Patent Publication Number: US-2012033836-A1

Title: Speaker and electronic device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefits of Taiwan application serial no. 99125947, filed on Aug. 4, 2010 and Taiwan application serial no. 99131049, filed on Sep. 14, 2010. The entirety of each of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a speaker and an electronic device. Particularly, the invention relates to a speaker capable of generating electricity and an electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     With continuous development of technology, electronic products are developed towards a trend of miniaturization, and people can use these miniaturized electronic products (for example, radios or walkmans, etc.) at any time and any place. Moreover, with a widespread of personal digital products, the products such as MP3 players, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and notebook computers, etc. become indispensable in people&#39;s daily life. Moreover, mobile phones integrating with functions of a radio and a MP3 are also developed. 
     Regardless of any of above electronic products, to ensure a user hearing sound information provided by the electronic product without interfering other people around, an earphone becomes a necessary accessory of the electronic product. Moreover, the earphone also provides a better sound transmission quality, so that the user can clearly hear the played sound unlike the unclear sound transmitted in the air, and especially during a movement period of the user, for example, sport, driving and intensive activity or in a noisy environment, the user can still clearly hear the sound without being influenced. 
     To drive the earphone for sounding, a wired earphone obtains electricity from a player through an earphone wire. However, since the player generally has a portable design, limited electricity therein has to be effectively used, namely, it is hard to provide additional electricity to the wired earphone to execute other functions. On the other hand, a wireless earphone uses electricity of an inbuilt battery to receive signals and send sounds. Similarly, limited electricity of the wireless earphone has to be effectively used, so that there is no extra electricity for executing other functions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a speaker, which can resolve a problem of unable to execute additional functions due to inadequate electricity. 
     The invention is directed to an electronic device, in which a speaker can generate electricity to resolve a problem of inadequate electricity. 
     The invention provides a speaker including a housing, a magnet, a vibrating element, a circuit board and a electromagnetic inductor. The magnet is disposed in the housing. The vibrating element is disposed in the housing to vibrate relative to the magnet for sounding. The electromagnetic inductor is disposed on the vibrating element for inducting a magnetic field of the magnet to generate electricity. The circuit board is disposed at the housing and has two audio input terminals, two audio output terminals, two power input terminals and two power output terminals. The audio input terminals are electrically connected to the audio output terminals, respectively. The power input terminals are electrically connected to the power output terminals, respectively. The vibrating element is electrically connected to the audio output terminals. The electromagnetic inductor is electrically connected to the power input terminals. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the vibrating element includes a diaphragm and a coil disposed on the diaphragm. The coil is electrically connected to the audio output terminals. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the speaker further includes a power controller electrically connected to the electromagnetic inductor. Moreover, the speaker further includes a rechargeable battery, which is electrically connected to the electromagnetic inductor through the power controller for storing electricity generated by the electromagnetic inductor. Moreover, the power controller is electrically connected to the power input terminals, and the power output terminals are electrically connected to the rechargeable battery. Moreover, the power controller includes a rectifier and a battery charging chip, the electromagnetic inductor is electrically connected to the rectifier, the rectifier is electrically connected to the battery charging chip, and the battery charging chip is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery. The power controller is disposed on the circuit board, and the power input terminals are electrically connected to the power output terminals through the power controller. 
     The invention provides an electronic device including an audio generator and a speaker. The speaker includes a housing, a magnet, a vibrating element, a circuit board and a electromagnetic inductor. The magnet is disposed in the housing. The vibrating element is disposed in the housing to vibrate relative to the magnet for sounding. The electromagnetic inductor is disposed on the vibrating element for inducting a magnetic field of the magnet to generate electricity. The circuit board is disposed at the housing and has two audio input terminals, two audio output terminals, two power input terminals and two power output terminals. The audio input terminals are electrically connected to the audio output terminals, respectively. The power input terminals are electrically connected to the power output terminals, respectively. The vibrating element is electrically connected to the audio output terminals. The electromagnetic inductor is electrically connected to the power input terminals. The audio generator is electrically connected to the audio input terminals. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the vibrating element includes a diaphragm and a coil disposed on the diaphragm. The coil is electrically connected to the audio output terminals. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the electronic device further includes a power controller electrically connected to the electromagnetic inductor. Moreover, the electronic device further includes a rechargeable battery, which is electrically connected to the electromagnetic inductor through the power controller for storing electricity generated by the electromagnetic inductor. Moreover, the power controller is electrically connected to the power output terminals. Moreover, the power controller includes a rectifier and a battery charging chip, the electromagnetic inductor is electrically connected to the rectifier, the rectifier is electrically connected to the battery charging chip, and the battery charging chip is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery. The power controller is disposed on the circuit board, and the power input terminals are electrically connected to the power output terminals through the power controller. 
