Driven Diverse Static Structure (e.g., Wall, Sounding Board) Patents (Class 381/152)
  • Patent number: 10754372
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes: a display panel configured to display an image, at least one supporting member on a rear surface of the display panel, the at least one supporting member defining a groove, at least one sound generation device adjacent to the display panel, and a wiring, accommodated into the groove, configured to transfer a signal to the at least one sound generation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sungtae Lee, KwanHo Park, YeongRak Choi
  • Patent number: 10755693
    Abstract: Provided is an acoustic apparatus capable of causing a sensation that a sound is produced in a larger space than reality, without requiring an excessive cost and time-consuming installation. The sound collected by a microphone is converted to an electrical signal, and a reflected sound component is extracted by a signal processing portion. The reflected sound component thus extracted is amplified by an amplifier, and the reflected sound component thus amplified vibrates transducers attached to a back-side board surface of each acoustic structure, whereby reflected sound is emitted from all faces including front-side board surface and the back-side board surface. A player can thus naturally perceive as if the space where he stays is expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Ekuni
  • Patent number: 10750261
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for recording high output power levels of sound at low sound pressure levels. For example, an apparatus comprises an enclosure, a speaker disposed within the enclosure, a microphone disposed within the enclosure, and an evacuation port. The evacuation port is configured to connect to a system that reduces a pressure level within the enclosure to a level that is less than an ambient air pressure level outside the enclosure. The enclosure is sealed or otherwise configured to provide a sealed enclosure, to maintain the reduced air pressure within the enclosure. The speaker can be driven by an amplifier at high output power levels to generate a distorted sound of an amplified electric musical instrument for recording purposes, while the reduced pressure level within the enclosure serves to attenuate the sound pressure level and perceived loudness which emanates from the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Inventor: James J. Fallon
  • Patent number: 10749560
    Abstract: An audio apparatus and a control method therefor are provided. The present audio apparatus comprises: a vibration part for providing audio using vibration; a sensing part for sensing one or more of the material and the thickness of an object to which the audio apparatus is attached; a pressure regulation part for regulating the pressure that is applied to the object by the vibration part; and a processor for controlling the pressure regulation part in order to regulate the pressure applied to the object by the vibration part based on one or more of the material and the thickness of the object that is sensed by the sensing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-won Kim, Jae-heung Park, Sun-ki Kim, Woon-hee Park, Dong-jae Lee
  • Patent number: 10728641
    Abstract: A display apparatus may include: a display panel including: a display area configured to display an image, and a non-display area, an optical module on a rear surface of the display panel, at least one first sound generator on a rear surface of the optical module, and at least one second sound generator in the non-display area and between the display panel and the optical module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: DongGeun Lee, KyuSung Han
  • Patent number: 10708696
    Abstract: The present application discloses a sound generator, including: a panel; a housing including a substrate and a frame extending from the substrate; a space formed by the panel and the housing; a driving member; a first sliding guide; a first sliding block slidably connected with the first sliding guide; a second sliding guide; a second sliding block slidably connected with the second sliding guide; a support mounted on the substrate and including a pivot; and a linking pole pivotally connected to the pivot. The linking pole includes an end movably connected to the first sliding block and another end movably connected to the second sliding block; and a distance from the pivot to the first sliding block is smaller than a distance from the pivot to the second sliding block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiwei Ge, Rongguan Zhou
  • Patent number: 10699833
    Abstract: The present invention provides a receiver comprising a housing, an armature, and a magnet assembly, where the armature and the magnet assembly are arranged in the housing. The magnet assembly comprises a magnet and a magnet shell. The magnet shell forms an inner space in which the magnet is provided, and where at least a part of the armature extends in the inner space. The magnet shell comprises at least two shell parts forming an inner surface encircling the inner space, where each of the shell parts comprises a first and a second end face. The first end face of a first shell part abuts one of the first and second end faces of an adjacent shell part, and the second end face of the first shell part abuts one of the first and second ends faces of an adjacent shell part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Camiel Eugène Groffen, Wouter Bruins, Caspar Titus Bolsman, Gerardus Johannes Franciscus Theodorus van der Beek, Jan Hijman
