# US 12,003,906 B2 · Vibration-generating apparatus and vehicle including the same

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- Number: US 12,003,906 B2
- Document ID: US12003906B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/560,876
- Filed: 2021-12-23
- Published: 2022-06-30
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-12-29
- Assignees: LG Display Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: LG Display Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Sungtae Lee; KwanHo Park
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003906B2

## CPC

- H04R 1/025: {Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture}
- H04R 5/04: Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)}
- G10K 11/178: by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase
- H04R 17/00: Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers (piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners {H10N30/00})
- H04S 7/302: {Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation (H04S7/301 takes precedence)}
- H04R 3/005: {for combining the signals of two or more microphones (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)}
- H04R 5/023: {in a chair, pillow}
- H04R 17/005: {using a piezoelectric polymer}
- H04R 2460/13: Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
- H04R 2499/13: Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
- 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)
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A vibration-generating apparatus, includes: a microphone apparatus disposed at an object including a plurality of regions, the microphone apparatus being configured to receive noise near the object, a sound processing circuit configured to: receive a sound source signal and a noise signal corresponding to the noise, generate a noise removal signal having an antiphase of the noise signal, and generate a vibration driving signal, based on the sound source signal and the noise removal signal, and a vibration apparatus disposed at the object to vibrate based on the vibration driving signal to vibrate the object.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vibration-generating apparatus, comprising:
a microphone apparatus disposed at an object including a plurality of regions, the microphone apparatus being configured to receive noise near the object;
a sound processing circuit configured to:
receive a sound source signal and a noise signal corresponding to the noise;
generate a noise removal signal having an antiphase of the noise signal; and
generate a vibration driving signal, based on the sound source signal and the noise removal signal; and
a vibration apparatus disposed at the object to vibrate based on the vibration driving signal to vibrate the object, the vibration apparatus including one or more vibration generators disposed over at least one of the plurality of regions and configured to vibrate based on the vibration driving signal,
wherein a vibration generator among the one or more vibration generators includes:
one or more vibration structures configured to vibrate based on the vibration driving signal, a vibration structure among the one or more vibration structures comprising:
a plurality of first portions including an inorganic material and spaced apart from each other in a plan view; and
a second portion including an organic material disposed between adjacent first portions among the plurality of first portions in the plan view;
a first power supply line at a first surface of the vibration structure, the first power supply line overlapping the vibration structure in the plan view; and
a second power supply line at a second surface of the vibration structure opposite the first surface, the second power line overlapping the vibration structure without overlapping the first power supply line in the plan view,
wherein at least one of the first power supply line and the second power supply line is configured to supply the vibration driving signal to the vibration structure,
wherein the second portion fills a space between the adjacent first portions without overlapping the adjacent first portions in the plan view, and
wherein the plurality of first portions comprises a piezoelectric material, and the second portion comprises a ductile material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sound processing circuit comprises:
an input configured to receive the sound source signal and the noise signal;
a signal processor configured to:
receive the noise signal; and
generate the noise removal signal based on the noise signal; and
a driving signal generating part configured to generate the vibration driving signal, based on the sound source signal and the noise removal signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the microphone apparatus is further configured to receive:
a first noise near a first region of the plurality of regions; and
a second noise near a second region of the plurality of regions; and/or
the sound processing circuit is further configured to generate:
a first noise removal signal having an antiphase of a first noise signal corresponding to the first noise; and
a second noise removal signal having an antiphase of a second noise signal corresponding to the second noise.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sound processing circuit is further configured to combine the sound source signal, the first noise removal signal, and the second noise removal signal to generate the vibration driving signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 4, wherein:
the vibration generator is disposed over a third region of the plurality of regions or a fourth region of the plurality of regions, or over the third region and the fourth region of the plurality of regions; and
the sound processing circuit is further configured to supply the vibration driving signal to the vibration generator.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 5, wherein:
the one or more vibration structures are disposed over the third region, the fourth region, or the third region and the fourth region.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 5, wherein:
the one or more vibration structures comprise:
one or more first vibration structures disposed at the third region; and
one or more second vibration structures disposed at the fourth region.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of the one or more first vibration structures and the one or more second vibration structures comprises:
a plurality of first portions including an inorganic material; and
a second portion including an organic material disposed between adjacent first portions among the plurality of first portions.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sound processing circuit is further configured to:
combine the sound source signal with the first noise removal signal to generate a first vibration driving signal; and
combine the sound source signal with the second noise removal signal to generate a second vibration driving signal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 9, wherein:
the one or more vibration generators comprise:
one or more first vibration generators disposed at a third region of the plurality of regions; and
one or more second vibration generators disposed at a fourth region of the plurality of regions; and
the sound processing circuit is further configured to:
supply the first vibration driving signal to the one or more first vibration generators; and
supply the second vibration driving signal to the one or more second vibration generators.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 10, wherein:
the one or more first vibration generators comprise one or more first vibration structures; and
the one or more second vibration generators comprise one or more second vibration structures.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 11, wherein:
the one or more first vibration structures comprise:
a plurality of first portions including an inorganic material; and
a second portion including an organic material disposed between adjacent first portions among the plurality of first portions; and
the one or more second vibration structures comprise:
a plurality of first portions including an inorganic material; and
a second portion including an organic material disposed between adjacent first portions among the plurality of first portions.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object comprises one or more of: a seat of a vehicle, a seat of a train, a massage chair, a desk chair, and a head protection equipment.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A vehicle, comprising:
a seat including a headrest including a plurality of regions; and
a vibration-generating apparatus disposed at the headrest,
wherein the vibration-generating apparatus comprises the vibration-generating apparatus of claim 1, and
wherein the headrest is the object of the vibration-generating apparatus.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the plurality of regions comprise:
a first supporting region, which is a left region of a center region of the headrest;
a second supporting region, which is a right region of the center region of the headrest;
a first periphery region disposed at a left side of the first supporting region; and
a second periphery region disposed at a right side of the second supporting region.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the vibration apparatus is configured to vibrate based on the vibration driving signal to vibrate one or more of the first supporting region and the second supporting region.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vibration structure further comprises:
a first electrode layer at the first surface of the vibration structure and having:
a first surface contacting the plurality of first portions and the second portion; and
a second surface opposite the first surface of the first electrode layer and connected to the first power supply line; and
a second electrode layer at the second surface of the vibration structure and having:
a first surface contacting the plurality of first portions and the second portion; and
a second surface opposite the first surface of the second electrode layer and connected to the second power supply line.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vibration generator further includes:
a first protection member covering the first surface of the vibration structure;
a second protection member covering the second surface of the vibration structure;
a first adhesive layer adhered between the first protection member and the first surface of the vibration structure and contacting the first power supply line; and
a second adhesive layer adhered between the second protection member and the second surface of the vibration structure and contacting the second power supply line.

