US9271084B2 - Suspension system for micro-speakers - Google Patents

Abstract

A speaker driver including a frame and a magnet assembly positioned within the frame. A sound radiating surface may be suspended over the magnet assembly. The sound radiating surface may include a top face and a bottom face, and the bottom face may face the magnet assembly. A suspension member may suspend the sound radiating surface over the magnet assembly. The suspension member may include a top side connected to the bottom face of the sound radiating surface and a bottom side connected to the magnet assembly. A voice coil extends from the bottom face of the sound radiating surface.

Description

FIELD

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a speaker assembly suspension system for low rise micro-speakers. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

BACKGROUND

In modern consumer electronics, audio capability is playing an increasingly larger role as improvements in digital audio signal processing and audio content delivery continue to happen. There is a range of consumer electronics devices that are not dedicated or specialized audio playback devices, yet can benefit from improved audio performance. For instance, smart phones are ubiquitous. These devices, however, do not have sufficient space to house high fidelity speakers. This is also true for portable personal computers such as laptop, notebook, and tablet computers, and, to a lesser extent, desktop personal computers with built-in speakers. Such devices typically require speaker enclosures or boxes that have a relatively low rise (i.e. height or thickness as defined along the z-axis), as compared to, for instance, stand alone high fidelity speakers and dedicated digital music systems for handheld media players.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the invention is a speaker assembly (e.g. a speaker driver) including a frame, a magnet assembly, a sound radiation surface, a suspension member and a voice coil. The magnet assembly is positioned within the frame and the sound radiating surface is suspended over the magnet assembly by the suspension member. The suspension member may have a top side connected to a bottom face of the sound radiating surface and a bottom side connected to the magnet assembly such that it extends in the z-height direction of the speaker driver. The voice coil may extend from the bottom face of the sound radiating surface such that it is aligned with a magnetic flux gap formed within the magnet assembly. The suspension member may be resilient such that it can expand and contract in the z-height direction in response to movement of the sound radiating surface. In addition, the suspension member may be confined to an area below the sound radiating surface and within a footprint of the sound radiating surface such that it does not extend radially beyond the perimeter of the sound radiating surface. In this aspect, an acoustic radiation surface area of the sound radiating surface may be improved, e.g., increased.

In some embodiments, the speaker assembly may be a micro-speaker assembly which is integrated within a portable audio device. In this aspect, an acoustic output port of the speaker assembly may be aligned with an acoustic opening of the portable audio device such that sound generated by the speaker assembly may be output from the portable audio device.

The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is contemplated that the embodiments may include all systems and methods that can be practiced from all suitable combinations of the various aspects summarized above, as well as those disclosed in the Detailed Description below and particularly pointed out in the claims filed with the application. Such combinations may have particular advantages not specifically recited in the above summary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one.

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a speaker assembly.

FIG. 1B is a bottom plan view of the sound radiating surface of one embodiment of the speaker assembly along line1-1′ ofFIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional side view of the speaker assembly ofFIG. 1A having a compressed suspension member.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a speaker assembly.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a speaker assembly.

FIG. 3B is a top plan view of the sound radiating surface of one embodiment of the speaker assembly along line3-3′ ofFIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a speaker assembly.

FIG. 5 depicts two instances of consumer electronics devices that typically specify low rise speakers in which the speakers disclosed herein may be implemented.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a system in which embodiments of a speaker assembly may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In this section we shall explain several preferred embodiments with reference to the appended drawings. Whenever the shapes, relative positions and other aspects of the parts described in the embodiments are not clearly defined, the scope of the embodiments is not limited only to the parts shown, which are meant merely for the purpose of illustration. Also, while numerous details are set forth, it is understood that some embodiments may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description.

