WO2025054812A1

WO2025054812A1 - Speaker box and electronic device

Info

Publication number: WO2025054812A1
Application number: PCT/CN2023/118211
Authority: WO
Inventors: Haijun FU; Fuli TIAN; Dewen LING; Wentao Ma; Yadi Wang
Original assignee: Harman International Industries Inc
Current assignee: Harman International Industries Inc
Priority date: 2023-09-12
Filing date: 2023-09-12
Publication date: 2025-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-12

Abstract

A speaker box and an electronic device are provided. The speaker box comprises: a box housing defining an interior chamber; a plurality of openings formed in the box housing; at least one active driver, each situated within one of the openings; at least one passive radiator, each situated within one of the openings; and at least one reinforcement structure positioned within the chamber, with each reinforcement structure being associated with one passive radiator, each reinforcement structure being located behind its respective passive radiator, and extending from the box housing proximate to the opening in which the respective passive radiator is situated, and spanning across the respective passive radiator. The electronic device comprises a speaker box.

Description

SPEAKER BOX AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a speaker box and an electronic device comprising a speaker box.

BACKGROUND

Speaker boxes are essential components in many electronic devices. One type of speaker box design includes one or more active drivers and passive radiators. The active drivers are conventional speaker units with a magnet assembly, a voice coil, and a diaphragm, which produce sound when driven by an electrical audio signal. On the other hand, passive radiators, which lack a magnet and a voice coil, are designed to vibrate in response to changes in air pressure inside the speaker box caused by operations of the active driver (s) . The passive radiators improve the low-frequency response of the speaker box and the user’s experience in a cost-effective way.

However, incorporating a passive radiator involves creating a large opening in the speaker box, which may weaken its structural strength. The weakened structural strength is problematic because it can lead to a lowered natural frequency of the speaker box and an increase in vibration during operation. This issue becomes even more significant when the speaker box is integrated into an electronic device where space is limited, such as a notebook computer, an all-in-one computer, or a projector. Attempts to address this problem involve using thicker box walls. However, these approaches often increase the weight and cost of the speaker box, decrease acoustic net volume, but only have limited improvement in the vibration problem.

Therefore, there is a need for a solution that can reinforce the speaker box's structure without significantly increasing its weight, cost, or negatively impacting the sound quality, especially in the context of electronic devices with limited space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a speaker box is provided, comprising: a box housing defining an interior chamber; a plurality of openings formed in the box housing; at least one active driver, each situated within one of the openings; at least one passive radiator, each situated within one of the openings; and at least one reinforcement structure positioned within the chamber, with each reinforcement structure being associated with one passive radiator, each reinforcement structure being located behind its respective passive radiator, and extending from the box housing proximate to the opening in which the respective passive radiator is situated, and spanning across the respective passive radiator.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device comprises a speaker box as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following drawings and description. The components shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, instead, emphasis should be placed upon the principles illustrated by the disclosure. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a speaker box according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the speaker box of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3A illustrates a sectional view of the speaker box taken along a longitudinal vertical plane passing through the center of the speaker box;

Fig. 3B illustrates a sectional view of the speaker box taken along a transverse vertical plane passing through the center of the speaker box;

Fig. 4A illustrates a perspective view of the speaker box, with passive radiators removed to show the inner structure of the speaker box;

Fig. 4B illustrates an exploded view of the box housing of the speaker box;

Figs. 5A-5C illustrates the upper housing portion of the speaker box according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein Fig. 5A is a perspective view of the upper housing portion, Fig. 5B is a bottom view of the upper housing portion and Fig. 5C is a top view of the upper housing portion;

Figs. 6A-6C illustrates the lower housing portion of the speaker box according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein Fig. 6A is a perspective view of the upper housing portion, Fig. 6B is a bottom view of the lower housing portion and Fig. 6C is a top view of the lower housing portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As used herein, the singular forms “a” , “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises” , “comprising” , “includes” and/or “including” , as used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or combinations thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” and the symbol “/” are meant to include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Additionally, while the terms first, second etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, steps or calculations, these elements, components, steps, or calculations should not be limited by these terms, rather, these terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, step, or calculation from another. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component, similarly a first calculation may be referred to as a second calculation; likewise, a first step may be referred to as a second step, all without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

As used herein, the term “active driver” refers to a conventional speaker unit with a magnet assembly, a voice coil, and a diaphragm. This unit generates sound when powered by an electrical audio signal. The term “passive radiator” refers to a passive speaker unit which comprises a diaphragm, but lacks a magnet assembly and a voice coil. It is designed to vibrate in response to changes in air pressure caused by the operations of an active driver.

