With Tubular Waveguide Or Resonant Element Patents (Class 381/338)
  • Patent number: 8132642
    Abstract: Normally a speaker is used by attaching to a sealed or semi-sealed cabinet so that vibration generated at the front and the back of a diaphragm does not mutually interfere. Therefore, a certain depth and a volume are necessary, and in a limited location such as a front panel of a device, there is a case that it cannot be attached to the most suitable position for a listener. As a means to solve that, a method that a speaker sound at a distant position is led to a front panel by a waveguide is practically used. However, still it has limitations in depth and attaching position, and good results cannot be obtained also in efficiency. A speaker is attached so that a sound generated at the front of the speaker attached to a cabinet is led to a plane such as a front panel of a device by a waveguide, and the opening surface of the waveguide is almost perpendicular to the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: M. I. Laboratories Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuru Takashima
  • Patent number: 8130987
    Abstract: A speaker system has a laterally extending body portion for supporting the back of the head of a user and a pair of right and left side portions respectively connected to the right and left ends of the body portion. A plurality of openings in side wall of each of two speaker boxes for making communication between the inside and the outside of each speaker box, for preventing sound leakage from each speaker unit and ensuring the sound pressure level in a low-frequency range of the audio frequencies reproducible by the speaker unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Kaneda, Naotaka Kishi, Noboru Shiina
  • Patent number: 8130976
    Abstract: A sound system which has, for example, a radio, a cassette and a CD player is usually already installed in cars as standard or as an option. In addition, a better sound system includes a box system which has a tweeter and a woofer. In order to provide a speaker box which is suitable particularly for dispensing frequencies below 150 Hz and at the same time has neat pulses accompanied at the same time by little distortion, pulse dynamics and is highly effective, a sound transducer (10) is introduced into the supporting structure of the vehicle. This takes place in such a manner that subcompartments which are separated from each other adjoin each of its two membrane sides. In this case, the two subcompartments of the speaker box are formed by at least two elements (2, 3, 4) of the supporting structure of the vehicle (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Klaus Linhard, Norbert Niemczyk
  • Patent number: 8126189
    Abstract: A multi-directional flat speaker device is disclosed. By the directional characteristics of a plurality of flat speakers of the flat speaker device, accompanying with mechanism to actuate each of the plurality of flat speakers independently rotating to its desired direction, a composite sound field is generated as desired accordingly. The design makes the applications of the flat speaker device more suitable to meet the requirement of future utilizations. The mechanism to actuate the plurality of flat speakers can be achieved by controlling one or more of the flat speakers to rotate in a unique manner. The mechanism can control a facing angle of any one of the plurality of flat speakers independently. The mechanism can be designed by mechanical or electrical controlling manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chang-Ho Liou, Kuo-Hua Tseng, Ming-Daw Chen
  • Patent number: 8111854
    Abstract: Electrical signals corresponding to sound are received at a wire, and sound is generated at a speaker connected to the wire. The sound is resonated in a cavity of a shell housing the speaker, and then passed along a transmission tube toward a pinna of a user's ear without directing the sound directly toward the user's ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Yan-Ru Peng
  • Patent number: 8111853
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a dual-mode earphone is provided, comprising a first earbud including a speaker with a diaphragm and at least one acoustic port in front of the diaphragm, and a cap in front of the speaker. The speaker or the cap is configured to move relative to the other for opening and closing the acoustic port in one embodiment and a movable seal is provided in another embodiment. The earphone further includes a second earbud housing operably coupled to the first earbud opposite the speaker. A method for providing acoustic equalization in a dual-mode earphone is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc
    Inventor: Osman Kemal Isvan
  • Patent number: 8103035
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing. A waveguide is located within the housing. The waveguide includes a first subsection that bends around a first axis and has a first cross-sectional area with an aspect ratio that is substantially different from unity. A second subsection bends around a second axis that is non-parallel to the first axis and includes a second cross-sectional area with an aspect ratio that is substantially different from unity. A third subsection acoustically couples the first subsection to the second subsection. The third subsection includes a third cross-sectional area with an aspect ration that varies between the first aspect ratio and the second aspect ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Preston Parker, Roman Litovsky, Jacky Chi-Hung Chan, Todd Charter Brown, Lino A. Pucci
