Flexible resonance unit for a speaker

A resonance device for a speaker is provided. The device includes a speaker unit and a resonance unit. The speaker unit outputs a sound corresponding to a signal. The resonance unit is fixed to the speaker unit to provide a space for allowing a sound to resonate. The resonance unit is flexible, and the space for allowing a sound to resonate is variable.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on May 12, 2010 and assigned Serial No. 10-2010-0044380, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a speaker. More particularly, the present invention relates to a resonance device for a speaker in which the resonance device provides a resonance space for improving a sound quality.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently, as the electronic communication industry develops, mobile terminals, such as a mobile communication terminal (e.g., a cellular phone), an electronic organizer, a Personal Digital Assistance (PDA), etc. have become a necessity of modern society and play a role as an important means for quickly transferring information. Under these circumstances, a mobile terminal has been gradually advanced to provide additional functions and to have a light weight and a slim profile.

As a terminal provides additional functions, it becomes difficult to mount the necessary elements for the multi-functions while maintaining a light weight and a slim profile. For example, a speaker for outputting audible information may allow a sound to resonate in order to improve a sound quality but this requires space within the terminal. Accordingly, it is difficult to secure a resonance space in consideration of other elements and a limited space that is determined by a case frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a resonance device for a speaker that may secure a resonance space to improve a sound quality.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a resonance device for a speaker having a resonance space whose volume is variable so that it may be conveniently mounted.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a resonance device for a speaker is provided. The device includes a speaker unit for outputting a sound corresponding to a signal, and a resonance unit fixed to the speaker unit to provide a space for allowing a sound to resonate, wherein the resonance unit is flexible and the space for allowing a sound to resonate is reducible or expandable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 through 5, discussed below, and the various exemplary embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way that would limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged communications system. The terms used to describe various embodiments are exemplary. It should be understood that these are provided to merely aid the understanding of the description, and that their use and definitions in no way limit the scope of the invention. Terms first, second, and the like are used to differentiate between objects having the same terminology and are in no way intended to represent a chronological order, unless where explicitly stated otherwise. A set is defined as a non-empty set including at least one element.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a resonance device for a speaker, and more particularly, a technology for improving a characteristic of an output sound by expanding a speaker resonance space.

In describing exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the construction of the present invention is applied to a bar type mobile terminal as illustrated inFIG. 1. However, the present invention is not limited thereto but is applicable to mobile terminals such as a folder type mobile terminal, a slide type mobile terminal, etc. without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, a speaker resonance apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention is applicable to electronic apparatuses such as televisions, camcorders, etc.

FIG. 1illustrates a perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 1, the mobile terminal100includes a speaker101for outputting a voice signal and a display102located below the speaker for outputting a video signal. Furthermore, the mobile terminal100includes a keypad assembly103that serves as a data input means, and a microphone104located below the keypad assembly103for inputting a voice signal. The display102may be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) having millions of pixels. In addition, in the case where a touch screen is provided to the LCD, the display102may perform a function of a data input unit as an auxiliary unit or in substitution for the keypad assembly103.

More particularly, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the speaker101of the mobile terminal100secures a resonance space for improving a sound quality. The resonance space raises a sound pressure of a low frequency of the speaker101to produce smooth and natural sounds. Furthermore, the resonance space is variable. Hereinafter, the speaker and an instrument forming the variable resonance space are referred to as a speaker resonance apparatus.

FIG. 2illustrates a separated, perspective view of a speaker resonance apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 3illustrates a coupled, perspective view of a speaker resonance apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the speaker resonance apparatus200includes a speaker unit210for outputting a sound corresponding to a signal, a fixing member220for fixing the speaker unit210, and a resonance unit230coupled to the fixing member220to form a resonance space of the speaker unit210.

The speaker unit210includes an electrical connector212for receiving a signal, and a speaker211for outputting a note corresponding to a signal provided via the electrical connector212. The speaker211may be one of a dynamic type speaker, a crystal type speaker, and a condenser type speaker depending on a signal conversion scheme. The electrical connector212may be a wire or a Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB).