To clarify the use in the pending claims and to hereby provide notice to the public, the phrases “at least one of <A>, <B>, ... and <N>” or “at least one of <A>, <B>, ... <N>, or combinations thereof” are defined by the Applicant in the broadest sense, superseding any other implied definitions herebefore or hereinafter unless expressly asserted by the Applicant to the contrary, to mean one or more elements selected from the group comprising A, B, ... and N, that is to say, any combination of one or more of the elements A, B, ... or N including any one element alone or in combination with one or more of the other elements which may also include, in combination, additional elements not listed.

The present disclosure provides a speaker box, comprising a box housing, at least one active driver, and at least one passive radiator. The speaker box further comprises at least one reinforcement structure each associated with one passive radiator, each reinforcement structure being located behind its respective passive radiator, and extending from the box housing proximate to the opening in which the respective passive radiator is situated, and spanning across the respective passive radiator.

Contrary to intuition, the inventors of the present disclosure have discovered that the reinforcement structure can efficiently enhance the structure strength of the box housing without affecting the sound quality or audio performance to an audibly perceptible degree.

In one or more embodiments, reinforcement structure is a cross-shaped reinforcement structure having two arms that intersect each other at a central point of the reinforcement structure at a right angle. In some embodiments, the two arms comprises a longitudinal arm and a transverse arm, with the longitudinal arm spanning across the passive radiator in a longitudinal direction and the transverse arm spanning across the passive radiator in a transverse direction. In some other embodiments, the reinforcement structure is spaced from its respective passive radiator by a distance D which is larger than twice the width of the surround of the respective passive radiator.

The inventors of the present disclosure have found that with carefully designed reinforcement structure, the sound quality or audio performance of the speaker box may remain uncompromised.

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a speaker box 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the speaker box 100. The speaker box 100 comprises a box housing 110. The box housing 110 is of an elongate shape having two longitudinal ends 112, 114 and defines an interior chamber. The speaker box 100 further comprises two active drivers 182, 184, each of which is mounted to one longitudinal end 112, 114 of the box housing 110. Furthermore, the speaker box 100 comprises two passive radiators 140, 170 which are respectively mounted to an upper side 116 and a lower side 118 of the box housing 110.

When the speaker box 100 is in operation, the active drivers 182, 184 of the speaker box 100 receive an electrical audio signal, which drive voice coils and diaphragms of the active drivers 182, 184 to vibrate, generating sounds. As the diaphragms of the active drivers 182, 184 vibrate, they induce pressure variations within the chamber of the box housing 110. Consequently, the passive radiators 140 and 170 vibrate in response to the pressure variations within the chamber, helping to improve the low-frequency response of the speaker box 100. In the embodiments shown, the diaphragm of each passive radiator 140, 170 has a larger area or diameter than that of each active driver 182, 184, so that the passive radiators 140 and 170 can better improve the low-frequency response of the speaker box. In one or more embodiments, the diaphragm of each passive radiator 140, 170 has an area 1.1-3.5 times larger than that of each active driver 182, 184.

As shown, the box housing 110 is consisting of an upper housing portion or a first housing portion 120 and a lower housing potion or a second housing portion 150. The upper housing portion 120 and the lower housing portion 150 are configured to be mated together to form the box housing 110. In one or more embodiments, each of the upper housing portion 120 and the lower housing portion 150 is an integral part. In some other embodiments, each of the upper housing portion 120 and the lower housing portion 150 is a one-piece injection-molded part.

In the illustrated embodiments, the upper housing portion 120 and the lower housing portion 150 have similar structures. The upper housing portion 120 has an opening for receiving the passive radiator 140, and the lower housing portion 150 has an opening 156 for receiving the passive radiator 170. The upper housing portion 120 and the lower housing portion 150 together further define two openings, one at each longitudinal end 112, 114 for receiving a respective active driver 182, 184.

The active driver 182 and the active driver 184 have similar or identical structures or dimensions, and are symmetrically arranged. Similarly, the passive radiator 140 and the passive radiator 170 have similar or identical structures or dimensions and are symmetrically arranged.

