阅读说明：本技术 面板音频扬声器用带线圈移动磁铁致动器 (Moving magnet actuator with coil for panel audio speaker ) 是由 马克·威廉·斯塔恩斯 詹姆斯·伊斯特 于 2019-11-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：面板音频扬声器包括面板和刚性耦合至面板表面的致动器。致动器包括：磁体组件,其包括布置在杯体内的永磁体,其中,在杯体的侧壁与永磁体之间存在气隙；以及,刚性地连接到面板的线圈,该线圈包括在线圈中缠绕并沿着轴线延伸的一段导电线。线圈包括具有第一绕组密度的第一区域和具有高于第一绕组密度的第二绕组密度的第二区域,第二区域至少部分地延伸到磁体组件的气隙中。(The panel audio speaker includes a panel and an actuator rigidly coupled to a surface of the panel. The actuator includes: a magnet assembly comprising a permanent magnet disposed within the cup, wherein an air gap exists between a sidewall of the cup and the permanent magnet; and a coil rigidly connected to the panel, the coil comprising a length of electrically conductive wire wound in the coil and extending along an axis. The coil includes a first region having a first winding density and a second region having a second winding density higher than the first winding density, the second region extending at least partially into the air gap of the magnet assembly.)

1. A panel-form audio speaker comprising:

a panel; and

an actuator rigidly coupled to a surface of the panel, the actuator comprising:

a magnet assembly comprising a permanent magnet disposed within a cup, wherein an air gap exists between a sidewall of the cup and the permanent magnet; and

a coil rigidly coupled to the panel, the coil comprising a length of electrically conductive wire wound in the coil and extending along an axis, the coil comprising a first region having a first winding density and a second region having a second winding density higher than the first winding density, the second region extending at least partially into the air gap of the magnet assembly.

2. The panel audio speaker of claim 1, wherein the first region extends axially from a first end of the coil coupled to the panel to the magnet assembly.

3. The panel audio speaker of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second region extends in the axial direction in the air gap to a second end of the coil opposite the first end of the coil.

4. The panel audio speaker of any preceding claim, wherein the winding density of the first region is lower than an average winding density of the coil and the winding density of the second region is higher than the average winding density.

5. The panel audio speaker of any preceding claim, wherein the minimum winding density of the first region is 75% or less than the average winding density of the coil.

6. The panel audio speaker of any preceding claim, wherein the maximum winding density of the second region is 125% or more of the average winding density of the coil.

7. The panel audio speaker of any preceding claim, wherein a winding density of the coil in the first region is substantially constant along the axial direction.

8. The panel audio speaker of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a winding density of the coil in the first region varies along the axial direction.

9. The panel audio speaker of any preceding claim, wherein a winding density of the coil in the second region is substantially constant along the axial direction.

10. The panel audio speaker of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a winding density of the coil in the second region varies along the axial direction.

11. The panel audio speaker of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coil has greater mechanical compliance in the first region than the second region.

12. The panel audio speaker of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second regions are configured such that the panel audio speaker includes a resonance mode at a frequency in a range from 5kHz to 20kHz, the resonance mode not being present in a comparable panel audio speaker having a coil of uniform coil winding density.

13. The panel audio speaker of any of the preceding claims, further comprising a cover extending along the coil adjacent the first region of the coil, the cover bonded to the same surface as an end of the coil.

14. The panel audio speaker of claim 13, wherein the cover is a polyimide or aluminum cover.

15. The panel audio speaker of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein a radial thickness of the cover and the first region of the coil is equal to or less than a radial thickness of the second region of the coil.

16. The panel audio speaker of any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the cover is located at an outer periphery of the coil.

17. The panel audio system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnet assembly is suspended from the panel by one or more compliant members.

18. The panel audio speaker of any preceding claim, wherein the magnet assembly includes a pole piece, the permanent magnet being positioned in an axial direction between the pole piece and a backplate of the cup, the air gap extending adjacent the pole piece.

