PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10631096-B1
Application Number: US-201916296091-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Force cancelling transducer

Abstract:
A transducer assembly having a frame; a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly suspended from the frame, the dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly having a first diaphragm and a first voice coil attached thereto and a second diaphragm and a second voice coil attached thereto, wherein the first voice coil and the second voice coil are between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, and the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are operable to move in opposite directions along an axis of vibration; a magnet assembly positioned within the frame, the magnet assembly having a first magnet and a second magnet positioned between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm; and a rigid support member dimensioned to fixedly connect the magnet assembly to the frame.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A transducer assembly comprising:
 a frame; 
 a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly suspended from the frame, the dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly having a first diaphragm and a first voice coil attached thereto and a second diaphragm and a second voice coil attached thereto, wherein the first voice coil and the second voice coil are between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, and the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are operable to move in opposite directions along an axis of vibration; 
 a magnet assembly positioned within the frame, the magnet assembly having a first magnet and a second magnet positioned between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm; and 
 a rigid support member to fixedly connect the magnet assembly to the frame, and a z-height of the entire support member is less than a z-height of the first magnet or the second magnet. 
 
     
     
       2. The transducer assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support member comprises a first side attached to the first magnet, a second side attached to the second magnet and a plurality of extension members that extend radially outward from the first magnet and the second magnet to fixedly connect the magnet assembly to the frame. 
     
     
       3. The transducer assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support member is a planar sheet of a non-magnetic material. 
     
     
       4. The transducer assembly of  claim 1  wherein the magnet assembly further comprises a ring shaped yoke, the ring shaped yoke encircles the first magnet and the second magnet to form a single magnetic return path for a magnetic field generated by the first magnet and the second magnet and drive a vibration of the first voice coil and the second voice coil. 
     
     
       5. The transducer assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first voice coil is inward to the second voice coil, and the magnet assembly comprises a first gap and a second gap that are horizontally aligned with one another, and the first voice coil is vertically aligned with the first gap and the second voice coil is vertically aligned with the second gap. 
     
     
       6. The transducer assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first voice coil or the second voice coil comprises a deformed corner having a shorter z-height than another portion of the first voice coil or the second voice coil. 
     
     
       7. The transducer assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support member is a yoke comprising a magnetic material and cut-outs within a portion of the yoke attached to the first magnet and the second magnet, and the cut-outs are dimensioned to allow for thermal or acoustic venting through the yoke. 
     
     
       8. The transducer assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support member is positioned between the first magnet and the second magnet, and the support member comprises a vent that vents an acoustic chamber coupled to the first diaphragm and an acoustic chamber coupled to the second diaphragm to an exterior environment. 
     
     
       9. The transducer assembly of  claim 1  wherein the transducer is operable to provide a haptic output. 
     
     
       10. A transducer assembly comprising:
 a frame; 
 a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly suspended from the frame, the dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly having a first diaphragm and a first voice coil attached thereto and a second diaphragm and a second voice coil attached thereto, wherein the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are operable to move in opposite directions along an axis of vibration and reduce a mechanical force output to the frame; 
 a magnet assembly positioned within the frame between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, the magnet assembly having at least one of a first magnet or a second magnet positioned radially inward to the first voice coil or the second voice coil, and forming a single magnetic return path for a magnetic field used to drive a movement of both the first voice coil and the second voice coil along the axis of vibration; and 
 a support member attaching the magnet assembly to the frame, the support member having a number of extension members that extend from the magnet assembly to the frame. 
 
     
     
       11. The transducer assembly of  10  wherein the magnet assembly comprises the first magnet and the second magnet, and the first magnet and the second magnet are polarized in a same direction. 
     
     
       12. The transducer assembly of  claim 10  wherein the magnet assembly comprises the first magnet having a first plate attached thereto, the second magnet having a second plate attached thereto, the first magnet and the second magnet positioned on opposite sides of the support member, and a ring yoke surrounding the first magnet and the second magnet. 
     
     
       13. The transducer assembly of  claim 12  wherein the extension members of the support member extend through openings in the ring yoke to the frame. 
     
     
       14. The transducer assembly of  claim 12  wherein the support member comprises a lower z-height than the first magnet and the support member comprises a lower z-height than the second magnet. 
     
     
       15. The transducer assembly of  claim 10  wherein the support member comprises a non-magnetic material. 
     
     
       16. The transducer assembly of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the first voice coil and the second voice coil comprises a deformed portion having a z-height that is less than a z-height of another portion of the first voice coil or the second voice coil. 
     
     
       17. A transducer assembly comprising:
 a frame; 
 a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly suspended from the frame, the dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly having a first diaphragm and a first voice coil attached thereto and a second diaphragm and a second voice coil attached thereto, wherein the first voice coil and the second voice coil are attached to interfacing surfaces of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm; and 
 a magnet assembly positioned between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, the magnet assembly comprising a plurality of magnets that form a first gap horizontally aligned with a second gap, and the first voice coil is axially aligned with the first gap and the second voice coil is axially aligned with the second gap. 
 
     
     
       18. The transducer assembly of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of magnets comprise at least two magnets having opposite polarities. 
     
