Particular Shape Patents (Class 181/173)
  • Patent number: 6510919
    Abstract: A flat panel sound radiator system for installation in a suspended ceiling is disclosed. The system is capable of concealing a modular sound radiator so that it appears substantially the same as surrounding ceiling panels. In this way the monolithic appearance of the ceiling is not interrupted. The assembly comprises a frame and a radiating panel resting within the frame and an acoustic facing covering the panel that is substantially indistinguishable from surrounding ceiling panels. Additionally disclosed is a ceiling system including a grid, a plurality of ceiling panels and an acoustical radiator having an acoustical visually matched exposed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: AWI Licensing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Roy, Peter Oleske
  • Patent number: 6494289
    Abstract: The invention relates to the embodiment of panel loudspeakers 10 working according to the bending wave principle. Such loudspeakers 10 generally consist of an acoustic panel 11 and drivers 12, whereby the drivers 12 are connected to the acoustic panel 11. For the formation of bending waves in the acoustic panel 11, it is essentially important that the drivers 12 do not unnecessarily rigidize the acoustic panel 11. This has led to the arrangement of the drivers 12 at a distance from the acoustic panel 11 in a separate frame. In view of the complexity of such an arrangement, the invention aims at providing a connection between the drivers 12 and the acoustic panel 11 that can be supported directly on the acoustic panel 11 and which does not impede the propagation of the bending waves. This is achieved by connecting the drivers to the acoustic panel only at very few points 24 or by providing elastic member 25 in the fixing area of the drivers. A combination of both embodiments is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Harman Audio Electronic Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bachmann, Gerhard Krump, Hans-Jürgen Regl
  • Patent number: 6427016
    Abstract: Acoustic devices rely on bending wave action in a panel member, particularly distribution of resonant modes of such bending wave action and related acoustically significant surface vibration over area of said panel member favourable to desired or at least acceptable acoustic device performance. The devices comply with selecting parameters of said panel member affecting said distribution, including configuration/geometry and/or bending stiffness(es), and/or location(s) of bending wave transducer(s) in said area of said panel member; the selecting being in accordance with analytical assessment of power transfer related characteristic(s) of said panel member thus said acoustic device concerned and desiderata therefor correlating with achieving said acoustic device performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Henry Azima, Neil Harris, Bijan Djahansouzi
  • Patent number: 6411723
    Abstract: A flat panel rectangular or elliptical loudspeaker has one or more anisotropic diaphragms 14, 15, made of double skinned fluted polypropylene copolymer (core flute) or corrugated cardboards having a longitudinal bending strength greater than the transverse bending strength. The diaphragm is vibrated by a driver unit 16 which comprises a magnet 17 and voice coil 18. In this version the magnet 17 is mounted on the rear diaphragm 15 and the voice coil 18 is mounted on the front diaphragm 14. The two diaphragms 14, 15 are mounted at their edges to a frame 11 with the driver unit 16 mounted in the space enclosed by the frame and the diaphragms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Slab Technology Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Colin Lock, John Frederick Corey, Graeme Oliver Jones, Kelly Charles Waterman
  • Patent number: 6386315
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a flat panel radiator into a ceiling grid. The ceiling grid system includes openings defined by main beams and crossbeams. The main beams are secured through hanger wires to a hard ceiling. The main beams and the crossbeams have flanges with the crossbeams resting on the flanges of the main beams. The mounting apparatus has a frame including a top plate, a side plate, and a bottom plate, containment elements and isolation elements attached to the frame, and an acoustically transparent scrim attached to the bottom of the frame. The flat panel radiator is mounted between containment elements and isolation elements. The radiator panel can be fabricated from a honeycomb core. The containment elements may be made from a stiff to resilient material, whereas the isolation element will always be resilient to vibration isolate the radiator panel from the ceiling grid system both mechanically and acoustically. The flat panel sound radiator assembly can also be installed in wall partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: AWI Licensing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Roy, Richard S. Hendricks, Wesley T. K. Bischel
  • Patent number: 6298140
    Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer with attenuated effective output irregularities caused by intrinsic normal modes of oscillation. What stands out, as a structural property of a preferred embodiment, is a sandwich assembly, having an oscillating medium of layered components suspended between two rigid baffles, with a hinged baffle extension supporting the device in upright position. An opening, asymmetrically positioned in each of said two rigid baffles, exposes to the ambient medium a driven and asymmetrically positioned antinode belonging to a predetermined mode pattern of the oscillating medium. The resulting asymmetrical and partial coupling of the oscillating medium with the ambient medium limits occurrences of irregularities in effective output. Similarly, the asymmetrical and partial driving of the oscillating medium leads to a relatively high number of normal modes simultaneously excited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Inventor: Christos Manavopoulos
