PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9288582-B2
Application Number: US-201514612872-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Suspension system for micro-speakers

Abstract:
A speaker driver including a frame and a magnet assembly positioned within the frame. A sound radiating surface may be suspended over the magnet assembly. The sound radiating surface may include a top face and a bottom face, and the bottom face may face the magnet assembly. A suspension member may suspend the sound radiating surface over the magnet assembly. The suspension member may include a top side connected to the bottom face of the sound radiating surface and a bottom side connected to assembly support member that is separate from the magnet assembly. A voice coil extends from the bottom face of the sound radiating surface.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A speaker driver comprising:
 a frame; 
 a magnet assembly positioned within the frame; 
 a sound radiating surface suspended over the magnet assembly, the sound radiating surface having a top face and a bottom face, and wherein the bottom face faces the magnet assembly; 
 a suspension member for suspending the sound radiating surface over the magnet assembly, the suspension member having a top side connected to the bottom face of the sound radiating surface and a bottom side connected to a support member, and wherein the top side and the bottom side of the suspension member define a thickness of the suspension member, and the thickness of the suspension member is modifiable in a z-height direction; and 
 a voice coil extending from the bottom face of the sound radiating surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The speaker driver of  claim 1  wherein the suspension member comprises a resilient material configured to compress and expand in the z-height direction in response to a movement of the sound radiating surface. 
     
     
       3. The speaker driver of  claim 1  wherein the suspension member comprises a resilient tube. 
     
     
       4. The speaker driver of  claim 1  wherein the suspension member is configured to acoustically seal the sound radiating surface to the magnet assembly. 
     
     
       5. The speaker driver of  claim 1  wherein the suspension member is a first suspension member, and the speaker driver further comprises a second suspension member connected to a top face of the sound radiating surface and the frame. 
     
     
       6. The speaker driver of  claim 1  wherein the suspension member is a) confined to an area within a footprint of the sound radiating surface or b) does not extend radially beyond an outer perimeter of the sound radiating surface. 
     
     
       7. The speaker driver of  claim 6  wherein the support member is an integral part of the frame. 
     
     
       8. The speaker driver of  claim 1  wherein the support member is a separate structure from the magnet assembly and is made of a different material than the magnet assembly. 
     
     
       9. A micro-speaker assembly comprising:
 a frame; 
 a magnet assembly positioned within the frame; 
 a sound radiating surface suspended over the magnet assembly, the sound radiating surface having a top face and a bottom face, and wherein the bottom face faces the magnet assembly; 
 a suspension member for suspending the sound radiating surface over the magnet assembly, wherein the suspension member extends in a z-height direction from the bottom face of the sound radiating surface toward a support member, and wherein the suspension member comprises a top side attached to the bottom face of the sound radiating surface and a bottom side, and wherein the top side and the bottom side are aligned in the z-height direction and confined to an area below the bottom face of the sound radiating surface; and 
 a voice coil extending from the bottom face of the sound radiating surface. 
 
     
     
       10. The micro-speaker assembly of  claim 9  wherein the suspension member is configured to compress or expand along the z-height direction in response to movement of the sound radiating surface. 
     
     
       11. The micro-speaker assembly of  claim 9  wherein the suspension member does not extend radially beyond a perimeter of the sound radiating surface. 
     
     
       12. The micro-speaker assembly of  claim 9  wherein the suspension member comprises a hollow tube that seals the sound radiating surface to the magnet assembly. 
     
     
       13. The micro-speaker assembly of  claim 9  wherein the magnet assembly is a center magnet confined to an area within the voice coil. 
     
     
       14. The micro-speaker assembly of  claim 9  wherein the z-height is a first z-height corresponding to a distance between the sound radiating surface and a top of the frame and the micro-speaker assembly further comprises a second z-height corresponding to a distance between the top of the frame and a bottom of the frame, and wherein a ratio of the first z-height to the second z-height is less than 1 to 4. 
     
