MXPA99008699A - Personal computing devices comprising a resonant panel loudspeaker - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a lap-top computer (128) or the like personal computing device having a body (137) comprising a keyboard (138) and a lid (130) hinged to the body and comprising a display screen (129) characterised by a resonant panel loudspeaker, preferably a distributed mode acoustic radiator loudspeaker, in or attached to the lid, and an acoustic waveguide or horn (167, 168) directing an acoustic output from the loudspeaker in a desired direction.

Description

PERSONAL COMPUTER DEVICES TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to personal computing devices and more particularly to portable personal computers and similar transportable computers, for example, with so-called agenda computers and portable personal telephones that incorporate speakers.

BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE Modalities of the present invention utilize members of nature, structure and executable configuration in general and / or specifically putting into practice teachings of our International Patent Application No. O97 / 09842. Such members are thus able to sustain and propagate input vibrational energy by bending waves in area or operating areas extending transversely to the frequent thickness but not necessarily to the edges of the member or members; they are configured with or without anisotropy of flexural stiffness so that the resonant mode vibration components are distributed over said area or areas in a manner that benefits the acoustic coupling with the ambient air; and it has preferential locations or sites P1508 / 99MX predetermined within said area for excitatory means, in particular part or operationally active or mobile parts thereof, effective in relation to acoustic vibrational activity and said area or areas and signals, usually electrical, corresponding to acoustic content of such vibrational activity. Members as above are referred to herein as "distributed" acoustic radiators and are intended to be characterized as in the prior PCT application and / or otherwise as specifically provided herein. Document WO 97/09854 describes a portable computer with a pair of opposite-side distributed loudspeakers, coupled one on each side of the display screen. Document EP 700 210 describes a television set with acoustic waveguides for channeling the output of conventional right and left loudspeakers to the front of the television set. WO 96/20574 discloses a sound reproducing apparatus with an acoustic horn on the side of the apparatus. This invention is particularly related to acoustic devices in the form of loudspeakers for personal computing devices, and to personal computing devices that incorporate such loudspeakers.

P1508 / 99MX EXPOSITION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, a personal computing device is provided having a body comprising a keyboard and a cover comprising a display screen hinged to the body by means of a hinge, for covering the keyboard and a loudspeaker resonant panel in the cover or coupled thereto, characterized by an acoustic waveguide or horn that directs an acoustic output from the speaker where the waveguide or horn consists of a piece mounted on the lid, the piece is mobile in the lid from a closed or retracted position to an advanced or open position. The acoustic horn can direct an acoustic output from the speaker in a desired direction. The desired address will usually be towards the user of the portable computing device. An opposite pair of waveguides or horns can be provided, for example, to provide multi-channel acoustic output. The guidewire (s) or horn (s) may comprise a plate-like member hinged to the lid by hinges. The lid may be provided with one or more acoustically transparent openings in its outer surface.

P1508 / 99MX BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated diagrammatically by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the portable computer according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of the laptop; Figures 2a and 2b are fragmentary, enlarged, cross-sectional side views of alternative details in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 3 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the portable computer, - Figure 3a is a plan view of the lid of the portable computer of Figure 3; Figure 4 is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of the portable computer; Figure 5 is a front perspective view of a comparative example of an electronic personal organizer; Figure 5a is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional side view of alternative details of the comparative example of Figure 5; P1508 / 99 X and Figure 5b is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of the invention. Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the comparative example of Figures 5 and 5a and the embodiment shown in Figure 5b.

