obtain broadband wireless Internet access via the antenna 706 and may further receive broadcast signals such as radio, television, weather, and traffic. The in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 may receive positioning signals such as GPS signals via the antenna 706. The in-vehicle computing system may also receive wireless commands via radio frequency (RF) such as the antenna(s) 706 or via infrared or other means through a suitable receiving device. In some embodiments, the antenna 706 may be included as part of the audio system 732 or the communication system 736. Further, the antenna 706 may provide AM / FM radio signals to an external device 650 (e.g., the mobile device 628) via the external device interface 712.

[0055] One or more elements of the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 may be controlled by a user via the user interface 718. The user interface 718 may include a graphical user interface presented on a touch screen such as the touch screen 608 and / or the display screen 611 of FIG. 6, and / or user-activated buttons, switches, knobs, dials, sliders, etc. For example, the user-activated elements may include a steering control device, a door and / or window control device, an instrument panel control device, an audio system setting, an environmental control system setting, etc. The user may also interact with one or more applications of the in-vehicle computing system or the infotainment system 609 and the mobile device 628 via the user interface 718. In addition to receiving the user's vehicle setting preferences on the interface 718, the vehicle settings selected by the in-vehicle control system 730 may be shown to the user on the user interface 718. Notifications and other messages (e.g., received messages), as well as navigation assistance, may be shown to the user on the display of the user interface. Responses to user preferences / information and / or presented messages may be executed via user input to the user interface.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 8, a flowchart showing a method 800 for configuring a thin audio device in a vehicle is shown. The thin audio device may be similar to or the same as the above-described thin audio device 112 shown in FIGS. 1-5.

[0057] At 802, the method may include coupling the thin audio device to a housing. The housing may be similar to or the same as the above-described housing 134 shown in FIG. 1. For example, the housing may be configured to support components of the thin audio device in the vehicle, such as a diaphragm, a transducer, etc.

[0058] The method at 804 includes coupling a thin audio device within an opening of a vehicle component or housing to the vehicle component or housing. The vehicle component or housing and the opening may each be similar to or the same as the vehicle door 102 and the opening 114 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-2. In some examples, the vehicle component or housing may be a vehicle panel (e.g., a trim or sheet metal piece), a vehicle seat, etc. that is included within the vehicle and / or forms part of the vehicle body.

[0059] Coupling a thin audio device within an opening of a vehicle component or housing at 804 includes housing a thin audio device having a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm that face each other in a vertical direction of the vehicle component or housing. As described above, the thin audio device may be similar to or the same as the above-described thin audio device 112 shown in FIGS. 1-5. The first diaphragm and the second diaphragm may each be similar to or the same as the first diaphragm 324 and the second diaphragm 326 described above with reference to FIGS. 3-5. The vertical direction of the vehicle component or housing may be the direction indicated by the above-described axis 120 illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 (e.g., parallel to the axis 120). For example, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm may be centered relative to each other along an axis such as the above-described axis 132 shown in FIGS. 1-5, and housing a thin audio device having a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm that face each other in a vertical direction of the vehicle component or housing may include housing the thin audio device such that the axis 120 along which the centers of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm lie is coaxial with the vertical axis of the vehicle component or housing (e.g., the axis 120 shown by FIGS. 1-2). In this configuration, the center of the first diaphragm and the center of the second diaphragm are each arranged along the vertical axis of the vehicle component or housing, and the vertical axis extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle (e.g., a direction perpendicular to the surface of the ground on which the vehicle is placed, and in some conditions, such as when the ground is flat and horizontal, may be the direction of gravity).

[0060] Coupling a thin audio device to a vehicle component or housing within an opening of the vehicle component or housing at 804 includes housing a thin audio device having a first transducer coupled to a first diaphragm and a second transducer coupled to a second diaphragm, the first and second transducers being vertically aligned with each other at a first end of the thin audio device with respect to the vehicle component or housing at 808. For example, the first transducer and the second transducer may be similar to or the same as the above-described first transducer 308 and second transducer 310 shown in FIG. 3, in which case the first transducer 308 and the second transducer 310 are aligned (e.g., centered) along an axis 124 extending vertically with the thin audio device received within the opening of the vehicle component or housing, and the first transducer 308 and the second transducer 310 are disposed at the first end 304 of the thin audio device 112. The first transducer is coupled to the first diaphragm and configured to drive the first diaphragm, and the second transducer is coupled to the second diaphragm and configured to drive the second diaphragm.