     
       19. The transducer assembly of  claim 17  wherein each magnet of the plurality of magnets are horizontally aligned. 
     
     
       20. The transducer assembly of  claim 17  wherein the first voice coil is a different size than the second voice coil.

Description:
FIELD 
     An aspect of the invention is directed to a force cancelling transducer, more specifically, a dual diaphragm and voice coil transducer for reducing or eliminating mechanical forces. Other aspects 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. In this aspect, there is a wide range of consumer electronics devices that can benefit from improved audio performance. For instance, smart phones include, for example, electro-acoustic transducers such as speakers that can benefit from improved audio performance. Smart phones, however, do not have sufficient space to house much larger high fidelity sound output devices. This is also true for some portable personal computers such as laptop, notebook, and tablet computers, and, to a lesser extent, desktop personal computers with built-in speakers. The speakers incorporated within these devices may use a moving coil motor to drive sound output. The moving coil motor may include a diaphragm, voice coil and magnet assembly positioned within a frame. In some cases, however, the force output by the moving coil motor may be transmitted to the device enclosure, causing an undesirable rattling or shaking of the system. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of the disclosure is directed to a transducer (e.g., a loudspeaker), which provides a force-balancing construction to eliminate, or greatly reduce, mechanical forces that may be transmitted into the system in which the transducer is installed or integrated, while maximizing the acoustic output. The term “mechanical force” is intended to refer to forces caused by the transducer when the transducer assembly vibrates or shakes and physically contacts the enclosure, or other system components. To accomplish this, the transducer may include a relatively symmetrical pair of opposing diaphragms, which in one aspect, move in opposite directions to provide an in-phase acoustic output. In addition, the transducer may include axially aligned voice coils attached to each diaphragm, and a magnet assembly positioned between the opposing diaphragms and voice coils. During operation, each diaphragm/voice coil assembly may move in opposite directions, which in turn creates opposing forces on the magnet assembly. By creating two opposing forces against the magnet assembly, any potential forces which could otherwise move the magnet assembly causing undesirable rattling, shaking, etc of the system, effectively cancel each other out, resulting in no net mechanical force transmission, or at least a greatly reduced mechanical force imparted into the system onto which the transducer is attached. In addition, both diaphragms and associated voice coils may be interconnected in that their vibration is driven by the same magnetic return path through the magnet assembly. Further, to rigidly connect the magnet assembly to the frame while still maintaining maximum inter-coil excursion clearance, a relatively stiff or rigid support member (or yoke) is provided. Representatively, a thin and relatively rigid sheet like support member may be positioned between the magnets and extend to the frame to connect the magnet assembly to the frame. In one aspect, the support member or yoke may be non-magnetic therefore used as a structural element, not a magnet return path, as is typically the case with yokes. 
     In addition, in still further aspects, the voice coil may be specially wound or reshaped to preserve the inter-coil clearance (or excursion space) between the coils. For example, one of more of the voice coils may be reshaped in the vicinity of the high rigidity connectors to preserve excursion space. Representatively, the voice coils may be deformed in the corners to reduce the z-height (or vertical dimension). For example, the voice coil wire may be wound vertically one layer on top of the other, and then deformed only in the corners to create a “J” shaped coil section with reduced z-height. 
     In still further aspects, the support member or yoke positioned between the magnets may be a vented central yoke. For example, the vented central yoke may include cut-outs around the outer perimeter which allow for improved thermal efficiency and acoustic transmission across the yoke, while still providing structural support as previously mentioned. In addition, the yoke in this aspect, may in some cases be thicker than the previously discussed yoke (in a speaker with tall form factor) and made of a ferromagnetic material to avoid losses due to the gap created between the magnets. Therefore, in this aspect, the support member or yoke may be used for magnetic purposes. 
     In other aspects, the transducer may include a nested coil configuration. For example, similar to the previously discussed configurations, the transducer may include a relatively symmetrical pair of opposing diaphragms and voice coils, and a magnet assembly in between. In this aspect, however, instead of aligning the voice coils axially, the voice coils may be nested within a magnet assembly having off-set magnetic gaps formed within a single magnet layer of the magnet assembly. 
     In still further aspects, the transducer assembly can be included in the device enclosure to create a haptic effect. For example, the transducer assembly may have a barometric-vent or b-vent that creates a tuned acoustic circuit for additional infrasonic system resonance. 
     More specifically, aspects of the disclosure include a transducer assembly including a frame and a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly suspended from the frame. The dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly may include a first diaphragm and a first voice coil attached thereto and a second diaphragm and a second voice coil attached thereto. The first voice coil and the second voice coil may be between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, and the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm may be operable to move in opposite directions along an axis of vibration. The assembly may further include a magnet assembly positioned within the frame, and having a first magnet and a second magnet positioned between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, and a rigid support member to fixedly connect the magnet assembly to the frame. In some aspects, the support member may include a first side attached to the first magnet, a second side attached to the second magnet and a plurality of extension members that extend radially outward from the first magnet and the second magnet to fixedly connect the magnet assembly to the frame. In addition, the support member may have a z-height that is less than a z-height of the first magnet and the second magnet, and the support member may be made of a non-magnetic material. The magnet assembly may further include a ring shaped yoke, the ring shaped yoke encircles the first magnet and the second magnet to form a single magnetic return path for a magnetic field generated by the first magnet and the second magnet and drive a vibration of the first voice coil and the second voice coil. In some aspects, the first voice coil is inward to the second voice coil, and the magnet assembly may include a first gap and a second gap that are horizontally aligned with one another, and the first voice coil is vertically aligned with the first gap and the second voice coil is vertically aligned with the second gap. Still further, the first voice coil or the second voice coil may have a deformed corner having a shorter z-height than another portion of the first voice coil or the second voice coil. The support member may be a yoke made of a magnetic material and cut-outs within a portion of the yoke attached to the first magnet and the second magnet, and the cut-outs are dimensioned to allow for thermal or acoustic venting through the yoke. The support member may be positioned between the first magnet and the second magnet, and the support member may have a vent that vents an acoustic chamber coupled to the first diaphragm and an acoustic chamber coupled to the second diaphragm to an exterior environment. In some cases, the transducer assembly may be operable to provide a haptic output. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure may include a transducer assembly having a frame and a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly suspended from the frame that are operable to move in opposite directions along an axis of vibration and reduce a mechanical force output to the frame. In addition, a magnet assembly may be positioned within the frame between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, the magnet assembly forming a single magnetic return path for a magnetic field used to drive a movement of both the first voice coil and the second voice coil along the axis of vibration. The magnet assembly may further include a support member attaching the magnet assembly to the frame, the support member having a number of extension members that extend from the magnet assembly to the frame. The magnet assembly may include a first magnet and a second magnet that are polarized in a same direction. In some cases, a first plate may be attached to the first magnet, a second plate may be attached to the second magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet are positioned on opposite sides of the support member, and the ring yoke may surround the first magnet and the second magnet. The extension members of the support member may extend through openings in the ring yoke to the frame. In some cases, at least one of the first voice coil and the second voice coil may have a deformed portion having a z-height that is less than a z-height of another portion of the first voice coil or the second voice coil. 
     In still further aspects, a transducer assembly is provided having a frame, a dual diaphragm and voice coil assembly suspended from the frame, and a magnet assembly positioned between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, the magnet assembly having a plurality of magnets that form a first gap horizontally aligned with a second gap, and the first voice coil is axially aligned with the first gap and the second voice coil is axially aligned with the second gap. In some cases, the plurality of magnets may include at least two magnets having opposite polarities. Each magnet may be horizontally aligned. In addition, the first voice coil may be a different size than the second voice coil. 
     The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects of the present invention. It is contemplated that the invention includes 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 have particular advantages not specifically recited in the above summary. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The aspects 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” aspect in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same aspect, and they mean at least one. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional sided view of one aspect of a transducer assembly. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional sided view of one aspect of a transducer assembly. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top plan view of a support member for a transducer assembly. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective side view of one aspect of a transducer assembly. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional sided view of one aspect of a transducer assembly mounted within an enclosure. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional sided view of one aspect of a transducer assembly. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a top plan view of a support member for a transducer assembly. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-sectional sided view of one aspect of a transducer assembly. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a voice coil for a transducer assembly. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional sided view of one aspect of a transducer assembly. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional sided view of one aspect of a transducer assembly. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a simplified schematic view of an electronic device in which a transducer assembly may be implemented. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a block diagram of some of the constituent components of an electronic device in which a transducer assembly may be implemented. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In this section we shall explain several preferred aspects of this invention with reference to the appended drawings. Whenever the shapes, relative positions and other aspects of the parts described in the aspects are not clearly defined, the scope of the invention 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 aspects of the invention 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. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, and the like may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element&#39;s or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use 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 “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The terms “or” and “and/or” as used herein are to be interpreted as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” or “A, B and/or C” mean “any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C.” An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an aspect of a transducer assembly. Transducer assembly  100  may be, for example, an electro-acoustic transducer that converts electrical signals into audible signals that can be output from a device within which transducer assembly  100  is integrated. For example, transducer assembly  100  may be a speaker integrated within a smart phone, or other similar compact electronic device such as a laptop, notebook, or tablet computer, or a loudspeaker. Transducer assembly  100  may be enclosed within a housing or enclosure of the device within which it is integrated. 
     Transducer assembly  100  may include a first diaphragm  102  and a first voice coil  104  attached to the first diaphragm  102 . Diaphragm  102  may be any type of flexible membrane (which may include a number of material layers) capable of vibrating in response to an acoustic signal to produce acoustic or sound waves. Diaphragm  102  may include a first surface, face or side  102 A and a second surface, face or side  102 B. The first surface, face or side  102 A may face one direction and the second surface, face or side  102 B may face an opposite direction. The surface, face or side  102 A may be considered a sound radiating surface, face or side (or top surface, face or side in this view) in that it generates a sound that is output by the transducer assembly  100 . In this aspect, the surface, face or side  102 A may be acoustically coupled to a front volume chamber and an acoustic output port of the transducer assembly  100  (e.g., see  FIG. 5 ). The surface, face or side  102 B, on the other hand, may be acoustically isolated from the first surface, face or side  102 A, and considered an interior facing surface, face or side (or bottom side in this view) of diaphragm  102 , which is acoustically coupled to a back volume chamber of transducer assembly  100 . The first voice coil  104  may be attached to the second surface, face or side  102 B of diaphragm, and the diaphragm  102  suspended from frame  108  by a suspension member  106 . The suspension member  106  may be a compliant member (e.g., a membrane) which, in one aspect, is attached to side  102 A of diaphragm  102  and allows for vibration of diaphragm  102  along the axis of vibration  116 , as illustrated by the arrow. Although not shown, frame  108  may be a housing, or portion of a housing, which encloses all of the components of transducer assembly  100 . 
