Audio apparatus, audio system, image display apparatus, and image projection apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016192081-A1
Application number	US-201414909464-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 20, 2014
Priority date	Aug 26, 2013
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An audio apparatus includes a housing, a piezoelectric vibration unit provided to the housing and having a piezoelectric element, and a communication unit for receiving an audio signal. When a received audio signal is applied to the piezoelectric element while a load of the audio apparatus is applied to the piezoelectric vibration unit, the piezoelectric element is deformed causing deformation of the piezoelectric vibration unit, whereby a contact surface in contact with the audio apparatus vibrates and generate a sound.

First claim

1 . An audio apparatus comprising:
a housing; a piezoelectric vibration unit having a piezoelectric element provided to the housing; and a communication unit configured to receive an audio signal, wherein when a received audio signal is applied to the piezoelectric element while a load of the audio apparatus is applied to the piezoelectric vibration unit, the piezoelectric element is deformed causing deformation of the piezoelectric vibration unit, whereby a contact surface in contact with the audio apparatus is vibrated generating a sound.

2 . The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the piezoelectric vibration unit is arranged at a portion of the housing opposite to the contact surface.

3 . The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a microphone configured to pick up a sound and outputting the audio signal, wherein
the communication unit transmits the audio signal output from the microphone.

4 . The audio apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the microphone is retained in the housing via a damper configured to reduce a vibration caused by the deformation of the piezoelectric vibration unit.

5 . The audio apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
a vibration direction of the piezoelectric element and a vibration direction of the microphone intersect with each other.

6 . The audio apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the microphone is disposed separately from the housing.

7 . The audio apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the communication unit receives the audio signal from another audio apparatus.

8 . The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a speaker that is provided to the housing and amplifies the received audio signal; a detection unit configured to detect a contact state between the contact surface and the piezoelectric vibration unit; and a controller configured to control the speaker and the piezoelectric vibration unit based on the contact state detected by the detection unit.

9 . The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric element is a laminated piezoelectric element and deformed extending and contracting along a lamination direction.

10 . The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the piezoelectric vibration unit is provided with a cover member configured to deliver the vibration caused by the deformation of the piezoelectric element to the contact surface and thereby vibrating the contact surface.

11 . The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the contact surface is a placing surface having the audio apparatus placed thereon.

12 . An audio system having a microphone unit and a speaker unit, wherein
the microphone unit is provided with a microphone configured to pick up a sound and outputting an audio signal and a transmission unit configured to transmit the audio signal to the speaker unit, the speaker unit is provided with a housing, a piezoelectric vibration unit having a piezoelectric element provided to the housing, and a reception unit configured to receive the audio signal, and when the audio signal is applied to the piezoelectric element while a load of the audio apparatus is applied to the piezoelectric vibration unit, the piezoelectric element is deformed causing deformation of the piezoelectric vibration unit, whereby a contact surface in contact with the audio apparatus is vibrated generating a sound.

13 . An image display apparatus comprising:
a housing; a display unit that is retained in the housing and displays an image; and a controller configured to control the piezoelectric element, wherein when the controller applies a sound signal to the piezoelectric element while a load of the image display apparatus is applied to the piezoelectric vibration unit, the piezoelectric element is deformed causing deformation of the piezoelectric vibration unit, whereby a contact surface in contact with the image display apparatus is vibrated generating a sound.

14 . The image display apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein
the piezoelectric vibration unit is arranged at a portion of the housing opposite to the contact surface.

15 . The image display apparatus according to claim 13 , comprising a support member configured to support the housing, wherein
the piezoelectric vibration unit is arranged at a portion of the support member opposite to the contact surface.

16 . The image display apparatus according to claim 13 , comprising a detection unit configured to detect a contact state between the contact surface and the piezoelectric vibration unit, wherein
the controller controls the piezoelectric element based on the contact state.

17 . The image display apparatus according to claim 13 , comprising a speaker, wherein
the controller drives the speaker and the piezoelectric element at the same time.

18 . The image display apparatus according to claim 17 , comprising a storage unit configured to store frequency characteristics of the speaker, wherein
the controller controls the piezoelectric element based on the frequency characteristics of the speaker stored.

19 . The image display apparatus according to claim 18 , the controller controls a sound signal to be applied to the piezoelectric element in a manner compensating for the lack of a sound pressure of the frequency characteristics of the speaker stored.

20 . The image display apparatus according to claim 17 , comprising a recording unit configured to record frequency characteristics of a sound generated from the contact surface, wherein
the controller controls the speaker based on the frequency characteristics recorded.

21 . The image display apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the controller controls the sound pressure of the frequency characteristics of the speaker in a manner compensating for the lack of the sound pressure of the frequency characteristics recorded.

22 . The image display apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the piezoelectric element is a laminated piezoelectric element and deformed extending and contracting along a lamination direction.

23 . The image display apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the piezoelectric vibration unit is provided with a cover member configured to deliver the vibration caused by the deformation of the piezoelectric element to the contact surface and thereby vibrating the contact surface.

24 . The image display apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the contact surface is a placing surface having the image display apparatus placed thereon.

25 . The image display apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the contact surface is a wall surface having the image display apparatus hung thereon.

26 . An image projection apparatus comprising:
a housing; a piezoelectric vibration unit having a piezoelectric element; a projection unit, retained in the housing, configured to display an image on a projection screen; and a controller configured to control the piezoelectric element, wherein when the controller applies a sound signal to the piezoelectric element while a load of the image projection apparatus is applied to the piezoelectric vibration unit, the piezoelectric element is deformed causing deformation of the piezoelectric vibration unit, whereby a contact surface in contact with the image projection apparatus is vibrated and generates a sound.

27 . The image proje

Assignees

• Kyocera Corp

Inventors

• Horii Seiji

Classifications

• H04R2400/03

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

• H04R29/001

  for loudspeakers (H04R29/007 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04R27/00

  Public address systems (circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; {monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007}; amplifiers H03F) · CPC title

• H04R2499/11

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

• H04R1/028

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