Fig. 3A illustrates a sectional view of the speaker box 100 taken along a longitudinal vertical plane passing through the center of the speaker box 100, while Fig. 3B illustrates a sectional view of the speaker box 100 taken along a transverse vertical plane passing through the center of the speaker box 100. Fig. 4A illustrates a perspective view of the speaker box 100, with passive radiator 140, 170 removed to reveal the inner structure of the speaker box 100. Fig. 4B illustrates an exploded view of the box housing 110.

The upper housing portion 120 comprises an upper wall 122 which basically defines the upper side 116 of the box housing 110, and sidewalls 124a and end walls 124b that extend perpendicularly from the upper wall 122. The opening 126 is formed in the upper wall 122 of the upper housing portion 120. In the embodiments shown, the opening 126 is the largest opening that can be formed in or accommodatable by the upper wall 122. That is, the diameter of the opening 126 is essentially the same as or slight smaller than the width of the upper wall 126.

The openings 126 in the upper and lower housing portions 120, 150 have a relatively large diameter in order to receive the passive radiators 140, 170, which also have a relatively large diameter. Normally, such openings in the box housing may weaken the structural strength of the box housing, resulting in a reduced natural frequency of the speaker box and an increase in vibration during operation. Some attempts to address this problem involve using thicker box walls. However, the inventors of the present disclosure have found these approaches inefficient and not significantly effective in addressing the vibration problem.

In the present disclosure, a cross-shaped reinforcement structure 130 is introduced to enhance the structure strength of the upper housing portion 120. The reinforcement structure 130 is positioned directly behind the opening 126 or the passive radiator 140. As used herein, the term “behind” is in reference to the orientation of the passive radiator. The area or position outside of the speaker box 100 toward which the passive radiator is facing is considered the front of the passive radiator 140, and the opposite is considered “behind” the passive radiator.

The cross-shaped reinforcement structure 130 comprises a first or longitudinal arm 132 and a second or transverse arm 134. The first arm 132 and the second arm 134 intersect each other at a central point of the reinforcement structure 130, forming a right angle. The reinforcement structure 130 is parallel to the passive radiator 140 and spaced from the passive radiator 140 by a distance D. The first arm 132 is connected to supporting legs 132a at its both ends. Each supporting leg 132a extends from a respective end of the first arm 132 to the upper wall 122 proximate to the opening 126 and is configured to support the first arm 132 to the upper wall 122 of the upper housing portion 120. The second arm 134 is connected to the sidewall 124a at its both ends. In this way, the reinforcement structure 130 extends across the opening 126 in both longitudinal and transverse directions, enhancing the structure strength of the upper housing portion 120 where material is removed due to the opening 126. As a result, the reinforcement structure 130 can efficiently enhance the structure strength of the upper housing portion 120 and thus reduce the vibration problem.

Similarly, the lower housing portion 150 comprises a lower wall 152 which basically defines the lower side 118 of the box housing 110, and sidewalls 154a and end walls 154b that extend perpendicularly from the lower wall 152. The opening 156 is formed in the lower wall 152 of the lower housing portion 150. A cross-shaped reinforcement structure 160 positioned directly behind the passive radiator 170 is introduced to enhance the structure strength of the lower housing portion 150. The cross-shaped reinforcement structure 160 comprises a first or longitudinal arm 162 and a second or transverse arm 164. The first arm 162 is connected to supporting legs 162a at its both ends. Each supporting leg 162a is configured to support the first arm 162 to the lower housing portion 150. The second arm 164 is connected to the sidewall 154a at its both ends. The cross-shaped reinforcement structure 160 is similar in structure and function to the cross-shaped reinforcement structure 130, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

