Transducer components and structure thereof for improved audio output

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9736592-B2
Application number	US-201514664442-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2015
Priority date	Mar 20, 2015
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for components configured for audio playback. According to certain aspects, a transducer includes dual voice coils disposed in a magnet section, whereby the magnet section generates an electromagnetic field that causes the dual voice coils to actuate in response to an applied audio signal. The transducer further includes a diaphragm coupled to the dual voice coils that actuates according to the dual voice coils and produces audio output. In some implementations, the transducer may be disposed within a cutout area of an electronic device, whereby the transducer is secured to the electronic device via a roll-surround suspension.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transducer for an electronic device, comprising:
a magnet section comprising:
two interior magnets each having a magnetic pole oriented in a first direction,
an additional interior magnet disposed between the two interior magnets, the additional interior magnet having a magnetic pole oriented in a second direction opposite from the first direction,
a first set of two exterior magnets, and
a second set of two exterior magnets extending between the first set of two exterior magnets and contacting the additional interior magnet, the first set of two exterior magnets and the second set of two exterior magnets surrounding the two interior magnets and the additional interior magnet, wherein a gap is formed between (i) the first set of two exterior magnets and the second set of two exterior magnets, and (ii) the two interior magnets, each of the first set of two exterior magnets and the second set of two exterior magnets having a magnetic pole oriented in the second direction;

two voice coils respectively disposed within the gap between (i) the first set of two exterior magnets and the second set of two exterior magnets, and (ii) the two interior magnets, and separated by the additional interior magnet;
two suspension elements respectively secured within the two voice coils; and
a diaphragm secured to the two voice coils.

2. The transducer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a roll-surround suspension secured to a perimeter of the diaphragm.

3. The transducer of claim 1 , wherein each of the two voice coils comprises:
an anterior portion surrounding a respective interior magnet of the two interior magnets, and
a posterior portion secured to the anterior portion and extending above the two interior magnets, wherein a respective suspension element of the two suspension elements is secured within the posterior portion.

4. The transducer of claim 3 , wherein the posterior portion comprises a set of slots formed thereon, and wherein the respective suspension element comprises a set of tabs configured to secure within the set of slots.

5. The transducer of claim 1 , wherein the magnet section further comprises:
at least one metallic support element disposed above and below at least the first set of two exterior magnets and the second set of two exterior magnets.

6. An electronic device configured to output audio, comprising:
an exterior casing having a cutout area formed therethrough;
a transducer comprising:
two interior magnets each having a magnetic pole oriented in a first direction,
an additional interior magnet disposed between the two interior magnets, the additional interior magnet having a magnetic pole oriented in a second direction opposite from the first direction,
a first set of two exterior magnets,
a second set of two exterior magnets extending between the first set of two exterior magnets and contacting the additional interior magnet, the first set of two exterior magnets and the second set of two exterior magnets surrounding the two interior magnets and the additional interior magnet, each of the first set of two exterior magnets and the second set of two exterior magnets having a magnetic pole oriented in the second direction,
two voice coils each disposed within a gap between (i) the first set of two exterior magnets and the second set of two exterior magnets, and (ii) the two interior magnets,
two suspension elements respectively secured within the two voice coils, and
a diaphragm secured to the two voice coils; and

a roll-surround suspension coupled to a perimeter of the diaphragm such that the transducer is disposed within the cutout area of the exterior casing.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the diaphragm is substantially coplanar with at least a portion of the exterior casing.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the
additional interior magnet is positioned between the two voice coils.

9. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein each of the two voice coils comprises:
an anterior portion surrounding a respective interior magnet of the two interior magnets, and
a posterior portion secured to the anterior portion and extending above the two interior magnets, wherein a respective suspension element of the two suspension elements is secured within the posterior portion.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the posterior portion comprises a set of slots formed thereon, and wherein the respective suspension element comprises a set of tabs configured to secure within the set of slots.

11. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the transducer further comprises:
at least one metallic support element disposed above and below at least the first set of two exterior magnets and the second set of two exterior magnets.

12. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the exterior casing encloses an air volume, wherein at least a portion of an interior surface of the diaphragm is exposed to the air volume.

13. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the exterior casing comprises a port formed therethrough, wherein each of the port and at least a portion of the diaphragm is exposed to an air volume within the exterior casing.

14. The electronic device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a support component disposed between the transducer and an internal surface of the electronic device.

15. The electronic device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a power source configured to apply an electrical signal to the two voice coils to cause the diaphragm to actuate and produce sound.

16. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the diaphragm is secured to the two voice coils via a respective set of tabs formed on each of the two voice coils.

17. A motor structure for a transducer, comprising:
two interior magnets each having a magnetic pole oriented in a first direction;
an additional interior magnet disposed between the two interior magnets and forming respective gaps between the additional interior magnet and the two interior magnets, the additional interior magnet having a magnetic pole oriented in a second direction opposite from the first direction;
a first set of two exterior magnets;
a second set of two exterior magnets extending between the first set of two exterior magnets and contacting the additional interior magnet, the first set of two exterior magnets and the second set of two exterior magnets surrounding the two interior magnets and the additional interior magnet and forming respective additional gaps between (i) the first set of two exterior magnets and the second set of two exterior magnets, and (ii) the two interior magnets, each of the first set of two exterior magnets and the second set of two exterior magnets having a magnetic pole oriented in the second direction;
two voice coils respectively disposed within the respective gaps and the respective additional gaps, and separated by the additional interior magnet; and
two suspension elements respectively secured within the two voice coils.

18. The motor structure of claim 17 , wherein each of the two voice coils comprises:
an anterior portion surrounding a respective interior magnet of the two interior magnets, and
a posterior portion secured to the anterior portion and extending above the two interior magnets, wherein a respective suspension element of the two suspension elements is secured within the posterior portion.

19. The motor structure of claim 18 , wherein the posterior portion comprises a set of slots formed thereon, and wherein the respective suspensi

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Daley Michael J
• Whitwell Timothy

Classifications

• H04R2420/09

  Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones · CPC title

• H04R7/18

  at the periphery · CPC title

• H04R9/063 Primary

  using a plurality of acoustic drivers (H04R1/24 and H04R1/403 take precedence) · CPC title

• H04R1/2811

  for loudspeaker transducers · CPC title

• H04R9/06 Primary

  Loudspeakers · CPC title