[0061] Coupling the thin audio device to the vehicle component or housing within the opening of the vehicle component or housing at 804 includes housing a thin audio device having a third transducer coupled to a first diaphragm and a fourth transducer coupled to a second diaphragm, which are vertically aligned with each other in the vehicle component or housing at the second end opposite the thin audio device at 810. For example, the third transducer and the fourth transducer may be similar to or the same as the above-described third transducer 314 and fourth transducer 316 shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the third transducer 314 and the fourth transducer 316 are aligned (e.g., centered) along the vertically extending axis 122 with the thin audio device housed within the opening of the vehicle component, and the third transducer 314 and the fourth transducer 316 are disposed at the second end 306 of the thin audio device 112. The first transducer is coupled to the first diaphragm and configured to drive the first diaphragm, and the second transducer is coupled to the second diaphragm and configured to drive the second diaphragm.

[0062] This method continues from 804 to 812, where the method may include controlling the operation of the thin audio device via an electronic controller. The electronic controller may be similar to or the same as the in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 described above with reference to FIG. 6 in some embodiments. Controlling the operation of the thin audio device includes controlling the signals provided to the thin audio device, as will be described below with reference to FIG. 9.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 9, a flowchart showing a method 900 for controlling the operation of a thin audio device via an electronic controller is shown. The thin audio device may be similar to or the same as the above-described thin audio device 112 shown in FIGS. 1-5. In some examples, the thin audio device may be similar to or the same as the thin audio device described above with reference to FIG. 8. The thin audio device described with reference to method 900 has the same or similar components as the thin audio device described above with reference to method 800, and includes components having the same relative arrangement as those described above, such as transducers and diaphragms. The same (or similar) components are not reintroduced in the description of method 900.

[0064] Instructions for performing method 900 and other methods included herein may be executed by a controller (e.g., the in-vehicle computing system or infotainment system 609 described above with reference to FIG. 6) based on instructions stored on the controller's memory and in conjunction with signals received from vehicle sensors such as the sensors described above. The controller can adjust the operation of the components using actuators of the vehicle components according to the methods described below.

[0065] At 902, the method includes estimating and / or measuring the operating conditions of the audio system. Estimating and / or measuring the operating conditions of the audio system may include, for example, determining whether components and / or devices of the audio system (e.g., the thin audio device) are powered on, whether a signal is provided to a device of the audio system for audio output, etc., and determining whether an audio selection has been input by a user of the vehicle (e.g., the driver).

[0066] The method continues from 902 to 904 and includes providing an electronic signal from a controller to a thin audio device. The electronic signal may include an electronic audio signal that is converted into sound waves by the thin audio device. For example, the electronic audio signal may include an electronic signal provided to energize a transducer of the thin audio device to vibrate the transducer, and the vibration of the transducer drives the vibration of a diaphragm of the thin audio device to convert the electronic signal into sound waves, as will be described below.

[0067] The method continues from 904 to 906 and includes generating an audio output via the thin audio device based on a signal received by the thin audio device, as will be described below.

[0068] Generating an audio output via the thin audio device based on a signal received by the thin audio device at 906 includes driving a first diaphragm in a vertical direction of a vehicle component or housing via a first transducer and a third transducer at 908. The vertical direction may be referred to herein as the driving direction of the first diaphragm.

[0069] Driving the first diaphragm in the vertical direction of the vehicle component or housing via the first transducer and the third transducer in 908 involves energizing the first transducer and the third transducer in 910 to vibrate the first transducer, the third transducer, and the first diaphragm in the vertical direction. As described above, the first transducer, the third transducer, and the first diaphragm may be similar to or the same as the first transducer 308, the third transducer 314, and the first diaphragm 324 shown in FIG. 3, respectively. As an exemplary embodiment, referring to the configuration shown in FIG. 3, an electronic signal received by the thin audio device energizes the first transducer and the third transducer, as a result, vibrations of the first transducer and the third transducer can be generated. Due to the vibrations of the first transducer and the third transducer, the first diaphragm 324 vibrates in the vertical direction, and due to the vibration of the first diaphragm, an acoustic signal based on the electronic signal provided to the first transducer and the third transducer is generated.