19. The panel audio speaker of claim 18, wherein the second region is adjacent the pole piece in the axial direction.

20. The panel audio speaker of claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the pole piece comprises a soft magnetic material.

21. The panel audio speaker of any of the preceding claims, wherein the side wall of the cup includes a portion comprising a permanent magnetic material and a portion comprising a soft magnetic material.

22. The panel audio speaker of any preceding claim, further comprising a plate between the coil and the panel, the plate being bonded to the panel on one side and to the coil on an opposite side.

23. The panel audio speaker of any preceding claim, wherein the panel comprises a display panel.

24. A mobile device, comprising:

a housing;

a display panel mounted in the housing;

an actuator coupling plate attached to the display panel;

a coil attached to the actuator coupling plate, the coil defining an axis and having a first region and a second region, the first region having a lower winding density than the second region;

a magnet assembly comprising an inner portion and an outer portion separated from the inner portion by an air gap, the inner portion comprising a permanent magnet extending in the axial direction within the magnet assembly, wherein the coil is arranged such that the second region is located in the air gap; and

an electronic control module electrically coupled to the coil and programmed to energize the coil to cause axial movement of the magnet assembly relative to the coil such that the display panel vibrates at a frequency and amplitude sufficient to produce an audio response from the display panel.

25. The mobile device of claim 24, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone or a tablet computer.

26. A wearable device, comprising:

a housing;

a display panel mounted in the housing;

an actuator coupling plate attached to the display panel;

a coil attached to the actuator coupling plate, the coil defining an axis and having a first region and a second region, the first region having a lower winding density than the second region;

a magnet assembly comprising an inner portion and an outer portion separated from the inner portion by an air gap, the inner portion comprising a permanent magnet extending in the axial direction within the magnet assembly, wherein the coil is arranged such that the second region is located in the air gap; and

an electronic control module electrically coupled to the coil and programmed to energize the coil to cause axial movement of the magnet assembly relative to the coil such that the display panel vibrates at a frequency and amplitude sufficient to produce an audio response from the display panel.

27. The wearable device of claim 26, wherein the wearable device is a smart watch or a head-mounted display.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to moving magnet actuators, and more particularly to actuators for panel audio speakers.

Background

Many conventional loudspeakers produce sound by inducing a piston-like motion in a diaphragm. In contrast, panel audio speakers, such as Distributed Mode Speakers (DMLs), operate by inducing uniformly distributed vibration modes in the panel via electro-acoustic actuators. Typically, the actuator is a moving magnet actuator or a piezoelectric actuator.

Conventional panel audio speaker magnet systems may have performance limitations due to the soft magnetic material increasing inductance and electrical impedance as frequency increases. This increase in inductance may have disadvantages, including reduced acoustic output at high frequencies.

The temperature and resistance of the coil conductors in moving magnet actuators also tend to increase with increasing current, which causes power compression and limits the maximum force generated by the actuator. Therefore, it may be necessary to maximize the efficiency of the force generated by the actuator.

Disclosure of Invention

In general, in one aspect, the disclosure features a panel audio speaker that includes a panel and an actuator rigidly coupled to a surface of the panel. An actuator rigidly coupled to a surface of the panel, the actuator comprising: a magnet assembly comprising a permanent magnet disposed within a cup, wherein an air gap exists between a sidewall of the cup and the permanent magnet; and a coil rigidly coupled to the panel, the coil comprising a length of conductive wire wound in the coil and extending along an axis. The coil includes a first region having a first winding density and a second region having a second winding density higher than the first winding density, the second region extending at least partially into the air gap of the magnet assembly.

Embodiments of the panel audio speaker can include one or more of the following features. For example, the first region may extend axially from a first end of the coil coupled to the panel to the magnet assembly. The second region may extend in the air gap in the axial direction to a second end of the coil opposite the first end of the coil.

