Electronic device including blocking member for speaker hole

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronic device comprising: a housing including a front surface, a rear surface facing the front surface, and a side wall surrounding at least a portion of a space between the front surface and the rear surface; a speaker module disposed in the space; a duct extending from a hole formed in the side wall to the speaker module; and a blocking member configured to adjust an inner space of the duct, wherein sound emitted from the speaker module resonates at a first frequency in a first state in which the inner space is not reduced by the blocking member, and the sound resonates at a second frequency lower than the first frequency in a second state in which the inner space is reduced by the blocking member. Various other embodiments identified through the specification are possible.

Description

Electronic device including a blocking member for a speaker hole

[0001] Embodiments disclosed in this document relate to an electronic device including a blocking member for a speaker hole.

[0002] A wearable device may include a housing in which multiple components are arranged. As an example of the multiple components, a speaker module may be arranged on a portion of the side or rear of the housing. At least one speaker hole may be formed in the housing to transmit sound emitted from the speaker module to the outside.

[0003] The space within the housing connecting the speaker module to the speaker hole can form a duct that transmits sound emitted from the speaker module. Wearable devices can secure reception performance by utilizing the resonance band formed by the duct space in addition to the resonance band formed by the speaker module itself.

[0004] The above information may be provided as background art to aid in understanding the present disclosure. No claim or determination is made as to whether any of the above is applicable as prior art in connection with the present disclosure.

[0005] An electronic device according to one embodiment disclosed in the present document comprises a housing including a front surface, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, and a side wall surrounding at least a portion of a space between the front surface and the rear surface, a speaker module disposed in the space, a duct extending from a hole formed in the side wall to the speaker module, and a blocking member configured to adjust an internal space of the duct, wherein sound emitted from the speaker module resonates at a first frequency in a first state in which the internal space is not reduced by the blocking member, and the sound can resonate at a second frequency lower than the first frequency in a second state in which the internal space is reduced by the blocking member.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of a wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of a wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an unfolded wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0009] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a housing of a wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0010] FIG. 4b is a schematic drawing of a portion of a cross-section of a housing of a wearable device cut in a first direction according to one embodiment.

[0011] FIG. 4c is a schematic drawing of a portion of a cross-section of a housing of a wearable device cut in a second direction according to one embodiment.

[0012] Figure 4d is an enlarged cross-section of the guide groove formed in the housing of Figure 4c.

[0013] FIG. 4e is an enlarged view of a side surface of a wearable housing having a hole formed therein, according to one embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a blocking member moving within a housing of a wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 5b is a schematic drawing of a portion of a cross-section of a housing of a wearable device including a blocking member, cut in a second direction, according to one embodiment.

[0016] Figure 5c is an enlarged cross-section of the blocking member of Figure 5b.

[0017] FIG. 5d is a drawing showing a state in which a portion of a blocking member is viewed from the side of a wearable housing according to one embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 5e is an enlarged view of an area where a blocking member is positioned, according to one embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 6A is a schematic drawing of a portion of a cross-section of a blocking member including a radiation hole and a housing of a wearable device cut in a first direction according to one embodiment.

[0020] FIG. 6b is a schematic drawing of a portion of a cross-section of a blocking member including a radiation hole and a housing of a wearable device cut in a second direction according to one embodiment.

[0021] Figure 6c is an enlarged cross-section of a blocking member including a radiation hole of Figure 6b.

[0022] FIG. 6d is a drawing showing a change in the diameter of a radiation hole of a blocking member according to one embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 6e is an enlarged view of an area where a blocking member is positioned, according to one embodiment.

[0024] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a change in the shape of a blocking member according to one embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 8a is a drawing showing a state in which a blocking member including a home portion is positioned inside a housing according to one embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 8b is a drawing showing a state in which a portion of a blocking member including a home portion is positioned outside the housing according to one embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 8c is a cross-sectional view showing a blocking member including a home portion sliding through a hole in a housing according to one embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view showing an expanded form of a duct of a wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 9b is a diagram showing changes in the resonance band due to a duct of a wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 9c is a diagram showing the size and reach of a siren sound of a wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0031] FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the front of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0032] FIG. 10b is a drawing showing a change in the diameter of a radiation hole of a blocking member in an electronic device including a blocking member according to one embodiment.

[0033] In connection with the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals may be used for identical or similar components.

[0034] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that the present invention encompasses various modifications, equivalents, and / or alternatives of the embodiments.

[0035] In one embodiment, a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch) may include a structure (e.g., a blocking member) that can vary the volume of a hollow space (or duct) within a housing located in front of a diaphragm of a speaker module (e.g., a surface facing the speaker hole). For example, the resonance band of the duct can be changed by varying the volume. This allows a wide resonance band to be covered with just one speaker module. Furthermore, space efficiency can be increased because multiple speaker modules do not need to be mounted in the limited internal space of the wearable device. Furthermore, the shape of the structure can be appropriately modified to provide high volume and a long audible range in a specific frequency band. This can be useful for implementing functions such as a siren for requesting rescue. For example, the structure can be modified so that the resonance of the duct is formed in a frequency band (e.g., around 3 kHz) to which the human ear is most sensitive. This will be described in detail below.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of a wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of a wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a wearable device (100) according to one embodiment may include a housing (110) including a first side (or front side) (110A), a second side (or back side) (110B), and a side surface (110C) surrounding a space between the first side (110A) and the second side (110B), and a fastening member (150, 160) connected to at least a portion of the housing (110) and configured to detachably fasten the wearable device (100) to a part of a user's body (e.g., a wrist, an ankle, etc.). In another embodiment (not shown), the housing may also refer to a structure forming a portion of the first side (110A), the second side (110B), and the side surface (110C) of FIG. 1. In one embodiment, the first side (110A) may be formed by a front plate (101) that is at least partially substantially transparent (e.g., a glass plate or a polymer plate comprising various coating layers). The second side (110B) may be formed by a back plate (107). The back plate (107) may be formed by, for example, coated or colored glass, ceramic, polymer, metal (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel (STS), or magnesium), or a combination of at least two of the foregoing materials. The side surface (110C) may be formed by a side bezel structure (or “side member”, “side wall”) (106) that is coupled to the front plate (101) and the back plate (107) and comprises a metal and / or a polymer. In some embodiments, the back plate (107) and the side bezel structure (106) may be formed integrally and comprise the same material (e.g., a metal material such as aluminum). The above-mentioned fastening member (150, 160) may be formed of various materials and shapes. The integral and multiple unit links may be formed to be mutually movable by a combination of at least two of the above-mentioned materials, such as woven fabric, leather, rubber, urethane, metal, ceramic, or a combination of the above-mentioned materials.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the wearable device (100) may include at least one of a display (120, see FIG. 3), an audio module, a sensor module (111), a key input device, and a connector hole (109). In one embodiment, the wearable device (100) may omit at least one of the components (e.g., the key input device, the connector hole (109), or the sensor module (111)) or may additionally include other components.

[0040] The display (120) may be visible, for example, through at least a portion of the front plate (101). The shape of the display (120) may correspond to the shape of the front plate (101), and may be in various shapes such as circular, oval, or polygonal. The display (120) may be coupled to or disposed adjacent to a touch detection circuit, a pressure sensor capable of measuring the intensity (pressure) of a touch, and / or a fingerprint sensor.

[0041] The audio module may include a microphone hole (105) and a speaker hole (108). The microphone hole (105) may have a microphone positioned therein for acquiring external sounds, and in some embodiments, multiple microphones may be positioned therein to detect the direction of sounds. The speaker hole (108) may be used as an external speaker and a receiver for calls. In some embodiments, the speaker hole (108) and the microphone hole (103) may be implemented as a single hole, or a speaker may be included without the speaker hole (108) (e.g., a piezo speaker).

[0042] The sensor module (111) can generate an electric signal or data value corresponding to the internal operating state of the wearable device (100) or the external environmental state. The sensor module (111) can include, for example, a biometric sensor module (111) (e.g., a Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) sensor) arranged on the second surface (110B) of the housing (110). The wearable device (100) can further include at least one of a sensor module not shown, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

[0043] The key input device may include a wheel key (102) disposed on a first surface (110A) of the housing (110) and rotatable in at least one direction, and / or a side key button (103, 104) disposed on a side surface (110C) of the housing (110). The wheel key may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the front plate (101). In other embodiments, the wearable device (100) may not include some or all of the above-mentioned key input devices (e.g., the wheel key (102)), and the key input devices that are not included may be implemented in another form, such as a soft key, on the display (120).