[0070] The transducers described herein can be referred to as voice coils that include conductive windings configured to generate a magnetic field while the transducer is energized by an electronic signal. The strength and direction of the magnetic field can be based on the amplitude and polarity of the electronic signal, and adjusting the parameters of the electronic signal can adjust the characteristics of the acoustic signal (e.g., sound wave) generated by the thin audio device (e.g., via the first diaphragm).

[0071] Driving the first diaphragm in the vertical direction of the vehicle component or housing via the first transducer and the third transducer in 908 may further include biasing the first transducer via the first biasing element and biasing the third transducer via the second biasing element in 912. The first biasing element and the second biasing element may each be similar to or the same as the above-described first biasing element 320 and second biasing element 322 shown in FIG. 3. In some examples, the biasing element may be a spring. As an example, the biasing element may be a wave spring. The biasing element may provide a restoring force for each transducer to which the biasing element is coupled. Specifically, the first biasing element may provide a restoring force for the first transducer, and the second biasing element may provide a restoring force for the second transducer.

[0072] In response to an electronic signal transmitted to the thin audio device, when the first transducer is moved and the first transducer is energized, the first biasing element may apply a restoring force to the first transducer in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the first transducer resulting from the energization of the first transducer via the electronic signal. As a result, the first transducer may vibrate while the first transducer is energized. As an example, the first transducer may vibrate while the first transducer is energized with a signal having a single polarity (e.g., the first transducer moves in one direction in the vertical direction as a result of the energization of the first transducer), and the first biasing element is configured to bias (e.g., urge) the first transducer in a vertical direction opposite to the direction of movement of the first transducer resulting from the energization of the first transducer.

[0073] In response to an electronic signal transmitted to the thin audio device, while the third transducer is being actuated and the third transducer is energized, the second bias element may apply a restoring force to the third transducer in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the third transducer resulting from the energization of the third transducer via the electronic signal. As a result, the third transducer may vibrate while the third transducer is energized. As an example, the third transducer may vibrate while the third transducer is energized with a signal having a single polarity (e.g., as a result of energizing the third transducer, the third transducer moves in one direction in the vertical direction), and the second bias element is configured to bias (e.g., urge) the third transducer in a vertical direction opposite to the direction of movement of the third transducer resulting from the energization of the third transducer.

[0074] Applying a bias to the first transducer via the first bias element and applying a bias to the third transducer via the second bias element at 912 may include energizing the first bias element to generate a magnetic field to control the bias of the first transducer and / or energizing the second bias element to generate a magnetic field to control the bias of the third transducer at 914. As described above, the first bias element can apply a bias to the first transducer, and the second bias element can apply a bias to the third transducer. In some examples, the first bias element and / or the second bias element may be formed from a conductive material (e.g., a metal such as copper or a copper alloy, steel, etc.). The first bias element can be energized to adjust the restoring force applied to the first transducer by the first bias element. For example, during the state where the first bias element is energized, the current flowing through the first bias element can generate a magnetic field based on the direction of the current flow. The magnetic field can magnetically interact with the first transducer to apply a force to the first transducer in either the direction of the mechanical restoring force applied to the first transducer by the first bias element (e.g., due to compression or expansion of the first bias element) or the direction opposite to the mechanical restoring force, in the upward or downward vertical direction.

[0075] The controller can adjust the energization of the first bias element based on the operating conditions of the thin audio device (e.g., improving the performance of the thin audio device by increasing or decreasing the amount of magnetic interaction between the first transducer and the magnetic field generated by the first bias element or changing the direction of the magnetic field generated by the first bias element).

[0076] Although the energization of the first bias element has been described above, the second bias element is energized in a similar manner, and the strength, direction, etc. of the force applied to the third transducer through the magnetic field generated by the second bias element while the second bias element is energized can be adjusted.

[0077] Generating an audio output through the thin audio device based on a signal received by the thin audio device at 906 further includes driving the second diaphragm in the vertical direction of the vehicle component or housing based on the driving of the first diaphragm through the second transducer and the fourth transducer at 916. The vertical direction may be referred to herein as the driving direction of the second diaphragm.

