Electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer for portable terminal unit

{
  "publication_number": "US6208237B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer for portable terminal unit",
  "abstract": "The present invention purposes to realize an electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer capable of generating both strong vibration and sound. In an electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer of the present invention, mass of a mechanical vibration system of the electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer is increased by attaching a weight to a magnetic circuit unit or integrated the weight with the magnetic circuit unit, whereby large vibration is obtained from the electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer comprising: a diaphragm; a magnetic circuit unit forming a magnetic path having a magnetic gap therein and disposed so as to be operably opposed to diaphragm; a weight which is provided integral with or separated from said magnetic circuit unit and does not form a substantial part of said magnetic path; said magnetic circuit unit and said weight constituting a moving unit; at least one suspension for holding said moving unit; a holding member for operably holding said diaphragm and said suspension; and a driving unit for generating an electromagnetic driving force to interactively operate between said diaphragm and said magnetic circuit unit.",
    "2. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said driving unit is a voice coil which is fixed to said diaphragm and operably inserted in a magnetic gap formed i said magnetic circuit unit having a magnet, a plate and a yoke.",
    "3. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said driving unit has an exciting coil which is disposed on a periphery of a center pole of said magnetic circuit unit including a plate having said center pole at its center part and a magnet at its peripheral part and a magnetic substance which is disposed so as to be opposed to said magnetic circuit unit with a gap therebetween.",
    "4. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 2, wherein said weight is disposed on a peripheral portion of said yoke.",
    "5. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 3, wherein said weight is disposed on a peripheral portion of said plate.",
    "6. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said weight is made of a material having a specific gravity higher than at least iron.",
    "7. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 2, wherein said yoke includes a magnetic flux passing portion substantially forming a magnetic path of a magnetic circuit of said magnetic circuit unit and a weight portion substantially not forming the magnetic pat of said magnetic circuit.",
    "8. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 2, wherein said magnetic circuit unit has a rectangular periphery.",
    "9. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 3, wherein said magnetic circuit unit has a rectangular periphery.",
    "10. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 2, wherein said magnetic gap has a gap length width larger than a maximum irregular radial moving of said voice coil or said moving unit.",
    "11. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer comprising: a diaphragm; a magnetic circuit unit forming a magnetic path having a magnetic gap therein, constituting a moving unit and disposed opposing to said diaphragm; at least two suspensions for holding said moving unit; a first suspension of said at least two suspensions having a pair of fixing portions and fixed therewith to the diaphragm side of said magnetic circuit unit; a second suspension of said at least two suspensions having another pair of fixing portions and fixed therewith to opposite diaphragm side of said magnetic unit, so that fixing portions of said first suspension are fixed on receiving seats in each other different positions in diagonal direction relation from fixing portions of said second suspension on a plan view seen from a direction of a normal line to the diaphragm; a holding member for holding said diaphragm and said suspensions, said holding member having two openings and four receiving seats, said four receiving seats receiving to fix said fixing portions of said first and second suspensions; a voice coil fixed to said diaphragm and operably inserted in aid magnetic gap for generating an electromagnetic driving force to interactively operate between said diaphragm and said magnetic circuit unit; and a baffle disposed at one of said openings.",
    "12. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 11, wherein said suspensions comprise: arm portions each being connected to said fixing portion, shaped for substantially extending along external shape of said magnetic circuit unit and having resilience; and holding portions each being connected to said arm portions and holding said magnetic circuit unit.",
    "13. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 11, wherein said magnetic circuit unit has a circular periphery and said suspensions have an arcing arm portion.",
    "14. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer comprising: a diaphragm; a magnetic circuit unit forming a magnetic path having a magnetic gap therein and disposed so as to be operably opposed to said diaphragm; a moving unit constituted by said magnetic circuit unit; a holding member for operably holding said diaphragm; at least one suspension including at least two arms for suspending said moving unit, each of said arms having a thin plate shape in which a central portion is smaller in width than end portions to be fixed to said moving unit and said holding member; and a driving unit for generating an electromagnetic driving force to interactively operate between said diaphragm and said magnetic circuit unit.",
    "15. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 14, wherein each of said arms has a thin plate shape in which its width substantially continuously decreases from said end portions to said central portion.",
    "16. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 15, wherein each of said arms has a thin plate shape in which its width linearly and continuously decreases from said end portions to said central portion.",
    "17. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 15, wherein said central portion has a uniform width smaller than the width of said end portions.",
    "18. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 12, wherein said magnetic circuit unit has a shape substantially coinciding with a shape when said suspensions is at a maximum permissible amplitude of said magnetic circuit unit.",
