HK1184004B - System for vibration confinement - Google Patents

Description

Vibration limiting system

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This international patent application claims priority to U.S. patent application 12/794508 filed on 6/4/2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of speakers, and more particularly to limiting vibration associated with speaker drivers.

Background

Audio transducers or drivers for loudspeakers are of numerous types. The driver functions as a conventional direct-radiating speaker, an example of which may include a moving voice coil immersed in a static magnetic field and coupled to a rigid diaphragm and suspension.

The motor system of the loudspeaker may comprise a permanent magnet surrounded by a steel part which guides the magnetic field and forms the shape of the magnetic field. The speaker may also include a voice coil, which may be a wire (e.g., copper clad aluminum) and is sometimes referred to as a voice coil wire, wrapped around a non-conductive bobbin, which is sometimes referred to as a voice coil former. The voice coil former may provide mechanical stability and a platform to transfer voice coil forces to the diaphragm.

The diaphragm is typically rigid and lightweight to accurately move air in a "split" mode or other undesirable behavior with minimal effort. In theory, the diaphragm exhibits a fully pistonic motion. The diaphragm, sometimes referred to as a dome because of its shape, may be made of aluminum or similar materials or composites thereof that exhibit high stiffness, low mass, and high deformation, thereby allowing deep shapes to be formed.

The suspension system will typically provide a restoring force and will hold the coil in the correct position. The suspension allows for controlled axial movement while largely avoiding lateral movement or tilting that could cause the coil to impact the motor assembly. The stiffness and deflection ratio of the suspension is carefully designed to match the force to deflection characteristic ratio of the voice coil and motor system. The suspension may include a member formed of a urethane foam material or the like, and may be compression-formed in a mold by heating and pressing. However, many problems arise in attaching the suspension member to the diaphragm. For example, the attachment of the suspension member to the diaphragm may allow parasitic vibrations from the suspension system to be transmitted through the diaphragm surface, resulting in distortion and inaccuracy in the frequency response.

One known method includes decoupling the diaphragm from the suspension member to isolate the diaphragm from high frequency vibrations in the suspension system. However, the speakers associated with such methods and designs are difficult to manufacture, resulting in speakers that are fragile and lack durability and reliability. Accordingly, there is a need for a loudspeaker technique that isolates the diaphragm from vibrations associated with the suspension system while being easy to manufacture, robust and reliable.

Disclosure of Invention

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements nor delineate the scope of such aspects. Its purpose is to present some concepts of the described features in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In accordance with one or more aspects and corresponding disclosure thereof, various aspects are described in connection with improved speaker design for vibration confinement and stress management. The techniques described herein can isolate the interior region of the diaphragm from vibrations associated with the suspension system while providing a loudspeaker that is easy to manufacture and reliable. In one embodiment, there is provided a speaker including: a diaphragm extending from an inner diaphragm region (e.g., a concave or convex dome) to an outer diaphragm region, wherein the outer diaphragm region is curved at a defined angle (e.g., about 90 °) with respect to the inner diaphragm region. The loudspeaker may further comprise a frame and suspension members extending from the inner suspension region to the outer suspension region, wherein the inner suspension region overlaps and is attached to the outer suspension region, thereby forming a vibration-restricting portion at said defined angle with respect to the inner diaphragm region. The outer suspension region may be attached to the frame. In one embodiment, the defined angle may be between about 45 ° and about 135 °. In a related aspect, the vibration-restricting portion isolates the inner diaphragm region from parasitic bending waves or vibrations from the outer suspension region at the defined angular (e.g., right-angled) orientation.

In a related aspect, the frame can include a mounting ring in a horizontal plane, such as an annular flat surface. An outer suspension region may be attached to the mounting ring. The downward plane through the outer diaphragm region may intersect the horizontal plane at a given angle, which may be, for example, between about 15 ° and about 60 °. In one particular example, the given angle is about 45 °. Similarly, an upward plane through the internal suspension region can intersect the horizontal plane at the same given angle or a similar angle.

