# US 12,120,485 B2 · Sound-generating apparatus and vehicle including the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,120,485 B2 - Document ID: US12120485B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/386,246 - Filed: 2023-11-01 - Published: 2024-02-22 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-23 - Assignees: LG Display Co., Ltd. - Applicants: LG Display Co., Ltd. - Inventors: YuSeon Kho; Yong-Su Ham; YongWoo Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12120485B2 ## CPC - 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}) - B60Q 9/00: Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} - G10K 9/12: electrically operated - H04R 1/025: {Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture} - G10K 9/122: using piezoelectric driving means {(G10K9/121 takes precedence)} - G10K 9/13: using electromagnetic driving means - H04R 1/028: {associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles} - H04R 1/26: Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges - H04R 5/02: Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers - H04R 7/06: comprising a plurality of sections or layers - H04R 17/005: {using a piezoelectric polymer} - H04R 2201/021: Transducers or their casings adapted for mounting in or to a wall or ceiling - H04R 2307/023: Diaphragms comprising ceramic-like materials, e.g. pure ceramic, glass, boride, nitride, carbide, mica and carbon materials - H04R 2307/025: Diaphragms comprising polymeric materials - H04R 2499/13: Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles - H04R 2499/15: Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops - 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) - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - 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 ## Abstract A sound-generating apparatus and a vehicle including the same are provided. A sound-generating apparatus includes: a plurality of first portions at a vibration region including a bendable region and a peripheral portion connected to the bendable region; and a plurality of second portions between the plurality of first portions, wherein two or more second portions at the bendable region among the plurality of second portions have a cross-sectional shape that differs from a cross-sectional shape of another second portion disposed at the peripheral portion among the plurality of second portions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sound-generating apparatus, comprising: a plurality of first portions at a vibration region including a bendable region and a peripheral portion connected to the bendable region; and a plurality of second portions between the plurality of first portions, wherein two or more second portions at the bendable region among the plurality of second portions have a cross-sectional shape that differs from a cross-sectional shape of another second portion disposed at the peripheral portion among the plurality of second portions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bendable region is a region which is bendable from the peripheral portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein a side surface of the two or more second portions at the bendable region comprises a concave portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sound-generating apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least one first portion between the two or more second portions at the bendable region comprises a protrusion portion protruding toward the concave portion of an adjacent second portion among the two or more second portions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The sound-generating apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the two or more second portions at the bendable region comprises a cross-sectional surface having a hexagonal shape, the hexagonal shape having a concave side surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The sound-generating apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the two or more second portions at the peripheral portion comprises a cross-sectional surface having a tetragonal shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the two or more second portions at the bendable region have different cross-sectional shapes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of second portions include a first width and a second width that is half of a height of a corresponding one of the second portions; and in each of the two or more second portions at the bendable region, the first width differs from the second width. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein widths of the two or more second portions at the bendable region differ from each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein a width of a first portion at the bendable region among the plurality of first portions differs from a width of at least one of the two or more second portions at the bendable region. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of first portions comprises an inorganic material; and the plurality of second portions comprises an organic material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the two or more second portions at the bendable region are a curved polymer pillar, and/or the other second portion at the peripheral portion is a flat pillar. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein a modulus of the other second portion at the peripheral portion differs from a modulus of at least one of the two or more second portions at the bendable region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein a modulus of the other second portion at the peripheral portion is higher than a modulus of at least one of the two or more second portions at the bendable region. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein: at least one first portion and at least one second portion at the peripheral portion among the plurality of first portions and the plurality of second portions configure a first sound generating apparatus; and at least one first portion and at least one second portion at the bendable region among the plurality of first portions and the plurality of second portions configure a second sound generating apparatus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A vehicle, comprising: a vehicle interior material comprising a curved portion and a non-curved shape connected to the curved portion; and a vibration apparatus at the vehicle interior material, the vibration apparatus comprising the sound-generating apparatus of claim 1. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein: the bendable region of the sound-generating apparatus is disposed at the curved portion; and the peripheral portion of the sound-generating apparatus is disposed at the non-curved shape. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the vehicle interior material comprises a material comprising one or more of a plastic, a fiber, a leather, a wood, a cloth, a metal, and a glass. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein: the vehicle interior material comprises one or more of a dashboard, a pillar interior material, a roof interior material, a door interior material, a seat interior material, a handle interior material, and a floor interior material; and the vibration apparatus is at the vibration region of one or more of: the dashboard, the pillar interior material, the roof interior material, the door interior material, the seat interior material, the handle interior material, and the floor interior material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein: the vehicle interior material comprises one or more of a rear view mirror, an overhead console, a rear package interior material, a glove box, and a sun visor; and the vibration apparatus is at the vibration region of one or more of the rear view mirror, the overhead console, the rear package interior material, the glove box, and the sun visor.