Curved Or Angled Housing Patents (Class 381/336)
  • Patent number: 11323799
    Abstract: A supporter for use in an electroacoustic transducer device including a housing and an electroacoustic transducer mounted to the housing using the supporter, the supporter including: a truncated conical shaped body including: a first portion configured to be held in contact with the electroacoustic transducer at a first position; and a second portion configured to be held in contact with the housing at a second position, wherein the second position is disposed spaced from the first position along an axial direction of an axis of the truncated conical shaped body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu Tsuchihashi, Satoshi Gougi, Atsushi Hattori, Kazuhiko Nishizawa, Akira Miki
  • Patent number: 11128941
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for passive dissipation of deconstructive harmonics during audio amplification and reproduction. An apparatus including an advantageous form and type of speaker baffle/enclosure is provided to isolate and/or dissipate deconstructive harmonics in an electrical loudspeaker system. A system for passive dissipation of deconstructive harmonics during audio amplification or reproduction from an audio speaker (the speaker having a front face and a rear) includes an encapsulation and isolation body within which the audio speaker is placeable, a mounting means upon the isolation body exterior, and a resiliently flexible baffle connected to the mounting means and extending rearwardly from the speaker. The baffle optionally is vented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventor: Edward G. Blemel
  • Patent number: 10959031
    Abstract: A loudspeaker assembly includes L loudspeakers, each being substantially the same size and having a peripheral front surface, and an enclosure having a hollow cylindrical body and end closures, the cylindrical body and end closures being made of material that is impervious to air. The cylindrical body comprises L openings therein. The L openings are sized and shaped to correspond with the peripheral front surfaces of the L loudspeakers, and have central axes. The central axes of the L openings are contained in a radial plane, and the angles between adjacent axes are identical. The L loudspeakers are disposed in the L openings and hermetically secured to the cylindrical body. L is equal to or greater than 2. A higher-order loudspeaker system comprising such a loudspeaker assembly and a beamforming module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Christoph
  • Patent number: 10820077
    Abstract: A speaker system including a box and a speaker. The box includes a top wall, a front inner sidewall, and a back inner sidewall. The front inner sidewall connects to the top wall and extends upwards therefrom, and the back inner sidewall connects to the top wall and extends upwards therefrom. The speaker is positioned between the front inner sidewall and the back inner sidewall. The front of the speaker is mounted to a top of the top wall. The top wall, the front inner sidewall, the back inner sidewall, and a front of the speaker partially define a sealed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Daniel A. Pond
  • Patent number: 10701479
    Abstract: An earphone/headphone device, and a housing for such device are presented. The housing has proximal and distal ends defining respectively, a proximal closed-end portion and a distal open-end portion of the device, and comprises a sound source site for mounting a sound source in this site inside the housing, and an acoustic cavity extending from a back side of the sound source site and the proximal end portion of the housing. The acoustic cavity is configured to define a perpetual self-feeding closed-loop structure for propagation of backwave sound originated at the sound source site, such that the backwave sound is trapped and circulates in the closed-loop structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: NOVEL ACOUSTICS LTD.