[0044] The connector hole (109) may include another connector hole (not shown) that may accommodate a connector (e.g., a USB connector) for transmitting and receiving power and / or data with an external electronic device, and may accommodate a connector for transmitting and receiving audio signals with the external electronic device. The wearable device (100) may further include, for example, a connector cover (not shown) that covers at least a portion of the connector hole (109) and blocks the inflow of external foreign substances into the connector hole. In one embodiment, the connector hole (109) may be omitted or replaced with another component.

[0045] The fastening member (150, 160) can be detachably fastened to at least a portion of the housing (110) using a locking member (151, 161). The fastening member (150, 160) can include one or more of a fixing member (152), a fixing member fastening hole (153), a band guide member (154), and a band fastening ring (155).

[0046] The fixing member (152) may be configured to fix the housing (110) and the fastening members (150, 160) to a part of the user's body (e.g., wrist, ankle, etc.). The fastening member fastening hole (153) may correspond to the fastening member (152) to fasten the housing (110) and the fastening members (150, 160) to a part of the user's body. The band guide member (154) may be configured to limit the range of motion of the fastening member (152) when the fastening member (152) is fastened to the fastening member fastening hole (153), thereby allowing the fastening members (150, 160) to be fastened in close contact with a part of the user's body. The band fixing ring (155) may limit the range of motion of the fastening members (150, 160) when the fastening member (152) and the fastening member fastening hole (153) are fastened.

[0047] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an unfolded wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 3, the wearable device (300) may include a side bezel structure (310), a wheel key (320), a front plate (101), a display (120), a first antenna (350), a second antenna (355), a support member (360) (e.g., a bracket), a battery (370), a printed circuit board (380), a sealing member (390), a rear plate (393), and fastening members (395, 397). At least one of the components of the wearable device (300) may be the same as or similar to at least one of the components of the wearable device (100) of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, and any overlapping descriptions will be omitted below. The support member (360) may be disposed inside the wearable device (300) and connected to the side bezel structure (310), or may be formed integrally with the side bezel structure (310). The support member (360) may be formed of, for example, a metallic material and / or a non-metallic (e.g., polymer) material. The support member (360) may have a display (120) coupled to one surface and a printed circuit board (380) coupled to the other surface. A processor, memory, and / or an interface may be mounted on the printed circuit board (380).

[0049] The processor may, for example, execute software (e.g., a program) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the wearable device (300) connected to the processor and perform various data processing or operations. According to one embodiment, as at least part of data processing or calculation, the processor may store commands or data received from other components (e.g., a sensor module (111) or a communication module) in volatile memory, process the commands or data stored in the volatile memory (1032), and store result data in non-volatile memory. According to one embodiment, the processor may include a main processor (e.g., a central processing unit or an application processor) or an auxiliary processor (e.g., a graphics processing unit, a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor) that can operate independently or together therewith. For example, when an electronic device includes a main processor and an auxiliary processor, the auxiliary processor may be configured to use less power than the main processor or to be specialized for a given function. The auxiliary processor may be implemented separately from the main processor or as a part thereof. The processor may include, for example, one or more of a central processing unit, an application processor, a graphic processing unit (GPU), an application processor, a sensor processor, or a communication processor.

[0050] The memory may include, for example, volatile memory or non-volatile memory. The interface may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, and / or an audio interface. The interface may electrically or physically connect the wearable device (300) to an external electronic device, for example, and may include a USB connector, an SD card / MMC connector, or an audio connector.

[0051] The battery (370) is a device for supplying power to at least one component of the wearable device (300), and may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell. At least a portion of the battery (370) may be disposed substantially on the same plane as, for example, the printed circuit board (380). The battery (370) may be disposed integrally within the wearable device (100), or may be disposed detachably from the wearable device (100).

[0052] The first antenna (350) may be positioned between the display (120) and the support member (360). The first antenna (350) may include, for example, a near field communication (NFC) antenna, a wireless charging antenna, and / or a magnetic secure transmission (MST) antenna. The first antenna (350) may, for example, perform short-range communication with an external device, wirelessly transmit and receive power required for charging, and transmit a magnetic-based signal including a short-range communication signal or payment data. In another embodiment, the antenna structure may be formed by a portion or a combination of the side bezel structure (310) and / or the support member (360).

[0053] The second antenna (355) may be positioned between the circuit board (380) and the back plate (393). The second antenna (355) may include, for example, a near field communication (NFC) antenna, a wireless charging antenna, and / or a magnetic secure transmission (MST) antenna. The second antenna (355) may, for example, perform short-range communication with an external device, wirelessly transmit and receive power required for charging, and transmit a magnetic-based signal including a short-range communication signal or payment data. In another embodiment, the antenna structure may be formed by a portion or a combination of the side bezel structure (310) and / or the back plate (393).

[0054] A sealing member (390) may be positioned between the side bezel structure (310) and the rear plate (393). The sealing member (390) may be configured to block moisture and foreign substances from entering the space surrounded by the side bezel structure (310) and the rear plate (393) from the outside.

[0055] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a housing of a wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0056] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4A, in one embodiment, a wearable device (e.g., the wearable device (100) of FIGS. 1 to 2 or the wearable device (300) of FIG. 3) may include a housing (400). The housing (400) may be substantially the same as or similar to the housing (110) of FIGS. 1 to 2. The housing (400) may include a front housing (or, front) (401), a rear housing (or, rear) (493), and a side housing (or, side wall) (410) connecting the front housing (401) and the rear housing (493). The front housing (401) may be substantially the same as or similar to the front plate (101) of FIGS. 1 to 2 or the front plate (101) of FIG. 3. The rear housing (493) may be substantially the same as or similar to the rear plate (107) of FIGS. 1 and 2 or the rear plate (393) of FIG. 3. The side housing (410) may be substantially the same as or similar to the side bezel structure (106) of FIGS. 1 and 2 or the side bezel structure (310) of FIG. 3.

[0057] The housing (400) may include a front housing (401) facing the +z-axis direction, a rear housing (493) facing the opposite direction (e.g., the -z-axis direction) to the front housing (401), and a side housing (410) surrounding at least a portion of the space between the front housing (401) and the rear housing (493). Various components (or modules) may be mounted in the space inside the housing (400) formed by the front housing (401), the rear housing (493), and the side housing (410). For example, a speaker module (e.g., the speaker module (405) of FIG. 4B) may be placed inside the housing (400).

[0058] A hole (408) may be formed on at least one surface of the housing (400). The hole (408) may be defined as an opening area on the rear housing (493) that allows the interior of the housing (400) to be viewed when the rear housing (493) is viewed from the outside of the housing (400). For example, the hole (408) may not be a three-dimensional shape formed from the rear housing (493) toward the interior of the housing (400). That is, the hole (408) may be referred to as a plane area that constitutes a part of the shape of the rear housing (493). In one embodiment, the hole (408) may be referred to as a boundary surface between the rear housing (493) and the duct (409). A path may be created in the housing (400) from the hole (408) formed in the rear housing (493) to a speaker module (e.g., the speaker module (405) of FIG. 4B) inside the housing. In one embodiment, the hole (408) may include a plurality of holes. The plurality of holes may appear as separate structures from the outside of the housing (400), but may be joined together inside the housing (400) and share a path leading to the speaker module (405).

[0059] FIG. 4b is a schematic drawing of a portion of a cross-section of a housing of a wearable device cut in a first direction according to one embodiment.

[0060] FIG. 4c is a schematic drawing of a portion of a cross-section of a housing of a wearable device cut in a second direction according to one embodiment.

[0061] FIG. 4b is a drawing showing a part of a cross-section of the housing (400) of FIG. 4a taken along line B-B', and FIG. 4c is a drawing showing a part of a cross-section of the housing (400) of FIG. 4a taken along line A-A'.

[0062] Referring to FIGS. 4a, 4b, and 4c, in one embodiment, a duct (409) and a guide groove (411) may be formed inside the housing (400), and a speaker module (405) may be placed in an area adjacent to the duct (409).

[0063] In one embodiment, the speaker module (405) may be a component related to sound of a wearable device (e.g., the wearable device (100) of FIGS. 1 to 2 or the wearable device (300) of FIG. 3) and may be disposed on the rear housing (493). The speaker module (405) may be spaced apart from the side housing (410) toward the center of the housing (400) (e.g., toward the +y-axis direction). The speaker module (405) may include a vibration plate (406) disposed on one side facing the hole (408). Sound emitted from the vibration plate (406) may travel toward the hole (408) and may pass through the hole (408) to be output to the outside of the housing (400).

