Speaker Module With Overlapping Passive Radiators

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Solution Overview

Problem

Thin electronic devices face challenges in maintaining high structural strength and sound quality due to excessive low-frequency vibration from slim speaker designs, which can cause parts to collide and produce noise.

Innovation Solution

A speaker module with two passive radiators disposed symmetrically on the housing, overlapping with a gap between them, driven by an acoustic wave to counteract low-frequency vibrations, enhancing subwoofer performance while minimizing vibration levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If a slim speaker is disposed in the electronic device to comply with the slimming design trend, then the electronic device achieves thin design, but the low-frequency vibration of the speaker makes the parts of the electronic device collide each other to produce unexpected noise and affect the sound output quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickness of electronic deviceVSAvoidlow-frequency vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs passive radiators with mass blocks that act as counterweights to the speaker assembly. These mass blocks are positioned to create opposing forces that counterbalance the low-frequency vibrations generated by the speaker, thereby reducing harmful vibrations without increasing the overall device thickness. The elastic elements connect these mass blocks to the housing, allowing them to move in response to vibrations and provide the necessary counterbalancing forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful low-frequency vibrations into beneficial effects by using the passive radiators. The vibrations that would normally cause noise and affect sound quality are instead harnessed to drive the passive radiators, which then produce counter-vibrations that cancel out the harmful low-frequency sounds. This transforms a harmful phenomenon into a useful mechanism for vibration cancellation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Length of moving object

If the parts of the electronic device are disposed more close to each other to achieve slim design, then the electronic device achieves thin design, but the structural strength is unable to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickness of electronic deviceVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the speaker system into distinct components: the speaker assembly, passive radiators, elastic elements, and mass blocks. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity. The passive radiators are disposed at side walls with gaps between them, creating a distributed structure that maintains strength while achieving thin design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite construction by combining different materials with complementary properties. The housing provides structural strength, while the elastic elements provide flexibility and vibration isolation. The mass blocks add weight for vibration cancellation. This composite approach allows the device to achieve both thin design and maintained structural strength by utilizing the advantages of different materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 speaker module achieves improved subwoofer performance and reduced vibration, enhancing sound output quality without the need for additional damping, thus supporting the slim design of thin electronic devices.

Implementation Method 1

The elastic element is connected between the mass block and the housing, and the mass block is configured to vibrate in the direction through elastic deformation of the elastic element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The speaker is disposed at the housing, and an acoustic wave emitted from the speaker drives the two passive radiators to vibrate in the direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic wave: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS9226056B2Speaker module and thin electronic device having the same

Publication Date: 2015.12.29 WISTRON CORP

AI summary

A speaker module of the invention includes a housing, two passive radiators and a speaker. The housing has two side walls. The two passive radiators are respectively disposed at the two side walls, wherein the two passive radiators are overlapped with each other in a direction and have a gap therebetween. The speaker is disposed at the housing, wherein an acoustic wave emitted from the speaker drives the two passive radiators to vibrate in the direction. In addition, a thin electronic device with the speaker module is also provided.