Flexible Display Speaker Membranes Under Active Areas
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic devices face challenges in accommodating multiple input-output components like speakers due to limited space, leading to compromised size and quality of speakers when mounted under displays or within device housings.
Innovation Solution
The integration of flexible displays that utilize active portions as speaker membranes, driven by piezoelectric or coil-magnet transducers, with stiffening and suspension structures to enhance sound quality and frequency response, while minimizing lateral interference between speakers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a conventional speaker is mounted under an inactive portion of the display, then the speaker can be accommodated in the device, but the speaker size and quality are limited due to lack of space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the inactive portion of the display area (a two-dimensional space) to accommodate the speaker, effectively using the display's unused footprint rather than adding depth or volume. This allows the speaker to be integrated without increasing device width while maximizing the use of available real estate.
Solution Approach 2:
The inactive portion of the display serves dual purposes: it maintains its structural role as part of the display assembly while simultaneously housing the speaker component. This multi-functional use of space allows the same area to contribute to both display integrity and audio output capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a speaker is mounted under the display, then the speaker is integrated into the device, but the inactive portion of the display increases in width
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker is positioned within the existing inactive portion boundaries rather than expanding them. The integration occurs in the depth dimension (under the display) rather than increasing the width dimension, maintaining the display's external footprint while achieving internal integration.
3Productivity
If multiple speakers are mounted in constrained spaces, then audio coverage is improved, but lateral interference between speakers occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display surface into multiple independent speaker zones, each with its own transducer and membrane portion. This segmentation allows multiple speakers to operate simultaneously in close proximity while maintaining acoustic independence through proper spacing and individual suspension structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Each speaker location is optimized with local structural features including individual stiffening structures and suspension elements tailored to that specific position. This localized optimization ensures each speaker operates independently with minimal lateral interference while maintaining consistent audio quality across all speaker positions.
4Area of moving object
If flexible display portions are used as speaker membranes, then space utilization is improved, but the membrane requires stiffening to respond accurately to transducers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the flexible display structure itself as the speaker membrane, leveraging its inherent flexibility and thin-film characteristics. This eliminates the need for separate membrane materials while maintaining the acoustic functionality, as the flexible display can vibrate in response to transducer actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffening structure combines multiple materials and functions: it provides mechanical support to the flexible membrane, acts as a mounting surface for the transducer, and serves as a suspension element. This composite approach integrates structural reinforcement with acoustic functionality in a single integrated component.
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
This approach allows for improved speaker performance and space utilization by using flexible displays as speaker membranes, achieving better sound quality and frequency response without increasing device width, and enabling multiple speakers in constrained spaces.
Implementation Method 1
Piezoelectric transducers or transducers formed from coils and magnets may be used to drive the display-based speaker structures
Implementation Method 2
Piezoelectric transducers or transducers formed from coils and magnets may be used to drive the display-based speaker structures
Implementation Method 3
The stiffening structure may form a stiff and lightweight support structure that allows the speaker membrane to respond accurately to the transducer
Implementation Method 4
The suspension structure may allow the speaker structure to vibrate during speaker operation while inhibiting lateral motion of the speaker structure
Data Source
AI summary
Electronic devices that contain flexible displays and one or more display-based speaker structures may be provided. The speaker structures may be positioned under the flexible display. Portions of the flexible display may be used as speaker membranes for the speaker structures. The speaker structures may be driven by transducers that convert electrical audio signal input into sound. Piezoelectric transducers or transducers formed from coils and magnets may be used to drive the speaker structures. Speaker membranes may be formed from active display areas of the flexible display. Some, all, or substantially all of the flexible display may be used as a speaker membrane for one or more display-based speaker structures. An optional cover layer may be provided with speaker openings so that sound may pass from the display-based speaker structures to the exterior of the device.