IP Library Granted Patent US 7,305,248
Granted Patent B2
US 7,305,248 · App. 09/988,681 · Granted Dec 4, 2007

Electronic device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,305,248
App. No.
09/988,681
Granted
Dec 4, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device, in which accommodation space for a display can be extended over the space where a speaker might be provided. A portable terminal, as an example of an electronic device, is provided with a display/speaker section, an operating section, and a microphone on the front surface of its main body. The portable terminal does not have an independent speaker. A display cover located in front of the display/speaker section for protecting the display surface vibrates in response to an audio signal by a drive to output sound. Consequently, the display can be situated even over the space where a speaker might be provided.

Claims (18)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a main body;

a display disposed on the main body for displaying information;

a plate member having a transparent central section overlying the display and a colored section adjacent the transparent central section and positioned other than overlying the display; and

a driving unit connected to the colored section of the plate member for vibrating the plate member to cause the plate member to create a sound in response to an audio signal, the driving unit comprising:

a planar voice coil;

a resilient member;

a support section moveably attached to the colored section of the plate member by said resilient member; and

a first magnet disposed inside the planar voice coil and a second magnet disposed outside the planar voice coil, wherein the first and second magnets are fixedly attached to the support section.

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnets are installed on the colored, section of the plate member.

3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the planar voice coil comprises a shape of a quadrilateral frame and the first and second magnets are quadrilateral shaped complementary to the shape of the planar voice coil.

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a second planar voice coil adjacent the first voice coil in a direction orthogonal to a surface on which the first voice coil is installed.

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the planar voice coil is installed on the colored section of the plate member.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the planar voice coil comprises a shape of a quadrilateral frame and the first and second magnets are quadrilateral shaped complementary to the shape of the planar voice coil.

7. The electronic device as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a second planar voice coil adjacent the first voice coil in the direction orthogonal to a surface of the colored section on which the first voice coil is installed.

8. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of driving units installed at plural places on the colored section of the plate member.

9. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the colored section comprises an edge section circumscribing the transparent central section.

10. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the planar voice coil is fixedly attached to the colored section of the plate member.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2014
From: NEC CORPORATION
To: LENOVO INNOVATIONS LIMITED (HONG KONG)
Reel/Frame 033720/0767 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2001
From: MORI, UKYO
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 012316/0484 →