[0064] The duct (409) may be defined as an internal region of the housing (400) between the speaker module (405) and the hole (408). That is, the duct (409) may be an internal space formed by the internal structure of the housing (400) and the speaker module (405). For example, the duct (409) may be in a form that extends between the hole (408) of the rear housing (493) and the speaker module (405) (e.g., the diaphragm (406)). The duct (409) may include a second region (R2) adjacent to the speaker module (405) and a first region (R1) extending from the second region (R2) to the hole (408). In one embodiment, when the hole (408) includes a plurality of holes, the first region (R1) may be formed in multiple numbers. The duct (409) can be a path along which sound emitted from the diaphragm (406) travels, and resonance can be generated by the duct (409). For example, the first region (R1) can be defined as a region adjacent to the hole (408) of the duct (409) and having a cross-sectional area (e.g., an area perpendicular to the y-axis) similar to the cross-sectional area (e.g., an area perpendicular to the y-axis) of the hole (408). For example, the second region (R2) can be defined as a region adjacent to the speaker module (405) of the duct (409) and having a cross-sectional area (e.g., an area perpendicular to the y-axis) relatively large compared to the cross-sectional area (e.g., an area perpendicular to the y-axis) of the hole (408). In addition, in one example, the first width (e.g., D2 of FIG. 4D) of the first region (R1) can be substantially equal to the width of the hole (408) in the z-axis direction.

[0065] The guide groove (411) may be formed in an area adjacent to the duct (409) of the rear housing (493). The guide groove (411) may include a first guide groove (411a) formed on the left side of the duct (409) and a second guide groove (411b) formed on the right side of the duct (409) when the housing (400) is viewed from above (e.g., in the +z-axis direction) along the B-B' section of FIG. 4A. The guide groove (411) may be connected to the duct (409). For example, the guide groove (411) and the duct (409) may form a single connected space within the housing (400). The guide groove (411) may extend in one direction. For example, the guide groove (411) may be formed along the rear housing (493) from the first area (R1) of the duct (409). In one example, the guide groove (411) may be formed with a curvature substantially identical to the curvature of the rear housing (493) when the rear housing (493) is formed with a constant curvature at the center of the housing (400). In one embodiment, the guide groove (411) may also be formed inside the duct (409). Through this, a blocking member (e.g., a blocking member (421) of FIG. 5A) accommodated inside the guide groove (411) may be guided into the duct (409). This will be described later with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5E.

[0066] In one embodiment, the housing (400) may include a third region (R3) in which an actuator (not shown) is disposed. The third region (R3) may be defined as an area adjacent to a guide groove (411). The actuator disposed in the third region (R3) may be in contact with (or connected to) a blocking member (e.g., a blocking member (421) of FIG. 5A) disposed in the guide groove (411). The actuator will be described later with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5E.

[0067] Figure 4d is an enlarged cross-section of the guide groove formed in the housing of Figure 4c.

[0068] Referring to FIGS. 4A to 4D , in one embodiment, the guide groove (411) may include a first surface (412), a second surface (413), and a third surface (414). For example, the first surface (412) may be the surface that is furthest from the upper surface (4091) of the duct (409) in the +z-axis direction. The second surface (413) and the third surface (414) may be surfaces that connect the first surface (412) and the upper surface (4091). Due to the distance (D4) of the first surface (412) from the upper surface (4091), the length (D3) of the guide groove (411) in the z-axis direction may be formed to be longer than the first width (D2) in the z-axis direction of the first region (R1). The first surface (412), the second surface (413), and the third surface (414) of the guide groove (411) can be in contact with a blocking member (e.g., the blocking member (421) of FIG. 5A), and the blocking member (421) can be moved along the guide groove (411) by the surfaces (e.g., the first surface (412), the second surface (413), and the third surface (414)). In one example, the shape of the guide groove (411) can be formed identically on the upper surface (4091) and the lower surface (4092) of the duct (409). For example, the guide groove (411) can include a surface that is furthest from the lower surface (4092) in the -z-axis direction and surfaces connecting the surface and the lower surface (4092). In one embodiment, the concave shape (e.g., groove shape) formed by the first surface (412), the second surface (413), and the third surface (414) of the guide groove (411) may be formed on only one of the upper surface (4091) and the lower surface (4092).

[0069] FIG. 4e is an enlarged view of a side surface of a wearable housing having a hole formed therein, according to one embodiment.

[0070] Referring to FIGS. 4A to 4E, in one embodiment, when the side housing (410) in which the hole (408) is formed is viewed from the front (e.g., when viewed from the -y axis), the first region (R1) of the duct (409) may be visible through the hole (408). In one example, the guide groove (411) may be covered by the side housing (410) and may not be visible from the outside of the housing (400). In addition, in one embodiment, the shape of the wearable device illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4E may be the remaining shape excluding the blocking member (e.g., the blocking member (421) of FIG. 5A) described below.

[0071] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a blocking member moving within a housing of a wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0072] FIG. 5b is a schematic drawing of a portion of a cross-section of a housing of a wearable device including a blocking member, cut in a second direction, according to one embodiment.

[0073] Figure 5c is an enlarged cross-section of the blocking member of Figure 5b.

[0074] Fig. 5a is a cross-sectional view of a housing (e.g., housing (400) of Fig. 4a) including a blocking member (421) taken along line B-B' of Fig. 4a. Fig. 5a <501> The silver blocking member (421) represents a first state in which it is located outside the duct (409) (e.g., in the guide groove (411) inside the housing (400)). <502> is a drawing showing a second state in which the blocking member (421) has moved inside the duct (409) (e.g., the guide groove (411) inside the duct (409)). FIG. 5b is a diagram showing the second state in which the blocking member (421) has moved inside the duct (409) (e.g., the guide groove (411) inside the duct (409)). FIG. 5a <502> This is a schematic drawing showing a cross-section of the housing (400) cut along the line C-C'.

[0075] Referring to FIGS. 4A to 4E and FIGS. 5A to 5C, in one embodiment, a wearable device (e.g., the wearable device (100) of FIGS. 1 to 2 or the wearable device (300) of FIG. 3) may include a blocking member (421) disposed inside a housing (400) and an actuator (not shown) in contact with the blocking member (421).

[0076] At least a portion of the blocking member (421) may be positioned inside the guide groove (411). The blocking member (421) may include a first blocking member (421a) positioned on the left side of the duct (409) and a second blocking member (421b) positioned on the right side of the duct (409) when the housing (400) is viewed from above along the B-B' section of FIG. 4A (e.g., when viewed from the +z axis). The first blocking member (421a) and the second blocking member (421b) may be accommodated in the first guide groove (411a) and the second guide groove (411b), respectively. For this purpose, the blocking member (421) may be formed to be substantially the same as the guide groove (411). For example, the length (D7) of the blocking member (421) may be substantially the same as the length of the guide groove (411) (e.g., D1 of FIG. 4B). In addition, the blocking member (421) may be formed with substantially the same curvature as the guide groove (411). In this case, when the blocking member (421) is completely accommodated in the guide groove (411) inside the housing (400), <501> As in , the blocking member (421) and the guide groove (411) may overlap. In one embodiment, the length (D7) of the blocking member (421) may be formed shorter than the length of the guide groove (411) (e.g., D1 of FIG. 4b). In this case, a component (e.g., an actuator) capable of assisting the movement of the blocking member (421) may be mounted in an area other than the area where the blocking member (421) of the guide groove (411) is accommodated.

[0077] In one example, the z-axis direction length (D8) of the blocking member (421) may be substantially equal to the z-axis direction length (e.g., D3 of FIG. 4D) of the guide groove (411). Accordingly, the z-axis direction length (D8) of the blocking member (421) may be longer than the z-axis direction first width (D2) of the first region (R1) of the duct (409), and may not move outside the region where the guide groove (411) is formed inside the duct (409).

[0078] In this regard, the guide groove (411) may be formed so that the blocking member (421) does not occupy the entire first region (R1) of the duct (409). That is, assuming that the length (D6) of the portion formed within the duct (409) of the guide groove (411) is in a straight line, the length (D6) may be smaller than the width (D5) of the duct (409) in the x-axis direction. In this case, even if the blocking member (421) reaches the end of the guide groove (411) along the arrow direction (e.g., M direction), the sound generated from the diaphragm (406) may escape to the outside of the housing (400) through the remaining space of the duct (409).

[0079] <501> In the first state expressed in , the blocking member (421) may be positioned in the guide groove (411) formed inside the housing (400). In this case, the space inside the duct (409) may not be occupied by the blocking member (421). Therefore, the sound generated in the diaphragm (406) may be emitted along the duct (409) to the hole (408) without being blocked by the blocking member (421). In the first state, the resonance band of the sound by the duct (409) may be formed as a first frequency band (e.g., F1 of FIG. 9b). For example, the first frequency band (F1) may be formed in a range of 6 kHz to 8 kHz.

