February 20, 2019 at 22:15LG will introduce a smartphone with an OLED loudspeaker screen: a few words about the new device and technology
A few days ago, major media outlets, including Business Insider, TechRadar, WhatHiFi, announced the imminent appearance of the world's first smartphone equipped with a speaker screen. According to publications, such a device will be the LG G8 ThinQ, which will be demonstrated on February 25 at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. Under the cut, more about the new device and Crystal Sound OLED technology, which made innovation possible.
LG G8 ThinQ - is one of the newsmaker gadgets in the last month. So, recently the blogger Evan Blass managed to publish fresh flagship renderings on Twitter, the media published information that the device will receive a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1440 × 3120, and also that the smartphone will be equipped with 6 GB of RAM, a battery capacity 3400 mAh, ROM (flash memory) 128 GB, and, with a high probability, will be built on the Snapdragon 855 chipset.
Renders from Evan Blass
After all this inspiring news, there was information that the “cherry on all this cake” would be that the 6.1-inch screen mentioned would emit sound using Crystal Sound OLED technology.
A new phone compared to the G7
In short, the OLED display is turned into a vibrating membrane that emits sound. For the first time they talked about technology in 2017, followed by several TVs from LG and Sony (read between the lines, from LG Display) and OLED lighting panels from LG as well.
TV and lamp with Crystal Sound OLED technology
In fact, there is nothing super-innovative in Crystal Sound OLED technology. The principle on which it is based has been known since the end of the 19th century. LG skillfully uses orderly forgotten piezoelectric speakers as a driver that causes the screen to vibrate.
The piezo loudspeaker uses the inverse piezoelectric effect discovered by Pierre and Jacques Curie in 1880. The effect occurs when, under the influence of an electric field, between a metal plate and a metallized spraying on a piezoelectric ceramic, mechanical deformations arise - vibration, due to which the emission of sound waves occurs.
The principle has received limited application in electronics and, in particular, in electroacoustics. In addition to many “tweeters” for electronic watches and alarms, high-frequency emitters for acoustic systems began to make piezoelectric. In the 90s, the use of such tweeters was famous for such companies as Motorola, Pioneer, Gemini, Celestion.
On the left is a plezoelectric tweeter.
In cases with speakers, film-type piezoelectric emitters were used:
1 - a curved domed piezoelectric film, 2 - a damping pad 3 - a special
LG mesh returns to the use of ceramics, so for Crystal Sound OLED the “console ceramic piezoelectric driver is used, which is tightly attached to the screen and transfers vibration to it (while increasing the area of the emitting surface). Moreover, due to the high frequency of vibration, no noticeable visual distortion occurs.
It is interesting that the Crystal Sound OLED technology implemented in televisions made it possible to obtain stereo sound by fixing two piezo-emitters on the back of the display. Obviously, a similar principle will be used on the phone.
The main problem of Crystal Sound OLED, like the vast majority of alternative emitters, is the physical impossibility of reproducing low frequencies with sufficient amplitude. This is due to the small area of the radiating surface. It is not surprising that in the experiments that were conducted in the 90s, such drivers were used exclusively as tweeters.
Obviously, the need for low frequencies will force the company to supply devices with a sounding miracle screen with classic dynamic drivers, which casts doubt on the appropriateness of using this technology. On the other hand, it is possible that LG somehow managed to overcome the frequency limits or used technology to reduce power consumption (piezoelectric speakers have high efficiency), which is more likely.
Despite the non-obvious advantages of the new principle and the fact that most likely gadgets with “sounding” screens will be additionally equipped with traditional speakers, the innovation seems interesting to me. I would be grateful for your opinions in the comments and assessment of the prospects of this “well-forgotten old" technology.
Traditional jeans
We sell electronics, in our catalog speakers, amplifiers, headphones, DACs, players and other audio gadgets are widely represented.
Expected flagship
LG G8 ThinQ - is one of the newsmaker gadgets in the last month. So, recently the blogger Evan Blass managed to publish fresh flagship renderings on Twitter, the media published information that the device will receive a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1440 × 3120, and also that the smartphone will be equipped with 6 GB of RAM, a battery capacity 3400 mAh, ROM (flash memory) 128 GB, and, with a high probability, will be built on the Snapdragon 855 chipset.
Renders from Evan Blass
After all this inspiring news, there was information that the “cherry on all this cake” would be that the 6.1-inch screen mentioned would emit sound using Crystal Sound OLED technology.
A new phone compared to the G7
In short, the OLED display is turned into a vibrating membrane that emits sound. For the first time they talked about technology in 2017, followed by several TVs from LG and Sony (read between the lines, from LG Display) and OLED lighting panels from LG as well.
TV and lamp with Crystal Sound OLED technology
How Crystal Sound OLED Works
In fact, there is nothing super-innovative in Crystal Sound OLED technology. The principle on which it is based has been known since the end of the 19th century. LG skillfully uses orderly forgotten piezoelectric speakers as a driver that causes the screen to vibrate.
The piezo loudspeaker uses the inverse piezoelectric effect discovered by Pierre and Jacques Curie in 1880. The effect occurs when, under the influence of an electric field, between a metal plate and a metallized spraying on a piezoelectric ceramic, mechanical deformations arise - vibration, due to which the emission of sound waves occurs.
The principle has received limited application in electronics and, in particular, in electroacoustics. In addition to many “tweeters” for electronic watches and alarms, high-frequency emitters for acoustic systems began to make piezoelectric. In the 90s, the use of such tweeters was famous for such companies as Motorola, Pioneer, Gemini, Celestion.
On the left is a plezoelectric tweeter.
In cases with speakers, film-type piezoelectric emitters were used:
1 - a curved domed piezoelectric film, 2 - a damping pad 3 - a special
LG mesh returns to the use of ceramics, so for Crystal Sound OLED the “console ceramic piezoelectric driver is used, which is tightly attached to the screen and transfers vibration to it (while increasing the area of the emitting surface). Moreover, due to the high frequency of vibration, no noticeable visual distortion occurs.
It is interesting that the Crystal Sound OLED technology implemented in televisions made it possible to obtain stereo sound by fixing two piezo-emitters on the back of the display. Obviously, a similar principle will be used on the phone.
Probable Problems Crystal Sound OLED
The main problem of Crystal Sound OLED, like the vast majority of alternative emitters, is the physical impossibility of reproducing low frequencies with sufficient amplitude. This is due to the small area of the radiating surface. It is not surprising that in the experiments that were conducted in the 90s, such drivers were used exclusively as tweeters.
Obviously, the need for low frequencies will force the company to supply devices with a sounding miracle screen with classic dynamic drivers, which casts doubt on the appropriateness of using this technology. On the other hand, it is possible that LG somehow managed to overcome the frequency limits or used technology to reduce power consumption (piezoelectric speakers have high efficiency), which is more likely.
Total
Despite the non-obvious advantages of the new principle and the fact that most likely gadgets with “sounding” screens will be additionally equipped with traditional speakers, the innovation seems interesting to me. I would be grateful for your opinions in the comments and assessment of the prospects of this “well-forgotten old" technology.
Traditional jeans
We sell electronics, in our catalog speakers, amplifiers, headphones, DACs, players and other audio gadgets are widely represented.
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Will Crystal Sound OLED take on smartphones?
- 34.6% Yes, why not, technology saves space and mass, which is good 27
- 10.2% No, it's more likely for TVs 8
- 37.1% No, since they “eat up” the bass, additional dynamics will be needed and the benefits will disappear 29
- 6.4% Yes, loudspeaker displays will replace speakers and capture the global market 5
- 11.5% What is Crystal Sound OLED? 9