U.S. patent application number 12/185126 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-26 for sound box structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to HUI-CHENG CHEN, HWANG-MIAW CHEN, SHIH-CHIA CHIU, CHENG-CHIA PAN.
Application Number | 20090288911 12/185126 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41341270 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090288911 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHEN; HWANG-MIAW ; et
al. |
November 26, 2009 |
SOUND BOX STRUCTURE
Abstract
A sound box structure includes a shell (10) and a speaker (30)
received therein. The shell defines a resonance chamber (114) and a
receiving chamber (115) communicating therewith. The speaker is
received in the receiving chamber. The shell is Mg--Al alloy.
Inventors: |
CHEN; HWANG-MIAW; (Tu-Cheng,
TW) ; CHEN; HUI-CHENG; (Tu-Cheng, TW) ; CHIU;
SHIH-CHIA; (Tu-Cheng, TW) ; PAN; CHENG-CHIA;
(Tu-Cheng, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PCE INDUSTRY, INC.;ATT. Steven Reiss
288 SOUTH MAYO AVENUE
CITY OF INDUSTRY
CA
91789
US
|
Assignee: |
FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY CO.,
LTD.
Tu-Cheng
TW
|
Family ID: |
41341270 |
Appl. No.: |
12/185126 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
181/199 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 1/2857 20130101;
H04R 2499/11 20130101; H04M 1/035 20130101; H04R 1/2888
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
181/199 |
International
Class: |
A47B 81/06 20060101
A47B081/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 23, 2008 |
CN |
200810067414.0 |
Claims
1. A sound box structure, comprising: a shell of Mg--Al alloy
comprising a resonance chamber and a receiving chamber
communicating therewith; and a speaker received in the receiving
chamber.
2. The sound box structure of claim 1, wherein the shell comprises
a top cover and a bottom cover engaged therewith, wherein both the
top and bottom covers are semi-enclosed.
3. The sound box structure of claim 2, wherein each of the top and
bottom covers comprises a bottom wall and a sidewall extending from
an outer periphery thereof, and the resonance chamber and receiving
chamber are enclosed by the bottom walls and the sidewalls of the
top and bottom covers.
4. The sound box structure of claim 3, wherein each of the top and
bottom covers comprises a step at a top end thereof, and the step
of the top cover engages with the step of the bottom cover.
5. The sound box structure of claim 3, wherein a tab extends from
at least one of the top and bottom covers, and is enclosed by a
rubber washer.
6. The sound box structure of claim 3, wherein a supporting portion
extends from the bottom cover and within the receiving chamber, and
an acute angle is defined between the bottom wall of the bottom
cover and a top surface of the supporting portion.
7. The sound box structure of claim 6, wherein the sidewall of the
top cover has different heights, and an actual angle is defined
between the bottom walls of the top and bottom covers.
8. The sound box structure of claim 6, wherein the bottom wall of
the top cover defines a through hole aligning with the speaker and
receiving chamber.
9. The sound box structure of claim 8, wherein the speaker
comprises a plurality of front tone holes and a plurality of rear
tone holes opposite to the front tone holes, and wherein the end of
the speaker comprising the rear tone holes abuts the supporting
portion, and the end of the speaker comprising the front tone holes
abuts an outer edge of the through hole.
10. The sound box structure of claim 2, wherein at least one
clapboard extends from the bottom cover and within the resonance
chamber, the clapboard, the bottom wall of the bottom cover and the
side wall of the bottom cover cooperatively forming an inverted
tube, and the bottom cover defining an inverted hole communicating
with the inverted tube.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention generally relates to sound box
structure, and particularly to a sound box structure used in an
electronic device.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] With the continuing development of technology, sound box
structures have been widely used in electronic devices such as
mobile phones, computers and other devices providing audio
capabilities.