  • Patent number: 10674270
    Abstract: A distributed mode actuator (DMA) includes a flat panel extending in a plane and a rigid, elongate member extended parallel to the plane. The member is mechanically coupled to a face of the flat panel at a point. An end of the member is free to vibrate in a direction perpendicular to the plane. The DMA also includes a magnet and an electrically-conducting coil. Either the magnet or the coil is mechanically coupled to the member. When the coil is energized, an interaction between a magnetic field of the magnet and a magnetic field from the coil applies a force sufficient to displace the member in the direction perpendicular to the plane. The DMA further includes an electronic control module electrically coupled to the coil and programmed to energize the coil to vibrate the member to produce an audio response from the flat panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: James Clissold-Bate, Mark William Starnes
  • Patent number: 10659858
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display apparatus that may include a display panel configured to display an image by emitting light, a supporting member disposed on a rear surface of the display panel, a sound generating device disposed between the supporting member and the display panel, and a plurality of partitions at a predetermined interval from the sound generating device, wherein the partitions have different compression force deflections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sungtae Lee, SeYoung Kim, YeongRak Choi, Kwangho Kim
  • Patent number: 10609500
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system composed of a flexible panel with an affixed array of force actuators, a signal processing system, and interface electronic circuits is described. The system described is capable of creating a pattern of standing bending waves at any location on the panel and the instantaneous amplitude, velocity, or acceleration of the standing waves can be controlled by an audio signal to create localized acoustic sources at the selected locations in the plane of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
    Inventor: Mark F. Bocko
  • Patent number: 10601291
    Abstract: A linear motor is disclosed. A linear motor includes a housing having a bottom wall, a cover plate opposite to the bottom wall, and a side wall connecting the bottom wall with the cover plate for forming an accommodation space. The linear motor further includes a stator, and a vibrator accommodated in the accommodating space. One of the bottom wall and the cover plate is connected with the stator, and the other supports the vibrator. Further, the side wall comprises a first connecting part connecting with the bottom wall, a second connecting part connecting with the cover plate, and an elastic arm connecting the first connecting part with the second connecting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Lubin Mao, Rongguan Zhou, Jiwei Ge
  • Patent number: 10585638
    Abstract: A terminal apparatus for providing description about one or more objects arranged in a predetermined area is provided. The terminal apparatus includes a memory configured to store arrangement information indicating arrangement of the one or more objects in the predetermined area and description information associated with the one or more objects; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to obtain area identification information for identifying the predetermined area when the terminal apparatus is located in the predetermined area, identify a positional relationship between the terminal apparatus and the one or more objects based on the arrangement information when the area identification information is obtained, and cause the terminal apparatus to describe an object of the one or more objects, in accordance with the identified positional relationship between the terminal apparatus and the one or more objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiaki Shinotsuka, Tsutomu Kawase
  • Patent number: 10547945
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display device that includes a display panel, sound generating actuators including a first sound generating actuator in a first area of the display panel and a second sound generating actuator in a second area of the display panel, the first and second sound generating actuators configured to vibrate the display panel to generate sound, and a partition between the first sound generating actuator and the second sound generating actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: YeongRak Choi, KwanHo Park, Sungtae Lee
  • Patent number: 10546572
    Abstract: A wave energy guiding system is described that includes a structural substrate formed according to a folded-pattern topology including, for example, an origami-type folded-pattern topology such as Miura-ori. The structural substrate includes a plurality of planar facets each positionable at an angle relative to adjacent planar facets. Each transducer of the plurality of transducers is positioned on a different one of the plurality of planar facets to form a transducer array. Adjustments to the angle of the adjacent planar facets cause a corresponding adjustment to a performance characteristic of the transducer array. In this way, the performance of the wave-energy guiding system can be adjusted and modified by adjusting the degree to which the structural substrate is folded in the folded-pattern topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: OHIO STATE INNOVATION FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Ryan Lee Harne
