# US 10,771,890 B2 · Annular support structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,771,890 B2 - Document ID: US10771890B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/613,066 - Filed: 2017-06-02 - Published: 2018-03-29 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-23 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Craig M. Stanley; Jason C. Della Rosa; Samuel G. Parker; Ethan L. Huwe; Glenn K. Trainer; Javier Mendez; Sean T. McIntosh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10771890B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0202: {Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device} - F21V 3/00: Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses (with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506) - F21V 5/007: {Array of lenses or refractors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. for arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane (combination of two or more refractors F21V5/008)} - F21V 23/0485: {the sensor sensing the physical interaction between a user and certain areas located on the lighting device, e.g. a touch sensor} - F21V 33/0056: {Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers} - G06F 3/01: Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer (G06F3/16 takes precedence) - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface} - G06F 3/041: Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means - G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path} - H01H 13/023: {Light-emitting indicators (for multi-layer switches H01H13/83)} - H03K 17/962: {Capacitive touch switches} - H04R 1/025: {Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture} - H04R 1/026: {Supports for loudspeaker casings} - H04R 1/26: Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges - H04R 1/2811: {for loudspeaker transducers} - H04R 1/2826: {for loudspeaker transducers} - H04R 1/2888: {for loudspeaker transducers} - H04R 1/30: Combinations of transducers with horns, e.g. with mechanical matching means {, i.e. front-loaded horns}(horns in general G10K; {transducer enclosures or mountings using a back-loaded horn H04R1/2861; application of horns as guiding means to obtain a predetermined directivity characteristic H04R1/345}) - H04R 1/403: {loud-speakers} - H04R 3/00: Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F) - H04R 3/12: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} - H04R 5/02: Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers - H04R 7/12: Non-planar diaphragms or cones - H04R 7/127: {dome-shaped} - H04R 7/18: at the periphery - H04R 9/022: {Cooling arrangements} - H04R 9/025: {Magnetic circuit} - H04R 9/06: Loudspeakers - H04R 31/006: {Interconnection of transducer parts (of diaphragm and outer suspension by moulding H04R31/003)} - H05K 1/0274: {Optical details, e.g. printed circuits comprising integral optical means (H05K1/0269 takes precedence; coupling light guides with opto-electronic components G02B6/42)} - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - H03K 2217/960785: with illumination - H04R 2201/028: Structural combinations of loudspeakers with built-in power amplifiers, e.g. in the same acoustic enclosure (H04R2499/10 takes precedence; Single (sub)woofer with two or more satellite loudspeakers for mid- and high-frequency band reproduction driven via the (sub)woofer H04R2205/026) - H04R 2201/34: Directing or guiding sound by means of a phase plug - H04R 2201/401: 2D or 3D arrays of transducers - H04R 2400/03: Transducers capable of generating both sound as well as tactile vibration, e.g. as used in cellular phones - H04R 2400/13: Use or details of compression drivers - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - H05K 1/141: {One or more single auxiliary printed circuits mounted on a main printed circuit, e.g. modules, adapters (H05K1/142 and H05K1/147 take precedence)} - H05K 2201/09063: Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections - H05K 2201/10106: Light emitting diode [LED] - H05K 2201/10378: Interposers - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract This disclosure relates to speakers and more specifically to an array speaker for distributing music uniformly across a room. A number of audio drivers can be radially distributed within a speaker housing so that an output of the drivers is distributed evenly throughout the room. In some embodiments, the exit geometry of the audio drivers can be configured to bounce off a surface supporting the array speaker to improve the distribution of music throughout the room. The array speaker can include a number of vibration isolation elements distributed within a housing of the array speaker. The vibration isolation elements can be configured reduce the strength of forces generated by a subwoofer of the array speaker. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device, comprising: a device housing comprising an upper housing component and a lower housing component; an annular support member having an outer periphery engaged with threading defined by the lower housing component and an inner periphery defining a central opening; a subwoofer coupled to the annular support member and extending through the central opening; and a fastener extending through a fastener opening defined by the upper housing component and engaging the annular support member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the annular support member comprises a threaded upper ring and a lower ring separate and distinct from the upper ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic device as recited in claim 2, wherein the upper ring is fastened to the lower ring by one or more fasteners that compress the upper and lower rings together. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic device as recited in claim 3, wherein compression of the upper and lower rings together generates a force that is applied to the threading to fix the annular support member in place with respect to the lower housing component. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The electronic device as recited in claim 3, wherein the upper and lower rings both include threading that interacts with the threading defined by the lower housing component, the threading of the upper and lower rings arranged to extend continuously from the upper ring to the lower ring when the upper and lower rings are compressed together. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper and lower housing components comprise radially protruding stepped threading. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein interactions between the stepped threading of the upper and lower housing components oppose rotation of the upper housing component with respect to the lower housing component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein the fastener extending through the upper housing component and engaging the fastener opening defined by the annular support member cooperates with the stepped threading of the upper and lower housing components to secure the upper housing component to the lower housing component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the subwoofer is secured to the annular support member by fasteners distributed radially along a periphery of the subwoofer, each of the fasteners being flexibly coupled to the subwoofer by a grommet that reduces a portion of vibrations passed to the annular support member from the subwoofer. ### Claim 10 An electronic device, comprising: a device housing, including first and second housing components cooperating to define an interior volume; an annular support member having an outer periphery disposed within the interior volume and with threading arranged along an interior facing surface of the first housing component and an inner periphery defining a central opening; and an audio component coupled to the annular support member and extending through the central opening, the audio component comprising a diaphragm configured to oscillate in a direction aligned with a longitudinal axis of the device housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the audio component is secured to the annular support member by fasteners distributed radially along a periphery of the audio component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic device as recited in claim 11, wherein the periphery of the audio component has a circular geometry. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the audio component is sealed to the annular support member, thereby separating a first portion of the interior volume from a second portion of the interior volume, the first portion of the interior volume operative as a back volume for the audio component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the audio component is a subwoofer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the longitudinal axis of the device housing extends through a central region of the audio component. ### Claim 16 A speaker device, comprising: an axisymmetric device housing comprising an upper housing component and a lower housing component coupled to the upper housing component; a support structure engaged with threading disposed along an interior facing surface of the lower housing component, the support structure comprising: a first annular member, and a second annular member coupled to the first annular member; a subwoofer coupled to the support structure and filling a central opening defined by the support structure; a flexible PCB extending through an opening defined by a portion of the support structure disposed outboard of the subwoofer; and a fastener extending through a fastener opening defined by the upper housing component and engaging the support structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The speaker device as recited in claim 16, wherein the flexible PCB electrically couples a user interface at a first end of the speaker device to an audio driver assembly at a second end of the speaker device, the first end of the speaker device opposite the second end of the speaker device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The speaker device as recited in claim 16, wherein forces applied by fasteners extending through the first annular member and the second annular member compress the first and second annular members together to cause threading of the first and second annular members to engage the threading arranged along the interior surface of the lower housing component. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The speaker device as recited in claim 16, wherein a housing fastener extends through an opening defined by the upper housing component and engages an opening defined by the support structure.