# US 2013/0170688 A1 · Speaker front volume usage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0170688 A1 - Document ID: US20130170688A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/343,606 - Filed: 2012-01-04 - Published: 2013-07-04 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-04 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Sawyer I. Cohen; Christopher Wilk; Ruchir M. Dave - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130170688A1 ## CPC - H04R 1/2842: {for loudspeaker transducers} - H04M 1/035: {Improving the acoustic characteristics by means of constructional features of the housing, e.g. ribs, walls, resonating chambers or cavities} - 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}) - H04M 1/6041: {Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use} - H04R 2499/11: Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's - 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) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract A portable electronic device having an enclosure having a top wall, a bottom wall, at least one sidewall connecting the top wall to the bottom wall, an acoustic output opening and a back volume defined by the top wall, the bottom wall and the at least one sidewall. A speaker driver is positioned within the enclosure, the speaker driver including a sound radiating surface having a top face and a bottom face for emitting sound waves therefrom. A frame member is attached to the speaker driver, the frame member forming a front volume chamber acoustically coupling the top face of the sound radiating surface to the acoustic output opening and a back volume chamber that overlaps a side of the speaker drive and acoustically couples the bottom face of the sound radiating surface to the back volume. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable audio electronic device comprising: an enclosure having a top wall, a bottom wall, a sidewall connecting the top wall to the bottom wall, an acoustic output opening and a back volume, wherein the back volume is defined by the top wall, the bottom wall and the sidewall; a speaker driver positioned within the enclosure, the speaker driver comprising a sound radiating surface having a top face and a bottom face for emitting sound waves therefrom; and a frame member attached to the speaker driver, the frame member forming a front volume chamber acoustically coupling the top face of the sound radiating surface to the acoustic output opening and a back volume chamber acoustically coupling the bottom face of the sound radiating surface to the back volume, wherein a portion of the back volume chamber overlaps a side of the speaker driver that is facing the acoustic output opening such that a volume of the back volume chamber is greater than a volume of the front volume chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable audio electronic device of claim 1 wherein the acoustic output opening is formed within the sidewall, and the portion of the back volume chamber overlapping the side of the driver is between the side of the driver and the sidewall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The portable audio electronic device of claim 1 wherein the front volume chamber comprises a horn shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The portable audio electronic device of claim 1 wherein the portion of the back volume chamber overlapping the side of the speaker driver is between the front volume chamber and the top wall of the enclosure. ### Claim 5 A speaker assembly comprising: an enclosure having a top wall, a bottom wall, a sidewall connecting the top wall to the bottom wall, an acoustic output opening and a back volume defined by the top wall, the bottom wall and the at least one sidewall; a speaker driver positioned within the enclosure, the speaker driver comprising a sound radiating surface having a top face and a bottom face for emitting sound waves therefrom, wherein an area between the top face of the sound radiating surface, the top wall of the enclosure and the at least one side wall of the enclosure defines a front volume area within the enclosure; and a frame member attached to the speaker driver, the frame member forming a front volume chamber acoustically coupling the top face of the sound radiating surface to the acoustic output opening and a back volume chamber acoustically coupling the bottom face of the sound radiating surface to the back volume, wherein an area defined by the front volume chamber is less than the front volume area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The speaker assembly of claim 5 wherein the area defined by the front volume chamber is less than an area defined by the back volume chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The speaker assembly of claim 5 wherein the acoustic output opening is formed within the sidewall and the front volume chamber is positioned between the speaker driver and the sidewall. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The speaker assembly of claim 5 wherein the front volume chamber comprises a horn shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The speaker assembly of claim 5 wherein a portion of the back volume chamber extends between the front volume chamber and the top wall of the enclosure. ### Claim 10 A portable audio electronic device comprising: an enclosure having a top wall, a bottom wall, a sidewall connecting the top wall to the bottom wall, an acoustic output opening and a back volume, wherein the back volume is defined by the top wall, the bottom wall and the sidewall; a speaker driver positioned within the enclosure, the speaker driver comprising a sound radiating surface having a top face and a bottom face for emitting sound waves therefrom; and a frame member attached to the speaker driver, the frame member forming a front volume chamber acoustically coupling the top face of the sound radiating surface to the acoustic output opening and a back volume chamber acoustically coupling the bottom face of the sound radiating surface to the back volume, wherein the back volume chamber comprises a segment that overlaps one of the top face or the bottom face of the speaker driver. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The portable audio electronic device of claim 10 wherein the acoustic output opening is formed within the top wall of the enclosure such that the segment is positioned between the top wall of the enclosure and the top face of the sound radiating surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The portable audio electronic device of claim 10 wherein the front volume chamber comprises a horn shape. ### Claim 13 An electronic audio system comprising: an enclosure having a top wall, a bottom wall, a sidewall connecting the top wall to the bottom wall, an acoustic output opening and a back volume, wherein the back volume is defined by the top wall, the bottom wall and the sidewall; a speaker driver positioned within the enclosure, the speaker driver comprising a sound radiating surface having a top face and a bottom face for emitting sound waves therefrom; and a frame member attached to the speaker driver, the frame member forming a front volume chamber acoustically coupling the top face of the sound radiating surface to the acoustic output opening and a back volume chamber acoustically coupling the bottom face of the sound radiating surface to the back volume, wherein a portion of the back volume chamber overlaps a side of the speaker driver that is facing the acoustic output opening such that a volume of the back volume chamber is greater than a volume of the front volume chamber; a memory to store an operating system program; and a processor coupled to the memory to execute the operating system program and to send an audio signal to the speaker.