  • Patent number: 10531199
    Abstract: A vehicle sound system and method of generating sound having a plurality of frequency responses are provided. The vehicle sound system includes selecting each of a plurality of acoustic panel assemblies based on a frequency range of sound pressure vibrations the acoustic panel assembly is capable of generating, and positioning the plurality of acoustic panel assemblies within a vehicle at a respective locations within the vehicle based on the frequency range of sound pressure vibrations the acoustic panel assembly is capable of generating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Edgar Arturo Escobar, Christopher L. Steinmeyer, David T. Christian, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10516944
    Abstract: A sound output apparatus includes a touchscreen, a vibrator and a controller. The vibrator produces sound by causing vibration of the touchscreen based on a sound signal. The controller (a) performs a predetermined control of the sound signal while contact of an operation body with the touchscreen is being detected by the touchscreen, and (b) does not perform the predetermined control of the sound signal while contact of an operation body with the touchscreen is not detected by the touchscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10484784
    Abstract: A sound producing apparatus is provided. The sound producing apparatus comprises a driving circuit, comprising a pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) module, configured to generate an driving signal according to an audio input signal, wherein the driving signal comprises a pulse amplitude modulated signal generated according to the audio input signal, the pulse amplitude modulated signal comprises a plurality of pulses at a pulse rate, two consecutive pulses among the plurality of pulses are temporally spaced by a pulse cycle, the pulse rate is a reciprocal of the pulse cycle, and the pulse rate is larger than a maximum audible frequency; and a sound producing device, coupled to the driving circuit, configured to produce sound according to the driving signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: xMEMS Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Jemm Yue Liang
  • Patent number: 10440477
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for playing music by means of planar acoustic transducers adapted to optimize the music emission quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: GLAUK S.R.L.
    Inventor: Alessandro Bollini
  • Patent number: 10418018
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for addressing open space noise are disclosed. In one example, a system and method for masking open space noise includes outputting a noise masking sound from a plurality of balanced mode radiator loudspeakers distributed in a down-fire direction above an open space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Alvarado Carter
  • Patent number: 10408491
    Abstract: This panel (6) for a module of an air handling unit defines a main axis perpendicular to its surface and includes an outer plate (8), an inner plate (10), a layer (12) of insulating material arranged between the outer plate and the inner plate, and a joining element (14) arranged around the layer of insulating material and intercalated between the outer plate and the inner plate along the main axis. The plates and the layer of insulating material are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the main axis of the panel. The joining element includes both a male assembly part (34) formed by a projecting rib and a female assembly part (36) formed by a hollow groove and the projecting rib of the joining element is configured to nest into the hollow groove of another joining element with an identical transversal section belonging to another panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Carton, Samuel Duchet, Bertrand Jacquin, Marc Serra
  • Patent number: 10409325
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a double-faced display device generating sound by directly vibrating a display panel and includes: a first display panel and a second display panel disposed at the front and rear surface thereof, respectively; a single sound generating actuator connected to the first display panel and the second display panel to simultaneously vibrate the first display panel and the second display panel and thus generate sound; and a support part configured to support the sound generating actuator, the first display panel, and the second display panel. The present embodiment does not require a separate speaker and thus can achieve a thin or slim display device, and can improve the localization or the quality of sound output in opposite directions in the double-faced display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: YeongRak Choi, Sungtae Lee
  • Patent number: 10381996
