Patent Publication Number: US-8976996-B2

Title: Array speaker structure for audio/video device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to an array speaker structure for audio/video device, and more particularly to an array speaker structure in which the array speaker unit can be extended out of the audio/video device and then rotated and lifted to make the speakers of the array speaker unit emit sound from a front side of the audio/video device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It is known that tablet personal computer (shortened to tablet PC, tablet or slate) is a kind of miniaturized personal computer, which is convenient to carry. The tablet has a touch screen as a main input unit. The tablet is free from the conventional keyboard and mouse and allows a user to operate the touch screen in a handwritten or touch manner. In comparison with the current laptop, PDA and intelligent cellular phone, the tablet has the advantages of lightweight and larger screen and is obviously another convenient option of the consumers. 
     However, in consideration of miniaturization and convenient carriage, the convenient tablet often employs small-power speakers to accommodate the lightweight and slim design of the tablet. The small-power speakers can only emit sound at lower sound quality and volume. In the case that it is desired to enhance the audio effect, generally the tablet can be only connected to external speakers. This is totally not in conformity with the design object of the tablet. 
     In general, the speaker units of the loudspeaker system of the conventional tablet are fixedly disposed on left and right sides of the screen to provide left and right channels and create a stereo sound effect. However, as aforesaid, in consideration of miniaturization and convenient carriage, the convenient tablet often employs small-power speakers to accommodate the lightweight and slim design of the tablet. Therefore, the sound can be only emitted at lower sound quality and volume. In the case that it is desired to enhance the audio effect, generally the tablet can be only connected to external speakers. This is totally not in conformity with the design object of the tablet. 
     In addition, some tablets can provide portable digital audio/video entertainment function for a user. However, with the small-power speakers, the sound effect needs to be enhanced. In the case that the volume is turned up or the speakers are used in a megabass mode, distortion is likely to take place. As a result, the sound cannot be widely broadcast to achieve a good listening quality. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an array speaker structure for audio/video device. By means of a slide contact assembly, the array speaker unit of the array speaker structure can be extended out of the audio/video device. Then the array speaker unit can be rotated and lifted to make the speakers of the array speaker unit face a front side of the audio/video device. In this case, the speakers can emit sound from the front side of the audio/video device. 
     To achieve the above and other objects, the array speaker structure for audio/video device of the present invention includes a slide contact assembly movable from a first position to a second position within an interior of the audio/video device along a longitudinal direction thereof. The slide contact assembly includes a pair of conductive members in electrical connection with the audio/video device. The slide contact assembly further includes a first conductive assembly having an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve, a first inner conductive ring coaxially disposed around the inner sleeve and a first outer conductive ring coaxially disposed in the outer sleeve. The first inner conductive ring and the first outer conductive ring are respectively electrically connected to the conductive members. The array speaker structure further includes a connector, which can be 180-degree rotated. The connector includes a second conductive assembly including a second inner conductive ring positioned around the first inner conductive ring in electrical contact therewith and a second outer conductive ring positioned in the first outer conductive ring in electrical contact therewith. The connector further includes a pair of conductive plates respectively electrically connected to the second inner conductive ring and the second outer conductive ring. The array speaker structure further includes an array speaker unit. A pair of leaf springs is disposed on the array speaker unit in electrical contact with the pair of conductive plates of the connector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the array speaker structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of the array speaker structure of the present invention, showing the position relationship between the array speaker structure and a tablet; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective partially exploded view of the slide contact assembly of the array speaker structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective exploded view of the slide contact assembly of the array speaker structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the slide contact assembly of the array speaker structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the slide contact assembly of the array speaker structure of the present invention, seen in another direction; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective partially exploded view of the connector of the array speaker structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective exploded view of the connector of the array speaker structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the connector of the array speaker structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view showing that when the connector of the present invention is rotated, the slide member of the insulation sleeve is moved from one end of the arched slot of the inner sleeve to the other end thereof; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional assembled view of the slide contact assembly and the connector of the array speaker structure of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 12A to 12E  respectively show that the array speaker structure of the present invention is extended, rotated and lifted to the lateral side of the audio/video device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The array speaker structure  10  of the present invention is slidably installed in a slide passage  51  of a bottom section of an audio/video device such as a tablet  50 . Two conductive strips  52   a ,  52   b  are disposed on an upper end face of the slide passage  51  in electrical connection with interior circuit board of the tablet  50 . The array speaker structure  10  of the present invention includes a slide contact assembly  20 , a connector  30  and an array speaker unit  40 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the slide contact assembly  20  includes a support body  21 , a first conductive assembly  22  and an end board  27 . The support body  21  has a longitudinal receiving cavity  211  and a transverse receiving cavity  212  in communication with the longitudinal receiving cavity  211 . The support body  21  further has a pair of tenons  213  spaced from each other and positioned at upper and lower end sections of the transverse receiving cavity  212 . 
     The first conductive assembly  22  has an insulation seat  23 , a first inner conductive ring  24 , a first outer conductive ring  25  and a pair of conductive members  26   a ,  26   b . The insulation seat  23  has a base section  231  and an inner sleeve  232  and an outer sleeve  233  coaxially outward extending from the base section  231 . The first inner conductive ring  24  is coaxially disposed around the inner sleeve  232 , while the first outer conductive ring  25  is coaxially disposed in the outer sleeve  233 . An arched slot  234  is circumferentially formed on the inner sleeve  232  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) with an arc angle of 180 degrees, and preferably 220 degrees. 
     The pair of conductive members  26   a ,  26   b  is disposed at a top end of the base section  231  and electrically connected to the first inner conductive ring  24  and the first outer conductive ring  25  via two wires  28  respectively. The base section  231  of the insulation seat  23  is placed into the transverse receiving cavity  212  and upward extended along the longitudinal receiving cavity  211  until the base section  231  is totally received in the longitudinal receiving cavity  211  and the transverse receiving cavity  212 . 
