Speaker device and refrigerator comprising same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11979699-B2
Application number	US-202217837789-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2022
Priority date	Dec 12, 2019
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

Abstract

A speaker device configured to be embedded in a refrigerator door includes a body including an exposed surface that is exposed to an exterior, a side surface having an area that is greater than an area of the exposed surface, and a groove formed in the side surface and connected to the exposed surface, a first speaker provided on the exposed surface of the body, and a second speaker provided in the groove.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A speaker device configured to be embedded in a refrigerator door, the speaker device comprising:
a body comprising:
an exposed surface that is exposed to an exterior;
a side surface having an area that is greater than an area of the exposed surface; and
a groove formed in the side surface and connected to the exposed surface;

a first speaker provided on the exposed surface of the body; and
a second speaker provided in the groove.

2. The speaker device of claim 1 , wherein the second speaker comprises an arrangement area on the side surface that is greater than an arrangement area of the first speaker.

3. The speaker device of claim 1 , wherein the second speaker is configured to output sound that is reflected by a member inside the refrigerator door or a guide member provided to face the second speaker, and is output to the exposed surface.

4. The speaker device of claim 1 , wherein the first speaker comprises a tweeter, and
wherein the second speaker comprises a woofer.

5. The speaker device of claim 1 , further comprising a passive radiator provided on the side surface.

6. The speaker device of claim 1 , wherein the second speaker is configured to output sound having a frequency band of about 3 kHz or lower.

7. A refrigerator comprising:
a main body comprising a storage chamber;
a door configured to open or close the storage chamber, the door comprising a handle area; and
a speaker device comprising:
one surface that is exposed to the handle area,
remaining surfaces embedded in the door,
a first speaker configured to output sound directly to the handle area, and
a second speaker configured to output sound that is reflected by a reflecting member provided inside the door and output to the handle area.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein the door comprises an upper door provided in an upper portion of a front surface of the main body, and
wherein the speaker device is provided in a lower portion of the upper door.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8 , wherein the handle area is located between the upper door and a lower door.

10. The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein the door comprises a left side door provided on a left side of a front surface of the main body or a right side door provided on a right side of the front surface of the main body, and
wherein the speaker device is provided on a right side surface of the left side door or a left side surface of the right side door.

11. The refrigerator of claim 7 , further comprising a guide member provided in the handle area, and configured to reflect sound output from the speaker device to a front surface of the refrigerator.

12. The refrigerator of claim 7 , further comprising:
a first communication device configured to provide an acoustic signal to the speaker device by a wireless communication method,
wherein the speaker device further comprises a second communication device configured to receive the acoustic signal by the wireless communication method.

13. The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein the speaker device further comprises a microphone provided on one side of the speaker device.

14. The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein the speaker device further comprises:
a body comprising an exposed surface that is exposed to the handle area, a groove connected to the exposed surface, the groove being formed in a side surface having an area that is greater than an area of the exposed surface,
wherein the first speaker is provided on the exposed surface of the body, and
wherein the second speaker is provided in the groove.

15. The refrigerator of claim 14 , wherein the second speaker comprises an arrangement area on the side surface that is greater than an arrangement area of the first speaker on the exposed surface.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Kidu
• Lee Jongyuk
• Jo Suho
• Ha Jonghun

Classifications

• H04R1/028 Primary

  associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles · CPC title

• H04R1/08

  Mouthpieces; {Microphones;} Attachments therefor · CPC title

• H04R1/26

  Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges · CPC title

• H04R1/2834

  for loudspeaker transducers · CPC title

• H04R1/345

  for loudspeakers · CPC title