PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9913045-B2
Application Number: US-201615132136-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Piezoelectric speakers for electronic devices

Abstract:
An electronic device has an exterior housing with a piezoelectric speaker disposed in an opening formed within the housing. The piezoelectric speaker includes a speaker diaphragm that is secured within the opening with a vibration isolator. The vibration isolator allows the diaphragm to vibrate independently from the housing.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a housing including a transparent cover attached to a housing body having a rear portion and a plurality of sidewalls extending between the rear portion and the transparent cover; 
 an opening formed through the transparent cover; 
 a piezoelectric speaker diaphragm disposed within the opening and positioned to be substantially coplanar with an exterior surface of the transparent cover; 
 a piezoelectric receiver attached to the speaker diaphragm; and 
 a vibration isolator coupled between the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm and the transparent cover to enable the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm to vibrate independently from the transparent cover. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the vibration isolator is disposed around a periphery of the speaker diaphragm and is configured to create a water tight seal between the speaker diaphragm and the transparent cover. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm is coplanar with and colored to match the exterior surface of the transparent cover such that it appears to be a portion of the transparent cover. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 3  wherein the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm is made from a transparent material. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 4  wherein the transparent cover is made from glass. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 1  further comprising circuitry operatively coupled to the piezoelectric receiver and configured to cause the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm to vibrate and function as a speaker. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of piezoelectric speakers used together as an aggregate speaker. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm is transparent and is similar in appearance to the transparent cover. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the transparent cover extends between the plurality of sidewalls. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the transparent cover includes a display region separate from a speaker region and the opening is formed through the transparent cover in the speaker region. 
     
     
       11. An electronic device comprising:
 a transparent cover disposed over a graphical display of the electronic device, the transparent cover having an opening formed there through; 
 a housing body having a rear portion and a plurality of sidewalls extending between the rear portion and the transparent cover; 
 a piezoelectric speaker aligned with the opening, the piezoelectric speaker including a speaker diaphragm and a piezoelectric receiver attached to the speaker diaphragm, wherein the speaker diaphragm is substantially coplanar with an exterior surface of the transparent cover; and 
 a vibration isolator coupled between the speaker diaphragm and the transparent cover to enable the speaker diaphragm to vibrate independently from the transparent cover. 
 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 11  wherein the speaker diaphragm is made from a transparent material. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 11  wherein the piezoelectric receiver includes a layer of piezoelectric material bonded to the speaker diaphragm. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 13  further comprising circuitry operatively coupled to the piezoelectric receiver and configured to cause the speaker diaphragm to vibrate and function as a speaker. 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 11  wherein the vibration isolator is arranged to cover a gap between the speaker diaphragm and the transparent cover creating a water tight seal between the speaker diaphragm and the transparent cover. 
     
     
       16. The electronic device of  claim 11  wherein there are a plurality of vibration isolators that are disposed around a periphery of the speaker diaphragm. 
     
     
       17. The electronic device of  claim 11  wherein there are a plurality of speakers, each aligned with an opening within the transparent cover. 
     
     
       18. An electronic device comprising:
 a housing including a transparent cover attached to a housing body having a rear portion and a plurality of sidewalls extending between the rear portion and the transparent cover; 
 an opening formed through the transparent cover; 
 a piezoelectric speaker aligned with the opening and including a speaker diaphragm and a piezoelectric receiver attached to the speaker diaphragm, wherein the speaker diaphragm is positioned to be substantially coplanar with an exterior surface of the transparent cover; 
 a speaker driver circuit configured to transmit electronic signals to the piezoelectric receiver that make the speaker diaphragm vibrate; and 
 a vibration isolator coupled between the speaker diaphragm and the transparent cover to enable the speaker diaphragm to vibrate independently from the transparent cover. 
 
     
     
       19. The electronic device of  claim 18  wherein the vibration isolator is arranged to cover a gap between the speaker diaphragm and the housing creating a water tight seal between the speaker diaphragm and the housing. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device of  claim 18  wherein the speaker diaphragm is colored to match the exterior surface of the transparent cover such that it appears to be a portion of the transparent cover. 
