Patent ID: 12207051

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, in order to allow anyone with ordinary knowledge and skills in the art to easily carry out the present invention, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. However, the present invention may be implemented in various forms and shall not be limited only to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Additionally, in the appended drawings, for clarity in the description of the present invention, parts that are not related to the description of the present invention have been omitted from the drawings, and, throughout the entire specification, similar parts have been assigned with similar reference numerals.

Throughout the entire specification, it shall be understood that, when a particular part is said to “include” a particular component, unless specified otherwise, this means that other components may be further included and does not mean that other components are excluded.

The present invention includes one speaker unit being configured by including a diaphragm being configured in a speaker and having a size of at least 100 cm2or more, and at least 2, preferably 3, piezoelectric resonators each being independently configured and attached to one surface of the diaphragm. Herein, the piezoelectric resonators generate high sound pressure output in a low frequency range according to sound input signals from a single diaphragm, and, accordingly, when one diaphragm operates in a specific vibration mode, the plurality of piezoelectric resonators operate as components of the corresponding vibration mode. And, in this case, the smoothness of the added surface of each of the individual piezoelectric resonator is more enhanced than the smoothness of the surface of a single piezoelectric resonator. Herein, if a surface area of the diaphragm is equal to 100%, an added surface of the piezoelectric resonators is equal to 40% or more.

At this point, the generated output is not independent sound waves being output from each of the piezoelectric resonators. The generated output is equivalent to a soundwave being output from a single piezoelectric resonator having the same surface area as a total surface area of the individually distributed piezoelectric resonators. Herein, however, since a larger number of resonant modes are formed in a low frequency, as compared to a single piezoelectric resonator, a more enhanced sound quality is emitted.

Herein, the speaker does not include any other components apart from the diaphragm and the piezoelectric resonator(s). Therefore, when a combination of one piezoelectric resonator and diaphragm is referred to as a single unit speaker, this is specifically differentiated from the related art speaker, which applies a physical vibration propagation limiting factor to the unit speakers so that independent vibration may occur in-between each unit speaker.

Herein, if a surface area of the diaphragm is equal to 100%, when an added surface of the piezoelectric resonators is less than 40%, the resonant resistant increases, which prevent production of a wanted sound pressure. Additionally, there also lies a problem of degradation in the sound pressure property in the low frequency range. Therefore, in light of the above-mentioned numeric values, the added surface area of the piezoelectric resonators in comparison to the diaphragm has a critical significance.

If a piezoelectric resonator having a size that is almost the same as a diaphragm (a piezoelectric resonator having a large surface area almost equal to 100% of the surface area) is formed on the diaphragm, the sound pressure of the low frequency domain (approximately 1000 Hz or less) increases. Herein, most importantly, it is preferable that the diaphragm has a large size. Therefore, it is preferable that a minimum surface area of the diaphragm is equal to 100 cm2or more. Even though a large number of resonators is included, if the size of the diaphragm is small, the sound pressure at the low frequency range decreases, thereby resulting in poor sound quality at a low frequency band. Therefore, in light of the above-mentioned size, the size of the diaphragm has a critical significance.

The related art piezoelectric speaker is configured of one resonator formed on one diaphragm. Herein, since this structure generates a basic vibration mode and a harmonic resonant mode of a basic vibration, there are limitations is fabricating a thin and sufficiently large ceramic diaphragm. Therefore, due to such limitations, instead of applying a think and large ceramic diaphragm, the speaker can only be configured as a piezoelectric speaker having small-sized resonators attached to the diaphragm. And, as shown in Equation (1), since the basic vibration mode resonance frequency is positioned at a high frequency range, such speaker is disadvantageous in that the low frequency range is weak and that the SPL smoothness is weak due to a deep level that is formed between the high frequencies. Accordingly, the present invention is devised to reinforce the low frequency band sound pressure, which is the most significant disadvantage of the conventional piezoelectric speaker, and to enhance the smoothness of the corresponding frequency band. In order to implement such enhancements, a piezoelectric speaker unit uses a diaphragm having a larger surface area than the conventional piezoelectric speaker and has a larger surface area, which is occupied by the piezoelectric resonator(s) attached to the diaphragm, and, instead of using a large surface area of a single piezoelectric resonator, the present invention uses 3 or more piezoelectric resonators each having a small surface area. A single piezoelectric resonator having a large surface area is also thin, and, therefore, it is extremely difficult to fabricate a thin and smooth flawless piezoelectric resonator. Therefore, by attaching a plurality of piezoelectric resonators each having a size that can be easily fabricated by modern technology to a diaphragm, more excellent properties may be produced as compared to a speaker, which is configured by attaching a single piezoelectric resonator having a large surface area to a diaphragm.

