Abstract: An audio apparatus including a housing and a piezoelectric transducer mounted in the housing so that the transducer is adjacent a user's pinna. The transducer excites vibration in the pinna to cause it to transmit an acoustic signal from the transducer to a user's inner ear. The apparatus further including a coupler coupling the transducer to the housing with the coupler approximating to a simple support for the transducer.

Abstract: Audio apparatus comprising a housing and a piezoelectric transducer (12) mounted in the housing (10) so that the transducer is adjacent a user's pinna whereby the transducer excites vibration in the pinna to cause it to transmit an acoustic signal from the transducer to a user's inner ear characterised by comprising a coupler (14) coupling the transducer (12) to the housing (10) with the coupler (14) approximating to a simple support for the transducer (12).

Abstract: Audio apparatus comprising a housing and a piezoelectric transducer (12) mounted in the housing (10) so that the transducer is adjacent a user's pinna whereby the transducer excites vibration in the pinna to cause it to transmit an acoustic signal from the transducer to a user's inner ear characterised by comprising a coupler (14) coupling the transducer (12) to the housing (10) with the coupler (14) approximating to a simple support for the transducer (12).

Abstract: An inertial force transducer having an operative frequency range comprises a resonant element having a frequency distribution of modes in the operative frequency range of the transducer and a coupler for mounting the resonant element to a site to which force is to be applied. The resonant element is a piezoelectric device comprising a layer of piezoelectric material and a substrate layer on the layer of piezoelectric material. The substrate layer has a region extending beyond the piezoelectric layer, with the coupler mounted to the extended region whereby the low frequency performance of the transducer is extended.

Abstract: An electromechanical force transducer comprises at least two adjacent resonant elements and a damping layer coupled between their adjacent faces. The damping layer is selected so that the output is increased in the region of internal cancellation in the transducer. The adjacent resonant elements are beam-like and have substantially the same length. The resonant elements may be supported on a stub of low rotational stiffness whereby the fundamental resonance of the transducer becomes less dependent on bending motion of the transducer and more rigid body-like. The transducer may also include a member for increasing the rotational impedance of the transducer.

Abstract: A bending wave loudspeaker includes a transparent acoustic radiator capable of supporting bending wave vibration and an electromechanical force transducer mounted to the acoustic radiator to excite bending waves in the acoustic radiator to produce an acoustic output. The transducer has an intended operative frequency range and includes a resonant element having a frequency distribution of modes in the operative frequency range and a coupler for mounting the transducer to the acoustic radiator. The loudspeaker may be incorporated in a telephone handset or a visual display unit.

Abstract: A touch pad assembly for use in an electronic article. The assembly comprises a touch pad, a coupler for mechanically coupling the touch pad to casing of the electronic article and a transducer which is mounted by coupling means on the coupler or the touch pad to drive the casing as an acoustic radiator. An electronic article can incorporate the same. An electronic article comprises a body in or on which a bending wave loudspeaker is mounted. The loudspeaker comprises a bending wave acoustic radiator and an electromechanical force transducer mounted to the radiator to vibrate the radiator to produce an acoustic output. The transducer has an intended operative frequency range and comprises a resonant element having a frequency distribution of modes in the operative frequency range and coupling means for mounting the transducer to the radiator.

Abstract: A vehicle component for mounting in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the component comprising a loudspeaker having an acoustic radiator capable of supporting bending wave vibration and an electromechanical force transducer mounted to the acoustic radiator to excite bending waves in the acoustic radiator to produce an acoustic output, characterized in that the transducer has an intended operative frequency range and comprises a resonant element having a frequency distribution of modes in the operative frequency range and a coupler on the resonant element for mounting the transducer to the acoustic radiator.

Abstract: A vehicle windscreen accessory comprising a body member, an adjustable support structure for the body member whereby the position of the body member can be adjusted, the body member comprising a mirror member and a loudspeaker having a bending wave panel-form acoustic member, the mirror member and panel-form member being integral. The accessory can be in the form of, e.g., a sun visor or a rear view mirror.

