Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A FRONT RESONATOR FOR A SPEAKER OF A WIRELESS DEVICE
FIELD OF THE APPLICATION
[0001] This application relates to the field of wireless
devices, and more specifically, to a front resonator for a
speaker of a wireless device.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Current wireless mobile communication devices include
microprocessors, memory, soundcards, speakers, headphones,
and run one or more software applications in addition to
providing for voice communications.
[0003] One problem with current wireless devices pertains to
speaker performance. Speakers in wireless devices require a
front resonator to perform properly. The front resonator
typically consists of a tube coupled to a front volume
which is located in front of the speaker. Sound generated
by the speaker travels through the front volume, through
the tube, and into the air surrounding the wireless device
where it is received by a user's ear. The tube and front
volume are sized to obtain a desired frequency response. As
such, to achieve a desired level of speaker performance,
the size (e.g., length, volume, etc.) of the tube and/or
front volume may have to be adjusted. However, an increase
in the length of the tube, for example, will increase the
thickness of the wireless device thus increasing the
overall size of the wireless device, which is not
desirable.
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[0004] A need therefore exists for an improved front resonator
for a speaker of a wireless device. Accordingly, a solution
that addresses, at least in part, the above and other
shortcomings is desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005]Features and advantages of the embodiments of the present
application will become apparent from the following detailed
description, taken in combination with the appended drawings,
in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a wireless device in
accordance with an embodiment of the application;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the wireless
device of FIG. 1;
[0008]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a memory of the
wireless device of FIG. 1;
[00091 FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a front resonator for
the wireless device of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment
of the application;
[0010]FIG. 5 is a back view illustrating the front resonator of
FIG. 4;
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[0011] FIG. 6 is a bottom view illustrating the front
resonator of FIG. 4;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a left side view illustrating the front
resonator of FIG. 4;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a front cross-sectional perspective view
illustrating the front resonator of FIG. 4;
[0014] FIG. 9 is a bottom cross-sectional view illustrating
the front resonator of FIG. 4;
[0015] FIG. 10 is a left side cross-sectional view
illustrating the front resonator of FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 11 is a horizontal cross-
sectional view
illustrating the front resonator of FIG. 4 mounted in the
wireless device of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view
illustrating the front resonator of FIG. 4 mounted in the
wireless device of FIG. 1;
[0018]FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view (outlet mesh and
foam ring removed) illustrating the front resonator of FIG.
4 mounted in the wireless device of FIG. 1; and,
[0019] FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view illustrating an
outlet mesh and foam ring mounted over the front resonator
of FIG. 4 mounted in the wireless device of FIG. 1.
[0020]It will be noted that throughout the appended
drawings, like features are identified by like reference
numerals.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0021] In the following description, details are set forth to
provide an understanding of the application. In some
instances, certain software, circuits, structures and
techniques have not been described or shown in detail in
order not to obscure the application.
[0022]FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a wireless device
100 in accordance with an embodiment of the application.
The wireless device 100 includes a cover or case 150, a
display (e.g., a liquid crystal display ("LCD")) 122, a
graphical user interface ("GUI") 180 displayed on the
display 122, a speaker 134, a keyboard (or keypad) 132, a
thumbwheel (or trackwheel) 110, various select buttons 120,
and various inputs/outputs (e.g., power connector jack,
data interface ports, headphones jack, etc.) 160.
Internally, the wireless device 100 typically includes one
or more circuit boards (not shown in FIG. 1), a CPU 138,
memory 124, 126, 200, a battery 156, an antenna (not shown
in FIG. 1), etc., which are operatively coupled to the
various inputs/outputs 160, the keyboard 132, the display
122, the speaker 134, etc., as will be described below.
Further details pertaining to the speaker 134, such as a
resonator associated with the speaker 134, will also be
described below.
[0023]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the wireless
device 100 of FIG. 1. The wireless device 100 may operate
over a wireless network 220. The wireless network 220 may
include antenna, base stations, access points,
transceivers, supporting radio equipment, etc., as known to
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those of ordinary skill in the art, for supporting wireless
communications between the wireless device 100 and other
devices (not shown).
5 [0024]The wireless device 100 may be a two-way communication
device having at =least voice and advanced data
communication capabilities, including the capability to
communicate with other devices. Depending on the
functionality provided by the device 100, it may be
referred to as a data messaging device, a two-way pager, a
cellular telephone with data messaging capabilities, a
wireless Internet appliance, a data communication device
(with or without telephony capabilities), a Wi-Fi device, a
WLAN device, a dual-mode (i.e., Wi-Fi and cellular) device,
or a portable audio device. The device 100 may communicate
with any one of a plurality of transceiver stations (not
shown) within its geographic coverage area.