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a speaker assembly.Speaker assembly100 may be any type of electroacoustic transducer or driver that produces sound in response to an electrical audio signal input. Representatively, in one embodiment,speaker assembly100 may be a micro-speaker.Speaker assembly100 is built intoframe102, which may be of a typical material used for speaker enclosures, such as plastic.Frame102 may include anacoustic port120 for output of sound fromspeaker assembly100 in the direction illustrated byarrow130. In the illustrated embodiment,frame102 includesacoustic port120 along its side such thatspeaker assembly100 may be considered “side firing”, meaning that sound is output in a sideways direction as illustrated byarrow130.Frame102 may be part of, or mounted within, an electronic device enclosure whose z-height (or rise or thickness) is considered to be relatively small. For example, the enclosure z-height may be in the range of about 8.5 millimeters (mm) to about 10 mm. The concepts described herein, however, need not be limited to speaker enclosures whose height is within these ranges. As seen inFIG. 5, such aspeaker assembly100 may be a speakerphone unit that is integrated within a consumerelectronic device502 such as a smart phone with which a user can conduct a call with a far-end user of acommunications device504 over a wireless communications network; in another example, thespeaker assembly100 may be integrated within the housing of atablet computer506. These are just two examples of where the speaker assembly may be used.

Speaker assembly100 may include amagnet assembly104, sound radiating surface (SRS)106 and coil108 (also referred to as a voice coil). SRS106 may be any type of speaker or micro-speaker diaphragm capable of inter-converting mechanical motion and sound.Coil108 may be attached to abottom face116 of SRS106 in any suitable manner, e.g., chemical bonding, mechanically attached or the like.Coil108 may be any type of voice coil suitable for use in a speaker, for example, a micro-speaker.Magnet assembly104 may define amagnetic flux gap118 within which a portion ofcoil108 may be positioned. A magnetic field ofmagnet assembly104 helps to drive an up and down movement ofcoil108, which in turn vibrates or movesSRS106 in a similar manner with respect to magnet assembly104 (as illustrated by arrows) to generate sound waves.

SRS106 may be movably suspended overmagnet assembly104 by asuspension member112.Suspension member112 may be positioned between thebottom face116 of SRS andmagnet assembly104 such that it suspendsSRS106 abovemagnet assembly104. In addition to facilitating vibration ofSRS106 back and forth as illustrated by the arrows,suspension member112 helps to maintain side to side alignment ofcoil108 withingap118.

In some embodiment,suspension member112 is dimensioned to suspend a resilient portion ofSRS106 abovemagnet assembly104 without extending into an area abovetop face114 of SRS106 (i.e. the area betweentop face114 and the top wall of frame102). In this aspect, a z-height betweentop face114 ofSRS106 and frame102 (illustrated as Z₁), and in turn an overall z-height of frame102 (illustrated as Z₂) need not be increased to accommodatesuspension member112. As such, a z-height ofspeaker assembly100 can be reduced, as compared to speakers using radially extending half-arc suspension systems that extend above the diaphragm they are suspending. Consider for example a typical speaker assembly having a Z₁to Z₂height ratio of about 1 to 5,speaker assembly100 may allow for this ratio to be reduced such that Z₁to Z₂is, for example, from about 1 to 4, or from 1 to 3, or 1 to 2. The reduced z-height ofspeaker assembly100 allowsspeaker assembly100 to be integrated within relatively low rise devices.

In addition to not extending aboveSRS106,suspension member112 is substantially confined to an area belowSRS106, inother words SRS106overlaps suspension member112. Described another way,suspension member112 is substantially within a footprint ofSRS106 such that it does not extend radially beyond a perimeter ofSRS106. In this aspect, the acoustic radiation surface area ofSRS106 is improved (i.e. increased). The acoustic radiation surface area generally refers to the surface area ofSRS106 which can vibrate and produce sound. Representatively, the area of the frame within which a typical SRS is supported has a predefined length and width. When the SRS is suspended within the frame using a suspension system that extends radially from the SRS to the frame (e.g. a half-arc suspension system), the overall area of the SRS must be reduced to accommodate the surrounding suspension system. Sincesuspension member112, however, does not extend radially beyond a perimeter ofSRS106, the acoustic radiation surface area ofSRS106 does not need to be reduced to accommodatesuspension member112. Rather,SRS106 can extend into the area offrame102 typically reserved for a radially extending suspension member thereby increasing its acoustic radiation surface area. In addition, becausesuspension member112 extends vertically betweenSRS106 andmagnet assembly104,SRS106 has a higher stiffness in the in-plane direction, as compared to diaphragms suspended using radially extending suspensions. This in turn helps to stabilizeSRS106 displacement and minimize rocking or tilting ofSRS106.