The winding density of the first region may be lower than an average winding density of the coil, and the winding density of the second region may be higher than the average winding density. The minimum winding density of the first region may be 75% or less (e.g., 60% or less, 50% or less, 40% or less, 30% or less, 20% or less) of the average winding density of the coil. The maximum winding density of the second region may be 125% or more (e.g., 140% or more, 150% or more, 160% or more, 170% or more, 180% or more, 190% or more, 200% or more) of the average winding density of the coil.

The winding density of the coil in the first and/or second region may be substantially constant along the axial direction. Alternatively, the winding density of the coils in the first and/or second regions may vary along the axial direction.

The coil may have greater mechanical compliance in the first region than the second region. The first and second regions may be configured such that the panel audio speaker includes a resonance mode at a frequency in a range from 5kHz to 20kHz, the resonance mode being absent in a comparable panel audio speaker having a coil with a uniform coil winding density.

The actuator may comprise a cover extending along the coil adjacent the first region of the coil, the cover being bonded to the same surface as the ends of the coil. The cover may be a polyimide (kapton) or aluminum cover. The radial thickness of the cover and the first region of the coil may be equal to or less than the radial thickness of the second region of the coil. The cover may be located at an outer periphery of the coil.

The magnet assembly may be suspended from the panel by one or more compliant members. The magnet assembly may include a pole shoe, the permanent magnet being positioned in an axial direction between the pole shoe and a back plate of the cup, the air gap extending adjacent the pole shoe. The second region of the coil may be adjacent the pole piece in the axial direction. The pole piece may comprise a soft magnetic material. The side wall of the cup may include a portion comprising a permanent magnetic material and a portion comprising a soft magnetic material.

The actuator may comprise a plate between the coil and the panel, the plate being bonded to the panel on one side and to the coil on the opposite side.

The panel may include a display panel, such as an OLED display panel.

In general, in another aspect, the invention features a mobile device or wearable device that includes: a housing; a display panel mounted in the housing; an actuator coupling plate attached to the display panel; a coil attached to the actuator coupling plate, the coil defining an axis and having a first region and a second region, the first region having a lower winding density than the second region; a magnet assembly comprising an inner portion and an outer portion separated from the inner portion by an air gap, the inner portion comprising permanent magnets extending in the axial direction within the magnet assembly, wherein the coil is arranged such that the second region is located in the air gap; and an electronic control module electrically coupled to the coil and programmed to energize the coil to cause axial movement of the magnet assembly relative to the coil such that the display panel vibrates at a frequency and amplitude sufficient to produce an audio response from the display panel.

Embodiments of the mobile device or wearable device may include one or more features of the prior art aspects. In some implementations, the mobile device is a mobile phone or tablet computer. In some embodiments, the wearable device is a smart watch or a head-mounted display.

Among other advantages, the invention features an actuator for a panel audio speaker that provides improved efficiency compared to conventional actuators. For example, an actuator that includes a coil with a higher winding density in the region where the system magnetic field is concentrated may provide a higher force at the same voltage than a coil with a constant winding density.

An actuator with improved robustness is disclosed. For example, by providing a more resilient connection of the coil to the actuator frame, an improved drop test performance can be achieved, which is directed to dropping out of the plane of motion of the actuator. Such a connection can be provided without increasing the volume of the coil by: there is a low winding density area at the point where the coil is connected to the frame and a cover is included at this location. The cover may serve to improve the mechanical strength of the bond between the coil and the frame.

Further, an actuator with improved frequency response is disclosed. For example, the coils of the region with reduced winding density may be tailored to provide additional resonance of the resulting mass-spring system (mass-spring system), which may be tuned to improve response at certain audio frequencies.

This technique is applicable to panel audio systems designed to provide acoustic and/or tactile feedback. The panel may be a display system based on OLED technology, for example. The panel may be part of a smartphone or wearable device.

Other advantages will be apparent from the description, drawings and claims.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile device featuring a panel audio speaker.