     
     
       21. The electronic device of  claim 20  wherein the speaker diaphragm is made from a transparent material. 
     
     
       22. The electronic device of  claim 21  wherein the transparent cover is made from glass. 
     
     
       23. The electronic device of  claim 18  wherein there are a plurality of speakers, each aligned with an opening within the transparent cover.

Description:
FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to electronic devices that employ speakers within an exterior housing of an electronic device. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to piezoelectric speakers that are used in electronic devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Currently there are a wide variety of electronic devices that include one or more speakers located within their exterior housings. Many of these electronic devices employ traditional voice coil speakers that involve relatively large and complex assemblies. However, electronic devices are becoming smaller and more feature rich, leaving less room for the relatively large and complex voice coil speakers. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to piezoelectric speakers and to electronic devices that include such speakers. Piezoelectric speakers according to embodiments of the disclosure can be relatively thin compared to traditional voice coil speakers, which in turn, allows devices that incorporate such piezoelectric speakers to be made smaller and/or enables the devices to have extra room for additional components. 
     In some embodiments an electronic device according to the disclosure includes a housing having an exterior surface with an opening formed there through. A piezoelectric speaker, including a diaphragm and a piezoelectric receiver, is aligned with and fit within the opening. A vibration isolator is coupled between the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm and the housing to enable the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm to vibrate independently from the housing. 
     In some embodiments the vibration isolator is disposed around a periphery of the speaker diaphragm and creates a water tight seal between the speaker diaphragm and the housing. In various embodiments the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm is coplanar with and colored to match the exterior surface of the housing such that it appears to be a portion of the housing. In some embodiments a plurality of piezoelectric speakers are used together to create an aggregate speaker with improved sound quality as compared to a unitary piezoelectric speaker. 
     In some embodiments the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm is made from a transparent material and in various embodiments the diaphragm and the housing are both made from a transparent material. In some embodiments circuitry is operatively coupled to the piezoelectric receiver and is configured to cause the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm to vibrate and function as a speaker. 
     In some embodiments an electronic device according to the disclosure includes a transparent cover disposed over a graphical display of the electronic device. The transparent cover has an opening formed there through and a piezoelectric speaker is aligned with the opening. The piezoelectric speaker can include a speaker diaphragm and a piezoelectric receiver attached to the speaker diaphragm. A vibration isolator is coupled between the speaker diaphragm and the transparent cover to enable the speaker diaphragm to vibrate independently from the transparent cover. 
     In some embodiments the speaker diaphragm is made from a transparent material and is coplanar with the transparent cover. In various embodiments the piezoelectric receiver includes a layer of piezoelectric material bonded to the speaker diaphragm. In some embodiments the vibration isolator is arranged to cover a gap between the speaker diaphragm and the transparent cover creating a water tight seal between the speaker diaphragm and the transparent cover. 
     In some embodiments a plurality of vibration isolators are disposed around a periphery of the speaker diaphragm. In various embodiments there are a plurality of speakers used together to create an aggregate speaker with improved sound quality. Each of the plurality of speakers can each have a separate diaphragm aligned with an opening within the transparent cover. In some embodiments circuitry is operatively coupled to the piezoelectric receiver and is configured to cause the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm to vibrate and function as a speaker. 
     In some embodiments an electronic device includes a housing having an exterior surface with an opening formed there through. A piezoelectric speaker is aligned with the opening and includes a piezoelectric receiver attached to the speaker diaphragm. A speaker driver circuit is configured to transmit electronic signals to the piezoelectric speaker receiver that make the speaker diaphragm vibrate. A vibration isolator is coupled between the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm and the housing to enable the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm to vibrate independently from the housing. 
     In some embodiments the vibration isolator is arranged to cover a gap between the speaker diaphragm and the housing to create a water tight seal between the speaker diaphragm and the housing. In various embodiments the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm is coplanar with and colored to match the exterior surface of the housing such that it appears to be a portion of the housing. In some embodiments the piezoelectric speaker diaphragm is made from a transparent material. 
     In some embodiments the housing is made from a transparent material. In various embodiments there are a plurality of speaker diaphragms, each aligned with an opening within the housing. 
