PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10911874-B2
Application Number: US-201916398015-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Transducer having a conductive suspension member

Abstract:
A speaker including a frame, and a magnet assembly coupled to the frame. The magnet assembly forms an air gap through which a magnetic flux is directed. The speaker further including a voice coil suspended in the air gap, a diaphragm coupled to the voice coil and a compliant suspension member for suspending the voice coil within the air gap. The suspension member includes an electrically conductive member for providing an electrical connection between the voice coil and a circuit coupled to the frame.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A micro speaker comprising:
 a frame having a terminal coupled thereto; 
 a magnet assembly coupled to the frame; 
 a diaphragm having a voice coil coupled thereto; 
 a compliant suspension member coupled to the diaphragm for suspending the diaphragm and the voice coil from the frame, the compliant suspension member having a surface that occupies an entire space between the diaphragm and the frame; and 
 an electrically conductive member coupled to the compliant suspension member, the electrically conductive member comprises a sheet of compliant material and electrically connects the voice coil to the terminal, and the sheet of compliant material comprises a width dimension that extends from the voice coil to an outer edge of the compliant suspension member, the width dimension is less than a length dimension of the sheet of compliant material and the length dimension of the sheet of compliant material is less than the length dimension of the voice coil. 
 
     
     
       2. The micro speaker of  claim 1  wherein the electrically conductive member comprises a conductive trace formed on the sheet of compliant material, and the sheet of compliant material is attached to the surface of the compliant suspension member. 
     
     
       3. The micro speaker of  claim 1  wherein the electrically conductive member is embedded within the compliant suspension member. 
     
     
       4. The micro speaker of  claim 1  wherein the suspension member is a solid membrane that entirely surrounds the voice coil, and the sheet of compliant material extends along only one side of the voice coil. 
     
     
       5. The micro speaker of  claim 1  wherein the voice coil comprises a series of coplanar conductive windings formed on a surface of the diaphragm and the magnet assembly comprises a magnetic array having a number of magnetized portions arranged to form a magnetic field. 
     
     
       6. The micro speaker of  claim 1  further comprising a circuit electrically connected to the terminal, and wherein the circuit is a diaphragm displacement sensing circuit operable to detect a displacement of the diaphragm by detecting an electrical resistance resulting from a strain on the electrically conductive member as the diaphragm is displaced. 
     
     
       7. A transducer comprising:
 a stationary portion having a terminal coupled thereto; 
 a moving portion that is operable to move in response to a Lorentz force and generate a physical vibration or sound; 
 a compliant suspension member for suspending the moving portion from the stationary portion; and 
 a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer coupled to the compliant suspension member, at least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are operable to provide an electrical connection between the moving portion and the terminal coupled to the stationary portion, wherein the first conductive layer comprises a length side coupled to one side of the moving portion and that extends less than a length of the one side of the moving portion and a width side that extends between the one side of the moving portion and the terminal and is shorter than the length side, and the second conductive layer comprises a length side coupled to another side of the moving portion that extends less than a length of the another side of the moving portion and a width side that extends between the another side of the moving portion and the terminal and is shorter than the length side. 
 
     
     
       8. The transducer of  claim 7  wherein the entire first conductive layer and the entire second conductive layer are spaced a distance from one another that is at least equal to a width of the moving portion and the first conductive layer is electrically isolated from the second conductive layer. 
     
     
       9. The transducer of  claim 7  wherein the stationary portion comprises a frame and the moving portion comprises a voice coil and a diaphragm. 
     
     
       10. The transducer of  claim 7  wherein the compliant suspension member is a solid membrane that extends around an entire perimeter of the moving portion, and the first and second conductive layers extend around less than an entire perimeter of the moving portion. 
     
     
       11. The transducer of  claim 7  wherein the first conductive layer or the second conductive layer comprises a solid membrane and a conductive trace formed thereon. 
     
     
       12. The transducer of  claim 7  further comprising a circuit electrically connected to the terminal, and wherein the circuit is operable to detect a strain on the first conductive layer or the second conductive layer and determine a displacement of the moving portion. 
     
     
       13. The transducer of  claim 7  further comprising a circuit electrically connected to the terminal, and wherein the first conductive layer or the second conductive layer is operable to modify an excursion of the moving portion depending upon a strain on the first conductive layer or the second conductive layer. 
     
     
       14. The transducer of  claim 7  wherein the transducer is a speaker. 
     
     
       15. A micro speaker comprising:
 a compliant membrane dimensioned to suspend a planar micro speaker diaphragm and voice coil from a micro speaker frame, the compliant membrane comprises a sheet of compliant material having a planar region surrounded by a bowed region, the planar micro speaker diaphragm and the voice coil are coupled to the planar region of the sheet of compliant material and the voice coil comprises a series of coplanar conductive windings; 
 an electrically conductive membrane coupled to the compliant membrane and electrically connecting the voice coil to a terminal at the micro speaker frame, wherein the electrically conductive membrane is attached to, and conforms to, the bowed region of the sheet of compliant material, and wherein the electrically conductive membrane comprises a width dimension that extends from the voice coil to an outer edge of the compliant membrane, the width dimension is less than a length dimension of the electrically conductive membrane and the length dimension of the electrically conductive membrane is less than a length dimension of the voice coil; and 
 a magnet assembly having an array of magnets positioned along a same side of the micro speaker frame. 
 
     
     
       16. The micro speaker of  claim 15  wherein the electrically conductive membrane comprises a conductive trace formed thereon that electrically connects the voice coil to the terminal. 
     
