Cylindrical Corrugated MEMS Speaker for Compact Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices face challenges in producing high-quality sound due to their compact form factors, where traditional speakers struggle to deliver clear audio without air leakage and efficient sound generation.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical corrugated microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) speaker structure is implemented, featuring an open cylindrical core fluidly coupled between a front and back volume, with corrugations that deform under voltage to generate sound while preventing air leakage around fixed edges, allowing for high-quality sound production in compact devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional speakers are used in compact devices, then the device form factor remains small, but sound quality deteriorates due to air leakage and inefficient sound generation
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker is divided into multiple independent cylindrical corrugated MEMS structures arranged in an array, where each structure contains an open cylindrical core. This segmentation allows each element to function independently while collectively providing high-quality sound output in a compact volume, preventing air leakage through the structured arrangement of multiple sealed units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs cylindrical corrugated structures with curved surfaces instead of traditional flat or rectangular speaker designs. The cylindrical shape with corrugations (undulating surfaces) optimizes the acoustic chamber geometry, improving sound generation efficiency while maintaining a compact form factor and preventing air leakage through the curved sealed structure.
2Volume of moving object
If the speaker volume is reduced for compact devices, then the device becomes more portable, but sound generation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional flat speaker membranes to three-dimensional cylindrical corrugated structures with open cores. This dimensional change allows the speaker to utilize vertical and radial spaces more effectively, achieving efficient sound generation in a reduced overall volume by exploiting the third dimension through the cylindrical geometry and corrugations.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical corrugated MEMS structures utilize thin, flexible membranes that can deform efficiently under applied voltage to generate sound. These thin-film structures achieve high sound generation efficiency in a compact volume by maximizing the surface area-to-volume ratio through corrugations, allowing effective acoustic output from minimal material volume.
3Reliability
If air leakage is prevented in compact speakers, then sound quality improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure: the cylindrical walls serve as both the acoustic chamber boundaries and the sealing mechanism, the corrugations provide both structural integrity and acoustic optimization, and the open core serves as both the deformation region and the acoustic output path. This merging of functions achieves effective air leakage prevention without proportionally increasing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cylindrical corrugated MEMS speaker effectively generates high-quality sound in compact electronic devices by deforming to move air within the open cylindrical core, ensuring sound quality and preventing air leakage, thus addressing the challenges of compact form factors.
Implementation Method 1
deforming, by an applied voltage, the cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure
Implementation Method 2
generate sound with the speaker by moving air within an open cylindrical core
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices having speakers such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) speakers. A MEMS speaker can include cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure. The cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure may include a contiguous MEMS structure with corrugations that run around an open cylindrical core that is defined, in part, by interior folds of the corrugations. The cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure may be deformed, responsive to an applied voltage, such that a portion of the cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure bends into and/or out of the open cylindrical core to push air out of and/or pull air into the open cylindrical core. In one or more implementations, a MEMS speaker may include an array of cylindrical corrugated MEMS structures.