Patent Publication Number: US-10785573-B2

Title: Speaker device for vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0002032, filed on Jan. 8, 2019, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a speaker device for a vehicle, and more particularly to a speaker device for a vehicle having a structure in which a seating direction and a magnetic path forming direction of a magnet coincide with each other. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Recently, it has become common for passengers who ride in a vehicle to enjoy video/audio equipment such as a TV, a video, etc. In addition to a radio, a CD player, and a MP3 in the vehicle. Sound waves from such video/audio equipment are usually output to the interior of the vehicle through a speaker mounted in a vehicle body such as a door. 
     In general, the speaker may include a magnet for generating magnetic flux, a yoke for providing a path of magnetic flux, a magnetic circuit including a bobbin on which a voice coil is wound, a diaphragm that vibrates according to the movement of the bobbin, a damper for adjusting a vibration direction of the diaphragm, and a vibration system including an edge portion for fixing an external rim of the diaphragm to a frame. 
     Therefore, when a current is applied to the voice coil, the magnetized voice coil interacts with the magnetic flux generated from the magnet to move forwards and backwards thereof, generating negative pressure by vibrating the diaphragm. 
     Such a speaker has a disadvantage in that the seating direction (horizontal) and the magnetic path forming direction (vertical) of the magnet (permanent magnet) do not coincide with each other, decreasing the efficiency and increasing the size of the magnet. 
     The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and may not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a speaker device configured for a vehicle having a structure in which the seating direction and the magnetic path forming direction of a magnet coincide with each other. 
     Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a speaker device configured for a vehicle that reduces the size of the magnet to increase the efficiency. 
     Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a speaker device configured for a vehicle that improves the shape of a plate to increase the efficiency by smoothly flowing a magnetic flux. 
     Additional various aspects of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a speaker device configured for a vehicle may include a frame, a magnet mounted in the frame to generate a magnetic flux, a yoke having a magnetic gap to form a magnetic path generated by the magnet, a voice coil mounted in the magnetic gap to move when a current is applied, a diaphragm engaged to the voice coil and configured to vibrate according to movement of the voice coil and generate a negative pressure, and a plate configured to support the magnet, wherein the magnet is accommodated in a horizontal direction such a seating direction and a magnetic path forming direction of the magnet coincide with each other. 
     The magnet is mounted on the same line as the magnetic path forming direction thereof. 
     The plate may include a first plate portion and a second plate portion extending downwardly from the first plate portion and formed to have a width wider than the width of the first plate portion. 
     The plate is formed of an L shape. 
     A spacer is provided at a lower portion of the magnet and the plate to prevent leakage magnetic flux. 
     The spacer is formed of a non-magnetic material. 
     The plate is provided to be injection-molded integrally with the frame. 
     The plate is formed in a shape of to be injection-molded integrally with at least a portion of the frame. 
     The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view exemplarily illustrating a vehicle provided with a speaker device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a view exemplarily illustrating the speaker device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view exemplarily illustrating an internal structure of the speaker device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     It may be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the present invention. The specific design features of the present invention as included herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particularly intended application and use environment. 
     In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the present invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the present invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the other hand, the present invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     The exemplary embodiments described herein and the configurations shown in the drawings are only examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and various modifications may be made at the time of filing of the present invention to replace the exemplary embodiments and drawings of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Like reference numbers or designations in the various figures of the present invention represent parts or components that perform substantially the same functions. 
     The terms used herein are for describing the exemplary embodiments and are not intended to restrict and/or to limit the disclosure. For example, the singular expressions herein may include plural expressions, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, the terms “comprises” and “has” are intended to indicate that there are features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component. The term “and/or” includes any combination of a plurality of related items or any one of a plurality of related items. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the terms “front,” “rear,” “upper,” “lower,” “left,” and “right” are defined with reference to the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by these terms. 
     In the following description, a vehicle refers to various devices for moving an object to be transported, such as a person, a thing, or an animal, from an origin to a destination. The vehicle may include a vehicle that runs on roads or rails, a ship that moves over the sea or river, and an airplane that flies into the sky using the action of air. 
     Also, the vehicle traveling on roads or rails may move in a predetermined direction in accordance with the rotation of at least one wheel, and may include, for example, a three- or four-wheeled vehicle, a construction machine, a two-wheeled vehicle, a prime mover, a bicycle, and a train that runs on rails. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a view exemplarily illustrating a vehicle provided with a speaker device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a view exemplarily illustrating the speaker device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view exemplarily illustrating an internal structure of the speaker device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3 , a vehicle  1  may include a main body  10  forming an external appearance of the vehicle  1 , a front glass  11  for providing a front view of the vehicle  1  to a driver within the vehicle  1 , wheels  21  and  22  for moving the vehicle  1 , a driving device  40  for rotating the wheels  21  and  22 , doors  30  for shielding the inside of the vehicle  1  from the outside, and side mirrors  12   a  and  12   b  for providing a rear view of the vehicle  1  to the driver. 