     Transducer assembly  100  may further include a second diaphragm  110  and a second voice coil  112  attached to the second diaphragm  110 . Second diaphragm  110  may be substantially similar to diaphragm  102  and include a first surface, face or side  110 A facing one direction and a second surface, face or side  110 B which faces an opposite direction. The surface, face or side  110 A may be considered a sound radiating surface, face or side (or bottom surface, face or side in this view) in that it generates a sound that is output by the transducer assembly  100 . For example, surface, face or side  110 A may be acoustically coupled to a front volume chamber and an acoustic output port of the transducer assembly  100  (e.g., see  FIG. 5 ). The surface, face or side  110 B, on the other hand, may be considered an interior facing surface, face or side (or top side in this view) of diaphragm  110 , which is acoustically isolated from side  110 A and may be acoustically coupled to a back volume chamber of transducer assembly  100 . Second voice coil  112  may be attached to the side  110 E of diaphragm  110 . The second diaphragm  110  and second voice coil  112  may be suspended from frame  108  by a suspension member  114 . Similar to suspension member  106 , suspension member  114  may be a compliant member (e.g., membrane) that is attached to, in one aspect, side  110 A of diaphragm  110  and allows for vibration of diaphragm  110  along the axis of vibration  116 , as illustrated by the arrow. In addition, it should be recognized that although first and second diaphragms  102 ,  110  are shown as planar structures, they may have one or more out-of-plane regions or sections, for example, they may have a convex, concave, or bowed region(s). 
     Transducer assembly  100  may further include a magnet assembly  118  positioned between first and second diaphragms  102 ,  110 . Magnet assembly  118  may include a first magnet  120  having plate  122 , a second magnet  124  having plate  126 , and a yoke  130  surrounding the magnet/plate assemblies. The first and second magnets  120 ,  124  may be permanent magnets. The yoke  130  may be a ring shaped yoke dimensioned to surround magnets  120 ,  124  and form a gap  132  in between. The first and second magnets  120 ,  124  in combination with the plates  122 ,  126  and yoke  130  may form a magnetic circuit or magnetic return path for a magnetic field used to drive a movement of voice coils  104 ,  112  (and in turn diaphragms  102 ,  110 ), along the axis of vibration. The voice coils  104 ,  112  and diaphragms  102 ,  110  may move (e.g., vibrate) in opposite directions such that mechanical forces are cancelled, while still maintaining an in-phase acoustic output. 
     In addition, the vibration of both diaphragm and voice coil assemblies  102 / 104  and  110 / 112  may be driven by a same magnetic circuit, such that they may be considered interconnected or interlocked. A representative magnetic circuit used to drive both of voice coils  104 ,  112  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Representatively, similar to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  shows the first diaphragm  102  and first voice coil  104 , and the second diaphragm  110  and voice coil  112 , positioned in opposite directions such that the first and second voice coils  104 ,  112  are axially aligned with the gap  132 . It can further be seen from this view that first voice coil  104  and second voice coil  112  are wound in a same direction (e.g., the coil wire is shown going into the page at the right side of the page, and out of the page at the left side of the page), and carry an input signal as shown. In addition, first magnet  120  and second magnet  124  may be polarized in a same direction. For example, both first magnet  120  and second magnet  124  may be polarized so that their north poles face the top (e.g., face first diaphragm  102 ) and their south poles face the bottom (e.g., face second diaphragm  110 ) of transducer assembly  100 . The magnetic circuit or return path  202  is further shown running through the entire magnet assembly  118  in a counter clockwise direction. Representatively, the magnetic circuit or magnetic return path  202  goes through first magnet  120  and plate  122 , to first voice coil  104 , then to yoke  130 , down yoke  130  to second voice coil  112 , then through plate  126  and magnet  124 . In this configuration, first diaphragm  102  and first voice coil  104 , and the second diaphragm  110  and voice coil  112 , are driven by a same magnetic circuit and may be caused to move in opposite directions along the axis of vibration, as shown by the arrows. As a result, any mechanical forces generated by the movement of first diaphragm  102  and first voice coil  104 , and the second diaphragm  110  and voice coil  112 , cancel one another out while still providing an in-phase acoustic output. 
     Returning again to  FIG. 1 , to suspend the magnet assembly  118  between the diaphragm/voice coil assemblies as shown, transducer assembly  100  may further include a yoke or support member  128 . Support member  128  may be configured to attach magnet assembly  118  to frame  108 . Representatively, in one aspect, support member  128  may be attached to interfacing sides of first magnet  120  and second magnet  124  and attached to frame  108 . Support member  128  may attach magnet assembly  118  to the frame so that it remains relatively stationary within the assembly. In this aspect, support member  128  may be made of a rigid material that will not vibrate, bend or otherwise change its shape in response to vibrational forces caused by the diaphragm/voice coil assembly. In addition, support member  128  may be made relatively thin and of a non-magnetic material to maintain a reduced z-height and/or prevent interference with the previously discussed magnetic circuit or return path. For example, support member  128  may be made of titanium, aluminum or plastic. In this aspect, while support member  128  may be referred to as a yoke in some cases, it is not considered as forming part of the magnetic circuit or magnetic return path. To help maintain a reduced z-height, support member  128  may have a thickness or z-height (h) which is less than that of magnets  120 ,  124 , and in some cases less than that of plates  122 ,  126 . 
     One exemplary configuration for support member  128  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Representatively,  FIG. 3  is a top plan view of support member  128 . From this view, it can be seen that support member  128  may have a generally elongated or rectangular shape, which includes a body portion  302  and extension portions or tabs  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310 . The body portion  302  is attached to interfacing sides of the first and second magnets  120 ,  124 , as previously discussed. Body portion  302  may have a similar shape, size, surface area, length and/or width to that of first and second magnets  120 ,  124 . Tabs  304 - 310  may extend outwardly from body portion  302 , and therefore extend beyond magnets  120 ,  124 . Tabs  304 - 310  may extend from magnets  120 ,  124  to frame  108 , when assembled, and can therefore be used to attach support member  128  (and the associated magnets  120 ,  124 ) to the frame  108 . It should be understood that  FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional side view along a width dimension of assembly  100 , therefore tabs  304 - 310  are not shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The support member  128  including tabs  304 - 310  extending from the magnets  120 ,  124  to the frame  108  can be more clearly understood from  FIGS. 4-5 . Representatively,  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of transducer assembly  100 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , yoke  130  may be a ring shaped structure which almost entirely surrounds the magnets  120 ,  124 . Tabs  304 - 310  extend from magnets  120 ,  124 , through the excursion space between the voice coils  104 ,  112 , and through openings  402  in yoke  130 , to frame  108 . To limit any interference with other aspects of the assembly, tabs  304 - 310  may extend from only certain portions of body portion  302 . For example, tabs  304 - 310  may extend from the corners of body portion  302  in a lengthwise direction. In this embodiment, since tabs  