[0025] The wireless device 100 may have a communication
subsystem 111, a subscriber identity module (or "SIM" card)
162 for inserting into a SIM interface ("IF") 164 in order
to operate on a cellular network (e.g., a global system for
mobile communication ("GSM") network), a battery IF 154 for
receiving one or more rechargeable batteries 156, a
microprocessor 138 which controls overall operation of the
device 100, a flash memory 124 or other persistent store, a
random access memory ("RAM") 126, auxiliary input/output
("I/O") subsystems 128, a serial port (e.g.,. a universal
serial bus ("USB") port) 131, a microphone 136, a short-
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range communications subsystem 141, and other device
subsystems 142.
[00261 FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a memory 200 of
the wireless device 100 of FIG. 1. The microprocessor 138
is coupled to the memory 200. The memory 200 has various
hardware and software components for storing information
(e.g., instructions, data, database tables, test
parameters, etc.) for enabling operation of the device 100
and may include flash memory 124, RAM 126, ROM (not shown),
disk drives (not shown), etc. In general, the memory 200
may include a variety of storage devices typically arranged
in a hierarchy of storage as understood to those skilled in
the art. To provide a user-friendly environment to control
the operation of the device 100, operating system ("0/S")
software modules 202 resident on the device 100 may provide
a basic set of operations for supporting various
applications typically operable through the GUI 180 and
supporting GUI software modules 204. The wireless device
100 may be provided with additional hardware and/or
software modules 206 for facilitating and implementing
various functions.
[0027]FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a front resonator
400 for the wireless device 100 of FIG. 1 in accordance
with an embodiment of the application. FIG. 5 is a back
view illustrating the front resonator 400 of FIG. 4. FIG. 6
is a bottom view illustrating the front resonator 400 of
FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a left side view illustrating the front
resonator 400 of FIG. 4. FIG. 8 is a front cross-sectional
perspective view illustrating the front resonator 400 of
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FIG. 4. FIG. 9 is a bottom cross-sectional view
illustrating the front resonator 400 of FIG. 4. And, FIG.
is a left side cross-sectional view illustrating the
front resonator 400 of FIG. 4.
5 [0028]According to one embodiment, the front resonator 400
includes a frame or enclosure 410 into which a panel or
plate 420 is inserted. The enclosure 410, plate 420, and an
upper surface 1100 of the speaker 134 form a front volume
900 for the speaker 134. The plate 420 has a groove,
10 channel, or trough 800 formed in an upper surface 421 of
the plate 420 such that when the plate 420 is inserted into
the enclosure 410, a duct, conduit, or tube 910 is formed
between an inner surface 411 of the enclosure 410 and the
upper surface 421 of the plate 420. An opening 500 formed
in the plate 420 proximate the center of the trough 800
couples the tube 910 to the front volume 900. Openings 430,
440 in the enclosure 410 aligned over respective ends 530,
540 of the trough 800 couple the tube 910 to the external
environment. In operation, sound generated by the speaker
134 travels through the front volume 900, through the
central opening 500 in the plate 420 and into the tube 910,
through the tube 910, and out through the openings 430, 440
in the enclosure 410 over each end 530, 540 of the trough
800.
[00291 The tube 910 may be considered as including first and
second sections (or tubes) 531, 541, each section (or tube)
531, 541 having a first end 530, 540 and an associated
opening 430, 440 into the external environment and a second
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end 532, 542 having an opening 500 into the front volume
900.
[00ac)] FIG. 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view
illustrating the front resonator 400 of FIG. 4 mounted in
the wireless device 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 12 is a partial
cross-sectional perspective view illustrating the front
resonator 400 of FIG. 4 mounted in the wireless device 100
of FIG. 1. FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view (outlet
mesh 1110, dust net 1120, and foam ring 1130 removed)
illustrating the front resonator 400 of FIG. 4 mounted in
the wireless device 100 of FIG. 1. And, FIG. 14 is a
partial perspective view illustrating an outlet mesh 1110
and foam ring 1120 mounted over the front resonator 400 of
FIG. 4 mounted in the wireless device 100 of FIG. 1.
[0031] According to one embodiment, a foam ring 1120, dust
net 1120, and/or outlet mesh 1110 may be provided over the
front resonator 400 when it is mounted in the wireless
device 100 to protect the front resonator 400 and speaker
134. According to one embodiment, the speaker 134 is a
dynamic speaker (e.g., a cone and magnet speaker).
According to one embodiment, the front resonator 400 may be
used in conjunction with a microphone or loud speaker.
According to one embodiment, the edges of the enclosure 410
and plate 420 are rounded to reduce turbulence and to ease
manufacturing tolerances. According to one embodiment, the
enclosure 410 and plate 420 are made of metal and are
welded or glued together. According to another embodiment,
the enclosure 410 and plate 420 may be made of plastic.
According to one embodiment, for a frequency response of
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approximately 4 kHz, each section 531, 541 of the tube 910
is approximately 0.4 mm high, by 1.2 mm wide, by 2.5 mm
long and the front volume 900 is approximately 40 mm3.