     
       17. The micro speaker of  claim 15  wherein the electrically conductive membrane comprises a biphasic material. 
     
     
       18. The micro speaker of  claim 15  wherein the electrically conductive membrane extends along less than an entire length dimension of the voice coil.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/275,065 filed Sep. 23, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     An embodiment of the invention is directed to a transducer, for example a speaker, having a compliant suspension member that provides an electrical connection between the voice coil and transducer electrical terminals. 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. 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-mechanical transducers which convert an electrical audio signal into a corresponding sound. More specifically, speakerphone loudspeakers and earpiece receivers 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. Many of these devices use what are commonly referred to as “microspeakers.” Microspeakers are a miniaturized version of a loudspeaker, which 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. The voice coil typically includes lead wires that extend from ends of the coil and may be connected to terminals or circuitry within the speaker frame. Due to the strain on these lead wires caused by diaphragm excursion, however, the wires can break leading to reliability issues in the field. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the invention improve transducer reliability by using a stretchable conductive material to electrically connect the moving voice coil to stationary terminals outside the transducer. In particular, instead of lead wires extending from the voice coil to the terminals, the suspension member used to suspend the diaphragm and voice coil within the frame may include a conductive component other than a wire to electrically connect the voice coil to the terminals. The conductive component may, in one embodiment, be an electrically conductive biphasic material that is formed on or within the suspension member. The biphasic material may be considered “biphasic” in that it contains a solid component and a liquid component. For example, the biphasic material may include a solid layer or film of a conductive alloy such as gold-gallium and a liquid layer of a conductive material such as gallium formed on the solid layer. The gallium may be in a liquid form and formed as discrete bulges, deposits or protrusions along the solid layer. 
     Incorporating such a biphasic material into a transducer suspension member to provide an electrical connection to the voice coil has several advantages. For example, the biphasic material has been shown to have good reliability in high cycle fatigue and therefore provides better mechanical robustness than a wire. In particular, due to the solid-liquid nature of the biphasic material, it can accommodate high strain caused by movement (e.g., stretching) of the suspension member without fracture. Moreover, the liquid component supplies negligible stiffness. Thus, the integration of the biphasic material into the suspension member does not significantly impact the overall stiffness of the suspension member, which must be symmetrical in order to avoid exciting rocking modes or introducing undesirable distortion which is deleterious to performance. Still further, the electrical properties of the biphasic material can be used to protect the diaphragm and monitor diaphragm displacement. In particular, the electrical resistance of the biphasic material varies proportionally with the strain. Thus, as the driver, and associated diaphragm, excursion is reaching its maximum limit, the strain in the electrical path between the voice coil and the terminals will gradually rise. If the transducer is driven from a voltage source as is commonly done, this would reduce the amount of current being delivered through the biphasic material to the voice coil and prevent excursion beyond a maximum desired limit. If driven from a current source, the strain experienced by the biphasic material would lead to corresponding variations in the voltage drive level, an effect which could similarly be used either to sense or control excursion. The biphasic material is therefore considered to provide a self-limiting mechanism that may be used to prevent excessive diaphragm excursion. In addition, the gauge factor (e.g., relative change in electrical resistance to the mechanical strain) of the biphasic material is one (1). Thus, the linear behavior of the electrical resistance versus strain behavior of the biphasic material can be detected by circuitry associated with the device and used as a strain gauge, e.g., a sensor to determine the instantaneous diaphragm position. It should further be understood that biphasic materials as previously discussed, may be used with any transducer which requires physical electrical connections to a moving coil, including dynamic microphones, actuators, and loudspeakers, though for simplicity, reference will usually be made to the loudspeaker application herein. 
     Representatively, one embodiment of the invention is directed to a speaker including a frame having a terminal coupled thereto. A magnet assembly may be coupled to the frame and the magnet assembly may form an air gap through which a magnetic flux is directed. The speaker further includes a voice coil suspended in the air gap, a diaphragm coupled to the voice coil, a compliant suspension member for suspending the voice coil within the air gap. The suspension member may include an electrically conductive biphasic member for providing an electrical connection between the voice coil and the terminal. In one embodiment, the electrically conductive biphasic member includes a solid component formed on the suspension member and a liquid component formed on the solid component. The solid component may include a gold-gallium alloy and the liquid component may include liquid gallium deposits. In some embodiments, the electrically conductive biphasic member includes a film of biphasic material, and the film of biphasic material is formed on a surface of the suspension member. In still further embodiments, the electrically conductive biphasic member includes a layer of gold-gallium alloy formed on the suspension member and a plurality of liquid gallium protrusions formed on the layer of gold-gallium alloy. In some cases, the speaker further includes a circuit electrically connected to the terminal, and the circuit may be a diaphragm displacement sensing circuit operable to detect a displacement of the diaphragm by detecting an electrical resistance resulting from a strain on the electrically conductive biphasic member as the diaphragm is displaced. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a transducer (e.g., a speaker or actuator) including a stationary portion having a terminal coupled thereto. The transducer further includes a moving portion that is operable to move in response to a Lorentz force and generate a physical vibration or sound. In addition, the transducer includes a compliant suspension member for suspending the moving portion from the stationary portion and a biphasic electrode layer coupled to the compliant suspension member. The biphasic electrode layer is operable to provide an electrical connection between the moving portion and the terminal coupled to the stationary portion. The biphasic electrode layer may include a first section extending along a first side of the voice coil and a second section extending along a second side of the voice coil, and the first section is electrically isolated from the second section. In some cases, the first section is electrically connected to an outer wire layer of the voice coil and the second section is electrically connected to an inner wire layer of the voice coil. In some embodiments, the stationary portion is a frame and the moving portion is a voice coil connected to a diaphragm, and which are suspended within the frame by the suspension member. The biphasic electrode layer may include a solid layer of a conductive alloy deposited on a surface of the suspension member and a liquid layer comprising conductive projections formed on the solid layer. In some embodiments, the transducer further includes circuit electrically connected to the terminal. The circuit may be operable to detect a strain on the biphasic electrode layer and determine a displacement of the diaphragm. In still further embodiments, the biphasic electrode layer is operable to modify an excursion of the diaphragm depending upon a strain on the biphasic electrode layer. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a speaker suspension member having a compliant membrane and a biphasic electrode. The suspension member is dimensioned to suspend a speaker diaphragm and voice coil from a speaker frame. The biphasic electrode includes a solid layer connected to the compliant membrane and a liquid layer connected to the solid layer. In one embodiment, the solid layer includes a gold-gallium alloy film formed directly on the compliant membrane. The liquid layer may include a plurality of discrete liquid gallium deposits formed directly on the solid layer. The biphasic electrode may include at least one conductive trace line patterned to electrically connect the voice coil to a circuit. In some embodiments, the biphasic electrode is a first biphasic electrode, and the speaker suspension member further comprises a second biphasic electrode coupled to the compliant membrane, and the first biphasic electrode is spaced a distance from the second biphasic electrode. 
     A further embodiment of the invention is directed to a planar magnetic transducer, which uses a series of conductive traces embedded or otherwise attached to the diaphragm. This method of constructing an electromechanical transducer has some advantages for form factor and performance, for example, allowing very thin and flat aspect ratio transducers which may be more suited to particular applications. Besides the form factor, the planar transducer has additional advantages in that a larger portion of the moving surface of the diaphragm can be more evenly driven, as opposed to the typical voice-coil based transducers which are driven only at the location where the voice coil is attached to the diaphragm, usually near the outer perimeter. 
     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 embodiments 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. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a transducer. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a suspension member and electrically conductive biphasic material layer of the transducer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a suspension member and electrically conductive biphasic material layer of the transducer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom plan view of one embodiment of the suspension member and electrically conductive biphasic material layer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a transducer. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a magnified cross-sectional view of one embodiment of suspension member and electrically conductive biphasic material layer stack up. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a magnified cross-sectional view of another embodiment of suspension member and electrically conductive biphasic material layer stack up. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a magnified cross-sectional view of another embodiment of suspension member and electrically conductive biphasic material layer stack up. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a top plan view of an electrically conductive biphasic material layer patterned on a suspension member. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates one embodiment of a simplified schematic view of one embodiment of an electronic device in which a transducer may be implemented. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a block diagram of some of the constituent components of an embodiment of an electronic device in which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In this section we shall explain several preferred embodiments of this invention 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 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 embodiments 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. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a transducer. Transducer  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  100  is integrated. For example, transducer  100  may be a speaker or microspeaker such as a speakerphone speaker or an earpiece receiver found within a smart phone, or other similar compact electronic device such as a portable timepiece, laptop, notebook, or tablet computer. Alternatively, transducer  100  may be integrated into a non-portable device, and/or may be any other type of device that converts one form of energy to another, for example, a vibration motor or any other types of transducers discussed herein. Transducer  100  may be enclosed within a housing or enclosure of the device within which it is integrated. 
     Transducer  100  may include a moving portion and a stationary portion. For example, the moving portion may be a sound radiating surface (SRS) or diaphragm  102  that moves with respect to a stationary frame  104 . Diaphragm  102  may be any type of diaphragm or sound radiating surface capable of vibrating in response to an acoustic signal to produce acoustic or sound waves. In this aspect, diaphragm  102  may have any size and shape suitable for radiating sound, for example, circular, square, or rectangular. 
     Diaphragm  102  (e.g., a moving portion) may be suspended within frame  104  (e.g., a stationary portion) of transducer  100  by suspension member  106 . Representatively, in one embodiment, suspension member  106  may include a sheet of compliant material (e.g., a membrane) which is positioned across an opening in frame  104  and diaphragm  102  is a layer of stiffening material attached to a top side or surface  108  of suspension member  106 . For example, suspension member  106  may be a thermoformed silicone membrane having an outer edge  110  that is attached (e.g., molded, adhered or chemically bonded), or otherwise sealed, to the frame  104 . The suspension member  106  may be of a suitable size, thickness, compliance, etc., to allow for vibration of the diaphragm  102  attached thereto. For example, suspension member  106  may have a “rolled” configuration in that it has a bowed or curved region to allow for greater compliance and/or excursion in a z-direction (e.g., direction parallel to an axis of the suspension member  106 ). It should further be understood that materials other than silicone may be used to form the suspension member  106 , for example, a thermoformable plastic material such as polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or the like. The diaphragm  102  may be formed by a polymeric layer attached (e.g., molded, adhered or chemically bonded) to a center portion of surface  108  of the suspension member  106 . For example, the diaphragm  102  may be made of a polymer membrane formed using polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyimide (PI) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In addition, it should further be understood that while in  FIG. 1 , diaphragm  102  is shown as including a layer of stiffening material formed on a portion of suspension member  106 , in other embodiments, diaphragm  102  may be a single layer of stiffening material that is positioned over an opening in suspension member  106  and attached along its edges to suspension member  106 . 
     Transducer  100  may also include a voice coil  114  positioned along a bottom side or surface  116  of suspension member  106  (i.e., a face of suspension member  106  facing magnet assembly  126 ) such that it is below diaphragm  102 . For example, in one embodiment, voice coil  114  includes an upper end  122  and a lower end  124 . The upper end  122  may be directly attached to surface  116  of suspension member  106 , such as by chemical bonding or the like. In another embodiment, voice coil  114  may be wrapped around a former or bobbin and the former or bobbin is directly attached to the surface  116  of suspension member  106 . In one embodiment, voice coil  114  may have a similar profile and shape to that of diaphragm  102 . For example, in a plan view, diaphragm  102  may have a square, rectangular, racetrack, or circular profile, voice coil  114  may have a corresponding square, rectangular, racetrack, or circular profile. Voice coil  114  may include conductive wires or windings that form conductive paths, e.g., wires, traces, etc., that convey electrical current. The conductive paths may permit current to flow in a given direction relative to a corresponding magnetic field such that a Lorentz force is generated to move voice coil  114  and any member to which it is attached, e.g., diaphragm  102 , with respect to a stationary component (e.g. frame  104 ). 
