Mounting Or Support Feature Of Housed Loudspeaker Patents (Class 381/386)
  • Publication number: 20130308814
    Abstract: A system for porting a speaker through a keyboard module and a backlight module is provided. The system includes an enclosure, the enclosure configured to mount the keyboard module, the backlight module, and the speaker thereto, wherein the speaker is disposed under a portion of the keyboard module and the backlight module. The system also includes a port path for porting the speaker through the keyboard module and the backlight module, the port path extending from the speaker to an outer surface of the keyboard module, wherein a first portion of the port path includes a passage in the enclosure, the passage disposed adjacent to an edge of the keyboard module and the backlight module, and wherein a second portion of the port path includes a periphery of a key of the keyboard module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Ryan Loo, Leng Ooi
  • Patent number: 8588454
    Abstract: A module for containing an earpiece for an audio device, the earpiece having at least one protruding electrical contact. The module comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion being opposable and forming a cavity sized to accommodate an earpiece. The module further comprises at least one electrical contact within the cavity, on one of the first portion and the second portion. The electrical contact is positioned to engage a protruding electrical contact of the earpiece positioned within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Cody Allen Balk, David Kazmierz Szczypinski, Benjamin Michael Finney
  • Patent number: 8588864
    Abstract: An electronic device as provided here includes a primary housing, an acoustic transducer, a lower layer of acoustic mesh material, and an upper layer of acoustic mesh material. An interior volume is defined within the primary housing. The primary housing includes an interior mounting surface, an exterior mounting surface, and an acoustic port. The transducer is located within the interior volume, and the lower layer of mesh material is coupled between the interior mounting surface and the transducer to cover a lower opening of the acoustic port. The upper layer of mesh material covers an upper opening of the acoustic port. Each layer of mesh material provides an amount of acoustic transparency and an amount of visual obscurity such that the transducer is effectively hidden from view without adversely impacting the audio performance characteristics of the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Carlson, Jason E. Jordan, Vivek M. Patel
  • Patent number: 8582797
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a housing. An opening is formed on the housing and a containing space is formed inside the housing. The portable electronic device further includes a speaker installed inside the containing space in a rotatable manner, a first magnetic component installed on a side of the speaker, a second magnetic component installed inside the housing and disposed on a side of the containing space for attracting the first magnetic component so as to position the first magnetic component on a first location, and a restoring component connected to the speaker for driving the speaker to rotate to a second location so as to expose the speaker outside the opening on the housing when magnetic attractive force between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component disappears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Yi Wang
  • Patent number: 8582799
    Abstract: A speaker device has a magnet, outer yokes, and inner yokes which are assembled so that a magnetic gap is formed between the outer yoke and inner yokes over which a magnetic flux which is generated from the magnet cuts across. A voice coil unit which is linked to a diaphragm is disposed within the magnetic gap, and positioning members determine the positions of the inner yokes and the outer yokes which attach magnetically to the magnet such that a magnetic gap is formed. The speaker device has a magnetic circuit of which the construction facilitates assembly, and recycling of various individual parts is relatively easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kei Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20130294636
    Abstract: Digital loudspeaker comprising a support, a plurality of first membranes suspended on the support, said first membranes being bistable, and said loudspeaker comprising actuator for each of the first membranes that can change each of the first membranes from a first stable state to a second stable state and vice versa, and a controller for controlling said first actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Ene Alt
    Inventor: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Ene Alt
  • Patent number: 8577072
    Abstract: In an electronic device, a speaker attaching section 17 which is vertically open with respect to a circuit board 10 and into which a speaker 16 is press-fitted is integrally formed on a contact sheet 13 arranged on the circuit board 10 provided inside an upper case 8. Therefore, the speaker 16 can be easily attached in a manner that sound therefrom does not leak, simply by the speaker 16 being press-fitted into the speaker attaching section 17 of the contact sheet 13. Accordingly, in the present invention, the structure of the speaker section 6 is simple and the number of its components is small, whereby the thickness of the speaker section 6 can be reduced. In addition, sound generated by the speaker can be favorably and reliably emitted from the speaker attaching section 17 to the outside of the upper case 8, without chattering noise being generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Watanabe, Maki Maeda