    Inventor: Boaz Dekel
  • Patent number: 10524079
    Abstract: A directivity adjustment device that includes a test sound signal generator, a surface detector, and a content processor is described. The test sound signal generator generates test sound signals to scan a listening area (e.g., a room) in a nodding and rotating fashion. The test sounds are emitted by one or more loudspeaker arrays and are sensed by a microphone as they permeate throughout the listening area. The sensed sound is analyzed by the surface detector, to identify reflected sounds in relation to direct sound. Based on the amplitude variance between the peaks that represent the direct and reflected sounds reaching a predefined threshold, an adjusted directivity ratio for the content processor is selected or calculated, which results in a reduction of the level of reflected sounds and corresponding comb filtering effects. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Tomlinson M. Holman
  • Patent number: 10405089
    Abstract: An audio signal processing apparatus for processing an input audio signal is provided, the apparatus comprising a plurality of filters, each filter configured to filter the input audio signal to obtain a plurality of filtered audio signals, each filter designed according to an extended mode matching beamforming applied to a surface of a half revolution, the surface partially characterizing a loudspeaker enclosure shape, a plurality of scaling units, each scaling unit configured to scale the plurality of filtered audio signals using a plurality of gain coefficients to obtain a plurality of scaled filtered audio signals, and a plurality of adders, each adder configured to combine the plurality of scaled filtered audio signals, thereby providing an output audio signal for producing a sound field having a beam directivity pattern defined by the plurality of gain coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., University of Southampton
    Inventors: Simone Fontana, Yue Lang, Filippo Fazi, Mincheol Shin, Ferdinando Oliveri
  • Patent number: 10021479
    Abstract: A speaker producing total sound immersion by directing the sound in off-horizontal directions, and directing sound in different frequency ranges in different directions. The low range driver, or woofer, is oriented downward, and fitted with a dispersion plate, which deflects the sound along the floor and up into the room. The high range drivers, or tweeters, are oriented upward and set for wide dispersion, so that the high pitched sound is reflected off the ceiling and is more evenly distributed. One midrange driver is set in each side of the speaker box, and the sides are angled, so that the box is in the form of a truncated pyramid. This causes the midrange sound to be reflected off the walls and ceiling of the room. The result is one speaker producing a total sound immersion effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Michael Craig, Dennis Alan Colt
  • Patent number: 9942651
    Abstract: An acoustic filter includes holes and is configured to receive sound waves generated by an audio driver of a playback device. The sound waves comprise sound waves of a first frequency that radiate according to a first radiation pattern and sound waves of a second frequency that radiate according to a second radiation pattern that is less directed along an axis of the audio driver than the first radiation pattern. The second frequency is lower than the first frequency. The acoustic filter is configured to attenuate the sound waves of the first frequency so that the attenuated sound waves of the first frequency are emitted from the acoustic filter according to an effective radiation pattern that is less directed along the axis of the audio driver than the first radiation pattern and pass the sound waves of the second frequency in substantial accordance with the second radiation pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Chamness, Aurelio Ramos
  • Patent number: 9668039
    Abstract: A speaker system can include a speaker core and a removable jacket. The speaker core can have a housing and a speaker positioned within the housing. The removable jacket can cover the speaker on an outside surface of the housing, the jacket extending along at least three sides of the housing. Among other features, the speaker core can be used with one of among a number of different jackets to form different speaker systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: FUGOO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alejandro Garfio, Ho Koon Yau, Howard Shi-How Cheng, Brandon Fierro
  • Patent number: 9049516
    Abstract: A spatial sound energy (SSE) distribution control apparatus calculates filter coefficients for controlling distribution of the sound energy of an input signal, in consideration of a sound energy ratio between a reduction region for reducing transmission of a sound energy emitted through an array speaker and a concentration region for concentrating transmission of the sound energy and also in consideration of a sound energy efficiency of the concentration region. Also, the SSE distribution control apparatus determines an array size of a speaker in a case where the sound energy ratio is maximized, according to frequency variation of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Tae Kim, Jung Woo Choi, Sang Chul Ko