     
       15. A portable audio device comprising:
 an outer case having a speaker associated acoustic hole formed therein; and 
 a speaker assembly positioned within the outer case and acoustically coupled to the speaker associated acoustic hole, the speaker assembly having a diaphragm, a voice coil, and a magnet assembly, wherein the diaphragm is suspended over the magnet assembly by a suspension member that extends in a z-height direction away from a bottom face of the diaphragm and toward a support member within the outer case, and wherein the suspension member comprises a thickness that is modifiable in the z-height direction. 
 
     
     
       16. The portable audio device of  claim 15  wherein an acoustic radiation surface area of the diaphragm substantially overlaps the suspension member. 
     
     
       17. The portable audio device of  claim 15  wherein the suspension member is connected to a portion of a bottom face of the diaphragm surrounding the voice coil. 
     
     
       18. The portable audio device of  claim 15  wherein the suspension member comprises a resilient material that forms a seal between the diaphragm and the magnet assembly. 
     
     
       19. The portable audio device of  claim 15  wherein the suspension member is a first suspension member, and the device further comprises a second suspension member comprising sections of a resilient material that are attached to a top face of the diaphragm. 
     
     
       20. The portable audio device of  claim 15  wherein the speaker assembly is a side firing speaker assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/954,382, filed Jul. 30, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     An embodiment of the invention is directed to a speaker assembly suspension system for low rise micro-speakers. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In modern consumer electronics, audio capability is playing an increasingly larger role as improvements in digital audio signal processing and audio content delivery continue to happen. There is a range of consumer electronics devices that are not dedicated or specialized audio playback devices, yet can benefit from improved audio performance. For instance, smart phones are ubiquitous. These devices, however, do not have sufficient space to house high fidelity speakers. This is also true for portable personal computers such as laptop, notebook, and tablet computers, and, to a lesser extent, desktop personal computers with built-in speakers. Such devices typically require speaker enclosures or boxes that have a relatively low rise (i.e. height or thickness as defined along the z-axis), as compared to, for instance, stand alone high fidelity speakers and dedicated digital music systems for handheld media players. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the invention is a speaker assembly (e.g. a speaker driver) including a frame, a magnet assembly, a sound radiation surface, a suspension member and a voice coil. The magnet assembly is positioned within the frame and the sound radiating surface is suspended over the magnet assembly by the suspension member. The suspension member may have a top side connected to a bottom face of the sound radiating surface and a bottom side connected to a support member such that it extends in the z-height direction of the speaker driver. The voice coil may extend from the bottom face of the sound radiating surface such that it is aligned with a magnetic flux gap formed within the magnet assembly. The suspension member may be resilient such that it can expand and contract in the z-height direction in response to movement of the sound radiating surface. In addition, the suspension member may be confined to an area below the sound radiating surface and within a footprint of the sound radiating surface such that it does not extend radially beyond the perimeter of the sound radiating surface. In this aspect, an acoustic radiation surface area of the sound radiating surface may be improved, e.g., increased. 
     In some embodiments, the speaker assembly may be a micro-speaker assembly which is integrated within a portable audio device. In this aspect, an acoustic output port of the speaker assembly may be aligned with an acoustic opening of the portable audio device such that sound generated by the speaker assembly may be output from the portable audio device. 
     The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is contemplated that the embodiments may include all systems and methods that can be practiced from all suitable combinations of the various aspects summarized above, as well as those disclosed in the Detailed Description below and particularly pointed out in the claims filed with the application. Such combinations may have particular advantages not specifically recited in the above summary. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one. 
         FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a speaker assembly. 
         FIG. 1B  is a bottom plan view of the sound radiating surface of one embodiment of the speaker assembly along line 1-1′ of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1C  is a cross-sectional side view of the speaker assembly of  FIG. 1A  having a compressed suspension member. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a speaker assembly. 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a speaker assembly. 
