CN112655223A

CN112655223A - Product with integrally formed vibration panel speaker

Info

Publication number: CN112655223A
Application number: CN201980051869.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 埃吉迪贾斯·米卡拉斯卡斯
Original assignee: Amina Technologies Ltd
Current assignee: Amina Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 2018-06-07
Filing date: 2019-06-07
Publication date: 2021-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 2039-06-07
Also published as: GB2574591A; CN112655223B; GB201809370D0; WO2019234444A1; GB2574591B

Abstract

A product having a vibrating panel speaker integrally constructed within a housing component of the product. The product comprises: a sheet-like housing member providing a portion of the housing defining an outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the product; and an exciter coupled to an inwardly facing surface of the housing member. The housing member has an outer sound attenuating portion surrounding a generally planar circular inner actuatable portion, the inner actuatable portion being bounded by and integrally formed with the outer sound attenuating portion to provide continuity of the housing member across an outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the inner actuatable portion from the outer sound attenuating portion, the exciter being coupled to the inner actuatable portion of the housing member, the product being configured such that the outer sound attenuating portion of the housing member is substantially immovable by the exciter and such that the inner actuatable portion is movable in response to actuation of the exciter, wherein the substantially immovable boundary edge of the outer sound attenuating portion acts to muffle an outer boundary edge of the inner actuatable portion such that the inner actuatable portion forms an elastomeric membrane which, in operation of the exciter, is caused to vibrate to produce sound.

Description

Product with integrally formed vibration panel speaker

The present invention relates to a vibrating panel speaker integrally constructed in a housing part of a product, and more particularly, to a housing part of a product having a circular inner actuatable portion.

Background

Many products have speakers inside to enable the product to make sounds. For example, all cell phones have built-in speakers. The speaker is placed behind the housing of the product and the housing directly outside the speaker forms a speaker grille to protect the speaker from foreign objects while still allowing air (and thus sound) to pass clearly from the speaker to the outside of the product. Due to the grating apertures in the housing, the product may be damaged if dust and/or liquid (e.g. water) enters the product through the apertures. The smaller grid holes also make the product difficult to clean. Even if the hole can be cleaned, the cleaning liquid can enter the product and damage the product. Moreover, the grid is overt and may change the overall look and feel of the product from the outside. For example, if the product is a painting on a wall, and the speaker is integrated in the painting such that the painting exterior carries a grille, this may spoil the appearance of the painting. Furthermore, the design of many consumer electronics products is limited by the speakers and grills that inevitably exist in the product design, and also by the positioning of the speakers and grills in inexplicable and unobtrusive locations. This limits the freedom of the designer and compromises the set of designs that would otherwise be desirable.

As the size of products decreases and the number of speakers in the product increases, the grill becomes more difficult to manufacture and the likelihood of damage to the speakers and the product due to substances entering through the grill increases. This can reduce both the aesthetic quality and the useful life of the product and can be detrimental to both the consumer and the product manufacturer. Furthermore, it may add significant limitations to the design freedom, resulting in complex and suboptimal product designs.

In this context, the presently disclosed vibrating panel speakers and related disclosure have been designed to be integrally constructed within the housing components of the product.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above background, the present inventors have recognized that integrating a vibrating panel speaker into a housing component of a product would provide an advantageous way to provide a product with an audio output that meets the needs of current design philosophy and the acoustic limitations and requirements of current audiovisual technology.

Viewed from one aspect, therefore, the present disclosure provides a product having a vibrating plate speaker integrally constructed within a housing component of the product. The product comprises: a sheet-like housing member providing a portion of the housing defining an outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the product; and an exciter coupled to an inwardly facing surface of the housing member, the housing member having an outer sound attenuating portion surrounding a generally planar circular inner actuatable portion, the inner actuatable portion being bounded by and integrally formed with the outer sound attenuating portion to provide continuity of the housing member across an outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the inner actuatable portion from the outer sound attenuating portion, the exciter being coupled to the inner actuatable portion of the housing member, the product being configured such that the outer sound attenuating portion of the housing member is substantially immovable by the exciter and such that the inner actuatable portion is movable in response to actuation of the exciter, wherein a substantially immovable boundary edge of the outer sound attenuating portion acts to muffle the outer boundary edge of the inner actuatable portion, such that the inner actuatable portion forms an elastic membrane which is caused to vibrate to generate sound under operation of the exciter.

The term "outwardly facing outer boundary surface" will be understood to mean a surface in fluid communication with the external atmosphere, including the outer surface of the product which is readily visible to the user when viewing the product and the outer surface of the interior of the product which is not visible to the user when viewing the product but which is in contact with the external environment and user fluids.

The vibrating panel speaker is formed indiscernibly within the housing components of the product so that the presence of the speaker is not readily apparent. This eliminates the need for grid holes and ensures a pleasing appearance of the product. In addition, the inner actuatable portion generating sound is delimited by and integrally constructed with the outer sound attenuating portion of the housing component, thereby ensuring that the product is sealed around the loudspeaker so that no foreign objects can enter the housing component in the area close to the loudspeaker. In addition, the integrally constructed speaker can be manufactured together with the product to ensure the ease of manufacture.

In the integrated vibrating panel speaker of the present design, the inner actuatable portion is defined by and integrally formed with an outer sound attenuating portion that is substantially immovable by the exciter. The inner actuatable portion is movable in response to actuation of the exciter, wherein the substantially immovable boundary edge of the outer sound attenuating portion acts to muffle an outer boundary edge of the inner actuatable portion such that the inner actuatable portion forms an elastomeric membrane that vibrates to produce sound when the exciter is operated. Thus, even when the inner actuatable portion is vibrated by the exciter, there is no discontinuity between the inner actuatable portion and the outer sound attenuating portion, and the outer sound attenuating portion is substantially immovable. This means that the vibrating panel loudspeaker can be integrated into a housing part of the product, so that, if desired, the vibrating loudspeaker can be hidden from view within the product, the housing part being a barrier to foreign objects, the remaining housing part of the product then being substantially immovable when the inner actuatable portion vibrates in use. This also ensures that the entire product does not vibrate significantly when the vibrating panel speaker is in use.

