Patent Publication Number: US-7218743-B2

Title: Speaker module and apparatus using this

Description:
This application is a U.S. national phase application of PCT international application PCT/JP2004/014890. 
   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to a speaker module used in various acoustic devices or information communication devices, and relates to various electric devices or apparatuses using the same. 
   BACKGROUND ART 
     FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing a conventional speaker module. Magnet  2  is sandwiched between upper plate  3  and yoke  1 , so that inner magnet type magnetic circuit  4  is formed. Frame  8  is connected with yoke  1 . First diaphragm  7  is bonded to a circumference of frame  8 , and voice coil  6  connected with first diaphragm  7  is inserted into magnetic gap  5  of magnetic circuit  4 . Thus, a speaker unit is constructed. 
   Panel  10  is connected with frame  8 , and first diaphragm  7  is surrounded by panel  10  which is a part of a wall constructing hermetic space  12 . Second diaphragm  11  is connected with panel  10 , so that first diaphragm  7  and second diaphragm  11  are acoustically coupled with each other. Thus, speaker module  13  is constructed. This kind of speaker module is, for example, disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-179988. 
   However, speaker module  13  is extremely difficult to be designed suitable for an electric device or an apparatus using it. Speaker module  13  is designed in such a manner that its outward appearance is substantially plane because the device, in which speaker module  13  is installed, is required to be thin, small and compact. Therefore, second diaphragm  11  has a plane shape. When second diaphragm  11  is designed, for example, a photograph or a picture is printed on a surface of second diaphragm  11 . In this case, contents of the photograph or the picture are fixed, so that it does not make a high impact on a user. 
   In a case where the device, in which speaker module  13  is installed, has a display function such as liquid crystal, panel  10  and second diaphragm  11  are structured with transparent material. Then, a display section such as liquid crystal is placed under them, and speaker module  13  is installed in the electric device with second diaphragm  11  designed nothing. In this case, because panel  10  and second diaphragm  11  are transparent, speaker module  13  can not appeal its existence. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A speaker module of the present invention includes a magnetic circuit, a frame coupled therewith, a first diaphragm, a voice coil, a panel, a second diaphragm and a light emitting section. The first diaphragm is coupled with a periphery of the frame. The voice coil is coupled with the first diaphragm, and its part is inserted into a magnetic gap of the magnetic circuit. The panel is coupled with the frame. The second diaphragm is coupled with the panel, thereby forming a hermetic space with the first diaphragm and acoustically coupling with the first diaphragm. The light emitting section emits light to the panel. The panel transmits the light from the light emitting section to a side of the second diaphragm. Using the structure discussed above, the light from the light emitting section passes through the panel, and a part of the panel or the whole panel emits light, thereby appealing to eyes of users. As a result, the speaker module can appeal its existence, so that outward design which makes a high impact can be realized. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a speaker module in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of another speaker module in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an outward appearance of an electric device in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of an apparatus in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a conventional speaker module. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a speaker module in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Magnet  22  is sandwiched between upper plate  23  and yoke  21 , so that inner magnet type magnetic circuit  24  is formed, and frame  28  is coupled with yoke  21 . First diaphragm  27  is bonded to a periphery of frame  28 , and voice coil  26  coupled with first diaphragm  27  is inserted into magnetic gap  25  of magnetic circuit  24 . Thus, a speaker unit is constructed. Plate  23  and yoke  21  are made of magnetic metal having high permeability such as iron. Carbon steel for machine construction or rolled steel plate is commonly used as these materials. First diaphragm  27  is made of resin film such as polyethylene terephthalate. The inner magnet type speaker unit is shown in  FIG. 1 , however, an outer magnet type may be used. 
   Panel  30  is coupled with a periphery of frame  28  having frame portion  34 . Second diaphragm  31  is bonded to panel  30  inside frame portion  34 . First diaphragm  27  and second diaphragm  31  are acoustically coupled with each other via hermetic space  32 . Thus, speaker module  40  is constructed. Light emitting section  33  is formed adjacent to panel  30 , and light emitting section  33  emits light to panel  30 . Panel  30  transmits the light from light emitting section  33  to at least a side of second diaphragm  31 , and emits the light outside from frame portion  34 . Whole panel  30  and second diaphragm  31  are more preferably formed transparent. It is enough for panel  30  to include transparent material such as glass or acrylic resin. More particularly, panel  30  is formed of general resin material implanting optical fibers positioned from light emitting section  33  to a side of second diaphragm  31 , and made of material mentioned above, or whole panel  30  is formed of the transparent material discussed above. Second diaphragm  31  is acoustically coupled with first diaphragm  27 , so that second diaphragm  31  is made of resin film having appropriate rigidity, such as polyethylene terephthalate or acryl. 
   In the structure discussed above, when light emitting section  33  emits light, the light passes through panel  30  and is transmitted to the side of second diaphragm  31 . Thus, a part of panel  30  or whole panel  30  emits light, thereby appealing to eyes of users. Therefore, speaker module  40  can appeal its existence, so that outward design which makes a high impact can be realized. 
   In addition, if second diaphragm  31  is made of transparent material, objects to be displayed or contents disposed under second diaphragm  31  can be seen through second diaphragm  31 . Further, if panel  30  whose part or whole is transparent is used, objects to be displayed or contents disposed under panel  30  can be seen through second diaphragm  31  and panel  30 . 
