JP2003264881A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device such as a mobile phone for decreasing the number of components to enhance the reliability. <P>SOLUTION: A planar speaker 2 generates a sound signal with an audible frequency in a sound mode, a support mechanism 30 clamps part of a side face of the planar speaker 2 in a vibration mode to vibrate the planar speaker 2 at a frequency lower than the audible frequency. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile phone and other electronic devices that notify a user of information.

[0002]

BACKGROUND ART In an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a pager, it is necessary to notify a user of an incoming call or the like. At that time, there is known one having a voice mode in which notification is made by voice and a vibration mode in which notification is made by generating vibration. Here, in the voice mode, the voice signal is emitted through the audio amplifier and the speaker. Further, in the vibration mode, vibration is applied to the electronic device main body mainly by the eccentric motor or the like.

In recent years, as a speaker for electronic equipment,
Flat speakers are receiving attention. The flat speaker is a device that vibrates a relatively strong diaphragm by an actuator to emit sound, and has an advantage that a wide frequency band can be secured even if it is small.

[0004]

By the way, in conventional electronic devices such as mobile phones, a speaker for voice output and an eccentric motor are provided separately. Despite the fact that they have a common function in terms of giving vibration to an object, they were provided separately, so the number of parts in conventional electronic equipment was unnecessarily large, which made the equipment larger and more reliable. There was a problem that it decreased. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can be configured to be small and lightweight and can ensure high reliability.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, a flat speaker and an audio signal of an audible frequency is generated from the flat speaker, and the user is notified of the information by the sound signal. Voice notification means for
The flat speaker is vibrated at a fundamental frequency lower than the audible frequency, and vibration notification means for notifying information to a user by the vibration is provided. In addition, it is preferable that the electronic device further includes an operation mode selection unit that selects one of a vibration mode for operating the vibration notification unit and a voice mode for operating the voice notification unit. In addition, it is preferable that the electronic device further includes a lock mechanism that fixes the predetermined position of the flat speaker in the vibration mode, and releases the fixation at the predetermined position in the voice mode.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 1. Prerequisite Theory of Embodiment First, a planar speaker used in a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 5
In the conventional cone type speaker shown in (a), sound propagates in a direction perpendicular to the vibrating surface of the cone, so that acoustic energy propagates non-linearly. Further, interference is likely to occur when the cone is formed unbalanced.
Therefore, when a component such as a coil is added to the cone, the vibration bandwidth is limited and the reproduced sound changes.

On the other hand, the structure and operation principle of the flat speaker shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C will be described. Reference numeral 13 is a diaphragm, and 4 is an actuator for exciting the diaphragm 13. The actuator 4 is in contact with one end of the diaphragm 13. This actuator is composed of a coil and a magnet and converts an electric signal into mechanical vibration. In the high frequency range, the generated vibration is generated by the vibration plate 13
Is reflected at the other end of the vibrating plate, and the whole of the vibrating plate 13 growls and is transmitted to the air (FIG. 5B). Further, in the middle and low frequency regions, the diaphragm vibrates as a whole in the normal direction of the surface, and the vibration is transmitted to the air (FIG. 5 (c)). In both cases, since the vibrating surface is flat, acoustic energy is radiated linearly to both sides. Therefore, even if a component is added to the vibrating surface, interference does not occur and the sound does not change.

2. Configuration of Embodiment Next, FIG. 6 shows an overall view of a mobile phone which is an embodiment according to the present invention. 1A is a sectional view of the mobile phone taken along the line AA ', and FIG. 1B is a view showing the operating principle thereof. Description will be given below with reference to these figures. In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 1 denotes a substantially rectangular liquid crystal panel for performing various displays. Reference numeral 2 is a substantially rectangular transparent diaphragm, which is in contact with the actuator 4 at its end portion 2a and covers the surface of the liquid crystal panel 1 with another portion 2b with a gap. Since the diaphragm 2 is transparent, the display of the liquid crystal panel 1 can be visually recognized from the outside.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a claw-shaped holding mechanism,
It is fixed to the case 5. The holding mechanism 30 clamps both side surfaces of the diaphragm 2 at the boundary between the part 2a and the other portion 2b of the diaphragm 2 as necessary, so that the diaphragm 2
And the case 5 are fixed or released. A mode setting switch 11 selects a voice mode or a vibration mode. A control circuit 10 drives the holding mechanism 30 according to the selected mode.