BEST FORMS TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION Figures 1, 2 and 2a. illustrate a portable personal computer (128) having a body (137) comprising a keyboard (138) and a cover (130) having a rectangular frame (1), for example, molded plastic that supports a visual display screen (129) and whose lid is hinged to the body by hinges for movement as indicated by arrow X, between a folded position in which the lid encloses the keyboard and an upright position in which the lid is substantially vertical. The cover (130) houses an opposite pair of speakers to adapt the computer for multimedia applications and similar applications, each of the speakers consists of a thin rectangular panel (2) forming a multimodal acoustic radiator of the kind described in the application of patent WO97 / 09842. Each speaker panel (2) has a monolithic structure and is supported close to its P1508 / 99MX periphery on separate elastic suspension elements (3) for example, of an elastomeric material, which in turn are supported on the surrounding frame (1) through the display screen (129). A vibration exciter (9) is mounted on each panel in a predetermined position as dised in more detail in our International Patent Application WO97 / 09842, for throwing bending waves into the interior of each of the panels (2) to make them resonate and produce acoustic outputs. The exciters can be electrodynamic. The cover (130) comprises an opposing pair of cover members (167), (168) defining the outer casing of the cover from each other and each being formed as a flat rectangular partition having a peripheral rim rotated downward which is extends around three adjacent sides, the fourth side being disposed to lean against the corresponding side of the opposite cover member. The cover members slide and articulate on the frame (1) in the direction indicated by the arrows Y and Z respectively in such a way that when they extend from the closed position indicated on the left side in Figure 2 to their position operative indicated in Figure 1 and the right side P1508 / 99MX in Figure 2, they are fixed by friction or by other means to form waveguide acoustic structures or horns whose openings (169) are presented to opposite sides of the lid. Horn expansion begins effectively over the speaker region. The diffuse sound energy and the approximately constant power with the frequency of the speakers means that relatively good coincidence is achieved between the horn and loudspeaker elements. The benefits include relatively high acoustic efficiency, improved low-range response and a directivity of sound that is beneficially directed towards the user with reduced escapes towards others. The relatively small effective acoustic sources represented by the horn openings (169) will also improve the sense of stereophonic image localization for the user. It would also be possible to incorporate the multimodal speaker units in the lid cover members (167, 168) wherein the radiation can then be either bi-directional and / or directed forward through the horn structure. As shown in Figure 2b it is possible to make the cover members (167,168) acoustically transparent by supplying in the same openings (170) the openings being able to be covered by a sliding grid (17) P1508 / 99MX d to allow sound from the loudspeaker to come out or alternatively to be acoustically opaque when the louver is moved to cover the openings, to direct the sound through and only through the horn element. The sliding grid would allow the user to open or partially open and close the openings to control the degree or mixing of the effective horn component and the direct sound emitted through the grid. Figures 3 and 3a show a second portable computer mode which is generally similar to that described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2. However, the complexity of the waveguide mechanism is simplified, compared to the mode of Figure 1 and 2 in such a way that opposite horn / waveguide elements are provided by the wedge shapes formed between flat plate elements (40) articulated by hinges (34) to the outer surface of a cover (131) in general conventional and the lid itself. In this embodiment, the elements (40) are or comprise multimodal acoustic radiators of the kind described in patent application WO97 / 09842 and are excited by vibration exciters (9) mounted thereon. The hinges (34) may have friction action or retention action to allow both predetermined angles and / or preferred angles for the P1508 / 99MX user for the waveguide elements. Additionally, the lid wrap itself can be adapted to resonate in accordance with principles of distributed mode by control of effective area geometry and exciter position. The embodiment of Figure 4 is generally similar to that of Figure 3, but in this case, the conventional (generally) lid box (130) of the portable computer is provided with a single cover (40) similar to hinge hinged plate. to the body (137) to form a wedge-shaped cavity to provide horn-like load action for a multimodal loudspeaker (2) located within the cover. The plate-like cover (40) is formed with a rectangular frame (41) that supports a distributed-mode acoustic radiator panel (2) which can be bi-directional or directed forward in accordance with the required acoustic efficiency and use wanted. This plate-like cover can be single or multiple channel according to the properties of the plate and the location and number of exciters. The loudspeaker panels of distributed mode are lent for activation by multiple exciters due to the operation of bending wave not driven by piston. In the modality of Figures 5 and 6 the P1508 / 99MX acoustic waveguide concept as described above is applied to loudspeaker or loudspeakers distributed in the cover (150) of a personal digital assistant or personal data unit (158). The device (158) is generally similar to the portable computer described above and comprises a body (157) having a keyboard (156) and a cover (150) hinged to the body and incorporating a visual display screen (129) . The lid construction is similar to that described above with reference to Figures 2 and 2a or 2b, as indicated in Figures 5a and 5b, with the exception that in the present case the lid cover (155) is a structure fixed that has a surface similar to a plate and is surrounded by a peripheral lip guided downwards and which bears a frame (1) that supports the display screen (129) with a resonant panel speaker (2.9) elastically mounted about it A pair of slots (159) are defined between opposite sides of the visual display screen (129) and the cover (155), which are coupled to an acoustic channel leading to the speaker region and which directs sound towards the speaker. user. Optionally, as shown in Figures 5b and 6, the lid wrap can be perforated at (170) to allow the sound to be radiated from the back section, under the control of a grid Mobile P1508 / 99MX (171). The diffuse radiation characteristic and bi-directional nature of the loudspeaker in distributed mode make it suitable for the effectiveness of this application in the suggested mode of operation. When a personal data unit has operating audio modes or can be combined with or associated with a mobile phone, the relatively large loudspeaker of the distributed mode type installed in the cover provides a means for hands-free communication and will also be effective for speaker teleconferencing. The cover cover (155) can also be designed as an integrated loudspeaker or loudspeakers, if deemed convenient.

P1508 / 99MX

Claims (13)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following CLAIMS is claimed as property; A personal computing device having a body comprising a keyboard and a lid comprising a display screen hinged to the body by a hinge to cover the keyboard, and a resonant panel speaker in the cover or attached thereto, characterized by a waveguide or acoustic horn to direct the acoustic output from the speaker, where the waveguide or horn consists of a piece mounted on the lid, the piece is movable on the lid from a closed or retracted position to an advanced or open position.
2. 2. A personal computing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the piece forms a cover of the cover.
3. 3. A personal computing device according to claim 2, wherein the cover is a resonant panel speaker or consists of the same.
4. 4. A personal computing device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the loudspeaker panel is supported on the cover by means of an elastic suspension.
5. 5. A personal computer computing device P1508 / 99MX according to claim 4, characterized by a frame that surrounds the panel and on which the panel is suspended.
6. 6. A personal computing device according to claim 5, characterized in that the display screen is supported on the frame and that the loudspeaker panel is elastically supported on the display screen.
7. 7. A personal computing device according to any preceding claim, characterized by an opposite pair of waveguides or horns.
8. A personal computing device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the waveguide or horn comprises a member similar to a plate hinged to the lid by means of hinges.
9. 9. A personal computing device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the lid is provided with one or more acoustically transparent openings.
10. 10. A personal computing device according to claim 11, characterized by a movable grid for adjusting the acoustic output through the openings.
11. 11. A personal computing device according to any preceding claim, P1508 / 99MX characterized in that the resonant panel loudspeaker is integral with the cover.
12. 12. A personal computing device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the resonant panel loudspeaker comprises a lightweight rigid panel having a monolithic structure.
13. 13. A personal computing device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the resonant panel loudspeaker is a distributed mode acoustic radiator. P1S08 / 99MX