  • Patent number: 8098868
    Abstract: A speaker device for a portable terminal including a first housing and a second housing coupled to the first housing and rotating towards or away from the first housing while facing the first housing. The speaker device includes a speaker unit mounted in the second housing, first sound output holes formed in the second housing, and second sound output holes formed in the first housing. When the second housing is folded to the first housing, a sound output from the speaker unit is guided into the first housing through the first sound output holes, travels inside the first housing and is output through the second sound output holes. In the speaker device for the portable terminal, the speaker unit and the resonating space are separately positioned in the housings, thereby providing a mellow volume and a high-quality sound and contributing to slimness of the portable terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bong-Sub Kim, Yong-Yi Kim, Seung-Woo Ryu
  • Patent number: 8094855
    Abstract: In a low frequency transducer system a multi-compression chamber, inverse horn structure is employed in combination with a resonance-distortion filter chamber. The filter chamber effectively expands the effective enclosure volume at low frequencies and connected to one of the compression chambers filter parasitic resonances and distortion and allowing the system to more efficiently reproduce low frequencies while being able to use smaller diameter transducers and maintaining good system sensitivity. Compression chambers are organized for constant or continuous compression on a section-by-section basis throughout the inverse horn system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventor: Philip R. Clements
  • Patent number: 8090140
    Abstract: A speaker has an acoustic diaphragm, and an actuator that is driven based on an acoustic signal. The actuator has a transmission portion that is directly or indirectly attached to the acoustic diaphragm and transmits a displacement output of the actuator to the acoustic diaphragm. The actuator vibrates with the acoustic diaphragm by at least its component of the vibration along a plane of the acoustic diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobukazu Suzuki, Masaru Uryu, Yoshio Ohashi
  • Patent number: 8090131
    Abstract: A steerable acoustic waveguide apparatus includes plural plates arranged in one or more linear arrays. Steering of an acoustic beam radiated from the waveguide apparatus may be achieved through differential delays of acoustic signals resulting from differences in timing, frequency, or mode or resulting from differences in physical attributes of the plates. In one aspect, where the apparatus is used with a target that is confined by a conduit such as a pipe, a longitudinal plane for the conduit intersects the linear array, an array plane for the linear array has a conduit orientation relative to the longitudinal plane, and the conduit orientation is substantially perpendicular or substantially parallel. The waveguide apparatus may serve as a thermal buffer and may simplify access to an acoustic path in a device such as an ultrasonic flowmeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Elster NV/SA
    Inventor: Lawrence C. Lynnworth
  • Patent number: 8066095
    Abstract: A compact bass speaker cabinet uses a long, narrow, tapered waveguide that acts as does a small radial portion of the air outside a large pulsating sphere, and has the same bass response as the large pulsating sphere. The smaller end is closed and the longer end is open. In one embodiment the inside of the waveguide is a rectangle about an inch thick and substantially as wide as the speaker or speakers that are mounted on the wider surface close to or slightly overlapping the closed end; and the inside surfaces are tapered so that they meet at a point which lies beyond the closed end by a distance equal to the radian wavelength of the longest sound wave that is to be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Inventor: Nicholas Sheppard Bromer
  • Publication number: 20110274306
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for waveguide structures and speaker assemblies. In one embodiment, a waveguide may include an input aperture configured to receive a sound signal from a sound source, and a plurality of isolated sound paths having substantially equal path lengths. Each isolated sound path may be formed within a housing of the waveguide and formed with a curved path to reduce the depth of the waveguide. The waveguide may include a plurality of plugs, wherein each plug divides an output of one of the isolated sound paths into a plurality of output sound paths and defines a plurality of output apertures of the waveguide. Each output sound path is characterized by a reduced width relative to the output of the isolated sound path, the plurality of output apertures configured to output a combined sound signal based, at least in part, on the plurality of sound signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Duckworth Holding, Inc. c/o QSC Audio Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Adams
  • Publication number: 20110274305