  • Patent number: 6285773
    Abstract: The invention concerns a loudspeaker having an elongate parallelepiped hollow body, whereof one longitudinal surface is made up of a stretched elongate rectangular planar diaphragm. The diaphragm is suspended by its edges to the body adjacent side surfaces, and is integral with an elongate rigid inner part extending in the body longitudinal direction, and bearing a mobile electromagnetic coil, parallel to the diaphragm. The coil is arranged between two fixed magnets located along the body two longitudinal side surfaces which form, with the base of said body, polar parts. Said loudspeaker is useful as component of an active anti-noise system, associated with a double glazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignees: Technofirst, Saint-Gobain Vitrage
    Inventors: Christian Carme, Marc Rehfeld
  • Publication number: 20010004954
    Abstract: A diaphragm for a speaker and a speaker device, a frequency characteristic as well as the endurance against input of which are improved, have been provided. A convexo-concave portion is radially formed at a neck of the diaphragm, which is stuck to a voice coil bobbin, to increase an adhesion area of the neck itself, thereby the endurance against input is improved. In addition, the neck is stuck to the voice coil bobbin by an adhesive to increase the mechanical strength of the neck itself, thereby a frequency characteristic as well as the endurance against input are improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventor: Toshifumi Kato
  • Patent number: 6247551
    Abstract: A panel-form loudspeaker has a resonant multi-mode radiator panel which is excited at frequencies above the fundamental frequency and the coincidence frequency of the panel to provide high radiation efficiency through multi-modal motions within the panel, in contrast to the pistonic motions required of conventional loudspeakers. The radiator panel is skinned composite with a honeycomb or similar core and must be such that it has a ratio of bending stiffness to the third power of panel mass per unit area (in mks units) of at least 10 and preferably at least 100. An aluminum skinned, aluminum honeycomb cored composite can meet this more severe criterion easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventor: Kenneth H Heron
  • Patent number: 6237716
    Abstract: The invention herein of a standard-sized Vibrating Diaphragm speaker structure, primarily includes a stand with an enlarged opening in the front and a magnetic element in the rear, a cylinder inside a magnetic element, a spring panel sticking with a cylinder, and a Vibrating Diaphragm located on the enlarged opening of the stand. The inner face of Vibrating Diaphragm sticks with cylinder. The improved structure of the invention is characterized as that the surface of Vibrating Diaphragm is free of end fixture and it sticks with a foam washer, which is located at the lower portion of Vibrating Diaphragm and is stuck with an enlarged opening of a stand. Thus, the effective vibration area for a Vibrating Diaphragm is maximized and the output of sound magnitude for a speaker is enhanced. A foam washer substitutes the function of flexible movement for an end fixture of the invention of prior art to achieve normal sound output of a speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Jack Peng
  • Patent number: 6199655
    Abstract: A speaker device has a first plate and a second plate disposed behind the first plate. A speaker membrane is disposed between the plates electrically coupled to a driver which supplies an electric signal causing the membrane to vibrate and create sound waves. The first and second plate have a first and second pattern, respectively, of regularly spaced and similarly sized openings. The openings of the first and second patterns may be similarly sized and spaced or the openings of the first pattern may be larger and spaced further apart than the openings of the second pattern. A support structure joins the first and second plates together in a fixed, spaced relationship and at a relative positional orientation, or at a relative rotational orientation. The orientation of the plates develops a repeating pattern of recurring geometric images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: American Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Elwood G. Norris
  • Patent number: 6178252
    Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer (1) having a voice coil (17) and having a diaphragm (19) with an annular intermediate zone (22) for securing the voice coil (17), the intermediate zone (22) having angularly spaced-apart trough portions (29) which are each bounded by a trough bottom wall (30) and two trough side walls (31, 32), and the voice coil (17) being secured to the trough bottom walls (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Ewald Frasl, Erich Klein
  • Patent number: 6176345
    Abstract: A passive radiator assembly for a speaker that substantially reduces diaphragm resonance in the operating frequency range of the device. The new passive radiator assembly includes a quasi-elliptical shaped laminated honeycomb diaphragm, which is damped by an integral outer compliance (suspension) made of an elastomeric material that covers the entire upper surface of the diaphragm. The integrated outer compliance is of a progressive type, having a stiffness that increases in a controlled fashion during large excursions. To prevent non-linear rocking movements and compensate for displacement non-linearities, at least one, and preferably two, opposed spiders supported by a spider assembly frame are used to provide a restoring force applied to the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Mackie Designs Inc.