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the mobile device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a moving magnet actuator in a panel audio speaker.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an embodiment of a moving magnet actuator showing details of the coils of the actuator.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of another embodiment of a moving magnet actuator showing details of the coils of the actuator.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of yet another moving magnet actuator showing details of the coils of the actuator.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an electronic control module for providing drive signals to an actuator.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1, a mobile device 100 includes a device housing 102 and a touch display panel 104, the touch display panel 104 including a flat panel display (e.g., an OLED or LCD display panel) that integrates a panel audio speaker comprised of the display panel 104 and an actuator 110 mechanically coupled to a back surface of the panel 104. The mobile device (e.g., smartphone) 100 interacts with the user in a variety of ways, including by displaying images, receiving touch input via the touch panel display 104, and producing audio and tactile output. Typically, as part of a panel audio speaker, a vibrating panel produces human-audible sound waves, for example in the range of 20Hz to 20 kHz. In addition to producing sound output, mobile device 100 can also produce tactile output via display panel 104. For example, the haptic output may correspond to vibrations in the range of 150Hz to 300 Hz.

Typically, a mobile device like mobile device 100 has a depth (along the z-axis) of about 10 millimeters or less, a width (along the x-axis) of 60 millimeters to 80 millimeters (e.g., 68 millimeters to 72mm), and a height (along the y-axis) of 100mm to 160mm (e.g., 138mm to 144 mm). Accordingly, a compact and efficient actuator for driving the panel 104, such as the actuator described above, is desired.

Referring to fig. 2, which shows a cross-section of the mobile device 100, the device housing 102 (with the rear plate 201 and the side walls 202) and the display panel 104 together form an enclosure for housing the components of the mobile device 100 including the actuator 110, the battery 230 and the electronic control module 220.

An embodiment of the actuator 110 is described below. In general, the actuator 110 is sized to fit within the volume bounded by other components housed in the mobile device 100, including the electronic control module 220 and the battery 230. The electronic control module 220 provides control signals to the actuator 110 causing it to generate audio and/or haptic output.

Referring to fig. 3, an exemplary moving magnet actuator suitable for use with the mobile device 100 is an actuator 300 that includes a permanent magnet 320 shaped as a thin disk and a coil 340. The coil 340 includes coil windings wound in the coil and connected to the actuator coupling plate 350, which when fully assembled, are attached to the panel 301 of the panel audio speaker. The magnet 320 is accommodated in a cup body 310 composed of a soft magnetic back plate 311 (e.g., an iron plate) and a side wall composed of a magnetic portion 322 and a soft magnetic cover 312. The magnet 320 is sandwiched between the base 311 of the cup 310 and the soft magnetic top plate 330 or pole piece. The cup 310 is attached to a frame 360 via a spring element 370, the frame 360 being attached to the actuator coupling plate 350. Spring member 370 suspends cup 310, magnet 320 and top plate 330 relative to coil 340. An air gap exists between cup 310 and the side walls of magnet 320 and top plate 330. The coil 340 is located in the air gap.

In general, the components of actuator 300 including coil 340, magnet 320, and cup 310 may be continuously rotationally symmetric about an axis (i.e., cylindrical), or may have discrete or non-rotational symmetry about an axis. For example, an actuator component having discrete rotational symmetry may have a square, rectangular or other polygonal footprint in a plane orthogonal to the axis. Such shapes may have sharp, chamfered or rounded corners.

The actuator shown in fig. 3 may be compact. For example, the thickness of the actuator in the axial direction may be on the order of a few millimeters, e.g., 10mm or less, 8mm or less, 5mm or less, 4mm or less, 3mm or less, 2 millimeters or less. Thus, in some embodiments, the coil 340 may have an axial length of about 2-6mm, with about half of the length of the coil being located in the air gap of the magnet assembly and about half protruding out of the air gap. The lateral dimensions of the actuator 300 may also be relatively small. For example, the external axially magnetized magnet may have a transverse diameter (i.e., a diameter orthogonal to the axis of symmetry) of 20mm or less (e.g., 15mm or less, 12mm or less, 10mm or less, 8mm or less, 7mm or less, 6mm or less, 5mm or less).

