Speakerbox

Abstract

An electro-acoustic communications unit ( 20 ) may include an acoustic driver ( 22 ) which, when operated, emits acoustic waves in two directions. A hermetically sealed container ( 24 ) attached to the acoustic driver may include a gas other than air. The gas may transport acoustic waves generated by the acoustic driver.

1 . A method comprising:
 forming a hermetically sealed, flexible container comprising a gas, other than air;   attaching a first side of a membrane, of a speaker, to the hermetically sealed, flexible container; and   positioning the first side of the membrane adjacent to an opening, formed in a casing of a portable electronic device, where positioning the first side of the membrane adjacent to the opening causes the hermetically sealed, flexible container to comprise a shape that is at least partially determined by elements of the portable electronic device that are positioned within the casing, and   where the shape enables the hermitically sealed, flexible container to provide a back volume for the speaker.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where, when forming the hermetically sealed, flexible container, the method further comprises:
 substantially covering, except for portions connected to the speaker, the hermetically sealed, flexible container with an absorbent.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 retaining, by the absorbent, the hermetically sealed, flexible container in a position adjacent to the opening.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , where forming the hermetically sealed, flexible container further comprises:
 forming the membrane to be integral with the hermetically sealed, flexible container.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , where the gas other than air comprises a density that is greater than a density of air. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , where the gas other than air comprises a density that is less than a density of air. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , where the gas other than air comprises helium. 
     
     
         8 . A communications unit for mounting in a portable electronic device, the communications unit comprising:
 a hermetically sealed, flexible container directly attached to an acoustic driver and comprising a gas, other than air, to transport acoustic waves, generated during operation of the acoustic driver, in a first direction to modify the operation of the acoustic driver.   
     
     
         9 . The communications unit of  claim 8 , where the hermetically sealed, flexible container comprises:
 a container wall, integral to the hermetically sealed, flexible container, that comprises at least a portion of the acoustic driver.   
     
     
         10 . The communications unit of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an absorbent to acoustically act as a spring, where the absorbent substantially covers the hermetically sealed, flexible container.   
     
     
         11 . The communications unit of  claim 10 , where the absorbent comprises a porous fiber material. 
     
     
         12 . The communications unit of  claim 8 , where the gas other than air comprises a density that is greater than a density of air. 
     
     
         13 . The communications unit of  claim 8 , where the gas other than air comprises a density that is less than a density of air. 
     
     
         14 . A communications unit for mounting in a portable electronic device, the communications unit comprising:
 a hermetically sealed, flexible container, directly attached to an acoustic driver that emits waves in two directions, the hermetically sealed, flexible container comprising:
 a gas, other than air, that transports acoustic waves generated by the acoustic driver, where the acoustic driver comprises a membrane, where the hermetically sealed container attaches directly to the membrane. 
   
     
     
         15 . The communications unit of  claim 14 , where the hermetically sealed, flexible container comprises:
 a container wall, integral to the hermetically sealed, flexible container, that comprises at least a portion of the acoustic driver.   
     
     
         16 . The communications unit of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an absorbent to acoustically act as a spring, where the absorbent substantially covers the hermetically sealed, flexible container.   
     
     
         17 . The communications unit of  claim 16 , where the absorbent comprises a porous fiber material. 
     
     
         18 . The communications unit of  claim 14 , where the gas other than air comprises a density that is greater than a density of air. 
     
     
         19 . The communications unit of  claim 14 , where the gas other than air comprises a density that is less than a density of air. 
     
     
         20 . The communications unit of  claim 14 , where the gas other than air comprises helium.