     Returning again to suspension member  106 , suspension member  106  may further include an electrically conductive biphasic material layer  118  (also referred to herein as a “biphasic material layer”, “biphasic member” or “biphasic electrode”) that electrically connects voice coil  114  to terminals  140  associated with frame  104  of transducer  100 . Terminals  140  may, for example, be contact points which are electrically connected to the ends of wires  136 , or may be the ends of wires  136  themselves, and which provide a point of electrical connection to circuit  112 . It should further be understood that while terminals  140  are shown formed where biphasic material layer  118  interfaces with frame  104 , they may be formed at other positions along frame  104  (e.g., at any position where another component interfaces with frame  104 ). In addition, in some embodiments, only terminals  140  may be present on frame  104 , and wires  136  and/or circuit  112  omitted or assembled separately from transducer  100 . For example, in one embodiment, wires  136  may be omitted and the biphasic material layer  118  itself may extend along frame  104  to a terminal near circuit  112 . 
     Returning now to  FIG. 1 , electrically conductive biphasic material layer  118  may run along suspension member  106  (e.g., attached to a bottom side  116 ), and extend from voice coil  114  to terminals  140  positioned on or within frame  104 . Alternatively, biphasic material layer  118  may be formed within, or otherwise embedded within, suspension member  106 . In either case, the biphasic material layer  118  may be formed in any manner with suspension member  106 , and in any shape, configuration or pattern, suitable for electrically connecting terminals at, for example, the top end  122  of voice coil  114  to terminals  140  on frame  104  as shown. The biphasic material layer  118  may be considered “biphasic” in that it includes both a solid component and a liquid component. The solid component may, in one embodiment, be a solid layer of conductive material formed on, or embedded within suspension member  106 , and the liquid component may be a layer of liquid material formed on the solid layer. The solid layer of conductive material may, in one embodiment, be a film made of a gold-gallium alloy and the liquid material may be discrete bulges, deposits or protrusions containing liquid gallium formed along a surface of the gold-gallium alloy film. It should further be understood that while a gold-gallium alloy and liquid gallium are provided as examples of the solid-liquid materials making up the biphasic material layer  118 , other conductive materials having similar properties to those specifically listed may be used. 
     As can be understood from  FIG. 1 , an excursion or vibration of diaphragm  102  in the z-direction (as illustrated by arrow  150 ) causes the suspension member  106  to vibrate or stretch to accommodate the movement of diaphragm  102 . This movement causes a significant amount of strain within the region of the suspension member  106  between the moving voice coil  114  and the stationary frame  104 . Therefore, when voice coil lead wires are used within this region to make electrical connections, a significant amount of strain is placed on the wires, and may lead to fracture and mechanical failure. Due to the biphasic nature of the biphasic material layer  118 , however, the layer has better reliability in high cycle fatigue than wire and can withstand the high strain within this region without fracture. Therefore, replacing voice coil lead wires within this region with a conductive biphasic material layer  118  improves transducer reliability within the field. 
     In addition, as previously discussed, the electrical properties of the biphasic material can be used to protect diaphragm  102  from excessive excursion and monitor diaphragm displacement. In particular, since the electrical resistance of the biphasic material layer  118  varies proportionally with the strain, as the excursion of diaphragm  102  is reaching its maximum limit, the strain in the biphasic material layer  118  and associated electrical path through biphasic material layer  118  will gradually rise. This, in turn, will reduce the amount of current being delivered through biphasic material layer  118  to voice coil  114  and in turn the excursion of diaphragm  102 . The biphasic material layer  118  therefore provides a self-limiting mechanism that prevents or modifies diaphragm excursion depending upon a strain on the biphasic material layer  118 . Moreover, because the gauge factor (e.g., relative change in electrical resistance to the mechanical strain) of the biphasic material layer  118  is approximately one, linear behavior of the electrical resistance versus strain behavior of the biphasic material layer  118  can be detected by circuit  112  and serve as a strain gauge or a sensor for monitoring diaphragm position. For example, circuit  112  may be used to detect a displacement or position of the diaphragm by detecting an electrical resistance resulting from a strain on the electrically conductive biphasic material layer  118  as the diaphragm  102  is displaced. In this aspect, circuit  112  may include a displacement sensing circuit having circuitry and/or electrical components to facilitate diaphragm displacement monitoring. In addition, circuit  112  may include speaker circuitry for driving speaker operations, for example, providing an electrical current to voice coil  114 . Additional details of the biphasic material layer  118  will be discussed in reference to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 9 . 
     Transducer  100  may further include a magnet assembly  126  positioned below the diaphragm  102 , suspension member  106  and voice coil  114 . Magnet assembly  126  may include a magnet  128  (e.g., a NdFeB magnet), with a top plate  130  and a yoke  132  for guiding a magnetic circuit generated by magnet  128 . Magnet assembly  126 , including magnet  128 , top plate  130  and yoke  132  may be positioned below diaphragm  102 , in other words, magnet assembly  126  is positioned between diaphragm  102  and frame  104 . In one embodiment, magnet  128  may be a center magnet positioned entirely within an open center of voice coil  114 . In this aspect, magnet  128  may have a similar profile as voice coil  114  and voice coil  114  may be suspended within a magnetic gap or air gap  134  formed between magnet  128  and yoke  132  to drive movement of voice coil  114 , and through which a magnetic flux is directed. It should be understood, however, that  FIG. 1  shows one non-limiting example of a transducer, and that there are many other configurations of transducer drive mechanisms which would equally benefit from the invention, for example electrostatic planar magnetic, or the like. In other words, any transducer which makes electrical contact to a moving coil, or makes contact to an electrical component on the moving portion of the assembly, could benefit from a biphasic material layer or electrode as disclosed herein. 
     The specific details of the suspension member  106  and biphasic material layer  118  arrangement will now be described in more detail in reference to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 8 . Representatively,  FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of the suspension member  106  and conductive biphasic material layer  118  shown in  FIG. 1 . From this view, it can be seen that, in one embodiment, the electrically conductive biphasic material layer  118  includes a top face  202  that can be attached to, and extend along, a bottom side  116  of suspension member  106  (e.g., a side facing voice coil  114 ). The biphasic material layer  118  is then electrically connected at one side or end (e.g., by soldering) to a terminal of the voice coil  114  (e.g., a terminal at top end  122 ) and at another side or end to terminals  140 , which could be electrically connected to wires  136  associated with circuit  112  (see  FIG. 1 ). In this aspect, an electrical current can travel, via the biphasic material layer  118 , between the voice coil  114  and circuit  112  without the need for a voice coil lead wire. 
