Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2009/04/01/ffl_speakers/

Boffins sound super-thin speaker revolution

0.25mm thick speakers promise great sound

By James Sherwood

Posted in Personal Tech, 1st April 2009 14:33 GMT

A super-thin OLED display looks pretty daft if you pair it with a set of bulky speakers, so British boffins have designed a thin and flexible speaker.

FFL_01

The Flat, Flexible Loudspeaker is less than 0.25mm thick

The Flat, Flexible Loudspeaker (FFL) is less than 0.25mm thick and produces sound by passing an electrical signal through a flexible laminate made of layers of conducting and insulating materials.

The electrical signal excites the laminate, resulting in a clear and crisp noise with very high directivity and accurate sound imaging, the scientists claimed.

FFL_02

An electrical signal excites a laminate to produce sound

The FFL was originally designed at Warwick University and consisted of tinfoil and baking paper, but a spin-off company - Warwick Audio Technologies – has now been created to sell the FFL in various designs.

For example, the FFL can be added to a ceiling area to ensure the audience hear the sound at similar volumes, no matter where they are located.

FFL_03

Putting the speakers into the ceiling is just one potential use

Alternatively, the FFL can be put into a car’s door or roof lining to create sound in areas when ordinary bulky speakers can’t be placed.

The speakers are currently custom-made, with sizes offered in the equivalent paper sizes from A5 and larger, through to A3. ®