Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices – Electro-acoustic audio transducer – Electromagnetic
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-25
2003-05-27
Barnie, Rexford (Department: 2643)
Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices
Electro-acoustic audio transducer
Electromagnetic
C381S396000, C340S407100, C361S782000, C361S803000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06570994
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to speakers in consumer products. More particularly, it relates to the integration of a speaker with a keypad using a common membrane and/or printed circuit board.
2. Background of Related Art
Speakers and keypads are found in many consumer products, particularly in telecommunications related devices. For instance, telephone answer devices typically include a twelve (12) key alphanumeric keypad for dialing telephone numbers, and a speaker for playing back recorded voice messages. Similarly, speakerphones include an alphanumeric keypad for dialing telephone numbers, and a speaker for outputting received voice signals from a telephone line. Facsimile machines include an alphanumeric keypad for dialing telephone numbers and a speaker to provide audible monitoring of an outgoing telephone call.
Other devices other than telecommunications related devices include buttons and speakers. For instance, small, inexpensive radios include buttons for tuning, power control, etc., and a speaker for outputting the received audible radio signal. Telecommunications related or not, the types of devices including at least one PCB mounted button and speaker are endless.
In higher end consumer devices, quality speakers are used. However, in lower end consumer devices, and in higher end consumer devices which rarely or insignificantly output audible sounds through their speaker, a quality speaker may be overkill and wasteful of costs.
In many conventional devices, the buttons are mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB), which provides an efficient and inexpensive method of wiring the buttons to a processor or other device. In smaller devices, the processor may be mounted on the same PCB as the buttons, and in larger devices the processor may be mounted on a separate PCB but in wired communication with the button PCB. In any event, the speaker is typically mounted in a common chassis with the button PCB.
The conventional speaker is electrically connected to the button PCB or other PCB with two wires extending from the coil of the speaker to corresponding solder pads or through holes on the button PCB or other PCB. Unfortunately, it is manually intensive not only to separately mount both the speaker and button PCB, but also to solder the two wires between the coil of the speaker and a corresponding PCB. Moreover, if the speaker is not mounted in close proximity to the PCB, the wires may require strapping to secure them against breakage and to allow easy access to components surrounding the speaker.
For instance,
FIG. 6
shows a conventional device
650
including both a speaker
600
and a plurality of buttons
190
mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB)
160
.
In particular, a conventional speaker
600
is mounted in close proximity to the buttons
190
, with two speaker wires
604
,
606
providing electrical connection between the coil of the speaker
600
and the wiring on the PCB
160
.
Conventional buttons
190
come in many shapes and sizes. For instance, the buttons
190
shown in
FIG. 6
include button caps
191
, a tactile layer
170
including a respective plurality of tactile portions
190
a
corresponding to each button cap
191
. The buttons
190
also include an electrical switch
192
. The electrical switch
192
may be, e.g., as simple as conductive rubber causing conduction between two exposed wire traces on the PCB
160
, or may be comprised of a more rugged mechanical switching mechanism.
Although not shown, PCB mount speakers are available. However, PCB mount speakers are typically costly, and often capable of outputting audible signals at a quality much higher than that required by the particular application. Thus, in low end devices or in high end devices making minimal quality use of the speaker, a PCB mount speaker is nevertheless overkill and wasteful of costs.
There is a need for a more cost effective speaker solution for consumer devices including buttons together with the speaker.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a speaker comprises a tactile member for a button including an active region responsive to fluctuations in a magnetic field. A coil, formed on a printed circuit board, is adapted to create a fluctuating magnetic field at the active region of the tactile member.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of forming a speaker for a consumer product comprises forming a vibrating portion of the speaker from an extension of a tactile member of a button. An active region is included in the vibrating portion, the active region being attracted and repelled by fluctuations in a magnetic field. A coil is formed adjacent to the active region to create the magnetic field.
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Berthoud Charles William
Feick Bradley M.
Skorko James
Agere Systems Inc.
Barnie Rexford
Bollman William H.
Dabney P.
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