Abstract: A method of making an acoustic device in the form of a loudspeaker drive unit having a resonant panel-form member adapted to provide an acoustic output when excited with bending wave energy, comprising forming a resilient suspension for the panel-form member by molding and simultaneously fixing the resilient suspension to the panel-form member.

Abstract: A touch pad assembly for use in an electronic article. The assembly comprises a touch pad, a coupler for mechanically coupling the touch pad to casing of the electronic article and a transducer which is mounted by coupling means on the coupler or the touch pad to drive the casing as an acoustic radiator. An electronic article can incorporate the same. An electronic article comprises a body in or on which a bending wave loudspeaker is mounted. The loudspeaker comprises a bending wave acoustic radiator and an electromechanical force transducer mounted to the radiator to vibrate the radiator to produce an acoustic output. The transducer has an intended operative frequency range and comprises a resonant element having a frequency distribution of modes in the operative frequency range and coupling means for mounting the transducer to the radiator.

Abstract: An atomiser comprising a fluid delivery system, a nozzle which is connected to and receives fluid from the fluid delivery system, whereby fluid is vaporised on exiting the nozzle to form an aerosol stream of fluid droplets, and a vibration assembly which comprises a member capable of supporting vibration which is positioned adjacent the nozzle and an electromechanical force transducer mounted to the member to excite vibration in the member so as to input vibrational energy into the droplets. The transducer has an intended operative frequency range and comprises a resonant element having a frequency distribution of modes in the operative frequency range.

Abstract: A bending wave loudspeaker includes a transparent acoustic radiator capable of supporting bending wave vibration and an electromechanical force transducer mounted to the acoustic radiator to excite bending waves in the acoustic radiator to produce an acoustic output. The transducer has an intended operative frequency range and includes a resonant element having a frequency distribution of modes in the operative frequency range and a coupler for mounting the transducer to the acoustic radiator. The loudspeaker may be incorporated in a telephone handset or a visual display unit.

Abstract: A vehicle component for mounting in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the component comprising a loudspeaker having an acoustic radiator capable of supporting bending wave vibration and an electromechanical force transducer mounted to the acoustic radiator to excite bending waves in the acoustic radiator to produce an acoustic output, characterized in that the transducer has an intended operative frequency range and comprises a resonant element having a frequency distribution of modes in the operative frequency range and a coupler on the resonant element for mounting the transducer to the acoustic radiator.

Abstract: A device comprising a vibration system having a vibration component capable of vibrating and an electromechanical force transducer mounted to the component to excite vibration in the component. The transducer has an intended operative frequency range and comprises a resonant element having a frequency distribution of modes in the operative frequency range and coupler for mounting the transducer to the component.

Abstract: A mobile telephone (10) comprising a body (12) and a bending wave loudspeaker which comprises a panel-form member (14) capable of supporting bending waves and a transducer (24) mounted to the panel-form member to excite bending wave vibration in the panel-form member to produce an acoustic output. The body (12) defines an open-faced cavity (16) and the panel-form member is movable between first and second positions with the panel-form member covering the open face of the cavity (16) when in the first position, and spaced away from the cavity when in the second position.

Abstract: A combination panel-form loudspeaker/light comprising a panel having a front face and rear face, a vibration exciter mounted to the member to excite bending-wave vibration in the member, and a light emitter mounted at or adjacent to the panel and arranged to illuminate an area adjacent to the panel.

Abstract: A vehicle windscreen accessory comprising a body member, an adjustable support structure for the body member whereby the position of the body member can be adjusted, the body member comprising a mirror member and a loudspeaker having a bending wave panel-form acoustic member, the mirror member and panel-form member being integral. The accessory can be in the form of, e.g., a sun visor or a rear view mirror.

Abstract: The combination of a personal portable communications device having an audio output intended for use when proximate to a user's ear, and a physically separable accessory to amplify the audio output of the communications device for remote reception. The accessory comprises a bending wave panel-form acoustic radiator, and the communications device has a vibration transducer for coupling to the radiator to drive bending wave energy into the radiator to produce an acoustic output therefrom.