[0078] Driving the second diaphragm based on the driving of the first diaphragm may include controlling the movement (e.g., driving vibration) of the second diaphragm such that the movement of the second diaphragm has the same intensity as and the opposite direction to the movement of the first diaphragm. For example, while the first diaphragm is being driven based on an electronic signal having a first waveform, the second diaphragm may be driven simultaneously with the driving of the first diaphragm based on an electronic signal having a second waveform having the same amplitude and opposite polarity compared to the first waveform. In this configuration, when the first diaphragm is driven by a first amount in a first vertical direction (e.g., upward), the second diaphragm is simultaneously driven by the first amount in a second vertical direction (e.g., downward). By driving the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm simultaneously in opposite directions, the cancellation of the inertial force generated by the operation of the thin audio device can be increased, whereby the driving vibration of the first diaphragm is balanced with the driving vibration of the second diaphragm. However, in other examples, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm may be driven simultaneously in the same vertical direction according to the operating conditions of the audio system.

[0079] Driving the second diaphragm in the vertical direction of the vehicle component or housing via the second transducer and the fourth transducer in 916 includes energizing the second transducer and the fourth transducer in 918 to vibrate the second transducer, the fourth transducer, and the second diaphragm in the vertical direction. As described above, the second transducer, the fourth transducer, and the second diaphragm may be similar to or the same as the second transducer 310, the fourth transducer 316, and the second diaphragm 326 shown in FIG. 3, respectively. Referring to the configuration shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3 as an exemplary embodiment, an electronic signal received by the thin audio device energizes the second transducer and the fourth transducer, as a result, vibrations of the second transducer and the fourth transducer can be generated. Due to the vibrations of the second transducer and the fourth transducer, the second diaphragm 326 vibrates in the vertical direction, and due to the vibration of the second diaphragm, an acoustic signal based on the electronic signal provided to the second transducer and the fourth transducer is generated.

[0080] By adjusting the parameters of the electronic signal provided to the second transducer and the fourth transducer, the characteristics of the acoustic signal (e.g., sound wave) generated by the thin audio device via the second diaphragm can be adjusted.

[0081] Driving the second diaphragm in the vertical direction of the vehicle component or housing via the second transducer and the fourth transducer in 916 may further include applying a bias to the second transducer via the first bias element and applying a bias to the fourth transducer via the second bias element in 920. The bias element may provide a restoring force to each transducer to which the bias element is coupled. As described above, the first bias element may provide a restoring force to the second transducer, and the second bias element may provide a restoring force to the fourth transducer.

[0082] In response to an electronic signal transmitted to a thin audio device, while a second transducer is moved and the second transducer is energized, a first biasing element may apply a restoring force to the second transducer in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the second transducer resulting from the energization of the second transducer via the electronic signal. As a result, the second transducer may vibrate while the second transducer is energized. As an example, the second transducer may vibrate while the second transducer is energized with a signal having a single polarity (e.g., the second transducer moves in one direction in the vertical direction as a result of the energization of the second transducer), and the first biasing element is configured to bias (e.g., urge) the second transducer in a vertical direction opposite to the direction of movement of the second transducer resulting from the energization of the second transducer.

[0083] In response to an electronic signal transmitted to a thin audio device, while a fourth transducer is moved and the fourth transducer is energized, a second biasing element may apply a restoring force to the fourth transducer in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the fourth transducer resulting from the energization of the fourth transducer via the electronic signal. As a result, the fourth transducer may vibrate while the fourth transducer is energized. As an example, the fourth transducer may vibrate while the fourth transducer is energized with a signal having a single polarity (e.g., the fourth transducer moves in one direction in the vertical direction as a result of the energization of the fourth transducer), and the second biasing element is configured to bias (e.g., urge) the fourth transducer in a vertical direction opposite to the direction of movement of the fourth transducer resulting from the energization of the fourth transducer.