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for changing a distributed mode loudspeaker's fundamental frequency. One of the systems includes a distributed mode loudspeaker comprising an actuator that includes: a supported portion, and a cantilevered portion having a length, a first fundamental frequency, and adapted to create a force to cause vibration of a load to generate sound waves using the first fundamental frequency; a support element connected to the supported portion of the actuator and adapted to adjust, based on a change to a shape of the support element, a size of the length of the cantilevered portion to change the first fundamental frequency to a second fundamental frequency with which the load will generate sound waves; and a frequency selection module that provides a signal to the support element to cause the support element to change shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: NVF Tech Ltd
    Inventors: Graham Robert Landick, Neil John Harris
  • Patent number: 10345628
    Abstract: A display apparatus and a method for controlling the display apparatus are provided. The display apparatus includes a display panel unit, a reflector disposed on the display panel unit, a radiator, an illumination sensing unit, and a controller. A color of the reflector is changeable according to a temperature thereof, and the reflector is positioned to reflect light incident on the reflector from outside the display apparatus. The heat radiator generates heat to control the temperature of the reflector, and the illumination sensing unit senses an illumination value of light incident on the display apparatus from outside. The controller controls the heat radiator to change the temperature of the reflector according to the illumination value sensed by the illumination sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-seong Cho, Sung-ho Lee, Woong-jae Song
  • Patent number: 10338635
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a double-faced display device generating sound by directly vibrating a display panel and includes: a first display panel and a second display panel disposed at the front and rear surface thereof, respectively; a single sound generating actuator connected to the first display panel and the second display panel to simultaneously vibrate the first display panel and the second display panel and thus generate sound; and a support part configured to support the sound generating actuator, the first display panel, and the second display panel. The present embodiment does not require a separate speaker and thus can achieve a thin or slim display device, and can improve the localization or the quality of sound output in opposite directions in the double-faced display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: YeongRak Choi, Sungtae Lee
  • Patent number: 10341764
    Abstract: Techniques associated with structures for dynamically tuned audio in a media device are described, including receiving data associated with an acoustic output, determining a target frequency response associated with an audio device, the audio device implemented with a hybrid radiator formed using a smart fluid or artificial muscle material, determining a value associated with a property of the smart fluid or artificial muscle material, calculating, using a dynamic tuning application, a magnitude of an external stimulus associated with the value, and sending a control signal to a source, the control signal configured to cause the source to apply the external stimulus, an application of the external stimulus of the determined magnitude configured to change the property of the smart fluid or artificial muscle material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Inventors: Derek Barrentine, Michael Edward Smith Luna, Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Patent number: 10313784
    Abstract: An integrally-designed bone conduction driver relates to the technical field of headsets using bond conduction speaker technologies, and overcomes technical disadvantages of existing bone conduction speakers, namely, complex processes and poor comfortability when they are worn. The bone conduction driver includes a vibrating plate, a voice coil, an elastic piece, a magnet, a washer, and a cup holder, where a wire outlet end of the voice coil is fixed on an inner side face of the vibrating plate; the vibrating plate is connected to the cup holder by using the elastic piece as an elastic support; the elastic piece includes an inner ring part, at least two outer arc parts that are concentric with and in clearance fit with the inner ring part, and at least two connection parts connecting tail ends of the outer arc parts to the inner ring part; and the voice coil is integrally combined with the inner side face of the vibrating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventor: Jun Geng
  • Patent number: 10296094
    Abstract: A method of making a touch-sensitive data entry screen of the kind arranged to provide haptic response to a user via at least one electromechanical exciter coupled to the screen, comprising analyzing the mechanical and electromechanical coupled system represented by the data entry screen and the at least one exciter, and selecting values of parameters of the coupled system to provide a required displacement and acceleration of the screen at low frequency in response to human touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: NVF Tech Ltd
    Inventors: Martin Colloms, Timothy Christopher Johnson Whitwell
  • Patent number: 10244325