     The front glass  11  is provided on a front upper side of the main body  10  so that the driver within the vehicle  1  may obtain visual information related to a front side thereof. 
     The wheels  21  and  22  may include the front wheels  21  provided on a front side of the vehicle  1  and the rear wheels  22  provided on a rear side of the vehicle  1 . The driving device  40  may provide a rotational force to the front wheels  21  or the rear wheels  22  so that the main body  10  moves forward or backward thereof. 
     The driving device  40  may employ an engine for generating a rotational force by burning a fossil fuel, or a motor for generating a rotational force by receiving a power source from a capacitor. 
     The doors  30  are rotatably provided on the left and right sides of the main body  10 , respectively, so that the doors  30  may allow the driver and a passenger to ride within the vehicle  1  when the doors  30  are opened and shield the inside of the vehicle  1  from the outside thereof when the doors  30  are closed. 
     The side mirrors  12   a  and  12   b  may be provided on the left and right sides of the main body  10 , respectively, so that the driver within the vehicle  1  may obtain visual information on the sides and rear of the vehicle  1 . 
     Although not shown in the drawings, the vehicle  1  may include a front camera for securing a front view, a left camera or a right camera for securing a side view, and may include a sensing device such as a proximity sensor for detecting an obstacle in the rear of a vehicle or a rain sensor for detecting rainfall and precipitation. 
     A speaker device  100  for a vehicle for outputting sound to the outside of the vehicle  1  may be provided on a front side of the main body  10 . The speaker device  100  may be provided outside the main body  10  or may be provided inside the main body  10 . The speaker device  100  may be mounted in a form configured for transmitting sound to the outside. 
     Although the present invention has exemplified that one of the speaker device  100  is mounted on the front side of the main body  10 , the spirit of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a plurality of speaker devices may be provided to transmit sound from the left side and the right side of a vehicle, respectively. 
     The speaker device  100  includes a hollow frame  110 , and a magnetic circuit and a vibration system provided inside the frame  110 . 
     The magnetic circuit may include a magnet  121  for generating a magnetic flux and a yoke  120  for forming a path of the magnetic flux generated from the magnet  121 . 
     The vibration system may include a voice coil  125  configured to move by interaction with the magnetic flux generated by the magnet  121  as the voice coil  125  is magnetized when a current is applied, a bobbin  124  on which the voice coil  125  is wound, a diaphragm  131  for generating a negative pressure by vibrating in accordance with the movement of the voice coil  125 , a damper  134  for guiding the movement of the voice coil  125  in the front and rear direction and for restricting the movement of the voice coil  125  in the left and right direction, an edge portion  132  for engaging an external edge portion of the diaphragm  131  to the frame  110 , and a dust cap  135  for preventing foreign substances from penetrating into the frame  110 . 
     The dust cap  135  is mounted on an upper end portion of the bobbin  124  to prevent foreign substances from penetrating into a vibrating portion  130  such as the bobbin  124  and the voice coil  125 . 
     The dust cap  135  may be attached and fixed to an internal center portion of the diaphragm  131 . 
     The voice coil  125  is configured to move by interacting with a magnetic flux generated by a magnet  121 , which will be described later, as the voice coil  125  is magnetized when a current is applied. 
     The diaphragm  131  is configured to transmit sound to the outside by varying the vibration according to the sound. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrates that the diaphragm  131  is formed in a funnel shape or a cone shape which is recessed toward a lower side from a center portion thereof, but an aspect of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the diaphragm  131 , which is a key component for determining the sound quality, tone color, and frequency characteristics of the speaker device  100 , may be formed with different acoustic characteristics depending on its material, mass, and structure. 
     Also, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrates that the frame  110  is formed in a cylindrical shape, but an aspect of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the frame  110  may include a funnel or a cone shape whose upper end portion thereof is formed to have a diameter greater than its lower end portion. 
     The frame  110  forms an external appearance of the speaker device  100 . The magnetic circuit may be disposed on a lower side of the frame  110 , and the vibration system may be disposed on an internal upper side of the frame  110 . 
     Hereinafter with respect to the surfaces and directions of the frame  110  and other components, a surface and a direction facing upward in the vertical direction of the frame  110  will be referred to as an ‘upper surface’ and an ‘upper side,’ and a surface and a direction facing downward in the vertical direction of the frame  110  will be referred to as a ‘lower surface’ and a ‘lower side.’ 
