Methods and apparatus for porting loudspeakers to an earpiece
AssigneeGoogle Technology Holdings LLC
InventorGiles T. Davis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hand-held electronic device includes an earpiece, a first speaker having a first primary audio output ported to the earpiece, a second speaker having a second primary audio output and a second bass reflex output, with the second bass reflex audio output also being ported to the earpiece. The device includes a use case manager configured to determine a mode of operation of the device, and a controller configured to drive the first and second speakers in either a broadcast mode or a private mode in response to a signal from the use case manager. The polarity of the signal driving the second speaker is inverted for frequencies below the bass reflex port resonance frequency, to thereby provide a higher total combined energy in the vicinity of port resonance.
Claims16
A hand-held electronic device, comprising:
- an earpiece;
- a first region and a second region remote from said first region;
- a first speaker having a first primary audio output ported to said earpiece and a first bass reflex audio output;
- a second speaker having a second primary audio output and a second bass reflex output, wherein said second bass reflex audio output is ported to said earpiece, wherein:
- said first primary audio output is disposed proximate said second bass reflex audio output in said first region, and
- said second primary audio output is disposed proximate said first bass reflex audio output in said second region;
- a sensor configured to sense a first position and a second position of said device;
- a controller configured to drive said first and second speakers in a broadcast mode when said device is in said first position, and to drive said first and second speakers in a private mode when said device is in said second position, wherein said broadcast mode is substantially louder than said private mode;
- and
- a shutter configured to block said first bass reflex output when said device is in said broadcast mode.
A handset comprising:
- an earpiece;
- a first region and a second region remote from said first region;
- a first speaker having a primary output ported to said earpiece and having a first bass reflex audio output;
- a second speaker having a second primary audio output and a second bass reflex output ported to said earpiece and tuned to a resonance frequency, wherein:
- said first primary audio output is disposed proximate said second bass reflex audio output in said first region, and
- said second primary audio output is disposed proximate said first bass reflex audio output in said second region;
- a sensor configured to sense a first position and a second position of said handset;
- a controller configured to:
- apply a signal to said second speaker, said signal having a high frequency component at a first phase and a low frequency component at a second phase, and
- drive said first and second speakers in a broadcast mode when said handset is in said first position, and to drive said first and second speakers in a private mode when said handset is in said second position, wherein said broadcast mode is substantially louder than said private mode;
- and
- a shutter configured to block said first bass reflex output when said device is in said broadcast mode.
A method of porting audio signals to an earpiece of a telephone operating in private mode, comprising:
- applying, in a first region, a primary audio output of a first speaker to said earpiece;
- applying a bass reflex audio output of a second speaker to said earpiece said second speaker disposed in a second region remote from said first region, wherein said primary audio output of the first speaker is disposed proximate said bass reflex audio output of said second speaker in said first region;
- applying a first electronic signal to said first speaker;
- applying a second electronic signal to said second speaker, said second electronic signal having a first frequency component at a first phase, and a second frequency component at a second phase which is inverted with respect to said first phase, such that the primary output of first speaker and the bass reflex output of the secondary speaker are in phase throughout the frequency range of interest for both speakers;
- sensing a first position and a second position of said telephone;
- driving said first and second speakers in a broadcast mode when said telephone is in said first position, and to drive said first and second speakers in a private mode when said telephone is in said second position, wherein said broadcast mode is substantially louder than said private mode;
- and
- blocking a bass reflex output of said first speaker.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.