304 - 310  extend from only the corners of body portion  302 , only four openings in yoke  130  are necessary, and only the excursion space between the corners of voice coils  104 ,  112  is occupied by support member  128 . It should be understood, however, that although four tabs  304 - 310  are shown, support member  128  may have any number of extension members or tabs, and at any locations around body portion  302 , necessary to securely, and in a stationary manner, suspend the magnet assembly  118  from frame  108 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of transducer assembly  100 , taken along a length dimension of the assembly through tabs  304 ,  306  of support member  128  (e.g., the view is rotated 90 degrees from that of  FIG. 1 ). From this view, it can be seen that when transducer assembly  100  is positioned within an interior chamber of frame  108 , tabs  304  and  306  extend through the excursion space between voice coils  104 ,  112 , and through openings  402  in yoke  130 , to frame  108 . Frame  108  may be an interior frame formed within an enclosure or housing of the device, or may be the device enclosure or housing itself. It can therefore be understood that since transducer assembly  100  is directly connected to frame  108 , if it were to rattle, shake or otherwise move, these mechanical forces may be transmitted to frame  108 , thus resulting in undesirable rattling, shaking, or movement of the frame  108 . Since the dual diaphragm configuration of transducer assembly  100  cancels out these mechanical forces, undesirable rattling, shaking, or movement of the frame  108  is prevented or greatly reduced. 
     Still further, from this view, it can be seen that the sound output sides, faces or surfaces  102 A,  110 A of both diaphragms  102 ,  110  output sound to a front volume chamber  502 , which is acoustically coupled to a sound output port  504  of the enclosure or frame  108 . The sound output port  504  may be formed within any portion of the frame  108 , for example a side (e.g., side ported device), a top (e.g., top ported device) or a bottom (e.g., bottom ported device). Transducer assembly  100  may provide an in-phase acoustic output from the frame within which it is integrated, as previously discussed. The opposing sides, faces or surfaces  102 B,  110 B of diaphragms  102 ,  110  are acoustically coupled to the back volume chamber, which is illustrated by volumes  506 A,  506 B that are acoustically coupled to one another, however, acoustically isolated from the front volume chamber  502 . In  FIG. 5 , transducer assembly  100  is shown mounted near acoustic output port  504 , however, it is contemplated that it may be mounted anywhere within frame  108  suitable for outputting a sound through acoustic output port  504 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of another aspect of a transducer assembly. Similar to transducer assembly  100 , transducer assembly  600  includes a first diaphragm  602  having a first voice coil  604  coupled thereto, and which are suspended from a frame  608  by a suspension member  606 . Transducer assembly  600  may further include a second diaphragm  610  having a second voice coil  612  coupled thereto, and which are suspended from frame  608  by suspension member  614 . In addition, similar to transducer assembly  100 , the first voice coil  604  may be attached to an inwardly facing side, surface or face  602 B of first diaphragm  602 , and second voice coil  612  may be attached to an inwardly facing side, surface or face  610 B of second diaphragm  610 . In addition, first diaphragm  602  may include an outward or top face, surface or side  602 A, and second diaphragm  610  may include an outward or bottom face, surface or side  610 B. In this embodiment, however, outwardly facing sides, surfaces or faces  602 A,  610 A of diaphragms  602 ,  610  may be coupled to a back volume chamber  650  of the assembly, while the sides, surfaces or faces  602 B,  610 B that the voice coils  604 ,  612  are attached to may be acoustically coupled to a front volume chamber  652  (e.g. a volume extending along top and bottom sides of member  628  and coupled to an output port) of the assembly. Therefore, in this configuration, the sound output is from the sides, surfaces or faces  602 B and  610 B of the diaphragms  602 ,  610 , toward the center of the assembly  600 , as shown by the arrows. In addition, diaphragms  602 ,  610  may be non-planar in that they include a curved, bowed, or out of plane, sound radiating portion. 
     To facilitate transmission of the sound directed toward the center of the assembly  600  as illustrated by the arrows, transducer assembly  600  further includes a support member  628  for the magnet assembly  618 , which includes vents to an exterior of assembly  600 . Vented support member  628 , similar to the support member of assembly  100 , is attached to a magnet assembly  618  between the diaphragms  602 ,  610 , and couples the magnet assembly to the frame  608 . To allow for sound transmission through the center of assembly  600 , support member  628  includes a number of openings, cut-outs or vents  630 .  FIG. 7  illustrates a top plan view of vented support member  628 . From this view, it can be seen that support member  628  may include lobes  702  which are connected at their center and spaced apart to form vents  630 . Lobes  702 , and the vents  630  formed between each of the lobes  702 , extend outwardly from a center of the member to a perimeter of member  628  and have an elongated shape. In addition, support member  628  may have a substantially overall circular shape, although other shapes are contemplated. Moreover, in addition to venting of air and/or sound, vented support member  628  may provide a thermal path for transmission of heat generated within assembly to the outside, therefore improving thermal efficiency of assembly  600 . 
     Returning now to  FIG. 6 , as previously discussed, in addition to venting, support member  628  is used to couple the magnet assembly  618  to frame  608 . Similar to magnet assembly  118  of transducer assembly  100 , magnet assembly  618  may include a first magnet  620  having a plate  622  attached to a side of the magnet facing first diaphragm  602  and a second magnet  624  having a plate  626  attached to a side of the magnet facing second diaphragm  610 . The other side of first magnet  620  is attached to a top side of support member  628 , and the other side of second magnet  624  is attached to a bottom side of support member  628 . To accommodate venting, first and second magnets  620 ,  624  may be ring shaped magnets positioned concentrically outward to voice coils  604 ,  612 , or have any other shape with an opening in the middle, such that they can be positioned around, or outward to, voice coils  604 ,  612 . In other words, while they are still within the area between diaphragms  602 ,  610  similar to the previously configurations, they are not directly above/below or vertically aligned with the diaphragms  602 ,  610 , rather they are aligned with suspension members  606 ,  614 . 
     In addition, magnet assembly  618  may further include a first yoke  632  and a second yoke  634 . The first yoke  632  may be a ring shaped structure positioned on a same side of support member  628  as first magnet  620 , and concentrically inward to first voice coil  604 . A gap  660  for accommodating the excursion of first voice coil  604  is therefore formed between first magnet  620  and plate  622  and first yoke  632 . The second yoke  634  may be a ring shaped structure positioned on a same side of support member  628  as second magnet  624 , and concentrically inward to voice coil  612 . A gap  662  for accommodating the excursion of second voice coil  612  is therefore formed between second magnet  624  and plate  626  and second yoke  634 . Although yokes  632  and  634  are described as ring shaped structures, they may have any shape so long as they have an opening through the center that allows for passage of air (or sound or heat) through support member  628 . In addition, although yokes  632  and  634  are described as separate structures which are attached to opposing sides of support member  628 , it is contemplated that support member  628  and yokes  632 ,  634  may be one integrally formed structure. 