The actuator 4 is composed of a magnet, a coil, etc., and constitutes a plane speaker together with the diaphragm 2. The actuator 4 has a function of converting an electric signal into mechanical vibration. 5 is a mobile phone case,
Pedestal 5a for fixing the liquid crystal panel 1 and the actuator 4
Is provided.

3. Operation Principle of Embodiment In order to notify the user of the incoming call information of the mobile phone, there are the vibration mode and the voice mode as described above, and both modes are switched by the mode setting switch 11. As the vibration waveform in the vibration mode, an intermittent vibration waveform shown in FIG. 1C, that is, a waveform in which square wave vibration is not continuously applied but at regular intervals is used. Moreover, the fundamental wave of the intermittent vibration waveform is set to be lower than the audible frequency. FIG. 1B is a diagram showing the operation principle in the vibration mode.

In this mode, the diaphragm 2 and the case 5 are fixed by the holding mechanism 30. As a result, the vibration from the actuator 4 generated by the electric signal having a frequency lower than the audible frequency is transmitted to the diaphragm 2a. The vibration vibrates the portion of the diaphragm 2b largely elastically with the holding mechanism 30 as a fulcrum. Further, due to the gap between the diaphragm 2b and the liquid crystal panel 1, the liquid crystal panel 1 and the diaphragm 2 do not come into contact with each other.

Then, the vibration caused by the diaphragm 2b is transmitted to the case 5 through the holding mechanism 30 and is notified to the human body. On the other hand, since the resonance frequency of the vibration applied to the entire mobile phone is a low frequency, by adding the intermittent vibration waveform shown in FIG. 1C, sufficient vibration can be obtained in the entire mobile phone.

When the positional relationship of the holding mechanism 30 with respect to the diaphragm 2 is changed, the resonance point of the diaphragm 2 is changed.
It is also possible to change the resonance point by providing the weight 12 at the end of the diaphragm 2 opposite to the actuator side.

On the other hand, in the voice mode, the holding mechanism 30 is released and the diaphragm 2 and the case 5 are separated. As a result, the vibration from the actuator 4 generated by the electric signal of the audible frequency is transmitted to the entire surface of the diaphragm 2 and is notified as voice.

4. Modifications The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment,
For example, various modifications are possible as follows. (1) In the above-described embodiment, the actuator 4 is fixed, the holding mechanism 30 is provided on the actuator side of the diaphragm 2, and the diaphragm 2 is vibrated with this as a fulcrum. On the other hand, it is also possible to provide a holding mechanism at the other end of the diaphragm 2 and fix it to the case 5 via the holding mechanism to vibrate the actuator 4 itself greatly. A configuration diagram in this case is shown in FIG.

In this modification, the above-mentioned liquid crystal panel 1,
In addition to the diaphragm 2, the actuator 4, and the case 5, a holding mechanism 31 and an elastic body 60 such as sponge and rubber are provided. Then, the actuator 4 includes the elastic body 6
It is held in the case 5 through 0. Like the holding mechanism 30, the holding mechanism 31 is fixed to the case 5, and presses the end portion of the diaphragm 2 as necessary to fix or release the diaphragm 2 and the case 5.

In this structure, the holding mechanism 31 fixes the case 5 and the end of the diaphragm 2 so that the vibration of the actuator 4 is transmitted to the case 5 via the holding mechanism 31 and is notified to the human body. . In addition, the holding mechanism 31
By releasing, the vibration by the actuator 4 is transmitted to the diaphragm 2 and is notified as a sound.