    Inventors: Calvin C. Perkins, Terry L. Wetherbee, David D. Bie
  • Patent number: 6170603
    Abstract: The invention relates to acoustic walls for large public events. Traditionally, sound is reproduced by using a plurality of large and heavy loudspeaker boxes which requires a complicated and expensive support system. The present invention provides a segmented acoustic wall which has an essentially flat shape and is also extremely lightweight. Several of these segments can be integrated to form an acoustic wall by coupling the different segments with one another, whereby the entire surface area of the acoustic wall can be used to radiate sound without requiring additional sound sources in the audience space. The various segments can be optimized for certain frequency ranges by tuning the surface area and depth of the respective segments to the respective transmitted frequencies. Several acoustic walls can be placed side-by-side to flexibly conform to different requirements in the audience space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Harman Audio Electronic Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bachmann, Gerhard Krump, Hans-Juergen Regl
  • Patent number: 6044925
    Abstract: A passive radiator and method is disclosed which improves frequency response linearity and greatly reduces the possibility that wobble of a passive radiator which will occur without the displacement limitations of a spider containing speaker structure. Two substantially flat surfaced speaker diaphragms are tied together and supported by two sets of surrounds oriented in opposite directions to reduce the non-linearity in the surround spring rate and improve low frequency sound generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Inventor: Joseph Yaacoub Sahyoun
  • Patent number: 6039146
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a speaker diaphragm comprising the steps of forming a plurality of virtual concentric circles between central point of a circle having a predetermined size and a circumference thereof; dividing said each concentric circle with a predetermined angle, forming divided points on the circumference of each concentric circle and arranging a plurality of yarns from a point on the circumference of said circle to another point thereof to come in tangential contact with said divided points, thereby forming a omnidirectional pseudo-textile fabric; thermosetting said pseudo-textile fabric; and removing a gap formed on said pseudo-textile fabric using a resin, a film or a sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: LG Foster Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong J Byun, Jun W Lim, Hwi C Park
  • Patent number: 6026929
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved high frequency acoustic speaker center cone, which may be located at a speaker coil tubular support, tube wherein the cone has a plurality of thin, pie-shaped segments radiating outwardly with each of the segments having an arcuated cross-section, so as to create a convex shape towards its center. The segments are highly concave toward the center and less concave with increasing radial distance away from the center. The width of the segments may increase linearly with radial distance so as to create a constant acoustical resistance radially. The center cone also has a thickness gradient with increasing thickness radially towards its center. In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system containing both the aforesaid center cone, an outer cone with similar radial characteristics but being concave towards its center. The segments of the outer cone preferably terminate at a flexible, high sound absorption ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Single Source Technology and Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Faraone
  • Patent number: 5907133
    Abstract: A device for electroacoustic diffusion includes a basket; a balance supported by the basket, made of balsa wood or formed with a balsa wood stripe fixed at its ends with a coil glued at its middle; a balsa wood membrane supported by the basket; a suspension adjacent to the membrane and supported by the basket; and an electroacoustic structure adjacent the basket and opposite the balance. The electroacoustic structure includes a first plate adjacent the basket, a second plate, a magnet between the first plate and the second plate, and a coil between the first plate and the second plate. The membrane can take on various shapes, including: (a) a truncated-cone shape, including triangular pieces of balsa wood, steam folded, glued, and placed with fibers of the balsa wood in a radial orientation, (b) a dome-shape, and (c) a planar shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Inventor: Paolo Agostinelli