  • Publication number: 20150125021
    Abstract: To provide an electronic device and a mounting structure in which an electroacoustic transducer is mounted capable of sufficiently suppressing vibration of the electroacoustic transducer itself. A mounting structure (200) in which a speaker (4) is mounted includes a speaker (4), and a damping member (5) held between the speaker (4) and an electronic device (3) on which the speaker (4) is mounted. A surface of the speaker frame (41) on a side of the electronic device (3) includes a first uneven part (41A), at least a part of the first uneven part (41A) being processed to have convexes and concaves, and a surface of the damping member (5) on a side of the speaker (4) includes a second uneven part (5A), a part of the second uneven part (5A) being processed to have convex and concaves to fit the first uneven part (41A) of the speaker frame (41).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: NEC CASIO Mobile Communications, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuharu Onishi, Yukio Murata, Yuichiro Kishinami, Motoyoshi Komoda
  • Patent number: 9014408
    Abstract: A subwoofer (10) structure comprised of a transducer (30) located in a loudspeaker enclosure (11), an acoustic duct (21) expanding in a horn-like manner, a frontal chamber (40) and an aperture (22). A sound wave emanating from the transducer is conveyed via the acoustic duct portion expanding in a horn-like manner to the frontal chamber, and a sound wave emanating from the opposite side of the transducer is conveyed either to a closed space (20) or directly to the frontal chamber. The subwoofer can be adjusted without altering the external dimensions of the loudspeaker enclosure, utilising the entire volume of the loudspeaker enclosure, so that the frontal chamber is tuned by altering the size of the frontal chamber and/or the size of the aperture in the frontal chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Aura Audio Oy
    Inventors: Jan Thomé, Mika Isotalo
  • Patent number: 9002050
    Abstract: A speaker bar for a tablet computer is presented. The speaker bar is sized to fit inside a cover of the tablet computer by folding or rolling the speaker bar inside the cover. The speaker bar has retractable speaker members that extend outward beyond the edges of the speaker bar housing along a longitudinal axis of the speaker bar. Power is provided to the speaker bar when the retractable members are extended, and the power is turned off when the retractable members are retracted. The speaker bar connects to a tablet computer via Bluetooth wireless connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: BBY Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Widner, Amy Prescott
  • Patent number: 8958593
    Abstract: A speaker comprises a housing that defines an internal cavity and includes a front panel, a first side, a second side, and a third side. The speaker also includes a controller, an actuator, and a sound generating member that are disposed within the internal cavity. The controller is in communication with the actuator, and the actuator is configured for causing the sound generating member to vibrate, and thereby generate sound waves, as instructed by the controller. The front panel is configured to transmit the sound waves. The speaker has a center of mass that is affected by a position of the controller and the actuator, and the controller and the actuator are arranged and positioned so that the center of mass of the speaker is positioned along an axis that extends from, and is perpendicular to, the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Di Tao, Brian Dennis Paschke, Aaron Michael Szymanski
  • Patent number: 8934653
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a speaker housing having a rhomboid geometric shape. The rhomboid shape is a polyhedron with six faces, each of which is a parallelogram. The opposite sides of each parallelogram are substantially equal in length and their adjacent angles are substantially supplementary. The rhomboid shape of the speaker housing allows the listener to position the speakers in order to optimize the trajectory of the driver in a variety of listening situations, providing an accurate and optimized response for the listener. The rhomboid shape of the speaker housing and the utilization of point source, coaxial, dual concentric, triaxial, tri-concentric or other multi-concentric driver configurations and/or single driver loudspeaker driver technologies in the speaker can create a unique performance and functionality to this design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Chris Pelonis
  • Patent number: 8917895
    Abstract: A handheld loudspeaker device, comprising: a handheld base, a first port and a second port, a first sound guidance tube, and a second sound guidance tube. A front end of said handheld base is provided with a receiving space to place said mobile phone. Said first port and said second port are each placed on one side of said receiving space, so that said first port is connected to a loudspeaker of said mobile phone to transmit sound, and said second port is connected to a microphone to receive voice. When a user activates loudspeaker function of said mobile phone, stereo sound can be obtained at the loudspeaker slots corresponding to a first horn port and a second horn port. Through said second port, a user can speak to a receiving party at a remote end via the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Weis Design Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: 8873788
