Movable Speaker Assembly with Linkage Mechanism for Variable Acoustic Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices with small speakers face limitations in sound quality due to their compact design, which restricts the speaker box capacity, compromising both external appearance and sound performance.
Innovation Solution
A variable speaker box capacity is achieved through a linkage mechanism involving a speaker with a first rail and a latch coupled to both the speaker and the body, allowing the speaker to protrude or retract, thereby increasing the speaker box capacity without compromising the device's external design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the speaker is designed to be small and flat to meet the external appearance requirements of portable electronic devices, then the device maintains a lightweight and compact design, but the speaker box capacity becomes overly small and sound quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker box capacity is made variable through a movable speaker assembly. The speaker can protrude from or retract into the device body, allowing the speaker box capacity to change dynamically. When the speaker protrudes, the speaker box capacity increases to improve sound quality; when retracted, the external appearance remains compact and flat.
Solution Approach 2:
The speaker assembly is designed to move in the thickness direction (Z-axis) of the device, adding a dimensional aspect to the speaker box capacity. By utilizing the Z-axis movement, the speaker can increase its effective volume without increasing the device's planar footprint, thus resolving the contradiction between compact appearance and sound quality.
2Reliability
If the speaker box capacity is increased to improve sound quality, then the sound performance improves, but the external appearance of the device becomes less compact and lightweight
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker assembly moves between protruding and retracted positions, dynamically adjusting the speaker box capacity. When high sound quality is needed, the speaker protrudes to increase capacity; when compactness is prioritized, the speaker retracts. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize between sound quality and device volume based on usage scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage mechanism is pre-configured with rails and latches that enable the speaker to protrude or retract in response to external triggers (such as attaching a protective cover or case). This preliminary structural arrangement allows quick transformation between compact and expanded states without complex real-time control systems.
3Ease of operation
If a flat speaker structure is used to maintain compact device design, then the external appearance remains lightweight and thin, but the speaker loses its sound production function
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker assembly transitions from a flat, retracted state (maintaining portability) to a protruding state (restoring full speaker function). The movable design ensures that when the speaker protrudes, it achieves adequate speaker box capacity for proper sound production, while in the retracted state, it maintains the device's compact and portable form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The speaker assembly is nested within the device body when retracted, similar to a nested doll structure. This nesting allows the speaker to be contained within the compact device form while still being able to extend outward when needed, preserving both portability and speaker function at different times.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device including a body, a speaker, and a latch is provided. The speaker has a first rail. The speaker and the latch are movably assembled to the body respectively. The latch is coupled to both of the first and the second rails, wherein the first rail and the second rail have an acute angle therebetween. An object is suited for being assembled to the body detachably and pushes the latch to move along the first and the second rails at the same time, such that the latch drives a portion of the speaker to protrude out of the body. An electronic assembly is also provided.