[0005] A typical sound box structure generally includes a shell and
a speaker located therein. The speaker converts electric energy to
vibration for producing sound. In addition to housing the speaker,
the shell plays an important role in the quality of the sound
transmitted. Resonance chamber size promotes corresponding mass of
air driven, with commensurate quality of low frequencies
transmitted. Larger resonance chambers reduce resistance of the air
therein, with low frequency effect improving accordingly.
[0006] Currently, sound box shell structures are generally plastic.
Due to low rigidity thereof, deformation is generated during
operation, which decreases the quality of the low frequency sound.
Accordingly, reinforcing ribs supporting the sound box structure
are normally required. However, such reinforcing ribs not only
complicate the sound box structure, but also reduce the resonance
chamber in the shell, affecting low frequency reproduction.
[0007] In addition, the plastic shell is easily desiccated, shrunk
and deformed during the injection molding fabrication process,
which makes the plastic shell have an unappealing appearance and an
inaccurate dimension. Moreover, the plastic shell has low thermal
conductivity. As a result, heat generated from the speaker and
other electronic components in the shell is slow to dissipate.
Furthermore, the plastic shell easily enables sound from the
speaker to generate standing waves. Upon termination of audio
output, sound is delayed, which interferes with actual output.
Moreover, the plastic shell adversely affects magnetic leakage
prevention.
[0008] What is needed, therefore, is a sound box structure which
overcomes the described limitations.
SUMMARY
[0009] A sound box structure includes a shell and a speaker
received therein. The shell defines a resonance chamber and a
receiving chamber communicating therewith. The speaker is received
in the receiving chamber. The shell is Mg--Al alloy.
[0010] Other advantages and novel features of the present invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Many aspects of the present sound box structure can be
better understood with reference to the following drawings. The
components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the
emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the
principles of the disclosed sound box structure. Moreover, in the
drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts
throughout the several views.
[0012] FIG. 1 is an assembled, isometric view of a sound box
structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the sound box
structure of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but viewed from another
aspect.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a sound box structure includes a
shell 10 and a speaker 30 located therein.
[0016] The shell 10 is Mg--Al alloy, and includes a bottom cover 11
and a top cover 13 engaging the bottom cover 11. Both of the top
and bottom covers 13, 11 are semi-enclosed.
[0017] The bottom cover 13 includes a bottom wall 111 and a
sidewall 112 vertically and upwardly extending from an outer
periphery of the bottom wall 111. The bottom wall 111 and sidewall
112 cooperatively form a chamber 113 therebetween. The chamber 113
includes a resonance chamber 114 and a receiving chamber 115
communicating with the resonance chamber 114. The receiving chamber
115 is substantially circular, and receives the speaker 30 therein.
An X-shaped supporting portion 116 extends upwardly from the bottom
wall 111 and within the receiving chamber 115. The supporting
portion 116 has an inclined top surface 125, and an acute angle is
defined between the top surface 125 and the bottom wall 111. Two
clapboards 117 vertically and upwardly extend from the bottom wall
111 and within the resonance chamber 114. One of the clapboards 117
is L-shaped, and the other is linear. The clapboards 117, the
bottom wall 111, and the sidewall 112 cooperatively form an
L-shaped inverted tube 118. The bottom wall 111 defines an inverted
hole 119 (shown in FIG. 3) at a corner thereof. The inverted hole
119 extends through the bottom wall 111 and communicates with the
inverted tube 118.
[0018] The sidewall 112 has a step 120 at a top thereof. Height of
an inner side of the step 120 is less than that of an outer side of
the step 120, so as to engage the top cover 13 conveniently. One
portion of the sidewall 112 is sunken into the resonance chamber
114, defining a fixing groove 121 at a lateral side thereof.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 3, the top cover 13 is similar to the
bottom cover 11, and also includes a bottom wall 131 and a sidewall
132. The bottom wall 131 and sidewall 132 cooperatively form a
chamber 133 therebetween. The chamber 133 includes a resonance
chamber 134 and a receiving chamber 135 communicating with the
resonance chamber 134. The receiving chamber 135 is substantially
circular, and receives the speaker 30 therein. The bottom wall 131
defines a circular through hole 136 aligning with the receiving
chamber 135.
