Siemens Converts Cellphone Screen into a Speaker

Siemens has announced that it is unveiling a prototype of a remodeled mobile telephone equipped with NXT technology. The so called "speaker phone" being showcased is the Siemens S45, which has a modified display screen. NXT's SoundVu technology, has been used to enable the display screen to act as a loudspeaker - effectively replacing the earpiece. In all cellphones, the earpiece takes up a valuable chunk of the "real estate" on the front of the handset, which could be used for a larger screen or to shrink the size of the handset. There are also the advantages of not needing the speaker and associated amplifier in the body of the phone.

An interesting benefit would be that the lack of the speaker amplifier will enable the cellphone to run cooler than normal and help reduce the complaints of cellphones "cooking the ear" of the user - leading to worries about cellphone health issues.

By incorporating NXT's technology, Siemens' engineers have been able to enhance the sound quality for voice and music. The speaker itself is sealed and therefore waterproof. The S45 uses NXT's Distributed Mode Actuator (DMA), consisting of thin piezo-electric ceramic panels mounted in a central stub, so that the display panel of the phone operates as a Distributed Mode Loudspeaker (DML). The actuator is significantly smaller than today's loudspeakers and allows a more flexible approach to mobile phone design.

Siemens will be evaluating consumers' reaction to the prototype, before determining whether to consider a mass-market introduction. This sort of "novel" approach to cellphone design is exactly what is is necessary to excite potential cellphone customers.

NXT has licensed its technology to several other cellphone companies, Ericsson, LG Electronics, Matsushita, NEC and Philips, so we might see similar prototypes from them shortly."

Posted to the site on 13th March 2002