    Abstract: A sub woofer for in-ground installation and a method of installation. The sub woofer has a cylindrical enclosure or housing having a driver, electronics and a band pass filter. The driver cone is coaxial with the axis of the cylindrical housing. A port tube assembly having a tuned port tube and a resilient elbow interface is attached to an end wall of the housing in an eccentric position with the port tube projecting vertically and terminating at a canopy. The installation requires placing the enclosure in an excavation and positioning the housing and port assembly so a predetermined above ground spacing exists between the upper end of the above ground port tube and grade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventor: Jeffery James Coombs
  • Patent number: 8848934
    Abstract: Method, user terminal and computer program product for controlling audio signals at the user device during a communication session between the user device and a remote node, in which a primary audio signal is received at audio input means of the user device for transmission to the remote node in the communication session. It is determined whether the user device is operating in (i) a first mode in which secondary audio signals output from the user device are likely to disturb the primary audio signal received at the audio input means, or (ii) a second mode in which secondary audio signals output from the user device are not likely to disturb the primary audio signal received at the audio input means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Skype
    Inventor: Nils Ohlmeier
  • Patent number: 8781146
    Abstract: A combined passive acoustic speaker and stand for a portable, handheld electronic device includes a block with an inclined slot in the side oriented at an acute angle with respect to a bottom of the block to receive and retain a portion of the portable, handheld electronic device therein at an acute inclined angle with respect to a support surface. An aperture in the bottom of the slot extends through the side of the block and into a hollow therein. The hollow includes a non-symmetrical, arcuate-axis, frusto-conical horn with a larger forward sound outlet opening in the front of the block and a smaller rearward sound inlet opening in a rear of the horn open to the aperture in the bottom of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: American Covers, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryce Haymond
  • Patent number: 8757317
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a loudspeaker enclosure structure which includes a hollow housing being a barrel-shaped housing whose outer surface is concavely provided with a plurality of directional grooves each evenly arranged along the circumferential direction of the hollow housing and extending from the front end to rear end of the hollow housing, and a reflective cover having a front side fixed to a rear opening of the hollow housing and concavely provided with an annular reflective groove adjacent to the periphery of the reflective cover. The hollow housing has a receiving space therein which is in communication with each directional groove through the reflective groove. Therefore, the sound generated by a loudspeaker fixed in the receiving space will not only propagate out of the front end of the hollow housing, but also be transmitted to the space surrounding the hollow housing by way of the directional grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Longinesteno Technology Complex Corporation
    Inventor: Chao-Lang Wang
  • Patent number: 8750542
    Abstract: A method of configuring an array of speaker elements is disclosed. The method computes a sound that pressure level at various points in the venue and is evaluated by various objective functions. The configuration of a candidate array is changed, for example by the orientation or position of the speakers and the sound field is recalculated. The process is then iterated until an acceptable configuration is found. The real physical array of speakers is then configured in that manner. The method also provides a 3D plot of the sound pressure level displayed against freguency and position in the venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Martin Audio Limted
    Inventor: Ambrose C. T. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8724837
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a media device docking station having one or more acoustic channels to transfer sound to or from the media device while the media device is docked with the docking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wim Crooijmans, Richard Paul Howarth
  • Patent number: 8718308
    Abstract: A reproducing apparatus for automatically converting an output mode based on movements of a casing, and methods thereof. A reproducing apparatus having a first and a second casings includes an internal output unit outputting at least one of reproduced audio and video; an external output unit outputting at least one of the reproduced audio and video to an external device casing; a detector detecting movements of the second casing; and a control unit controlling such that at least one reproduced audio and video is outputted to at least one of the internal output unit and the external output unit. Accordingly, there is no need for a user to change the output mode, thereby reducing inconvenience for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon Park, Jang-hwan Cho, Byong-woo Jeong, Kyung-suk Cho