[0080] <502> In the second state expressed in , the blocking member (421) can be moved inside the duct (409). For example, a part of the blocking member (421) can be accommodated in a part of the guide groove (411) in the housing (400), and the remaining part can be positioned in the remaining part of the guide groove (411) inside the duct (409). The blocking member (421) can move along the guide groove (411) (e.g., along the first surface (412) of the guide groove (411)) toward the duct (409) (e.g., in the M direction). The resonance band of the sound by the duct (409) in the second state can be formed as a second frequency band (e.g., F2 in FIG. 9b). For example, the second frequency band (F2) can be formed around 3 kHz.

[0081] In one embodiment, the blocking member (421) can be moved by an actuator (not shown) disposed in the third region (R3). The actuator can be directly or indirectly connected to the blocking member (421). The actuator can be configured to actuate the blocking member (421) to push the duct (409) or pull the blocking member (421) into the guide groove (411) when an electrical signal or the like is input. For example, the actuator can be actuated to move the blocking member (421) in one direction (e.g., in the extension direction of the guide groove (411)) along the guide groove (411). As an example, the actuator can be an electric actuator driven by a motor (e.g., a DC motor, an AC motor, a step motor, etc.). For example, the actuator may be a linear actuator that moves the blocking member (421) through a linear motion or a rotary actuator that moves it through a rotary motion. In various embodiments, the form of the actuator may be a variation of any one of a hydraulic actuator, a mechanical actuator, a manual actuator (e.g., warm gear, hand wheel, hand pump, etc.), and a pneumatic actuator (e.g., piston, diaphragm, vane, rack and pinion, scotch yoke, etc.).

[0082] Alternatively, in one embodiment, the actuator may expand in shape when current or voltage is applied, and may occupy a portion of the guide groove (411), thereby pushing the blocking member (421) into the duct (409). When the current or voltage applied to the actuator is removed, the shape of the actuator may contract, and the blocking member (421) may be pulled back into the guide groove (411). As an example, the actuator may include a material that deforms in response to the application of current or voltage. For example, the actuator may include a piezoelectric element, a thermoelectric element, or a ferromagnetic material.

[0083] In one embodiment, the change in space within the duct (409) due to the movement of the blocking member (421) may change the resonance band of sound by the duct (409). For example, the shape of the duct (409) may be similar to a Helmholtz resonator. A Helmholtz resonator is a device having a thin neck portion in a container with a fixed volume, and is a type of device that amplifies a specific frequency by utilizing a resonance phenomenon. The equation for calculating the resonance frequency by the theoretical model of the Helmholtz resonator is as follows.

[0084] [Mathematical Formula 1]

[0085]

[0086] In the above mathematical expression 1, f represents the resonant frequency, v represents the speed of sound, A represents the cross-sectional area of ​​the neck of the container, l represents the length of the neck of the container, and V represents the volume of the container.

[0087] In one example, the internal volume of the duct (409) (e.g., an area including both the first region (R1) and the second region (R2)) may correspond to the volume (V) of the container in mathematical expression 1. The length (L1) of the duct (409) in the y-axis direction may correspond to the length (l) of the neck portion in mathematical expression 1. The cross-sectional area (e.g., an area perpendicular to the y-axis) of the first region (R1) of the duct (409) may correspond to the cross-sectional area (A) of the neck portion in mathematical expression 1. Accordingly, the resonant frequency (f) of the sound by the duct (409) may be proportional to the cross-sectional area of ​​the first region (R1). Conversely, the resonant frequency (f) of the sound by the duct (409) may be inversely proportional to the internal volume of the duct (409) and the length (L1) in the y-axis direction. That is, a duct (409) that forms a specific resonance band can be implemented by changing the internal space of the duct (at least one of the volume inside the duct (duct volume), the cross-sectional area of ​​the first region (R1) (duct cross-sectional area), and the length (L1) in the y-axis direction (duct length) or a combination of two or more of these). For example, the contents disclosed in FIGS. 5A to 7 may relate to an embodiment of changing the duct cross-sectional area. The contents disclosed in FIGS. 8A to 8C may relate to an embodiment of changing the duct volume, and the contents disclosed in FIGS. 9A to 9C may relate to an embodiment of changing the duct length.

[0088] In one embodiment, <501> The first state is as follows: <502> Comparing the second state, the duct volume and the duct length may remain the same. In contrast, in the second state, the duct cross-sectional area may be reduced compared to the duct cross-sectional area of ​​the first state as the blocking member (421) moves along the guide groove (411) to the first region (R1). Accordingly, the second frequency band (e.g., F2 in FIG. 9b) in the second state may be formed lower than the first frequency band (e.g., F1 in FIG. 9b) in the first state, and a second frequency band (F2) capable of covering a desired band (e.g., around 3 kHz) may be secured. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the sound of the first frequency band (F1) may be emitted further outside the housing (400) than the sound of the second frequency band (F2). Additionally, in one example, in the second frequency band (F2), a louder sound volume can be secured at the same distance from the housing (400) compared to the first frequency band (F1), and a longer audible distance can be secured based on the same sound volume.

[0089] FIG. 5d is a drawing showing a state in which a portion of a blocking member is viewed from the side of a wearable housing according to one embodiment.

[0090] FIG. 5e is an enlarged view of an area where a blocking member is positioned, according to one embodiment.

[0091] Referring to FIGS. 5A to 5E, in one embodiment, when the side housing (410) of the housing (400) in which the hole (408) is formed is viewed from the front (e.g., when viewed from the -y axis), a first region (R1) of the duct (409) can be seen through the hole (408). In the first state (e.g., in FIG. 5A), <501> In the first state, the guide groove (411) may be covered by the side housing (410) and may not be visible from the outside of the housing (400). Therefore, in the first state, the blocking member (421) may not be visible from the outside of the housing (400). In the second state (e.g., in FIG. 5a), <502> ) the blocking member (421) can be moved to the area where the guide groove (411) of the duct (409) is formed and can be seen from the outside. For example, in the second state, a part of the first area (R1) and a part of the blocking member (421) can be seen from the outside of the housing (400) through the hole (408).

[0092] Additionally, in one embodiment, a wearable device including the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5E may have a shape in which a blocking member (421) is additionally arranged within a guide groove (411) of the wearable device including the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4E.

[0093] FIG. 6A is a schematic drawing of a portion of a cross-section of a blocking member including a radiation hole and a housing of a wearable device cut in a first direction according to one embodiment.

[0094] FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram illustrating a portion of a cross-section of a blocking member including a radiation hole and a housing of a wearable device, taken in a second direction, according to one embodiment. FIG. 6B is a cross-section of the housing (600) of FIG. 6A (formed to have substantially the same appearance as the housing (400) of FIG. 4A) taken along line E-E' of FIG. 6A.

[0095] Figure 6c is an enlarged cross-section of a blocking member including a radiation hole of Figure 6b.

[0096] Referring to FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, in one embodiment, a housing (600) of a wearable device (e.g., the wearable device (100) of FIGS. 1 to 2 or the wearable device (300) of FIG. 3) may include a front housing (601), a side housing (610), and a rear housing (693). A hole (608) may be formed in a portion of the rear housing (693). A speaker module (605) including a diaphragm (606) positioned in a direction facing the hole (608) may be disposed inside the housing (600). A duct (609) may be formed in an internal space of the housing (600) extending from the hole (608) to the speaker module (605). A guide groove (611) may be formed in an area adjacent to the duct (609) and hole (608) of the rear housing (693), and a blocking member (621) may be placed within the guide groove (611) and the duct (609).

[0097] For the housing (600), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the housing (400) of FIG. 4A. For the front housing (601), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the front housing (401) of FIG. 4A. For the side housing (610), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the side housing (410) of FIG. 4A. For the rear housing (693), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the rear housing (493) of FIG. 4A. For the hole (608), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the hole (408) of FIG. 4A. For the speaker module (605), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the speaker module (405) of FIG. 4B. For the diaphragm (606), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the diaphragm (406) of FIG. 4B. For the duct (609), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the duct (409) of FIG. 4B. For the guide home (611), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the guide home (411) of Fig. 4b. For the blocking member (621), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the blocking member (421) of Fig. 4b.