The fixing member220is includes an opening The speaker unit210is coupled to the opening of the fixing member220. In an exemplary implementation, the fixing member220may have a seat portion221for seating the speaker unit210. The opening may form an additional resonance space for the speaker unit210. That is, the opening of the fixing member220may provide an additional space to a resonance space formed by the resonance unit230which will be described later. In an exemplary implementation, the speaker unit210and the seat portion221are coupled through bonding. A buffering member may be interposed in preparation for an impulse, or a sealing member such as rubber may be interposed to increase air-tightness. In addition, the fixing member220may have a recess222for receiving the electrical connector212of the speaker unit210after seating the speaker unit210. Furthermore, the fixing member220may include at least one vent hole223for communicating with the outside. While the volume of the resonance space changes, the vent hole223allows air generated by a pressure difference to flow. Furthermore, the fixing member220may be a case frame defining an outer surface of a terminal or a separate member coupled to the case frame forming the appearance of a terminal.

The resonance unit230is coupled to the fixing member220to form the resonance space231. The resonance unit230and the fixing member220may be sealed using an adhesive agent. The adhesive agent may be silicon, a spray adhesive, an epoxy adhesive, and an equivalent thereof. The resonance unit230and the fixing member220may be separated by factors such as external force, heat, etc. depending on a selected adhesive agent, so that replacement and repair may be easy.

More particularly, the resonance unit230is formed of a flexible film to change the volume of an initial resonance space231. In addition, the resonance unit230may be formed of an elastic film such as rubber, etc, so that it may restore the initial resonance space231after being flexed or deformed. Furthermore, the resonance unit230may block factors such as electricity, light, heat, etc. generated from other elements. As described above, the vent hole223of the fixing member220allows air generated by a pressure difference to flow when the volume of the resonance space changes.

FIG. 4illustrates a partial, cross-sectional view of a speaker resonance apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 4, the speaker resonance apparatus includes a resonance unit230for varying the volume of the resonance space for the speaker unit210. The resonance unit230has flexibility (or elasticity), so that it can reduce or expand the volume of the initial resonance space231. Generally, when the resonance unit230has elasticity, it has a tendency to reduce even when the volume of the resonance space is expanded. For this purpose, a support member for exerting a separate external force may be further provided. In an exemplary implementation, a space that is not occupied by other elements inside the case frame defines an outer surface of the terminal occupied by the resonance unit230. That is, the resonance unit230having flexibility may be freely deformed to occupy a remaining space.

FIG. 5is a view illustrating a mounting of a speaker resonance apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 5, a terminal includes a case frame260defining an outer surface of the terminal and having a limited mount space261. A main board250comprises a plurality of elements, such as chips251, circuits, etc, which are surface-mounted. Also, a plurality of elements, such as a speaker resonance apparatus200, etc, electrically connected to the main board250, are mounted in the mount space261. In addition, the case frame260includes an outlet or opening262for externally outputting a sound generated from the speaker resonance apparatus200. The volume of the initial mount space261is reduced as the main board250, chips251etc. are mounted. Under this circumstance, the speaker resonance apparatus200according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may secure the resonance space by deforming the resonance unit230. As illustrated, when the speaker resonance apparatus200is mounted, the resonance unit230is deformed from an initial state240to a state241that can occupy a remaining space to secure the resonance space. The speaker resonance apparatus200may situationally secure the resonance space in a limited space even when the mount position changes. Furthermore, as described above, in the case where the resonance unit230is deformed, the vent hole223allows air to flow. After that, when the resonance unit230is deformed to secure the resonance space, the vent hole223may be sealed using a predetermined element when needed.

In addition, depending on implementation, the resonance unit230may be directly attached to the speaker unit210without the fixing member220interposed. This means that the mount space corresponding to the volume of the fixing member220is secured.

Furthermore, the speaker resonance apparatus200according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be mounted on a terminal that uses a flexible substrate on which a flexible display is mounted. Since the flexible substrate is flexible and so may be folded or rolled, the speaker resonance apparatus200may secure the resonance space suitable for the circumstance.

Consequently, the speaker resonance apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention varies the resonance space for improving a sound quality in a limited space, so that its mounting is convenient.