  • Publication number: 20140072160
    Abstract: An axis of rotation of a rotatable connection between a rocker arm, attached to the bottom of the amplifier, and a support frame of the amplifier stand is on the centerline of the amplifier box depth. A balance spring arranged between the support frame and the rocker arm is increasing loaded with tilting back of the amplifier on the stand to oppose a fallback load of the amplifier and permit a friction device applying a frictional force dampening the relative rotation to hold the amplifier in a selected tilt angle up to 45°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventor: Michael G. PEACOCK
  • Patent number: 8611581
    Abstract: An earphone device includes a housing having a driver unit, and a sound guide tube mounted on a front surface of the housing to protrude from the front surface, in which the sound guide tube is disposed at a position deviated from a center position of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuo, Takashi Ohta, Koji Nageno, Tomohiro Ito
  • Patent number: 8526654
    Abstract: Device for generating acoustic waves comprising an assembly of substantially parallel deformable walls, made of a conductive elastomer material, the series of walls delimiting contiguous spaces therebetween alternately leading over two opposite surfaces of said assembly into two cavities, that are sealed relative to one another; and a rigid revolving chamber containing the assembly and having two sealed cavities opposite two surfaces. Two circular screened slots formed in the chamber define two vents that ensure communication between the cavities and the external acoustic medium. Means are also provided for applying, in a controlled and variable manner, a set of electric potentials to the walls in order to induce an electric field between the walls, consecutively active, and inactive for a control polarity, and inactive and active for the opposite polarity, so as to decrease the space covered by the field, i.e. and in series, and to thus equally increase the contiguous space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Didson
    Inventors: Didier Gaudriot, Lionel Gaudriot
  • Patent number: 8515102
    Abstract: A line array speaker provides highly uniform frequency response throughout a wide listening field, while also reducing distortion and improving fidelity, clarity, and output level. In a symmetrical embodiment, central apertures are straddled by a sequential pairs of sets of apertures. The straddling pairs emit frequencies in the next lower frequency band relative to the frequency band of the immediately preceding frequency band apertures. In an asymmetrical embodiment, sequential frequency bands are emitted by adjacent sets of apertures rather than straddling pairs of sets of apertures. Each of the apertures may be a loudspeaker cone, one or more straight slots, one or more arbitrarily curved slots, one or more arbitrarily angled slots, one or more holes or the mouth of a horn. The speaker may have a front baffle which is a flat panel or multiple facets arranged in one or multiple recesses across a front of the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Jon J. Waller
  • Patent number: 8511422
    Abstract: A flexible multiple speaker support apparatus is provided for supporting a plurality of speakers therein and includes a flexible, hollow speaker support unit which includes a plurality of open, sound emission channels. The speakers are housed within the flexible, hollow speaker support unit, and the speakers are placed in registration with the open, sound emission channels. With one embodiment of the invention, the flexible, hollow speaker support unit includes a flexible, tubular speaker support member, and the flexible, tubular speaker support member includes a plurality of the open, sound emission channels. The speakers are placed in registration with the open, sound emission channels. With another embodiment of the invention, a suspension bracket assembly is connected to the flexible, hollow speaker support unit for supporting the flexible, hollow speaker support unit in a desired orientation from a ceiling, wall or other surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Steven L. Adams
  • Patent number: 8509468
    Abstract: A receiver or loudspeaker having a plurality of sound generators each having a housing and a sound output. An oblong channel is formed by a channel-forming element and parts of the housings. The sound outputs are positioned on one side of a middle of the channel and a outlet of the channel is positioned on the other side of the middle of the channel so that the channel has a length adapted to acoustically alter the sound. The use of the housings for forming the channels provides a more compact structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland BV
    Inventors: Aart Zeger van Halteren, Sietse Jacob van Reeuwijk
  • Patent number: 8488816
