While many people may have never used a device with a flexible display, Apple is trying to take it a step further and put its R&D dollars into making flexible speakers. A new Apple patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office discusses a flexible speaker technology Apple is developing for use in head-mounted displays (HMDs) and other wearable devices.
In the patent, Apple mentions a speaker enclosure with flexible walls, magnets, and diaphragms designed to deform together under bending stress. However, the design of the speaker will ensure that it continues to produce sound in both its undeformed and deformed states.
The speaker will be equipped with a sensor that detects the curvature of the flexible wall and the degree of deformation of the flexible wall, magnet and diaphragm. This information will be used to adjust the operation of the speakers so that the sound continues to sound the same.
According to the patent, flexibility and deformability can be improved by adding sections to the speaker walls (plus hinges). One or more speakers can be mounted within the HMD's headframe or integrated into a display made of glass, polymer, or liquid crystal. The patent further explains
The speaker may include a housing that is flexible, deformable, bendable, or otherwise malleable in a manner consistent with changes in shape of the head mounted display head support.
For example, in one configuration, the head support may be shaped to accommodate users with smaller, shorter or narrower heads. In another configuration, the head support may be shaped to fit another user with a larger, wider, or longer head.
In addition to HMDs, flexible speakers can be adapted to a variety of use cases, as well as products with "designed folding parts" or "packaging space constraints or aimed at improving user comfort in wearable products." Speaking of which, flexible speakers could find their way into clothing, backpacks, laptops, and smartwatches.