Since the inner actuatable portion is bounded by the outer sound attenuating portion and the substantially immovable boundary edge of the outer sound attenuating portion functions to attenuate sound at the outer boundary edge of the inner actuatable portion, sound generation by the inner actuatable portion cannot be achieved by pistonic motion of the entire inner actuatable portion (as in the case of a diaphragm or cone of a conventional dynamic loudspeaker). But instead is generated by an exciter (which may be a moving coil exciter or other suitable electrical signal motion transducer) which excites the inner actuatable portion material away from its rest position to vibrate in a vibrational mode along its length between its substantially immovable defined boundaries. In this case, the vibration mode, in which the inner actuatable portion resonates more naturally (resonant mode) and the electrical signal driving the exciter can transfer more energy more easily, depends on the distance from the excitation point to the confined edge of the loudspeaker. In addition, the resonant mode depends on other factors that may be used to convert into an acoustic signal against deformation of the inner actuatable portion material (e.g., a relatively rigid circular foot coupling the exciter voice coil to the inner actuatable portion). The amount of energy that can be transferred to the different vibration modes of the loudspeaker determines the transfer function of the vibrating plate loudspeaker, i.e. its frequency response.

Although a cone is used in a conventional pistonic cone loudspeaker to produce sound by the piston motion of the cone, this is a completely different loudspeaker technology. This is because the edges of the cone in pistonic cone loudspeakers are arranged to perform pistonic movements. In contrast, in the presently disclosed integrated vibrating panel speaker, the outer boundary edge of the inner actuatable portion is physically constrained such that it is substantially not actuatable by the exciter. One effect of the constrained edge is that there is a restoring force that acts to restore the inner actuatable portion to a flat equilibrium state when the exciter causes displacement of the central region of the inner actuatable portion. The presence of the restoring force helps to ensure that any slight imbalance of the inner actuatable portion does not affect the ability of the inner actuatable portion to generate sound. This is in contrast to pistonic cone loudspeakers, where distortion of the piston motion of the loudspeaker cone would be detrimental to the sound produced and may also damage the loudspeaker.

In order to transmit sufficient vibrational energy into frequency ranges distributed over Low (LF), Mid (MF) and High (HF) frequencies to produce a high quality audio response, one or more exciters are located at specific locations to produce an acoustically designed response in order to make the interior actuatable portion of the housing member rectangular. The rectangular inner actuatable portion ensures that the distance from the exciter to the fixed boundary edge of the inner actuatable portion is always different around the inner actuatable portion, thereby causing the inner actuatable portion to have a range of paths along its surface within which the inner actuatable portion can be excited to produce different resonant frequencies. The variation in distance from the exciter to the boundary edge helps to ensure that the frequency response of the vibrating panel speaker is substantially smooth. In other words, the frequency response of a vibrating panel speaker does not exhibit as many or as significant adverse notches, peaks, or valleys in the frequency response, particularly in the low and mid-frequency regions.

The corners of a rectangular speaker are inherently more rigid than the rest of the speaker and are ineffective at producing sound. Thus, only a portion of the speaker of the rectangular speaker effectively generates sound. For a circular speaker, the entire speaker can efficiently generate sound. Thus, for a speaker of the same surface area, the area where sound is effectively generated will be smaller for a rectangular speaker than for a circular speaker due to the presence of the corners. Thus, a circular loudspeaker will provide a better acoustic power output per surface area than a rectangular loudspeaker, which is advantageous for small products or products with a small surface area. While the quality of the output audio spectrum may be underbalanced, it has been found that integrated circular vibration panel speakers can provide output sound of sufficient overall quality and loudness for small consumer electronics products. Especially when using a mode balancing device (see below).

Accordingly, a vibration panel speaker is provided which has good acoustic performance and is easily formed in a housing part of a product. The disclosed vibrating panel speaker is easy to manufacture and maintain even with a limited surface area, while also providing good sound quality. Another advantage is that the design can keep the speaker out of sight if desired.

In general, circularly formed components, such as the inner actuatable portion of the presently disclosed design, are relatively difficult and expensive to manufacture, especially where small batches are involved, as compared to rectangular or square components, because of the need to design, manufacture and use expensive molds to manufacture the parts. Since the vibrating panel speaker is now integrally formed within the housing component of the product, the circular inner actuatable portion can be manufactured as part of the product manufacture, typically in large quantities. In this way, previously undesirable situations of the circular part can be overcome.

The shape of the outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the product may be such that the presence of the loudspeaker is not readily perceptible from the exterior of the housing.

The outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the housing member may be a continuous substantially planar surface.

The exciter may be located substantially at the axial centre of the circular inner actuatable portion. This enables the vibration panel speaker to produce loud audio. The exciter is mounted substantially centrally in the inner actuatable portion such that it is spaced as far as possible from the fixed boundaries of the inner actuatable portion on all sides, thereby allowing maximum vibration of the inner actuatable portion, thereby efficiently generating sound. This ensures that a circular vibration panel speaker integrally constructed in a housing member of a product can still produce a sufficiently loud high-quality sound as the size of the product is reduced. By coupling the exciter axially centrally to the inwardly facing surface of the inner actuatable portion, easy assembly and efficient acoustic operation of the vibrating panel speaker may be achieved. In this way, the distance from the exciter to the outer boundary edge of the inner actuatable portion is always substantially the same around the exciter. Furthermore, when the exciter is mounted axially centrally on the inwardly facing surface of the inner actuatable portion, the axial angle of the exciter relative to the rear surface of the inner actuatable portion remains substantially unchanged during operation of the exciter (which is not the case if the exciter is mounted away from the center of the inner actuatable portion).

The inner actuatable portion can be formed to have a substantially constant density per unit area across an outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the housing member. In some embodiments, the inner actuatable portion may be formed to have a density per unit volume that is different in different regions of the inner actuatable portion.

The inner actuatable portion and the outer sound attenuating portion of the housing member may be constructed of the same material.

The inner actuatable portion and the outer sound attenuating portion of the housing member may have the same thickness.

The inner actuatable portion may be thinner than the outer sound attenuating portion of the housing member.

The inner actuatable portion and the outer sound attenuating portion may together provide a continuous form to the outer surface of the housing member.

The transition from the inner actuatable portion to the outer sound attenuating portion may be a ramped edge.

The material of the inner actuatable portion may be a more flexible material than the material of the outer sound attenuating portion of the housing member.

The boundary between the inner actuatable portion and the outer sound attenuating portion may be sealed.

The housing component may provide a sealing surface of the housing of the product.

The sound attenuating member may be mounted to the housing member around a boundary between the inner actuatable portion and the outer sound attenuating portion to function to attenuate sound to the outer sound attenuating portion of the housing member.

The exciter may be inertially mounted to the housing member.

The product may include a frame secured to an inwardly facing surface of the outer sound attenuating portion, and the exciter may be mounted to and supported by the frame such that the exciter is coupled to the inwardly facing surface of the housing member. Thus, operation of the exciter may cause the inner actuatable portion of the housing member to move directly relative to the frame.

