Speaker Back-Volume Using Display-Cover Gap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless devices face challenges in speaker performance due to inadequate back-volume, which affects frequency response and efficiency, often requiring increased device size and complex sealing geometries to provide sufficient space for the speaker's cone movement.

Innovation Solution

An enclosure for the speaker is created using the space between the transparent cover and the display, with sealing material forming the walls of the back-volume, allowing for improved speaker performance without increasing the device's thickness or requiring additional sealing, utilizing dust and acoustic sealing materials like silicon or thermoplastic elastomer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cavities from internal antenna or printed circuit boards are used as back-volume, then speaker performance is improved, but device complexity increases due to complicated sealing geometry

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeaker performanceVSAvoidsealing geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The existing cavity structures (internal antenna or printed circuit board cavities) are made to serve dual purposes: their original function plus serving as the speaker's back-volume. This eliminates the need for separate back-volume cavities and complex additional sealing, as the existing structural cavities are utilized for acoustic purposes as well.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing function is merged with the existing structural components. Instead of adding separate sealing mechanisms for back-volume, the patent integrates sealing into the existing cavity structures that already form part of the device housing, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining speaker performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If cavity volume is increased to provide adequate back-volume, then speaker performance is improved, but device thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeaker performanceVSAvoiddevice thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing back-volume by adding thickness in one dimension, the patent utilizes existing three-dimensional cavity spaces within the device's planar structure. The back-volume is created by leveraging the depth and configuration of existing internal cavities (antenna or PCB cavities) rather than increasing overall device thickness, thus achieving adequate volume without compromising device slimness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Volume of stationary object

If adequate back-volume is not provided, then device size is reduced, but speaker frequency response and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidspeaker frequency response
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Existing structural cavities are made multi-functional by using them both for their original purposes (antenna operation or PCB housing) and as the speaker's back-volume. This allows adequate back-volume to be achieved without increasing device size, as the same spatial volume serves dual acoustic and structural/functional roles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution maintains the device's thickness, eliminates the need for additional volume and sealing, reduces costs, and provides a sufficient back-volume for enhanced speaker performance, ensuring improved low-frequency response and loudness without complicating the device's design.

Implementation Method 1

at least one of the transparent cover and the case having an opening formed therein for emitting sound from the magnetic speaker

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic sealing:

Data Source

PatentEP2375705B1Enclosure for a speaker of a wireless device
Publication Date: 2013.01.23 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2375705B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2375705B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2375705B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An enclosure (400) for a magnetic speaker (134) of a wireless device (100) is provided. The wireless device (100) has a display (122) mounted in a case (150) and a transparent cover (105) mounted over at least the display (122). The enclosure (400) comprises: an upper surface of the display (122) at least partially spaced from a lower surface of the transparent cover (105) to form at least a portion of an enclosed back-volume (410) formed within the case (150) for the magnetic speaker (134), the magnetic speaker (134) being mounted proximate to the enclosed back-volume (410), the transparent cover (105) being mounted in a first portion of the case (150) and a second portion of the case (150) having an opening (440) formed therein for emitting sound from the magnetic speaker (134).