18239114. CYLINDRICAL MEMS STRUCTURES FOR AUDIO COMPONENTS simplified abstract (Apple Inc.)

CYLINDRICAL MEMS STRUCTURES FOR AUDIO COMPONENTS

Organization Name

Apple Inc.

Inventor(s)

Onur I. Ilkorur of Santa Clara CA (US)

Christopher Wilk of Los Gatos CA (US)

Gokhan Hatipoglu of Milpitas CA (US)

Peter C. Hrudey of San Jose CA (US)

CYLINDRICAL MEMS STRUCTURES FOR AUDIO COMPONENTS - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18239114 titled 'CYLINDRICAL MEMS STRUCTURES FOR AUDIO COMPONENTS

Simplified Explanation

The abstract of the patent application describes a technology related to electronic devices with speakers, specifically microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) speakers. These speakers include a cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure that can deform in response to an applied voltage to push or pull air into the open cylindrical core.

• Cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure:

   - Includes corrugations running around an open cylindrical core
   - Deforms in response to voltage to push or pull air
   - Can be part of an array of structures in a MEMS speaker

• • Potential Applications:**

- Mobile devices - Wearable technology - IoT devices

• • Problems Solved:**

- Improving sound quality in small electronic devices - Enhancing the efficiency of speakers in compact devices

• • Benefits:**

- Compact size - Energy efficiency - Improved sound quality

• • Potential Commercial Applications:**

- Smartphones and tablets - Smartwatches and fitness trackers - Smart home devices

• • Possible Prior Art:**

One possible prior art could be the use of traditional speakers in electronic devices before the development of MEMS technology.

• • Unanswered Questions:**

1. How does the cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure compare to traditional speaker designs in terms of sound quality and efficiency?

  *Answer:* A comparative study between traditional speaker designs and the cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure could provide insights into the performance differences between the two technologies.

2. Are there any limitations or challenges in implementing MEMS speakers with cylindrical corrugated structures in mass-produced electronic devices?

  *Answer:* Exploring the scalability and manufacturing challenges of integrating MEMS speakers with cylindrical corrugated structures into commercial products could shed light on the practicality of this technology for widespread adoption.

Original Abstract Submitted

Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices having speakers such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) speakers. A MEMS speaker can include cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure. The cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure may include a contiguous MEMS structure with corrugations that run around an open cylindrical core that is defined, in part, by interior folds of the corrugations. The cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure may be deformed, responsive to an applied voltage, such that a portion of the cylindrical corrugated MEMS structure bends into and/or out of the open cylindrical core to push air out of and/or pull air into the open cylindrical core. In one or more implementations, a MEMS speaker may include an array of cylindrical corrugated MEMS structures.