IP Library Granted Patent US 11,262,807
Granted Patent B1
US 11,262,807 · App. 17/119,599 · Granted Mar 1, 2022

Information handling system speaker mount under a transparent housing cover

Inventors: Travis C. North (Cedar Park, TX); Jace W. Files (Round Rock, TX); John Trevor Morrison (Round Rock, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F1/1686F16J15/021G02F1/133331G06F1/206G09G3/3406G09G3/36H04R1/028H04R3/00H04R17/00H05K7/20136H05K7/20209G06Q10/10H04R2499/11H04R2499/15
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,262,807
App. No.
17/119,599
Granted
Mar 1, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

A piezoelectric speaker fits in a cavity of a portable information handling system covered by a transparent cover that defines a speaker chamber within the cavity. The transparent cover integrates wirelines that align power pads with power contacts of the speaker to communicate audible information that generates sounds. In one embodiment, the transparent cover integrates a liquid crystal display that presents visual images associated with generated sound and backlit with illumination provided from the cavity.

Claims (52)

1. A portable information handling system comprising:

a housing;

a first display integrated in a first portion of the housing;

a hinge rotationally coupling the first portion of the housing to a second portion of the housing to rotate the housing between open and closed positions;

processing components disposed in the housing and operable to execute instructions that process information;

a speaker disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processing components to present the information as audible sounds, the speaker having a power contact;

a transparent cover sized to fit on the second portion of the housing; and

a wireline integrated in the transparent cover and terminating at a pad aligned to couple to the speaker power contact.

2. The portable information handling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a liquid crystal display integrated in the transparent cover and interfaced with the processing components to present the information as visual images; and

a light source disposed in a cavity of the housing, the speaker disposed in the cavity, the light source providing illumination at the transparent cover proximate the speaker, the liquid crystal display filtering the illumination to generated visual effects proximate the speaker.

3. The portable information handling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a hydraulic lift coupled to the second housing portion and the transparent cover, the hydraulic lift biasing the transparent cover off of the second housing portion; and

a lock selectively coupling and releasing the transparent cover and second housing portion.

4. The portable information handling system of claim 1 wherein the speaker comprises a piezoelectric speaker.

5. The portable information handling system of claim 1 wherein the transparent cover comprises a liquid crystal display having a transparent view of the processing components within the second portion of the housing.

6. The portable information handling system of claim 5 further comprising non-transient memory disposed in the housing and storing instructions that when executed on one or more of the processing components presents operating conditions of at least some of the processing components.

7. The portable information handling system of claim 6 wherein the operating conditions further comprise:

a thermal state of a central processing unit; and

a memory use state.

8. The portable information handling system of claim 5 further comprising:

an inflatable seal disposed in the second housing portion; and

a sealing surface disposed on the transparent cover and aligned with the inflatable seal, the inflatable seal inflating in response to the lock couple the transparent cover and second housing portion.

9. A method for presenting audio information from a portable information handling system, the method comprising:

capturing a speaker in a housing cavity with a transparent cover;

aligning power contacts of the speaker with power pads integrated in the transparent cover;

powering audio signals through the transparent cover power pads to the speaker contacts to generate audible sound;

having transparency of the transparent cover sufficient to have processing components disposed in the housing visible through the transparent cover; and

presenting operating conditions of the processing components at the liquid crystal display.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

integrating a liquid crystal display in the transparent cover;

providing illumination at the cavity proximate the speaker; and

filtering the illumination with liquid crystal display to provide visual effects associated with the audible sound.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the operating conditions comprise speed of a cooling fan disposed in the housing.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the operating conditions comprise a thermal state of a graphics processor unit.

13. A method for presenting audio information from a portable information handling system, the method comprising:

capturing a speaker in a housing cavity with a transparent cover;

aligning power contacts of the speaker with power pads integrated in the transparent cover;

powering audio signals through the transparent cover power pads to the speaker contacts to generate audible sound;

releasing a lock holding the transparent cover against the housing to have the power pads and power contacts in contact with each other; and

in response to the releasing the lock, biasing the transparent cover to a raised position with a hydraulic arm.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the speaker comprises a piezoelectric speaker.

15. An information handling system speaker assembly comprising:

a housing forming a cavity sized to fit a piezoelectric speaker;

a piezoelectric speaker disposed in the housing and having power contacts exposed at an upper surface to accept audio signals, the cavity cooperatively defining a speaker chamber for the piezoelectric speaker;

a transparent cover rotationally coupled to the housing and over the cavity to seal the speaker chamber, the transparent cover integrating wirelines that interface with the power contacts to power the piezoelectric speaker; and

a lock holding the transparent cover against the housing and against a biasing force configured to rotate the transparent cover to a raised position that exposes the piezoelectric speaker.

16. The information handling system speaker assembly of claim 15 further comprising a liquid crystal display integrated with the transparent cover and operable to generate visual images.

17. The information handling system speaker assembly of claim 16 further comprising:

a processing component interfaced with the liquid crystal display and operable to executed instructions that generate visual images for presentation at the liquid crystal display; and

a non-transient memory storing instructions that when executed on the processing component present visual images over the piezoelectric speaker associated with sounds presented by the piezoelectric speaker.

18. The information handling system speaker of claim 17 further comprising a backlight disposed in the cavity to generate illumination under the liquid crystal display.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (055479/0342) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 062021/0460 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (055479/0051) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 062021/0663 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (056136/0752) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 062021/0771 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 055408 FRAME 0697 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0553 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056136/0752 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055479/0051 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055479/0342 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 055408/0697 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 11, 2020
From: NORTH, TRAVIS C.; FILES, JACE W.; MORRISON, JOHN TREVOR
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 054621/0538 →