     As previously discussed, support member  628  may be a relatively rigid structure used for venting and to attach the magnet assembly  618  to the frame  608 , in a relatively stationary configuration. In addition, in some aspects, when a relatively low z-height of assembly  600  is not required, support member  628  may be relatively thick, or have a larger or greater z-height (h), than the previously discussed support member. For example, support member  628  may have a thickness or z-height (h) greater than one or more of plates  622 ,  626 . In addition, in aspects where support member  628  is relatively thick or has an increased z-height, support member  628  may be made of a ferromagnetic material to avoid magnetic flux losses due to the relatively large gap it creates between first and second magnets  620 ,  624 . Support member  628  may therefore also be referred to as a yoke, and considered part of the magnet assembly  618 . 
     Although not shown, the first and second magnets  620 ,  624  in combination with the plates  622 ,  626  and yokes  632 ,  634  (and in some cases support member  628 ) may form a magnetic circuit or magnetic return path for a magnetic field used to drive a movement of voice coils  604 ,  612 , along the axis of vibration, in such a way that mechanical forces are cancelled as previously discussed. It is further contemplated that in this configuration in which the support member  628  may be made of a ferromagnetic material, the first and second magnets  620 ,  624  may be positioned in opposite directions instead of the same direction. It is contemplated that facing the magnetic poles in opposite directions helps to reduce a magnetic flux loss going through support member  628 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of another aspect of a transducer assembly. Similar to the previously discussed assemblies, transducer assembly  800  include a first diaphragm  802  having a first voice coil  804  coupled thereto, and which are suspended from a frame  808  by a suspension member  806 . Transducer assembly  800  may further include a second diaphragm  810  having a second voice coil  812  coupled thereto, and which are suspended from frame  808  by suspension member  814 . In addition, similar to the previously discussed configurations, the first voice coil  804  may be attached to an inwardly facing side, surface or face  802 B of first diaphragm  802 , and second voice coil  812  may be attached to an inwardly facing side, surface or face  810 B of second diaphragm  810 . The first voice coil  804  and second voice coil  812  are axially, or vertically, aligned with one another along the axis of vibration  816 , such that they occupy a same excursion space or gap  850  formed around magnet assembly  818 . In addition, first diaphragm  802  may include an outward or top face, surface or side  802 A, and second diaphragm  810  may include an outward or bottom face, surface or side  810 A. In some embodiments, the outward or top face, surface of side  802 A and outward or bottom face, surface or side  810 A of diaphragms  802  and  810 , respectively, may generate a sound output and be acoustically coupled to a front volume chamber and sound output port of the assembly. The inwardly facing side, surface or face  802 B of first diaphragm  802 , and inwardly facing side, surface or face  810 B of second diaphragm  810  may be acoustically coupled to a back volume chamber, which is acoustically isolated from the front volume chamber. 
     Transducer assembly  800  may further include a magnet assembly  818  positioned between first and second diaphragms  802 ,  810  and coupled to the frame  808  by a support member  828 . The magnet assembly  818  may include a magnet  820  having a top plate  822 , attached to a side facing first diaphragm  802 , and a bottom plate  826 , attached to a side facing second diaphragm  810 . Magnet  820  may be a single permanent magnet as shown. In other aspects, magnet  820  may be two or more magnets similar to the previously discussed magnet assemblies. 
     Transducer assembly  800  may further include a support member  828  to attach the magnet assembly  818  to frame  808 . Support member  828  may be attached to one or more sides of magnet  820 , and attach magnet assembly  818  to the frame, according to a number of different configurations. Similar to the previously discussed support members, support member  828 , and the various configurations disclosed herein, are substantially rigid members which secure magnet assembly  818  to the frame  808  using high rigidity connections. 
     Representatively, in one aspect, a support member  828 A is shown as an I or H-shaped structure having vertical flanges  830 A,  830 B, connected together by a horizontal member  830 C. Flange  830 B may be attached to the side of the magnet  820  and flange  830 B may be attached to the frame (not shown). The excursion space or gap  850  for voice coils  804 ,  812  are formed along opposite sides of horizontal member  830 C, between flanges  830 A,  830 B. In another aspect, a support member  828 A is shown as an I or H-shaped structure formed by two C-brackets  832 A,  832 B, facing different directions. In this aspect, the top C-bracket  832 A forms the excursion space or gap  850  for first voice coil  804  and the bottom C-bracket  832 B forms the excursion space or gap for second voice coil  812 . The magnet  820  in combination with the plates  822 ,  826  and support member  828  (e.g., support member  828 A or  828 B) may form a magnetic circuit or magnetic return path for a magnetic field that passes through gap  850  and is used to drive a movement of voice coils  804 ,  812  (and diaphragms  802 A,  810 A), along the axis of vibration. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 8 , the size of the excursion space or gap  850  for voice coils  804 ,  812  is limited by the horizontal portion of the support member  828 . As previously discussed, diaphragms  802 ,  810  and the associated voice coils  804 ,  812  may move in opposite directions, therefore it is critical that a clearance between voice coils  804 ,  812  be maintained to ensure maximum excursion. In this aspect, portions of voice coils  804 ,  812  that are vertically or axially aligned with gaps  850  formed by support member  828  may have a reduced z-height so that under-coil clearance is preserved. Representatively, in one aspect, the z-height is reduced by deforming the bottom portions  804 A,  812 A, of the voice coils  804  and  812 , respectively. For example, the bottom portions  804 A,  812 A may be bent outwardly or inwardly so that the overall z-height is reduced, and the under-coil clearance between the bottom portions  804 A,  812 A and the horizontal members of support member  828  is increased. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a magnified perspective view of voice coil  804  having deformed portions. Representatively, as can be seen from  FIG. 9 , in one aspect, voice coil  804  includes deformed ends  804 A at only the corners of the voice coil  804 . For example, in some aspects, support member  828  extends between the voice coils  804 ,  812  at only the corners. Therefore, an under-coil clearance at only the corners of voice coils  804 ,  812  is reduced by support member  828 . In this aspect, only the corner portions of voice coil  804  are deformed. The reduction in z-height of the corners in comparison to the rest of the voice coil  804  can be more clearly seen from the exploded views along the length dimension section line A-A and the corner dimension section line B-B. In particular, from these views, it can be seen that the corners of voice coil  804  have deformed ends  804 A, which reduce the overall z-height in those regions. It should be understood that while the deformations are illustrated at only corners of voice coil  804 , they may be formed at any portion of voice coil  804  where under-coil clearance is an issue. Voice coils  804 ,  812  may be deformed during the manufacturing process. For example, when the voice coil wire is being wound one layer on top of another (either in a rectangular or round configuration) and is still hot, the end portions where deformation is desired may be bent or crushed as shown. The coil wire may then be cooled setting the final voice coil shape with permanently deformed corners. The deformation, being applied during the winding process, can be achieved with minimal additional cycle time or cost. Beneficially, the portion of the coil which is deformed may be minimized in comparison to the total circumference of the coil in order to have minimal impact on the coil/magnetic gap topology in the remaining portions of the coil. 