     Referring in more detail to voice coil  114 , voice coil  114  may be a double wound coil having an outer coil layer  114 A terminating at a positive voice coil terminal and an inner coil layer  114 B terminating at a negative voice coil terminal. In this aspect, biphasic material layer  118  may include a conductive break so as not to short circuit an electrical current through voice coil  114 . The conductive break may be, for example, an area of non-conductivity between, for example, a left and right side, or a top and bottom, of the biphasic material layer  118 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , biphasic material layer  118  may include a first section  118 A that is electrically isolated from a second section  118 B. For example, the first section  118 A and the second section  118 B may be two discrete and separate pieces of the biphasic material layer  118  that are spaced a distance apart to achieve the conductive break. The first section  118 A may be electrically connected (e.g., soldered) to the terminal (e.g., a positive voice coil terminal) associated with the outer coil layer  114 A and the nearby wire  136  to circuit  112 . The second section  118 B may be electrically connected (e.g., soldered) to the terminal (e.g., a negative voice coil terminal) associated with the inner coil layer  114 B and the nearby wire  136  to circuit  112 . As previously discussed, the circuit  112  may include speaker circuitry for driver speaker operations, and/or diaphragm displacement sensing circuitry for monitoring a displacement, excursion or position of the diaphragm  102 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of the suspension member  106  and conductive biphasic material layer  118  shown in  FIG. 1 . The transducer components of  FIG. 3  are substantially the same as those previously discussed with respect to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , except in this embodiment, the biphasic material layer  118  is embedded, or otherwise formed within, suspension member  106 . For example, except for the ends of biphasic material layer  118  (which are electrically connected to voice coil  114 ), the biphasic material layer  118  is completely, or at least partially, encased or embedded within the material of suspension member  106  as shown. Said another way, both the top and bottom surfaces of biphasic material layer  118  are in contact with, and covered by, the suspension member  106 . For example, this configuration may be accomplished by forming (e.g., thermoforming, compression molding, injection molding, etc.) a layer of the material used to form the suspension member  106  (e.g., silicone), forming the biphasic material layer  118  on the layer of suspension member material and then forming another layer of the suspension member material on the biphasic material layer  118  to complete the stack up. As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , the ends of the biphasic material layer  118  are exposed through the suspension member  106  so that they can be electrically connected to the voice coil  114  and respective wires  136 . In addition, as previously discussed, the biphasic material layer  118  may include a first section  118 A electrically connecting the outer voice coil layer  114 A to wire  136  of circuit  112 , and a second section  118 B electrically connecting the inner voice coil layer  114 B to wire  136  of circuit  112 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom plan view of one embodiment of the suspension member and electrically conductive biphasic material layer of  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 . In particular, from this view, it can be seen that suspension member  106  is a substantially solid sheet of material (e.g., silicone) having a rectangular shaped profile (although other profiles are contemplated). In this aspect, suspension member  106  may have four sides and the corresponding edges  402  and  404  may be electrically attached to terminals  140  and wires  136  on portions of a surrounding frame (e.g., frame  104  of  FIG. 1 ). Voice coil  114 , having outer and inner voice coil layers  114 A and  114 B, respectively, may be attached to the bottom side  116  of suspension member  106 . Although not shown, the diaphragm may be attached to the top side of suspension member  106 , and over the voice coil  114 . 
     In this embodiment, a first section  118 A and a second section  118 B of the biphasic material layer  118  are formed as sheet like structures and are positioned on the bottom  116  of suspension member  106 . For example, first section  118 A has a substantially rectangular or square shape having a length (L) dimension and a width (W) dimension. In one embodiment, the length (L) dimension is longer than the width (W) dimension such that first section  118 A covers a substantial area of suspension member  106 . The width (W) dimension may be substantially the same as a distance between voice coil  114  and edge  402  of suspension member  106  so that first section  118 A extends between the two. Representatively, edge  408  of first section  118 A may be in contact with, and electrically connected to, outer voice coil layer  114 A and the opposing edge  406  may be in contact with, and electrically connected to, stationary terminal  140  and wire  136  positioned near edge  402  of suspension member  106 . Second section  118 B may have similar dimensions to that of first section  118 A, but be spaced a distance (D) from first section  118 A to provide a conductive break. For example, second section  118 B may have an edge  412  that is in contact with, and electrically connected to, terminal  140  and wire  136  positioned near edge  404  of suspension member  106 , and an opposing edge  410  that is in contact with, and electrically connected to, inner voice coil layer  114 B. It should be noted that in embodiments where first and second sections  118 A,  118 B are sheets of material, it is desirable for each of sections  118 A,  118 B to cover a large surface area of suspension member  106  in order to reduce the electrical resistance and lower the stresses within the biphasic material. Thus, it is contemplated that although rectangular sections  118 A and  118 B are shown, they may have other shapes and sizes which increase their surface area, for example, they may be “C” or “U” shaped sections which surround voice coil  114  and cover a substantial surface area of suspension member  106 . It should be noted, however, that to maintain a conductive break, at least some sort of gap or spacing should be formed between the conductive biphasic material of the biphasic material layer sections  118 A,  118 B. Thus, in most cases, the combination of sections  118 A,  118 B will cover less than an entire perimeter of suspension member  106 . The substantial surface area of the suspension member  106  also serves to counteract any limitations on the practical thickness of the biphasic material layer  118 , which may be limited to rather thin cross sections depending on the method of deposition or application. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a transducer. In this embodiment, transducer  500  is shown as a planar magnetic transducer. More specifically, transducer  500  is a microspeaker having a single voice coil module including a conductive winding paired with a magnetic array (although multiple modules may be used). Transducer  500  may include a frame  502  to surround or support a diaphragm  504  relative to one or more magnetic arrays  506 . Frame  502  may, for example, be a portion of a micro speaker housing. Diaphragm  504  may have any outer shape, and thus, although a rectangular diaphragm is shown, diaphragm may be circular, polygonal, etc. Diaphragm  504  may be constructed from known materials used in the construction of speaker diaphragms, including paper, thermoformed polymers such as PEEK, PEN, PAR, woven fiberglass, aluminum, or composites made of such materials. Thus, in some instances, diaphragm  504  may include a dielectric surface  508 , e.g., a front or a back surface, extending between the diaphragm edges supported by frame  502 . Dielectric surface  508  may be flat, as in the case of a planar diaphragm, or may be conical or curved, as in the case of a cone or dome diaphragm, or some combination of planar portion and curved portion as dictated by the design requirements. Diaphragm  504  may be constructed entirely from a dielectric material, or a portion of the front or back surface of diaphragm may be coated with a dielectric material to form dielectric surface, as in the case of an aluminum diaphragm coated with a parylene film. 