In general, the magnets may be formed of a material capable of permanent magnetization, such as a rare earth magnet material. Exemplary materials include neodymium iron boron, samarium cobalt, barium ferrite, and strontium ferrite.

The soft magnetic pole piece and the cup portion of the cup may be formed of one or more materials that are readily magnetized in the presence of an external magnetic field and demagnetized when the external magnetic field is removed. Typically, such materials have high magnetic permeability. Examples include high carbon steel and vanadium titanium. Thus, the soft magnetic plate and the yoke serve to direct the magnetic flux lines from the axially magnetized magnet across the air gap.

The magnet 320 is generally axially magnetized. In other words, the poles of the permanent magnets are aligned in the axial direction. When the coil is energized, it produces a magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic field of the permanent magnet, causing the magnetic cup, magnet and top plate to displace axially relative to the coil. The magnet 322 may be magnetized, for example, axially or radially.

Referring to fig. 4, the coil 340 is composed of a length of conductive wire (e.g., copper wire) that is helically wound to form a spring. As shown in cross-section, the individual windings 401 are arranged side-by-side, but typically each winding extends a small distance in the axial direction so that subsequent windings are axially displaced relative to previous windings. The wire has sufficient mechanical rigidity so that the coil can be self-supporting (e.g., it need not include a bobbin or other support to maintain its shape). The coil 340 is attached at one end to the surface of the plate 350, for example using an adhesive. Electrical leads to and from the coils may be attached to the panel 350, allowing electrical contact to the coils.

The coil 340 is composed of two regions having different winding densities. Winding density refers to the number of coil turns per unit distance. A first region 410 corresponding to a portion of the coil extending between the air gap and the plate 350 is a low winding density region and a region 420 extending into the air gap is a high winding density region. Here, "high" and "low" densities are average winding densities relative to the coil, which is the total number of windings divided by the length of the coil. Although the first region 410 is depicted as being comprised of a single winding layer and the second region 420 is depicted as being comprised of a double layer winding, in general, any one region may have a single or multiple winding layers. Furthermore, adjacent windings need not be in side-by-side contact arrangement as shown. More generally, the coil may include adjacent windings that are stacked and/or spaced apart from each other.

In general, the relative winding densities of the first and second regions may vary depending on the magnetic field strength and the corresponding current load required to drive the actuator. In some embodiments, the first region 410 may have a minimum winding density of 75% or less (e.g., 60% or less, 50% or less, 40% or less, 30% or less, 20% or less) compared to the average winding density. In certain embodiments, the second region 420 may have a maximum winding density of 125% or more (e.g., 140% or more, 150% or more, 160% or more, 170% or more, 180% or more, 190% or more, 200% or more) compared to the average winding density.

In general, the relative axial lengths of regions 410 and 420 may vary. As shown in fig. 4, these regions may have approximately equal axial lengths. Alternatively, region 410 may be longer or shorter than region 420, depending on the design of the actuator. In some embodiments, the axial length of each region is in the range of about 0.5mm to about 3 mm.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that by using coils with higher winding densities in regions of the magnet assembly where the magnetic field is concentrated (e.g., within the air gap), a greater thrust (i.e., force) from the actuator may be obtained than with coils having uniform winding densities. Here, "thrust" means the value Bl²Where B is the magnetic field strength from the magnet assembly on the coil, l is the length of the coil wire in the magnetic field, and R is the resistance of the coil. Thus, by using coils with a high winding density in the regions where the magnetic field is concentrated, and a low winding density in the regions where the magnetic field is not concentratedThe coil can maintain Bl while reducing R, compared to a coil having a uniformly high winding density. The result is a greater thrust force than a coil with a uniform winding density.

