Electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016007123-A1
Application number	US-201414771035-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 26, 2014
Priority date	Feb 27, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic device includes a vibration unit configured to generate a vibration sound transmitted by vibrating a contacting or pressing body part; and piezoelectric elements stacked on and attached to the vibration unit and vibrating the vibration unit in accordance with an input signal. The piezoelectric elements each have a different capacitance. Voltage of the input signal to the piezoelectric elements is varied in accordance with frequency band, thereby suppressing power consumption.

First claim

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a vibration unit configured to generate a vibration sound transmitted by vibrating a contacting or pressing body part; and a plurality of piezoelectric elements stacked on and attached to the vibration unit and vibrating the vibration unit in accordance with an input signal, the piezoelectric elements each having a different capacitance, wherein voltage of the input signal to the piezoelectric elements is varied in accordance with frequency band.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein
a first signal is input to a first piezoelectric element, a second signal is input to a second piezoelectric element that has a larger capacitance than the first piezoelectric element, voltage of the second signal is equal to or greater than voltage of the first signal in a first frequency band, and the voltage of the second signal is less than the voltage of the first signal in a second frequency band that is higher than the first frequency band.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller configured to control the voltage of the input signal to the piezoelectric elements.

4 . The electronic device of any one of claims 1 , wherein the piezoelectric elements each have a different shape.

5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein
the piezoelectric elements are rectangular, and each piezoelectric element has at least one side with a different length.

6 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein
the piezoelectric elements each have a different thickness in a stacking direction.

7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein
the piezoelectric elements are laminated piezoelectric elements each having a different number of layers.

8 . The electronic device of any one of claims 1 , wherein
the vibration unit is a panel.

9 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein
the vibration unit is larger than an ear.

10 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein
the vibration unit comprises a display.

11 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein
the piezoelectric elements are attached to a different position than an attachment position of the display in the vibration unit.

12 . The electronic device of any one of claims 1 , wherein
the vibration unit transmits the vibration sound by vibrating a pressing body part even when the vibration unit is pressed by the body part with a force of 3 N or more.

13 . The electronic device of any one of claims 1 , wherein
the vibration unit transmits the vibration sound by vibrating a pressing body part even when the vibration unit is pressed by the body part with a force of 5 N or more.

14 . The electronic device of any one of claims 1 , wherein
the vibration unit transmits the vibration sound by vibrating a pressing body part even when the vibration unit is pressed by the body part with a force of 10 N or less.

15 - 37 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Kyocera Corp

Inventors

• Mizuta Satoshi

Classifications

• H04R1/028

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

• H04R2400/03

  Transducers capable of generating both sound as well as tactile vibration, e.g. as used in cellular phones · CPC title

• H04M1/03

  Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets · CPC title

• H04R17/00 Primary

  Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers (piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners {H10N30/00}) · CPC title

• H04R2499/11

  Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's · CPC title