The most significant disadvantage of the conventional piezoelectric speaker is a decrease in the sound pressure at a low frequency range (1 kHz or less). After fabricating a speaker unit (having a resonator attached to a diaphragm) by attaching a piezoelectric ceramic resonator to a diaphragm, when observing the frequency vibrations of the speaker unit at a frequency band, as shown inFIG.3, the frequency-impedance property of a speaker having a 50×70 mm diaphragm having a thickness of 300 μm and a 30×30 mm piezoelectric resonator shows that a longitudinal basic vibration and a two-dimensional basic vibrations are each formed at a low frequency range of approximately 350 Hz and 650 Hz. Herein, however, since the longitudinal basic vibration has a large resistance of 1.25 kΩ or more, the sound pressure is insignificant, and the two-dimensional basic vibration may have a sound pressure of 5000 or less. As a result, this indicates that this structure has a very weak sound pressure property, wherein a single resonance having a sound pressure property of 1 kHz or less at a low frequency range occurs only once at a specific frequency. Therefore, a speaker having the structure shown inFIG.3has a noticeably degraded low frequency range sound pressure property. That is,FIG.3shows a small-sized diaphragm having a surface area of 35 cm2. And, herein, there are only two resonant modes at 1000 Hz or less. Therefore, even if the speaker is configured of a plurality of resonators, the low frequency resonance peak may not be improved. Therefore, it is preferable to configure the speaker with a diaphragm having a size of 100 cm2or more, and, accordingly, as it will be described later on, the low frequency resonance peak may be improved.

Meanwhile, a thin piezoelectric resonator (generally having a thickness of 300 μm or less) is fabricated by being processed by a procedure of molding using extrusion molding, tape casting, cutting to a wanted size, and sintering. Thereafter, electrodes are attached to both sides of the sintered body so as to provide piezoelectric properties to the sintered body through a poling procedure. The piezoelectric body is then attached to a diaphragm (which is formed of materials such as metal, plastic, and so on) by an adhesive, thereby forming a speaker unit. The speaker unit that is fabricated as described above reacts to acoustic electrical signals, thereby generating sound. And, in order to have sufficient acoustic properties at a low frequency range (1 kHz or less), the electrical signals should cause frequent resonant modes at low frequencies, and the resonant resistance should be sufficiently low (5000 or less). For this, the size of the diaphragm should be at least 100×100 mm (100 cm2) or more, and the size of the corresponding piezoelectric resonator should be at least 60×60 mm (36% of the surface area of the diaphragm). Preferably, if the piezoelectric resonator has the size of 80×80 mm or more, the low frequency range properties are expected to be good, and as the size becomes larger the low frequency range sound pressure properties are also improved. Generally, it is preferable that the added surface area of the piezoelectric resonators is 40% or more of the surface area of the diaphragm.

