Vehicle electroacoustic transducer

Abstract

To inhibit entry of water.SOLUTION: A vehicle electroacoustic transducer 10 includes a main baffle 12 which is formed in a box shape and formed with a first through hole 12C. Further, the vehicle electroacoustic transducer 10 includes a vibration part 32 which is disposed within the main baffle 12 and provided so as to close the first through hole 12C and vibrates to generate sound. The vibration part 32 includes: an outer periphery part 60 forming an outer periphery portion thereof and formed in an annular shape; and an inner periphery part 62 which closes a center portion of the outer periphery part 60 and is integrally formed with the outer periphery part 60.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electro-acoustic transducer for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses an acoustic device to be mounted on a vehicle. The acoustic device described in this document includes a bobbin around which a coil is wound and a vibrating body fixed to the bobbin. When electricity is applied to the coil, the vibrating body vibrates. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-29003 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, a vehicle electro-acoustic transducer mounted on a vehicle, such as the acoustic device described in Patent Document 1, may become covered with water due to the environment around the vehicle, etc. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to prevent this water from entering the interior of the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an electro-acoustic transducer for a vehicle that can prevent water from entering. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first aspect of the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer comprises a baffle that is box-shaped and has an opening formed therein; an outer peripheral portion that is arranged within the baffle and that closes the opening, and that forms the outer periphery of the baffle, and that has a ring-shaped outer peripheral portion that is formed with a concave outside the baffle; and an inner peripheral portion that closes the center of the outer peripheral portion and is formed integrally with the outer peripheral portion, and that has a concave outside the baffle, and a vibrating portion that generates sound by vibrating, and is installed outside the vehicle cabin.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer, the vibrating part vibrates to generate sound. Here, the vibrating part is disposed within the baffle and is provided so as to block the opening. This configuration prevents water from entering the baffle through the opening formed in the baffle. Furthermore, the vibrating part has an outer peripheral part formed in an annular concave shape and a concave inner peripheral part that blocks the center portion of the outer peripheral part. Here, the outer peripheral part and the inner peripheral part that constitute the vibrating part are formed integrally. This configuration prevents water from entering the baffle through the boundary between the outer peripheral part and the inner peripheral part.

[0008] The second aspect of the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer is the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer of the first aspect, which has a cylindrically formed bobbin and a coil formed along the bobbin, and is provided with a coil body that vibrates the vibrating part when current is passed through the coil, and a bent part is formed at the boundary between the outer circumferential part and the inner circumferential part, and the vibrating part is fixed to the bobbin with the end of the bobbin engaged with the bent part.

[0009] According to the second aspect of the vehicle electroacoustic transducer, when current is applied to the coil of the coil body, the vibrating part vibrates and generates sound. Here, a bent part is formed at the boundary between the outer and inner peripheral parts of the vibrating part, and the vibrating part is fixed to the bobbin with the end of the bobbin engaged with the bent part. This configuration makes it easy to position the bobbin and the vibrating part.

[0010] The third aspect of the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer is the second aspect of the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer, in which the inner peripheral portion is positioned radially inside the bobbin, thereby positioning the vibrating portion radially relative to the bobbin.

[0011] According to the third aspect of the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer, the inner circumferential portion of the vibrating portion is disposed radially inside the bobbin, thereby positioning the vibrating portion relative to the bobbin in the radial direction of the bobbin. This configuration makes it even easier to position the bobbin and the vibrating portion.

[0012] The fourth aspect of the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer is the third aspect of the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer, wherein the surface of the inner circumferential portion that faces the inner circumferential surface of the bobbin in the radial direction of the bobbin is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the vibration direction of the vibrating portion.

[0013] According to the fourth aspect of the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer, the inner peripheral surface of the vibrating part, which faces the inner peripheral surface of the bobbin in the radial direction of the bobbin, is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the vibration direction of the vibrating part. With this configuration, when the inner peripheral part of the vibrating part is inserted radially inside the bobbin, the center of the vibrating part and the center of the bobbin can be brought closer together. This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in concentricity between the vibrating part and the bobbin. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The vehicle electro-acoustic transducer according to the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to suppress the intrusion of water. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an electro-acoustic transducer for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a vehicle electro-acoustic transducer according to an embodiment of the present invention taken along the front-rear direction. [Figure 3] 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion surrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 2. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] 1 to 3, a vehicle electro-acoustic transducer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The vehicle electro-acoustic transducer 10 of this embodiment is mounted in a power unit compartment outside the vehicle cabin, and will be described as an example of an acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) that generates sound when the vehicle is traveling at low speeds to alert pedestrians of an approaching vehicle. The front and rear sides of the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer 10 are indicated by arrows FR and RR, respectively. Furthermore, hereinafter, when simply indicating the front-rear direction, this refers to the front-rear direction of the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer 10 unless otherwise specified. The front-rear direction of the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer 10 coincides with the front-rear direction of the vehicle when the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer 10 is mounted on the vehicle.