Furthermore, with the proper distribution of windings, the low winding density areas create additional resonant modes when bonded to the panel. This mode is a result of the coupled oscillator, which is caused by the increased compliance of the coil in the area of the panel. In particular, the coupled oscillator is formed by the coil mass in the high winding density region and the mass of the panel coupled by the more compliant "spring-like" low winding density region.

The frequency of this resonance can be tuned to be within the audio frequency band (e.g., 5kHz-20 kHz) to produce an increased high frequency output. Generally, the precise frequency of this resonance can be tuned by appropriate selection of the stiffness of the spring provided by the low winding density region and the mass of the high winding density region. Tuning can be done empirically by simulation or physical experimentation of the oscillator, or both. In some embodiments, the system may be designed to provide resonance in a range from 8kHz-10kHz, 10kHz-12kHz, 12kHz-15kHz, or 15kHz-20kHz, for example.

Coil compliance in the low winding density region in a plane perpendicular to its axis can result in increased deformation of the coil under drop impact from the side, e.g., reducing the likelihood of breaking the bond with the panel. Thus, the inclusion of the low winding density region may improve the mechanical strength of the actuator.

Although the foregoing actuator features the coils being free-standing (e.g., not supported by other structures such as a bobbin), other embodiments are possible. For example, referring to fig. 5, in some embodiments, the low winding density region 410 of the coil 340 may be supported by a cover 510. The cover 510 is a cylindrical element attached to the board 350 or integrated into the board 350 that provides mechanical support for the low winding density region 410 of the coil 340. The cover 510 may be formed of a material having a higher stiffness than the area 410 of the coil. In some embodiments, for example, the cover 510 is formed of polyimide (or other polymer) or aluminum (or other metal).

The form factor of the coil means that a cover can be placed at the end of the coil and extend along the thin side of the coil, thereby achieving a good bond with the cover and a reliable way of attaching the coil to the panel audio object. In fig. 5, the radial thickness of the combined low winding density region 410 and cover 510 is shown as T_AWhile the radial thickness of the high winding density region 420 is shown as T_B. As shown, T_A＝T_BHowever T_AAnd T_BMay be different. Generally, at T_ALess than or equal to T_BThe additional stiffness provided by the cover 510 may be achieved without increasing the overall width of the coil as compared to the thickness of the coil in the high winding density region 420.

Although the cap 510 is shown as having a wall with a uniform thickness along its axial length, other form factors are possible. For example, in some embodiments, the cover may include a flange to provide a larger surface area at one end to bond to the plate 350.

Other variations are also possible. For example, referring to fig. 6, in some embodiments, the coil 640 includes a cover 610 that is coextensive with only the low winding density region 620 portion of the coil. Furthermore, the high winding density region may comprise sub-regions of different winding densities. For example, the region 630 has a sub-region 631, the sub-region 631 having a higher winding density than the sub-region 632. Similarly, the winding density in region 620 may vary along its axial length.

Further, while the foregoing example features a coil having two regions of different winding densities, more generally, a coil may have more than two regions. For example, the coil may have multiple regions of high winding density separated by regions of low winding density.

Typically, the electronic control module is comprised of one or more electronic components that receive input from one or more sensors and/or signal receivers of the mobile phone, process the input, and generate and transmit a signal waveform that causes the actuator (e.g., actuator 110 or actuator 300) to provide a suitable haptic response. Referring to fig. 7, an exemplary electronic control module 700 of a mobile device, such as mobile phone 100, includes a processor 710, a memory 720, a display driver 730, a signal generator 740, an input/output (I/O) module 750, and a network/communication module 760. These components are in electrical communication with each other (e.g., via signal bus 702) and with actuator 110.

Processor 710 may be implemented as any electronic device capable of processing, receiving, or transmitting data or instructions. For example, the processor 710 may be a microprocessor, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), or a combination of these devices.