The frame may be formed from a plastics material.

The outer diameter of the inner actuatable portion may be less than 30 cm, optionally less than 25cm, optionally less than 20cm, optionally less than 15cm, optionally less than 10cm, optionally less than 8cm, optionally less than 6cm, optionally less than 4 cm, optionally less than 3 cm.

The product may comprise a mode dispensing device configured to cause, in use, non-circularly symmetric distortion of a natural vibration mode of the inner actuatable portion in response to operation of an exciter in an assembly without a housing member and exciter of the mode dispensing device.

The product may comprise a mode dispensing device configured to cause, in use, non-rotationally symmetric distortion of a natural vibration mode of the inner actuatable portion in response to operation of an exciter in an assembly absent a housing component of the mode dispensing device and the exciter. The term "non-rotational symmetry" will be understood to mean that there is no rotational symmetry in the distortion of the natural vibration modes of the inner actuatable portion. In other words, at any other angle of rotation of the inner actuatable portion, the distortion of the natural vibration mode of the inner actuatable portion in the plane of the outer facing boundary surface of the inner actuatable portion is not repeated. Thus, acoustic energy in the frequency response of the inner actuatable portion may be particularly effectively distributed to notches in the frequency response (and away from peaks in the frequency response).

The mode distribution device may include one or more components coupled to the inner actuatable portion to increase its weight to cause distortion of a natural vibration mode of the inner actuatable portion in the assembly of the housing member and the exciter in response to operation of the exciter.

One or more of the components may be constructed of a non-toxic metal.

One or more of the components may be constructed of a non-ferrous metal material, such as a substantially non-ferrous metal, such as stainless steel. Thus, when the exciter is a magnet-based exciter, such as a moving coil exciter, the proximity of one or more components to the exciter will not interfere with the operation of the exciter.

One or more components may be coupled to the inner actuatable portion substantially just outside the exciter. Advantageously, this maximises the effect of the mass of the one or more components. In other words, if it is desired to position the mass further from the center of the inner actuatable portion, it would be desirable to use a larger mass to achieve a similar effect, thereby increasing at least the overall weight and material cost of the vibrating panel speaker.

One or more components may be coupled to the inner actuatable portion away from a center of the inner actuatable portion in a direction along the inwardly facing surface of the housing component.

The one or more components may be at least two components, and each component may be spaced differently from a center of the inner actuatable portion. Thus, the combination of the inner actuatable portion and the at least two components does not have a line of symmetry separating a first region comprising one of the at least two components and a second region comprising another of the at least two components.

The at least two components may each have a different mass. The at least two parts may each be formed to have a different shape.

The at least two components may be spaced apart over an area of at least 60 degrees relative to a center of the inner actuatable portion.

The at least two components may be at least four components. The maximum angular spacing between any two components may be less than 180 degrees relative to the center of the inner actuatable portion. Thus, the components may be spaced around substantially the entire inner actuatable portion.

The maximum angular spacing between any two components may be less than 150 degrees relative to the center of the inner actuatable portion. The maximum angular spacing between any two components may be less than 130 degrees relative to the center of the inner actuatable portion. The maximum angular spacing between any two components may be less than 110 degrees relative to the center of the inner actuatable portion. The maximum angular spacing between any two components may be less than 100 degrees relative to the center of the inner actuatable portion.

One or more components may be coupled to an inwardly facing surface of the inner actuatable portion of the housing component. Thus, in use, one or more of the components described above may not be visible to a user who may see the outwardly facing outer boundary surfaces of the housing components.

The mode-dispensing device may be provided in the form of a recess defined in an outwardly facing outer surface of the housing member and configured to be selectively filled in response to operation of the exciter to cause distortion of an intrinsic resonance mode of an internally actuatable portion of the assembly of the exciter and housing member absent the mode-dispensing device.

The center of mass of the assembly of the inner actuatable portion and the mode assigning device may be remote from the center of the inner actuatable portion in a direction along the outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the housing member.

The exciter may be coupled to the inwardly facing surface of the housing member via a foot, and the mode distribution device may be disposed at one or more regions of the inner actuatable portion of the housing member located outside the foot. The use of feet ensures that energy from the resonator is efficiently transferred to the inner actuatable portion of the housing member.

The mode dispensing means may be arranged, in use, to be asymmetric with respect to any line of symmetry passing through the centre of the inner actuatable portion of the housing member.

The inner actuatable portion and the outer sound attenuating portion may be formed to have a substantially constant density per unit across an outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the housing member.

The maximum thickness of the inner actuatable portion may be less than 3 millimeters. In some examples, the maximum thickness of the inner actuatable portion may be about 2 millimeters.

The minimum thickness of the outer sound-deadening portion may be greater than or equal to 3 mm.

The inner actuatable portion of the housing member, bounded by the outer sound attenuating portion, may provide an elastic membrane adapted to achieve a given quality of sound reproduction upon conversion of an electrical signal for driving the exciter.

The product may be configured such that the resilience of the inner actuatable portion of the housing member is sufficient to cause sound to be emitted from the inner actuatable portion having a high frequency in excess of 4kHz when the exciter is driven at a substantially high frequency. Thus, the inner actuatable portion is formed such that it is suitable for reproducing high frequency sound.

The product may be configured such that when the exciter is driven at a substantially high frequency, the resilience of the inner actuatable portion of the housing member is sufficiently low to cause sound to be emitted from the inner actuatable portion having a high frequency in excess of 200 Hz. Thus, the inner actuatable portion is configured such that it is suitable for reproducing high frequency sound.

The inner actuatable portion may be substantially rigid enough to deflect during exciter operation to produce an audio output over the entire area of the inner actuatable portion within the boundary across the outer sound attenuating portion.

The product may be a consumer electronic product such as a toy, video display, smartphone, tablet, speaker, or gaming device, optionally a portable or handheld device.

The product may not be just a speaker.

The housing of the consumer electronic product may be substantially sealed, optionally waterproof.

The product may be gypsum board.

The material of the housing component may be continuous through the inner actuatable portion and the outer sound attenuating portion.

The inner actuatable portion of the housing member may further comprise a diaphragm between the web and an exciter inertially mounted to the diaphragm, wherein the material of the diaphragm is different from the web.