In other related aspects, the loudspeaker may further include a voice coil former positioned below the diaphragm and providing structural support to the diaphragm. In other related aspects, the inner suspension region and/or the outer suspension region may include one or more flanges.

In still further related aspects, the inner suspension region and the outer suspension region are attached at an interface with an adhesive. The orientation of the vibration restricting portion at the defined angle introduces a shear load on the interface, thereby strengthening the interface.

According to one or more aspects of embodiments described herein, there is provided a speaker including: (a) a diaphragm extending from an inner dome region to an outer annular region, wherein the outer annular region is curved at a specified angle (e.g., between about 45 ° and about 135 °) relative to the inner dome region; and (b) a voice coil former located below and providing structural support to the diaphragm, the voice coil former extending from a bottom edge to a top edge, the top edge interfacing with the diaphragm between the inner dome region and the outer annular region.

In a related aspect, the speaker may further include an annular suspension member extending from an inner suspension region to an outer suspension region, wherein the inner suspension region overlaps and is attached to the outer annular region of the diaphragm.

According to one or more aspects of embodiments described herein, there is provided a speaker including: (a) a frame having a mounting ring in a horizontal plane; (b) a diaphragm extending from an inner domed region to an outer annular region, wherein the outer annular region extends downwardly at a defined angle (e.g., about 45 °) relative to horizontal; and (c) a suspension member extending from the inner suspension region to the outer suspension region, wherein the inner suspension region overlaps and is attached to the outer annular region of the diaphragm so as to form a vibration restricting portion oriented at the prescribed angle with respect to a horizontal plane. The vibration-restricting portion isolates the inner domed region of the diaphragm from spurious waves from the outer suspension region at the defined angular orientation. In one embodiment, the defined angle may be between about 15 ° and about 60 °.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, one or more aspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects and are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of these aspects may be employed. Other advantages and novel features may become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings and the disclosed aspects are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents.

Drawings

The features, nature, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein:

fig. 1 provides an isometric view of an exemplary speaker.

Fig. 2 provides a side view of the exemplary speaker shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary speaker shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a close-up view of the surrounded portion of the exemplary speaker shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is another close-up view of the surrounded portion of the exemplary speaker shown in fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a close-up view of the encircled portion shown in fig. 5.

Detailed Description

The different aspects will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. It may be evident, however, that the various aspects may be practiced without these specific details.

Referring to fig. 1, an isometric view of a speaker 100 is provided. The speaker 100 may include a frame 102 that includes a circular perimeter 104 and a mounting ring 106 (e.g., an annular flat surface). The loudspeaker 100 may include a dome or diaphragm 120 inside the frame 102. The loudspeaker 100 may include a suspension or surround system 130 above the frame 102.

Referring to fig. 2, a side view of the speaker 100 is provided. The suspension system 130 extends upwardly from the mounting ring 106 of the frame 102. The frame 102 may also include a plurality of stops 108 and a canister 110, which may be a cup-shaped bottom portion of the frame 102. The stop 108 and/or the canister 110 may be made of metal or similar materials. A magnetic pole may be introduced at the lowest portion of the can 110. Additionally, fasteners 200 are also illustrated to secure components of the frame 102 and/or other speaker components together.

Referring to fig. 3, a cross-sectional view of the speaker 100 is provided. A base 300 is shown inside the can 110. Above the base 300 is a magnet 310, which may be a permanent magnet of any known material suitable for use with a speaker. Above the magnet 310 is a top plate 320, typically made of soft magnetic iron or steel, or the like. Also shown is a voice coil 330, which may include a voice coil former 332 and a voice coil wire 334. The voice coil wire 334 may be wound around the voice coil former 332. It should be noted that a wrapper or covering may be provided around voice coil 330. It should also be noted that other configurations of the frame 102, the base 300, the magnet 312, and/or the voice coil 330 may be used without departing from the scope of the embodiments described herein.

