Portable speaker apparatus and method
AssigneePow Audio Inc.
InventorsCameron V. Walter, Glen V. Walter, Gabor Paulke, Michael Arthur Siegel, Michael G. Zartarian
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Abstract
A speaker apparatus, method, and system with a user selectably expandable chamber is provided. The chamber in its expanded state enhances the speaker's acoustical properties using a relatively stiff back plate of the speaker apparatus. The chamber in its collapsed state provides a thin profile for increased portability or low profile mounted solutions. The speaker is compatible with current electronics and may magnetically attach to a target surface such as a surface of a handheld device. The target surface may effectively supplement the stiffness of the back plate.
Claims20
A speaker apparatus comprising:
- a speaker assembly comprising speaker elements;
- and
- a frame, the frame including a back plate, the back plate having an exterior facing surface on one side and an interior facing surface on an opposite side, the exterior facing surface being configured to cooperate with a target planar surface, and the frame carrying the speaker assembly across a space from the interior facing surface of the back plate;
- and
- the speaker assembly having a user selectable collapsed state and a user selectable expanded state, so that in the collapsed state the speaker assembly (i) minimizes an overall profile of the speaker apparatus and (ii) minimizes outward extension of the speaker elements relative to the back plate, and in the expanded state the speaker assembly has an acoustic cavity formed between the speaker elements and the back plate, the interior facing surface of the back plate serving as a relatively stiffer wall than other walls of the acoustic cavity, said other walls being formed of elastomeric material, and the interior facing surface of the back plate enabling sound waves to resonate in the acoustic cavity in a manner that improves quality of sound output.
A method of producing sound through a portable speaker comprising:
- (A) providing a portable speaker formed of:
- a speaker assembly comprising speaker elements;
- and
- a frame, the frame including a back plate, the back plate having an exterior facing surface on one side and an interior surface on an opposite side, the exterior facing surface being configured to cooperate with a target planar surface, and the frame carrying the speaker assembly across a space from the interior surface of the back plate;
- and
- the speaker assembly having a user selectable collapsed state and a user selectable expanded state, so that in the collapsed state the speaker assembly minimizes outward extension of the speaker elements relative to the back plate, and in the expanded state the speaker assembly has an acoustic cavity formed between the speaker elements and the back plate;
- and
- (B) configuring the interior surface of the back plate as a relatively stiffer wall than other walls of the acoustic cavity so that sound waves resonate in the acoustic cavity in a manner that improves quality of sound output, said other walls of the acoustic cavity being formed of elastomeric material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.