     The magnetic circuit is a portion to which an electrical signal is transmitted to generate sound of the speaker device  100 . The magnet  121  of the magnetic circuit has a plurality of poles including one N pole and one S pole. 
     The magnet  121  may be accommodated in a horizontal direction (direction A). The horizontal direction A is a direction of a magnetic circuit (path) in the speaker device  100 . The seating direction A of the magnet  121  is the same as the magnetic path forming direction A. The seating direction A of the magnet  121  may be disposed on the same line as the magnetic path forming direction A. The seating direction of the magnet, which refers to a magnetic path forming direction in the speaker device, corresponds to the horizontal direction in  FIG. 3 . 
     The magnet  121  may include a hollow annular shape. The magnet  121  is formed to have a predetermined height and thickness. The magnet  121  includes neodium. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrates that the magnet includes neodium, but an aspect of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the magnet may include ferrite or other permanent magnet material. 
     The yoke  120  includes a pole piece  122  and a plate member  160  provided outside the pole piece  122 . 
     A magnetic gap G may be formed between the plate member  160  and the pole piece  122 . The plate member  160  may include a bottom plate  162  extending from a lower end portion of the pole piece  122 . The magnetic gap G of a predetermined space may be formed between the bottom plate  162  and the pole piece  122  and at least a portion of the bottom plate  162  may extend upward to be connected to the frame  110 . At least a portion of the bottom plate  162  may be injection-molded integrally with the frame  110 . The plate member  160  may be formed of a magnetic material of low magnetoresistance including steel, alloy or other magnet material. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrates that the bottom plate  162  is formed integrally with the pole piece  122 , but an aspect of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the bottom plate  162  and the pole piece  122  may be formed separately and coupled together. 
     The plate member  160  may be provided to be injection-molded integrally with the frame  110 . The bottom plate  162  may be injection-molded integrally with the frame  110 . The plate member  160  may include a frame engaging portion  163  for minimizing leakage magnetic flux. The bottom plate  162  may include the frame engaging portion  163  for minimizing leakage magnetic flux. The frame engaging portion  163  may be formed in a shape of ‘┌’. The frame engaging portion  163  may be provided to minimize leakage magnetic flux between the plate member  160  and the frame  110  and allow integral injection molding. The frame  110  may be formed with a plate engaging portion  111  corresponding to the frame engaging portion  163 . The magnet  121  may be mounted on the outside of the pole piece  122 . The pole piece  122  may be provided to form a path of the magnetic flux generated by the magnet  121 . 
     The plate member  160  may include a top plate  161  mounted radially outward of the magnet  121 . The top plate  161  may be formed in a substantially L shape. The top plate  161  may include a first plate portion  161   a  and a second plate portion  161   b  extending from the first plate portion  161   a.    
     The top plate  161  is provided to support the magnet  121  from the outside of the magnet  121  and includes a shape for maximizing the gap of the magnetic flux emitted from the magnet  121 . 
     The second plate portion  161   b  is provided to extend downwardly from the first plate portion  161   a  and may be formed to have a width wider than the width of the first plate portion  161   a . The top plate portion  161  may be formed such that the width of a lower portion is wider than the width of an upper portion. The cross section of the top plate portion  161  may include an L shape. 
     A spacer  140  may be provided at a lower portion of the magnet  121  and the top plate  161  to prevent leakage magnetic flux. The spacer  140  may be provided to support the lower portion of the magnet  121  and the top plate  161 . The spacer  140  may be formed of a non-magnetic material. The spacer  140  may be inserted to prevent leakage magnetic flux generated from the lower portion of the magnet  121  and the top plate  161 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the spacer  140  is provided between a lower portion of the magnet  121 , the top plate  161 , the bobbin  124  and the bottom plate  162  to prevent leakage magnetic flux. 
     The yoke  120  may seat the magnet  121  in the horizontal direction such that the magnetic path forming direction and the seating direction of the magnet  121  are disposed on the same line, smoothly flowing the magnetic flux to improve the efficiency of the leakage magnetic flux and increase the efficiency of the speaker. 
     As is apparent from the above, various aspects according to various aspects of the present invention, the size of a magnet may be reduced by a structure in which a seating direction of the magnet coincides with a magnetic path forming direction thereof, increasing the efficiency. 
     Furthermore, the shape of a plate may be improved to smooth the flow of the magnetic flux, increasing the efficiency. 
     For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “up”, “down”, “upwards”, “downwards”, “front”, “rear”, “back”, “inside”, “outside”, “inwardly”, “outwardly”, “internal”, “external”, “inner”, “outer”, “forwards”, and “backwards” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. It will be further understood that the term “connect” or its derivatives refer both to direct and indirect connection. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described to explain certain principles of the present invention and their practical application, to enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the present invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.