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Apple patented a display that doubles as a speaker membrane

Currently, the size of speakers in smartphones is limited. This severely impacts the quality of the sound produced.

Apple’s invention includes a display that acts as a speaker membrane. A stiffner that provides stiffness to the display and a magnet with coil, which vibrates the speaker membrane.

This improves the quality of sound considerably.

Patent Information:

United States Patent – 8,934,228

Title – Display-based speaker structures for electronic devices

Abstract
Electronic devices that contain flexible displays and one or more display-based speaker structures may be provided. The speaker structures may be positioned under the flexible display. Portions of the flexible display may be used as speaker membranes for the speaker structures. The speaker structures may be driven by transducers that convert electrical audio signal input into sound. Piezoelectric transducers or transducers formed from coils and magnets may be used to drive the speaker structures. Speaker membranes may be formed from active display areas of the flexible display. Some, all, or substantially all of the flexible display may be used as a speaker membrane for one or more display-based speaker structures. An optional cover layer may be provided with speaker openings so that sound may pass from the display-based speaker structures to the exterior of the device.

Inventors: Franklin; Jeremy C., Rothkopf; Fletcher R., Myers; Scott A., Lynch; Stephen Brian
Assignee: Apple Inc. (Cupertino, CA)