    Abstract: This invention provides an acoustic waveguide with a continuous least-energy-surface formed from an upper vertical control curve, a lower vertical control curve, right horizontal control curve and a left horizontal control curve. In addition, a circular throat end and a non-elliptical closed control curve form a mouth such that the continuous least-energy-surface is coincident with the six control curves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Bernard M. Werner
  • Publication number: 20110243359
    Abstract: A speaker system includes an enclosure defining a resonance chamber, a loudspeaker received in the resonance chamber, and a sound wave reflecting member. The enclosure includes a front panel and a base. The loudspeaker is exposed at the front panel. The base includes a back panel facing the front panel, an inner tube, and an outer tube. The back panel defines a back bass port. The inner tube and the outer tube extend from the back panel and are received in the resonance chamber. The inner tube surrounds the back bass port. The outer tube surrounds the inner tube. The sound wave reflecting member is coupled with the outer tube and the inner tube. The sound wave reflecting member, the outer tube, and the inner tube cooperatively form a resonator. The resonator communicates with the resonance chamber and the back bass port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: SHI-QUAN LIN, TE-HUA LEE
  • Patent number: 8019107
    Abstract: An earpiece may be used to detect sounds from an ear canal of a user. The earpiece may include a microphone assembly and an acoustic pathway that is at least partially defined by a hollow elongated member. The acoustic pathway fluidly couples the microphone assembly with an ear canal of the user when the earpiece is positioned with respect to the ear of the user. Sounds produced by the user travel from the ear canal through the acoustic pathway for detection by the microphone assembly. Also, the hollow elongated member behaves as an acoustic waveguide to amplify a desired frequency and/or attenuate other, less desirable, frequencies of the sounds produced by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Think-A-Move Ltd.
    Inventors: Lester S. H. Ngia, Tarun Pruthi, Christopher F. Vlach
  • Patent number: 8005517
    Abstract: A mobile communication device is provided. The mobile communication device includes a terminal body, and a speaker module located in the terminal body. The speaker module includes an enclosure located in the terminal body, the enclosure defining a chamber therein, and a speaker having a front surface and a rear surface, the speaker being located in the enclosure such that the front surface of the speaker is exposed from the enclosure and the rear surface thereof is positioned within the chamber, to allow a sound generated from the rear surface to resonate within the chamber. A mutual interference between the sound generated from the front side of the sound emission part and the sound emitted from the rear side thereof can be reduced to thereby improve the performance of the middle and low sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jeong-Hoon Kang, Jin-Ho Kim, Sung-Tae Lee
  • Patent number: 8002078
    Abstract: An acoustic waveguide with at least two portions coupled by vibration damping structure. The vibration damping structure may be a conformable material such as closed cell foam. The vibration damping structure may further include structure for inhibiting motion in a direction transverse to the interface between the vibration damping structure and a portion of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Jacky Chi-Hung Chan, Brian J. Gawronski
  • Patent number: 7980700
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus housing cover is adapted to be attached to a housing of an electronic apparatus having a connection terminal to be connected to an external apparatus via a connecting cable, and a speaker device adapted to output a sound, and cover the connection terminal and the speaker device. The housing cover includes a cover main body having a box like shape, having an opening on a face opposed to the housing, and having an insertion passage section through which the connecting cable is inserted, and an acoustic effect section provided to the cover main body, and adapted to execute an acoustic effect processing on a sound output from the speaker device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20110170725
    Abstract: An electronic device disposing structure includes a stand having a position limiting area, a sound receiving channel on the stand and including a sound inlet hole at a distal surface of the stand, a sound outlet hole at a bottom surface of the position limiting area, and a passage portion for interconnecting the sound inlet and outlet holes, and a sound emitting channel on the stand and including a sound outlet hole at the distal surface of the stand, a sound inlet hole at the bottom surface of the position limiting area, and a passage portion for interconnecting the sound outlet and inlet holes. The electronic device disposing structure combines a portable electronic device into the position limiting area, such that a microphone and a speaker respond to sound receiving and emitting channels respectively to achieve a hand-free effect and a sound amplification without requiring a circuit design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Keng-Yuan Liu
  • Patent number: 7974431