         FIG. 3B  is a top plan view of the sound radiating surface of one embodiment of the speaker assembly along line 3-3′ of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a speaker assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a speaker assembly. 
         FIG. 6  depicts two instances of consumer electronics devices that typically specify low rise speakers in which the speakers disclosed herein may be implemented. 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a system in which embodiments of a speaker assembly may be implemented. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In this section we shall explain several preferred embodiments with reference to the appended drawings. Whenever the shapes, relative positions and other aspects of the parts described in the embodiments are not clearly defined, the scope of the embodiments is not limited only to the parts shown, which are meant merely for the purpose of illustration. Also, while numerous details are set forth, it is understood that some embodiments may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description. 
       FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a speaker assembly. Speaker assembly  100  may be any type of electroacoustic transducer or driver that produces sound in response to an electrical audio signal input. Representatively, in one embodiment, speaker assembly  100  may be a micro-speaker. Speaker assembly  100  is built into frame  102 , which may be of a typical material used for speaker enclosures, such as plastic. Frame  102  may include an acoustic port  120  for output of sound from speaker assembly  100  in the direction illustrated by arrow  130 . In the illustrated embodiment, frame  102  includes acoustic port  120  along its side such that speaker assembly  100  may be considered “side firing”, meaning that sound is output in a sideways direction as illustrated by arrow  130 . Frame  102  may be part of, or mounted within, an electronic device enclosure whose z-height (or rise or thickness) is considered to be relatively small. For example, the enclosure z-height may be in the range of about 8.5 millimeters (mm) to about 10 mm. The concepts described herein, however, need not be limited to speaker enclosures whose height is within these ranges. As seen in  FIG. 6 , such a speaker assembly  100  may be a speakerphone unit that is integrated within a consumer electronic device  602  such as a smart phone with which a user can conduct a call with a far-end user of a communications device  604  over a wireless communications network; in another example, the speaker assembly  100  may be integrated within the housing of a tablet computer  606 . These are just two examples of where the speaker assembly may be used. 
     Speaker assembly  100  may include a magnet assembly  104 , sound radiating surface (SRS)  106  and coil  108  (also referred to as a voice coil). SRS  106  may be any type of speaker or micro-speaker diaphragm capable of inter-converting mechanical motion and sound. Coil  108  may be attached to a bottom face  116  of SRS  106  in any suitable manner, e.g., chemical bonding, mechanically attached or the like. Coil  108  may be any type of voice coil suitable for use in a speaker, for example, a micro-speaker. Magnet assembly  104  may define a magnetic flux gap  118  within which a portion of coil  108  may be positioned. A magnetic field of magnet assembly  104  helps to drive an up and down movement of coil  108 , which in turn vibrates or moves SRS  106  in a similar manner with respect to magnet assembly  104  (as illustrated by arrows) to generate sound waves. 
     SRS  106  may be movably suspended over magnet assembly  104  by a suspension member  112 . Suspension member  112  may be positioned between the bottom face  116  of SRS and magnet assembly  104  such that it suspends SRS  106  above magnet assembly  104 . In addition to facilitating vibration of SRS  106  back and forth as illustrated by the arrows, suspension member  112  helps to maintain side to side alignment of coil  108  within gap  118 . 
     In some embodiments, suspension member  112  is dimensioned to suspend a resilient portion of SRS  106  above magnet assembly  104  without extending into an area above top face  114  of SRS  106  (i.e. the area between top face  114  and the top wall of frame  102 ). In this aspect, a z-height between top face  114  of SRS  106  and frame  102  (illustrated as Z 1 ), and in turn an overall z-height of frame  102  (illustrated as Z 2 ) need not be increased to accommodate suspension member  112 . As such, a z-height of speaker assembly  100  can be reduced, as compared to speakers using radially extending half-arc suspension systems that extend above the diaphragm they are suspending. Consider for example a typical speaker assembly having a Z 1  to Z 2  height ratio of about 1 to 5, speaker assembly  100  may allow for this ratio to be reduced such that Z 1  to Z 2  is, for example, from about 1 to 4, or from 1 to 3, or 1 to 2. The reduced z-height of speaker assembly  100  allows speaker assembly  100  to be integrated within relatively low rise devices. 