    Abstract: The invention relates to audio transducers, such as loudspeaker, microphones and the like, and includes improvements in or relating to hinge systems for rotational action audio transducers. The hinge systems of the invention being configured to operatively support a diaphragm in use, and comprising a hinge assembly having one or more hinge joints, wherein each hinge joint comprises a hinge element and a contact member. The contact member comprises a contact surface and the configuration is such that during operation each hinge joint is configured to allow the hinge element to move relative to the associated contact member, while maintaining a substantially consistent physical contact with the contact surface. The hinge assembly biases the hinge element towards the contact surface. Preferably the hinge assembly is configured to apply a biasing force to the hinge element of each joint toward the associated contact surface, compliantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: WING ACOUSTICS LIMITED
    Inventors: David John Palmer, Michael Ian Palmer
  • Patent number: 10243164
    Abstract: A flexible display apparatus includes a substrate having a bending portion, a display over the substrate, and a cover over the substrate and covering the display. The cover includes a first film having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a second film over the first film, and an adhesive layer between the first film and the second film and attaching the first film to the second film. The first film includes at least one division line in at least some regions thereof in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyunjoon Oh, Boa Kim, Sanghoon Kim, Sangil Park, Heonjung Shin, Hyejin Oh, Jeoungsub Lee, Minhoon Choi
  • Patent number: 10182277
    Abstract: A loudspeaker arrangement for a passenger cabin of a transport means, including a loudspeaker and a housing having a receiver for the loudspeaker. The loudspeaker includes at least one membrane capable of oscillation and at least one loudspeaker coil. The loudspeaker coil is integrated into the membrane capable of oscillation, wherein the membrane electrically insulates the loudspeaker coil at least in part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Riedel, Peter Klose
  • Patent number: 10168783
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of designing a panel assembly for a vibratory panel device, the assembly comprising a panel which supports vibrations and two or more transducers coupled to the panel to transmit vibrations to or receive vibrations from the panel. The method comprises: obtaining the number of transducers to be used in the assembly and their relative positions; obtaining relationships between drive signals to be applied to the respective transducers to provide a desired effect; determining an optimization criterion for the assembly that depends on the obtained relationships; and determining one or more parameters for the respective transducers that satisfy the optimization criterion. The one or more parameters may be selected from amplitudes of drive signals, spacing, activity, area, position, shape, dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: NVF Tech Ltd
    Inventors: Neil John Harris, Christopher Julian Travis
  • Patent number: 10157604
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for addressing open space noise are disclosed. In one example, a system and method for masking open space noise includes outputting a noise masking sound from a plurality of balanced mode radiator loudspeakers distributed in a down-fire direction above an open space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Alvarado Carter
  • Patent number: 10129640
    Abstract: An example provides an apparatus to receive an audio input signal, generate, from the audio input signal, a filtered audio input signal to suppress at least one modal frequency of a flat loudspeaker diaphragm, and output the filtered audio input signal to at least one actuator to cause a vibration of the flat loudspeaker diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Victor Lee, Bowon Lee
  • Patent number: 10123127
    Abstract: A sound generator and sound generation system including the sound generator includes a piezoelectric element of a stack type having a multilayer structure. The piezoelectric element stretches and contracts along a stacking direction generates vibration according to a sound signal. An object, different from the sound generator and from a human body, generates a sound using the vibration and acts as a speaker while in contact with the sound generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Horii
  • Patent number: 10123123
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes the following: a surface arranged to be mechanically displaced; a first magnet coupled with the surface; at least one supporting member for supporting the surface; a base comprising a second magnet, wherein the second magnet is arranged, at least partially, to face the first magnet; a coil coupled with the second magnet: and a signal port electrically coupled with the coil, wherein an electrical signal is configured to travel between the signal port and the coil, and wherein the electrical signal in the coil is proportional to mechanic displacement of the surface when a force equilibrium state of the surface is broken either by the electrical signal in the coil or the mechanic displacement of the surface from a position of the force equilibrium state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: PS AUDIO DESIGN OY
    Inventor: Vesa Kajanus
  • Patent number: 10104457