     A voice coil  514  may be integrated with diaphragm  504 . More particularly, voice coil  514  may be formed from electrical wiring disposed on, and running over or along, dielectric surface of diaphragm  504 . The electrical wiring may form one or more conductive windings  516  on diaphragm  504 . More generally, conductive windings  516  may be conductive paths, e.g., wires, traces, etc., that convey electrical current. Thus, while the conductive paths are referred to throughout the following description as conductive windings, wire segments, etc., it shall be understood that conductive windings  516  may be any conductive material formed using known techniques to permit current to flow in a given direction relative to a corresponding magnetic field such that a Lorentz force is generated to move the conductive windings  516  and any substrate to which the windings are attached, e.g., a diaphragm. A conductive winding  516  may have one or more turns within an outer perimeter of diaphragm  504 , i.e., the conductive winding  516  may run continuously along and entirely over a surface of diaphragm  504 . As such, each turn may be separated from the perimeter of diaphragm  504  by a distance such that the turns are suspended inward from frame  502  on a moveable portion (along a central axis) of diaphragm  504 . The turns may include a winding segment parallel to a longitudinal axis of corresponding magnetized portions  512 , e.g. a winding length, and a winding segment transverse to the longitudinal axis, e.g., a winding width. 
     Each conductive winding may be a portion of voice coil  514  that includes one or more loops running along dielectric surface  508 . Each loop may have an outer profile or perimeter that is within an outer perimeter of diaphragm  504 , i.e., each loop may run continuously along and entirely over a surface of diaphragm  504 . Furthermore, the respective loops of each conductive winding may be coplanar. For example, a conductive winding may have several loops that are continuously formed in a spiral from an outer loop with a larger diameter to an inner loop with a smaller diameter. All of the loops may be within a coil plane. Furthermore, the coil plane may be parallel to the surface of diaphragm, and thus, the loops may run around and surround an axis that runs orthogonal to the coil plane. The conductive windings may be formed on diaphragm  504  by printing or etching the windings on dielectric surface using known manufacturing techniques. 
     Each coil may be formed with alternative topologies that do not include loops. For example each coil may include wire segments that are adjacent but do not directly form a loop as long as the current in each segment runs in the proper direction for sufficiently useful Lorentz force. The wire segments or turns may be generally centered over a portion of the magnet array where the magnetic field lines are coplanar with the plane of the windings, wire segments, turns, etc. 
     In an embodiment, the conductive windings of voice coil  514  may be in series with one another. For example, a first conductive winding may be electrically connected to a positive lead, and a second conductive winding may be electrically connected to a negative lead, and the positive lead and the negative lead may be electrically connected through the first and second conductive windings. Alternatively, the conductive windings may be electrically connected in parallel. An alternate embodiment consists of effectively forming multiple voicecoils on diaphragm  504  since each set of conductive windings may be separately actuated, i.e., be subjected to different electrical currents through different electrical circuits. The electrical leads may extend from the conductive windings  516  suspended inward from frame  502  to the outer perimeter of diaphragm  504 , and thus, may traverse the distance between the turns of conductive windings  516  and the outer perimeter or edge of diaphragm  504 . A combination of these connections (series-parallel) may also be used. 
     Frame  502  may support diaphragm  504  relative to magnetic arrays  506  using suspension member  518 . Suspension member  518  may be substantially similar to suspension member  518  described in reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , and include a biphasic layer  520  to provide an electrical connection between voice coil  514  and circuit  526 . Representatively, the electrically conductive biphasic material layer  520  may run along suspension member  518  (e.g., attached to the bottom side of the suspension member), and extend from voice coil  514  to terminals  540  associated with wires  524  of circuit  526 . Alternatively, biphasic material layer  520  may be formed within, or otherwise embedded within, suspension member  518 . In either case, the biphasic material layer  520  may be formed in any manner with suspension member  518 , and in any shape, configuration or pattern, suitable for electrically connecting voice coil  514  to terminals  540 , and wires  524  running through frame  502 , and performing the operations previously discussed in reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 . 
     Frame  502  may also hold substrate  510  around an edge of the substrate  510 , and each magnetic array may be located on a face of substrate  510  such that a top face of the magnetic arrays is facing toward a respective conductive winding of voice coil  514 . Substrate  510  may be a material that is rigid enough to support the magnetic arrays. For example, substrate may be a metal or polymer, e.g., acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or aluminum. Beneficially, since the magnetic array  506  (also referred to as Halbach magnetic arrays) inherently generates a magnetic field that is strongest on the top face opposite from the bottom face adjacent to substrate  510 , substrate  510  may be formed from either nonmagnetic or ferromagnetic material without disrupting the magnetic field applied to the voicecoil during speaker driving. 
     Each magnetic array  506  on substrate  510  may include several magnetized portions  512 . The magnetized portions may be magnetized by individually exposing different regions of a sheet of magnetic material, e.g., powdered ferrite in a binder, to different magnetic field. Alternatively, the magnetized portions may be separate magnets, e.g., magnetic bars, which are magnetized in different directions and then arranged side-by-side to effectively form a flat magnetic array with a rotating magnetic field. The effect of such rotating magnetic field is described in greater detail below. 