     In addition, it is further contemplated that although support member  828  is shown having flanges, support member  828  may be a substantially planar structure, similar to support member  128 , and include substantially planar extension members or tabs, as previously discussed. In other words, a voice coil having deformed portions may be used in any of the previously discussed configurations. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of another aspect of a transducer assembly. Transducer assembly  1000  may be similar to the previously discussed assemblies in that it includes a first diaphragm  1002  having a first voice coil  1004  coupled thereto, and which are suspended from a frame  1008  by a suspension member  1006 . Transducer assembly  1000  may further include a second diaphragm  1010  having a second voice coil  1012  coupled thereto, and which are suspended from frame  1008  by suspension member  1014 . In addition, similar to the previously discussed configurations, the first voice coil  1004  may be attached to an inwardly facing side, surface or face  1010 B of first diaphragm  1002 , and second voice coil  1012  may be attached to an inwardly facing side, surface or face  1010 E of second diaphragm  1010 . In addition, first diaphragm  1002  may include an outward or top face, surface or side  1002 A, and second diaphragm  1010  may include an outward or bottom face, surface or side  1010 A. In some embodiments, the outward or top face, surface of side  1002 A and outward or bottom face, surface or side  1010 A of diaphragms  1002  and  1010 , respectively, may generate a sound output and be acoustically coupled to a front volume chamber and sound output port of the assembly. The inwardly facing side, surface or face  1002 B of first diaphragm  1002 , and inwardly facing side, surface or face  1010 E of second diaphragm  1010  may be acoustically coupled to a back volume chamber, which is acoustically isolated from the front volume chamber. 
     In this aspect, however, the magnet assembly  1018  positioned between diaphragms  1002 ,  1010  forms magnetic or air gaps  1050 ,  1052  which are horizontally aligned, as opposed to vertically, and voice coils  1004 ,  1012  are aligned with each of the gaps  1050 ,  1052 , respectively, in a nested configuration. In this aspect, transducer assembly  1000  has a substantially reduced z-height. For example, magnet assembly  1018  may include a center magnet assembly  1020  having a top plate assembly  1022  attached to the top side and a bottom plate assembly  1026  attached to the bottom side. The center magnet assembly  1020  includes a number of permanent magnets  1020 A,  1020 B, and  1020 C which are horizontally aligned and spaced apart to form horizontally aligned gaps  1050  and  1052  in between. Gap  150  may be considered an inner gap, inward to, or closer to a center of the assembly, than gap  152 . Gap  152  may be considered an outer gap, outward to, or farther from a center of assembly, than gap  152 . The top plate assembly  1022  includes a number of plates  1022 A and  1022 B which are attached to the sides of magnets  1020 A- 1020 C facing diaphragm  1002  to form portions of the sides or bottoms of gaps  1050  and  1052 , as shown. The bottom plate assembly  1026  includes a number of plates  1026 A and  1026 B which are attached to the sides of magnets  1020 A- 1020 C facing diaphragm  1010  to form portions of the sides or bottoms of gaps  1050  and  1052 , as shown. The permanent magnets  1020 A- 1020 C in combination with plates  1022 A- 1022 B and plates  1026 A- 1026 B form magnetic circuits or magnetic return paths for a magnetic field across each of gaps  1050 ,  1052  that can be used to drive a movement of voice coils  1004 ,  1012 , along the axis of vibration  1016 , as shown by the arrows. In this aspect, magnets  1020 A- 1020 C on each side of a respective one of gaps  1050 ,  1052  may be polarized in opposite directions. For example, magnets  1020 A and  120 B forming gap  1052  may have opposite polarities, and magnets  120 B and  120 C forming gap  1050  may have opposite polarities. Representatively, in one aspect, magnets  1020 A and  1020 C may have north and south poles facing in a same direction, while magnet  1020 B has north and south poles facing in directions opposite that of magnets  1020 A and  1020 C. For example, magnets  1020 A and  1020 C may have north poles facing diaphragm  1002  and south poles facing diaphragm  1010 , while magnet  1020 C has a north pole facing diaphragm  1010  and a south pole facing diaphragm  1002 . In addition, although now shown, transducer assembly  1000  may have a support member for rigidly attaching the magnet assembly  1018  to the frame  1008 , as previously discussed. 
     Voice coils  1004 ,  1012  may be aligned with each of gaps  1050 ,  1052 . For example, voice coils  1004 ,  1012  may have different sizes so that first voice coil  1004  aligns with gap  1050  and second voice coil  1012  aligns with gap  152 . Representatively, first voice coil  1004  may be narrower, or have a shorter dimension along the x-axis, than second voice coil  1012  such that first voice coil  1004  is inward to second voice coil  1012  and aligned with gap  1050 . Said another way, voice coil  1012  may be considered to surround, or be outward to voice coil  1004 . Voice coils  1004 ,  1012 , and in turn their associated diaphragms  1002 ,  1010  may be driven in opposite directions as illustrated by the arrows. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of another aspect of a transducer assembly. Transducer assembly  1100  is similar to the previously discussed configurations, except assembly  1100  includes a shared vent  1140  (e.g., barometric vent or b-vent) that creates a tuned circuit for force cancellation and/or a haptic effect. Representatively, transducer assembly  1100  includes a first diaphragm  1102  having a first voice coil  1104  coupled thereto, and which are suspended from a frame  1108  by a suspension member  1106 . Transducer assembly  1100  may further include a second diaphragm  1110  having a second voice coil  1112  coupled thereto, and which are suspended from frame  1108  by suspension member  1114 . In addition, similar to the previously discussed configurations, the first voice coil  1104  may be attached to an inwardly facing side, surface or face  1102 B of first diaphragm  1102 , and second voice coil  1112  may be attached to an inwardly facing side, surface or face  1110 E of second diaphragm  1110 . In addition, first diaphragm  1102  may include an outward or top face, surface or side  1102 A, and second diaphragm  1110  may include an outward or bottom face, surface or side  1110 A. One of surfaces  1102 A,  1102 B of diaphragm  1102  may be acoustically coupled to a front volume chamber and one may be coupled to a back volume chamber. In addition, one of surfaces  1112 A,  1112 B may be acoustically coupled to a front volume chamber and one may be coupled to a back volume chamber. 
     Magnet assembly  1118  may be positioned between diaphragms  1102 ,  1110 , and coupled to frame  1108  by a support member  1128 . Magnet assembly  1118  may include a first magnet  1120  having a first plate  1122  which are surrounded by a yoke  1130 A to form a gap for first voice coil  1104 . Magnet assembly  1118  may further include a second magnet  1124  having a second plate  1126  which are surrounded by a yoke  1130 B to form a gap for second voice coil  1110 . 