However, according to modern ceramic processing, it is difficult to manufacture such thin and wide piezoelectric ceramic resonator by performing sintering. And, even if such ceramic resonator is manufactured, many trials and errors need to be carried out, which may lead to a considerably high production cost. Meanwhile, as the size of the diaphragm and piezoelectric resonator becomes larger, the low frequency range properties become more improved. However, even if such large-sized piezoelectric ceramic resonator is manufactured, in case of the SPL properties of the speaker unit, there lies a problem in that a distance between the frequencies, in which the harmonic resonant mode occurs in the basic resonant mode, becomes larger. Referring to resonant property simulation results of a speaker having a diaphragm size of 150×170 mm and a resonator size of 110×130 mm, as shown inFIG.4, unlike the results shown inFIG.3, although it is apparent that frequent resonance occurs at a low frequency, it is also apparent that the resonant mode does not occur between approximately 500˜800 Hz. When the distance between the frequencies is large, a peak deep effect may occur, and, eventually, the SLP smoothness also becomes poor.

If the diaphragm has a large size, the low frequency range sound pressure property is good even if the speaker is configured of only one piezoelectric resonator. That is, although there is a minor disadvantage in the sound pressure properties, this structure is mostly preferable. However, in light of the manufacturing process, it is difficult to manufacture a large surface piezoelectric resonator. Therefore, as a means of compensating for the minor disadvantage of the sound pressure properties while yielding such preferable properties, instead of using a large-surface piezoelectric resonator, the present invention uses a plurality of small-surface piezoelectric resonators that can be easily manufactured.

Additionally, as shown inFIG.5, a diaphragm (150×170 mm) having the same size as the one used inFIG.4is used, and only the size of the resonator is reduced to 20×30 mm. And, as shown in Equation (1), although the resonant mode occurs frequently in the low frequency by using the large diaphragm, due to the large resonant resistance of 1 kΩ or more, the wanted sound pressure may not be produced.

In order to compensate for such disadvantage (a peak deep effect having no resonant mode at a specific section of the low frequency range) and to maintain the advantage (generating the resonant mode comparatively frequently at 1 kHz or less) as it is, if a plurality of relatively small-sized and easily fabricated piezoelectric ceramic resonators are attached to a single large-sized diaphragm, due to the plurality of resonators, a plurality of virtual piezoelectric resonators having a new size is expected to be formed. And, accordingly, since a plurality of new basic resonance and harmonic waves are generated according to such virtual piezoelectric resonators, this structure is advantageous in that frequency resonant modes are frequently generated even at a low frequency, thereby reducing the peak deep effect.

That is, providing piezoelectric ceramic resonators by splitting a single piezoelectric ceramic resonator into a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic resonators has a new meaning that exceeds the mere adjustment of the size and number of piezoelectric ceramic resonators.

As shown inFIG.4, it is apparent that, in the resonance properties of a speaker that is configured of one large resonator, a resonant mode is not formed in a frequency section of 520 Hz˜820 Hz. Conversely, as shown inFIG.7, referring to the impedance-frequency property graph of a speaker, which is configured by combining 7 small-sized resonators104forming a same surface area as the surface area being occupied by the one large-sized resonator104, which is shown in the structure ofFIG.4, and one resonator107formed on an opposite surface of the diaphragm, it is apparent that the resonant mode is formed 4˜5 times at the same frequency section (520 Hz˜820 Hz). In this case, it is apparent that the smoothness improvement effect is distinctively noticeable as compared to the speaker that is configured of only one large resonator.

This structure has the same advantage of producing a strong sound pressure in accordance with the generation of a resonant mode at a low frequency that can be implemented when one large-sized piezoelectric ceramic resonator is attached to the diaphragm. This structure also has the advantage of having excellent SPL smoothness, by controlling the occurrence of a peak deep effect due to the generation of various resonant modes at a predetermined frequency band by a plurality of virtual piezoelectric resonators having various sizes, which are formed by the combination of multiple piezoelectric resonators.

