Microsoft envisions a high-efficiency portable Speaker in a new patent

While Microsoft’s digital voice assistant Cortana is having a tough time in the consumer space, Microsoft is still pushing its digital voice assistant to gain some traction in the enterprise world. Office integration in the recently announced Surface Earbuds is a step in that direction.

That being said, the focus is not entirely on the enterprise. In a recent patent, Microsoft Microsoft envisions a high-efficiency portable speaker, which will not only produce better sound quality but will also consume less power. Microsoft’s patented smart speaker is cylindrical and the design of it is also very similar to the traditional speakers that are available in the market at present.

Titled ‘High-efficiency speaker with multi-magnet structure,’ the patent was filed back in May 2018 and published by USPTO on November 26, 2019.

“In traditional large speakers, flexible, corrugated support called a spider is used to suspend the voice coil in place within a basket housing. In a different variant, the spider can attach to the membrane (e.g., diaphragm) on one side and a basket or magnet on the other side, providing stabilization for the membrane throughout its corresponding range of motion,” the patent reads.

“The herein disclosed technology provides an increase in speaker efficiency that may permit mini speakers to be driven with smaller amplifiers without a trade-off in volume or sound quality. This increased efficiency may translate to better sound and/or decreased power consumption as compared to similar-sized speakers that include larger amplifiers and/or speakers that do not utilize a spider to stabilize the membrane,” Microsoft explained.

via Windowslatest