     A support member  1128  may be positioned between magnets  1120 ,  1124 , for example attached to interfacing sides of yokes  1130 A,  1130 B, and extend outward from the magnets to attach magnet assembly  1118  to frame  1108 . Support member  1128  may be similar to the previously discussed support members (e.g., a rigid structure) except in this configuration, support member  1128  further includes a shared vent  1140  (e.g., barometric vent or b-vent) between the acoustic volumes (e.g., back volumes) on opposite sides of support member  1128 . Representatively, as shown in  FIG. 11 , vent  1140  connects the acoustic volumes on each side of support member  1128  to an exterior environment. In this aspect, vent  1140  may be used to create a tuned circuit for additional infrasonic system resonance. For example, in some aspects, the assembly  1100  may be configured to drive movement of the voice coils  1104 ,  1112 , and associated diaphragms  1102 ,  1110  in a same direction, to produce a force output into the system that can be used to create a haptic effect. Alternatively, diaphragms  1102 ,  1110  may be driven in opposite directions as previously discussed for force cancellation. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a simplified schematic perspective view of an exemplary electronic device in which a transducer assembly as described herein, may be implemented. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the transducer assembly may be integrated within a consumer electronic device  1202  such as a smart phone with which a user can conduct a call with a far-end user of a communications device  1204  over a wireless communications network; in another example, the transducer assembly may be integrated within the housing of a tablet computer  1206 . These are just two examples of where the transducer assembly described herein may be used; it is contemplated, however, that the transducer assembly may be used with any type of electronic device, for example, a home audio system, any consumer electronics device with audio capability, or an audio system in a vehicle (e.g., an automobile infotainment system.). 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a block diagram of some of the constituent components of an electronic device in which the transducer assembly disclosed herein may be implemented. Device  1300  may be any one of several different types of consumer electronic devices, for example, any of those discussed in reference to  FIG. 13 . 
     In this aspect, electronic device  1300  includes a processor  1312  that interacts with camera circuitry  1306 , motion sensor  1304 , storage  1308 , memory  1314 , display  1322 , and user input interface  1324 . Main processor  1312  may also interact with communications circuitry  1302 , primary power source  1310 , speaker  1318  and microphone  1320 . Speaker  1318  may be the transducer assembly described herein, for example, a micro speaker assembly. The various components of the electronic device  1300  may be digitally interconnected and used or managed by a software stack being executed by the processor  1312 . Many of the components shown or described here may be implemented as one or more dedicated hardware units and/or a programmed processor (software being executed by a processor, e.g., the processor  1312 ). 
     The processor  1312  controls the overall operation of the device  1300  by performing some or all of the operations of one or more applications or operating system programs implemented on the device  1300 , by executing instructions for it (software code and data) that may be found in the storage  1308 . The processor  1312  may, for example, drive the display  1322  and receive user inputs through the user input interface  1324  (which may be integrated with the display  1322  as part of a single, touch sensitive display panel). In addition, processor  1312  may send an audio signal to speaker  1318  to facilitate operation of speaker  1318 . 
     Storage  1308  provides a relatively large amount of “permanent” data storage, using nonvolatile solid state memory (e.g., flash storage) and/or a kinetic nonvolatile storage device (e.g., rotating magnetic disk drive). Storage  1308  may include both local storage and storage space on a remote server. Storage  1308  may store data as well as software components that control and manage, at a higher level, the different functions of the device  1300 . 
     In addition to storage  1308 , there may be memory  1314 , also referred to as main memory or program memory, which provides relatively fast access to stored code and data that is being executed by the processor  1312 . Memory  1314  may include solid state random access memory (RAM), e.g., static RAM or dynamic RAM. There may be one or more processors, e.g., processor  1312 , that run or execute various software programs, modules, or sets of instructions (e.g., applications) that, while stored permanently in the storage  1308 , have been transferred to the memory  1314  for execution, to perform the various functions described above. 
     The device  1300  may include communications circuitry  1302 . Communications circuitry  1302  may include components used for wired or wireless communications, such as two-way conversations and data transfers. For example, communications circuitry  1302  may include RF communications circuitry that is coupled to an antenna, so that the user of the device  1300  can place or receive a call through a wireless communications network. The RF communications circuitry may include a RF transceiver and a cellular baseband processor to enable the call through a cellular network. For example, communications circuitry  1302  may include Wi-Fi communications circuitry so that the user of the device  1300  may place or initiate a call using voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) connection, transfer data through a wireless local area network. 
     The device may include a speaker  1318 . Speaker  1318  may be a transducer assembly such as that described in reference to  FIGS. 1-11 . Speaker  1318  may be an electric-to-acoustic transducer or sensor that converts an electrical signal input (e.g., an aocustic input) into sound. The circuitry of the speaker may be electrically connected to processor  1312  and power source  1310  to facilitate the speaker operations as previously discussed (e.g, diaphragm displacement, etc). 
     The device  1300  may further include a motion sensor  1304 , also referred to as an inertial sensor, that may be used to detect movement of the device  1300 , camera circuitry  1306  that implements the digital camera functionality of the device  1300 , and primary power source  1310 , such as a built in battery, as a primary power supply. 
     While certain aspects have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that the invention is 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. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting. In addition, to aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20190307
Publication Date: 20200421
Grant Date: 20200421
Priority Date: 20190307
Inventors: GARCIA SELVA, JORDI ANTONI
Hulva, Andrew M
Grazian, Anthony P
DONARSKI, MATTHEW A
ILKORUR, ONUR I
SALVATTI, ALEXANDER V
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04R2209/026", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/063", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/025", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/2873", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2400/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/025", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2460/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/06", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2460/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2400/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/025", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/06", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/027", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/025", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 70284947