[0084] Applying a bias to the second transducer via the first bias element and applying a bias to the fourth transducer via the second bias element at 920 includes energizing the first bias element to generate a magnetic field to control the bias of the second transducer at 922 and / or energizing the second bias element to generate a magnetic field to control the bias of the fourth transducer. As described above, the first bias element can apply a bias to the second transducer, and the second bias element can apply a bias to the fourth transducer. The first bias element can be energized to adjust the restoring force applied to the second transducer by the first bias element. For example, during the state where the first bias element is energized, the current flowing through the first bias element can generate a magnetic field based on the direction of the current flow. The magnetic field can magnetically interact with the second transducer and apply a force to the second transducer in either the direction of the mechanical restoring force applied to the second transducer by the first bias element (e.g., due to compression or expansion of the first bias element) or the direction opposite to the mechanical restoring force in the vertical direction upward or downward.

[0085] The controller can adjust the energization of the first bias element based on the operating conditions of the thin audio device (e.g., improving the performance of the thin audio device by increasing or decreasing the amount of magnetic interaction between the second transducer and the magnetic field generated by the first bias element or changing the direction of the magnetic field generated by the first bias element).

[0086] Although the energization of the first bias element is described above, the second bias element is energized in a similar manner, and the strength, direction, etc. of the force applied to the fourth transducer via the magnetic field generated by the second bias element while the second bias element is energized can be adjusted.

[0087] In the above configuration, the thin audio device may be operated to generate sound (acoustic waves) for the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle while occupying a reduced space within the vehicle. Further, due to the operation of the thin audio device, the forces obtained by driving the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm in opposite directions are canceled, and as a result, the undesirable amount of vibration of the thin audio device within the vehicle component or housing may be reduced, which may improve the quality of the audio signal generated by the thin audio device. By aligning the first transducer and the second transducer vertically, the inertial forces generated by the first transducer and the second transducer may cancel each other out. Similarly, by aligning the third transducer and the fourth transducer vertically, the inertial forces generated by the third transducer and the fourth transducer may cancel each other out. By arranging the first transducer and the second transducer at the first end of the thin audio device and arranging the third transducer and the fourth transducer at the second end of the thin audio device, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are sufficiently supported by the transducers without increasing the size of the central portion of the thin audio device, increasing the rigidity of the diaphragm. As a result, the thin audio device can be housed in a relatively small space compared to other configurations, and in some examples, the thin audio device can be retrofitted into an existing space without modification, reducing costs.

[0088] Figures 1 to 5 are shown to scale, but other relative dimensions may be used as required.

[0089] The present disclosure also provides support for an audio device including a first motor, a second motor, and first and second diaphragms disposed opposite to each other and driven by both the first motor and the second motor, respectively. In a first example of the system, a first end of the first motor is disposed on the first diaphragm, a first end of the second motor is disposed on the first diaphragm, a second end of the first motor is disposed on the second diaphragm, and a second end of the second motor is disposed on the second diaphragm. In a second example of the system, which optionally includes the first example, the first motor and the second motor are disposed opposite to each other with a gap formed between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm therebetween. In a third example of the system, which optionally includes one or both of the first and second examples, the first motor and the second motor are disposed opposite to each other in a direction orthogonal to the driving directions of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm. In a fourth example of the system, which optionally includes one or more or each of the first to third examples, the first motor includes a first transducer coupled to the first diaphragm and a second transducer coupled to the second diaphragm, and the second motor includes a third transducer coupled to the first diaphragm and a fourth transducer coupled to the second diaphragm. In a fifth example of the system, which optionally includes one or more or each of the first to fourth examples, the first transducer and the second transducer are coaxially disposed with respect to each other, and the third transducer and the fourth transducer are coaxially disposed with respect to each other. In a sixth example of the system, which optionally includes one or more or each of the first to fifth examples, the driving vibration of the first transducer balances with the driving vibration of the second transducer, and the driving vibration of the third transducer balances with the driving vibration. In a seventh example of the system, which optionally includes one or more or each of the first to sixth examples, the system further includes a first wave spring coupled between the first transducer and the second transducer and a second wave spring coupled between the third transducer and the fourth transducer.

[0090] The present disclosure also provides support for a system including an audio device shaped to fit within a vehicle component or enclosure, the audio device including a first motor and a second motor each extending in a vertical direction of the vehicle component or enclosure while the audio device fits within the vehicle component or enclosure, and a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm each driven by both the first motor and the second motor. In a first example of the system, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are driven vertically by both the first motor and the second motor, the first motor being coupled to the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm at a first end of a spindle of the audio device, and the second motor being coupled to the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm at a second end of the spindle. In a second example of the system, optionally including the first example, the system further includes a first conductive bias member engaging each of a first transducer and a second transducer of the first motor. In a third example of the system, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the first conductive bias member is a wave spring.