For example, as shown inFIG.6according to an embodiment of the present invention, when configuring a piezoelectric speaker by arranging 2 piezoelectric resonators1(40×40 mm), 2 piezoelectric resonators2(30×40 mm), 2 piezoelectric resonators3(50×40 mm), and 1 piezoelectric resonator4(10×10 mm) on one side of a diaphragm having a size of 150×170 mm, referring to the frequency-impedance property, it is apparent that a larger number of resonant modes are generated at a low frequency, as compared to when only a single relatively large-sized piezoelectric resonator (130×150 mm) is used, as shown inFIG.4. Additionally, when using only a single relatively large-sized piezoelectric resonator (130×150 mm), as shown inFIG.4, although a harmonic mode is not detected at the frequency range of 500˜800 Hz, when configuring a piezoelectric speaker according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG.6, it is apparent that various harmonic modes are generated in the frequency range of 500˜800 Hz. Therefore, this indicates that this structure is very advantageous in improving the sound pressure property.

Additionally, as shown inFIG.7, when configuring a piezoelectric speaker by arranging 2 piezoelectric resonators1(40×40 mm), 2 piezoelectric resonators2(30×40 mm), 2 piezoelectric resonators3(50×40 mm), and 1 piezoelectric resonator4(10×10 mm) on one side of a diaphragm having a size of 150×170 mm, and by additionally attaching a new piezoelectric resonator (50×70 mm) on an opposite side of the diaphragm, it is apparent that a more dense harmonic resonant mode is generated in the frequency range of 500˜800 Hz and that a vibration mode having low resonant resistance may be generated. This may have a greater effect if the size of the diaphragm is increased and a larger number of resonators are arranged and attached to the diaphragm. Thus, more abundant sound may be produced at the low frequency range, and the smoothness may also be enhanced.

At this point, it may be more advantageous for the generation of a dense harmonic resonant mode to arrange the at least one piezoelectric resonator, which is attached to the opposite side of the diaphragm, to an opposing area of the area that is formed in-between the piezoelectric resonators being attached to the one surface of the diaphragm.

A comparison ofFIG.4,FIG.6, andFIG.6is summarized in the table shown below. The investigated frequency range is defined as a range of 390˜840 Hz. And, the maximum limit and the minimum limit are set to a range less than 10 inclusive of values exceeding or less than 10.

TABLE 1Number of harmonicImpedance (resonanceresonant modesresistance) range (Ω)FIG. 44121~620FIG. 66140~835FIG. 78100~800*FIG. 4: 1 piezoelectric resonator (110 × 130 mm) on one side of a diaphragm of 150 × 170 mm*FIG. 6: 2 piezoelectric resonators 1 (40 × 40 mm), 2 piezoelectric resonators 2 (30 × 40 mm), 2 piezoelectric resonators 3 (50 × 40 mm), and 1 piezoelectric resonator 4 (10 × 10 mm) on one side of a diaphragm of 150 × 170 mm*FIG. 7: Add a piezoelectric resonator 107 (50 × 70 mm) on a rear surface of a diaphragm having the diaphragm and resonator arrangement shown in FIG. 6

As shown in the table presented above, all resonant resistances are sufficiently low. However, in the frequency range of 390˜840 Hz, the number of harmonic resonant modes inFIG.4is equal to 4, which is a lower number than those ofFIG.6andFIG.7. Therefore, in case ofFIG.6andFIG.7, the sound quality at the low frequency range may be consistent and excellent.

Additionally, although the maximum limit of the impedance inFIG.4has increased as compared toFIG.6andFIG.7, when considering the difference in sound quality, such degree of difference in impedance is not significant. And, therefore, in case of the minimum limit, it is apparent that the case ofFIG.7is the lowest.

Therefore, it is apparent thatFIG.6andFIG.7, which include the technical scope and spirit of the present invention, may derive a more excellent sound pressure property as compared toFIG.4. Additionally, the case ofFIG.6andFIG.7may be more easily implemented at a lower fabrication cost as compared toFIG.4.

It shall be noted that the embodiments set forth herein are provided to describe the embodiments according to the present invention, and not to limit the present invention. Furthermore, it may be understood by anyone with ordinary skills in the field that other various embodiments may also be implemented without deviating from the technical scope and spirit of the present invention.