[0098] The guide groove (611) may extend through the first region (R1) of the duct (609). For example, unlike the guide groove (411) of FIG. 4B, the guide groove (611) may extend from the left region of the hole (608) through the duct (609) to the right region of the hole (608) in FIG. 6A. In this process, the guide groove (611) may also be formed in the region (A1) between the holes (608) of the rear housing (693). A blocking member (621) may be arranged in the guide groove (611).

[0099] In one embodiment, the blocking member (621) may be formed to engage with the guide groove (611) and may be accommodated in the guide groove (611). For example, the blocking member (621) may engage with the fine guide groove (611) at a constant distance (D4) from the upper surface (6091) of the duct (609) in the +z-axis direction. That is, the lengths of the blocking member (621) in the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis directions may be substantially the same as the lengths of the guide groove (611) in the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis directions. For example, the length (D8) of the blocking member (621) in the z-axis direction may be the same as the length of the guide groove (611) in the z-axis direction (e.g., D3 in FIG. 4d).

[0100] A radiation hole (628) may be formed in a portion located in the first region (R1) of the blocking member (621). The radiation hole (628) may be formed with a first diameter (D9) so as to be located within the duct (609). For example, the first diameter (D9) of the radiation hole (628) may be smaller than the first width (D2) of the duct (609) in the z-axis direction. In one embodiment, the center of the radiation hole (628) (e.g., the center in the z-axis direction) may coincide with the center of the duct (609) (e.g., the center in the z-axis direction). Accordingly, sound emitted from the speaker module (605) may be output to the hole (608) through the radiation hole (628). In one embodiment, the radiation hole (628) may include a plurality of holes.

[0101] In one embodiment, the radiation hole (628) may include a conductive polymer. For example, the radiation hole (628) may include at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polythiophene, polypyrrole, polyacetylene, polythienothiophene / polystyrenesulfonic acid, polyaniline-polymeric acid-colloid, PEDOT, and PEDOT-polymeric acid-colloid, or combinations thereof. In one example, the periphery of the region where the radiation hole (628) of the blocking member (621) is formed may include a conductive polymer. At this time, when voltage is applied to the conductive polymer, cations in the polymer electrolyte of the conductive polymer move to the cathode, and an expansion / compression difference occurs in the space, which may deform the shape of the radiation hole (628). Therefore, the radiation hole (628) may have two forms depending on whether voltage is applied. This will be described later with reference to FIGS. 6d and 6e.

[0102] In one embodiment, the radiation hole (628) may include a shape memory alloy. For example, the radiation hole (628) may include a nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) alloy, a copper-aluminum-nickel (Cu-Al-Ni) alloy, or a copper-zinc-aluminum (Cu-Zn-Al) alloy. In one example, the periphery of the region where the radiation hole (628) of the blocking member (621) is formed may include a shape memory alloy. At this time, when the shape memory alloy is heated to a certain temperature, the shape of the radiation hole (628) may be deformed. Therefore, the radiation hole (628) may have two forms depending on the temperature at which the shape is set to be deformed. This will be described later with reference to FIGS. 6d and 6e.

[0103] FIG. 6d is a drawing showing a change in the diameter of a radiation hole of a blocking member according to one embodiment.

[0104] FIG. 6e is an enlarged view of an area where a blocking member is positioned, according to one embodiment.

[0105] Fig. 6d <601> is a drawing showing a first state in which no external factor (e.g. voltage, current, or heat) is applied to the radiation hole (628). Fig. 6d <602> is a drawing showing a second state in which the shape is deformed due to an external factor (e.g., voltage, current, or heat) being applied to the radiation hole (628). Fig. 6e shows the area where the radiation hole (628) and the blocking member are located in the first state.

[0106] Referring to FIGS. 6A to 6E, in one embodiment, when the side housing (610) of the housing (600) is viewed along the -y axis, the blocking member (621) and the radiating hole (628) can be seen through the hole (608). Additionally, a portion of the duct (609) can be seen through the radiating hole (628).

[0107] The first diameter (D9) of the radiation hole (628) is in the first state (e.g. <601> Compared to the state of the radiation hole (628) of the second state (e.g. <602> In the state of the radiation hole (628), the diameter of the radiation hole (628) may be smaller. For example, when an external factor (e.g., voltage, current, or heat, etc.) is applied to the radiation hole (628) in the first state, the diameter of the radiation hole (628) may be reduced. Accordingly, as the diameter of the radiation hole (628) is reduced, the cross-sectional area of ​​the duct (609) through which the sound emitted from the speaker module (605) proceeds may be reduced. That is, as described above with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5E, since the cross-sectional area of ​​the duct is formed smaller in the second state compared to the first state, the second frequency band (e.g., F2 in FIG. 9B) by the duct (609) in the second state may be formed as a lower band than the first frequency band (e.g., F1 in FIG. 9B) by the duct (609) in the first state. For example, the first frequency band (F1) may be formed in the range of 6 kHz to 8 kHz. The second frequency band (F2) can be formed around 3 kHz.

[0108] In one embodiment, the radiation hole (628) may include a conductive polymer, and when voltage is applied, as in FIG. 6d <602> As illustrated, the diameter of the radiation hole (628) may be reduced. Alternatively, in one example, the area around the radiation hole (628) of the blocking member (621) may include the conductive polymer and may expand when voltage is applied. As a result, the expanded area may press against the radiation hole (628), and the diameter of the radiation hole (628) may be reduced.

[0109] In one embodiment, the radiation hole (628) may include a shape memory alloy and may be configured to have a reduced diameter when a certain temperature is reached. For example, even after plastic deformation is applied to the radiation hole (628) such that the radiation hole (628) has a diameter of a first state, the radiation hole (628) may recover its shape to have a reduced diameter of a second state when the temperature is reached. Alternatively, in one example, a region of the blocking member (621) adjacent to the radiation hole (628) may include a shape memory alloy, and when the temperature of the region reaches a designated temperature, the region may expand to reduce the diameter of the radiation hole (628). The radiation hole (628) may be heated in various ways until the temperature is reached. For example, at least one processor may be placed inside the housing (600), and heat generated in the process of processing data to perform a specific operation (e.g., play a siren sound source) in the processor may be transferred to the radiation hole (628), thereby increasing the temperature of the radiation hole (628). Alternatively, in one embodiment, the area around the radiation hole (628) of the blocking member (621) may be formed of the shape memory alloy, and may be set to expand in a direction that reduces the diameter of the radiation hole (628) when a certain temperature is reached.

[0110] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a change in the shape of a blocking member according to one embodiment.

[0111] FIG. 7 is a drawing showing cross-sections of the housing (700) of FIG. 7 (formed with substantially the same appearance as the housing (400) of FIG. 4a) taken along line A-A' of FIG. 4a. <701> is a drawing showing a first state in which no external factor (e.g., voltage, current, or heat) is applied to the blocking member (721). <702> This is a drawing showing a second state in which the shape of the blocking member (721) is deformed due to an external factor (e.g., voltage, current, or heat).

[0112] Referring to FIG. 7, in one embodiment, a housing (700) of a wearable device (e.g., the wearable device (100) of FIGS. 1 to 2 or the wearable device (300) of FIG. 3) may include a front housing (701), a side housing (710), and a rear housing (793). A hole (708) may be formed in a portion of the rear housing (793). A speaker module (705) including a vibration plate (706) positioned in a direction facing the hole (708) may be disposed inside the housing (700). A duct (709) may be formed in an internal space of the housing (700) extending from the hole (708) to the speaker module (705). The duct (709) may include a first region (R1) adjacent to the hole (708) and a second region (R2) adjacent to the speaker module (705). A blocking member (721) may be placed at the upper portion (e.g., above the +z-axis direction) of the first region (R1) of the duct (709).

[0113] For the housing (700), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the housing (400) of FIG. 4A. For the front housing (701), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the front housing (401) of FIG. 4A. For the side housing (710), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the side housing (410) of FIG. 4A. For the rear housing (793), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the rear housing (493) of FIG. 4A. For the hole (708), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the hole (408) of FIG. 4A. For the speaker module (705), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the speaker module (405) of FIG. 4B. For the diaphragm (706), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the diaphragm (406) of FIG. 4B. For the duct (709), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the duct (409) of FIG. 4B. For the blocking member (721), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the blocking member (421) of FIG. 4b.