[0091] The present disclosure also provides support for a method that includes generating an audio output by driving a first diaphragm via a first transducer and a third transducer and driving a second diaphragm via a second transducer and a fourth transducer, from a thin audio device that includes a first diaphragm, a second diaphragm arranged to face the first diaphragm in a direction perpendicular to the major axis and the minor axis of the first diaphragm and aligned with the first diaphragm, a first transducer aligned with a second transducer between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, and a third transducer aligned with a fourth transducer between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm. In a first example of the method, coupling the thin audio device to a vehicle component or housing within an opening of the vehicle component or housing further includes receiving the thin audio device having a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm facing each other in a vertical direction of the vehicle component or housing. In a second example of the method, which optionally includes the first example, coupling the thin audio device to a vehicle component or housing within an opening of the vehicle component or housing includes receiving the thin audio device having a first transducer coupled to the first diaphragm and a second transducer coupled to the second diaphragm, where the first transducer and the second transducer are aligned with each other in a vertical direction of the vehicle component or housing at a first end of the thin audio device. In a third example of the method, which optionally includes one or both of the first and second examples, coupling the thin audio device to a vehicle component or housing within an opening of the vehicle component or housing includes receiving the thin audio device having a third transducer coupled to the first diaphragm and a fourth transducer coupled to the second diaphragm, where the third transducer and the fourth transducer are aligned with each other in a vertical direction of the vehicle component or housing at a second end opposite the first end of the thin audio device.In a fourth example of a method optionally including one or more or each of the first to third examples, driving the first diaphragm via the first transducer and the third transducer includes energizing the first transducer to drive the first diaphragm from a first end of the thin audio device, and energizing the third transducer to drive the first diaphragm from a second end opposite to the first end of the thin audio device. In a fifth example of a method optionally including one or more or each of the first to fourth examples, driving the second diaphragm via the second transducer and the fourth transducer includes energizing the second transducer to drive the second diaphragm from a first end of the thin audio device, and energizing the fourth transducer to drive the second diaphragm from a second end of the thin audio device. In a sixth example of a method optionally including one or more or each of the first to fifth examples, driving the first diaphragm via the first transducer and the third transducer includes biasing the first transducer via a first biasing element and biasing the third transducer via a second biasing element, and driving the second diaphragm via the second transducer and the fourth transducer includes biasing the second transducer via the first biasing element and biasing the fourth transducer via the second biasing element. In a seventh example of a method optionally including one or more or each of the first to sixth examples, biasing the first transducer via the first biasing element and biasing the second transducer via the first biasing element includes energizing the first biasing element to generate a magnetic field that magnetically interacts with the first transducer and the second transducer, or biasing the third transducer via the second biasing element and biasing the fourth transducer via the second biasing element includes energizing the second biasing element to generate a magnetic field that magnetically interacts with the third transducer and the fourth transducer.

[0092] As used in this application, elements or steps recited in the singular and proceeded by the term "a" or "an" should be understood as not excluding a plurality of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is specifically provided otherwise. Further, reference to "one embodiment" or "an example" of the present disclosure is not intended to be construed as excluding the existence of additional embodiments in which the recited features are also incorporated. Terms such as "first", "second", and "third" are used merely as labels and are not intended to impose numerical requirements or a particular positional order on their objects. The following claims particularly point out the subject matter regarded as novel and non-obvious from the foregoing disclosure.

Claims

1. An audio device, comprising: a first motor; a second motor; a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm which are arranged opposite to each other and are each driven by both the first motor and the second motor; The audio device comprising the above.

2. The audio device according to claim 1, wherein a first end portion of the first motor is arranged on the first diaphragm, a first end portion of the second motor is arranged on the first diaphragm, a second end portion of the first motor is arranged on the second diaphragm, and a second end portion of the second motor is arranged on the second diaphragm.

3. The audio device according to claim 1, wherein the first motor and the second motor are arranged opposite to each other with a gap formed between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm interposed therebetween.