With continued reference to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the diaphragm 120 has a concave shape. However, the driver configuration shown may also be used with diaphragms of other shapes, such as convex or similar shapes. As previously mentioned, the diaphragm 120 may be made of any suitable material that provides rigidity, such as titanium, aluminum, or other metallic or non-metallic materials (e.g., plastic, impregnated/reinforced paper, etc.).

In accordance with one or more aspects of the embodiments described herein, there is provided an improved speaker design for vibration confinement and stress management. Referring to the embodiment of fig. 4, a close-up view of the surrounded portion (circle a) of the exemplary speaker shown in fig. 3 is provided. In particular, the attachment of the diaphragm 120 to a suspension member 132 of a suspension system 130 is shown in FIG. 4. The diaphragm 120 may extend from an inner diaphragm region 122, such as a dome shape or cone shape, to an outer diaphragm region 124, which may then extend downward/upward and be attached to a suspension member 132. In some contexts, the inner diaphragm region 122 may also be referred to as a dome, a domed body, an inner dome region, and a concave dome region.

Suspension member 132 is preferably sufficiently flexible and flexible to allow free axial movement of the voice coil diaphragm assembly, and may extend from inner suspension region 132 (which may include a lip) to outer suspension region 136. Preferably, the diaphragm 120 is sufficiently lightweight and stiff to maintain piston motion over as wide a frequency range as possible. In the illustrated embodiment, the interface between the diaphragm 120 and the surround or suspension member 132 includes a bend in the shape of the diaphragm 120 at approximately 45 ° from the horizontal, and is supported from below by a cylindrical voice coil former 332. Bending of the outer diaphragm region 124 at approximately 90 to the inner diaphragm region 122 may result in bending at an approximately 45 angle to the horizontal in the diaphragm 120. As a result, the outer diaphragm region 124 and the inner diaphragm region 134 may overlap and attach to one another and together form an attachment region 140 as shown in FIG. 5. In this example, the outer diaphragm region 124 and the inner diaphragm region 134, and the resulting attachment region 140, are all orthogonal with respect to an upward plane through the inner diaphragm region 122 (i.e., the orthogonal regions intersect at an approximately 90 angle with respect to the inner diaphragm region 122).

The axially extremely rigid bobbin 322, in combination with the orthogonal orientation of the attachment region 140 relative to the inner diaphragm region 122, means that undesired vibrations of the suspension member 132 are effectively isolated from the inner diaphragm region 122 of the diaphragm 120. In other words, the non-piston type of vibration is confined to an area outside of voice coil 330, thereby leaving a pure piston motion for inner diaphragm region 122 inside voice coil 330.

With continued reference to fig. 4-5, the inner suspension region 134 can overlap and attach with the outer suspension region 124, thereby forming a vibration-restricting portion 510. The outer suspension region 136 may be attached to the frame 102 (e.g., at the mounting ring 106) with adhesive/glue or other known suitable techniques. It is believed that while adjusting the angle of the lip of the inner suspension region 134 of the suspension member 132 upward (e.g., at an angle of about 45 ° to the horizontal) to align the shape of the lip with the direction of the force, if the lip of the outer diaphragm region 124 is adjusted downward to a specified angle (e.g., at an angle of about 45 ° to the horizontal) on the attachment region 140, the peak stress of the suspension member 132 is reduced by more than a factor of 5. This geometry provides the added benefit of reducing any peel-type loading while introducing a primarily shear loading at the material/bond interface, while the material and adhesive are very robust to such loading, and thus the joint is extremely resistant to crack propagation. It should be noted that the material/adhesive interface is typically strong to shear, and the above-described geometry of the angled lip of the attachment region 140 will cause the load path to occur primarily in shear. In other embodiments (not shown), for example, if the inner diaphragm region 122 includes a convex dome, the angle of the lip of the outer diaphragm region 124 may be adjusted upward while the angle of the lip of the inner suspension region 134 is adjusted downward to reduce peak stress.