     According to the above descriptions, the electronic device and the speaker of the invention can execute additional functions by using electricity generated by the electromagnetic inductor. 
     In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention comprehensible, several exemplary embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a speaker according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a circuit board of a speaker of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial circuit block diagram of a speaker of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a circuit board of a speaker of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  are circuit diagrams illustrating two implementations of a power controller of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a speaker according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a circuit block diagram illustrating an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a speaker according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the speaker  100  of the present embodiment includes a housing  110 , a magnet  120 , a vibrating element  130  and a electromagnetic inductor  140 . The magnet  120  is disposed in the housing  110 . The vibrating element  130  is disposed in the housing  110  to vibrate relative to the magnet  120  for sounding. The electromagnetic inductor  140  is disposed on the vibrating element  130  for inducting a magnetic field of the magnet  120  to generate electricity. When the speaker  100  sounds, the vibration element  130  vibrates relative to the magnet  120 , and drives the electromagnetic inductor  140  on the vibrating element  130  to vibrate relative to the magnet  120 . The electromagnetic inductor  140  inducts strength and direction variations of the magnetic field of the magnet  120  during vibration, so as to generate electricity. In this way, although the speaker  100  consumes electricity for sounding, it can simultaneously generate electricity through the electromagnetic inductor  140 . The electricity generated by the electromagnetic inductor  140  can be provided to the speaker  100  to execute additional functions, which meets a current environmental trend of carbon reduction. The speaker  100  of the present embodiment may not only be applied to earphones, but may also serve as a speaker of hi-fi equipment or other types of speakers. 
     The vibrating element  130  includes a diaphragm  132  and a coil  134  disposed on the diaphragm  132 . When the coil  134  produces a magnetic field variation due to variation of an input electric signal, the magnetic field of the coil  134  interacts with the magnetic field of the magnet  120  to cause a movement of the coil  134 , so as to drive the diaphragm  132  to vibrate for sounding. However, in other embodiments, the vibrating element  130  may be other types, and as long as the electromagnetic inductor  140  on the vibrating element  130  can be driven to vibrate relative to the magnet  120 , the electromagnetic inductor  140  may generate electricity. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of a circuit board of the speaker of  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the speaker  100  further includes a circuit board  160 A disposed at the housing  110 . The circuit board  160 A has two audio output terminals  162 , two audio input terminals  164 , two power input terminals  166  and two power output terminals  168 , and only a part of the terminals is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Each of the audio input terminals  164  is electrically connected to one of the audio output terminals  162 . Each of the power input terminals  166  is electrically connected to one of the power output terminals  168 . The vibrating element  130  is electrically connected to the audio output terminals  162 . In the present embodiment, the audio output terminals  162  are electrically connected to two ends of the coil  134  of the vibrating element  130  for transmitting sound source signals to the coil  134 . The electromagnetic inductor  140  is electrically connected to the power input terminals  166 , directly or indirectly, so that an inducting current of the electromagnetic inductor  140  can be output through the power output terminals  168 . Moreover, in the present embodiment, the audio output terminals  162 , the audio input terminals  164 , the power input terminals  166  and the power output terminals  168  are, for example, located on a same surface of the circuit board  160 A, though these terminals may also located on different surfaces of the circuit board  160 A. 
     In the present embodiment, the electromagnetic inductor  140  is a coil, though in other embodiments, different types of the electromagnetic inductors can also be used. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the speaker  100  further includes a yoke  170  disposed on the magnet  120 . In the present embodiment, the electromagnetic inductor  140  inducts the magnetic field of the magnet  120  to generate electricity. 