  • Patent number: 5880412
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved high frequency acoustic speaker center cone, which may be located at a speaker coil tubular support, tube wherein the cone has a plurality of thin, pie-shaped segments radiating outwardly with each of the segments having an arcuated cross-section, so as to create a convex shape towards its center. The segments are highly concave toward the center and less concave with increasing radial distance away from the center. The width of the segments may increase linearly with radial distance so as to create a constant acoustical resistance radially. In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system containing both the aforesaid center cone, an outer cone with similar radial characteristics but being concave towards its center. The segments of the outer cone preferably terminate at a flexible, high sound absorption ring. The center cone fits within an orifice at the center of the outer cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Alexander Faraone
  • Patent number: 5847332
    Abstract: Acoustic speaker cones have a plurality of thin, pie-shaped segments radiating outwardly from their center with each of the segments having an arcuated cross-section. The cones are made of polycarbonate plastic and take the form of being convex towards the center for high frequency cones or of being concave towards its center for larger broad range cones. The present invention is also directed to a system containing both the aforesaid high frequency cone, and an outer broad range cone with similar radial characteristics The segments of the outer cone preferably terminate at a flexible, high sound absorption ring. The center cone fits within a central orifice at the center of the outer cone. The polycarbonate cones have a specific gravity of about 1.10 and about 1.40, having an electrical dissipation factor of about 0.05 to about 0.30 at 60 Hertz, having an electrical dissipation factor of about 1.00 to about 1.25 at 10.sup.6 Hertz, and having a thermal condutivity of at least 1.2 BTU/hr/ft.sup.2 /.degree.F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Alexander Faraone
  • Patent number: 5740264
    Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer has a diaphragm body including a planar diaphragm having an outer periphery in an elongated generally elliptical shape with semicircular ends and major and minor axes, and an elastometic edge having an outer periphery of an elongated generally elliptical shape with semicircular ends and major and minor axes aligned with the major and minor axis of the diaphragm, the edge being wider along the major axis than along the minor axis and coupled at an inner periphery to the outer periphery of the diaphragm. The edge has a concave cross-section perpendicular to the diaphragm. A cylindrical voice coil bobbin is secured at one end to a central area of the diaphragm, and a voice coil is wound on the voice coil bobbin. A molded resin frame having a generally rectangular shape includes an opening conforming in shape to and receiving the diaphragm body, and is connected to and supports an outer periphery of the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Foster Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 5714722
    Abstract: The present invention provides a loudspeaker including a case having an inner wall, a front opening, and an edge surrounding the front opening. A diaphragm including a substantially planar front surface, a rear surface, and a periphery is attached to the case with flexible attachment element(s). The attaching means attaches the periphery of the diaphragm to the case in the vicinity of the edge of the front opening. A controller is attached to the case in the vicinity of a central inside portion of the case. An actuator is attached to the diaphragm in the vicinity of a central portion of the diaphragm. The controller and the actuator transform an electric signal provided to the controller into a corresponding vibratory movement of the diaphragm between a high frequency and a low frequency. The diaphragm includes a first area in the vicinity of where the actuator is attached to the diaphragm. The diaphragm also includes a second area between the first area and the periphery of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Transducer Valley, Inc.