Suspension member112 can be any size, shape and/or material suitable for suspendingSRS106 abovemagnet assembly104 in the manner previously discussed. Representatively,suspension member112 may be made of any structure and/or materials which allowsuspension member112 to be contracted down to the excursion limit ofSRS106, with the excursion limit being one which avoidscoil108 from contactingframe102. In addition, the structure and/or material ofsuspension member112 should be that which allows maximal and symmetrical displacement ofSRS106 in the upward direction so as to minimize rocking ofSRS106. In this aspect,suspension member112 should be resilient and capable of expanding and contracting along the z-height direction to accommodate SRS movement with respect tomagnet assembly104. Representatively,suspension member112 may be made of a resilient material including, but not limited to, silicone, rubber, or a gel material encapsulated within any of these materials, or any combination of these materials. In some embodiments,suspension member112 is made of any non-metal material.

In one embodiment,suspension member112 may be an elongated structure which is attached along itstop side132 to thebottom face116 ofSRS106 and along itsbottom side134 tomagnet assembly104.Suspension member112 may be attached to an area ofbottom face116 which is outside ofcoil108 and near the edge ofSRS106 as illustrated inFIG. 1B, which shows a plan view of thebottom face116 ofSRS106 along line1-1′ ofFIG. 1A. As further illustrated inFIG. 1B,suspension member112 may be a continuous structure which acoustically sealsSRS106 tomagnet assembly104 such that the area belowSRS106 is acoustically isolated from the area aboveSRS106. In this aspect, sound waves produced bybottom face116 ofSRS106 are not directed out ofacoustic port120. In other embodiments,suspension member112 may be made of discrete units (see, for example,suspension member312A ofFIG. 3B). In either case,suspension member112 may be attached toSRS106 in any suitable manner, such as, for example, an adhesive, laser welding, a thermoforming technique or the like.

Representatively, in some embodiments,suspension member112 may be made of a hollow tube which can expand or contract in the z-height direction. Representatively,FIG. 1A illustrates atubular suspension member112 having a thickness (t) (or z-height) which is substantially equivalent to a distance between thebottom face116 ofSRS106 and themagnet assembly104. InFIG. 1A, thetubular suspension member112 is not compressed or contracted. Rather, thetubular suspension member112 is in its resting state. As illustrated byFIG. 1C, however, asSRS106 moves in the direction of magnet assembly104 (as illustrated by arrow140) thetubular suspension member112 is compressed and its overall thickness decreases. Thetubular suspension member112 will in turn expand back to its resting state (i.e. the thickness will increase) whenSRS106 moves away frommagnet assembly104. Althoughsuspension member112 is illustrated as having a substantially square cross-sectional shape,suspension member112 may have any cross-sectional shape, for example, a substantially round, rectangular, concave, or convex shape.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a speaker assembly in whichsuspension member212 is substantially similar tosuspension member112 except that in this embodiment,suspension member212 is made of a substantially solid structure. Representatively,suspension member212 may be a solid elongated structure which is made of a resilient material which allows forsuspension member212 to expand and contract in the z-height or thickness direction in response to movement ofSRS106.Suspension member212 may be made of one material, or a composite structure made of several materials. For example,suspension member212 could be made entirely of a silicon or rubber material, or could include an outer portion made of one of these materials and an inner portion made of another of these materials, or a gel material. Similar to the previously discussedsuspension member112,suspension member212 is confined to an area belowSRS106 and within a footprint ofSRS106 such that it does not extend radially beyond the bounds ofSRS106. Similar tospeaker assembly100, becausesuspension member212 is confined to an area belowSRS106,speaker assembly200 has a relatively low Z₁to Z₂height ratio, for example, a Z₁to Z₂ratio of from about 1 to 4, or from 1 to 3, or 1 to 2.Speaker assembly200 may be substantially similar tospeaker assembly100 and, therefore, also includesframe102,SRS106,coil108 andmagnet assembly104.Suspension member212 may be attached around thebottom face116 ofSRS106 in a similar manner to those previously discussed in reference toFIG. 1A (e.g., an adhesive, laser welding, a thermoforming technique or the like).

FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a speaker assembly. In this embodiment,speaker assembly300 includes a dual suspension member system. Representatively,speaker assembly300 includes atop suspension member312A attached totop face114 ofSRS106 and a bottom suspension member312B attached tobottom face116 ofSRS106.Top suspension member312A is attached at its top side to frame102 and its bottom side totop face114 ofSRS106. In addition, similar to the previously discussed suspension members, bottom suspension member312B is attached at its top side tobottom face116 ofSRS106 and its bottom side tomagnet assembly104.Top suspension member312A and bottom suspension member312B may be substantially similar in material and structure to the suspension members previously discussed in reference toFIG. 1A andFIG. 2, except that in this embodiment one of them may be continuous while one of them may be made of discrete units. Representatively, bottom suspension member312B may be made of a continuous structure such as a tubular member that sealsSRS106 tomagnet assembly104.Top suspension member312A may be made of discrete units as illustrated inFIG. 3B, which is a top plan view oftop face114 ofSRS106 along line3-3′ ofFIG. 3A. In this aspect, sound generated bySRS106 can travel fromtop face114 and out the sideacoustic port120 formed inframe102. In addition, it is further to be understood thattop suspension member312A may have a thickness sufficient to fill the gap between the top side offrame102 andtop face114 ofSRS106 without substantially increasing the z-height (i.e. Z₁) offrame102. In this aspect,speaker assembly300 has a relatively low Z₁to Z₂height ratio as previously discussed (e.g. a Z₁to Z₂ratio of from about 1 to 4, or from 1 to 3, or 1 to 2). The remaining components ofspeaker assembly300 may be substantially similar to those previously discussed in reference toFIG. 1A. Representatively,speaker assembly300 further includescoil108 suspended fromSRS106 andmagnet assembly104 mounted withinframe102, belowSRS106 andcoil108.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a speaker assembly.Speaker assembly400 is substantially similar tospeaker assembly300 described in reference toFIG. 3A except in this embodiment,speaker assembly400 is a “top firing” speaker system which includesacoustic port420 along a top side offrame102. In this aspect, sound generated bySRS106 is output through a top side offrame102. Since the sound need not travel through thetop suspension member312A to any of the previously discussed side acoustic ports,top suspension member312A can be made of a continuous structure which sealsSRS106 to frame102. Bottom suspension member312B may also be a continuous structure as previously discussed, or may be made of discrete units since the area aboveSRS106 is already acoustically isolated from the area belowSRS106 bytop suspension member312A. Although twosuspension members312A and312B are illustrated inFIG. 4, it is contemplated that the “top firing” speaker system may also be formed using only one suspension member, e.g., bottom suspension member312B, and the other omitted.

A process of manufacturing any one or more of the speaker assemblies described above, and in particular a speaker assembly including aframe102,magnet assembly104,SRS106,coil108 and one ormore suspension members112,212,312A-312B may proceed as follows.Coil108 may be obtained as a pre-wound unit, which is then secured toSRS106. Next, themagnet assembly104 is mounted withinframe102 and, at the same time, or just before or just after, the suspension member (for example, suspension member112) is attached tomagnet assembly104. Alternatively, the suspension member may first be attached toSRS106.SRS106, which may be a rigid plate ordome having coil108 attached thereto, is then attached to a top side of the suspension member.

As previously discussed,FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary consumerelectronic devices502 and506 within which any of the previously discussed speaker assemblies may be implemented. In this aspect, an acoustic output port of any of the previously discussed speaker assemblies may be aligned with an acoustic opening of the portable audio device such that sound generated by the speaker assembly may be output from the portable audio device. These, however, are just two examples of where the speaker assembly may be used. Other types of devices within which the speaker assembly may be used may include, but are not limited to, a notebook computer or other portable computing device, a digital media player, such as a portable music and/or video media player, entertainment systems or personal digital assistants (PDAs), or general purpose computer systems, or special purpose computer systems, or an embedded device within another device, or cellular telephones which do not include media players, or devices which combine aspects or functions of these devices (e.g., a media player, such as an iPod®, combined with a PDA, an entertainment system, and a cellular telephone in one portable device).