[0017] 1, the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer 10 includes a main baffle 12 that is a box-shaped baffle, and a front cover 14 and a rear cover 16 that are attached to the front and rear of the main baffle 12, respectively. The vehicle electro-acoustic transducer 10 also includes a sound generator main body 18 that is disposed within and supported by the main baffle 12.

[0018] The main baffle 12 includes a base tubular portion 12A formed in a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape and a partition wall 12B that divides the space within the base tubular portion 12A in the front-rear direction. A circular first through-hole 12C is formed in the center of the partition wall 12B as an opening. This first through-hole 12C is configured to be closed by a vibrating portion 32, which will be described later. The vibrating portion 32 may be formed using, for example, a material known as PEI (polyetherimide), PI (polyimide), PET (polyethyleneterephthalate), or PEN (polyethylene naphthalate). The partition wall 12B also includes a second through-hole 12D having a smaller inner diameter than the first through-hole 12C. This second through-hole 12D is configured to be closed by a plug 20. The main baffle 12 also includes a connector connection portion 12E that protrudes from the outer periphery of the base tubular portion 12A toward the outside of the base tubular portion 12A. The connector connection portion 12E is adapted to be connected to an external connector (not shown).

[0019] The front cover 14 includes a front cover main body 14A formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the front-to-rear direction, and a plurality of locking claws 14B protruding from the front cover main body 14A toward the main baffle 12. The front cover main body 14A is formed with a plurality of slits 14C for transmitting sound generated by a vibration unit 32 (described later) to the front side of the front cover main body 14A. The plurality of locking claws 14B are adapted to be locked to the main baffle 12. The front cover 14 is attached to the main baffle 12 by locking the plurality of locking claws 14B to the main baffle 12.

[0020] The rear cover 16 includes a rear cover main body 16A formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the front-rear direction, and a plurality of locking claws 16B protruding from the rear cover main body 16A toward the main baffle 12. A T-nut 22 is fixed to the rear cover main body 16A. A bolt (not shown) is threaded into the T-nut 22, thereby fixing the vehicle electro-acoustic transducer 10 to the vehicle. The plurality of locking claws 16B are locked to the main baffle 12. The rear cover 16 is attached to the main baffle 12 by locking the plurality of locking claws 16B to the main baffle 12. The joint between the rear cover 16 and the main baffle 12 is sealed with a sealant (for example, an adhesive) to ensure watertightness.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the sound generator main body 18 comprises a frame 24, a magnetic circuit section 26 supported by the frame 24, a coil body 28 arranged within the frame 24, a damper 30 provided between the coil body 28 and the frame 24, and a vibration section 32 fixed to the coil body 28.

[0022] The frame 24 is formed in a generally stepped cylindrical shape, with a larger opening at the front than at the rear. The opening at the front of the frame 24 is closed by the vibration part 32, which will be described later.

[0023] The magnetic circuit unit 26 applies a magnetic field to the coil body 28, which will be described later. The magnetic circuit unit 26 includes a yoke 34 formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, a disk-shaped magnet 36 fixed to the bottom surface of the yoke 34, and a disk-shaped top plate 38 laminated on the magnet. The yoke 34 and the top plate 38 are made of a soft magnetic material. The yoke 34 opens toward the front and is disposed so as to close the opening on the rear side of the frame 24. A gap is formed between the yoke 34 and the magnet 36 / top plate 38, and a portion of the coil body 28, which will be described later, is disposed in this gap.

[0024] The coil body 28 includes a cylindrical bobbin 40 and a coil 42 formed along the bobbin 40. A vibrating unit 32, which will be described later, is fixed to the front end of the bobbin 40. The coil 42 is formed by winding a linear conductor 44 made of a conductive material around the bobbin 40. A pair of end portions 44A of the conductor 44 that forms the coil 42 are connected to a pair of terminals, not shown, respectively.

[0025] The damper 30 is formed in a disk shape with an opening formed in the radial center and a wave-like shape that is repeatedly curved back and forth along the radial direction. The coil body 28 is inserted into the opening formed in the center of the damper 30. The inner peripheral portion of the damper 30 is engaged with the bobbin 40 of the coil body 28, and the outer peripheral portion of the damper 30 is engaged with the frame 24.