The memory 720 has stored thereon various instructions, computer programs, or other data. The instructions or computer programs may be configured to perform one or more of the operations or functions described with respect to the mobile device. For example, the instructions may be configured to control or coordinate operation of the display of the device via the display driver 730, the signal generator 740, one or more components of the I/O module 750, one or more communication channels accessible via the network/communication module 760, one or more sensors (e.g., a biosensor, a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, an optical sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a humidity sensor, etc.), and/or the actuator 110.

The signal generator 740 is configured to generate an AC waveform with varying amplitude, frequency, and/or pulse profile suitable for the actuator 110, and to generate an acoustic and/or haptic response via the actuator. Although depicted as separate components, in some embodiments, signal generator 740 may be part of processor 710. In some embodiments, signal generator 740 may include an amplifier, e.g., as an integral or separate component thereof.

The memory 720 may store electronic data that may be used by a mobile device. For example, memory 720 may store electronic data or content, such as audio and video files, documents and applications, device settings and user preferences, timing and control signals or data for the various modules, and data for data structures or databases, among others. Memory 720 may also store instructions for recreating various types of waveforms that may be used by signal generator 740 to generate signals for actuator 110. The memory 720 may be any type of memory such as random access memory, read only memory, flash memory, removable storage or other type of storage element or combination of such devices.

As described above, the electronic control module 700 may include various input and output components, represented in FIG. 7 as I/O module 750. Although the components of the I/O module 750 are represented in fig. 7 as a single item, the mobile device may include many different input components, including buttons, microphones, switches, and dials for accepting user inputs. In some embodiments, the components of the I/O module 750 may include one or more touch sensors and/or force sensors. For example, a display of a mobile device may include one or more touch sensors and/or one or more force sensors that enable a user to provide input to the mobile device.

Each component of the I/O module 750 may include dedicated circuitry for generating signals or data. In some cases, these components may generate or provide feedback for dedicated input corresponding to prompts or user interface objects displayed on the display.

As described above, the network/communication module 760 includes one or more communication channels. These communication channels may include one or more wireless interfaces that provide communication between the processor 710 and external devices or other electronic devices. In general, the communication channels may be configured to transmit and receive data and/or signals that may be interpreted by instructions executing on the processor 710. In some cases, the external device is part of an external communication network configured to exchange data with other devices. In general, the wireless interface may include, but is not limited to, radio frequency, optical, acoustic, and/or magnetic signals, and may be configured to operate over a wireless interface or protocol. Example wireless interfaces include a radio frequency cellular interface, a fiber optic interface, an acoustic interface, a bluetooth interface, a near field communication interface, an infrared interface, a USB interface, a Wi-Fi interface, a TCP/IP interface, a network communication interface, or any conventional communication interface.

In some implementations, the one or more communication channels of the network/communication module 760 may include a wireless communication channel between the mobile device and another device (such as another mobile phone, a tablet computer, or a computer, etc.). In some cases, the output, audio output, tactile output, or visual display element may be transmitted directly to another device for output. For example, an audible alert or visual warning may be transmitted from the electronic device 700 to the mobile phone for output on the device, and vice versa. Similarly, the network/communication module 760 may be configured to receive input provided on another device to control the mobile device. For example, an audible alert, visual notification, or tactile alert (or instructions therefor) may be transmitted from an external device to the mobile device for presentation.

Although the above-described panel audio speaker is incorporated into a mobile phone, more generally, the actuator techniques disclosed herein may be used in other panel audio systems, such as other panel audio systems designed to provide sound and/or haptic feedback. In general, the panel may be a display system based on, for example, OLED or LCD technology. The panel may be part of a smartphone, tablet, or wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch or a head-mounted device, such as smartglasses).

Furthermore, although the above examples have an inertial system in which the magnet assembly is suspended from a rigid frame bonded to the panel by spring elements, other arrangements are possible. For example, the coils described herein may be used in an actuator that mechanically grounds the magnet assembly, such as by a rigid attachment to the frame.

Various embodiments are disclosed. Other embodiments are within the following claims.