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of awireless device600 within which any of the previously discussed speaker assemblies may be implemented. In the illustrated embodiment,wireless device600 is a wireless communication device. Thewireless device600 may be included in the devices shown inFIG. 5, although alternative embodiments ofhandheld devices502 and506 may include more or fewer components than thewireless device600.

Wireless device600 may include anantenna system602.Wireless device600 may also include a radio frequency (RF)transceiver604, coupled to theantenna system602, to transmit and/or receive voice, digital data and/or media signals throughantenna system602.

Adigital processing system606 may further be provided to control the digital RF transceiver and to manage the voice, digital data and/or media signals.Digital processing system606 may be a general purpose processing device, such as a microprocessor or controller for example.Digital processing system606 may also be a special purpose processing device, such as an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or DSP (digital signal processor).Digital processing system606 may also include other devices to interface with other components ofwireless device600. For example,digital processing system606 may include analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters to interface with other components ofwireless device600.

Astorage device608, coupled to the digital processing system, may further be included inwireless device600.Storage device608 may store data and/or operating programs for thewireless device600.Storage device608 may be, for example, any type of solid-state or magnetic memory device.

One ormore input devices610, coupled to thedigital processing system606, to accept user inputs (e.g., telephone numbers, names, addresses, media selections, etc.) or output information to a far end user may further be provided. Exemplary input devices may be, for example, one or more of a keypad, a touchpad, a touch screen, a pointing device in combination with a display device or similar input device.

Display device618 may be coupled to thedigital processing system606, to display information such as messages, telephone call information, contact information, pictures, movies and/or titles or other indicators of media being selected via theinput device610. Display device618 may be, for example, an LCD display device. In one embodiment, display device618 andinput device610 may be integrated together in the same device (e.g., a touch screen LCD such as a multi-touch input panel which is integrated with a display device, such as an LCD display device). It will be appreciated that thewireless device600 may include multiple displays.

Battery614 may further be provided to supply operating power to components of the system includingdigital RF transceiver604,digital processing system606,storage device608,input device610,audio transducer616, sensor(s)622, and display device618.Battery614 may be, for example, a rechargeable or non-rechargeable lithium or nickel metal hydride battery.Wireless device600 may also includeaudio transducers616, which may include one or more speakers (e.g. speaker assemblies100-400), receivers and at least one microphone.

Sensor(s)622 may be coupled to thedigital processing system606. The sensor(s)622 may include, for example, one or more of a light and/or proximity sensor. Based on the data acquired by the sensor(s)622, various responses may be performed automatically by the digital processing system, such as, for example, activating or deactivating the backlight, changing a setting of the input device610 (e.g., switching between processing or not processing, as an intentional user input, any input data from an input device), and other responses and combinations thereof. It is noted that other types of sensors may also be included inwireless device600, such as an accelerometer, touch input panel, ambient noise sensor, temperature sensor, gyroscope, a hinge detector, a position determination device, an orientation determination device, a motion sensor, a sound sensor, a radio frequency electromagnetic wave sensor, and other types of sensors and combinations thereof.

In addition, although not illustrated, other types of devices and/or components may also be associated withwireless device600, for example, a camera.

While certain embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive, and that the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, although the drawings show a substantially rectangular SRS, it is contemplated that SRS may have any shape and size suitable for use in a speaker assembly, for example, SRS may be round. In addition, although the speaker assembly is described as a micro-speaker assembly, it is further contemplated that suspension members such as those described herein may be used to suspend any type of diaphragm used in any type of speaker assembly, for example, a diaphragm used in high fidelity speaker systems for stereo systems, radios, televisions or the like. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.