Providing reinforcement structure directly behind a passive radiator is usually counter-intuitive to a skilled person in the art, as it is commonly believed that such a reinforcement structure may degrade the audio performance of the speaker box. However, the inventors of the present disclosure have discovered that the reinforcement structure 130 can efficiently enhance the structure strength of the box housing 110 without impacting the sound quality or audio performance to an audibly perceptible degree. More notably, the inventors of the present disclosure have found that with carefully designed reinforcement structure, the sound quality or audio performance of the speaker box remain uncompromised.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the reinforcement structure 130, 160 is spaced from its respective passive radiator 140, 170 by a distance D, which is larger than twice the width W of the surround of the respective passive radiator 140, 170. In some other embodiments, the reinforcement structures 130, 160 are configured so that the distance d between the reinforcement structures 130, 160 is less than the distance D between the reinforcement structure 130, 160 and its respective passive radiator 140, 170. In some still other embodiments, the reinforcement structures 130, 160 are configured so that the distance d between the reinforcement structures 130, 160 is less than a half of the distance D between the reinforcement structure 130, 160 and its respective passive radiator 140, 170. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, each arm of the reinforcement structures 130, 160 has a width of 1/6-1/3 of the diameter of its respective passive radiator 140, 170. In one or more other embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the reinforcement structure 130, 160 has a smooth surface facing its respective passive radiator 140, 170.

Figs. 5A-5C illustrates the upper housing portion 120 of the speaker box 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein Fig. 5A is a perspective view of the upper housing portion 120, Fig. 5B is a bottom view of the upper housing portion 120 and Fig. 5C is a top view of the upper housing portion 120.

As shown, the reinforcement structure 130 is centrally aligned with the passive radiator 140. That is, the center of the reinforcement structure 130 is aligned with, but spaced from the center of the passive radiator 140. On the side of the reinforcement structure 130 facing away from the passive radiator 140, the reinforcement structure 130 is provided with a grid-like reinforcement ribs 136. This design effectively enhance the structure strength of the box housing while minimizing any compromise to the sound quality or audio performance of the speaker box 100.

Figs. 6A-6C illustrates the lower housing portion 150 of the speaker box 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein Fig. 6A is a perspective view of the upper housing portion 150, Fig. 6B is a bottom view of the lower housing portion 150 and Fig. 6C is a top view of the lower housing portion 150.

As shown, the reinforcement structure 160 is centrally aligned with the passive radiator 170. That is, the center of the reinforcement structure 150 is aligned with, but spaced from the center of the passive radiator 170. On the side of the reinforcement structure 160 facing away from the passive radiator 170, the reinforcement structure 160 is provided with a grid-like reinforcement ribs 166. This design effectively enhance the structure strength of the box housing while minimizing any compromise to the sound quality or audio performance of the speaker box 100.

The speaker box of the present disclosure is described with reference to the embodiments shown in Figs. 1-Fig. 6C. The present disclosure is not limited thereto, and may have various variations. In one or more embodiments, the speaker box may not be limited to the substantially rectangular shape as shown in the figures, but may have any suitable shape. In the embodiments shown, the speaker box 100 has two active drivers and two passive radiators. In some other embodiments, the speaker box may have any suitable number of active drivers and/or passive radiators. In the embodiments shown, the reinforcement structure is of a cross-shape having two arms that intersect each other at a central point of the reinforcement structure at a right angle. In one or more other embodiments, the reinforcement structure may have any other suitable shape or structure. For example, in some embodiments, the reinforcement structure may have any suitable number of arms radiating from a central point and extending to the box housing proximate to the opening.

According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, the present disclosure can be implemented as follows.

Item 1: A speaker box, comprising: a box housing defining an interior chamber; a plurality of openings formed in the box housing; at least one active driver, each situated within one of the openings; at least one passive radiator, each situated within one of the openings; and at least one reinforcement structure positioned within the chamber, with each reinforcement structure being associated with one passive radiator, each reinforcement structure being located behind its respective passive radiator, and extending from the box housing proximate to the opening in which the respective passive radiator is situated, and spanning across the respective passive radiator.

Item 2: The speaker box of Item 1, wherein each reinforcement structure is integrally formed with the box housing.

Item 3: The speaker box of any one of Items 1-2, wherein each reinforcement structure has multiple arms radiating from its central point and extending to the box housing proximate to the opening, the central point of the reinforcement structure being spaced apart from and aligned with a center of the respective passive radiator.

Item 4: The speaker box of any one of Items 1-3, wherein each reinforcement structure is a cross-shaped reinforcement structure having two arms that intersect each other at a central point of the reinforcement structure at a right angle.

Item 5: The speaker box of any one of Items 1-4, wherein the reinforcement structure is spaced from its respective passive radiator by a distance D which is larger than twice the width of the surround of the respective passive radiator.

Item 6: The speaker box of any one of Items 1-5, wherein each arm of the reinforcement structure has a width which is in a range of 1/6-1/3 of the diameter of the respective passive radiator.

