# US 8,543,168 B2 · Portable electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,168 B2 - Document ID: US8543168B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/967,208 - Filed: 2010-12-14 - Published: 2012-06-14 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-14 - Assignees: Motorola Mobility LLC - Applicants: Robert A. Zurek; Steve X. Dai; Paul R. Steuer - Inventors: Robert A. Zurek; Steve X. Dai; Paul R. Steuer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543168B2 ## CPC - H04R 7/18: at the periphery - H04M 1/0266: {for a display module assembly} - H04M 1/185: {Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity} - H04R 2499/11: Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's - 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) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract A portable electronic device includes a free floating display lens having a stiffener ring mounted on a peripheral region or edge of the free floating display lens to affect modal density and modal distribution of the free floating display lens. Additionally, a piezoelectric supporting structure is attached to the stiffener ring, while surrounding a display, wherein the piezoelectric supporting structure is electrically driven to produce an acoustic signal in one mode and a vibratory haptic signal in another mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable electronic device, comprising: a. a free floating display lens having a stiffener ring mounted on a peripheral region or edge of the free floating display lens; b. one or more electromechanical transducers carried on a supporting structure, the supporting structure having a first end attached to the stiffener ring; c. a display positioned between the free floating display lens and the supporting structure; d. a user interface controller that sends signals to the one or more electromechanical transducers to enable an acoustic signal in one mode and a vibratory haptic signal in another mode; and e. a housing that substantially encloses the one or more electromechanical transducers, the display, and the user interface controller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display is surrounded by the supporting structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a skeletal structure for providing structural integrity to the portable electronic device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the skeletal structure is mechanically grounded to a second end of the supporting structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the skeletal structure is a housing for the portable electronic device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the supporting structure, for mounting the one or more electomechanical transducers, is a thin bendable structure attached at its periphery to the stiffener ring and at its center to the skeletal structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the electromechanical transducer is mounted in a bender configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the electromechanical transducer is mounted in a cantilever configuration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an acoustic suspension seal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the acoustic suspension seal is selected from the group consisting of a half roll elastomeric roll, a thin stretchable elastomer, a wiper, and a compression gasket. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more electromechanical transducers is selected from the group consisting of an armature motor, a piezoelectric element, and a moving coil motor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting structure is an elastomeric gasket in combination with embedded rigid standoffs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electromechanical transducer is attached to the rigid standoffs causing the electromechanical transducer to operate in a cantilever fashion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electromechanical transducer is attached to the rigid standoffs at both ends and the middle of the electromechanical transducer thereby causing the electromechanical transducer to operate in a bender fashion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stiffener ring has varying thicknesses along circumference of the display. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enabled acoustic signal is emitted as a private-level audio output in a private operating mode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enabled acoustic signal is emitted as a hands free, speakerphone level audio output in a speakerphone operating mode. ### Claim 18 A method for providing audio and haptic signals to a free floating display lens of a portable electronic device, comprising the steps of: a) driving an electromechanical transducer carried by a supporting structure with an electrical signal to enable an acoustic signal in one mode and a vibratory haptic signal in another mode; and b) controlling frequency along varying thickness portions of a stiffener ring carried on the supporting structure; wherein the supporting structure comprises a first end attached to the stiffener ring mounted on a peripheral region or edge of the free floating display lens, and wherein a display is positioned between the free floating display lens and the supporting structure.