[0026] Next, the configuration of the vibration section 32, which is a main part of this embodiment, will be described.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2 , the vibrating section 32 is circular when viewed from the front-to-rear direction and has a concave, open front side. The vibrating section 32 includes an annular outer peripheral portion 60 that constitutes the radially outer portion of the vibrating section 32, and an inner peripheral portion 62 that constitutes the radially central portion of the vibrating section 32 and is integrally formed with the outer peripheral portion 60. In the vibrating section 32 of this embodiment, both the outer peripheral portion 60 and the inner peripheral portion 62 are formed with a concave, open front side that is outside the main baffle 12. Note that arrow R in FIG. 2 indicates the radially outer side of the vibrating section 32. The radial direction of the vibrating section 32 (the direction of arrow R and the direction opposite to arrow R) is perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. Hereinafter, when simply referring to the radially outer and inner directions, this refers to the radially outer and inner directions of the vibrating section 32 unless otherwise specified.

[0028] The outer peripheral portion 60 is formed in a funnel shape that narrows from the front side to the rear side. The outer peripheral portion 60 includes an inclined wall portion 60A that slopes rearward as it extends radially inward, and an inner end portion 60B that bends radially inward from the radially inner end of the inclined wall portion 60A and extends radially inward.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the inner circumferential portion 62 is formed in a shape that is convex toward the rear side and recessed toward the front side. The inner circumferential portion 62 includes a curved wall portion 62A whose front surface is curved concavely and whose rear surface is curved convexly. The inner circumferential portion 62 also includes an annular wall portion 62B that is bent and extends forward from the radially outer end of the curved wall portion 62A. The front end of the annular wall portion 62B is connected to the radially inner end of the inner end portion 60B of the outer circumferential portion 60. Here, the portion formed by the annular wall portion 62B and the inner end portion 60B is referred to as a bent portion 64. The cross section of the bent portion 64 cut along the front-to-rear direction has an L-shaped bent shape. Note that the bent portion 64 is not limited to an L-shaped bent shape and may be bent in other shapes. The radially outer surface of the annular wall portion 62B is an inclined surface 62C that is gradually inclined radially inward as it extends toward the rear side. That is, the radially outer surface of the annular wall portion 62B is an inclined surface 62C that is gradually inclined with respect to the front-rear direction, which is the vibration direction of the vibrating portion 32.

[0030] The inner peripheral portion 62 of the vibrating part 32 described above is inserted from the front side into the bobbin 40 of the coil body 28. When the inner peripheral portion 62 of the vibrating part 32 is inserted into the bobbin 40 of the coil body 28, the front end portion 40A of the bobbin 40 is engaged with a bent portion 64 formed at the boundary between the outer peripheral portion 60 and the inner peripheral portion 62 of the vibrating part 32. The front end portion 40A of the bobbin 40 and the bent portion 64 of the vibrating part 32 are joined together via an adhesive or the like.

[0031] 1 and 2, an edge portion 32A made of an elastic material such as rubber is provided around the entire circumference of the radially outer edge of the outer circumferential portion 60 of the vibrating portion 32. The radially outer end of the edge portion 32A is joined to the frame 24 around its entire circumference. This ensures watertightness between the edge portion 32A and the frame 24.

[0032] (Actions and Effects of This Embodiment) Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0033] 1 to 3, in the vehicle electroacoustic transducer 10 of this embodiment, current is passed through the coil 42 of the coil body 28 via wiring paths (not shown) and external connectors (not shown), etc. As a result, as the coil body 28 moves in the front-rear direction, the vibrating portion 32 vibrates to generate sound.

[0034] In the vehicle electroacoustic transducer 10 of this embodiment, the vibrating portion 32 is disposed within the main baffle 12 and is provided so as to block the first through-hole 12C formed in the main baffle 12. This configuration prevents water from entering the main baffle 12 through the first through-hole 12C formed in the main baffle 12.

[0035] The vibrating portion 32 has an annular outer peripheral portion 60 and an inner peripheral portion 62 that closes the center of the outer peripheral portion 60. The outer peripheral portion 60 and the inner peripheral portion 62 that constitute the vibrating portion 32 are integrally formed. This configuration prevents water adhering to the vibrating portion 32 from entering the main baffle 12 through the boundary between the outer peripheral portion 60 and the inner peripheral portion 62. As such, this embodiment can prevent water from entering more effectively than a configuration in which the outer peripheral portion 60 and the inner peripheral portion 62 of the vibrating portion 32 are formed separately. Furthermore, in this embodiment, both the outer peripheral portion 60 and the inner peripheral portion 62 are formed in a concave, open shape on the front side, which is the outside of the main baffle 12. This prevents the outer peripheral portion 60 and the inner peripheral portion 62 from collapsing due to pressure during a car wash or submersion in water, compared to a configuration in which both the outer peripheral portion 60 and the inner peripheral portion 62 are formed in a convex shape that extends outward from the main baffle 12.