    Abstract: A speaker system of the present invention comprises a cabinet, at least one speaker unit attached to the cabinet, and a plurality of passive radiators attached to the cabinet and each including a diaphragm and a supporting system supporting the diaphragm. The speaker system of the present invention is configured so that distortion components of sound pressures radiated from the supporting systems of the plurality of passive radiators are canceled with each other, and sounds radiated by the plurality of passive radiators are radiated in substantially the same direction from the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Saiki
  • Publication number: 20110158446
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic device includes a base, a plurality of first fasteners, at least one first electrode, at least one second electrode and a sound wave generator. Each of the first fasteners includes a body engaging with the base and a flexible element extending from the body. The at least one first electrode has a first end and a second end. The first end engages with the flexible element of the plurality of first fasteners, and the second end is secured on the base. The at least one second electrode has a third end and a fourth end. The third end engages with the flexible element of the plurality of first fasteners, and the fourth end is secured on the base. The sound wave generator is electrically connected to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: BEIJING FUNATE INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: LIANG LIU, CHEN FENG, LI QIAN, YU-QUAN WANG
  • Publication number: 20110158447
    Abstract: A loudspeaker has a loudspeaker driver and a first tube having a base end coupled to the driver and extending towards the rear end of the loudspeaker. A second tube of larger cross sectional dimensions extends over the first tube and loudspeaker driver and has a rear end wall spaced from the open rear end of the second tube and a front end coupled to the driver. A third, open ended tube of smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the first tube extends through a rear end wall of the second tube and into the first tube, with the front end of the third tube spaced from the base of the first tube. A folded, three segment transmission line is formed between the first and second tubes, between the second and third tubes, and through the third tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventor: Peter M. Bouvier
  • Patent number: 7940952
    Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer includes a generally V-shaped diaphragm comprising a folded sheet of film material. The diaphragm also comprises two upper ends, a lower end, an inner surface, and an outer surface. A frame supports the diaphragm in at least the two upper ends of the diaphragm and a structured conductive layer is arranged on a surface of the diaphragm. Permanent magnets are attached to the frame adjacent to the upper two ends and the lower end of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Juergen Regl
  • Patent number: 7940953
    Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer has a membrane comprises a folded or curved sheet of film material. A frame supports the membrane in at least an upper end thereof. A resilient suspension connects the upper ends of the membrane to the frame. A driver system is attached to the frame and the membrane for moving the membrane dependent on an electrical input signal. At least one ferromagnetic element is arranged in the membrane or on one of the surfaces of the membrane at its lower end. At least one magnet provides a magnetic field, the magnet being attached to the frame in a position adjacent the lower end of the membrane. The ferromagnetic element is pulled down by a magnetic force between the element and the magnet establishing a gap therebetween such that tensioning of the membrane is achieved by the magnetic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Regl, Gerhard Pfaffinger
  • Patent number: 7936892
    Abstract: This invention provides an acoustic waveguide with a continuous least-energy-surface formed from an upper vertical control curve, a lower vertical control curve, right horizontal control curve and a left horizontal control curve. In addition, a circular throat end and a non-elliptical closed control curve form a mouth such that the continuous least-energy-surface is coincident with the six control curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Bernard M. Werner
  • Publication number: 20110096950
    Abstract: The present invention is an acoustic traveling wave tube system for propagating a directional acoustic wave comprising an acoustic traveling wave tube having a cylindrical shape with a load on one end of the tube, a plurality of excitation rings positioned around a circumference of the tube and spaced at predetermined intervals along a length of the tube and a microprocessor having a database containing a plurality of waveforms representative of acoustic signals. The microprocessor energizes one of the plurality of excitation rings to form an acoustic wave, sequentially energizes one or more of the remaining excitation rings along the length of the tube to amplify the acoustic wave as the acoustic wave travels along the length of the tube, and propagates the acoustic wave from an end of the tube opposite the load as a shaped directional acoustic wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Sensis Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Rougas, Pasquale Dinovo
  • Patent number: 7925036