The vibrating panel speaker may be as described above.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will be further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 provides an example of a vibrating panel speaker integrally constructed within a housing component of a product;

FIG. 2 provides another example of a vibrating panel speaker integrally formed within a housing component of a product;

fig. 3A-3E provide illustrations of cross-sections of the vibrating panel speaker of fig. 1 and 2, according to an example;

FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary simulated frequency responses of an inner actuatable portion of a circular vibrating panel speaker with and without mode allocation means;

5A-5D show example schematics of displacements at two different resonant modes for each of two different inner actuatable portions.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a bottom surface of an inner actuatable portion of a vibrating panel speaker according to an example;

fig. 7 is an illustration of a bottom surface of an inner actuatable portion of a vibrating panel speaker according to another example.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure describes a product having a vibration panel speaker integrally constructed within a housing component of the product that produces high quality sound on each surface area of the housing component of the product and provides a barrier so that foreign objects cannot enter the product through the vibration panel speaker.

Fig. 1 and 2 are examples of a vibrating panel speaker integrally constructed in a housing section 2 of a product 1. The vibration panel speaker may be a flat panel speaker. The product 1 of fig. 1 is a mobile phone. In this example, the product 1 is not just a loudspeaker. The product 1 has a housing part 2, the housing part 2 forming part of a protective housing of the product 1. The vibrating panel speaker is integrally formed in the housing part 2 of the product 1. The housing part 2 has an outer sound-damping portion 3, which outer sound-damping portion 3 surrounds a substantially flat inner actuatable portion 10. The outer sound-attenuating portion 3 has a substantially immovable boundary edge 4. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the inner actuatable portion 10 and the boundary edge 4 are substantially circular to form a circular vibrating panel speaker. For small products or products with a small usable outer boundary surface, the circular loudspeaker can still be integrated into the housing part 2 of the product 1 due to its shape and because the inner actuatable portion 10 can be made smaller. For example, the inner actuatable portion 10 may have an outer diameter of less than 30 centimeters. In the embodiment shown, the outer diameter of the inner actuatable portion 10 is about 5 cm. The outer sound-deadening portion 3 may not completely muffle sound, and may be defined as a region that is not a main region of action.

The inner actuatable portion 10 is bounded by the outer sound attenuating portion 3 and is integrally constructed with the outer sound attenuating portion 3 to provide continuity from the outer sound attenuating portion 3 across the inner actuatable portion 10 on the outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the housing member 2. In this sense, there is at least one uninterrupted path across the extent of the inner actuatable portion 10 along the surface of the housing member 2. In fact, the entire outwardly facing outer boundary surface of housing member 2 may be continuous or seamless across the inner actuatable portion 10 from the outer sound attenuating portion 3. The shape of the outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the product 1 may be such that the presence of the loudspeaker is not readily perceptible from the outside of the housing. For example, the inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3 may together provide a continuous form to the outer surface of the housing member 2. Thus, as shown by the dashed lines in fig. 1, the border 4 may not be visible from the outside of the product 1. In fact, when viewing the product 1, especially when not using the speaker, the user may not be able to discern where the vibration panel speaker is. Alternatively, the transition of the outer outwardly facing outer boundary from the inner actuatable portion 10 to the outer sound attenuating portion 3 may be a ramped edge.

The product 1 may be any product that may require an integrally constructed vibrating panel loudspeaker. For example, product 1 may be gypsum board. In another example, the product 1 may be a painting. In another example, the product 1 may be a consumer electronics product. The product 1 may be a toy, a video display, a smart phone, a tablet, a speaker or a gaming device, optionally a portable or handheld device. The housing part 2 may define an outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the product 1. The housing part 2 may enclose the product 1. The housing part 2 may be constructed of a substantially rigid material, for example metal or plastic such as polyurethane. The housing part 2 may be a thin material layer and may be formed from a sheet material. The inner actuatable portion 10 of the housing member 2 may have a maximum thickness of less than 3 millimeters. The minimum thickness of the outer sound-deadening portion 3 may be greater than or equal to 3 mm. In one example, the shell member 2 is gypsum board. The outer sound deadening portion 3 of the plasterboard may be about 12.5mm and the inner actuatable portion 10 of the plasterboard may be about 2 mm.

For example, for painting, the material on which the painting is formed or the frame of the painting may be the case member 2, inside which the vibration panel speaker is formed. Therefore, preferably, the speaker is not visible in the drawing. The described integrally constructed loudspeaker allows for non-obtrusiveness as described above. It may be formed that the outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the housing part 2 is a continuous, substantially flat surface without a grille, even though passing the loudspeaker. In another example, if the product 1 is a consumer electronic product, the housing component 2 may provide a barrier to anything inside the product 1 so that no fluid can enter the product 1 and not interfere with the electronics within the product 1.

Fig. 3A-3E provide illustrations of cross-sections of the vibrating panel speaker of fig. 1 and 2, according to an example. It should be noted that these images are not shown to scale, nor do they represent or limit, in particular in the thickness direction, the shape or form of, for example, the housing part 2 or the exciter 30. In detail, fig. 3A to 3E show exemplary side views of the cross section a-a' of fig. 2. As shown, the housing member 2 of fig. 3A to 3E has an outer sound-deadening portion 3, the outer sound-deadening portion 3 surrounding a substantially planar circular inner actuatable portion 10. These figures also show an outwardly facing outer boundary surface 2a arranged to face outwardly at the outer boundary of the product 1 and an inwardly facing surface 2b opposite to the outwardly facing outer boundary surface 2 a. Exciter 30 is coupled to inwardly facing surface 2b of inner actuatable portion 10 of housing member 2. Product 1 may be configured such that exciter 30 is substantially incapable of moving outer sound-attenuating portion 3 of housing member 2, and such that inner actuatable portion 10 moves in response to actuation of exciter 30, wherein substantially immovable boundary edge 4 of outer sound-attenuating portion 3 acts to attenuate the outer boundary edge of inner actuatable portion 10, thereby causing inner actuatable portion 10 to form an elastic membrane that is caused to vibrate to produce sound under operation of exciter 30.

In an example, the inner actuatable portion 10 may be formed to have a substantially constant density per unit area across the outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the housing member 2. In another example, both the inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3 may be formed to have a substantially constant density per unit area across the outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the housing member 2. For example, the inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3 of the housing member 2 may be composed of the same material. Alternatively, the material of the inner actuatable portion 10 may be a more flexible material than the material of the outer sound attenuating portion 3 of the housing member 2. The inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound-deadening portion 3 of the housing member 2 can be formed at the same time as the vibration panel speaker in the product 1 is manufactured, so that the vibration panel speaker is easily and quickly manufactured.

In one example, exciter 30 may be coupled to an inwardly facing surface 2b of housing member 2 via legs 40 (see fig. 6). Legs 40 provide an interface between exciter 30 and inwardly facing surface 2b of housing member 2. In an example, the legs 40 are substantially cylindrical and provide a circular interface between the exciter 30 and the inwardly facing surface 2b of the housing member 2.