    Abstract: One mode of the present invention provides an electroacoustic transducer composed of a multifaced diaphragm assembly and a multifaced speaker housing assembly that is housed inside the multifaced diaphragm assembly. The multifaced speaker housing is configured by combining the outer peripheral surface of a plurality of individual speaker drive units into a nearly spherical shell. The multifaced diaphragm assembly, which has thereinside the multifaced speaker housing assembly, is configured to have a plurality of regular pentagonal diaphragm segments that are combined together into a nearly spherical shape shell, and a plurality of speaker drive units opposing the diaphragm segments from inside in one-to-one relation. Each speaker drive unit has a bobbin, the one end portion of which is adhered to the center portion of the inner surface of each diaphragm segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Inagaki, Manabu Omoda, Jiro Nakaso
  • Patent number: 8477954
    Abstract: Method, user terminal and computer program product for controlling audio signals at the user device during a communication session between the user device and a remote node, in which a primary audio signal is received at audio input means of the user device for transmission to the remote node in the communication session. It is determined whether the user device is operating in (i) a first mode in which secondary audio signals output from the user device are likely to disturb the primary audio signal received at the audio input means, or (ii) a second mode in which secondary audio signals output from the user device are not likely to disturb the primary audio signal received at the audio input means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Nils Ohlmeier
  • Patent number: 8477967
    Abstract: A speaker assembly is provided with a housing, a speaker mounted to the housing, and a reflector spaced apart from and facing the speaker. The reflector is symmetrical and has an arcuate central convex region for reflecting pressure back to the speaker for amplifying back pressure to the speaker. The reflector has a secondary region with an arcuate cross-section for reflecting acoustic vibrations past and outboard of the housing. The reflector is partially translucent, and a light source is provided adjacent the reflector for conveying light to the reflector, past and outboard of the housing for illuminating a region that receives acoustic vibrations reflected from the reflector. A media assembly is provided with a fan operably connected to a generator so that air that passes into a housing through an inlet and out of an outlet, causes the fan to rotate thereby providing a power source to a media device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventors: Ronald Paul Harwood, Kenneth Alan Klemmer, Larry Alan Schirmer
  • Patent number: 8422713
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system for the reproduction of acoustic waves of music, sound and speech in a substantially circular horizontal plane. The loudspeaker system includes multiple spherical enclosures, each enclosure housing a pair of transducers, each pair of transducers producing acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8411883
    Abstract: A loudspeaker apparatus includes a speaker array that has a plurality of speaker units which are arranged on a sound emitting surface of the speaker array, and emits sound beams on a plurality of channels, an angle sensing section that senses an angle change displaced from a previously set reference angle of the sound emitting surface, and an adjusting section that adjusts output angles of the sound beams in response to the angle change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Keishi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8406444
    Abstract: An audio radiation type reflective sound box structure comprises a hollow cone tube having a first end received in a box, a second end extended out of an opening of the box to form an inclined side wall, and at least one vent disposed adjacent to the first end. When a diaphragm of a speaker mounted on an inner side edge of the second end generates vibrations, compressed air in the hollow cone tube is pushed out of the opening through the vent, and then collides with the outer edge of the inclined side wall and is diffused toward a peripheral direction adjacent to a front side of the speaker along an extension direction of the inclined side wall. Thus, the sounds reflected by the box can be evenly transmitted to a peripheral environment adjacent to the front side of the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Inventor: Chao-Lang Wang
  • Publication number: 20130070949
    Abstract: A sound-reproducing apparatus includes plural coupling portions, plural rods, plural shell portions, an actuator, and first, second, and third speakers. The coupling portions are disposed at positions corresponding to vertices of an assumed first regular tetrahedron and second regular tetrahedron in a duality relation. The rods connect adjacent coupling portions with each other among the coupling portions. The shell portions are joined to the rods. The actuator is disposed outside one coupling portion selected from the coupling portions with respect to a center of the first regular tetrahedron or second regular tetrahedron, and the actuator is connected with the one coupling portion. The first, second, and third speakers are disposed on, of the four coupling portions disposed at positions corresponding to the vertices of the one of the first and second regular tetrahedra including the one coupling portion, three coupling portions excluding the one coupling portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORTION
    Inventor: Yohei FUKUMA
  • Patent number: 8369558
    Abstract: A portable speaker for a music play such as an iPod® player. The housing of the speaker is shaped and sized as a cup and can be placed inside a commonly seen cup holder, such as a cup holder in a car or other vehicles, a baby stroller, a foldable camping chair, etc. The speaker housing has a slot for receiving a music player, as well as electrical connectors for electrically connecting to the audio output of the music player. The sound producing devices are disposed within the speaker housing and face upwards and/or downwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Baby Trend Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Conrad, Denny Tsai
  • Patent number: 8355520
    Abstract: A music player is worn on a limb of a body when in use and includes: a case; a plurality of buttons through which an instruction relating to music reproduction is given; and a band fitting portion to which a band is fittable, the band being used when the case is worn on the limb. In the music player, the case has a chamfer constituted of a plane whose line of intersection with the band is diagonal to a longitudinal direction of the band, the plural buttons are provided on an upper face of the case, an arrangement direction of the plural buttons being parallel to the plane constituting the chamfer, and the chamfer has an audio output terminal. Preferably, the chamfer has a connection terminal to which an exercise state detection sensor for detecting a state of exercise practiced by a wearer of the music player is connectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masafumi Ito
  • Patent number: 8325937
    Abstract: A battery and speaker mounting apparatus includes a base member including a battery socket positioned adjacent a support surface on the base member, and a speaker chamber defined by the base member and separated from the battery socket by the support surface. A speaker module may be mounted in the speaker chamber, and a battery may be coupled to the battery socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventor: Eldho Kuriakose
  • Patent number: 8275159
    Abstract: A media playback media playback apparatus having user-selectable shapes is disclosed. In accordance with the media playback apparatus having user-selectable shapes in accordance with the present invention, speakers are attached to a media playback unit via rotatable connecting means such that a user may select a shape of the media playback apparatus according to his or her preference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Neofidelity, Inc.
    Inventor: Duck Soo Lee
  • Publication number: 20120237069
    Abstract: An electrostatic loudspeaker (ESL) assembly providing curvature in two directions for improved dispersion of sound waves. The ESL comprises at least one stator panel, a flexible diaphragm and a spacer that impedes contact between the stator panel and the diaphragm. The stator is formed from a material that comprises an array of apertures. Furthermore, the material can be annealed. The material temper, along with the aperture geometry and patter, affect the stretchability of the material. The two-axis curved structure enables a compact form of ESL to be realized, including bookshelf type loudspeakers whereas all known commercial units are comparable in height to that of a human listener. The individual curved ESL panels can also be readily combined to create larger transducer assemblies including omni-directional units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Murray R. HARMAN
  • Patent number: 8259980
    Abstract: An adjustable tweeter assembly is provided to allow a tweeter to be directionally oriented to a selected position. The assembly includes a base, a bowl, and a cup, which are nested together so that the bowl is sandwiched between the base and the cup for movement therebetween. The tweeter is mounted in the bowl which can be rotated and pivoted relative to the cup and to the base. A fastener extends through the cup, the bowl, and the base, and through a leaf spring so as to provide a compressive or clamping force between the base, the bowl, and the cup. The tweeter is rotatable 360° and pivotal approximately 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Three Amigos LLC
    Inventors: Ronald D. Maurer, Sean P. McDermott, Richard P. Apgar
  • Patent number: 8224001
    Abstract: A line array speaker provides highly uniform frequency response throughout a wide listening field, while also reducing distortion and improving fidelity, clarity, and output level. In a symmetrical embodiment, central apertures are straddled by a sequential pairs of sets of apertures. The straddling pairs emit frequencies in the next lower frequency band relative to the frequency band of the immediately preceding frequency band apertures. In an asymmetrical embodiment, sequential frequency bands are emitted by adjacent sets of apertures rather than straddling pairs of sets of apertures. Each of the apertures may be a loudspeaker cone, one or more straight slots, one or more arbitrarily curved slots, one or more arbitrarily angled slots, one or more holes or the mouth of a horn. The speaker may have a front baffle which is a flat panel or multiple facets arranged in one or multiple recesses across a front of the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventor: Jon J. Waller