In a related aspect, the loudspeaker 100 or loudspeaker driver may include a suspension member 132 extending from an inner suspension region 134 to an outer suspension region 136, wherein the outer suspension region 136 is attached to the frame 102, and the inner suspension region 134 overlaps and is attached to the outer diaphragm region 124 so as to form a vibration restricting portion 510 that faces at a defined angle to the inner diaphragm region 122. The orientation of the vibration confinement portion 510 at a defined angle may isolate the inner diaphragm region 122 from parasitic bending waves from the suspension member 132.

Referring to fig. 6, it should be noted that the outer diaphragm region 124 may be susceptible to bending motions perpendicular thereto, but less susceptible to in-plane motions. The resultant bending motion of the material surface of the diaphragm 120 appears as a sine wave 610 superimposed on the outer diaphragm region 124. The motion at the end 620 of the outer diaphragm region 124 (i.e., the end 620 at or near the curvature of the diaphragm) will be normal to the surface of the outer diaphragm region 124. Similarly, the inner diaphragm region 122 is also very rigid in-plane motion and very flexible in out-of-plane forces. As a result, when the forces at the inner diaphragm region 122 and the outer diaphragm region 124 are combined, the weak direction of motion of the outer diaphragm region 124 corresponds to the strong direction of motion of the inner diaphragm region 122, such that the outer diaphragm region 124 transmits little or no bending wave component to the inner diaphragm region 122.

By attaching the lip or inner diaphragm region 134 to the diaphragm 120 in the manner described herein, the robustness of the joint and manufacturing tolerances may be improved while reducing stresses otherwise associated with attaching the suspension member 132 directly to the diaphragm 120.

One challenge with loudspeaker devices is their sensitivity to stiffness variations, which can lead to coil tilt and a rocking mode of the motor being struck. One of the primary reasons for these stiffness variations is the non-planar surrounding or non-planar attachment of the surround 132 relative to the coil 330. The techniques described herein greatly reduce this stiffness variation or asymmetry by providing a very rigid and dimensionally stable metal support structure for the diaphragm 120 as an attachment structure for the surround 132. The effect of minimizing the resulting stiffness asymmetry for the loudspeaker 100 translates to higher throughput and higher power handling and excursion.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the embodiments described herein, FIGS. 3-4 illustrate an example apparatus 100 (e.g., a loudspeaker or driver) including a frame 102 and a diaphragm 120 extending from an inner diaphragm region 122 to an outer diaphragm region 124. The outer diaphragm region 124 may be curved to a defined angle relative to the inner diaphragm region 122. The apparatus may further comprise a suspension member 132 extending from an inner suspension region 134 to an outer suspension region 136. The inner suspension region 134 may overlap and be attached to the outer diaphragm region 124, and the outer suspension region 136 may be attached to the frame 102. In one embodiment, the defined angle may be between about 45 ° and about 135 °. For example, the defined angle may be about 90 °.

In a related aspect, the frame 102 can include the mounting ring 106 in a horizontal plane, and the outer suspension region 136 can be attached to the mounting ring 106. A downward plane through the outer diaphragm region 124 may intersect the horizontal plane of the mounting ring 106 at a given angle (e.g., between about 15 deg. and about 60 deg.). For example, the given angle may be about 45 °. Similarly, an upward plane through the interior suspension region 134 can intersect a horizontal plane at a given angle, which can be, for example, between about 10 ° to about 70 ° (e.g., about 45 ° as shown in the embodiment of fig. 4).

In other related aspects, voice coil 330 may be positioned below diaphragm 120 and provide structural support to diaphragm 120. In still further related aspects, the inner suspension region 134 and/or the outer suspension region 136 can include one or more flanges. In still further related aspects, the inner diaphragm region 122 may include a concave dome or a variation thereof. In another embodiment (not shown), the inner diaphragm region 122 may include a convex dome or a variation thereof. It should be noted that the diaphragm 120 may include any suitable shape, configuration, or size depending on the particular application or speaker design.