    "19. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 11, wherein said holding member has a rectangular shape, said receiving portions in a diagonal positional relationship are rectangular and have the same height and said receiving portions in each other adjacent positional relationship have different heights.",
    "20. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 11, wherein a distance between the periphery of said magnetic circuit unit and said baffle or said holding member is smaller than a distance between said voice coil and said magnetic circuit unit.",
    "21. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit comprising: an electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer; including: a diaphragm; a magnetic circuit unit forming a magnetic path having a magnetic gap therein and disposed so as to be operably opposed to said diaphragm; a weight which is provided integral with or separated from said magnetic circuit unit and does not form a substantial part of said magnetic path; said magnetic circuit unit and said weight constituting a moving unit; at least one suspension for holding said moving unit; a holding member for operably holding said diaphragm and said suspension; and a driving unit for generating an electromagnetic driving force to interactively operate between said diaphragm and said magnetic circuit unit; an electric signal generator for outputting to said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer at least two electric signals having a different frequency or frequency range; and a switch for switching the at least two electric signals to said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer.",
    "22. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 21, wherein said electric signal generator generates an electric signal to produce vibration for informing an incoming call and an electric signal to produce sound for informing an incoming call.",
    "23. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 21, wherein said electric signal generator generates an electric signal to produce vibration for informing an incoming call, an electric signal to produce sound for informing an incoming call and an electric signal to produce received voice.",
    "24. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 22, wherein frequency of said electric signal to produce vibration for informing an incoming call is substantially around 130 Hz.",
    "25. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 23, wherein frequency of said electric signal to produce vibration for informing an incoming call is substantially around 130 Hz.",
    "26. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 23, wherein frequency of said electric signal to produce sound for informing an incoming call is 1 kHz or higher.",
    "27. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 23, wherein frequency of said electric signal to produce sound for informing an incoming call is 1 kHz or higher.",
    "28. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 23, wherein frequency of said electric signal to produce an received voice is substantially 200 Hz or higher.",
    "29. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 21, wherein frequency of electric signal or center frequency of frequency band generated by said electric signal generator is selected to coincide with resonance frequency of mechanical vibration system of said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer.",
    "30. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 21, wherein frequency of electric signal or center frequency of frequency band generated by said electric signal generator is selected to coincide with resonance frequency of vibration of said diaphragm.",
    "31. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer, comprising: an electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer including: a diaphragm; a magnetic circuit unit forming a magnetic path having a magnetic gap therein and disposed so as to be operably opposed to said diaphragm; a weight which is provided integral with or separated from said magnetic circuit unit and does not form a substantial part of said magnetic path; said magnetic circuit unit and said weight constituting a moving unit; at least one suspension for holding said moving unit; a holding member for operably holding said diaphragm and said suspension; and a driving unit for generating an electromagnetic driving force to interactively operate between said diaphragm and said magnetic circuit unit; a detector for detecting a resonance frequency of said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer; and an electric signal generator for outputting to said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer an electric signal having said resonance frequency detected by said detector.",
    "32. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit comprising: an electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer including: a diaphragm; a magnetic circuit unit forming a magnetic path having a magnetic gap therein and disposed so as to be operably opposed to said diaphragm; a weight which is provided integral with or separated from said magnetic circuit unit and does not form a substantial part of said magnetic path; said magnetic circuit unit and said weight constituting a moving unit; at least one suspension for holding said moving unit; a holding member for operably holding said diaphragm and said suspension; and a driving unit for generating an electromagnetic driving force to interactively operate between said diaphragm and said magnetic circuit unit; an electric signal generator for outputting an electric signal including a resonance frequency of said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer; a detector for detecting a signal at a resonance frequency of said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer; and an amplifier for amplifying an input signal from said detector and outputting an amplified signal to said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer.",
    "33. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 32, further comprising a low-pass filter provided between said detector and said amplifier and passing at least one signal having said resonance frequency.",
    "34. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 32, further comprising a high-pass filter provided between said detector and said amplifier and passing at least one signal having said resonance frequency.",
    "35. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 32, further comprising a band-pass filter provided between said detector and said amplifier and passing at least one signal having said resonance frequency.",
    "36. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 32, further comprising a limiter disposed at output terminal of said detector and limiting output signal of said detector.",