  • Publication number: 20130287242
    Abstract: An electronic device (1) is provided with a piezoelectric element (30), a panel (10) holding the piezoelectric element (30), and a housing (60) holding the panel (10) and transmitting vibration through the panel (10). The electronic device (1) causes the panel (10) to generate vibration sound that is transmitted by vibrating a part of a human body. The electronic device (1) includes a stiffness varying portion (62, 63) in which the stiffness of the housing (60) varies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihisa NABATA, Satoshi MIZUTA, Tomoaki MIYANO, Kiyokazu SATO, Akio KIHARA, Shun KAZAMA
  • Patent number: 8565469
    Abstract: A cover-attachment assembly works in conjunction with an audio-annunciator housing that is configured to operationally mount to a wall. This audio-annunciator housing can have one or more arcuately-shaped tracks and one or more snap interfaces. The cover-attachment assembly comprises at least one arcuately-shaped guide surface that is shaped, sized, and positioned to fit within the arcuately-shaped track when pivotally attaching the cover-attachment assembly to the audio-annunciator housing. The snap interface, in turn, is shaped, sized, and positioned to lockingly mate with the audio-annunciator housing snap interface to hold the cover-attachment assembly in an installed position with respect to the audio-annunciator housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: HeathCo, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy Gale Birdwell
  • Patent number: 8565470
    Abstract: A frame has a diaphragm's edge attached thereto. An attachment member has a frame portion and a hook. The frame portion has a first plane to be bonded to a casing, and a second plane opposite to the first plane. The hook is supported by the frame portion and also opposite to the second plane with a gap interposed. The frame at the portion having the diaphragm's edge attached thereto is fitted into the gap. A securing member secures the edge and the second plane together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Kobayashi, Yuji Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8553926
    Abstract: A speaker includes a diaphragm formed as an elongated box-shaped five face body having one open face; an edge for supporting the diaphragm so as to enable vibration of the diaphragm; a voice coil wound around and fixed to four side faces which are among the five faces of the diaphragm and which are adjacent to the open face; and a magnetic circuit for supplying a drive force to the voice coil. The diaphragm is configured such that a height from the open face to an upper face opposed to the open face is greater than or equal to twice a thickness of the voice coil, and a length of a long side of the upper face is greater than or equal to twice a length of a short side of the upper face, and the upper face and two side faces of the diaphragm define a long side direction of the diaphragm. Additionally, reinforcing ribs are formed as recessed and projecting shapes on the upper face and the two side faces of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Takewa
  • Patent number: 8553924
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a speaker for use in audio/video apparatuses and a small-sized speaker device capable of realizing preferable reproduction a bass sounds. In order to attain this, in the present invention, a pressure adjusting body is coupled to a portion of a magnetic circuit or a frame, which is a component of a speaker unit, to constitute the speaker unit. The speaker unit is mounted to a small-sized cabinet to constitute a speaker device, which enables realization of preferable reproduction of bass sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masahide Sumiyama, Satoshi Koura, Yoshimichi Kajihara, Koji Sano, Kazuki Honda, Satoshi Itoh, Shuji Saiki, Toshiyuki Matsumura, Shinya Mizone
  • Patent number: 8548189
    Abstract: An exemplary positioning structure for a portable electronic device includes a support element, a metal element, and a ring seal. The support element defines an opening. The metal element is attached to the support element. The metal element includes a projection and a depression. The opening and the depression receives the speaker. The ring seal is placed around the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Zhi-Qiang Xiao
  • Patent number: 8548188
    Abstract: A diaphragm includes a carbon nanotube film structure and an amorphous carbon structure composited with the carbon nanotube structure to form a stratiform composite structure. The carbon nanotube film structure defines a plurality of micropores therein. The amorphous carbon structure comprises a plurality of amorphous carbon particles received in the micropores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jia-Ping Wang, Liang Liu
  • Patent number: 8540199
    Abstract: A speaker fastening mechanism includes a first fastening component installed inside an audio device, a second fastening component installed inside the audio device and disposed on a side of the first fastening component, a speaker unit whereon a first fixing part and a second fixing part are formed, a first elastic component wedged in the first fixing part and fastened inside the first fastening component, and a second elastic component wedged in the second fixing part and fastened inside the second fastening component in a rotating manner after the first elastic component is fastened inside the first fastening component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Shiang Ke
