Combined audio and haptic actuator assembly
Actuator assemblies, and electronic devices and wearable devices including actuator assemblies, are disclosed. An actuator assembly includes: a first housing enclosing an audio actuator and a first open volume; and a second housing enclosing a haptic actuator and a second open volume. The first open volume is fluidly connected with the second open volume by an aperture between the first housing and the second housing. A first wall of the first housing abuts a second wall of the second housing. The aperture includes a first opening in the first wall of the first housing and a second opening in the second wall of the second housing. The first housing includes a linking component configured to mechanically connect to the second housing. The linking component includes a fluid conduit extending from the first open volume to an opening in the second wall of the second housing.
1 . An actuator assembly comprising:
a first housing enclosing an audio actuator and a first open volume; and
a second housing enclosing a haptic actuator and a second open volume,
wherein:
a first wall of the first housing abuts a second wall of the second housing, and
the first open volume is fluidly connected with the second open volume by an aperture between the first housing and the second housing.
2 . An actuator assembly comprising:
a first housing enclosing an audio actuator and a first open volume; and
a second housing enclosing a haptic actuator and a second open volume,
wherein the first open volume is fluidly connected with the second open volume by an aperture between the first housing and the second housing, the aperture comprising:
a first opening in a first wall of the first housing; and
a second opening in a second wall of the second housing.
3 . An actuator assembly comprising:
a plurality of housings including:
a first housing enclosing an audio actuator and a first open volume; and
a second housing enclosing a haptic actuator and a second open volume, wherein:
the first open volume is fluidly connected with the second open volume by an aperture between the first housing and the second housing,
the aperture is formed in a surface of the second housing to fluidly connect the first open volume with the second open volume, and
the first housing comprises a linking component configured to mechanically connect to the second housing, wherein the linking component includes a fluid conduit extending from the first open volume to the aperture in the surface of the second housing.
4 . An actuator assembly comprising:
a plurality of housings including:
a first housing enclosing an audio actuator and a first open volume; and
a second housing enclosing a haptic actuator and a second open volume, wherein:
the first open volume is fluidly connected with the second open volume by an aperture between the first housing and the second housing,
the aperture is formed in one or more surfaces of the plurality of housings to fluidly connect the first open volume with the second open volume, and
the haptic actuator comprises:
a moving mass; and
a plurality of spring structures, including:
a first spring structure mechanically coupled to a first side of the moving mass; and
a second spring structure mechanically coupled to a second side of the moving mass, the second side being opposite from the first side.
5 . The actuator assembly of claim 4 , wherein the aperture fluidly connects the first open volume with the second open volume through a portion of the second housing containing one of the plurality of spring structures.
6 . The actuator assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a second aperture fluidly connecting the first open volume and the second open volume, wherein:
the aperture fluidly connects the first open volume with the second open volume through a portion of the second housing containing the first spring structure; and
the second aperture fluidly connects the first open volume with the second open volume through a portion of the second housing containing the second spring structure.
7 . The actuator assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a second aperture fluidly connecting the first open volume and the second open volume, wherein the haptic actuator comprises:
a coil positioned adjacent to a third side of the moving mass, the third side connecting the first side of the moving mass to the second side of the moving mass, wherein:
the aperture fluidly connects the first open volume with the second open volume through a portion of the second housing containing the first spring structure; and
the second aperture fluidly connects the first open volume with the second open volume through a portion of the second housing containing the coil.
8 . The actuator assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a third aperture fluidly connecting the first open volume and the second open volume, wherein the third aperture fluidly connects the first open volume with the second open volume through a portion of the second housing containing the second spring structure.
9 . An actuator assembly comprising:
a plurality of housings including:
a first housing enclosing an audio actuator and a first open volume; and
a second housing enclosing a haptic actuator and a second open volume, wherein:
the first open volume is fluidly connected with the second open volume by an aperture between the first housing and the second housing,
the aperture is formed in one or more surfaces of the plurality of housings to fluidly connect the first open volume with the second open volume, and
the haptic actuator comprises:
a moving mass;
a spring structure mechanically coupling the moving mass to the second housing; and
a coil configured to drive oscillation of the moving mass during operation of the haptic actuator,
wherein the aperture fluidly connects the first open volume with the second open volume through a portion of the second housing containing at least one of the spring structure or the coil.
10 . The actuator assembly of claim 2 , wherein the haptic actuator comprises:
a moving mass; and
a spring structure mechanically coupling the moving mass to the second housing at a connection region,
wherein the second opening in the second wall of the second housing does not overlap with the connection region.
11 . An actuator assembly comprising:
a plurality of housings including:
a first housing enclosing an audio actuator and a first open volume; and
a second housing enclosing a haptic actuator and a second open volume, wherein:
the first open volume is fluidly connected with the second open volume by an aperture between the first housing and the second housing,
the aperture is formed in one or more surfaces of the plurality of housings to fluidly connect the first open volume with the second open volume, and
the aperture has a cross-sectional area of six square millimeters or less.
12 . The actuator assembly of claim 2 , wherein the haptic actuator comprises a linear resonant actuator.
13 . An actuator assembly comprising:
a plurality of housings including:
a first housing enclosing an audio actuator and a first open volume; and
a second housing enclosing a haptic actuator and a second open volume, wherein:
the first open volume is fluidly connected with the second open volume by an aperture between the first housing and the second housing;
the aperture is formed in one or more surfaces of the plurality of housings to fluidly connect the first open volume with the second open volume;
the first housing encloses a front volume that abuts a first side of the audio actuator and is vented to the environment;
the first open volume abuts a second side of the audio actuator, wherein the first side of the audio actuator is opposite from the second side of the audio actuator; and
the first open volume is fluidly isolated from the front volume.
14 . The actuator assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first open volume comprises a back volume for the audio actuator, wherein a resonance peak of the audio actuator depends at least in part on a size of the back volume, wherein the fluid connection between the first open volume and the second open volume increases an effective size of the back volume for the audio actuator.
15 . An electronic device, comprising:
an actuator assembly comprising:
a first housing enclosing an audio actuator and a first open volume; and
a second housing enclosing a haptic actuator and a second open volume,
wherein:
a first wall of the first housing abuts a second wall of the second housing, and
the first open volume is fluidly connected with the second open volume by an aperture between the first housing and the second housing.
16 . A method for assembling an actuator assembly, comprising:
providing a speaker box including a fluid conduit;
joining the speaker box to an audio actuator to fluidly connect a first open volume of the audio actuator with the fluid conduit; and
joining the speaker box with a housing enclosing a haptic actuator to fluidly connect a second open volume of the housing with the fluid conduit,
wherein the fluid conduit includes an aperture formed in a surface of the speaker box, the fluid conduit configured to fluidly connect the first open volume with the second open volume when the actuator assembly is assembled.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second open volume of the housing is fluidly connected to the fluid conduit through one or more apertures in a wall of the housing.
18 . The method of claim 16 , comprising assembling the actuator assembly such that a moving mass of the haptic actuator is configured to oscillate in a direction perpendicular to a direction of oscillation of the audio actuator.