     In addition to not extending above SRS  106 , suspension member  112  is substantially confined to an area below SRS  106 , in other words SRS  106  overlaps suspension member  112 . Described another way, suspension member  112  is substantially within a footprint of SRS  106  such that it does not extend radially beyond a perimeter of SRS  106 . In this aspect, the acoustic radiation surface area of SRS  106  is improved (i.e. increased). The acoustic radiation surface area generally refers to the surface area of SRS  106  which can vibrate and produce sound. Representatively, the area of the frame within which a typical SRS is supported has a predefined length and width. When the SRS is suspended within the frame using a suspension system that extends radially from the SRS to the frame (e.g. a half-arc suspension system), the overall area of the SRS must be reduced to accommodate the surrounding suspension system. Since suspension member  112 , however, does not extend radially beyond a perimeter of SRS  106 , the acoustic radiation surface area of SRS  106  does not need to be reduced to accommodate suspension member  112 . Rather, SRS  106  can extend into the area of frame  102  typically reserved for a radially extending suspension member thereby increasing its acoustic radiation surface area. In addition, because suspension member  112  extends vertically between SRS  106  and magnet assembly  104 , SRS  106  has a higher stiffness in the in-plane direction, as compared to diaphragms suspended using radially extending suspensions. This in turn helps to stabilize SRS  106  displacement and minimize rocking or tilting of SRS  106 . 
     Suspension member  112  can be any size, shape and/or material suitable for suspending SRS  106  above magnet assembly  104  in the manner previously discussed. Representatively, suspension member  112  may be made of any structure and/or materials which allow suspension member  112  to be contracted down to the excursion limit of SRS  106 , with the excursion limit being one which avoids coil  108  from contacting frame  102 . In addition, the structure and/or material of suspension member  112  should be that which allows maximal and symmetrical displacement of SRS  106  in the upward direction so as to minimize rocking of SRS  106 . In this aspect, suspension member  112  should be resilient and capable of expanding and contracting along the z-height direction to accommodate SRS movement with respect to magnet assembly  104 . Representatively, suspension member  112  may be made of a resilient material including, but not limited to, silicone, rubber, or a gel material encapsulated within any of these materials, or any combination of these materials. In some embodiments, suspension member  112  is made of any non-metal material. 
     In one embodiment, suspension member  112  may be an elongated structure which is attached along its top side  132  to the bottom face  116  of SRS  106  and along its bottom side  134  to magnet assembly  104 . Suspension member  112  may be attached to an area of bottom face  116  which is outside of coil  108  and near the edge of SRS  106  as illustrated in  FIG. 1B , which shows a plan view of the bottom face  116  of SRS  106  along line 1-1′ of  FIG. 1A . As further illustrated in  FIG. 1B , suspension member  112  may be a continuous structure which acoustically seals SRS  106  to magnet assembly  104  such that the area below SRS  106  is acoustically isolated from the area above SRS  106 . In this aspect, sound waves produced by bottom face  116  of SRS  106  are not directed out of acoustic port  120 . In other embodiments, suspension member  112  may be made of discrete units (see, for example, suspension member  312 A of  FIG. 3B ). In either case, suspension member  112  may be attached to SRS  106  in any suitable manner, such as, for example, an adhesive, laser welding, a thermoforming technique or the like. 
     Representatively, in some embodiments, suspension member  112  may be made of a hollow tube which can expand or contract in the z-height direction. Representatively,  FIG. 1A  illustrates a tubular suspension member  112  having a thickness (t) (or z-height) which is substantially equivalent to a distance between the bottom face  116  of SRS  106  and the magnet assembly  104 . In  FIG. 1A , the tubular suspension member  112  is not compressed or contracted. Rather, the tubular suspension member  112  is in its resting state. As illustrated by  FIG. 1C , however, as SRS  106  moves in the direction of magnet assembly  104  (as illustrated by arrow  140 ) the tubular suspension member  112  is compressed and its overall thickness decreases. The tubular suspension member  112  will in turn expand back to its resting state (i.e. the thickness will increase) when SRS  106  moves away from magnet assembly  104 . Although suspension member  112  is illustrated as having a substantially square cross-sectional shape, suspension member  112  may have any cross-sectional shape, for example, a substantially round, rectangular, concave, or convex shape. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a speaker assembly in which suspension member  212  is substantially similar to suspension member  112  except that in this embodiment, suspension member  212  is made of a substantially solid structure. Representatively, suspension member  212  may be a solid elongated structure which is made of a resilient material which allows for suspension member  212  to expand and contract in the z-height or thickness direction in response to movement of SRS  106 . Suspension member  212  may be made of one material, or a composite structure made of several materials. For example, suspension member  212  could be made entirely of a silicon or rubber material, or could include an outer portion made of one of these materials and an inner portion made of another of these materials, or a gel material. Similar to the previously discussed suspension member  112 , suspension member  212  is confined to an area below SRS  106  and within a footprint of SRS  106  such that it does not extend radially beyond the bounds of SRS  106 . Similar to speaker assembly  100 , because suspension member  212  is confined to an area below SRS  106 , speaker assembly  200  has a relatively low Z 1  to Z 2  height ratio, for example, a Z 1  to Z 2  ratio of from about 1 to 4, or from 1 to 3, or 1 to 2. Speaker assembly  200  may be substantially similar to speaker assembly  100  and, therefore, also includes frame  102 , SRS  106 , coil  108  and magnet assembly  104 . Suspension member  212  may be attached around the bottom face  116  of SRS  106  in a similar manner to those previously discussed in reference to  FIG. 1A  (e.g., an adhesive, laser welding, a thermoforming technique or the like). 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a speaker assembly. In this embodiment, speaker assembly  300  includes a dual suspension member system. Representatively, speaker assembly  300  includes a top suspension member  312 A attached to top face  114  of SRS  106  and a bottom suspension member  312 B attached to bottom face  116  of SRS  106 . Top suspension member  312 A is attached at its top side to frame  102  and its bottom side to top face  114  of SRS  106 . In addition, similar to the previously discussed suspension members, bottom suspension member  312 B is attached at its top side to bottom face  116  of SRS  106  and its bottom side to magnet assembly  104 . Top suspension member  312 A and bottom suspension member  312 B may be substantially similar in material and structure to the suspension members previously discussed in reference to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 2 , except that in this embodiment one of them may be continuous while one of them may be made of discrete units. Representatively, bottom suspension member  312 B may be made of a continuous structure such as a tubular member that seals SRS  106  to magnet assembly  104 . Top suspension member  312 A may be made of discrete units as illustrated in  FIG. 3B , which is a top plan view of top face  114  of SRS  106  along line 3-3′ of  FIG. 3A . In this aspect, sound generated by SRS  106  can travel from top face  114  and out the side acoustic port  120  formed in frame  102 . In addition, it is further to be understood that top suspension member  312 A may have a thickness sufficient to fill the gap between the top side of frame  102  and top face  114  of SRS  106  without substantially increasing the z-height (i.e. Z 1 ) of frame  102 . In this aspect, speaker assembly  300  has a relatively low Z 1  to Z 2  height ratio as previously discussed (e.g. a Z 1  to Z 2  ratio of from about 1 to 4, or from 1 to 3, or 1 to 2). The remaining components of speaker assembly  300  may be substantially similar to those previously discussed in reference to  FIG. 1A . Representatively, speaker assembly  300  further includes coil  108  suspended from SRS  106  and magnet assembly  104  mounted within frame  102 , below SRS  106  and coil  108 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of a speaker assembly. Speaker assembly  400  is substantially similar to speaker assembly  300  described in reference to  FIG. 3A  except in this embodiment, speaker assembly  400  is a “top firing” speaker system which includes acoustic port  420  along a top side of frame  102 . In this aspect, sound generated by SRS  106  is output through a top side of frame  102 . Since the sound need not travel through the top suspension member  312 A to any of the previously discussed side acoustic ports, top suspension member  312 A can be made of a continuous structure which seals SRS  106  to frame  102 . Bottom suspension member  312 B may also be a continuous structure as previously discussed, or may be made of discrete units since the area above SRS  106  is already acoustically isolated from the area below SRS  106  by top suspension member  312 A. Although two suspension members  312 A and  312 B are illustrated in  FIG. 4 , it is contemplated that the “top firing” speaker system may also be formed using only one suspension member, e.g., bottom suspension member  312 B, and the other omitted. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a speaker assembly. Speaker assembly  500  is substantially similar to speaker assembly  100  described in reference to  FIG. 1A  and therefore includes similar features, for example, frame  102 , SRS  106 , coil  108 , suspension member  112 , magnet assembly  104  and acoustic port  120 . In this embodiment, suspension member  112  is positioned between a bottom face  116  of SRS  106  and a support member  502 . Representatively, the top side  132  of suspension member  112  may be attached to the bottom face  116  of SRS  106  and the bottom side  134  of suspension member  112  may be attached to support member  502 . The support member  502  may be, for example, any type of structure and/or material capable of supporting suspension member  112  in a manner which allows suspension member  112  to suspend SRS  106  within frame  102  and above magnet assembly  104 . Suspension member  112  may be dimensioned to extend vertically in a direction (i.e. in the z-height direction) away from the bottom face of SRS  106  toward support member  502 , and magnet assembly  104  as discussed in previous embodiments. In some embodiments, support member  502  is a separate structure than magnet assembly  104 . In some cases, support member  502  may be made of a different material than magnet assembly (e.g. a non-ferrous material). Representatively, magnet assembly  104  of  FIG. 5  may be a center type magnet assembly which is confined to an area within coil  108 . Support member  502  may be positioned within the area outside of coil  108 . Support member  502  may be, for example, a plastic structure which is mounted within frame  102 , or part of frame  102 , and dimensioned to support suspension member  112  along its bottom side  134 . For example, support member  502  may be an integral part of frame  102  in that it is manufactured during the same processing steps used to make the frame, e.g., same molding and machining steps). 
     It is to be understood that although not described in great detail in reference to  FIG. 5 , each of frame  102 , SRS  106 , coil  108 , suspension member  112  and acoustic port  120  are substantially similar to, and operate in a similar manner to, those discussed in reference to  FIG. 1A  therefore the description of  FIG. 1A  with respect to these elements applies to  FIG. 5 . It is further to be understood that a support member  502  may be implemented in any of the speaker assembly embodiments illustrated in, for example,  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 4 . 
     A process of manufacturing any one or more of the speaker assemblies described above, and in particular a speaker assembly including a frame  102 , magnet assembly  104 , SRS  106 , coil  108  and one or more suspension members  112 ,  212 ,  312 A- 312 B may proceed as follows. Coil  108  may be obtained as a pre-wound unit, which is then secured to SRS  106 . Next, the magnet assembly  104  is mounted within frame  102  and, at the same time, or just before or just after, the suspension member (for example, suspension member  112 ) is attached to magnet assembly  104 . Alternatively, the suspension member may first be attached to SRS  106 . SRS  106 , which may be a rigid plate or dome having coil  108  attached thereto, is then attached to a top side of the suspension member. 
     As previously discussed,  FIG. 6  illustrates exemplary consumer electronic devices  602  and  606  within which any of the previously discussed speaker assemblies may be implemented. In this aspect, an acoustic output port of any of the previously discussed speaker assemblies may be aligned with an acoustic opening of the portable audio device such that sound generated by the speaker assembly may be output from the portable audio device. These, however, are just two examples of where the speaker assembly may be used. Other types of devices within which the speaker assembly may be used may include, but are not limited to, a notebook computer or other portable computing device, a digital media player, such as a portable music and/or video media player, entertainment systems or personal digital assistants (PDAs), or general purpose computer systems, or special purpose computer systems, or an embedded device within another device, or cellular telephones which do not include media players, or devices which combine aspects or functions of these devices (e.g., a media player, such as an iPod®, combined with a PDA, an entertainment system, and a cellular telephone in one portable device). 
       FIG. 7  shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a wireless device  700  within which any of the previously discussed speaker assemblies may be implemented. In the illustrated embodiment, wireless device  700  is a wireless communication device. The wireless device  700  may be included in the devices shown in  FIG. 6 , although alternative embodiments of handheld devices  602  and  606  may include more or fewer components than the wireless device  700 . 
     Wireless device  700  may include an antenna system  702 . Wireless device  700  may also include a radio frequency (RF) transceiver  704 , coupled to the antenna system  702 , to transmit and/or receive voice, digital data and/or media signals through antenna system  702 . 