     To better understand the nature and advantages of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the following description and the accompanying figures. It is to be understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the scope of the present disclosure. Also, as a general rule, and unless it is evident to the contrary from the description, where elements in different figures use identical reference numbers, the elements are generally either identical or at least similar in function or purpose. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a close up view of a top portion of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of the receiver speaker shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a close up view of the receiver speaker of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a close up view of an alternative embodiment of the receiver speaker of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the receiver speaker shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a close up view of a top portion of an electronic device with two receiver speakers according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of an electronic device with a piezoelectric loudspeaker according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of the loudspeaker shown in  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a simplified system diagram of an electronic device with a speaker according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to piezoelectric speakers that are used in electronic devices. For example, in some embodiments an electronic device, such as a smartphone, is equipped with a piezoelectric speaker that is used as a phone receiver. The electronic device has an exterior housing with an opening that is configured to receive the piezoelectric speaker. The piezoelectric speaker has a diaphragm that is aligned with the opening and coplanar with an exterior surface of the housing. A vibration isolator is used to secure the diaphragm to the housing and to isolate the diaphragm from the housing so the diaphragm can vibrate independently from the housing. A piezoelectric receiver, comprising piezoelectric material, is attached to an interior surface of the diaphragm and is driven by circuitry within the electronic device. The circuitry within the electronic device supplies electronic signals to the piezoelectric receiver which moves in response, causing the diaphragm to vibrate, creating sound waves the user can hear. The piezoelectric speaker is relatively thin as compared to traditional voice coil speakers, consuming relatively little space within the electronic device. 
     In some embodiments, the vibration isolator can be configured to form a watertight seal between the diaphragm and the housing so liquid and/or debris cannot pass into the electronic device through the opening in the housing. In various embodiments the diaphragm can be made out of the same material as the housing (e.g., glass, zirconia, aluminum, steel, etc.) and formed to be nearly imperceptible from the remainder of the housing, providing an aesthetically appealing continuous exterior housing. 
     In another example a combination of different sizes and/or shapes of piezoelectric speakers can be used together to improve the sound quality of the aggregated speaker. In a further example, a piezoelectric receiver can be mounted to a portion of the electronic device housing so the housing functions as the speaker diaphragm. 
     In order to better appreciate the features and aspects of piezoelectric speakers for electronic devices according to the present disclosure, further context for the disclosure is provided in the following section by discussing one particular implementation of an electronic device according to embodiments of the present disclosure. These embodiments are for example only and other embodiments can be employed in other electronic devices such as, but not limited to computers, watches, wearable electronic devices, media players and other devices. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an illustrative rendering of an electronic device  100 , such as a smart phone, according to some embodiments of the disclosure. Electronic device  100  includes a housing  105  having an exterior surface  110 , a receptacle connector  115 , a multipurpose button  120  as an input component and a touch screen display  125  as both an input and output component. Housing  105  may include a transparent cover made from a transparent ceramic, glass or plastic material as a front portion of the housing and the remainder of the housing may be made from a different material such as, for example, metal or plastic. Electronic device  100  also includes a phone receiver  130  including one or more piezoelectric speakers  135 , as described in greater detail below. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2  a magnified view of a top portion of electronic device  100 , including phone receiver  130  is illustrated. As shown in  FIG. 2 , phone receiver  130  includes a receiver opening  205  formed through housing  105 . A diaphragm  210  of piezoelectric speaker  135  is aligned with and fit into the opening. In some embodiments diaphragm  210  can have a similar appearance as housing  105  and a gap  215  between the diaphragm and housing  105  can be relatively small such that the diaphragm is nearly imperceptible from the housing, providing an aesthetically appealing continuous exterior housing, as discussed in more detail below. Section A-A through receiver opening  205 , speaker diaphragm  210  and other components within housing  105  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  receiver opening  205  is formed through the entire thickness of housing  105  and piezoelectric speaker  135  is fit within the opening. More specifically, piezoelectric speaker  135  includes a piezoelectric speaker diaphragm  210  with a piezoelectric receiver  305  bonded to it. Speaker diaphragm  210 , which can include a substantially flat and thin high modulus of elasticity material, is aligned with opening  205  and positioned substantially flush with exterior surface  110  of housing  105 . Piezoelectric receiver  305 , which can include a substantially flat and thin piece of piezoelectric material sized slightly smaller than speaker diaphragm  210 , is attached to an interior surface  310  of speaker diaphragm  210 . A vibration isolator  315  is coupled between piezoelectric speaker diaphragm  210  and housing  105  to hold piezoelectric speaker  135  in place within opening  205  and to isolate the diaphragm from the housing, as described in more detail below. 