    Inventor: Seppo Noponen
  • Patent number: 5693917
    Abstract: A planar diaphragm loudspeaker incorporating a planar diaphragm having multiple sound producing regions, a support frame, and one or more electromagnetic drivers coupled to the sound producing regions on the rear surface of the diaphragm. A first sound producing region is formed generally centrally on the rear surface of the diaphragm, and second and third sound producing regions are formed on opposite sides thereof. The sound producing regions comprise raised portions on the rear surface of the diaphragm which are symmetrical about both first and second orthogonal axes for balance. Cross members extend between opposite sides of the support frame so as to overlay all of the sound producing regions to selectively mount separate electromagnetic drivers for coupling to each sound producing region, as well as to mount one or more anchors extending from the cross members to the perimeters of the second and third sound producing regions in order to isolate them from the first sound producing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Sound Advance Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alejandro J. Bertagni, Eduardo J. Bertagni, James Schuessler, Alfredo D. Ferrin
  • Patent number: 5615275
    Abstract: A planar-type loudspeaker incorporating a substantially planar diaphragm constructed from a pre-expanded cellular plastic material, such as polystyrene, in which one or more balancing weights are embedded in a resilient material within recesses formed in the rear surface of the diaphragm. The resilient material enables the weights a degree of movement relative to the diaphragm, such that the weights can serve a counteractive function to help control the frequency response characteristic of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Sound Advance Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Eduardo J. Bertagni
  • Patent number: 5424496
    Abstract: To improve loudspeakers (10) with an internal magnet system (11), it is proposed that the moving coil (21) be carrierless in configuration, and be attached to a tubular segment (20) configured concurrently when the membrane (13) is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Nokia (Deutschland) GmbH
    Inventor: Leonhard Kreitmeier
  • Patent number: 5425002
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating acoustic pressure pulses in an acoustic medium has a membrane that can be driven which adjoins the acoustic medium and which is driven in an impact-producing manner. The membrane is mechanically pre-stressed so that it returns into its initial position after a pressure pulse is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Franz Plisek, Benedikt Hartinger
  • Patent number: 5418337
    Abstract: A loudspeaker diaphragm has a surround comprising vibratile material extending between an inner circle and an outer circle. The material has a thin compliant roll near the outer circle and an outer circular bead inside of and near the thin compliant roll. An inner ridge having both radial and tangential components extends between the inner circle and the outer circular bead. The width of the outer circular bead and the inner ridge is significantly less than the diameter of the outer circle. The attachment area between the cone body and the surround covers a substantial area of the cone body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: William P. Schreiber
  • Patent number: 5371805
    Abstract: A speaker has an edge member which includes a plurality of peripheral pieces and a plurality of connecting portions for connecting neighboring ones of the pieces. The neighboring ones of the pieces have cross-sectional shapes symmetric with respect to each other in an axial direction of the edge member. Each of the connecting portions has a cross-sectional shape that changes gradually and continuously. A diaphragm which is secured to an inner periphery or an outer periphery of the edge member, and a frame is secured to an outer periphery or an inner periphery of the edge member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Saiki, Kazuki Honda, Satoshi Koura
  • Patent number: 5251188
    Abstract: A sonic transducer (10) includes an elongated diaphragm (12) secured to a base (14) by a clamping member (16). The shapes of the surfaces (26, 30) by which the base (14) and clamping element (16) engage the diaphragm (12) are different at the end regions (28) from what they are in the side regions (32). The result is a more-rigid clamping at the ends than at the sides, which causes the lengthwise and widthwise stiffnesses of the diaphragm to be more nearly equal and thus the sound production from various regions of the diaphragm to be more nearly in phase than they would be if the clamping were uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Recurrent Solutions Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Natan E. Parsons, Joel S. Novak
  • Patent number: 5218575
    Abstract: A flexural mode acoustic transducer system for use in pulse-echo ranging systems has a radiating plate of which even-numbered antinodal zones, counting from a drive connection to a driving element at the center of the plate, are formed with rings of apertures to reduce the radiating areas of those zones, thus reducing cancellation in the far field, and improving the matching of the device to the atmosphere into which the plate is radiating. The plate is backed by a sound deadening layer on a flange of a transducer housing, from which it is separated by a foil which is non-adherent to the plate, and is preferably covered by an acoustically transparent fabric having a pore size small enough to exclude damaging particulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Milltronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Bogdan Cherek