   Luminous efficiency improves by using transparent material. Besides, in a case where display section or the like is designed under transparent second diaphragm  31  or transparent panel  30 , objects to be displayed or contents can be seen by light from light emitting section  33 , even when surroundings are dark. 
   Still further, second diaphragm  31  is preferably formed in substantially plane shape. In this case, by using the structural effect of second diaphragm  31 , an electric device using speaker module  40  can be downsized or slim, or flexibility of design improves. 
   Yet further, second diaphragm  31  is preferably larger than first diaphragm  27  in area. Using this structure, because second diaphragm  31  is larger, sound pressure level improves. A section having a large surface area at a periphery of the electric device using speaker module  40  can be used as second diaphragm  31 . Therefore, even when a small-sized electric device is used, a loud sound pressure level can be secured and efficient design can be realized. 
   Furthermore, a light emitting diode is preferably used as light emitting section  33 . Using the structure mentioned above, electric power can be saved in speaker module  40 . 
   As discussed above, the display section is designed by utilizing the space under transparent second diaphragm  31  or transparent panel  30 , so that objects under second diaphragm  31  or panel  30  can be seen. Generally, a display section formed inside, i.e. under speaker module  40 , is not visible from outside. However, the display section can be seen by forming panel  30  and second diaphragm  31  transparent. Therefore, electric devices including components required to be seen can be arranged not only in a horizontal direction in which heights of the components are substantially identical but also in a vertical direction in which the components are piled. As a result, even when large second diaphragm  31  is used, an electric device can be downsized or slim, or flexibility of design improves. 
   In addition, light emitting section  33  is formed adjacent to panel  30 , so that light passes through panel  30 , and a part of panel  30  or whole panel  30  emits light, thereby appealing to eyes of uses. As a result, speaker module  40  can appeal its existence, so that outward design which makes a high impact can be realized. 
   As shown in a sectional view of  FIG. 2 , light emitting section  33  may be implanted into panel  30 . Using the structure mentioned above, whole size of light emitting section  33  and panel  30 , which are combined each other, decreases by the amount corresponding to its implanting. As a result, an electric device can be downsized or slim, or flexibility of design improves. In addition, light transmittance for panel  30  is further improved by implanting light emitting section  33  into panel  30 . 
   Next, an example of a device including speaker module  40  structured above is discussed hereinafter.  FIG. 3  is an outward appearance of a mini component stereo system for audio as the device in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   Speaker module  40  is integrated into enclosure  41 , whereby speaker system  45  is constructed. Amplifier  42  is an amplifier of an electric signal inputted into speaker system  45 . Controlling section  43  such as a player outputs sources inputted into amplifier  42 . As mentioned above, mini component stereo system  44  for audio as an electric device includes amplifier  42 , controlling section  43  and speaker system  45 . Amplifier  42 , controlling section  43  and enclosure  41  are a main unit of mini component stereo system  44 . In a word, speaker module  40  is installed into the main unit of mini component stereo system  44 , and light emitting section  33  is supplied with electricity and emits light. Besides, voice coil  26  of speaker module  40  is supplied with electricity from amplifier  42  of the main unit and emits sound from second diaphragm  31 . 
   In speaker module  40 , second diaphragm  31  has an angular plane shape and is disposed at the whole front section of enclosure  41 . As shown in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2 , light emitting section  33  is formed adjacent to panel  30 , or implanted into panel  30 , and panel  30  transmits light from light emitting section  33  to the side of second diaphragm  31 . Second diaphragm  31  is preferably formed of a transparent film, and panel  30  is preferably formed of transparent resin material such as an acrylic board. 
   According to the structure mentioned above, large panel  30  disposed at the front section of enclosure  41  of speaker system  45  emits light, thereby appealing to eyes of the users. Therefore, speaker module  40  can appeal its existence, so that outward design which makes a high impact can be realized. Moreover, even when large second diaphragm  31  is used, an electric device can be downsized or slim, or flexibility of design improves. 
   As discussed above, the mini component stereo system for audio is described as an application of speaker module  40  for a device, however, this invention is not limited to this embodiment. This invention can be also applied to a portable audio instrument, an electrically charging system for it or the like. Furthermore, this invention can be widely applied and developed into an image device such as a liquid crystal television or a plasma display television, an information communication device such as a portable telephone, or an electric device such as a computer-related device. 
   Next, another example of a device including speaker module  40  is discussed hereinafter.  FIG. 4  is a sectional view of an automobile, i.e. a device or an apparatus, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   Speaker module  40  is incorporated in rear tray  51  of automobile  50 . According to this structure, speaker module  40  installed in automobile  50  emits light, thereby appealing to eyes of users. In a word, speaker module  40  is installed into automobile  50  which is a main unit, and light emitting section  33  is supplied with electricity and emits light. Besides, voice coil  26  of speaker module  40  is supplied with electricity from automobile  50  which is the main unit, and emits sound from second diaphragm  31 . Therefore, speaker module  40  can appeal its existence, so that design which makes a high impact can be realized. As a result, the speaker module, which is installed in the apparatus, as well as the apparatus such as an automobile can be downsized and slim, and design improves. 
   INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
   A speaker module of the present invention can be applied to various acoustic devices which are required to be designed for appealing to eyes of users using a light emitting function besides sound emitting function. In addition, the speaker module can be also applied to various electric devices, various apparatuses or the like. According to the present invention, the speaker module or an apparatus including the speaker module improves in design, thereby providing a great industrial value.