     Piezoelectric speaker  135  functions by receiving electronic signals from circuitry within electronic device  100 . More specifically, piezoelectric receiver  305  is made from a piezoelectric material that moves in response to receiving electronic signals. When piezoelectric receiver  305  moves (i.e., vibrates) it makes diaphragm  210  vibrate which creates sound waves that can be heard by a user. 
     In some embodiments diaphragm  210  can be arranged to be coplanar with and colored to match exterior surface  110  of housing  105  such that the diaphragm appears to be a portion of the housing, giving electronic device  100  an aesthetically appealing appearance. For example, in some embodiments housing  105  may have a front portion (also called a transparent cover) made from a transparent material, such as, for example, glass, sapphire, silicon dioxide or zirconia, and diaphragm  210  is made from the same or a similar looking material. In another example, housing  105  is made from a metal, such as aluminum or steel, and diaphragm  210  is made from the same or a similar looking material. As discussed above, housing  105  may have a transparent cover disposed over all of or a portion of the housing and the remainder of the housing may be made from a different material such as metal and/or plastic. These materials are for example only and other materials can be used for housing  105  and diaphragm  210  without departing from the disclosure. In some embodiments diaphragm  210  may be made from a relatively high modulus of elasticity material that can be above 25 GPa, while in various embodiments it can be above 50 GPa. 
     In some embodiments, diaphragm  210  can be made to look like a portion of housing  105  by minimizing gap  215  between diaphragm  210  and housing  105 . In various embodiments gap  215  can be between 5 microns and 1500 microns while in other embodiments it can be between 5 microns and 100 microns and in some embodiments it can be between 10 microns and 50 microns. 
     In some embodiments piezoelectric receiver  305  includes a piezoelectric crystalline, polycrystalline material such as, for example: quartz, berlinite, sucrose, topaz, tourmaline, Rochelle salt, barium titanate (BaTiO3), lead zirconate titanate (PZT), potassium niobate (KNbO3), sodium tungstate (Na2WO3), Ba2NaNb5O5, Pb2KNb5O15, Zinc oxide (ZnO)-Wurtzite structure and Group III-V and II-VI materials, or other material. 
     In some embodiments, vibration isolator  315  is made from a material that enables piezoelectric speaker diaphragm  210  to vibrate independently from housing  105 . More specifically, in some embodiments when piezoelectric diaphragm  210  vibrates to generate sound waves, it may be desirable to isolate the diaphragm from surrounding housing  105  so the housing does not also vibrate and broadcast the sound (i.e., acting as a loudspeaker). By isolating the vibrations to diaphragm  210 , a user may be able to privately hear sound from the diaphragm by placing their ear over the diaphragm (i.e., over phone receiver  130  in  FIG. 1 ). Further, vibration isolator  315  can also improve the acoustic performance of piezoelectric speaker  135  by allowing the majority of the vibrational energy from piezoelectric receiver  305  to be used to make diaphragm  210  vibrate and not be damped or dissipated by housing  105 . 
