Distributed mode loudspeaker actuator including patterned electrodes

1. A method comprising:

determining, for a piezoelectric transducer of a distributed mode loudspeaker adapted to create forces to cause vibration of a panel to generate sound waves within a range of frequencies, a subset of frequencies, from the range of frequencies, at which to output a sound, wherein the distributed mode loudspeaker comprises:

a support that transfers the forces from the piezoelectric transducer to the panel, the support separating the panel from the piezoelectric transducer, the support being attached at a first end to the panel and attached at a second end to the piezoelectric transducer, wherein the piezoelectric transducer extends parallel to the panel from the support to a free end of the piezoelectric transducer;

selecting, based on the subset of frequencies, one or more electrode pairs from two or more electrode pairs included in the piezoelectric transducer to generate the sound, each electrode pair comprising a first electrode on a first side of a layer included in the piezoelectric transducer and a second electrode on a second side of the layer opposite the first side, and connected to a different portion of the layer; and

providing, by a drive module connected to each of the two or more electrode pairs, current to each of the selected one or more electrode pairs to cause the piezoelectric transducer to generate a force that, when provided to the panel, causes the panel to generate the sound within the subset of frequencies.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting, based on the subset of frequencies, the one or more electrode pairs from the two or more electrode pairs included in the piezoelectric transducer to generate the sound comprises selecting, based on the subset of frequencies, a subset of electrode pairs from the two or more electrode pairs.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

determining the subset of frequencies, from the range of frequencies, at which to output the sound comprises determining a high frequency range subset, from the range of frequencies, at which to output the sound; and

selecting, based on the subset of frequencies, a subset of electrode pairs from the two or more electrode pairs comprises selecting, based on the determined high frequency range subset, one electrode pair from the two or more electrode pairs.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein selecting, based on the determined high frequency range subset, one electrode pair from the two or more electrode pairs comprises selecting, based on the determined high frequency range subset, a particular electrode pair that is closest to the support.

5. The method of claim 3 , comprising:

determining a medium frequency range subset, from the range of frequencies, at which to output a second sound that is a different sound than the sound;

selecting, based on the determined medium frequency range subset, two or more particular electrode pairs from three or more electrode pairs included in the piezoelectric transducer, the three or more electrode pairs comprising the two or more electrode pairs; and

providing, by the drive module that is connected to each of the three or more electrode pairs, current to each of the selected two or more electrode pairs to cause the piezoelectric transducer to provide a force to the panel and the panel to generate the second sound within the medium frequency range subset.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting, based on the subset of frequencies, the one or more electrode pairs from the two or more electrode pairs included in the piezoelectric transducer to generate the sound comprises selecting, based on the subset of frequencies, all of the two or more electrode pairs.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein:

determining the subset of frequencies, from the range of frequencies, at which to output the sound comprises determining a low frequency range subset, from the range of frequencies, at which to output the sound; and

selecting, based on the subset of frequencies, all of the two or more electrode pairs comprises selecting, based on the determined low frequency range subset, all of the two or more electrode pairs.

8. A system comprising:

a distributed mode loudspeaker comprising:

a piezoelectric transducer:

that includes two or more electrode pairs each of which a) include a first electrode on a first side of a layer included in the piezoelectric transducer, b) include a second electrode on a second side of the layer opposite the first side, and c) are connected to a different portion of the layer; and

that is adapted to create forces to cause vibration of a panel to generate sound waves within a range of frequencies;

a support that transfers the forces from the piezoelectric transducer to the panel, the support separating the panel from the piezoelectric transducer, the support being attached at a first end to the panel and attached at a second end to the piezoelectric transducer, wherein the piezoelectric transducer extends parallel to the panel from the support to a free end of the piezoelectric transducer;

a controller configured to:

determine, for the piezoelectric transducer, a subset of frequencies, from the range of frequencies, at which to output a sound; and

select, based on the subset of frequencies, one or more electrode pairs from the two or more electrode pairs included in the piezoelectric transducer to generate the sound; and

a drive module:

connected to each of the two or more electrode pairs and adapted to provide current to at least some of the two or more electrode pairs to cause the piezoelectric transducer to generate a force that, when provided to the panel, causes the panel to generate a sound; and

configured to provide current to each of the selected one or more electrode pairs to cause the piezoelectric transducer to generate a force that, when provided to the load, causes the panel to generate the sound within the subset of frequencies.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the distributed mode loudspeaker comprises a support fixedly connected to the piezoelectric transducer that, when connected to the panel, transfers at least some of the force generated by the piezoelectric transducer to the panel.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein at least some electrode pairs from the two or more electrode pairs share a common ground.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein each electrode pair from the two or more electrode pairs has a separate ground.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the layer is ceramic.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to select, based on the subset of frequencies, the one or more electrode pairs from the two or more electrode pairs included in the piezoelectric transducer to generate the sound by selecting, based on the subset of frequencies, a subset of electrode pairs from the two or more electrode pairs.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to:

determine the subset of frequencies, from the range of frequencies, at which to output the sound by determining a high frequency range subset, from the range of frequencies, at which to output the sound; and

select, based on the subset of frequencies, a subset of electrode pairs from the two or more electrode pairs by selecting, based on the determined high frequency range subset, one electrode pair from the two or more electrode pairs.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to select, based on the determined high frequency range subset, one electrode pair from the two or more electrode pairs by selecting, based on the determined high frequency range subset, a particular electrode pair that is closest to the support.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein:

the controller is configured to:

determine a medium frequency range subset, from the range of frequencies, at which to output a second sound that is a different sound than the sound; and

select, based on the determined medium frequency range subset, two or more particular electrode pairs from three or more electrode pairs included in the piezoelectric transducer, the three or more electrode pairs comprising the two or more electrode pairs; and

the drive module is configured to provide, by the drive module that is connected to each of the three or more electrode pairs, current to each of the selected two or more electrode pairs to cause the piezoelectric transducer to provide a force to the panel and the panel to generate the second sound within the medium frequency range subset.

17. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to select, based on the subset of frequencies, the one or more electrode pairs from the two or more electrode pairs included in the piezoelectric transducer to generate the sound by selecting, based on the subset of frequencies, all of the two or more electrode pairs.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to:

determine the subset of frequencies, from the range of frequencies, at which to output the sound by determining a low frequency range subset, from the range of frequencies, at which to output the sound; and

select, based on the subset of frequencies, all of the two or more electrode pairs by selecting, based on the determined low frequency range subset, all of the two or more electrode pairs.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a display configured to present content;

a piezoelectric transducer:

that includes two or more electrode pairs each of which a) include a first electrode on a first side of a layer included in the piezoelectric transducer, b) include a second electrode on a second side of the layer opposite the first side, and c) are connected to a different portion of the layer; and

is adapted to create forces to cause vibration of a panel to generate sound waves within a range of frequencies;

a support that transfers the forces from the piezoelectric transducer to the panel, the support separating the panel from the piezoelectric transducer, the support being attached at a first end to the panel and attached at a second end to the piezoelectric transducer, wherein the piezoelectric transducer extends parallel to the panel from the support to a free end of the piezoelectric transducer;

a controller configured to:

determine, for the piezoelectric transducer, a subset of frequencies, from the range of frequencies, at which to output a sound; and

select, based on the subset of frequencies, one or more electrode pairs from the two or more electrode pairs included in the piezoelectric transducer to generate the sound; and

a drive module:

connected to each of the two or more electrode pairs and adapted to provide current to at least some of the two or more electrode pairs to cause the piezoelectric transducer to generate a force that, when provided to the panel, causes the panel to generate a sound; and

configured to provide current to each of the selected one or more electrode pairs to cause the piezoelectric transducer to generate a force that, when provided to the panel, causes the panel to generate the sound within the subset of frequencies;

one or more application processors configured to execute an application for the smartphone; and

one or more memories one which are stored instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more application processors, to cause the one or more application processors to execute the application,

wherein the apparatus is a smartphone.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the display comprises the panel.