### Claim 19

A vibration-generating apparatus, comprising:
a microphone apparatus disposed at an object including a first region, a second region, a third region, and a fourth region, the microphone apparatus being configured to receive noise near the object;
a sound processing circuit configured to:
receive a sound source signal and a noise signal corresponding to the noise;
generate a noise removal signal having an antiphase of the noise signal; and
generate a vibration driving signal, based on the sound source signal and the noise removal signal; and
one or more vibration generators configured to vibrate based on the vibration driving signal to vibrate one or more of the third region and the fourth region,
wherein a vibration generator among the one or more vibration generators includes:
one or more vibration structures configured to vibrate based on the vibration driving signal, a vibration structure among the one or more vibration structures comprising:
a plurality of first portions including an inorganic material and spaced apart from each other in a plan view; and
a second portion including an organic material disposed between adjacent first portions among the plurality of first portions in the plan view;
a first power supply line at a first surface of the vibration structure, the first power supply line overlapping the vibration structure in the plan view; and
a second power supply line at a second surface of the vibration structure opposite the first surface, the second power line overlapping the vibration structure without overlapping the first power supply line in the plan view,
wherein at least one of the first power supply line and the second power supply line is configured to supply the vibration driving signal to the vibration structure, and
wherein the plurality of first portions comprises a piezoelectric material, and the second portion comprises a ductile material.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the sound processing circuit comprises:
an input configured to receive the sound source signal and the noise signal;
a signal processor configured to:
receive the noise signal; and
generate the noise removal signal based on the noise signal; and
a driving signal generating part configured to generate the vibration driving signal, based on the sound source signal and the noise removal signal.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 19, wherein:
the vibration generator is disposed over the third region, the fourth region, or the third region and the fourth region; and
the sound processing circuit is further configured to supply the vibration driving signal to the vibration generator.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 21, wherein the sound processing circuit is further configured to supply the vibration driving signal based on the sound source signal, a first noise removal signal having an antiphase of first noise near the first region, and a second noise removal signal having an antiphase of second noise near the second region.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 21, wherein the vibration structure is disposed over the third region, the fourth region, or the third region and the fourth region.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 21, wherein the one or more vibration structures comprise:
one or more first vibration structures disposed at the third region; and
one or more second vibration structures disposed at the fourth region.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 19, wherein:
the one or more vibration generators comprise one or more first vibration generators disposed at the third region and one or more second vibration generators disposed at the fourth region; and
the sound processing circuit is further configured to supply the first vibration driving signal to the one or more first vibration generators and supply the second vibration driving signal to the one or more second vibration generator.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 25, wherein the sound processing circuit is further configured to supply the first vibration driving signal based on the sound source signal and a first noise removal signal having an antiphase of first noise near the first region and supply the second vibration driving signal based on the sound source signal and a second noise removal signal having an antiphase of second noise near the second region.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 25, wherein:
the one or more first vibration generators comprise one or more first vibration structures; and
the one or more second vibration generators comprise one or more second vibration structures.

### Claim 28 (depends on 19)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second portion fills a space between the adjacent first portions without overlapping the adjacent first portions in the plan view.

### Claim 29 (depends on 19)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the object comprises one or more of: a seat of a vehicle, a seat of a train, a massage chair, a desk chair, and a head protection equipment.

### Claim 30 (depends on 19)

A vehicle, comprising:
a seat including a headrest including first to fourth regions; and
a vibration-generating apparatus disposed at the headrest,
wherein the vibration-generating apparatus comprises the vibration-generating apparatus of claim 19, and
wherein the headrest is the object of the vibration-generating apparatus.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The vehicle of claim 30, wherein:
the first region is a left periphery of the headrest;
the second region is a right periphery of the headrest;
the third region is a left center region of the headrest; and
the fourth region is a right center region of the headrest.

### Claim 32 (depends on 19)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the vibration structure further comprises:
a first electrode layer at the first surface of the vibration structure and having:
a first surface contacting the plurality of first portions and the second portion; and
a second surface opposite the first surface of the first electrode layer and connected to the first power supply line; and
a second electrode layer at the second surface of the vibration structure and having:
a first surface contacting the plurality of first portions and the second portion; and
a second surface opposite the first surface of the second electrode layer and connected to the second power supply line.

### Claim 33 (depends on 19)

The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the vibration generator further includes:
a first protection member covering the first surface of the vibration structure;
a second protection member covering the second surface of the vibration structure;
a first adhesive layer adhered between the first protection member and the first surface of the vibration structure and contacting the first power supply line; and
a second adhesive layer adhered between the second protection member and the second surface of the vibration structure and contacting the second power supply line.