When the inner actuatable portion 10 is caused by the exciter 30 to vibrate under operation of the exciter 30, the outer sound-deadening portion 3 of the housing member 2 is substantially immovable and substantially only the inner actuatable portion 10 vibrates with respect to the frame 20. In other words, the outer sound-attenuating portion 3 is fixed with respect to the product 1. This ensures that the internal components of the product 1 are not damaged by the operation of the vibrating panel loudspeaker.

In fig. 3A to 3E, the exciter 30 is located substantially at the axial centre of the circular inner actuatable portion 10, such that the shortest distance from the second portion 34 of the exciter 30 to the outer boundary of the inner actuatable portion 10 is substantially the same as anywhere around the exciter 30 or the leg 40. Thus, the vibrating panel speaker is center driven.

In fig. 3A, the continuity from the outer sound-deadening portion 3 across the inner actuatable portion 10 on the outer outwardly facing boundary surface of the housing member 2 is clearly shown. The inner actuatable portion 10 is thinner than the outer sound attenuating portion 3. The inner actuatable portion 10 can be formed by thinning the thickness of the housing member 2. In this figure, the line between the inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3 shows that there may be a discontinuity of material. The inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3 may be bonded together after production or may be co-molded. This may enable the materials of the inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3 to be distinguished. However, the inner actuatable portion 10 is formed to seal the boundary between the inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3 such that no external fluid can pass through the boundary. In some examples, housing component 2 may provide a substantially sealed surface of the housing of product 1, and inner actuatable portion 10 may not contain any holes, such that no external fluid may pass through housing component 2 into the interior of product 1. Thus, the outer shell of the product 1 will be waterproof. In one example, the material of the shell member 2 is gypsum board. The gypsum board constituting the inner actuatable portion 10 may be manufactured separately from the gypsum board constituting the outer sound attenuating portion 3, and the inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3 may be bonded together after production.

As shown in fig. 3A, the transition of the inwardly facing surface 2b from the outer sound attenuating portion to the inner actuatable portion may be perpendicular to the inwardly and outwardly facing planes of the housing member 2. Alternatively, the transition of the inwardly facing surface 2b from the inner actuatable portion 10 to the outer sound attenuating portion 3 may be a ramped edge.

Fig. 3A also shows exciter 30 inertially mounted to inwardly facing surface 2b of housing member 2. Thus, exciter 30 is free to move when energized to produce sound. First portion 32 of exciter 30 may have sufficient inertial mass such that operation of exciter 30 causes movement of inner actuatable portion 10 even when first portion 32 of exciter 30 is not mounted to any frame 30.

In fig. 3B, the housing member 2 is provided with a sound attenuation member mounted to the housing member 2 around the boundary between the inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuation portion 3. In this example, the inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3 of the housing member 2 have the same thickness. The sound-deadening member serves to sound-deaden the outer boundary edges of the outer sound-deadening portion 3 and the inner actuatable portion 10 of the housing member 2. The inner actuatable portion 10 of the housing member 2, delimited by the outer sound-attenuating portion 3, provides an elastic membrane adapted to achieve a given quality of sound reproduction upon conversion of an electrical signal for driving the exciter 30. For example, when exciter 30 is driven at a substantially high frequency, the resilience of inner actuatable portion 10 of housing member 2 is sufficient to cause sound to be emitted from inner actuatable portion 10 having a high frequency in excess of 4 kHz. The elasticity of inner actuatable portion 10 of housing member 2 may be sufficiently low such that low frequency sound, for example below 200Hz, is emitted from inner actuatable portion 10 when exciter 30 is operated at a substantially low frequency.

FIG. 3C provides another example side view of section A-A' of FIG. 2. In this example, the vibrating panel speaker further includes a frame 20 fixed to the inward-facing surface 2b of the outer sound-deadening portion 3 of the case member 2. The frame shape is an open cylinder comprising a flat circular part and sides extending to the edges of the circle. The sides of the frame are fixed to the inwardly facing surface 2b of the shell member 2 at the boundary edges 4. The frame may be mounted to the inwardly facing surface 2b of the housing member 2 at the boundary edge 4 of the outer sound-deadening portion 3. A first portion 32 of exciter 30 is mounted to the flat, circular member of frame 20, and a second portion 34 of exciter 30 is mounted to inwardly facing surface 2b of housing member 2, such that exciter 30 is between inwardly facing surface 2b of housing member 2 and the flat, circular member of the frame. Second portion 34 of exciter 30 may be supported by a frame.

It will be appreciated that the frame may be secured to the inwardly facing surface 2b of the housing member 2 in various ways. For example, holes and/or adhesive fixtures may be used to secure the frame. In various examples, the adhesive may extend around substantially the entire boundary edge 4 of the shell member 2. In other examples, the adhesive may be provided at a plurality of discrete locations around the boundary edge 4.

Fig. 3D shows another example of a cross-section of the vibrating panel speaker of fig. 1 and 2. In this example, the material of the housing component 2 passes continuously through the inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3. The vibrating panel speaker may be integrally formed with the housing part 2 of the product 1 to enable the use of a continuous material. The inner actuatable portion 10 is thinner than the outer sound attenuating portion 3. In an example, the sheet-like housing component 2 forming the outer sound-deadening portion 3 may be shaped to produce the inner actuatable portion 10. For example, the inner actuatable portion 10 may be formed by thinning a thickness of a portion of the sheet form housing component 2. Fig. 3D also shows exciter 30 inertially mounted to inward facing surface 2b of housing member 2.

In one example, the material of the shell member 2 of fig. 3D is gypsum board. Exciter 30 may be inertially mounted directly to the inwardly facing surface of the gypsum board. The plasterboard may pass continuously through the inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3. The plasterboard may be operated so that the inner actuatable portion 10 is thinner than the outer sound attenuating portion 3. For example, the gypsum board may be thinned, compressed, or cut during processing after the gypsum board is formed so that the inner actuatable portion 10 is thinner than the outer sound attenuating portion 3. Alternatively, the inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3 may be formed during manufacture of the gypsum board, such as by molding. The gypsum board thus formed ensures that the manufacturing process for forming the vibration panel speaker is quick and simple, thereby enabling mass production of the vibration panel speaker.