  • Patent number: 8542864
    Abstract: A speaker device includes a voice coil unit and a diaphragm linked to the voice coil unit. A first supporting unit and a second supporting unit elastically support the end portions of the voice coil unit so that the voice coil portion of the voice coil unit can vibrate within the magnetic gap in the direction of the face thereof. Each of the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit has a configuration that is in a shape bent so as to extend up and bend down from an end that is fixed to a fixing position. Thus, a speaker device in which the voice coil unit can vibrate with a greater amplitude is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kei Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20130243237
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a front cover, at least one speaker fixed to the front cover, a rear cover coupled to the front cover, a display panel fixed between the front cover and the rear cover, and an anti-resonance structure. The anti-resonance structure includes a number of legs, a support, and a rib protruding from the support. Each leg includes a first end protruding from the rear cover, and an opposite, second end. The support is connected to the second ends of the legs. The rib abuts against the display panel, and is configured to absorb vibration of the display panel transmitted from the at least one speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: GUAN-DONG ZHAO, HE-LI WANG
  • Patent number: 8538060
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a voice coil lead wire and a loudspeaker using the same. The voice coil lead wire includes a lead wire structure and a core wire structure. The lead wire structure includes at least one lead wire. The core wire structure includes at least one carbon nanotube wire structure. The carbon nanotube wire structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The at least one lead wire winds around the at least one carbon nanotube wire structure in a helix manner or a twisted manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Liang Liu, Jia-Ping Wang
  • Patent number: 8532326
    Abstract: A fastener structure is for retaining a speaker unit on a sound tank housing. The fastener structure includes a spring piece and an elastic protrusion rib. The spring piece includes a board, a first bending portion and a second bending portion. The board located within a through hole of the sound tank housing. The first bending portion located at one end of the board is for retaining the speaker unit on a second side of the sound tank housing. The second bending portion located at the other end of the board is exposed over a first side of the sound tank housing and used as an elastic contact. The elastic protrusion rib is disposed within the through hole, and is protruded from one side of the board to lean against between the board and the through hole, so that the board is wedged within the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Inventec Corporation
    Inventor: Chien-Chung Liao
  • Patent number: 8531393
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a case for a handheld electronic device and an electronic device. The case comprises: a housing and a lens. The housing has a housing surface; and a first opening in the housing surface. The lens has a cover surface being disposed adjacent at least a portion of the housing surface; an indentation formed in the cover adjacent the cover surface, the indentation being disposed between and forming a cavity in the case between at least a portion of the housing adjacent the housing surface and at least a portion of the cover adjacent the cover surface, the cavity being elongated along at least a first axis; and a second first opening formed in the cover providing fluid communication between the cavity and the cover surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Craig E. Ranta, Larry Hawker, Jonathan Nobels
  • Patent number: 8526660
    Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a loudspeaker that has electrodynamically-driven piston mounted in one external wall and that has movable panels in one or more other external walls. Those panels are air-coupled to the piston, e.g., via air within the enclosure, such that vibrational motion of the piston causes the vibration of the panels, thereby, improving the overall air coupling of the piston to the external environment, e.g., the listening room. Further aspects of the invention provide an improved driver for use, e.g., in the aforementioned loudspeaker. The driver comprises a three-part piston having first and second diaphragms coupled back-to-back with one another and having a voice coil face-mounted (or front-mounted) within the second diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. G Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Godehard A. Guenther
  • Patent number: 8526655
    Abstract: A loudspeaker enclosure for mounting in an aperture in a cavity wall with a part of the enclosure being located within the wall cavity adjacent the aperture, comprises a main enclosure unit for mounting in the aperture and housing one or more loudspeaker drive units, and a supplementary enclosure unit for location within the wall cavity and being acoustically connected in use to the main unit to increase the effective internal volume of the enclosure beyond that of the main unit. The supplementary unit is connected to the main unit by an articulated connection enabling the main unit to be angled relative to the supplementary unit while the supplementary unit is being inserted through the aperture and into the wall cavity, and enabling the main unit to be aligned with and acoustically coupled to the supplementary unit when the main unit is positioned in the wall aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: B & W Group Ltd