     The end board  27  has a central hole  271  for receiving the outer sleeve  233  and a pair of mortises  272  radially extending from the central hole  271  corresponding to the pair of tenons  213 . The tenons  213  can be inserted into the mortises  272  to connect the end board  27  onto the support body  21  and thus prevent the insulation seat  23  from slipping out of the transverse receiving cavity  212  of the support body  21 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 , the connector  30  includes a housing  31 , a second conductive assembly  32  and a pair of conductive plates  33 ,  34 . The housing  31  is composed of a first casing  311  and a second casing  312 . The first and second casings  311 ,  312  are connected with each other by means of engagement structures such as insertion pins  313  and insertion holes  314 . The housing  31  has a receiving hole  315  facing the end board  27  of  FIG. 3 . The first casing  311  is formed with a semicircular notch and the second casing  312  is also formed with a semicircular notch. The semicircular notches are mated with each other to together form the receiving hole  315 . A circumferential wall of the receiving hole  315  is formed with a rectangular sink  316 . The housing  31  has a pair of arched grooves  317  respectively formed on rear walls of the first and second casings  311 ,  312  opposite to the receiving hole  315 . Each of outer wall faces of the first and second casings  311 ,  312  is formed with a movement section  318  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
     The second conductive assembly  32  includes an insulation sleeve  321  extending out of the housing  31 , a second inner conductive ring  322  coaxially disposed on an inner circumference of the insulation sleeve  321  and a second outer conductive ring  323  coaxially disposed on an outer circumference of the insulation sleeve  321 . A rear end of the insulation sleeve  321  has a rectangular member  324  positioned in the rectangular sink  316  of the receiving hole  315 , whereby the insulation sleeve  321  cannot be freely rotated within the receiving hole  315 . 
     The pair of conductive plates  33 ,  34  is disposed on the housing  31  and positioned in the arched grooves  317  of the first and second casings  311 ,  312  respectively. The conductive plates  33 ,  34  are electrically connected to the second inner conductive ring  322  and the second outer conductive ring  323  via wires  35  respectively. Two ends of each of the conductive plates  33 ,  34  are respectively formed with a fixed end section  331 ,  341  and a connection end section  332 ,  342 . The fixed end sections  331 ,  341  and the connection end sections  332 ,  342  are inserted in upper and lower slits of the arched grooves  317  so as to securely mount the conductive plates  33 ,  34  in the arched grooves  317 . 
     A slide member  325  is disposed on the inner circumference of a free end of the insulation sleeve  321  and positioned in the arched slot  234  of the inner sleeve  232  of the first conductive assembly  22 . The slide member  325  is movable from one end A of the arched slot  234  to the other end B thereof (as shown in  FIG. 10 ). Accordingly, the connector  3  can be only forward rotated by a predetermined angle. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , when the second conductive assembly  32  of the connector  30  is totally inserted into the first conductive assembly  22  of the slide contact assembly  20 , the second inner conductive ring  322  is coaxially positioned around the first inner conductive ring  23  in electrical contact therewith and the second outer conductive ring  323  is coaxially positioned in the first outer conductive ring  25  in electrical contact therewith. According to the above assembly and the electrical connection relationship, the conductive members  26   a ,  26   b  are electrically connected to the conductive plates  33 ,  34  respectively. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the array speaker unit  40  includes a speaker box  41 , multiple speakers  42  installed in the speaker box  41  and a pair of leaf springs  43  disposed at a rear end of the speaker box  41  in electrical contact with the conductive plates  33 ,  34  of the connector  30  respectively and in electrical (positive and negative electrodes) connection with the speakers  42 . Each leaf spring  43  has a fixed end connected with wall face of the speaker box  41  and a free end. 
     A pair of lugs  44  outward extends from the rear end of the speaker box  41  and is positioned on outer sides of the pair of leaf springs  43 . A pivot pin  45  is disposed on inner wall face of each lug  44  for connecting with the housing  31  of the connector  30 . Accordingly, the lugs  44  of the array speaker unit  40  can be rotated within the movement sections  318  of the housing  31  around the pivot pins  45 . The phantom lines of  FIG. 1  show that when the array speaker unit  40  is not rotated to the front side of the tablet  50 , the array speaker unit  40  can be only downward rotated to a predetermined position. 
       FIGS. 12A to 12E  show the positions and relationship between the array speaker structure  10  and the audio/video device such as the tablet  50  when the array speaker structure  10  is extended, rotated and lifted. The array speaker structure  10  is inlaid in the bottom section of the tablet  50  in a retracted position. In this mode, the speakers  42  are positioned on the back side of the tablet  50  to emit sound from the back side thereof as shown in  FIG. 12A . 
     In an audio/video multimedia mode, the array speaker unit  40  is drawn out or extended out of the tablet  50  by means of a pop-up mechanism as shown in  FIG. 12B . Then the array speaker unit  40  is 180-degree rotated to the front side of the tablet  50  as shown in  FIG. 12C . Finally, the array speaker unit  40  is rotated upward until the array speaker unit  40  is attached to the lateral side of the tablet  50  as shown in  FIGS. 12D and 12E . Under such circumstance, the speakers  42  can emit sound from the front side of the tablet  50 . 
     In conclusion, by means of operating the array speaker unit  40  of the present invention, the speakers can emit sound right toward a user. Each array speaker unit is composed of four speakers and there is an array speaker unit on either side. Therefore, the sound can be more widely broadcast to achieve better listening quality. Also, the left and right channels can provide a surrounding stereo sound effect for a user 
     The present invention has been described with the above embodiment thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the above embodiment can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.