Claims (18)

What is claimed is:

1. A speaker driver comprising:

a frame;

a magnet assembly positioned within the frame;

a sound radiating surface suspended over the magnet assembly, the sound radiating surface having a top face and a bottom face, and wherein the bottom face faces the magnet assembly;

a suspension member for suspending the sound radiating surface over the magnet assembly, the suspension member having a top side connected to the bottom face of the sound radiating surface and a bottom side directly connected to, and in contact with, the magnet assembly, and wherein the suspension member comprise a resilient material and is configured to compress and expand in a z-height direction in response to a movement of the sound radiating surface; and

a voice coil extending from the bottom face of the sound radiating surface.

2. The speaker driver ofclaim 1 wherein the suspension member comprises a resilient tube.

3. The speaker driver ofclaim 1 wherein the suspension member is configured to acoustically seal the sound radiating surface to the magnet assembly.

4. The speaker driver ofclaim 1 wherein the suspension member is a first suspension member, and the speaker driver further comprises a second suspension member connected to a top face of the sound radiating surface and the frame.

5. The speaker driver ofclaim 1 wherein the suspension member is confined to an area within a footprint of the sound radiating surface.

6. The speaker driver ofclaim 1 wherein the suspension member is confined to an area between the bottom face of the sound radiating surface and the magnet assembly.

7. The speaker driver ofclaim 1 wherein the suspension member is configured to stabilize a rocking motion of the sound radiating surface.

8. A micro-speaker assembly comprising:

a frame;

a magnet assembly positioned within the frame;

a sound radiating surface suspended over the magnet assembly, the sound radiating surface having a top face and a bottom face, and wherein the bottom face faces the magnet assembly;

a suspension member for suspending the sound radiating surface over the magnet assembly, wherein the suspension member is confined to an area below the bottom face of the sound radiating surface and extends in a z-height direction from the bottom face of the sound radiating surface and directly contacts the magnet assembly, and wherein the suspension member comprises a resilient material and is configured to compress and expand in a z-height direction in response to a movement of the sound radiating surface; and

a voice coil extending from the bottom face of the sound radiating surface.

9. The micro-speaker assembly ofclaim 8 wherein the suspension member does not extend radially beyond a perimeter of the sound radiating surface.

10. The micro-speaker assembly ofclaim 8 wherein the suspension member comprises a hollow tube that seals the sound radiating surface to the magnet assembly.

11. The micro-speaker assembly ofclaim 8 wherein the suspension member comprises a thickness substantially equivalent to a distance between the bottom face of the sound radiating surface and the magnet assembly.

12. The micro-speaker assembly ofclaim 8 wherein the z-height is a first z-height corresponding to a distance between the sound radiating surface and a top of the frame and the micro-speaker assembly further comprises a second z-height corresponding to a distance between the top of the frame and a bottom of the frame, and wherein a ratio of the first z-height to the second z-height is less than 1 to 4.

13. A portable audio device comprising:

an outer case having a speaker associated acoustic hole formed therein; and

a speaker assembly positioned within the outer case and acoustically coupled to the speaker associated acoustic hole, the speaker assembly having a diaphragm, a voice coil, and a magnet assembly, wherein the diaphragm is suspended over the magnet assembly by a suspension member that extends in a z-height direction from a bottom face of the diaphragm and directly contacts the magnet assembly, and wherein the suspension member comprises a resilient material and is configured to compress and expand in a z-height direction in response to a movement of the sound radiating surface.

14. The portable audio device ofclaim 13 wherein the acoustic radiation surface area of the diaphragm substantially overlaps the suspension member.

15. The portable audio device ofclaim 13 wherein the suspension member is connected to a portion of a bottom face of the diaphragm surrounding the voice coil.

16. The portable audio device ofclaim 13 wherein the suspension member comprises a resilient material that forms a seal between the diaphragm and the magnet assembly.

17. The portable audio device ofclaim 13 wherein the suspension member is a first suspension member, and the device further comprises a second suspension member comprising sections of a resilient material that are attached to a top face of the diaphragm.

18. The portable audio device ofclaim 13 wherein the speaker assembly is a side firing speaker assembly.

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