IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,131,300
Granted Patent B2
US 9,131,300 · App. 14/002,668 · Granted Sep 8, 2015

Electronic device

Inventors: Seiji Horii (Yokohama, JP); Tomohiro Inagaki (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
H04R1/02H04M1/026H04M19/047H04R7/045H04R17/00H04R2400/03H04R2499/11H04R2499/15
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,131,300
App. No.
14/002,668
Granted
Sep 8, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to the present invention, air conduction sound and human body vibration sound (e.g. bone conduction sound) are transmitted to a user without a need for pressing a vibration body itself to an ear. An electronic device 1 of the present invention includes: a panel 10 ; a housing 60 configured to support the panel 10 ; and a piezoelectric element 30 attached to the panel 10 . The panel 10 is deformed due to deformation of the piezoelectric element 30 , and air conduction sound and human body vibration sound are transmitted to an object that is in contact with the deformed panel 10.

Claims (33)

1. An electronic device, comprising: a panel; a housing configured to support the panel; and a piezoelectric element attached to the panel, wherein sound is transmitted by bending the panel with the piezoelectric element such that a portion of the panel directly above the piezoelectric element protrudes relative to neighboring portions of the panel in a long side direction of the piezoelectric element and by vibrating a contacting part of a human body that is in contact with the bent panel, and wherein a vibration occurs in an area of the panel that is larger than an area having a length corresponding to a distance from an inferior crus of antihelix to an antitragus and a width corresponding to a distance from a tragus to an antihelix of an ear of the human body.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the piezoelectric element is attached to a surface of the panel on an inner side of the housing.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the piezoelectric element is joined to the panel by a first joining member.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein

the first joining member comprises a non-thermosetting adhesive agent.

5. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein

the first joining member comprises a double-sided adhesive tape.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the panel is joined to the housing by a second joining member.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein

the second joining member comprises a non-thermosetting adhesive agent.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein

the second joining member comprises a double-sided adhesive tape.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the panel forms a part or an entirety of any of a display panel, an operation panel, a cover panel, and a lid panel that allows a rechargeable battery to be detachable.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein

the panel comprises the display panel, and

the piezoelectric element is disposed outside of a display area provided for a display function.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the deformation, which causes the transmission of air conduction sound and human body vibration sound, occurs in any areas of the panel.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the panel includes, in areas thereof that are vibrated, a plurality of portions that are configured to be vibrated in a direction intersecting with a surface of the panel, and in each of the plurality of portions, a value indicating an amplitude of the vibration transitions over time from plus to minus or vice versa.

13. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the panel is larger than an ear.

14. An electronic device, comprising: a piezoelectric element; a panel to which the piezoelectric element is joined for vibration; and a housing to which the panel is joined, wherein sound is transmitted by bending the panel with the piezoelectric element such that a portion of the panel directly above the piezoelectric element protrudes relative to neighboring portions of the panel in a long side direction of the piezoelectric element and by vibrating a pressed part of a human body that is pressed against the bent panel, and wherein a vibration occurs in an area of the panel that is larger than an area having a length corresponding to a distance from an inferior crus of antihelix to an antitragus and a width corresponding to a distance from a tragus to an antihelix of an ear of the human body.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein,

when pressed with force greater than or equal to 3 N, the pressed part is vibrated, and sound is transmitted.

16. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein,

when pressed with force greater than or equal to 5 N, the pressed part is vibrated, and sound is transmitted.

17. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein,

when pressed with force less than or equal to 10 N, the pressed part is vibrated, and sound is transmitted.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2013
From: HORII, SEIJI; INAGAKI, TOMOHIRO
To: KYOCERA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031121/0569 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-075124 · Mar 28, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150023531A1 · Jan 22, 2015