Item 7: The speaker box of any one of Items 1-6, wherein the reinforcement structure has a flat portion which is spaced from and extends in parallel to its respective passive radiator, and a supporting leg extending between the flat portion of the reinforcement structure and the box housing, thereby supporting the flat portion of the reinforcement structure.

Item 8: The speaker box of any one of Items 1-7, wherein the speaker box has an elongate shape with two longitudinal ends, the speaker box comprises two active drivers, with each active driver being mounted to a respective longitudinal end.

Item 9: The speaker box of any one of Items 1-8, wherein the speaker box comprises two opposite sides extending between the two longitudinal ends, and comprises two passive radiators, each of which is mounted to one of the two opposite sides.

Item 10: The speaker box of any one of Items 1-9, wherein the two passive radiators are aligned with each other.

Item 11: The speaker box of any one of Items 1-10, wherein each passive radiator has a substantially the largest diameter that may be accommodatable by its respective side.

Item 12: The speaker box of any one of Items 1-11, wherein the two arms comprises a longitudinal arm and a transverse arm, with the longitudinal arm spanning across the respective passive radiator in a longitudinal direction and the transverse arm spanning across the respective passive radiator in a transverse direction.

Item 13: An electronic device, comprising a speaker box as claimed in any one of Items 1-12.

Item 14: The electronic device as claimed in Item 13, wherein the electronic device is a notebook computer, an all-in-one computer, a monitor, a television, or a projector.

Systems and methods have been described in general terms as an aid to understanding details of the disclosure. In some instances, well-known structures, materials, and/or operations have not been specifically shown or described in detail to prevent obscuring aspects of the disclosure. In other instances, specific details have been given to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms, for example to adapt to a particular system or apparatus or situation or material or component, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the disclosures and descriptions herein are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be restricted except considering the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

A speaker box, comprising:

a box housing defining an interior chamber;

a plurality of openings formed in the box housing;

at least one active driver, each situated within one of the openings;

at least one passive radiator, each situated within one of the openings; and

at least one reinforcement structure positioned within the chamber, with each reinforcement structure being associated with one passive radiator, each reinforcement structure being located behind its respective passive radiator, and extending from the box housing proximate to the opening in which the respective passive radiator is situated, and spanning across the respective passive radiator.
The speaker box as claimed in claim 1, wherein each reinforcement structure is integrally formed with the box housing.
The speaker box as claimed in claim 1, wherein each reinforcement structure has multiple arms radiating from its central point and extending to the box housing proximate to the opening, the central point of the reinforcement structure being spaced apart from and aligned with a center of the respective passive radiator.
The speaker box as claimed in claim 1, wherein each reinforcement structure is a cross-shaped reinforcement structure having two arms that intersect each other at a central point of the reinforcement structure at a right angle.
The speaker box as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the reinforcement structure is spaced from its respective passive radiator by a distance D which is larger than twice the width of the surround of the respective passive radiator.
The speaker box as claimed in claim 4, wherein each arm of the reinforcement structure has a width which is in a range of 1/6-1/3 of the diameter of the respective passive radiator.
The speaker box as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the reinforcement structure has a flat portion which is spaced from and extends in parallel to its respective passive radiator, and a supporting leg extending between the flat portion of the reinforcement structure and the box housing, thereby supporting the flat portion of the reinforcement structure.
The speaker box as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the speaker box has an elongate shape with two longitudinal ends, the speaker box comprises two active drivers, with each active driver being mounted to a respective longitudinal end.
The speaker box as claimed in claim 8, wherein the speaker box comprises two opposite sides extending between the two longitudinal ends, and comprises two passive radiators, each of which is mounted to one of the two opposite sides.
The speaker box as claimed in claim 9, wherein the two passive radiators are aligned with each other.
The speaker box as claimed in claim 9, wherein each passive radiator has a substantially the largest diameter that may be accommodatable by its respective side.
The speaker box as claimed in claim 4, wherein the two arms comprises a longitudinal arm and a transverse arm, with the longitudinal arm spanning across the respective passive radiator in a longitudinal direction and the transverse arm spanning across the respective passive radiator in a transverse direction.
An electronic device, comprising a speaker box as claimed in any one of claims 1-12.
The electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the electronic device is a notebook computer, an all-in-one computer, a monitor, a television, or a projector.