[0114] In one embodiment, the blocking member (721) may include an upper surface (7211) that contacts the rear housing (793), a lower surface (7212) facing the duct (709), and a first electrode (not shown) disposed therein. <701> In the first state, the lengths of the upper surface (7211) and the lower surface (7212) in the y-axis direction may be formed to be substantially the same. In one example, the first electrode may be arranged adjacent to at least one surface (e.g., the lower surface (7212)) of the blocking member (721). In addition, the first electrode may be electrically connected to several electronic components (e.g., a power management module) arranged inside the housing (700). <702> In the second state, a voltage may be applied to the first electrode from the electronic component, and the shape of at least one surface (e.g., the lower surface (7212)) of the blocking member (721) adjacent to the first electrode may be deformed. For example, the blocking member (721) may be deformed so that the cross-sectional area (e.g., the area perpendicular to the y-axis direction) of the first region (R1) is reduced. For this purpose, the blocking member (721) may be formed of various materials (or materials).

[0115] For example, at least a portion of the lower surface (7212) may be formed of a piezoelectric element, and when voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element through the first electrode, the lower surface (7212) may be extended (or expanded) by the piezoelectric effect. Alternatively, as an example, at least a portion of the lower surface (7212) may be formed of a thermoelectric element, and when current flows to the thermoelectric element through the first electrode, thermal expansion may occur, and the lower surface (7212) may be extended (or expanded). In one embodiment, the housing (700) may include a second electrode, and when voltage is applied between the second electrode (not shown) and the first electrode included in the blocking member (721), the lower surface (7212) may be extended (or expanded) by electrostatic attraction generated between the first electrode and the second electrode. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the lower surface (7212) may be formed of a ferromagnetic material, and the blocking member (721) may include a coil connected to the first electrode and adjacent to the lower surface (7212). In this case, when current flows through the coil, the lower surface (7212) may extend (or expand) due to a change in the magnetic field.

[0116] Therefore, the cross-sectional area (e.g., the area perpendicular to the y-axis) of the first region (R1) is the first state (e.g., <701> Compared to the state of the first region (R1) of the second state (e.g., <702> ) can be deformed smaller in the first region (R1) state. For example, when an external factor (e.g., voltage, current, or heat, etc.) is applied to the blocking member (721) in the first state, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first region (R1) can be reduced. Therefore, as described above with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5E, since the cross-sectional area of ​​the duct is formed smaller in the second state compared to the first state, the second frequency band (e.g., F2 in FIG. 9B) by the duct (709) in the second state can be formed as a lower band than the first frequency band (e.g., F1 in FIG. 9B) by the duct (709) in the first state. For example, the first frequency band (F1) can be formed in the range of 6 kHz to 8 kHz. The second frequency band (F2) can be formed around 3 kHz.

[0117] FIG. 8a is a drawing showing a state in which a blocking member including a home portion is positioned inside a housing according to one embodiment.

[0118] FIG. 8b is a drawing showing a state in which a portion of a blocking member including a home portion is positioned outside the housing according to one embodiment.

[0119] FIG. 8c is a cross-sectional view showing a blocking member including a home portion sliding through a hole in a housing according to one embodiment.

[0120] Fig. 8a <801> , <802> , and Fig. 8c <805> The first state in which the blocking member is placed inside the housing (800) is shown in FIG. 8b. <803> , <804> , and Fig. 8c <806> The second state is shown in which a portion of the blocking member has moved outside the housing (800).

[0121] Referring to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, in one embodiment, a housing (800) of a wearable device (e.g., the wearable device (100) of FIGS. 1 to 2 or the wearable device (300) of FIG. 3) may include a front housing (not shown), a side housing (810), and a rear housing (893). A hole (808) may be formed in a portion of the rear housing (893). A speaker module (805) including a diaphragm (806) positioned in a direction facing the hole (808) may be disposed inside the housing (800). A duct (809) may be formed in an internal space of the housing (800) extending from the hole (808) to the speaker module (805). The duct (809) may include a first region (R1) adjacent to the hole (808) and a second region (R2) adjacent to the speaker module (805). A blocking member (821) may be placed inside the duct (809).

[0122] For the housing (800), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the housing (400) of FIG. 4A. For the front housing, reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the front housing (401) of FIG. 4A. For the side housing (810), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the side housing (410) of FIG. 4A. For the rear housing (893), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the rear housing (493) of FIG. 4A. For the hole (808), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the hole (408) of FIG. 4A. For the speaker module (805), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the speaker module (405) of FIG. 4B. For the diaphragm (806), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the diaphragm (406) of FIG. 4B. For the duct (809), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the duct (409) of FIG. 4B. For the blocking member (821), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the blocking member (421) of FIG. 4b.

[0123] A groove (822) may be formed at a first end (e.g., an end in the -y-axis direction) of the blocking member (821), and a flange (823) may be formed at a second end (e.g., an end in the +y-axis direction). The groove (822) may extend in one direction (e.g., a -z-axis direction) from the first end of the blocking member (821). For example, the groove (822) may extend from the hole (808) toward the rear housing (893) (e.g., a -z-axis direction) and may come into contact with the rear housing (893). The flange (823) may extend in one direction (e.g., a +z-axis direction) from the second end of the blocking member (821). For example, the flange (823) may engage a catch (8091) formed between a first region (R1) and a second region (R2) of the duct.

[0124] The blocking member (821) can be slidable in one direction (e.g., parallel to the y-axis) inside the duct (809). For example, a first end (e.g., an end in the -y-axis direction) of the blocking member (821) can be moved in the -y-axis direction. In this process, the groove (822) can be moved outside the housing (800), and the flange (823) can be engaged with the catch (8091) to prevent the blocking member (821) from being separated from the housing (800). In one embodiment, when the blocking member (821) is slidable in the +y-axis direction, the flange (823) can be brought into contact with the portion closest to the speaker module (805) of the second region (R2). At this time, the groove (822) can be brought into contact with the rear housing (893), and a stable fixing force can be provided between the blocking member (821) and the housing (800).

[0125] In one embodiment, in the first state, the blocking member (821) may be positioned inside the duct (809), and only the groove (822) may be visible to the outside of the housing (800). For example, the housing (800) may be formed with a recess (894) that allows the groove (822) to be visible to the outside. A user may insert a fingernail or the like between the groove (822) and the recess (894) to pull the groove (822) in the -y-axis direction. By pulling the groove (822), the entire blocking member (821) may be moved in the -y-axis direction, and the second state may be reached. That is, the groove (822) may be configured to function as a physical button for moving the blocking member (821).

[0126] In one embodiment, in the second state, the blocking member (821) can be moved to a position where the flange (823) engages the catch (8091). In this case, the internal volume of the duct (809) between the blocking member (821), the speaker module (805), and the rear housing (893) can be increased compared to the first state. For example, the internal volume of the duct (809) in the second region (R2) is greater than that in the first state (Fig. 8c). <805> ) compared to the second state (Fig. 8c) <806> ) may be relatively large. Therefore, as described above in FIGS. 5A to 5E, the duct volume (e.g., the volume inside the duct (809)) may be increased so that the resonance band by the duct (809) may be formed lower. That is, the second frequency band (e.g., F2 in FIG. 9B), which is the resonance band by the duct (809) in the second state, may be formed lower than the first frequency band (e.g., F1 in FIG. 9B), which is the resonance band by the duct (809) in the first state. In one embodiment, the first frequency band (F1) may be formed in the range of 6 kHz to 8 kHz, and the second frequency band (F2) may be formed around 3 kHz. In this way, by appropriately designing the change in duct volume due to the movement of the blocking member (621), a resonance band covering a specific frequency band may be secured.

[0127] In various embodiments, the home portion (822) may be configured to function as a physical button for playing a sound (e.g., a siren). In one embodiment, the home portion (822) may be configured to trigger the wearable device to play a sound by detecting a change (e.g., a change in volume or impedance) within the duct (809). In other words, the home portion (822) may be used to directly control the duct volume to achieve resonance in a desired frequency band, and to play a sound in the frequency band.

[0128] FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view showing an expanded form of a duct of a wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0129] FIG. 9b is a diagram showing changes in the resonance band due to a duct of a wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0130] FIG. 9c is a diagram showing the size and reach of a siren sound of a wearable device according to one embodiment.

[0131] Fig. 9a <901> and <902> is a schematic drawing showing an embodiment in which the y-axis direction length of the duct of the wearable device of FIGS. 4a to 8c is extended.

[0132] Referring to FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C, in one embodiment, a housing (900) of a wearable device (e.g., the wearable device (100) of FIGS. 1 to 2 or the wearable device (300) of FIG. 3) may include a front housing (901), a side housing (not shown), and a rear housing (993). A hole (908) may be formed in a portion of the rear housing (993). A speaker module (905) including a diaphragm (906) positioned in a direction facing the hole (908) may be disposed inside the housing (900). A duct (909) may be formed in an interior space of the housing (900) extending from the hole (908) to the speaker module (905).