    Abstract: A loudspeaker has a loudspeaker driver and a first tube having a base end coupled to the driver and extending towards the rear end of the loudspeaker. A second tube of larger cross sectional dimensions extends over the first tube and loudspeaker driver and has a rear end wall spaced from the open rear end of the second tube and a front end coupled to the driver. A third, open ended tube of smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the first tube extends through a rear end wall of the second tube and into the first tube, with the front end of the third tube spaced from the base of the first tube. A folded, three segment transmission line is formed between the first and second tubes, between the second and third tubes, and through the third tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventor: Peter M. Bouvier
  • Publication number: 20110069856
    Abstract: A modular horn type loudspeaker and a modular horn array formed of modular loudspeakers. An acoustic horn includes a first acoustic module. The first acoustic module includes a first acoustic driver and a first acoustic duct, for conducting acoustic energy from the first acoustic driver. The first acoustic duct has a first opening through which acoustic energy is radiated. The first acoustic duct is characterized by a first centerline. A second acoustic module includes a second acoustic driver and a second acoustic duct, for conducting acoustic energy from the acoustic driver. The second acoustic duct has a second opening through which acoustic energy is radiated. The second acoustic duct is characterized by a second centerline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: David Edwards Blore, Paul F. Fidlin, Soichiro Hayashi, Thomas E. Macdonald, Peter C. Santoro
  • Patent number: 7903834
    Abstract: A curve fitted planar loudspeaker minimizes variation and dead zones in the sound field propagated by an array of the loudspeakers. The curve fitted loudspeaker provides a plurality of sound generating transducers. The diaphragm is curved and each adjacent section fits as a section into a larger curve, eliminating or minimizing breaks in the propagated sound filed at the target distance to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 7894614
    Abstract: A system and method for achieving extended low-frequency response and increased low-frequency sound pressure output capability in a loudspeaker system is provided. The system and method comprise mounting a low-frequency driver in a ported box, tuning the ported box to a sufficiently low frequency so as to result in a frequency response that can be modeled substantially as a second-order response, and equalizing the response of said driver-box combination with a second-order biquadratic filter function to achieve the desired frequency response characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: Robert Roger Cordell
  • Patent number: 7894620
    Abstract: A mobile phone and an acoustic box structure thereof are provided. The mobile phone includes a shell containing a printed circuit board (PCB) and a hidden antenna therein. The acoustic box structure is disposed between the PCB and the hidden antenna. The acoustic box structure includes a main body, a loudspeaker accommodated in the main body and a frame located between the PCB and the main body. Due to the design of the frame, a hermetic space is framed between the PCB and the main body, thereby preventing sound waves generated by the loudspeaker from leaking out via a gap between the main body and the PCB. Furthermore, the frame made of shockproof materials decreases the resonant transfer between the PCB and the loudspeaker. Consequently, the quality of the sound made by the mobile phone is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsung-Lung Yang
  • Patent number: 7886867
    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: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Steven L. Adams
  • Patent number: 7886869
    Abstract: An acoustic device including a first acoustic waveguide having two open ends; a second acoustic waveguide; and an acoustic driver having a first and second radiating surface positioned so that the first: radiating surface radiates into the first waveguide and the second surface radiates into the second waveguide. An acoustic device including an acoustic driver and an acoustic waveguide with two open ends. A method for making the acoustic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin Bastyr, Hidehiko Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20110019853
    Abstract: A multi-directional sound emission means and a system having same are disclosed. The system comprises a speaker body and sound emission devices coupled to both ends of the speaker body. The sound emission devices each include a sound emission means for directionally emitting sound towards multiple directions. The sound emission means includes a base, a loudspeaker disposed on the base, and a plurality of hollow mechanical sound conducting elements. The loudspeaker has an opening where the sound is emitted. Each hollow mechanical sound conducting element has an inner opening end and an exterior opening end opposite to the inner opening end. The exterior opening ends are directed towards desired multiple directions, respectively. The inner opening ends are in sound communication with the opening of the loudspeaker such that sound from the loudspeaker is emitted along the desired multiple directions through the sound conducting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: IAG GROUP LTD.