Fig. 3E shows another example of a cross-section of the vibrating panel speaker of fig. 1 and 2. Similar to fig. 3D, in this example, the material of the housing member 2 continues through the actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3. The inner actuatable portion 10 is thinner than the outer sound attenuating portion 3. In fig. 3E, the housing part 2 of the vibrating panel loudspeaker further comprises a membrane 36 between the exciter 30 and the continuous material of the housing part 2. The figure also shows exciter 30 inertially mounted on diaphragm 36. Exciter 30 may be mounted in the center of diaphragm 36. In one example, the diaphragm 36 constitutes at least part of the inner actuatable portion 10 of the housing member 2 of the product, such that the diaphragm 36 is an elastic membrane that can be made to vibrate to produce sound when the exciter is operated.

The material of the diaphragm 36 of fig. 3E may be different from the continuous material of the housing member 2, and may be fixed to the continuous material. For example, the diaphragm 36 may be attached to the continuous material of the housing component 2 at the boundary between the inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3. In one example, the diaphragm 36 is more elastic than the continuous material of the housing component 2. In another example, the diaphragm 36 has fewer pores and better water resistance than the continuous material of the housing member 2. Diaphragm 36 may have a circular opening in the middle so that exciter 30 is in fluid contact with the continuous material of housing part 2. In one example, the continuous material of the shell member 2 is gypsum board. Diaphragm 36 may be between the gypsum board and exciter 30.

When the product is a gypsum board, the gypsum board sheet may be arranged to have a loudspeaker formed as part thereof, wherein a portion of the gypsum board itself is actuated as a resilient diaphragm having a sound-deadening edge to produce sound. In use, the speaker is not visible from the outward facing surface of the gypsum board because a continuous surface is provided across the inner actuatable portion 10 and the outer sound attenuating portion 3 of the speaker.

In one example, first portion 32 of exciter 30 includes an electromagnet that can be activated and deactivated by input of an electronic signal. Second portion 34 of exciter 30 comprises a metallic component, such as a coil, which may be attracted and/or repelled by the electromagnet of first portion 32 when the electromagnet is activated. Thus, in response to operation by input of an electronic signal by the electromagnet of first portion 32 of exciter 30, internally actuatable portion 10 may be caused to vibrate and produce sound. Said exciter 30 may be referred to as a moving coil exciter with, for example, neodymium or other rare earth magnets. It should be understood that other exciters that may be used to vibrate the panel speaker, including methods of construction and operation thereof, are known to those skilled in the art. Other examples of exciters include moving magnet exciters, magnetic drivers, and piezoelectric exciters.

For a centrally mounted exciter 30 in a circular inner actuatable portion 10 with a substantially immovable boundary edge 4, there is no natural variation in the distance from the exciter 30 location to the fixed boundary edge 4 of the outer sound attenuating portion 3 around the inner actuatable portion 10, so that the natural frequency response of the inner actuatable portion 10 is characterized by resonant peaks and valleys, particularly in the low frequency range, and typically significantly more energy is transferred to the mid frequency range than in the low frequency range. This may result in the generation of an echo, which some users may consider "negligible".

A non-overt and easy to install loudspeaker with a desired good audio response may be provided by a circular vibrating panel loudspeaker in which the inner actuatable portion 10 is bounded around its outer boundary by an outer sound attenuating portion 3, in which the inner actuatable portion 10 is excited by a substantially centrally located exciter 30 provided with a mode assigning means configured to cause, in use, a non-circularly symmetric distortion of the natural vibration mode of the inner actuatable portion 10 in response to operation of the exciter 30 in an assembly without the inner actuatable portion 10 and the exciter 30 of the mode assigning means.

It has been found that without the mode assigning means, a substantially uniform distance from the exciter 30 to the boundary of the circular inner actuatable portion 10 will result in a poor sound quality, e.g. for vibrating panel speakers due to acoustic artifacts (in particular low and mid frequencies) in the frequency response.

These artifacts are typically due to the presence of exciter 30 limiting the motion of different areas of inner actuatable portion 10.

In some cases, without mode allocation means, an adverse artifact would be in the form of one or more valleys and/or peaks in the low and medium frequency regions of the frequency response of the assembly of inner actuatable portion 10 and exciter 30.

The mode assigning means causes a non-circularly symmetric distortion of the natural vibration mode of the inner actuatable portion 10. By including a mode assigning device, acoustic energy from other areas of the frequency response may be redistributed to frequencies corresponding to valleys and/or peaks. As shown in fig. 4, it is possible to increase the frequency response at frequencies corresponding to valleys and decrease the frequency response at frequencies corresponding to peaks, thereby obtaining a more uniform frequency response. Thus, the natural frequency response of a circular vibrating panel speaker is tuned to eliminate resonant peaks and valleys and balance the frequency spectrum (especially the low and medium frequency ranges) to produce a desirable and perceptually "good" audio response.

In particular, the effect of the mode assignment means on the frequency response of a circular vibration panel speaker can be seen in fig. 4, which shows the simulated frequency response of a circular vibration panel speaker with and without mode assignment means as described above. Without the mode assigning means, the line with data points represented by triangles shows the frequency response of a vibrating panel loudspeaker as described above. It can be seen that particularly at low and medium frequencies (i.e. below 10kHz), the frequency response exhibits several distinct peaks and valleys, but peaks and valleys continue to exist in the high frequency region of the frequency response. Furthermore, it can be seen that the reproducible sound intensity is relatively high for mid frequencies (typically around 200-. The line with data points represented by circles shows the frequency response of a vibrating panel speaker as described above, with the inclusion of a mode assigning means. It can be seen that the frequency response is much smoother compared to the solid line. The height of the peaks and the depth of the valleys have both been reduced to make the frequency response substantially flat, resulting in improved audio quality produced by the vibrating panel loudspeaker, particularly at mid-to-low frequencies. Furthermore, it can be seen that the low frequency response is enhanced, particularly by shifting some of the energy away from the mid frequency.

This redistribution and smoothing of reproducible frequencies is achieved by a mode-assigning means that causes a non-circularly symmetric distortion of the natural vibration modes of the inner actuatable portion 10. As shown in fig. 5A and 5B, they show a schematic view of the displacement in the resonance mode in the inner actuatable portion 10 without mode assigning means. Fig. 5A shows a first resonance mode and fig. 5B shows a second resonance mode, wherein the immovable boundary edge 4 of the housing part 2 and the fixation of the inwardly facing surface 2B of the housing part 2 to the relatively rigid cylindrical leg 40 of the exciter 30 represent boundary conditions. As can be seen from fig. 5A and 5B, in these natural resonance modes, the intensity of displacement due to the excitation of the inner actuatable portion 10 is significant, which means that a large amount of energy is coupled thereto.