With continued reference to fig. 3-4, in accordance with one or more aspects of the embodiments described herein, the apparatus 100 may include a diaphragm 120 extending from an inner diaphragm region 122 (e.g., an inner dome region) to an outer diaphragm 124 (e.g., an outer annular region). The outer diaphragm region 124 may be curved to a defined angle relative to the inner diaphragm region 122. The apparatus 100 may also include a voice coil 330 positioned below the diaphragm 120 and providing structural support to the diaphragm 120, the voice coil 330 extending from a bottom edge to a top edge, the top edge interfacing with the diaphragm 120 between the inner diaphragm region 122 and the outer diaphragm region 124. In one embodiment, the defined angle may be between about 45 ° and about 135 ° (e.g., about 90 °).

In a related aspect, the apparatus 100 may further include an annular suspension member 132 extending from an inner suspension region 134 to an outer suspension region 136, the inner suspension region 134 overlapping and attached to the outer diaphragm region 124 of the diaphragm 120. In other related aspects, the inner suspension region 134 and/or the outer suspension region 136 can include one or more flanges. In this example, the inner diaphragm region 122 includes a concave dome. It should be appreciated, however, that the inner diaphragm region 122 may include any suitable shape (e.g., convex dome, conical, etc.), configuration, or size depending on the particular application.

With continued reference to fig. 3-4, in accordance with one or more aspects of the embodiments described herein, the apparatus 100 may include a frame 102 having an annular flat surface in a horizontal plane, and a diaphragm 120 extending from an inner diaphragm region 122 (e.g., an inner domed region) to an outer diaphragm region 124 (e.g., an outer annular region), where the outer diaphragm region 124 may be curved (e.g., extend downward or upward) to a specified angle (e.g., between about 15 ° and about 60 °) relative to the horizontal plane. The apparatus 100 may further comprise a suspension member 132 extending from an inner suspension region 134 to an outer suspension region 136, wherein the inner suspension region 134 may overlap and attach with the outer diaphragm region 124, and wherein the outer suspension region 136 may attach to an annular planar surface of the mounting ring 106 of the frame 102. In a related aspect, the apparatus 100 may further include an upwardly extending voice coil former 332 that provides structural support for the diaphragm 120.

In the example of fig. 3-4, the defined angle is about 45 °; it should be understood, however, that the outer diaphragm region 124 of the diaphragm 120 may be curved at other suitable angles. Similarly, the inner suspension region 134 may extend upward at the same or similar angle as the specified bending angle of the diaphragm 120.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited thereby. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that features of any of the methods and apparatus described above may be substituted or added to other methods or apparatus. It will also be appreciated that variations of the specific embodiments described herein, incorporating the principles of the invention, may occur to those skilled in the art and are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (24)

1. A loudspeaker, comprising:

a diaphragm extending from an inner diaphragm region to an outer diaphragm region, the outer diaphragm region being curved at a defined angle relative to the inner diaphragm region;

a frame;

a voice coil former located below the diaphragm and providing structural support for the diaphragm, a top edge of the voice coil former interfacing with the diaphragm between an inner diaphragm region and an outer diaphragm region, such that the inner diaphragm region is located on an inner side of the voice coil former and the outer diaphragm region is located on an outer side of the voice coil former; and

a suspension member extending from an inner suspension region to an outer suspension region, the outer suspension region being attached to a frame, the inner suspension region overlapping and attached to the outer diaphragm region so as to form a vibration-restricting portion oriented at the defined angle relative to the inner diaphragm region;

wherein the orientation of the vibration-restricting portion at the defined angle isolates the inner diaphragm region from parasitic bending waves from the outer suspension region.