    Inventor: Kwangwu Chang
  • Publication number: 20100329494
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of providing an apparatus, the apparatus including: a loudspeaker configured to convert an electrical input signal into an acoustic output signal; and carbon nanohorn material wherein the carbon nanohorn material is positioned so as to be exposed to the acoustic output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Markku Rouvala, Tim Mellow, Pritesh Hiralal, Haolan Wang, Gehan Amaratunga
  • Patent number: 7856112
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an inventive microphone assembly for desktop communication systems. It utilises the advantages of placing the microphone in a desktop conferencing system as close as possible to the tabletop surface, without exposing the microphone for unfavourable mechanical or acoustic influence. This is achieved by building it into the footing in front of system, in a mechanically controlled and robust way. In this way, the high frequency response can be controlled to optimise sound quality, and at the same time the microphone assembly can be configured as a flexible unit that easily can be re-used in other systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Tandberg Telecom AS
    Inventors: Trygve Frederik Marton, Johan Ludvig Nielsen, Petter Muren
  • Patent number: 7848535
    Abstract: There is provided a narrow directional microphone which houses a plurality of microphone units of a first-order pressure gradient type (condenser microphone) while achieving reduced weight and compact shape at the same time. The narrow directional microphone includes a cylindrical microphone case that is also used as an acoustic tube and two or more microphone units housed in the microphone case, each having a front acoustic terminal and a rear acoustic terminal. A hole communicating with the inside and outside of the microphone case is provided in the peripheral wall of the microphone case, and an acoustic resistance material is provided on the inside of the microphone case so as to close the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 7835537
    Abstract: A loudspeaker may include a baffle, a planar diaphragm transducer carried by the baffle and having a front surface for radiating acoustic energy therefrom, and a slotted waveguide adjacent the front surface of the planar diaphragm transducer. The planar diaphragm transducer may be operable to a desired high frequency, and the slotted opening may have a width not substantially greater than a wavelength corresponding to the desired high frequency. For example, for a desired high frequency of about 20 KHz, the slotted opening may have a width not greater than about two-thirds of an inch. Accordingly, the loudspeaker including the slotted waveguide may provide nearly constant horizontal directivity over a large angle. In another embodiment, the loudspeaker may include a conical diaphragm transducer with a slotted waveguide adjacent its front surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Brian E. Cheney
  • Patent number: 7831057
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system includes a speaker enclosure having an opening in a front wall, and a speaker manifold mounted within the speaker enclosure and communicating with the opening. The speaker manifold includes a pair of substantially parallel side walls, a back wall, and top and bottom walls, defining a manifold chamber. The wall opposite the back wall is substantially open to define a manifold opening and to permit the communicating. The manifold opening is substantially in alignment with the front wall opening. A woofer is mounted on a first wall of the speaker manifold. An acoustic vent is mounted on a second wall of the manifold, such that the woofer and the acoustic vent face each other at one of about a 180 degree angle or about a 90 degree angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Audiovox Corporation
    Inventor: Todd K. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 7813519
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes a housing including at least one first tube in communication with at least one first cavity, at least one second tube in communication with at least one second cavity, one third tube in communication with at least one third cavity, and at least one microphone element separating the first, second and third cavities, wherein sound waves are received in the first, second, and third tubes and directed into the cavities and received by the microphone element. A method for converting sound waves into an electrical signal includes receiving the sound waves through at least three tube openings and directing the received sound waves along tube pathways into at least a first, second, and third cavity to a microphone separating the first, second, and third cavity. The method further includes converting the received sound waves into an electrical signal with the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventor: Walter A. Kargus, IV
  • Patent number: 7801320
    Abstract: The specification and drawings present a new method and apparatus for reducing loudspeaker size by partitioning the back cavity of the loudspeaker using a sound sponge block. The sound sponge block is an array of narrow ducts (e.g., parallel ducts, or parallel round cylinders of a small diameter) made of a pre-selected material with predetermined dimensions (e.g., the diameter and length) formed within a single block which is placed behind a loudspeaker diaphragm but not in a direct contact with it. The sound sponge block, comprising the multiple very narrow ducts (e.g., with duct diameters on the order of microns) substantially absorbs the sound waves radiated from a rear side of the diaphragm in the backward direction due to significant drop in the impedance for very narrow tube diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Tim Mellow
  • Publication number: 20100183180