     In some embodiments vibration isolator  315  can be made out of a relatively low modulus of elasticity elastic material, such as, for example: a silicone, a rubber, or an elastomer while other embodiments can be made out of a flexible membrane such as, for example, Mylar, polyamide, or other material. Vibration isolator  315  can be secured to diaphragm  210  and/or housing  105  by the adhesion of the isolator material itself, or with the aid of other materials like an adhesive or a heat activated film. Similar materials can be used to adhere piezoelectric receiver  305  to diaphragm  210 . Myriad materials can be used for vibration isolator  315  and for the adhesion of the isolator without departing from the disclosure. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , vibration isolator  315  has an outer surface  320  that is secured to a wall  325  of opening  205  and an upper surface  330  that is secured to interior surface  310  of diaphragm  210 , however other embodiments can have vibration isolators that are secured to piezoelectric speaker  135  in a different way. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 4  a close-up plan view of piezoelectric speaker  135  is shown with the dashed lines indicating the planar location of vibration isolator  315 . In this embodiment a single vibration isolator  315  is disposed around an entire periphery  405  of speaker diaphragm  210  and can be configured to create a water tight seal between the speaker diaphragm and housing  105 , however other embodiments of the disclosure can include different configurations for the vibration isolator. 
     For example, referring to  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments there can be a plurality of individual vibration isolators  505  that are disposed around periphery  405  of speaker diaphragm  210 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5  there are six individual vibration isolators  505 , however other embodiments can have less or more individual isolators that may be arranged or configured differently than illustrated. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 6 , a cross-section of a piezoelectric speaker  135  is illustrated according to another embodiment of the disclosure. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  differs from the embodiment discussed above in that a housing  605  of an electronic device includes an opening  610  that does not penetrate the entire thickness of the housing. Rather, opening  610  is a recess that is formed in an outer surface  615  of housing  605 . This embodiment has the benefit of a waterproof housing  605  without relying on vibration isolator  620  to provide a seal. Thus, this embodiment can be used with a plurality of individual vibration isolators, such as those described above in  FIG. 5 , without adversely affecting the waterproof performance of the electronic device. 
     In some embodiments, electronic signals can be coupled to receiver  305  with, for example, wires, a flexible circuit board or conductive traces that could be formed with insert molding or laser direct structuring. In embodiments where opening  610  is formed in a portion of housing  605  that is a transparent cover, conductive traces may be routed on the inside surface of the transparent cover and conductive vias can transition electrical signals within the recess where wires or a flexible circuit board can couple the electronic signals to the piezoelectric receiver. In some embodiments the traces and vias can be formed with printable metallic inks having a glass frit such as those used with ceramics. In other embodiments the traces and vias can be formed with a thin film process, such as electroplating or sputtering and patterned with photolithography. Other methods can be used without departing from this disclosure. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 7  an embodiment of electronic device  100  is illustrated that uses two separate piezoelectric speakers  705 ,  710  for phone receiver  715 . Using more than one piezoelectric speaker can enable the combination of speakers to, for example, improve the sound quality of receiver  715  and/or simultaneously generate audio for a user while generating active noise cancellation sounds or for other functions. In this embodiment, left speaker  705  has a relatively larger rectangular diaphragm  720  and right speaker  710  has a relatively smaller circular diaphragm  725 , however other embodiments can employ a greater number of piezoelectric speakers having diaphragms of any size and shape. As an example, left speaker  705  can use larger diaphragm  720  to generate lower frequency audio signals while right speaker  710  can use smaller diaphragm  725  to generate higher frequency audio signals. Thus, the combination of speakers  705 ,  710  can be used in aggregate to improve audio quality of phone receiver  715 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 8 , an isometric rear view of electronic device  100  is illustrated. In this embodiment a piezoelectric receiver  805  is secured to an inside surface of rear housing  810  such that a portion of the housing acts as the speaker diaphragm. As compared to the embodiments above, this embodiment can generate louder sounds (i.e., due to the larger diaphragm) and could be used as a loudspeaker or other function such as, for example, tactile feedback to a user.  FIG. 9  illustrates cross-section C-C through piezoelectric receiver  805  and rear housing  810 .  FIG. 9  also illustrates an exaggerated upper range of motion  905  and a lower range of motion  910  for a portion of rear housing  810  when piezoelectric receiver  805  makes the rear housing vibrate and generate sound waves. The location at which piezoelectric receiver  805  is mounted to housing  810  in  FIG. 8  is just one example of a suitable mounting location. In other embodiments of the disclosure piezoelectric receiver  805  can be mounted to the electronic device housing at other locations. Further, the particular portion of housing  810  that piezoelectric receiver  805  is mounted to can be any material including a transparent material including glass or ceramic, a metal or a plastic. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 10  a simplified illustrative block diagram representing an electronic media device  1000  (e.g., such as device  100  in  FIG. 1 ) that includes a piezoelectric speaker  1005  according to embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. Electronic media device  1000  can also include, among other components, connector receptacle  1010 , one or more user input components  1020 , one or more output components  1025 , control circuitry  1030 , graphics circuitry  1035 , a bus  1040 , a memory  1045 , a storage device  1050 , communications circuitry  1055  and speaker driver circuitry  1060 . Control circuitry  1030  can communicate with the other components of electronic media device  1000  (e.g., via bus  1040 ) to control the operation of electronic media device  1000 . In some embodiments, control circuitry  1030  can execute instructions stored in a memory  1045 . Control circuitry  1030  can also be operative to control the performance of electronic media device  1000 . Control circuitry  1030  can include, for example, a processor, a microcontroller and a bus (e.g., for sending instructions to the other components of electronic media device  1000 ). In some embodiments, control circuitry  1030  can also drive the display and process inputs received from input component  1020 . 