According to one embodiment, the front resonator 400 may
include two or more tubes 910. According to one embodiment,
the tube 910 may be formed or mounted on an outer surface
412 of the frame or enclosure 410.
[0032]Thus, according to one embodiment, there is provided a
front resonator 400 for a speaker 134 of a wireless device
100, comprising: an enclosure 410 mounted over the speaker
134 and forming with an upper surface 1100 of the speaker
134 a front volume 900 for the front resonator 400; and, a
horizontal (e.g., in the x - y plane) or approximately
horizontal tube 910 formed or mounted on a surface (e.g.,
411) of the enclosure 410, the tube 910 coupled (e.g., 500)
to the front volume 900, and the tube 910 having at least
one end 430, 440 to emit sound generated by the speaker 134
and passing through the front volume 900 and tube 910 from
the wireless device 100.
[0033]The tube 910 may be horizontal (e.g., in the x - y
plane) or approximately horizontal with respect to a
vertical axis (e.g., the z - axis) of the front volume 900.
The tube 910 may be formed or mounted on an inner surface
411 of the enclosure 410. The tube 910 may be formed by a
plate 420 having an upper surface 421 mounted to the inner
surface 411 of the enclosure 410, the upper surface 421 of
the plate 420 having a trough 800 formed therein, the
trough 800 and the inner surface 411 of the enclosure 410
forming the tube 910, the trough 800 having an opening 500
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formed therein to couple the front volume 900 to the tube
910, the enclosure 410 having at least one opening 430, 440
formed therein and aligned proximate at least one
respective end 530, 540 of the trough 800 to emit sound
5 generated by the speaker 134 and passing through the front
volume 900 and tube 910 from the wireless device 100. The
trough 800 may be straight. The opening 500 in the trough
800 may be formed proximate a center of the trough 800. The
opening 500 in the trough 800 may be formed in a bottom of
10 the trough 800. The trough 800 may have a smooth shape with
rounded ends. The at least one opening 430, 440 in the
enclosure 410 may have semicircular and rectangular
portions aligning with at least one respective end 530, 540
of the trough 800. The opening 500 in the trough 800 may
have a rectangular shape. The upper surface 421 of the
plate 420, the inner surface 411 of the enclosure 410, the
trough 800, and a mounting plane of the speaker 134 may be
parallel or approximately parallel. A volume of the front
volume 900 and a volume of the tube 910 may be selected to
provide a frequency response of approximately 4 kHz. The
tube 910 may have first and second sections 531, 541. For a
frequency response of approximately 4 kHz, each of the
first and second sections 531, 541 may be approximately 0.4
mm high, by 1.2 mm wide, by 2.5 mm long and the front
volume 900 may be approximately 40 mm3. The enclosure 410
may have a rounded, rectangular, open box-like shape. The
inner surface 411 of the enclosure 410 may be an inner
upper surface 411 of the enclosure 410. The plate 420 may
be mounted in the enclosure 410 by welding or gluing. The
enclosure 410 and the plate 420 may be formed from metal or
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plastic. The speaker 134 may be a cone and magnet speaker.
The speaker 134 and front resonator 400 may be mounted
within a case 150 of the wireless device 100. The tube 910
may be one or more tubes 910. And, the tube 910 may be
formed or mounted on an outer surface 412 of the enclosure
410.
[0034]According to another embodiment, there is provided a
wireless device 100 having a front resonator 400 as
described above.
[0035]The above embodiments may contribute to an improved
speaker system and may provide one or more advantages.
First, the axis of the tube 910, 531, 541 is arranged
horizontally with respect to the front volume 900 rather
than vertically. As such, the overall height of the front
resonator 400 is reduced and hence the overall thickness of
the wireless device 100 may also be reduced. For example,
if L = tube length and V = front volume, then Lnew / Lold =
Vold / Vnew = As such, if Vnew = 0.5 Void, then Lnew = 2 Loid. In
other words, if the front volume is halved, tube length
must be doubled which is not generally implementable in the
vertical direction in a wireless device. Second, including
the tube 910, 531, 541 within the front volume 900 rather
than external to the front volume 900, according to one
embodiment, allows for a further reduction in the overall
thickness of the wireless device 100. Third, being
contained within the enclosure 410, according to one
embodiment, the tube 910, 531, 541 is physically protected
from damage. Fourth, the use of two sections or tubes 531,
541 allows placing tolerances during manufacturing to be
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less strict (e.g., if one section or tube 531 is a bit
longer, the other section or tube 541 will be a bit
shorter). Fifth, selected rounding of the edges, corners,
and surfaces of the enclosure 410 and plate 420 reduce
turbulences and eases manufacturing tolerances. Sixth, the
above embodiments may provide one or more of these
advantages without significant adverse effect upon speaker
performance.
[0036]The embodiments of the application described above are
intended to be exemplary only. Those skilled in this art
will understand that various modifications of detail may be
made to these embodiments, all of which come within the
scope of the application.