    "37. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit comprising: an electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer including: a diaphragm; a magnetic circuit unit forming a magnetic path having a magnetic gap therein and disposed so as to operably opposed to said diaphragm; a weight which is provided integral with or separated from said magnetic circuit unit and does not form a substantial part of said magnetic path; said magnetic circuit unit and said weight constituting a moving unit; at least one suspension for holding said moving unit; a holding member for operably holding said diaphragm and said suspension; and a driving unit for generating an electromagnetic driving force to interactively operate between said diaphragm and said magnetic circuit unit; a detector for detecting a signal at a resonance frequency of said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer; and an amplifier for amplifying a noise and an input signal from said detector and outputting an amplified signal to said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer.",
    "38. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 37, further comprising a low-pass filter provided between said detector and said amplifier and passing at least one signal having said resonance frequency.",
    "39. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 37, further comprising a high-pass filter provided between said detector and said amplifier and passing at least one signal having said resonance frequency.",
    "40. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 37, further comprising a band-pass filter provided between said detector and said amplifier and passing at least one signal having said resonance frequency.",
    "41. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 37, further comprising a limiter provided at output terminal of said detector and limiting output signal of said detector.",
    "42. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit comprising: an electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer including: a diaphragm; a magnetic circuit unit forming a magnetic path having a magnetic gap therein and disposed so as to be operably opposed to said diaphragm; a weight which is provided integral with or separated from said magnetic circuit unit and does not form a substantial part of said magnetic path; said magnetic circuit unit and said weight constituting a moving unit; at least one suspension for holding said moving unit; a holding member for operably holding said diaphragm and said suspension; and a driving unit for generating an electromagnetic driving force to interactively operate between said diaphragm and said magnetic circuit unit; an antenna for receiving incoming signals; a receiving signal processing unit for processing said incoming signals and generating an output signal; a detector for detecting a signal of a resonance frequency of said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer; and an amplifier for amplifying a noise and a signal portion of an inputted signal from said detector during the while the output signal from said receiving signal processing unit is given thereto and for outputting an amplified signal to said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer.",
    "43. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 42, further comprising a low-pass filter provided between said detector and said amplifier and passing at least one signal having said resonance frequency.",
    "44. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 42, further comprising a high-pass filter provided between said detector and said amplifier and passing at least one signal having said resonance frequency.",
    "45. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 42, further comprising a band-pass filter provided between said detector and said amplifier and passing at least one signal having said resonance frequency.",
    "46. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit according to claim 42, further comprising a limiter provided at output terminal of said detector and limiting output signal of said detector.",
    "47. A portable terminal unit incorporating therein said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit of claim 21.",
    "48. A portable terminal unit incorporating therein said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit of claim 31.",
    "49. A portable terminal unit incorporating therein said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit of claim 32.",
    "50. A portable terminal unit incorporating therein said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit of claim 37.",
    "51. A portable terminal unit incorporating therein said electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer unit of claim 42.",
    "52. A portable terminal unit according to claim 47, wherein said holding member is fixed to an outside case of said portable terminal unit or to a circuit board of said portable terminal unit.",
    "53. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer comprising: a diaphragm; a magnetic circuit unit forming a magnetic path having a magnetic gap therein and disposed so as to be operably opposed to said diaphragm; a weight which is provided integral with said magnetic circuit unit and does not form a substantial part of said magnetic path; said magnetic circuit unit and said weight constituting a moving unit; at least one suspension for suspending said moving unit; a holding member for operably holding said diaphragm and said suspension; and a driving unit for generating an electromagnetic driving force to interactively operate between said diaphragm and said magnetic circuit unit.",
    "54. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 53, wherein said driving unit is a voice coil which is fixed to said diaphragm and operably inserted in a magnetic gap formed in said magnetic circuit unit having a magnet, a plate and a yoke.",
    "55. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 53, wherein said driving unit has an exciting coil which is disposed on a periphery of a center pole of said magnetic circuit unit including a plate having said center pole at its center part and a magnet at its peripheral part and a magnetic substance which is disposed so as to be opposed to said magnetic circuit unit with a gap therebetween.",
    "56. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 54, wherein said weight is disposed on a peripheral portion of said yoke.",
    "57. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 55, wherein said weight is disposed on a peripheral portion of said plate.",
    "58. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 53, wherein said weight is made of a material having a specific gravity higher than at least iron.",