     Memory  1045  can include one or more different types of memory that can be used to perform device functions. For example, memory  1045  can include cache, flash memory, ROM, RAM and hybrid types of memory. Memory  1045  can also store firmware for the device and its applications (e.g., operating system, user interface functions and processor functions). Storage device  1050  can include one or more suitable storage mediums or mechanisms, such as a magnetic hard drive, flash drive, tape drive, optical drive, permanent memory (such as ROM), semi-permanent memory (such as RAM) or cache. Storage device  1050  can be used for storing media (e.g., audio and video files), text, pictures, graphics, advertising or any suitable user-specific or global information that can be used by electronic media device  1000 . Storage device  1050  can also store programs or applications that can run on control circuitry  1030 , can maintain files formatted to be read and edited by one or more of the applications and can store any additional files that can aid the operation of one or more applications (e.g., files with metadata). It should be understood that any of the information stored on storage device  1050  can instead be stored in memory  1045 . 
     Electronic media device  1000  can also include input component  1020  and output component  1025  for providing a user with the ability to interact with electronic media device  1000 . For example, input component  1020  and output component  1025  can provide an interface for a user to interact with an application running on control circuitry  1030 . Input component  1020  can take a variety of forms, such as a keyboard/keypad, trackpad, mouse, click wheel, button, stylus or touch screen. Input component  1020  can also include one or more devices for user authentication (e.g., a smart card reader, a fingerprint reader or an iris scanner) as well as an audio input device (e.g., a microphone) or a video input device (e.g., a camera or a web cam) for recording video or still frames. Output component  1025  can include any suitable display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a touch screen display, a projection device, a speaker or any other suitable system for presenting information or media to a user. Output component  1025  can be controlled by graphics circuitry  1035 . Graphics circuitry  1035  can include a video card, such as a video card with 2D, 3D or vector graphics capabilities. In some embodiments, output component  1025  can also include an audio component that is remotely coupled to electronic media device  1000 . For example, output component  1025  can include a headset, headphones or ear buds that can be coupled to electronic media device  1000  with a wire or wirelessly (e.g., Bluetooth headphones or a Bluetooth headset). 
     Electronic media device  1000  can have one or more applications (e.g., software applications) stored on storage device  1050  or in memory  1045 . Control circuitry  1030  can be configured to execute instructions of the applications from memory  1045 . For example, control circuitry  1030  can be configured to execute a media player application that causes full-motion video or audio to be presented or displayed on output component  1025 . Other applications resident on electronic media device  1000  can include, for example, a telephony application, a GPS navigator application, a web browser application and a calendar or organizer application. Electronic media device  1000  can also execute any suitable operating system, such as Mac OS, Apple iOS, Linux or Windows and can include a set of applications stored on storage device  1050  or memory  1045 , which applications can be compatible with the operating system running on the device. 