       FIG. 3  is a partial circuit block diagram of the speaker of  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , the speaker  100  may further include a rechargeable battery  182 , which is directly or indirectly connected to the electromagnetic inductor  140  for storing electricity generated by the electromagnetic inductor  140 . In other words, the rechargeable battery  182  can store the electricity generated by the electromagnetic inductor  140 , and such electricity can be used for sounding, wireless signal receiving or other utilizations. Moreover, the speaker  100  of the present embodiment may further include a power controller  184 , which is electrically connected between the rechargeable battery  182  and the electromagnetic inductor  140  to ensure that the electricity generated by the electromagnetic inductor  140  can be suitably stored. The rechargeable battery  182  and the power controller  184  can be disposed inside or outside the housing  110 . The speaker  100  may only include the power controller  184  without the rechargeable battery  182 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the electromagnetic inductor  140  can be electrically connected to the power input terminals  166  of the circuit board  160 A, the power output terminals  168  are electrically connected to the power controller  184 , and the power controller  184  is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery  182 . Alternatively, the electromagnetic inductor  140  can be electrically connected to the power controller  184 , the power controller  184  is electrically connected to the power input terminals  166  of the circuit board  160 A, and the power output terminals  168  are electrically connected to the rechargeable battery  182 . 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the circuit board of the speaker of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , a difference between the circuit board  160 B of the present embodiment and the circuit board  160 A of  FIG. 2  is that the power controller  184  is disposed on the circuit board  160 B. Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the electromagnetic inductor  140  can be electrically connected between the power input terminals  166  and the power output terminals  168  of the circuit board  160 B, and the power output terminals  168  are electrically connected to the rechargeable battery  182 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , when the power controller  184  of the present embodiment is used for charging the rechargeable battery  182 , the power controller  184  may includes a rectifier  184 A and a battery charging chip  184 B. The electromagnetic inductor  140  is electrically connected to the rectifier  184 A, the rectifier  184 A is electrically connected to the battery charging chip  184 B, and the battery charging chip  184 B is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery  182 . Presently, the rechargeable battery  182  in the market has a relatively complicated specification for a charging procedure, so that the battery charging chip  184 B is used to control the charging procedure to ideally charge the rechargeable battery  182 . For example, the battery charging chip  184  controls to charge the rechargeable battery  182  through a constant current approach in a primary stage of charging. After an output voltage of the rechargeable battery  182  stably reaches a predetermined value, the battery charging chip  184 B controls to continually charge the rechargeable battery  182  through a constant voltage approach. 
       FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  are circuit diagrams illustrating two implementations of the rectifier of the power controller of  FIG. 3 . The rectifier  184 A of the power controller  184  can be implemented by a circuit structure shown in  FIG. 5A  or  FIG. 5B . Referring to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , input terminals T 10  of the rectifier  184 A can be electrically connected to the power input terminals  166  of the circuit board  160 B, and output terminals T 20  can be electrically connected to the power output terminals  168 . Alternatively, referring to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , the input terminals T 10  of the rectifier  184 A can be electrically connected to the power output terminals  168  of the circuit board  160 B, or the output terminals T 20  of the rectifier  184 A can be electrically connected to the power input terminals  166 . 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a speaker according to another embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the speaker  200  of the present embodiment is similar to the speaker  100  of the previous embodiment, and differences there between are introduced below. The speaker  200  further includes a diaphragm ring  250 , a magnet  222  and a yoke  272 . The diaphragm ring  250  is disposed in a housing  210 , and a diaphragm  232  is disposed on the diaphragm ring  250 . The magnet  222 , the yoke  272 , a magnet  220  and a yoke  270  are stacked in the housing  210 . A coil  234  of a vibrating element  230  is located next to the magnet  220  and the yoke  270 , and a magnetic field of the coil  234  interacts with a magnetic field of the magnet  220  to drive the diaphragm  232  to vibrate for sounding. A electromagnetic inductor  240  is located next to the magnet  222  and the yoke  272  for inducting a magnetic field of the magnet  222  to generate electricity. 
       FIG. 7  is a circuit block diagram illustrating an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the electronic device  300  of the present embodiment includes an audio generator  310  and a speaker  320 . The speaker  320  can be the speaker  100  of  FIG. 1 , the speaker  200  of  FIG. 6  or other speakers within the scope of the invention. Namely, the speaker  320  also has a electromagnetic inductor (not shown) for producing electricity. A detailed structure of the speaker  320  is as that described in the above embodiments, and descriptions thereof are not repeated. The audio generator  310  is electrically connected to audio input terminals (for example, the audio input terminals  164  of  FIG. 2 ) of the speaker  320 . The electronic device  300  of the present embodiment can be a mobile phone, a walkie-talkie, a wireless earphone or other electronic devices. The electronic device  300  of the present embodiment may further include a power controller  330  and a rechargeable battery  340 . The power controller  330  can be independent to the speaker  320 , or can also be built within the speaker  320 . The electricity generated by the electromagnetic inductor of the speaker  320  can be provided to the rechargeable battery  340  through the power controller  330 , though the electricity generated by the electromagnetic inductor of the speaker  320  can also be directly provided to the rechargeable battery  340 . A detailed structure of the power controller  330  is the same as the power controller  184  of  FIG. 3 . 
     In summary, the speaker of the invention has the electromagnetic inductor capable of inducting the magnetic field of the magnet to generate electricity. Therefore, the speaker of the invention can use the electricity generated by the electromagnetic inductor to execute additional functions, so as to meet a current environmental trend of carbon reduction. The electronic device of the invention applies the speaker having the electromagnetic inductor capable of generating electricity. Therefore, the electronic device of the invention can also use the electricity generated by the electromagnetic inductor to execute additional functions, so as to meet the current environmental trend of carbon reduction. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.