  • Patent number: 5198624
    Abstract: An improved audio transducer includes a diaphragm having a pair of cylindrically-shaped webs that provide greater bandwidth, reduced distortion and greater horizontal dispersion of sound. The audio output of the transducer is further improved by forming the diaphragm of a polyvinyl fluoride film. Other improvements include the use of damping pads to damp internal sound waves and damping strips on the diaphragm to minimize distortion at the resonant frequency of the transducer. In one alternative embodiment a laminated diaphragm is used to damp resonance in the high-frequency end of the transducer operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Linaeum Corporation
    Inventors: Paul W. Paddock, Steven R. Geist
  • Patent number: 5105394
    Abstract: An acoustic source apparatus has a loudspeaker enclosed within a substantly pressure resistant and water tight enclosure. Acoustic energy from the loudspeaker emanates through an opening in the enclosure. This opening is covered by a resilient diaphragm that transmits the acoustic energy to an aqueous medium. A net constrains the diaphragm to a preselected size and shape. The net further impedes overexpansion of the diaphragm and restrains the diaphragm from migrating due to buoyancy. Additonally, the net stiffens and strengthens the diaphragm, to thereby increase the resonant frequency, impedance and quality factor of the transducer system and decrease the transmission bandwidth of the system. Constraining the transducer diaphragm with the net makes higher transducer source levels possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Joseph L. Percy
  • Patent number: 5103927
    Abstract: This is a highly directional floor microphone. A pair of hinged panels rest upon the floor. A compliance may be used to acoustically seal the panels to the floor. At the apex of the floor and hinge is a transducer. The hinged panels are trapezoidal in shape and the hinge is acoustically opaque. The floor increases the directivity 6 dB. The panels increase the directivity by 12 dB. Tapering the panels in a trapezoidal shape increases the directivity by 2 dB. The total increase in directivity is 20 dB, allowing a working distance of ten times that of an omni-directional microphone. The folding nature allows easy storage and carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Inventor: James D. Heavener
  • Patent number: 5056617
    Abstract: The positive characteristics of loudspeaker diaphragms are improved by the use of a thermoplastic polyurethane sheet with a thickness of 0.06 to 0.8 mm at least for the moving part (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Wank, Werner Waldenrath, Dieter Freitag
  • Patent number: 4997058
    Abstract: An improved flat sound transducer including a planar diaphragm having at least one region suited for reproduction of low frequencies and one region suited for reproduction of high frequencies wherein the frame of the flat sound transducer is used to sandwich a foam strip between the frame and the diaphragm in order to dampen low frequency vibrations and substantially isolate the high frequency region from the large amplitude low frequency vibrations while still allowing high frequency vibrations to emanate from the entire sound transducer diaphragm. The dampening strip may used with either a metallic frame or with a unitary plastic frame. A high frequency enhancement coating may be used to increase the frequency response in the high frequency region of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Inventor: Jose J. Bertagni
  • Patent number: 4996119
    Abstract: A speaker cone plate is provided with an inorganic surfacial hard layer formed at least on a face of a metal substrate and is subjected to a reinforcing treatment by hot isostatic pressing, wherein the surfacial hard layer may be composed of a carbide, an oxide, a borie or a phosphide or may be formed by plasma thermal spraying of an inorganic substance containing silicon nitride whiskers or silicon carbide whiskers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kenwood
    Inventors: Yutaka Mae, Yoichi Yaguchi, Masakatsu Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 4903308
    Abstract: An improved audio transducer includes a diaphragm having a pair of cylindrically-shaped webs that provide greater bandwidth, reduced distortion and greater horizontal dispersion of sound. The audio output of the transducer is further improved by forming the diaphragm of a polyvinyl fluoride film. Other improvements include the use of damping pads to damp internal sound waves and damping strips on the diaphragm to minimize distortion at the resonant frequency of the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Linaeum Corporation
    Inventors: Paul W. Paddock, Steven R. Geist
  • Patent number: 4899390
    Abstract: A speaker which is thin but which is capable of providing high-fidelity reproduction and ensuring a suitable level of sound pressure even when it is brought close to a wall. A closed chamber is formed behind one part of a diaphragm mounted in an enclosure, and an open chamber is formed behind another part of the diaphragm. At least one voice coil drive unit is connected to the diaphragm. The phase difference between sounds radiated from the front and rear surfaces of the diaphragm is increased as large as possible by using an acoustic duct for the sound radiated through the open chamber, thereby minimizing cancellation of sounds and improving the sound pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takewa, Mitsuhiko Serikawa, Seiichi Ishikawa, Sawako Usuki, Yoichi Kimura, Shuichi Obata