     A digital processing system  706  may further be provided to control the digital RF transceiver and to manage the voice, digital data and/or media signals. Digital processing system  706  may be a general purpose processing device, such as a microprocessor or controller for example. Digital processing system  706  may also be a special purpose processing device, such as an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or DSP (digital signal processor). Digital processing system  706  may also include other devices to interface with other components of wireless device  700 . For example, digital processing system  706  may include analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters to interface with other components of wireless device  700 . 
     A storage device  708 , coupled to the digital processing system, may further be included in wireless device  700 . Storage device  708  may store data and/or operating programs for the wireless device  700 . Storage device  708  may be, for example, any type of solid-state or magnetic memory device. 
     One or more input devices  710 , coupled to the digital processing system  706 , to accept user inputs (e.g., telephone numbers, names, addresses, media selections, etc.) or output information to a far end user may further be provided. Exemplary input devices may be, for example, one or more of a keypad, a touchpad, a touch screen, a pointing device in combination with a display device or similar input device. 
     Display device  718  may be coupled to the digital processing system  706 , to display information such as messages, telephone call information, contact information, pictures, movies and/or titles or other indicators of media being selected via the input device  710 . Display device  718  may be, for example, an LCD display device. In one embodiment, display device  718  and input device  710  may be integrated together in the same device (e.g., a touch screen LCD such as a multi-touch input panel which is integrated with a display device, such as an LCD display device). It will be appreciated that the wireless device  700  may include multiple displays. 
     Battery  714  may further be provided to supply operating power to components of the system including digital RF transceiver  704 , digital processing system  706 , storage device  708 , input device  710 , audio transducer  716 , sensor(s)  722 , and display device  718 . Battery  714  may be, for example, a rechargeable or non-rechargeable lithium or nickel metal hydride battery. Wireless device  700  may also include audio transducers  716 , which may include one or more speakers (e.g. speaker assemblies  100 - 400 ), receivers and at least one microphone. 
     Sensor(s)  722  may be coupled to the digital processing system  706 . The sensor(s)  722  may include, for example, one or more of a light and/or proximity sensor. Based on the data acquired by the sensor(s)  722 , various responses may be performed automatically by the digital processing system, such as, for example, activating or deactivating the backlight, changing a setting of the input device  710  (e.g., switching between processing or not processing, as an intentional user input, any input data from an input device), and other responses and combinations thereof. It is noted that other types of sensors may also be included in wireless device  700 , such as an accelerometer, touch input panel, ambient noise sensor, temperature sensor, gyroscope, a hinge detector, a position determination device, an orientation determination device, a motion sensor, a sound sensor, a radio frequency electromagnetic wave sensor, and other types of sensors and combinations thereof. 
     In addition, although not illustrated, other types of devices and/or components may also be associated with wireless device  700 , for example, a camera. 
     While certain embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive, and that the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, although the drawings show a substantially rectangular SRS, it is contemplated that SRS may have any shape and size suitable for use in a speaker assembly, for example, SRS may be round. In addition, although the speaker assembly is described as a micro-speaker assembly, it is further contemplated that suspension members such as those described herein may be used to suspend any type of diaphragm used in any type of speaker assembly, for example, a diaphragm used in high fidelity speaker systems for stereo systems, radios, televisions or the like. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20150203
Publication Date: 20160315
Grant Date: 20160315
Priority Date: 20130730
Inventors: VIEITES PABLO SEOANE
HARDY SUZANNE
WILK CHRISTOPHER R.
SALVATTI ALEXANDER V.
PORTER SCOTT P.
CROSBY JUSTIN D.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04R2499/15", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/043", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2400/03", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/043", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/15", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2400/03", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/15", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/043", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 53182694