[0036] Furthermore, in the vehicle electroacoustic transducer 10 of this embodiment, a bent portion 64 is formed at the boundary between the outer peripheral portion 60 and the inner peripheral portion 62 of the vibrating portion 32, and the vibrating portion 32 is fixed to the bobbin 40 with the front end portion 40A of the bobbin 40 engaged with the bent portion 64. This configuration makes it easy to position the bobbin 40 and the vibrating portion 32. As a result, vibrations from the bobbin 40 can be appropriately transmitted to the vibrating portion 32.

[0037] Furthermore, in the vehicle electroacoustic transducer 10 of this embodiment, the inner circumferential portion 62 of the vibrating part 32 is formed in a convex shape facing the rear side, which is the bobbin 40 side, relative to the outer circumferential portion 60, and the inner circumferential portion 62 of the vibrating part 32 is inserted into the radial inside of the bobbin 40, thereby positioning the vibrating part 32 in the radial direction relative to the bobbin 40. With this configuration, it is possible to further facilitate positioning the bobbin 40 and the vibrating part 32.

[0038] Furthermore, in the vehicle electroacoustic transducer 10 of this embodiment, the radially outer surface of the annular wall portion 62B constituting a part of the inner circumferential portion 62 of the vibrating portion 32 forms an inclined surface 62C that gently inclines radially inward toward the rear. This allows the center of the vibrating portion 32 and the center of the bobbin 40 to be brought closer together when the inner circumferential portion 62 of the vibrating portion 32 is inserted radially inside the bobbin 40 and the inclined surface 62C of the annular wall portion 62B is aligned with the inner circumferential surface of the bobbin 40. This prevents a decrease in concentricity between the vibrating portion 32 and the bobbin 40. Furthermore, the inclined surface 62C improves assembly when the inner circumferential portion 62 of the vibrating portion 32 is assembled to the bobbin 40. Furthermore, the inclined surface 62C allows adhesive G to be interposed between the inclined surface 62 and the inner circumferential surface of the bobbin 40, thereby firmly adhering and fixing the vibrating portion 32 and the bobbin 40.

[0039] In the above-described embodiment, the radially outer surface of the annular wall portion 62B is the inclined surface 62C, but the present invention is not limited to this. Whether or not the radially outer surface of the annular wall portion 62B is the inclined surface 62C can be determined appropriately in consideration of the required concentricity between the vibrating portion 32 and the bobbin 40, etc.

[0040] In the above-described embodiment, the inner peripheral portion 62 of the vibrating portion 32 is formed in a convex shape toward the rear side, which is the bobbin 40 side, relative to the outer peripheral portion 60, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the inner peripheral portion 62 of the vibrating portion 32 may be formed in a convex shape toward the front side, which is the opposite side to the bobbin 40, relative to the outer peripheral portion 60.

[0041] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which a bent portion 64 is formed at the boundary between the outer peripheral portion 60 and the inner peripheral portion 62 of the vibrating portion 32, and the vibrating portion 32 is fixed to the bobbin 40 with the front end portion 40A of the bobbin 40 locked at the bent portion 64, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when another configuration for positioning the vibrating portion 32 and the bobbin 40 is used, a configuration in which the bent portion 64 is not formed may be used.

[0042] The above describes one embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that it can be implemented in various other modified forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10. Electro-acoustic transducer for vehicles 12 Main baffle (baffle) 12C 1st through hole (opening) 32 Vibration unit 40 bobbins 42 Coil 60 outer periphery 62 Inner circumference 62C Slope 64 Bend

Claims

[Claim 1] a baffle formed in a box shape and having an opening; a vibration section that vibrates to generate sound; the vibration section has: an outer peripheral section that is disposed within the baffle and that closes the opening, the outer peripheral section being annular and having a recessed outer surface on the outside of the baffle; and an inner peripheral section that closes a central portion of the outer peripheral section, is formed integrally with the outer peripheral section, and has a recessed outer surface on the outside of the baffle; A vehicle electro-acoustic transducer provided outside a vehicle compartment, a coil body having a cylindrical bobbin and a coil formed along the bobbin, the coil vibrating the vibrating portion when current is applied to the coil; a bent portion is formed at the boundary between the outer circumferential portion and the inner circumferential portion, the vibrating section is fixed to the bobbin with the end of the bobbin engaged with the bending section, The inner peripheral portion is disposed radially inside the bobbin, whereby the vibration portion is positioned relative to the bobbin in the radial direction of the bobbin, a surface of the inner peripheral portion that faces the inner peripheral surface of the bobbin in a radial direction of the bobbin is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the vibration direction of the vibrating portion, an adhesive is interposed between the inclined surface and the inner circumferential surface of the bobbin; Electro-acoustic transducer for vehicles.

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