Patent ID: 6639988
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: H04R

Abstract:
An interior trim portion of a vehicle comprising an instrument panel for producing an audible sound in a vehicle, comprising:a speaker area comprising a single layer comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, said speaker area comprising a portion of the instrument panel; a piezo bimorph attached to said speaker area, said piezo bimorph comprising a first piezoelectric element attached to said upper surface, and a second piezoelectric element attached to said lower side and proximate to said first piezoelectric element; and an amplifier in electrical communication with said piezo bimorph, said amplifier for supplying an electrical field to said piezo bimorph, said piezo bimorph causing said speaker area to vibrate causing an audible sound, wherein said first piezoelectric clement is a piezoelectric actuator having a coating wherein, said first piezoelectric element is covered by a protective coating and electrodes are attached to said piezoelectric actuator and are disposed between said protective coating and said upper surface.