2. The speaker of claim 1, wherein:

the inner suspension region and the outer diaphragm region are attached at the interface with an adhesive; and

the orientation of the vibration restricting portion at the defined angle introduces a primarily shear load on the interface, thereby strengthening the interface.

3. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the defined angle is about 90 °.

4. The speaker of claim 1, wherein:

the frame includes a mounting ring in a horizontal plane; and

an outer suspension region is attached to the mounting ring.

5. The loudspeaker of claim 4 wherein a downward plane through the outer diaphragm region intersects a horizontal plane at approximately 45 °.

6. The loudspeaker of claim 5, wherein an upward plane through the inner suspension region intersects the horizontal plane at approximately 45 °.

7. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner suspension region and the outer suspension region comprises a flange.

8. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the inner diaphragm region includes one of a concave dome and a convex dome.

9. The loudspeaker of claim 1 wherein the inner domed region of the diaphragm comprises a conical shape.

10. The speaker of claim 1, wherein the defined angle ranges between about 45 ° and about 135 °.

11. The loudspeaker of claim 1, where the vibration confinement portion is oriented orthogonal to the inner diaphragm region.

12. A loudspeaker, comprising:

a diaphragm extending from an inner dome region to an outer annular region, the outer annular region being curved at a defined angle relative to the inner dome region;

a voice coil former located beneath the diaphragm and providing structural support for the diaphragm, the voice coil former extending from a bottom edge to a top edge, the top edge interfacing with the diaphragm between an inner dome region and an outer annular region, such that the inner dome region is located on an inner side of the voice coil former and the outer annular region is located on an outer side of the voice coil former; and

a suspension member extending from an inner suspension region to an outer suspension region, the inner suspension region overlapping and attached to the outer annular region so as to form a vibration confinement portion oriented at the defined angle relative to the inner dome region;

wherein the orientation of the vibration confinement portion at the defined angle isolates the inner dome region from parasitic bending waves from the outer suspension region.

13. The speaker of claim 12, wherein:

the inner suspension region and the outer annular region are attached at the interface with an adhesive; and

the orientation of the vibration restricting portion at said defined angle introduces a shear load on the interface, thereby strengthening said interface.

14. The loudspeaker of claim 12, wherein the defined angle is about 90 °.

15. The loudspeaker of claim 12, wherein at least one of the inner suspension region and the outer suspension region comprises a flange.

16. The loudspeaker of claim 12, wherein the inner dome region of the diaphragm comprises one of a concave dome and a convex dome.

17. The loudspeaker of claim 12 wherein the inner domed region of the diaphragm comprises a conical shape.

18. The speaker of claim 12, wherein the defined angle ranges between about 45 ° and about 135 °.

19. The loudspeaker of claim 12, where the vibration confinement portion is oriented orthogonal to the inner diaphragm region.

20. A loudspeaker, comprising:

a frame having a mounting ring in a horizontal plane;

a diaphragm extending from an inner concave dome region inside the voice coil former to an outer annular region outside the voice coil former, the outer annular region extending downwardly at a defined angle relative to horizontal; and

a suspension member extending from an inner suspension region to an outer suspension region, the outer suspension region attached to the mounting ring of the frame, the inner suspension region overlapping and attached to an outer annular region of the diaphragm so as to form a vibration-restricting portion oriented at the defined angle relative to horizontal;

wherein the orientation of the vibration-restricting portion at the defined angle isolates the inner domed region of the diaphragm from parasitic bending waves from the outer suspension region.

21. The speaker of claim 20, wherein:

the inner suspension region and the outer annular region are attached at the interface with an adhesive; and

the orientation of the vibration restricting portion at the defined angle introduces a shear load on the interface, thereby strengthening the interface.

22. The loudspeaker of claim 20, wherein the defined angle is about 45 °.

23. The loudspeaker of claim 20 further comprising a voice coil former providing structural support for the diaphragm.

24. The loudspeaker of claim 20, wherein the outer annular region is orthogonal to the inner domed region.