     In some embodiments, electronic media device  1000  can also include communications circuitry  1055  to connect to one or more communications networks. Communications circuitry  1055  can be any suitable communications circuitry operative to connect to a communications network and to transmit communications (e.g., voice or data) from electronic media device  1000  to other devices within the communications network. Communications circuitry  1055  can be operative to interface with the communications network using any suitable communications protocol such as, for example, Wi-Fi (e.g., a 802.11 protocol), Bluetooth, high frequency systems (e.g., 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.6 GHz communication systems), infrared, GSM, GSM plus EDGE, CDMA, quadband and other cellular protocols, VOIP or any other suitable protocol. 
     In some embodiments, communications circuitry  1055  can be operative to create a communications network using any suitable communications protocol. Communications circuitry  1055  can create a short-range communications network using a short-range communications protocol to connect to other devices. For example, communications circuitry  1055  can be operative to create a local communications network using the Bluetooth protocol to couple with a Bluetooth headset (or any other Bluetooth device). Communications circuitry  1055  can also include a wired or wireless network interface card (NIC) configured to connect to the Internet or any other public or private network. For example, electronic media device  1000  can be configured to connect to the Internet via a wireless network, such as a packet radio network, an RF network, a cellular network or any other suitable type of network. Communication circuitry  1045  can be used to initiate and conduct communications with other communications devices or media devices within a communications network. 
     Electronic media device  1000  can also include any other component suitable for performing a communications operation. For example, electronic media device  1000  can include a power supply, an antenna, ports or interfaces for coupling to a host device, a secondary input mechanism (e.g., an ON/OFF switch) or any other suitable component. 
     Speaker driver circuitry  1060  can include circuitry configured to convert audio signals to signals that are configured to drive one or more piezoelectric speakers  1005 . In some embodiments piezoelectric speakers  1005  can be driven with a varying voltage, however other types of signals can be used. In various embodiments speaker driver circuitry can separate a higher frequency band from a lower frequency band and send the higher frequencies to a first piezoelectric speaker and the lower frequencies to a second piezoelectric speaker. Other configurations and variations of speaker driver circuitry  1060  and piezoelectric speaker  1005  are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Although the electronic devices (e.g., electronic device  100  in  FIG. 1 ) are described and illustrated as one particular electronic device, embodiments of the disclosure are suitable for use with a multiplicity of electronic devices. For example, any device that receives or transmits audio, video or data signals can be used with the disclosure. In some instances, embodiments of the disclosure are particularly well suited for use with portable electronic media devices because of their potentially small form factor. As used herein, an electronic media device includes any device with at least one electronic component that can be used to present human-perceivable media. Such devices can include, for example, portable music players (e.g., MP3 devices and Apple&#39;s iPod devices), portable video players (e.g., portable DVD players), cellular telephones (e.g., smart telephones such as Apple&#39;s iPhone devices), watches, wearable electronic devices, video cameras, digital still cameras, projection systems (e.g., holographic projection systems), gaming systems, PDAs, as well as tablet (e.g., Apple&#39;s iPad devices), laptop or other mobile computers. Some of these devices can be configured to provide audio, video or other data or sensory output. 
     For simplicity, various internal components, such as the control circuitry, graphics circuitry, bus, memory, storage device and other components of electronic devices are not shown in the figures. 
     In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the disclosure have been described with reference to numerous specific details that can vary from implementation to implementation. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The sole and exclusive indicator of the scope of the disclosure, and what is intended by the applicants to be the scope of the disclosure, is the literal and equivalent scope of the set of claims that issue from this application, in the specific form in which such claims issue, including any subsequent correction. The specific details of particular embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without departing from the spirit and scope of embodiments of the disclosure. 
     Additionally, spatially relative terms, such as “bottom or “top” and the like may be used to describe an element and/or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) and/or feature(s) as, for example, illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use and/or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as a “bottom” surface may then be oriented “above” other elements or features. The device may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20160418
Publication Date: 20180306
Grant Date: 20180306
Priority Date: 20160418
Inventors: HOOTON LEE E.
MEYER ROBERT F.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04R17/005", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2307/201", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/18", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/227", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/045", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/15", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/15", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/18", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/045", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/15", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2307/201", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/227", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R17/005", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/227", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2307/201", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R17/005", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 60039113