  • Patent number: 4881617
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved acoustic speaker having a cone located about a transducer wherein the cone has a plurality a thin, pie-shaped segments radiating outwardly from the transducer with each of the segments having an accuated cross-section, thereby creating a concave side and a convex side. The segments are highly concave at the transducer and less concave with increasing radial distance from the transducer. The segments are made from a metal foil and the width of the segments may increase lineraly with radial distance so as to create a constant acoustical resistance radially. The segments preferably terminate at a flexible, high sound absorption ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Inventor: Alexander Faraone
  • Patent number: 4837838
    Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer is disclosed wherein separate elongated strips of magnetic material are secured on both sides of a plane containing a flat flexible insulating thin-film diaphragm. Conductors attached to the diaphram extend primarily parallel to the magnetic strips and cause movement of the diaphram when excited electrically. The conductors can also deliver current induced by diaphram movement within the field. The magnetic strips are fastened to a frame that clamps the perimeter of the diaphram. The sub-assemblies containing the magnetic strips provide maximum available area for the propagation of acoustic waves to and from the environment and provide increased flux density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Eminent Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: F. Bruce Thigpen, David E. Collie
  • Patent number: 4823907
    Abstract: A speaker system includes a thin plate type vibrating element mounted in, and brought into contact with, a balloon formed of a synthetic rubber or resin film. The balloon comprises a balloon member formed of a flexible film such as a vinyl chloride resin or synthetic rubber film and having therein a pocket, in which an inner film forming the pocket has an area somewhat larger than that surrounded with a laminating line on an outer film forming the pocket, whereby the inner film is brought in pressure contact or engagement with the outer film, when the balloon assembly is inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Inventor: Hatsuo Hoshi
  • Patent number: 4817165
    Abstract: A dome-shaped acoustic motor diaphragm having a core of aluminum foil in the form of a spider web configuration resulting in the dome shape, the diaphragm being in the form of an annular semi-dome outer diaphragm part and a dome-shaped cylindrical inner diaphragm part. The spider web core also enables a wide variety of diaphragm shapes to be possible. A voice coil bobbin is passed through a lower diaphragm layer and unto the underside of an upper diaphram layer via the core which more or less is the greatest height of the same core in the region of the outer diaphragm part, thereby resulting in a highly effective bonding strength between these parts. Damping is accomplished by means of a cylindrical bellows having a height representing the maximum excursion distance of the movable parts. A bobbin guide positioned within the bobbin and bonded to the inner face of the lower magnetic pole piece prevents the bobbin and voice coil in the annular air gap from contacting the pole pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Inventor: Leonard D. Amalaha
  • Patent number: 4792978
    Abstract: A planar loudspeaker system having an elongated and substantially planar enclosure, configured to house tweeter, midrange, and a pair of upper and lower woofer diaphragms in its median, longitudinal section. A pair of woofer labyrinths, acting as quarter-wave transmission lines, extends throughout the remainder of the enclosure's volume. The labyrinths vent the substantially in-phase backwaves forwardly, toward the listener, through a pair of shared ports in the mid-frontal region of the enclosure. An electro-magnetic drive unit, employing bar magnets, pole pieces and thin encapsulated moving coils, all of elongated and symmetrical configuration, is also disclosed. Three versions of the drive unit are shown, each being adapted to provide a distributive driving force to the planar diaphragms of the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Inventor: Stanley L. Marquiss
  • Patent number: 4776428
    Abstract: A sound projection system for use in diffusing sound of a frequency ranging from 160 Hz up to 5 KHz over a relatively long distance with a substantially constant distribution of the sound over a wide diffusion angle, whereby the quality and intensity of the sound transmitted by the system remain substantially constant for a listener even if this person is substantially offset from the general direction and orientation of the projection system. The system which is advantageously compact in size, comprises a cabinet defining an enclosure in which a loudspeaker is mounted. An acoustic channel of rectangular cross-section is connected to the cabinet in alignment with the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Belisle Acoustique Inc.