    Abstract: A speaker includes a housing; an electroacoustic driver secured to the housing, and an element that is secured to a movable portion of the driver. The element is accessible from outside of the housing and is capable of having an object secured to the element. When the driver is operated in a first mode in a first frequency band, motion is imparted through the element to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darius Darayes Mobed, Lee Zamir, Laszlo Otto Drimusz
  • Patent number: 9992313
    Abstract: An electronic device 1 includes: a panel 10; a housing 60 holding the panel 10; and a piezoelectric element 30 attached to the panel 10, wherein the deformation of the piezoelectric element 30 causes the panel 10 to vibrate, to transmit human body vibration sound to an object in contact with the panel 10, and the perpendicular line or normal to the main surface of the panel 10 and the surface of the piezoelectric element 30 attached to the panel 10 are not orthogonal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9959688
    Abstract: In a portable wireless key, decoration fitting portions provided at ends of a pair of side portions of a metal decoration member are fitted in decoration receiving portions of a wireless key body, and a decoration engaging portion provided at a connecting portion of the metal decoration member is engaged with a decoration engagement portion of the wireless key body. Further, a switch operation cover is fixed to an assembled unit of the wireless key body and the metal decoration member. Thus, durability in dropping can be improved without complicating an assembling work of the metal decoration member and without increasing the number of components and costs, and it is easy to address switch variations without increasing initial costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiaki Saito
  • Patent number: 9949018
    Abstract: There is provided a flat panel loudspeaker comprising a resonant panel, an exciter comprising a foot generally cylindrical in shape, coupled to the resonant panel and defining an inner region of the resonant panel. The exciter is drivable to vibrate the resonant panel via the foot, whereby to produce a sound. A stiffness of the resonant panel in the inner region is greater than a stiffness of the resonant panel in a region of the resonant panel outside the inner region. Additionally or alternatively, the flat panel loudspeaker further comprises a damping member in contact with the inner region of the resonant panel and arranged inside the foot to generally brace against the vibration of the resonant panel so as to damp a response of the resonant panel in the inner region to a vibration from the exciter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: AMINA TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventor: Egidijus Mikalauskas
  • Patent number: 9942635
    Abstract: An audio device is described which comprises a housing holding electronic components and having a face being substantially covered by a layer of transparent material. The audio device has a display comprising a layer of display material supported under at least part of the layer of transparent material; and at least one display actuating element in the housing configured to flex the display and the layer of transparent material to generate sound waves. There is at least one air cavity formed between the layer of display material and the housing; and an entrance formed in the layer of transparent material to allow air to pass between the air cavity and an exterior of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Pasi Tuomo Antero Kemppinen, Jarmo Olavi Kenttälä
  • Patent number: 9912423
    Abstract: A system for and method of implementing mobile commerce in a satellite radio broadcasting system. A unique program identifier is associated with each program segment of a broadcast. When a listener hears a program segment of interest, the listener causes the associated program identifier to be captured and thereafter to be transferred to a central location or hub. The transferring operation can be accomplished manually, via a media link or via a wireless network. Upon receipt of the program identifier at the central hub, the program identifier is used to determine information about the listener, obtain additional information regarding the program segment associated with the program identifier for the listener and/or initiate an e-commerce transaction involving the listener and/or other parties including merchandisers and advertisers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sirius XM Radio Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia Kesling, Richard Michalski, Paul Marko, Craig Wadin, Stelios Patsiokas
  • Patent number: 9880625
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of designing a panel assembly for a vibratory panel device, the assembly comprising a panel which supports vibrations and two or more transducers coupled to the panel to transmit vibrations to or receive vibrations from the panel. The method comprises: obtaining the number of transducers to be used in the assembly and their relative positions; obtaining relationships between drive signals to be applied to the respective transducers to provide a desired effect; determining an optimisation criterion for the assembly that depends on the obtained relationships; and determining one or more parameters for the respective transducers that satisfy the optimisation criterion. The one or more parameters may be selected from amplitudes of drive signals, spacing, activity, area, position, shape, dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: NVF Tech Ltd.