     Furthermore, diaphragm  504  and magnetic array  506  may be arranged relative to a central axis  522  such that dielectric surface  508  and a top face of magnetic array  506  are orthogonal to central axis. More particularly, conductive winding  516  of a voice coil module may be wound around central axis  522  such that the loops form a planar winding, e.g., spiraling from an outer dimension to an inner dimension. The planar winding may be parallel to the arrangement of magnetic portions  512 , which may similarly be arranged in a side-by-side fashion linearly along substrate such that a longitudinal axis of each magnetized portion (as well as a transverse axis running orthogonal to the longitudinal axes through all of the magnetized portions) are orthogonal to central axis. As such, a magnetic field generated by the magnetic array, when it is directed upward along central axis, shall be directed toward conductive winding of voicecoil. Thus, when transducer  500  is located within a device such that central axis runs through magnetic array and diaphragm toward a wall of the device, when voicecoil is actuated by applying an electrical current through conductive windings, voicecoil drives diaphragm to generate sound that is emitted forward along central axis through a port in the housing wall and into a surrounding environment. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 8 , these figures show magnified cross-sectional views of embodiments of the suspension member and biphasic material layer stack up. Representatively,  FIG. 6  shows suspension member  106  with the biphasic material layer  118  attached to a surface of suspension member  106 . The suspension member  106  may be a silicone membrane, or a membrane formed from any other type of stretchable and/or compliant material, for example, a membrane made of PU, TPU, PEEK or the like. It should be understood that while suspension member  106  is described herein as a suspending member for a diaphragm and voice coil, it could be any type of stretchable or compliant membrane or substrate upon which a biphasic material layer  118  can be formed, deposited, or embedded. The biphasic material layer  118  includes a solid layer  602  and a liquid layer  604  as previously discussed. The solid layer  602  is attached to the suspension member  106  and the liquid layer  604  is formed on the solid layer  602 . In this embodiment, the liquid layer  604  is shown formed on a side of the solid layer  602  opposite the suspension member  106 . The liquid layer  604 , however, could also be formed on the side of solid layer  602  facing suspension member  106 . The liquid layer  604  may include discrete (e.g., separate) deposits, bulges or protrusions  606  along a surface of the solid layer  602 . 
     In one embodiment, the solid layer  602  may be a thin film layer of a gold-gallium alloy and the liquid layer  604  may be protrusions  606  including liquid gallium formed on the gold-gallium alloy film layer. The combination of the liquid gallium within protrusions  606  and the gold-gallium solid layer  602  allow for electrical continuity throughout the biphasic material layer  118 , especially as the material is strained which tends to crack the solid portion, but the liquid phase effectively fills in the micro-cracks, healing the material and maintaining approximately uniform conductivity. One representative method for manufacturing the suspension member  106  and biphasic material layer  118  shown in  FIG. 6  will now be described. Representatively, in one embodiment, a silicone sheet may be thermoformed into a size and shape desired for the suspension member  106  (e.g., size and shape suitable for suspending a diaphragm and voice coil). Next, a thin film of gold is deposited (e.g., sputtering) on a surface of the suspension member  106  in the desired region. Liquid gallium is then deposited on the gold film and subjected to thermal evaporation. This causes the gold film to alloy with the evaporated gallium and form a solid gold-gallium alloy film layer as well as an accumulation of liquid gallium microscopic protrusions (e.g., a liquid layer). The liquid gallium permeates though the protrusions to provide electrical continuity throughout the material. In some embodiments, additional liquid gallium is deposited to further increase the size of the protrusions. It should further be noted that although suspension member  106  is described as being thermoformed into the desired shape prior to adding the biphasic material layer  118 , in some embodiments, the suspension member  106  may be formed from a silicone sheet with the biphasic material layer already formed thereon. Alternatively, suspension member  106  may be designed to be used in a flat state, such that no forming is necessary, using the compliance of the substrate itself rather than adding out-of-plane geometry. 
       FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a suspension member and biphasic material layer stack up. In this embodiment, the suspension member  106  and biphasic material layer  118  having solid layer  602  and liquid layer  604  can be formed as discussed in reference to  FIG. 6 . This stack up, however, also includes a second layer of silicone material forming a suspension member  706  as well as a second biphasic material layer  718  (made up of solid layer  702  and liquid layer  704  as previously discussed). In particular, suspension member  706  is formed on the previously formed liquid layer  604  of the first biphasic material layer  118 . It is noted that the biphasic material layer  118  can be considered embedded within, or otherwise formed within, the suspension member  106  because it is covered on both sides by a suspension member material. The second biphasic material layer  718  can further be formed over the second suspension member  706 . Since each of the different biphasic material layers  118  and  718  are electrically isolated from one another by a layer of suspension member  706 , they can have different electrical patterns and/or connect to different circuitry within the transducer (e.g., one to a speaker circuit for driving speaker operations and one to a diaphragm displacement circuit for monitoring diaphragm displacement as previously discussed). It should further be understood that in some embodiments, only the second suspension member  706  may be included and the second biphasic material layer  718  omitted. 
       FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a suspension member and biphasic material layer stack up. In this embodiment, the suspension member  106  and biphasic material layer  118  having solid layer  602  and liquid layer  604  that can be formed as discussed in reference to  FIG. 6 . In this stack up, however, the biphasic material layer  118  is formed on a substrate layer  802 , which is then attached (e.g., chemically bonded or otherwise adhered) to the surface of the suspension member  106 . For example, the substrate layer  802  may be a silicone membrane having a compliance similar to, or that does not otherwise interfere with the operation of, the suspension member  106 . The stack up may be formed in manner similar to that described in reference to  FIG. 6 , except that the solid layer  602  and liquid layer  604  are formed on substrate layer  802 , and substrate layer  802  is attached to a surface of suspension member  106 . The solid layer  602  and the liquid layer  604  may be formed before or after the substrate layer  802  is attached to the suspension member  106 . For example, in one embodiment, the suspension member  106  is formed as previously discussed, then the substrate layer  802  is attached to the surface of the suspension member  106 , followed by formation of the solid and liquid layers  602 ,  604 . In another embodiment, the biphasic material layer  118  is a preformed stack up including the substrate layer  802 , solid layer  602  and liquid layer  604 , which are then attached to the suspension member  106  as a single unit. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a top plan view of a biphasic material layer that is patterned on the suspension member. Representatively, in this embodiment, the biphasic material layer  118 , including solid and liquid layers  602 ,  604 , respectively, is formed on the surface of the suspension member  106  and patterned into a conductive trace  902 . The conductive trace  902  is patterned (e.g., lithography, photolithography or the like) to electrically connect voice coil  114  with wire  136 . The conductive trace  902  includes each of the solid and liquid layers  602 ,  604 , respectively, of the biphasic material layer  118  to allow for transmission of an electric current. For example, in one embodiment, conductive trace  902  may be in a sinusoidal like pattern with one end terminating at the voice coil and another end terminating at the edge of suspension member  106  near wire  136 . In other embodiments, the conductive trace  902  may have a grate or lattice type pattern. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates one embodiment of a simplified schematic view of one embodiment of an electronic device in which a transducer, such as that described herein, may be implemented. As seen in  FIG. 10 , the transducer may be integrated within a consumer electronic device  1002  such as a smart phone with which a user can conduct a call with a far-end user of a communications device  1004  over a wireless communications network; in another example, the transducer may be integrated within the housing of a tablet computer  1006 . These are just two examples of where the transducer described herein may be used, it is contemplated, however, that the transducer may be used with any type of electronic device in which a transducer, for example, a loudspeaker, receiver, actuator, or vibration motor, is desired, for example, a tablet computer, a desk top computing device or other display device. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a block diagram of some of the constituent components of an embodiment of an electronic device in which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented. Device  1100  may be any one of several different types of consumer electronic devices. For example, the device  1100  may be any transducer-equipped mobile device, such as a cellular phone, a smart phone, a media player, or a tablet-like portable computer. 