(2) Further, in the above modification, the holding mechanism 31 is used to fix one end of the diaphragm 2 to the case 5, but it is also possible to fix the side surface of the diaphragm 2 using the holding mechanism. This configuration is shown in FIG. 3A, and a sectional view taken along the line AA ′ for showing the holding mechanism 32 is shown in FIG. 3B. The holding mechanism 32 includes a holding pawl 32a and a fixture 32b. The fixture 32b is fixed to the case 5, and the diaphragm 2 is held by the fixture 32b using an elastic body 61 such as sponge, rubber, or spring.

In the vibration mode, the holding pawl 32a moves along the fixture 32b and presses the diaphragm 2 to fix the diaphragm 2 to the case 5. As a result, the vibration generated by the actuator 4 is transmitted to the case 5 via the holding mechanism 32 and is notified to the human body. Further, when the holding mechanism 32 is released, the vibration by the actuator 4 is transmitted to the diaphragm 2 and is notified as a sound.

(3) In the above modification, the actuator 4 is fixed to the case 5 via the elastic body 60. However, a weight may be fixed to the actuator 4 and this weight may be fixed using a reverse holding mechanism. It is possible. A cross-sectional view of a mobile phone using this reverse holding mechanism is shown in FIG. In the figure, the reverse holding mechanism 8 is released when the holding mechanism 33 fixes the case 5, and conversely fixes the case 5 and the weight 7 when the holding mechanism 33 releases the diaphragm 2. Have. The structure of the holding mechanism 33 is similar to the structure of the holding mechanism 32.

In the vibration mode, the holding mechanism 33 fixes the entire side surface of the diaphragm 2 to the case 5, and the reverse holding mechanism 8 is released. Thereby, the vibration generated by the actuator 4 is transmitted to the case 5 via the diaphragm 2 and the holding mechanism 3, and is notified by the human body. The weight 7 enhances the vibration of the actuator 4.

On the other hand, in the voice mode, the holding mechanism 33 is released and the reverse holding mechanism 8 is fixed. Thereby, the vibration generated by the actuator 4 is transmitted to the air through the diaphragm 2 and is notified as a sound.

(4) In the above modification, it is premised that the vibration mode and the voice mode are not used at the same time. However, by switching the vibration mode and the voice mode in a short cycle, the combination of the vibration and the voice is notified. You can also do it.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the notification of the information by the voice signal and the notification of the information by the vibration can be realized by using the common flat speaker, so that the electronic device can be made compact and lightweight. It is possible to secure high reliability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention and a diagram showing its operating principle.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a mobile phone that holds an actuator using an elastic body.

3A and 3B are a cross-sectional view showing a mobile phone holding a side surface of a diaphragm and a cross-sectional view showing a holding mechanism thereof.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional view of a mobile phone that holds an actuator and the like using a holding mechanism and a reverse holding mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a basic principle of a cone type speaker and a diagram showing a basic principle of a flat speaker.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Liquid crystal panel 2 ... Vibration plate (flat speaker) 30, 31, 32, 33 ... Holding mechanism (lock mechanism) 4 Actuator (flat speaker) 5 ... Case 5a ... Pedestal 60, 61 ... Elastic body 7, 12 ... Weight 8 ... Reverse holding mechanism 10 ... Control circuit 11 ... Mode setting switch (operation mode selection means) 12 ... Cone type speaker 12a ... Actuator 13 ... diaphragm

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A flat speaker, a voice notifying unit for generating a voice signal of an audible frequency from the flat speaker, and notifying a user of the voice signal by the voice signal, and the flat speaker having a fundamental frequency lower than the audible frequency. An electronic device, comprising: a vibration notifying unit configured to vibrate the device and notify the user of the information by the vibration. 2. The operation mode selection means for selecting one of a vibration mode for operating the vibration notification means and a voice mode for operating the voice notification means, further comprising:
Electronic device described. 3. A lock mechanism for fixing a predetermined position of the flat speaker in the vibration mode, and further for releasing the fixation at the predetermined position in the voice mode. Electronics.