    Inventors: Neil John Harris, Christopher Julian Travis
  • Patent number: 9860667
    Abstract: Methods and systems for enhancing vehicle sound are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a vehicle includes a powertrain, one or more sensors, and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to measure a sound, a vibration, or both, produced by one or more vehicle components pertaining to the engine. The processor is configured to enhance the sound for audible display for one or more individuals within or in proximity to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Roger C. Barlow, Jr., Scott M. Reilly, Frank C. Valeri
  • Patent number: 9843658
    Abstract: A user terminal apparatus is provided. The user terminal apparatus includes: a flexible display including: a main area; and a sub area comprising a curved portion and extending from the main area to a side portion of the user terminal apparatus; a housing configured to enclose the flexible display; a sound output hole provided between the flexible display and the housing and configured to output a sound from a call function; and a sound input hole configured to receive an input sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-young Huh, Yu-dong Bae, Shi-yun Cho
  • Patent number: 9843865
    Abstract: A sound generator includes a housing (20), a stand (90) supporting the housing (20), a piezoelectric vibrator (60) including a piezoelectric element (61), and an anchor applying a load to the piezoelectric vibrator (60). While the load from the anchor is being applied to the piezoelectric vibrator (60), the piezoelectric vibrator (60) deforms in response to a sound signal, and deformation of the piezoelectric vibrator (60) vibrates a mounting surface (150) on which the sound generator is mounted, causing sound to be emitted from the mounting surface (150).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Ozasa, Kosuke Teruyama, Masahiro Shinya, Talchi Kim, Seiji Horii
  • Patent number: 9826314
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus comprises a cover panel, a piezoelectric vibration element located on a rear surface being opposite to an exposed surface of the cover panel, and a drive module driving the piezoelectric vibration element based on a sound signal. The rear surface comprises a first region where the piezoelectric vibration element is disposed. The first region is located closer to a side of the exposed surface than a second region in the rear surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhito Kanemaki, Keiichi Nagoshi
  • Patent number: 9794664
    Abstract: A deployable speaker includes a driver and an acoustic enclosure made up of a multiplicity of panels. The driver is secured to one of the panels. The acoustic enclosure is deployable from a closed state to a deployed state. All of the panels which make up the enclosure are unitary and formed from a single sheet of composite material. The composite material has an interior layer that includes a first type of material which is skinned in a second type of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew W. Clark
  • Patent number: 9779712
    Abstract: An installation structure for an acoustic transducer configured to vibrate a vibrated body in a first direction so as to permit the vibrated body to generate sounds, wherein the acoustic transducer includes: a magnetic-path forming portion that forms a magnetic path; and a vibrating portion configured to vibrate in the first direction with respect to the magnetic-path forming portion, and wherein an anchor is provided between the vibrating portion and the vibrated body such that the anchor is undetachably fixed to the vibrated body by bonding and such that the anchor is detachably fixed to the vibrating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenta Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 9760987
    Abstract: A guiding method includes obtaining data of a first image, detecting with a computer reference image data corresponding to a reference object in the data of the first image, calculating with the computer a first condition based on an appearance of the reference object in the first image, the first condition indicating an operational condition of an imaging apparatus when first image was captured, and for a second image to be captured, outputting guide information that indicates how to adjust the first condition to match a reference condition, the reference condition corresponds to an appearance of the reference object in a reference image captured under the reference condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Ayumi Ueno, Ryouta Komatsu
  • Patent number: RE47802
    Abstract: A display device unit includes: a display device; and a sound element disposed at a side surface or a rear surface of the display device, where the sound element includes a vibration material layer which provides a sound based on an electric field applied therein, and a pair of electrodes which generates the electric field in the vibration material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ha-Yun Kang, Joon Hak Oh, Jong Seo Lee