[0133] For the housing (900), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the housing (400) of FIG. 4A. For the front housing (901), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the front housing (401) of FIG. 4A. For the side housing, reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the side housing (410) of FIG. 4A. For the rear housing (993), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the rear housing (493) of FIG. 4A. For the hole (908), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the hole (408) of FIG. 4A. For the speaker module (905), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the speaker module (405) of FIG. 4B. For the diaphragm (906), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the diaphragm (406) of FIG. 4B. For the duct (909), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the duct (409) of FIG. 4B.

[0134] In one embodiment, the housing (900) may be formed so that the y-axis direction length (L1) of the duct (909) increases. For example, the speaker module (905) may be positioned at a distance L1 from the hole (908) in the y-axis direction. In this case, the volume inside the duct (909) may also increase. Accordingly, as described above with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5E, the duct length (e.g., the y-axis direction length (L1) of the duct (909)) and the duct volume (e.g., the volume inside the duct (909)) may increase, thereby forming a low resonance band by the duct (909). For example, the resonance band by the duct (909) may be formed around 3 kHz. In this way, by designing the housing (900) structure and the arrangement of the speaker module (805) to have an appropriate duct length and duct volume, a resonance band covering a specific frequency band can be secured.

[0135] In Fig. 9b, the horizontal axis of the graph represents frequency (Hz), and the vertical axis represents output sound pressure level (SPL (Sound Pressure Level)). In the original embodiment (903) in which the duct length (e.g., L1 in Fig. 5b) and the duct volume (e.g., the volume of the duct (409) in Fig. 4c) are not changed, the first frequency band (F1), which is a resonance band by the duct, can be formed in the range of 6 kHz to 8 kHz. In the embodiment (904) in which the duct length (L1) and the duct volume (the volume of the duct (909)) are changed as in Fig. 9a, the second frequency band (F2), which is a resonance band by the duct (909), can be formed around 3 kHz. That is, due to the increase in the duct length and the duct volume, the resonance band can be changed to a lower frequency band (e.g., in the direction of the arrow).

[0136] Comparative example (907) of Fig. 9c is an example of a conventional wearable device in which two speaker modules are mounted to secure two different resonance bands. Comparative example (907) can form a resonance band around 3 kHz by mounting a main speaker module and a separate sub-speaker module. The size of the sound (e.g., siren) of the resonance band (e.g., second frequency band (F2)) of the embodiment (904) in which the duct length and duct volume are changed as in Fig. 9a can be observed as 90.3 dB (decibels) at a distance of 30 cm in the horizontal direction (e.g., x-axis or y-axis direction) from the wearable device, and can be observed as 87.5 dB at a distance of 30 cm in the vertical direction (e.g., z-axis direction). The magnitude of the sound (e.g., Siren) of the resonance band (e.g., the second frequency band (F2)) of the above embodiment (904) can be observed as 85.3 dB (decibels) at a distance of 50 cm away from the wearable device in the horizontal direction (e.g., in the x-axis or y-axis direction) and can be observed as 83.5 dB at a distance of 50 cm away from the wearable device in the vertical direction (e.g., in the z-axis direction). In addition, the effective reaching distance of the above embodiment (904) can be measured as 150 m from the wearable device. Therefore, the sound of the resonance band (e.g., the second frequency band (F2) described in FIGS. 4A to 8C) of the above embodiment (904) can exhibit performance equivalent to or superior to that of the sound (e.g., Siren) of the resonance band of the comparative example (907) in terms of magnitude and reaching distance.

[0137] FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the front of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0138] FIG. 10b is a drawing showing a change in the diameter of a radiation hole of a blocking member in an electronic device including a blocking member according to one embodiment.

[0139] Fig. 10b <1001> is a drawing showing a first state in which no external factor (e.g. voltage, current, or heat) is applied to the radiation hole (1028). Fig. 6d <601> corresponds to Fig. 10b. <1002> is a drawing showing a second state in which the shape of the radiation hole (1028) is deformed due to an external factor (e.g., voltage, current, or heat) being applied to the radiation hole (1028). FIG. 10b <1001> and <1002> are each in Fig. 6d <601> and <602> It corresponds practically identically to .

[0140] Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B , in one embodiment, an electronic device (1000) may include a housing (1100) including a front surface (1100a), a rear surface (not shown) facing in an opposite direction from the front surface (1100a), and a side surface (or side wall) (1100c) surrounding a space between the front surface (1100a) and the rear surface. A speaker hole (1070) is formed in a portion of the side surface (1100c), so that sound emitted from a speaker module inside the electronic device (1000) may be emitted to the outside through the speaker hole (1070). A blocking member (1021) may be disposed inside the housing (1100). The blocking member (1021) may block a portion of a space (or path) through which sound emitted from a speaker module (not shown) disposed inside the housing (1100) travels through the speaker hole (1070). In this case, the resonance band of the sound due to the reduced space can be set to correspond to the appropriate band of the siren sound (e.g., the band around 3 kHz to which the human ear is sensitive).

[0141] For a specific method of operation of the blocking member (1021), reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the blocking member disclosed throughout this specification (e.g., the blocking member (421) of FIGS. 5A to 5E, the blocking member (621) of FIGS. 6A to 6E, the blocking member (721) of FIG. 7, or the blocking member (821) of FIGS. 8A to 8C).

[0142] For example, referring to FIGS. 6A to 6E and FIG. 10B, in one embodiment, a radiation hole (1028) may be formed in the blocking member (1021). The diameter of the radiation hole (1028) is a first state ( <1001> ) compared to the second state ( <1002> ) can be deformed to be smaller. If the diameter of the radiation hole (1028) is reduced, the space through which the sound emitted from the speaker module is transmitted may be reduced, and the resonance band of the sound due to the reduced space may be changed. For a more specific description, reference may be made to the descriptions provided in FIGS. 6a to 6e.

[0143] That is, in an electronic device (1000) (e.g., a smartphone, a smart watch, a smart ring) in which a speaker module, a speaker hole, and a sound propagation space between the speaker module and the speaker hole are formed, various types of blocking members disclosed in the present specification can be used to control the siren sound. In addition, a user of the electronic device (1000) can efficiently and quickly request rescue in a distress, emergency, or emergency situation. In one embodiment, the electronic device (1000) may include a side wall surrounding at least a portion of the space between the front side (1100a) and the rear side, and the description provided with respect to the side side (1100c) may be referenced for the side wall.

[0144] In various embodiments, the method for securing a desired resonance band is not limited to the above-described content, and various combinations of the above-described methods may be possible. For example, the duct cross-sectional area adjustment method described in FIGS. 5A to 5E and the duct volume adjustment method described in FIGS. 8A to 8C may be appropriately combined to form a desired resonance band. Furthermore, in one example, when one condition (e.g., any one of the duct length, duct cross-sectional area, and duct volume) is changed, the remaining conditions may also be changed, and by appropriately adjusting them, the desired resonance band may be secured.

[0145] In various embodiments, the shapes of the front housing (e.g., the front housing (401) of FIG. 4A), the side housing (e.g., the side housing (410) of FIG. 4A), and the rear housing (e.g., the rear housing (493) of FIG. 4A) of the housing of the wearable device (e.g., the housing (400) of FIG. 4A) are not limited to those described above, and may be appropriately modified to implement desired characteristics (e.g., resonance band). For example, the housing of the wearable device may include a front side (corresponding to the front housing (401)), a rear side (corresponding to the rear housing (493)), and a side wall (corresponding to the side housing (410)) connecting the front side and the rear side. In one embodiment, the side wall and the rear side may be formed integrally. Alternatively, the front side, the side wall, and the rear side may not be clearly distinguished from each other and may be formed integrally to form a single housing. For the above side walls, reference may be made to the description provided in relation to the side housings of FIGS. 4a to 9a.

[0146] In various embodiments, the shapes of the duct (e.g., duct (409) in FIG. 4B), guide groove (e.g., guide groove (411) in FIG. 4B), and blocking member (e.g., blocking member (421) in FIG. 4B) of the wearable device are not limited to those described above, and may be appropriately modified to implement desired characteristics (e.g., resonance band).

[0147] In various embodiments, the components referred to as blocking members (e.g., blocking members (421) of FIGS. 5A to 5E , blocking members (621) of FIGS. 6A to 6E , blocking members (721) of FIG. 7 , or blocking members (821) of FIGS. 8A to 8C ) may be devices of various forms. Accordingly, the blocking members may be referred to as blocking devices, blocking layers, blocking films, blocking filters, blocking assemblies, or blocking systems.