    Inventors: John Joseph Dibb, Stuart Michael Nevill, Richard Hartshorn, Edward Goodwin, Douglas James Standen
  • Patent number: 8526662
    Abstract: An articulating speaker assembly includes a first member including a first driver and a second member including second driver. The first member and the second member are pivotally connected for selectively changing the profile of the speaker assembly. A central housing member is pivotally connected to each of the first member and the second member, wherein the central housing member supports a third driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventor: Dennis A. Tracy
  • Patent number: 8520886
    Abstract: A speaker includes a frame, a sound radiating surface, and a suspension that couples the sound radiating surface to the frame. A horizontal former is coupled to the radiating surface. The former extends substantially horizontally outward of a peripheral portion of the radiating surface, to a peripheral portion that is separate from the suspension. A coil is coupled to the peripheral portion of the horizontal former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Raymond Wilk
  • Patent number: 8520882
    Abstract: A speaker terminal mount structure has a frame having a slit, and a terminal supported by the frame when inserted into the slit. The slit has a shape including two first side support sections, and at least one second side support section abutting on a second surface and positioned on an inner side of a region sandwiched between the two first side support sections when viewed from a direction in which the terminal is inserted. Assuming that a first virtual straight line is formed by connecting the two first side support sections, and a second virtual straight line extends in parallel to the first straight line at a distance smaller than a thickness of the terminal from the first straight line in a first direction, the second side support section is positioned in a second direction with respect to the second straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Hiwatashi
  • Patent number: 8520883
    Abstract: An articulating speaker assembly includes a first member pivotally connected to a second member for selectively changing the profile of the speaker assembly. A central driver is positioned between the first member and the second member. The first member includes a first enclosure with a cavity shaped and dimensioned for receiving a first driver, the first driver being secured within the first enclosure. The second member includes a second enclosure with a cavity shaped and dimensioned for receiving a second driver, the second driver being secured within the second enclosure. Each of the first member and the second member includes a central driver aperture and the central driver is mounted within the central driver apertures of the first member and the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Dennis A. Tracy
  • Patent number: 8515117
    Abstract: A bobbin includes a carbon nanotube film structure and an amorphous carbon structure. The carbon nanotube film structure defines a number of micropores therein. The amorphous carbon structure is composited with the carbon nanotube structure. The amorphous carbon structure comprises a number of amorphous carbon particles received in the micropores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Liang Liu, Jia-Ping Wang
  • 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: 8503699
    Abstract: A plate, a transducer, a method for making a transducer, and a method for operating a transducer are disclosed. An embodiment comprises a plate comprising a first material layer comprising a first stress, a second material layer arranged beneath the first material layer, the second material layer comprising a second stress, an opening arranged in the first material layer and the second material layer, and an extension extending into opening, wherein the extension comprises a portion of the first material layer and a portion of the second material layer, and wherein the extension is curved away from a top surface of the plate based on a difference in the first stress and the second stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Alfons Dehe
  • Patent number: 8503690
    Abstract: There is provided a loudspeaker unit, in particular a ceiling loudspeaker unit, which has a housing (50) having a front housing portion (60). Arranged in the front housing portion (60) are a woofer unit (10), a baffle panel (70) and a tweeter unit (30) in a 2-way coaxial system. The tweeter unit (30) has a tweeter horn having a plurality of legs (33) and a plurality of openings (31) at the edge of the tweeter horn (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jorg Knieschewski
  • Publication number: 20130188821
    Abstract: A speaker frame for a display device, such as a tablet, provides enhanced audio output when a device is docked within the frame of speakers. The speaker frame includes a battery to power the speaker frame operation and provide additional power to a docked device. The speaker frame can also dock to a second base unit, which can include additional speakers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Imation Corp.