    Abstract: A speaker apparatus is provide, which includes a casing, a speaker disposed in the casing, and a one-way inlet valve and a one-way outlet valve disposed in the casing for introducing and discharging air so as to balance pressure inside the casing, thereby enabling an air cushion generated by the speaker to timely dissipate without interfering with air cushions subsequently generated to thus be more capable of reproducing sound with high fidelity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventor: Jen-Hui Tsai
  • Publication number: 20100177920
    Abstract: There is provided multiple embodiments of a micro-speaker that reproduces audio signals at a low resonant frequency, which correspondingly allows for low frequency reproduction of audio signals by the micro-speaker. The various embodiments of the micro-speaker may enable usage of spiders with larger areas such that mechanical compliance of the spider is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Creative Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiao Xiang Shen, Thean Kuie Christopher Chang
  • Patent number: 7751581
    Abstract: The invention relates to a public address system including one or more loudspeakers, each of which is in particular equipped with a section for reproducing high-frequency sounds, including a wave expansion guide, which receives, at its input sound waves coming from a transducer and having, projecting in a plane, a form opening outwards from its input to its output for distributing, in a solid transmission angle, the sound waves coming from the expansion guide. According to the invention, the expansion guide includes one or more mobile flaps that can be moved by a movement made parallel to the plane, so as to enable the solid transmission angle of the sound waves to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: L-Acoustics
    Inventor: Christian Heil
  • Patent number: 7748495
    Abstract: Provided is an acoustic loudspeaker comprising an enclosure and at least first and second loudspeaker drivers. The enclosure comprises at least one tubular sound channel of a substantially constant inside dimension acoustically coupled to the at least first and second loudspeaker drivers. The at least one tubular sound channel comprises a first opening disposed at a first end of the at least one tubular sound channel, a second opening disposed at a second end of the at least one tubular sound channel and a third opening disposed on the at least one tubular sound channel between the first and second ends. The second opening comprises a sound outlet for outputting sound conducted through the enclosure. The enclosure further comprises at least one tuning section disposed within the at least one tubular sound channel between the second and third openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Inventor: Paul M. Krueger
  • Patent number: 7751582
    Abstract: A microphone with narrow directivity capable of obtaining high directivity and reducing wind noise is obtained. A cylindrical acoustic tube, a microphone unit arranged in the acoustic tube, a front acoustic chamber and a rear acoustic chamber formed by partitioning the acoustic tube by the microphone unit, a front acoustic terminal for causing the front acoustic chamber to communicate with an external space, a rear acoustic terminal for causing the rear acoustic chamber to communicate with an external space, and a film that covers the front acoustic terminal are comprised. It is recommended that the rear acoustic terminal be also covered with a film. Further, it is recommended that the films be made of vinyl chloride and formed into a corrugated shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Publication number: 20100092006
    Abstract: A sound reproduction system in a vehicle includes an acoustic package including an electroacoustic transducer and a sound duct that carries the sound from the electroacoustic transducer. The sound duct carries the sound to an outlet at a location in the vehicle at which radiated sound efficiently drives selected audio modes of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Michael D. Rosen
  • Publication number: 20100092019
    Abstract: A waveguide system for radiating sound waves. The system includes a low loss waveguide for transmitting sound waves, having walls are tapered so that said cross-sectional area of the exit end is less than the cross-sectional area of the inlet end. In a second aspect of the invention, a waveguide for radiating sound waves, has segments of length approximately equal to A ? ( y ) = A inlet ? [ 1 - 2 ? Y B + ( y B ) 2 ] where l is the effective length of said waveguide and n is a positive integer. The product of a first set of alternating segments is greater than the product of a second set of alternating segments, in one embodiment, by a factor of three. In a third aspect of the invention, the first two aspects are combined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Jeffrey Hoefler, John H. Wendell, Robert P. Parker, Thomas A. Froeschle, William P. Schreiber
  • Patent number: 7684755
    Abstract: Disclosed is a garment (102) made of a particular type of material, the garment can include a garment appendage (104, 108, 110, 112) and a sensor (114, 116) coupled to the garment appendage with the sensor configured to detect activation of the garment appendage. The garment can further include a controller (126) coupled to the sensor, with the controller configured to control a function of an electronic device based on activation of the garment appendage when sensed by the sensor. Also disclosed is a method of a garment as described above, the method including activating the garment appendage so that the sensor detects the activation, and processing a signal from the sensor by the controller to that the controller controls a function of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: William S Pierce, Gary J Oswald