     In this aspect, electronic device  1100  includes a processor  1112  that interacts with camera circuitry  1106 , motion sensor  1104 , storage  1108 , memory  1114 , display  1122 , and user input interface  1124 . Main processor  1112  may also interact with circuitry  1102 , primary power source  1110 , speaker  1118 , and microphone  1120 . Speaker  1118  may be a speaker such as that described in reference to  FIG. 1 . The various components of the electronic device  1100  may be digitally interconnected and used or managed by a software stack being executed by the processor  1112 . 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  1112 ). 
     The processor  1112  controls the overall operation of the device  1100  by performing some or all of the operations of one or more applications or operating system programs implemented on the device  1100 , by executing instructions for it (software code and data) that may be found in the storage  1108 . The processor  1112  may, for example, drive the display  1122  and receive user inputs through the user input interface  1124  (which may be integrated with the display  1122  as part of a single, touch sensitive display panel). In addition, processor  1112  may send an audio signal to speaker  1118  to facilitate operation of speaker  1118 . 
     Storage  1108  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  1108  may include both local storage and storage space on a remote server. Storage  1108  may store data as well as software components that control and manage, at a higher level, the different functions of the device  1100 . 
     In addition to storage  1108 , there may be memory  1114 , 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  1112 . Memory  1114  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  1112 , that run or execute various software programs, modules, or sets of instructions (e.g., applications) that, while stored permanently in the storage  1108 , have been transferred to the memory  1114  for execution, to perform the various functions described above. 
     The device  1100  may include circuitry  1102 . In one embodiment, circuitry  1102  may include communications circuitry having components used for wired or wireless communications, such as two-way conversations and data transfers. For example, circuitry  1102  may include RF communications circuitry that is coupled to an antenna, so that the user of the device  1100  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, circuitry  1102  may include Wi-Fi communications circuitry so that the user of the device  1100  may place or initiate a call using voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) connection, transfer data through a wireless local area network. In addition, circuitry  1102  may includer speaker circuitry and/or diaphragm displacement sensing circuitry associated with transducer  100  as previous discussed. 
     The device may include a microphone  1120 . Microphone  1120  may be an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound in air into an electrical signal. The microphone circuitry may be electrically connected to processor  1112  and power source  1110  to facilitate the microphone operation (e.g. tilting). 
     The device  1100  may include a motion sensor  1104 , also referred to as an inertial sensor, that may be used to detect movement of the device  1100 . The motion sensor  1104  may include a position, orientation, or movement (POM) sensor, such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a light sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, an acoustic sensor, a sonic or sonar sensor, a radar sensor, an image sensor, a video sensor, a global positioning (GPS) detector, an RF or acoustic doppler detector, a compass, a magnetometer, or other like sensor. For example, the motion sensor  1104  may be a light sensor that detects movement or absence of movement of the device  1100 , by detecting the intensity of ambient light or a sudden change in the intensity of ambient light. The motion sensor  1104  generates a signal based on at least one of a position, orientation, and movement of the device  1100 . The signal may include the character of the motion, such as acceleration, velocity, direction, directional change, duration, amplitude, frequency, or any other characterization of movement. The processor  1112  receives the sensor signal and controls one or more operations of the device  1100  based in part on the sensor signal. 
     The device  1100  also includes camera circuitry  1106  that implements the digital camera functionality of the device  1100 . One or more solid state image sensors are built into the device  1100 , and each may be located at a focal plane of an optical system that includes a respective lens. An optical image of a scene within the camera&#39;s field of view is formed on the image sensor, and the sensor responds by capturing the scene in the form of a digital image or picture consisting of pixels that may then be stored in storage  1108 . The camera circuitry  1106  may also be used to capture video images of a scene. 
     Device  1100  also includes primary power source  1110 , such as a built in battery, as a primary power supply. 
     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 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. For example, the transducer described herein could be acoustic-to-electric transducers or sensor that converts sound in air into an electrical signal, such as for example, a microphone, a vibration motor, or other type of device that could benefit from a compliant or stretchable biphasic electrode. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20190429
Publication Date: 20210202
Grant Date: 20210202
Priority Date: 20160923
Inventors: SALVATTI, ALEXANDER V.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04R2499/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/06", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/045", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/045", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/047", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/20", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2400/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/047", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/08", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2307/204", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/08", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2307/204", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/20", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/08", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2400/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/047", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/20", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2499/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/045", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2307/204", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/20", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R2400/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R9/047", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R7/08", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 59714184