  • Patent number: 8490938
    Abstract: An installer is installed in a hole in a ceiling or a wall and includes a speaker frame and two connective units. The speaker frame may fix down a speaker and has a circumferential edge. The two connective units are provided on the speaker frame and either connective unit has a connective flexible strip, which may contract or expand laterally by moving in the longitudinal direction. First, as the two connective flexible strips contract inwardly in the radial direction, the speaker may be allowed to pass and then be placed in the hole. Then, as the two connective flexible strips expand outwardly in the radial direction, the diameter formed by the two connective units is larger than that of the hole. Now, the outer layer of a wall or a ceiling is sandwiched in between the circumferential edge and the two connective flexible strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Meiloon Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jack Peng
  • Patent number: 8494207
    Abstract: Improved approaches for providing a speaker within a housing of a portable electronic device are disclosed. The housing of the portable electronic device can be compact, such as a low profile housing. In one embodiment, an acoustic chamber for a speaker can be formed internal to a housing for a portable electronic device using non-dedicated space. In another embodiment, irregular surfaces can be sealed so that an acoustic chamber for a speaker can be formed internal to a housing for a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gloria Lin, Derek B. Barrentine, Michael Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 8494192
    Abstract: An audio reproducing system includes a pair of speaker units, a mounting unit for mounting the pair of speaker units, without being attached to a baffle board, to the vicinity of a listener's ears in a manner such that sounds emitted from the front and back of a diaphragm of each speaker unit are mixed, and an audio signal output unit for virtual sound imaging an input audio signal and outputting the virtual sound imaged signal to the pair of speaker units in a manner such that the listener listens to a sound reproduced by the pair of speaker units feeling as if the sound is emitted from a different speaker device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Teppei Yokota, Nobuyuki Kihara
  • Patent number: 8485487
    Abstract: An easy-mount in-ceiling speaker mount has multiple fastening units mounted on an in-ceiling speaker. Each fastening unit has a base frame, a torsion spring securely mounted on the base frame, a pivoting member pivotally mounted on the base frame, a slider plate longitudinally movable on the base frame, and a spring holder receiving the torsion spring, pivotally mounted on the base frame and blocked by the pivoting member. When the speaker mount is moved upwardly through a ceiling, a bottom of the ceiling holds a ceiling support formed on the slider plate and the pivoting member is pushed and pivoted. After being unblocked from the pivoting member, the spring holder is pivoted to hold a top of the ceiling in completion of the mounting of the speaker mount. Accordingly, the mounting procedures of the speaker mount can be easily achieved by simply pushing it upwardly through a ceiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventor: Liang-Chih Cheng
  • Patent number: 8488817
    Abstract: A portable electronic device may have acoustic ports such as microphone and speaker ports. Acoustic devices such as microphones and speakers may be associated with the acoustic ports. An acoustic port may have an opening between an interior and exterior of the portable electronic device. The opening may be covered by a metal mesh. An acoustic fabric may be interposed between the metal mesh and the opening. The opening may be formed from a hole in a glass member having outer and inner chamfers. A microphone boot may be provided that forms front and rear radial seals with a housing of the device and a microphone unit respectively. The microphone boot may also form multiple face seals with the microphone unit. A speaker for the speaker port may be enclosed in a sealed speaker enclosure. The speaker enclosure may have a pressure-equalizing vent slit covered with an acoustic mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adam D. Mittleman, Richard P. Howarth, Chad Seguin
  • 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: 8483422
    Abstract: An enclosure for a magnetic speaker of a wireless device is provided. The wireless device has a display mounted in a case and a transparent cover mounted over at least the display. The enclosure comprises: an upper surface of the display at least partially spaced from a lower surface of the transparent cover to form at least a portion of an enclosed back-volume formed within the case for the magnetic speaker, the magnetic speaker being mounted proximate to the enclosed back-volume, and at least one of the transparent cover and the case having an opening formed therein for emitting sound from the magnetic speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael Welker, Daniel Hanson
  • Publication number: 20130170691
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to controlling frequency response in speaker assemblies. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a speaker assembly including a speaker, a body supporting the speaker in such a manner as to define a back chamber between the speaker and the body, and a vent port formed in the body and extending through the body, the vent port comprising a first stage having a first diameter, a second stage having a second diameter different than the first diameter, and a step between the first stage and the second stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis Barinaga, Carlos Manzanedo
  • Patent number: 8472645
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a device with dynamic magnet speaker, which comprises a first housing member having a wall and a first magnetic element fixed on an inner surface of the wall; a seat having a first side connected to the first housing member to define a first receiving space between the first housing member and the first side of the seat; and a hollow tube fixedly provided on the seat and corresponding in position to the first magnetic element, wherein a first coil unit is fixedly mounted around the hollow tube, and the hollow tube extends toward the first magnetic element and is either mounted around an outer periphery of the first magnetic element or inserted in a first central hole of the first magnetic element, so as to not only reduce the weight and spatial volume thereof, but also substantially lower the directivity of sound produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventor: Chao-Lang Wang