    "59. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 54, wherein said yoke includes a magnetic flux passing portion substantially forming a magnetic path of a magnetic circuit of said magnetic circuit unit and a weight portion substantially not forming the magnetic path of said magnetic circuit.",
    "60. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 54, wherein said magnetic circuit unit has a rectangular periphery.",
    "61. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 55, wherein said magnetic circuit unit has a rectangular periphery.",
    "62. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 54, wherein said magnetic gap has a gap length width larger than a maximum irregular radial moving to said voice coil or said moving unit.",
    "63. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer comprising: a diaphragm; a magnetic circuit unit forming a magnetic path having a magnetic gap therein and disposed so as to be operably opposed to said diaphragm; a weight which is separated from but mechanically firmly fixed to said magnetic circuit unit and does not form a substantial part of said magnetic path; said magnetic circuit unit and said weight constituting a moving unit; at least one suspension for suspending said moving unit; a holding member for operably holding said diaphragm and said suspension; and a driving unit for generating an electromagnetic driving force to interactively operate between said diaphragm and said magnetic circuit unit.",
    "64. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 63, wherein said driving unit is a voice coil which is fixed to said diaphragm and operably inserted in a magnetic gap formed in said magnetic circuit unit having a magnet, a plate and a yoke.",
    "65. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 63, wherein said driving unit has an exciting coil which is disposed on a periphery of a center pole of said magnetic circuit unit including a plate having said center pole at its center part and a magnet at its peripheral part and a magnetic substance which is disposed so as to be opposed to said magnetic circuit unit with a gap therebetween.",
    "66. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 64, wherein said weight is disposed on a peripheral portion of said yoke.",
    "67. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 65, wherein said weight is disposed on a peripheral portion of said plate.",
    "68. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 63, wherein said weight is made of a material having a specific gravity higher than at least iron.",
    "69. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 64, wherein said yoke includes a magnetic flux passing portion substantially forming a magnetic path of a magnetic circuit of said magnetic circuit unit and a weight portion substantially not forming the magnetic path of said magnetic circuit.",
    "70. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 64, wherein said magnetic circuit unit has a rectangular periphery.",
    "71. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 65, wherein said magnetic circuit unit has a rectangular periphery.",
    "72. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 64, wherein said magnetic gap has a gap length width larger than a maximum irregular radial moving of said voice coil or said moving unit.",
    "73. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said diaphragm vibrates at an audible frequency, thereby generating sound.",
    "74. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 14, wherein said diaphragm vibrates at an audible frequency, thereby generating sound.",
    "75. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 53, wherein said diaphragm vibrates at an audible frequency, thereby generating sound.",
    "76. An electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer according to claim 63, wherein said diaphragm vibrates at a audible frequency, thereby generating sound."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to an electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer for a portable terminal unit which can generate both vibration and sound by an alternating electric signal and a portable terminal unit in which the transducer is built. The portable terminal unit is, for instance, a portable telephone unit, a pager and a computer having a transmitter and a receiver, and the portable terminal unit performs communication with other distant unit on being carried with the user or placed in the vicinity of the user.\n\nConventionally, in a portable terminal unit such as a portable telephone unit, a small-size sound generator for generating bell sound and a micrometer for generating vibration to which a weight is attached tilting relative to axis of rotation are provided independently as means for informing the user of an incoming call.\n\nIn order to reduce the size and weight of the portable terminal unit, for the purpose of reducing the number of units, a prior art electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer of which generates both sound and vibration in a single unit has been devised and disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Utility Model Publication Number H5-85192.\n\nIn the prior art, when an alternating electric signal is input to a voice coil of the electro-mechanical and acoustic transducer, a force acts between the voice coil and a magnetic circuit unit. Since the electric signal which is input to the voice coil is electric signal of alternating current, the magnitude of the force varies with frequency of the alternating current.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04R 11/02",
    "H04M 1/03",
    "H04M 19/04",
    "H04M 19/047",
    "H04R 2400/03",
    "H04R 2400/07",
    "H04R 7/04",
    "H04R 9/06",
    "H04R 9/066"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "H04M 1/03",
    "H04M 19/04",
    "H04R 11/02",
    "H04R 9/06"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Shuji Saiki",
    "Sawako Usuki",
    "Mitsukazu Kuze"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1997-11-26",
  "publication_date": "2001-03-27",
  "grant_date": "2001-03-27",
  "priority_date": "1996-11-29",
  "application_number": "US-97974697-A",
  "family_id": "27320601",
  "cited_by_count": 172,
  "citations": [
    "JPS5914491A",
    "JPS5994997A",
    "JPS60145778A",
    "JPS6121699A",
    "US4675907A",
    "JPH03274832A",
    "US5172092A",
    "JPH04129199A",
    "JPH04145874A",
    "WO1992019018A1",
    "US5528697A",
    "JPH0558192A",
    "EP0548836A1",
    "JPH05206989A",
    "JPH0662483A",
    "EP0598556A1",
    "JPH07154884A",
    "US5554096A",
    "JPH0757159A",
    "JPH07140984A",
    "US5524061A",
    "US5546069A",
    "JPH08206599A",
    "JPH08331694A",
    "JPH0970571A",
    "JPH09233798A"
  ]
}