    Inventor: Bruno Belisle
  • Patent number: 4699242
    Abstract: A magnetic speaker equipped with a flat diaphragm comprising a straight-grain wood plate or a cross-grain wood plate, for instance, made of Sitka spruce having the specific gravity range from 0.25 to 0.8, presenting excellent acoustic properties, especially, suitable for low to medium frequency speakers. The flat diaphragm is treated to chemically modify hydroxyl groups contained in the wooden component. Modification may be by esterification, etherification, acetilation, formalinization, or the like to enhance acoustical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignees: Daikin Trade & Industry Co., Ltd., Chubu Cone Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruaki Ono
  • Patent number: 4655316
    Abstract: An acoustic diaphragm is made of metallic sheet material forming a raised pattern of the material and unraised sectors of the material. The diaphragm is of the dome-shaped variety. The raised pattern incorporates sets of raised strip elements. There is a set of such elements extending radially from the vicinity of the apex. There is a set extending along areas of the sheet material between the radially extending elements, this second set including pairs of strip elements which intersect one another along such areas. There is also a set of circumferentially extending raised strip elements. The form of the radially extending elements changes along their lengths; for example, they rise to levels which vary along their lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: JBL Incorporated
    Inventor: Fancher M. Murray
  • Patent number: 4604792
    Abstract: The method of making the diaphragm includes pressing on the front face of a film at spaced apart areas to deform it progressively into a series of closely-spaced generally U-shaped projections. A manufacturing device presses the sides of the projections inwardly to rigidify them. The transducer magnet assembly includes a series of elongated magnet pole-piece strips which confine magnets and are arranged in parallel spaced-apart rows with the ends thereof fitted into transverse elongated grooves extending within a pair of elongated cross-piece end members. The driver is fixed together in a precise manner by flowing an adhesive material into the grooves, and then by allowing such material to harden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: LFF & Associates
    Inventor: David A. Larson
  • Patent number: 4585090
    Abstract: An acoustic device in the form of a loudspeaker is described. An envelope consisting of many discrete parts is driven by an internal driven element so that the parts of the envelope move alternately in unison in an outwards direction and in unison in an inwards direction. Inside the envelope is arranged a framework comprising struts and tensile members, and the envelope parts are mounted on these struts and tensile members. Operation of the driven element varies the distance between two parallel struts of the framework. The framework is thus caused to distort and so cause the desired movement of the envelope parts. The single internal driven element can be replaced with two or more such elements in a modified arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Inventor: Scott Lindsay
  • Patent number: 4567327
    Abstract: An electrodynamic transducer of the flat-diaphragm type in which the movement of the voice coil and coil former (2, 3) is transmitted to the flat diaphragm (1) via at least one auxiliary cone (8 or 20). The auxiliary cone is secured to a centering diaphragm (7) along its outer rim (10), if required via a coupling element (23). This is advantageous in the construction and the method of manufacturing the transducer. Moreover, a low-distortion transducer is obtained. A method of manufacturing the transducer is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Urbanus P. M. Goossens, Gustaaf E. M. Fierens
  • Patent number: 4544805
    Abstract: A plane speaker comprises a frame having an opening; a diaphragm facing said opening and having secured its peripheral edge portion to the frame; an actuating plate attached perpendicularly to the back of said diaphragm; a coil mounted on the surface of said actuating plate; and magnets attached to the frame opposite to each other in relation to said coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Inventor: Tadashi Sawafuji