  • Patent number: 8462967
    Abstract: An application for present invention includes a television with a set of speaker outputs including at least a left speaker and a right speaker. On screen displays are used to properly configure the speakers and assure maximum audio quality from the television. In some embodiments, a cross-point switch connects the speakers attached to the television with the correct outputs of an internal amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Vizio, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Lowe, William Wang
  • Patent number: 8457333
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving the acoustical performance associated with a speaker, such as a piezoelectric speaker, are disclosed. According to one aspect, an apparatus includes a substrate, a can mounted on the substrate, and a piezoelectric speaker arrangement. The piezoelectric speaker arrangement is at least partially mounted on the can. In one embodiment, the substrate is a printed circuit board (PCB) and the can is an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Yeates, Stephen Brian Lynch, Teodor Dabov
  • Publication number: 20130114845
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device and a casing therefor. The device comprises a casing having a back side and a casing opening in the back side; a speaker mounted inside the casing and in communication with the casing opening; and a cover shaped to mate with and to cover the casing opening, the cover having a first nub and a second nub and a speaker opening providing an air channel for the speaker. In the device, the first and the second nubs are located about the speaker opening in a symmetrical pattern; and when the communication device is placed on a flat surface with the side of the casing facing the flat surface, the first and second nubs cause the back side of the casing to be canted from the flat surface to expose the speaker opening to ambient air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventor: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
  • Patent number: 8437494
    Abstract: To provide a mount structure of an electromechanical acoustic transducer which enables making of an attempt to pursuit miniaturization while maintaining an acoustic characteristic. A cylindrical closed-end yoke 13 is attached to a frame 12, which is attached to an interior surface 11b of a housing 11 by way of a wall portion 19, in a direction where a bottom 13b of the yoke approaches the housing 11; hence, a sound channel 14 is defined between the yoke 13 and the wall portion 19 without an increase in the thickness of the electromechanical acoustic transducer. A superior acoustic characteristic can hereby be acquired. Alternatively, the sound channel 14 can be assured even when the electromechanical acoustic transducer is miniaturized, and thus an attempt can be made to pursuit miniaturization while maintaining an acoustic characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Suzuki, Yukinari Inoue
  • Patent number: 8437493
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a speaker module to a portable terminal is provided. The speaker module is mounted to a casing frame of the terminal using a coupling part formed outside a housing of the speaker module, so as not to leave a space between the speaker module and the casing frame in a sound output direction of the speaker module. Therefore, better speaker performance can be achieved by raising the height of the speaker module of the slim portable terminal or increasing the space for the back volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung-Min Nho, Young-Hoon Kim, Won-Kyung Kim, Hyoung-Il Song, Chi-Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 8428295
    Abstract: An improved mid to high-frequency loudspeaker of the type having a central dome diaphragm having an outer periphery, and in one embodiment an outer ring-radiator diaphragm portion defining an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the ring-radiator diaphragm being attached at its inner periphery to an armature voice coil assembly and at its outer periphery to a diaphragm chassis in a first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Aperion Audio, Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Humphreys
  • Patent number: 8428290
    Abstract: An input-panel-equipped portable speaker device includes a cabinet shell body configured to enclose an accommodation chamber in a longitudinal direction, and having left and right mounting walls opposite to each other in a transverse direction. The left mounting wall has an inner peripheral region defining a fitting opening. The right mounting wall has a positioning groove. An input panel is connected with an amplifier circuit board, and is disposed to cover the fitting opening. When a right board edge of the circuit board is brought to be fitted in the positioning groove, an outer peripheral region of the panel is brought to abut against the inner peripheral region so as to enable an air-tight engagement therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Mipro Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sue Cheng
  • Patent number: 8422721
    Abstract: Loudspeaker system including a housing and at least four transducers arranged therein. Each transducer includes a substantially circular diaphragm and the diaphragms are constructed with specific sizes such that the ratio of a diameter of each diaphragm to the diameter of an immediately larger diaphragm is between 1:1 and 1: Phi2(Phi=(1+?5)/2), preferably 1:Phi, and the ratio of the diameter of each diaphragm to an immediately smaller diaphragm, is between 1:1 and 1:(1/Phi), preferably 1:1/Phi. Moreover, the diaphragms are arranged such that centers thereof lie on a spiral, clockwise or counterclockwise, in ascending size order with the center of the smallest diaphragm being closest to the pole of the spiral. A microphone and single-diaphragm loudspeaker in which the diaphragm has a spiral shape are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Frank Rizzello
  • Patent number: 8422720
    Abstract: A loudspeaker assembly arranged in a surrounding surface of a multimedia apparatus, wherein the loudspeaker assembly including a transducer unit, the transducer unit being located at the back side of the multimedia apparatus. The transducer may be configured so to radiate sound away from the apparatus in directions from primarily upward to primarily backward relative to the apparatus. Each of the one or more transducer units are driven as active speakers with means for amplification per each transducer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Bang & Olufsen A/S
    Inventor: Ejnar Johannesen
  • 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