  • Patent number: 8208670
    Abstract: A portable and wearable sound recordable and playable device comprising an electronic module that provides audio recording and playback functions and that includes at least one integrated circuit having associated memory storage, a microphone and a speaker, and a power source; a bulbous portion that substantially encapsulates the electronic module and that is configured so that the device has a substantially continuously contoured outer surface that is free of any display; and one or more exposed user controls that signally communicate with the electronic module and penetrate through the bulbous portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ann Williams Group, LLC
    Inventor: Sheila A. Wright
  • Patent number: 8199961
    Abstract: A speaker device (100) includes a speaker unit (2) including a diaphragm (6); a windshield cover (3) covering the speaker unit and including a sound emitting unit (130) emitting a sound produced by the speaker unit; and a cabinet (5) connected to a bottom of the windshield cover, and supporting the speaker unit so as to form an angle equal to or greater than 0 degree and equal to or smaller than 90 degree between a vibration direction X of the diaphragm and the sound emitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Omoda, Masahiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8175304
    Abstract: A loudspeaker configuration capable of generating stereophonic sound separation from relatively loudspeaker drivers that are not necessarily widely separated. For example, such a loudspeaker configuration can be used to generate relatively good sound separation from a single chassis, such as a single speaker box, a boom box, a clock radio or the like. This can advantageously save space in many environments. One embodiment uses four mid-tweeter speaker drivers and a bass driver. The four mid-tweeter speaker drivers are arranged facing outward approximately 90 degrees apart from each other. A speaker driver facing the listener reproduces a mid channel signal, for example, L+R. A speaker driver facing away from the listener reproduces the same mid channel signal or a delayed version of the mid channel signal. A left facing speaker reproduces a side channel, for example, L?R. A right facing speaker reproduces a side channel, for example, R?L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Inventor: Donald J. North
  • Patent number: 8170223
    Abstract: A loudspeaker is provided for receiving an incoming electrical signal and transmitting an acoustical signal that is directional and has a substantially constant beamwidth over a wide frequency range. The loudspeaker may include a curved mounting plate that has curvature over a range of angles. The loudspeaker may include an array of speaker drivers coupled to the mounting plate. Each speaker driver may be driven by an electrical signal having a respective amplitude that is a function of the speaker driver's respective location on the mounting plate. The function may be a Legendre function. Alternatively, the loudspeaker may include a flat mounting plate. In this case, the respective electrical signal driving each speaker may have a phase delay that virtually positions the speaker onto a curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: D. Broadus Keele, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8155370
    Abstract: An audio system utilizes a method for detecting and adjusting a sound field effect thereof. The audio system includes a first speaker and a second speaker. The first speaker is used to emit a first sound signal, and the second speaker is used to emit a second sound signal. The method for adjusting the sound field effect includes the steps of detecting a specific position and adjusting the first speaker or the second speaker based on the specific position to focus the first sound signal and the second sound signal on the specific position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Asustek Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Shou-Hsiu Hsu, Kuo-Hsun Huang
  • Patent number: 8150085
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reflex loudspeaker construction (1, 2, 3), which comprises a loudspeaker chamber (30) delimited by the reflex loudspeaker construction (1, 2, 3), a reflex channel (5) connected to the loudspeaker chamber (30), which connects the loudspeaker chamber (30) to the external space of the reflex loudspeaker construction (1, 2, 3), and at least one loudspeaker element (7) connected to the reflex loudspeaker construction (1, 2, 3), which forms part of the structure delimiting the loudspeaker chamber (30). According to the invention, the reflex loudspeaker construction (1, 2, 3) comprises at least two components (2, 3), which can be repeatedly detached at least partly from each other, without dismantling, in order to use the loudspeaker chamber (30) as a transportation space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Genelec Oy
    Inventor: Ilpo Martikainen