[0020] The sidewall 132 has different heights, with a lateral side
higher than an opposite lateral side, which forms an actual angle
between the bottom walls 131, 111. The sidewall 132 has a step 140
at a top end thereof. Height of an inner side of the step 140
exceeds that of an outer side of the step 140, so as to match the
step 120 of the bottom cover 11. One portion of the sidewall 132 is
sunken into the resonance chamber 134, defining a fixing groove 141
at a lateral side thereof. The fixing groove 141 matches the fixing
groove 121 of the bottom cover 11. A first tab 142 outwardly
extends from the sidewall 132 and within the fixing groove 141, and
two second tabs 143 outwardly extend from the sidewall 132 adjacent
to the receiving chamber 135. The first and second tabs 142, 143
fix the sound box structure onto an electronic device (not shown),
such as mobile phone, computer or other device. In addition, three
rubber washers 144 respectively enclose and cooperate with the
first and second tabs 142, 143, reducing vibration between the
sound box structure and the electronic device.
[0021] The speaker 30 converts electric energy into vibration to
produce sound. The speaker 30 defines a plurality of front tone
holes 31 (shown in FIG. 2) and a plurality of rear tone holes 32
opposite the front tone holes 31.
[0022] During assembly, the step 120 of the sidewall 112 of the
bottom cover 11 engages the step 140 of the sidewall 132 of the top
cover 13. The bottom and top covers 11, 13 are welded together. The
resonance chamber 114 of the bottom cover 11 and the resonance
chamber 134 of the top cover 13 further cooperatively form a
resonance chamber. The receiving chamber 115 of the bottom cover 11
and the receiving chamber 135 of the top cover 13 further
cooperatively form a receiving chamber. The speaker 30 is received
in the receiving chamber. One end of the speaker 30, with rear tone
holes 132, abuts the supporting portion 116 of the bottom cover 11,
with the rear tone holes 132 communicating with the chamber of the
sound box structure. The other end of the speaker 30, with front
tone holes 131, abuts an outer edge of the through hole 136 of the
bottom cover 11, with the front tone holes 131 aligning with the
through hole 136 and facing out.
[0023] During operation, the speaker 30 generates sound through the
front and rear tone holes 131, 132. The sound through the front
tone holes 131 is directly transmitted out via the through hole
136. The sound through the rear tone holes 132 enters and resonates
in the resonance chamber of the sound box structure, and is then
transmitted out via the inverted tube 118 and inverted hole 119.
The sound transmitted from the inverted hole 119 and the sound
transmitted from the through hole 136 are superposed, widening the
frequency bandwidth of the sound from the speaker 30.
[0024] In the sound box structure, the shell 10 is Mg--Al alloy,
providing improved rigidity over plastic. Thus, there is no need to
provide reinforcing ribs in the shell 10 or increase a thickness of
the shell 10 to diminish deformation of the sound box structure.
Accordingly, size of the resonance chamber in the shell 10 is
increased, which lowers the low frequency effect of the sound of
the sound box structure. Meanwhile, the overall structure of the
sound box structure is simplified. In addition, the shell 10 does
not desiccated, shrunk and deform during the producing process.
Furthermore, the shell 10 has good thermal conductivity, such that
heat generated from the speaker 30 and other electronic components
in the shell 10 is dissipated promptly. Moreover, the shell 10
prevents generation of standing waves, shortening the lag time of
sound after the speaker 30 stops transmitting.
[0025] Table 1 below shows experimental data of the sound box
structure of FIGS. 1 to 3 via a Gauss Meter. A distance between the
Gauss Meter and sound box structure is 1 cm. As compared to the
typical sound box structure with a plastic shell, the shell 10
improves prevention of magnetic leakage.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Magnetic leakage quantity (Gauss) Sound box
structure of FIGS. 1 to 3 0.25 Typical sound box structure 0.4
[0026] It is believed that the present invention and its advantages
will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be
apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of
its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely
being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.
* * * * *