On the other hand, fig. 5C and 5D show schematic views of the displacement in the resonance mode in the inner actuatable portion 10 when the mode assigning means is added to the inner actuatable portion 10. Fig. 5C shows the first resonance mode, and fig. 5D shows the second resonance mode. Thus, it can be seen that the intensity of the displacement in the resonant mode is greatly reduced, which means that excess energy is coupled into other vibration modes, enabling vibration energy to be coupled into the generation of a greater range of different frequencies. It will also be appreciated that the displacement of the first and second resonant modes of the inner actuatable portion 10 (with the mode assigning means) is achieved by a non-circularly symmetric distortion applied to the inner actuatable portion 10 by the mode assigning means. In fact, the displacement of the resonant mode of the inner actuatable portion 10 (with the mode assigning means) is not even rotationally symmetric on the inner actuatable portion 10. Such a mode allocation means enables smoothing and improving the audio response of the circular vibration panel speaker. The inclusion of the mode assigning means in the vibrating panel loudspeaker of figures 1 and 2 having a circular inner actuatable portion 10 brings the further advantage of an acoustically "good" audio response.

As previously described, one effect of the constrained edges of inner actuatable portion 10 is that there is a restoring force that serves to restore inner actuatable portion 10 to flat equilibrium when exciter 30 causes displacement of the central region of inner actuatable portion 10. The presence of the restoring force helps to ensure that any slight imbalance of the inner actuatable portion 10 does not affect the ability of the inner actuatable portion 10 to generate sound.

Furthermore, good acoustic performance of the vibrating panel loudspeaker is ensured by providing a mode-splitting device which counteracts the otherwise disadvantageous effect of the exciter 30 being mounted substantially at the axial centre of the circular inner actuatable portion 10.

Fig. 6 is an illustration of the underside of the vibrating panel speaker of fig. 1 and 2. Fig. 6 shows the housing part 2 of the product 1. As already described with reference to the previous figures, the housing member 2 has an outer sound attenuating portion 3 surrounding a generally planar circular inner actuatable portion 10. The outer sound-attenuating portion 3 has a substantially immovable boundary edge 4. The housing component has an outwardly facing outer boundary surface 2a (see fig. 3A to 3D) and an inwardly facing surface 2 b. Exciter 30 may be mounted to inwardly facing surface 2b of inner actuatable portion 10 of housing member 2 by legs 40 contacting inwardly facing surface 2b of housing member 2. Alternatively, exciter 30 may be mounted directly on the inwardly facing surface 2b of housing member 2. Due to the circular geometry of the inner actuatable portion 10 and the central mounting of the foot 40 or exciter 30 on the inner actuatable portion 10, the inner actuatable portion 10 is provided with mode-distributing means in the form of one or more parts 50 coupled to the inwardly facing surface 2b of the inner actuatable portion 10 to increase its weight. The one or more members 50 are arranged such that the combination of the inner actuatable portion 10 and the one or more members 50 is non-circularly symmetric. In other words, in an assembly of inner actuatable portion 10 and exciter 30 without mode distributing means, the natural vibration modes of inner actuatable portion 10 are distorted in response to operation of exciter 30. It has thus been found that the strength of the distinct valleys and/or peaks in the frequency response of a vibrating panel loudspeaker, which would otherwise occur due to the circular shape of the inner actuatable portion 10 and the central mounting of the exciter 30, can be reduced. In some examples, by carefully arranging the modal distribution means, valleys and/or peaks may be substantially eliminated from the frequency response. Viewed another way, without mode allocation means, audio energy from peaks in the frequency response of a vibrating panel loudspeaker may be redistributed to high damping regions of the frequency response.

In this example, the arrangement of one or more components 50 is non-rotationally symmetric. In this example, one or more of the components 50 are in the form of a metal weight. In this example, the metal weight is constructed of a non-toxic metal. Suitable non-toxic metals include stainless steel. In this example, one or more components 50 are mounted on the rear surface 2b of the inner actuatable portion 10.

Although the presently described example uses four metal weights 50 to provide the mode-dispensing device, it should be understood that the mode-dispensing device may be provided in any other suitable manner. For example, the inner actuatable portion 10 may be provided with one or more protrusions or recesses on its inwardly facing surface 2 b. One or more protrusions and recesses may be arranged such that, in the assembly of inner actuatable portion 10 and exciter 30, the natural vibration modes of inner actuatable portion 10 are distorted in response to operation of exciter 30.

Fig. 7 is a further illustration of the underside of the vibrating panel speaker of fig. 1 and 2, showing the inwardly facing surface 2b of the inner actuatable portion 10 of the housing component 2. The inner actuatable portion 10 is substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to fig. 6, except for the differences noted below. In particular, the pattern assigning means is provided by a plurality of

parts

51, 52, 53, 54, wherein at least one part has a different size and shape than another part of the plurality of

parts

51, 52, 53, 54. In this example, the first part 51 is positioned substantially opposite the second part 52, but the first part 51 has a greater depth than the second part 52, and the first part 51 has a different size and shape than the second part 52. The third member 53 is positioned on the rear surface 2b of the inner actuatable portion 10 and is rotationally spaced from the first and

second members

51, 52. The fourth part 54 is positioned substantially opposite the third part 53. The depth of the fourth part 54 is smaller than the depth of the third part 53. The fourth member 54 has a different size and shape from the third member 53. Further, the first, second, third and

fourth members

51, 52, 53, 54 are specifically positioned to distort the natural vibration modes of the inner actuatable portion 10, substantially as described above.

In summary, a product 1 is provided, the product 1 having a vibrating panel loudspeaker integrated into a housing part 2 of the product 1. The product 1 comprises: a sheet-like housing member 2, the sheet-like housing member 2 providing a part of an outer shell, the part defining an outwardly facing outer boundary surface 2a of the product 1 or the part defining an inner surface of the product 1 in fluid communication with the outwardly facing outer boundary surface 2 a; and an exciter 30, the exciter 30 being coupled to an inwardly facing surface 2b of the housing member 2, the housing member 2 having an outer sound-deadening portion 3 surrounding a generally planar circular inner actuatable portion 10, the inner actuatable portion 10 being bounded by the outer sound-deadening portion 3 and being integrally formed with the outer sound-deadening portion 3 to provide continuity of the housing member 2 across an outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the inner actuatable portion 10 from the outer sound-deadening portion 3, the product 1 being configured such that the inner actuatable portion 10 is movable in response to actuation of the exciter 30, wherein a substantially immovable boundary edge 4 of the outer sound-deadening portion 3 serves to deaden an outer boundary edge of the inner actuatable portion 10 such that the inner actuatable portion 10 forms an elastomeric diaphragm that, when the exciter 30 is operated, is caused to vibrate to produce sound.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "comprise", and variations of the words "comprise" and "comprising", mean "including but not limited to", and are not intended to (and do not) exclude other components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any of the foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this application (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A product having a vibrating panel speaker integrally constructed within a housing component of the product, the product comprising:

a sheet-like housing member providing a portion of a housing defining an outwardly facing outer boundary surface of a product; and

an exciter coupled to an inwardly facing surface of the housing member,

the housing member having an outer sound attenuating portion surrounding a generally planar circular inner actuatable portion, the inner actuatable portion being bounded by and integrally constructed with the outer sound attenuating portion to provide continuity of the housing member across an outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the inner actuatable portion from the outer sound attenuating portion, the exciter being coupled to the inner actuatable portion of the housing member,

the product is configured such that the outer sound attenuating portion of the housing member is substantially immovable by the exciter and such that the inner actuatable portion is movable in response to actuation of the exciter, wherein the substantially immovable boundary edge of the outer sound attenuating portion acts to attenuate the outer boundary edge of the inner actuatable portion such that the inner actuatable portion forms an elastic membrane that is caused to vibrate to produce sound under operation of the exciter.

2. A product according to claim 1, characterized in that the outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the product is shaped such that the presence of the loudspeaker is not readily perceptible from outside the housing.

3. A product according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the shell member is a continuous substantially planar surface.

4. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the exciter is located substantially at the axial centre of the circular inner actuatable portion.

5. The product of any preceding claim, wherein the inner actuatable portion is configured to have a substantially constant density per unit area across an outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the shell member.

6. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner actuatable portion and the outer sound attenuating portion of the housing component are composed of the same material.

7. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner actuatable portion and the outer sound attenuating portion of the housing component have the same thickness.

8. The product according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the inner actuatable portion is thinner than the outer sound attenuating portion of the shell member.

9. The product of claim 8, wherein the inner actuatable portion and the outer sound attenuating portion together provide a continuous form to the outer surface of the housing component.

10. The product of claim 8, wherein the transition from the inner actuatable portion to the outer sound attenuating portion is a ramped edge.

11. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the material of the inner actuatable portion is a more flexible material than the material of the outer sound attenuating portion of the housing component.

12. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the boundary between the inner actuatable portion and the outer sound attenuating portion is sealed.

13. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing component provides a sealing surface of the housing of the product.

14. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein a sound-damping member is mounted to the housing member around a boundary between the inner actuatable portion and the outer sound-damping portion to act to damp the outer sound-damping portion of the housing member.

15. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the exciter is inertially mounted to the housing member.

16. A product as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 14 further comprising a frame secured to an inwardly facing surface of the outer sound attenuating portion and the exciter is mounted to and supported by the frame such that the exciter is coupled to the inwardly facing surface of the housing member.

17. The product of any preceding claim, wherein the inner actuatable portion has an outer diameter of less than 30 centimeters.

18. A product according to any preceding claim, further comprising a mode distribution device configured to cause, in use, non-circularly symmetric distortion of a natural vibration mode of the inner actuatable portion in response to operation of the exciter in an assembly without the housing part of the mode distribution device and the exciter.

19. A product according to claim 18, wherein the mode distribution device is configured to cause, in use, non-rotationally symmetric distortion of a natural vibration mode of the inner actuatable portion in response to operation of the exciter in an assembly without the housing member of the mode distribution device and the exciter.

20. A product according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the mode-assigning device comprises one or more components coupled to the inner actuatable portion to add weight to the inner actuatable portion to cause distortion of an intrinsic resonant mode of the inner actuatable portion in the assembly of the housing component and the exciter in response to operation of the exciter.

21. The product of claim 20, wherein the one or more components are comprised of a non-toxic metal.

22. The product of claim 20 or 21, wherein the one or more components are coupled to the inner actuatable portion away from a center of the inner actuatable portion in a direction along the inward facing surface of the housing component.

23. The product of any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the one or more components are at least two components, and each component is spaced differently from a center of the inner actuatable portion.

24. The product of claim 23, wherein the at least two components are spaced apart over an area of at least 60 degrees relative to a center of the inner actuatable portion.

25. The product of claim 23 or 24, wherein the at least two components are at least four components and the maximum angular separation between any two components relative to the center of the inner actuatable portion is less than 180 degrees.

26. The product of any one of claims 20 to 25, wherein the one or more components are coupled to an inward facing surface of the inner actuatable portion of the housing component.

27. The product of any preceding claim, wherein the center of mass of the assembly of the inner actuatable portion and the mode dispensing device is remote from the center of the inner actuatable portion in a direction along the outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the housing component.

28. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the exciter is coupled to the inwardly facing surface of the housing component via a foot, and the mode-division device is provided in one or more regions of the inner actuatable portion of the housing component outside the foot.

29. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the mode dispensing means is arranged, in use, to be asymmetric with respect to any line of symmetry passing through the centre of the inner actuatable portion of the housing component.

30. The product of any preceding claim, wherein the inner actuatable portion and outer sound deadening portion are formed to have a substantially constant density per unit across an outwardly facing outer boundary surface of the shell member.

31. The product of any preceding claim, wherein the maximum thickness of the inner actuatable portion is less than 3 mm.

32. A product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the minimum thickness of the outer sound-attenuating portion is greater than or equal to 3 mm.

33. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner actuatable portion of the housing member bounded by the outer sound attenuating portion provides an elastic membrane adapted to achieve a given quality of sound reproduction upon conversion of an electrical signal for driving the exciter.

34. A product according to any preceding claim, configured such that when the exciter is driven at a substantially high frequency, the inner actuatable portion of the housing member is sufficiently resilient to cause sound to be emitted therefrom having a high frequency in excess of 4 kHz.

35. A product according to any preceding claim, configured such that when the exciter is operated at substantially low frequency, the resilience of the inner actuatable portion of the housing member is sufficiently low to cause sound to be emitted from the inner actuatable portion having a low frequency below 200 Hz.

36. The product of any preceding claim, wherein the product is a consumer electronics product, such as a toy, video display, smartphone, tablet, speaker or gaming device, optionally a portable or handheld device.

37. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the product is not only a loudspeaker.

38. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing of the consumer electronic product is substantially sealed, optionally waterproof.

39. The product of any preceding claim, wherein the product is gypsum board.

40. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the material of the housing component passes continuously through the inner actuatable portion and the outer sound attenuating portion.

41. A product as set forth in claim 40 wherein the inner actuatable portion of the housing member further comprises a diaphragm between the continuous material and the exciter inertially mounted to the diaphragm, wherein the material of the diaphragm is different than the continuous material.