4. The audio device according to claim 1, wherein the first motor and the second motor are arranged opposite to each other in a direction orthogonal to the driving directions of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm.

5. The audio device according to claim 1, wherein the first motor includes a first transducer coupled to the first diaphragm and a second transducer coupled to the second diaphragm, and the second motor includes a third transducer coupled to the first diaphragm and a fourth transducer coupled to the second diaphragm.

6. The audio device according to claim 5, wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are arranged coaxially with each other, and the third transducer and the fourth transducer are arranged coaxially with each other.

7. The audio device according to claim 5, wherein the driving vibration of the first transducer is balanced with the driving vibration of the second transducer, and the driving vibration of the third transducer is balanced with the driving vibration of the fourth transducer.

8. The audio device according to claim 5, further comprising a first wave spring coupled between the first transducer and the second transducer and a second wave spring coupled between the third transducer and the fourth transducer.

9. A system, comprising: An audio device in a shape that fits within a vehicle component or a housing, While the audio device fits within the vehicle component or the housing, a first motor and a second motor each extending in a vertical direction of the vehicle component or the housing, The audio device including a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm each driven by both the first motor and the second motor, The system comprising the above.

10. The first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are driven vertically by both the first motor and the second motor. The first motor is coupled to the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm at a first end of the main axis of the audio device, and the second motor is coupled to the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm at a second end of the main axis. The system according to claim 9.

11. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a first conductive bias member engaging with each of the first transducer and the second transducer of the first motor.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first conductive bias member is a wave spring.

13. A method comprising: Driving the first diaphragm via the first transducer and the third transducer and driving the second diaphragm via the second transducer and the fourth transducer from a thin audio device including a first diaphragm, a second diaphragm arranged opposite the first diaphragm in a direction perpendicular to the main axis and the sub-axis of the first diaphragm and aligned with the first diaphragm, a first transducer aligned with a second transducer between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, and a third transducer aligned with a fourth transducer between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, to generate an audio output. The method.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising coupling the thin audio device to the vehicle component or the housing within an opening of the vehicle component or the housing by housing the thin audio device having the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm facing each other in a vertical direction of the vehicle component or the housing.

15. Within the opening of the vehicle component or the housing, coupling the thin audio device to the vehicle component or the housing includes receiving the thin audio device having the first transducer coupled to the first diaphragm and the second transducer coupled to the second diaphragm, wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are aligned with each other in a vertical direction of the vehicle component or the housing at a first end of the thin audio device. The method according to claim 14.

16. Within the opening of the vehicle component or the housing, coupling the thin audio device to the vehicle component or the housing includes receiving the thin audio device having the third transducer coupled to the first diaphragm and the fourth transducer coupled to the second diaphragm, wherein the third transducer and the fourth transducer are aligned with each other in a vertical direction of the vehicle component or the housing at a second end opposite to the first end of the thin audio device. The method according to claim 15.

17. Driving the first diaphragm via the first transducer and the third transducer includes energizing the first transducer to drive the first diaphragm from a first end of the thin audio device, and energizing the third transducer to drive the first diaphragm from a second end opposite to the first end of the thin audio device. The method according to claim 13.

18. Driving the second diaphragm via the second transducer and the fourth transducer includes energizing the second transducer to drive the second diaphragm from a first end of the thin audio device, and energizing the fourth transducer to drive the second diaphragm from a second end of the thin audio device. The method according to claim 13.

19. Driving the first diaphragm via the first transducer and the third transducer includes applying a bias to the first transducer via a first bias element and applying a bias to the third transducer via a second bias element. Driving the second diaphragm via the second transducer and the fourth transducer includes applying a bias to the second transducer via the first bias element and applying a bias to the fourth transducer via the second bias element. The method according to claim 13.

20. Applying a bias to the first transducer via the first bias element and applying a bias to the second transducer via the first bias element includes energizing the first bias element to generate a magnetic field that magnetically interacts with the first transducer and the second transducer. Or, applying a bias to the third transducer via the second bias element and applying a bias to the fourth transducer via the second bias element includes energizing the second bias element to generate a magnetic field that magnetically interacts with the third transducer and the fourth transducer. The method according to claim 19.

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