[0148] In various embodiments, at least one processor (not shown) disposed inside a housing (e.g., housing (400) of FIG. 4A) may control the operation of an actuator or a blocking member (e.g., blocking member (421) of FIG. 4B) and the sound of a speaker module. For example, the processor may recognize a specific state (e.g., an emergency situation, a distress situation, etc.) of a user wearing a wearable device (e.g., wearable device (100) of FIGS. 1 to 2 or wearable device (300) of FIG. 3) and directly move or deform the blocking member. Alternatively, in one example, the processor may recognize a characteristic state of the user and drive an actuator to indirectly move or deform the blocking member connected to the actuator. For example, the processor may process data related to a user's biosignal detected through a sensor unit of the wearable device. The processor may be configured to monitor the processed data and, if data related to an abnormal signal is identified, immediately apply voltage or current to the blocking member or actuator. This may cause the blocking member or actuator to move or deform, and at least one of the duct length, the duct cross-sectional area, and the duct volume may change. The processor may recognize the structure of the changed duct (e.g., the duct (409) of FIG. 4B) and command the speaker module (e.g., the speaker module (405) of FIG. 4B) to generate a siren sound. The siren sound generated by the speaker module may be emitted outside the housing through the duct.

[0149] In various embodiments, the blocking member (e.g., the blocking member (421) of FIG. 4B) may be manually manipulated (or moved). For example, the housing (e.g., the housing (400) of FIG. 4A) may include a physical button (e.g., the home portion (822) of FIG. 8A) that allows the blocking member (421) to be manipulated from outside the housing (400). In this case, a user of a wearable device (e.g., the wearable device (100) of FIGS. 1 to 2 or the wearable device (300) of FIG. 3) may directly move the blocking member (421) using the physical button to generate a siren sound. This allows the user to quickly notify that a specific situation (e.g., a distress situation or an emergency situation) has occurred. Therefore, in one embodiment, a component such as an actuator (not shown) may be omitted from the wearable device (100).

[0150] According to one embodiment of the present document, an electronic device includes a housing including a front surface, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, and a side wall surrounding at least a portion of a space between the front surface and the rear surface; a speaker module disposed in the space; a duct extending from a hole formed in the side wall to the speaker module; and a blocking member configured to adjust an internal space of the duct, wherein sound emitted from the speaker module may resonate at a first frequency in a first state in which the internal space is not reduced by the blocking member, and the sound may resonate at a second frequency lower than the first frequency in a second state in which the internal space is reduced by the blocking member.

[0151] According to one embodiment of the present document, the internal space may include a second region adjacent to the speaker module and a first region extending in a first direction from the hole to the second region.

[0152] According to one embodiment of the present document, the housing may be formed with a guide groove that accommodates at least a portion of the blocking member.

[0153] According to one embodiment of the present document, the guide groove may extend in a second direction from inside the housing toward the first region, and the guide groove may include a first surface that is concave toward the front surface.

[0154] According to one embodiment of the present document, an actuator may be arranged in an area adjacent to the guide groove of the housing, the actuator being in contact with at least a portion of the blocking member.

[0155] According to one embodiment of the present document, the actuator can be driven to move the blocking member in a direction parallel to the second direction.

[0156] According to one embodiment of the present document, the blocking member can be moved toward the inside of the guide groove along the guide groove in the first state, and the blocking member can be moved toward the first region along the guide groove in the second state.

[0157] According to one embodiment of the present document, the blocking member includes at least one first electrode, and in the first state, no voltage is applied to the first electrode, and in the second state, a voltage is applied to the first electrode, so that the shape of the blocking member can be deformed.

[0158] According to one embodiment of the present document, the blocking member includes a radiation hole having a first diameter smaller than a diameter of the hole in the first state, and when a voltage is applied to the first electrode in the second state, the first diameter of the radiation hole can be reduced.

[0159] According to one embodiment of the present document, the first portion adjacent to the radiation hole of the blocking member may include a conductive polymer.

[0160] According to one embodiment of the present document, the first portion adjacent to the radiation hole of the blocking member may include a shape memory alloy, and when the temperature of the first portion reaches a designated temperature in the second state, the first portion may be set to expand so as to reduce the first diameter of the radiation hole.

[0161] According to one embodiment of the present document, the blocking member is disposed in the first region, the blocking member includes at least one first electrode and a lower surface adjacent to the first electrode and facing the first region, and when voltage is applied to the first electrode in the second state, the lower surface can be set to be deformed in a direction in which the first region is reduced.

[0162] According to one embodiment of the present document, at least a portion of the lower surface is formed of a piezoelectric element, and when voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element through the first electrode in the second state, the length of the lower surface can be extended.

[0163] According to one embodiment of the present document, at least a portion of the lower surface is formed as a thermoelectric element, and when current flows through the thermoelectric element through the first electrode in the second state, the length of the lower surface can be extended.

[0164] According to one embodiment of the present document, the housing further includes at least one second electrode, and the length of the blocking member can be extended by electrostatic attraction generated when voltage is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode in the second state.

[0165] According to one embodiment of the present document, the blocking member further includes a coil connected to the first electrode, a portion of the lower surface adjacent to the coil includes a ferromagnetic material, and when current flows through the coil in the second state, the length of the lower surface can be extended.

[0166] According to one embodiment of the present document, the first frequency may include a frequency of 6 kHz to 8 kHz.

[0167] According to one embodiment of the present document, the second frequency may include a frequency of 3 kHz.

[0168] According to one embodiment of the present document, when the hole is viewed from the front, the blocking member may be arranged so as not to be visible in the first state, and the blocking member may be arranged so as to be visible through the hole in the second state.

[0169] According to one embodiment of the present document, the sound may be radiated further out of the housing when the sound is at the second frequency than when the sound is at the first frequency.

Claims

1. In electronic devices, A housing comprising a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and side walls enclosing at least a portion of a space between the front surface and the rear surface; A speaker module placed in the above space; A duct extending from a hole formed in the side wall to the speaker module; and Including a blocking member set to adjust the internal space of the above duct, The sound emitted from the speaker module resonates at a first frequency in a first state in which the internal space is not reduced by the blocking member, An electronic device in which the sound resonates at a second frequency lower than the first frequency in a second state in which the internal space is reduced by the blocking member.

2. In claim 1, An electronic device wherein the internal space includes a second region adjacent to the speaker module and a first region extending in a first direction from the hole to the second region.

3. In claim 2, An electronic device in which a guide groove is formed in the housing to accommodate at least a portion of the blocking member.

4. In claim 3, The above guide groove extends in a second direction from inside the housing toward the first region, An electronic device wherein the guide home includes a first surface that is concave toward the front surface.

5. In claim 4, An electronic device in which an actuator is arranged in a region adjacent to the guide groove of the housing, the actuator being in contact with at least a portion of the blocking member.

6. In claim 5, The above actuator is an electronic device driven to move the blocking member in a direction parallel to the second direction.

7. In claim 6, The above blocking member moves toward the inside of the guide groove along the guide groove in the first state, An electronic device in which the blocking member moves toward the first region along the guide groove in the second state.

8. In claim 4, The above blocking member comprises at least one first electrode, In the first state, no voltage is applied to the first electrode, An electronic device in which, in the second state, a voltage is applied to the first electrode, thereby changing the shape of the blocking member.

9. In claim 8, The above blocking member includes a radiating hole having a first diameter smaller than the diameter of the hole in the first state, An electronic device in which the first diameter of the radiation hole is reduced when voltage is applied to the first electrode in the second state.

10. In claim 9, An electronic device wherein the first portion adjacent to the radiation hole of the blocking member comprises a conductive polymer.

11. In claim 9, The first portion adjacent to the radiation hole of the above blocking member comprises a shape memory alloy, An electronic device configured such that when the temperature of the first part reaches a specified temperature in the second state, the first part expands and the first diameter of the radiation hole is reduced.

12. In claim 2, The above blocking member is arranged in the first region, The blocking member comprises at least one first electrode and a lower surface adjacent to the first electrode and facing the first region, An electronic device in which, when voltage is applied to the first electrode in the second state, the lower surface is set to change shape in a direction in which the first region is reduced.

13. In claim 12, At least a portion of the above surface is formed of a piezoelectric element, An electronic device in which the length of the lower surface is extended when voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element through the first electrode in the second state.

14. In claim 12, At least a portion of the above surface is formed as a thermoelectric element, An electronic device in which the length of the lower surface is extended when current flows through the thermoelectric element through the first electrode in the second state.

15. In claim 7, When looking at the above hall from the front, In the first state, the blocking member is positioned so as not to be visible, An electronic device in which the blocking member is positioned so as to be visible through the hole in the second state.

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