Patents by Inventor Curtis E. Graber

Curtis E. Graber has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8111585
    Abstract: A sonar system includes an objective having reflecting surface(s) with coincident forward radiant axes. Each of the reflecting surfaces defines sets of equivalent acoustic output/receiving locations allowing the use of a plurality of transducers with each reflecting surface. When used in a projection mode, and depending upon the frequency radiated, the sound sources may function as a distributed, functionally continuous sound source. In a passive mode use of a field reflector allows determination of bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 8111836
    Abstract: A performance venue with a main speaker system is provided having a target coverage area within the performance venue. A performance area is located within the performance venue outside the target coverage area of the main speaker system. A low frequency directed audio source is positioned with respect to the performance area for active cancellation of low frequency sound spilling over into the performance area from the main speaker system. Control of the low frequency directed audio source is effected by an audio sensor is located in the performance area for generating an output correlated with low frequency spill over into the performance area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Publication number: 20110305117
    Abstract: An acoustic radiator for underwater application is provided by opposing boundaries mutually spaced and centered on a common axis, a plurality of radial barriers located perpendicular to and connected between the top and bottom boundaries to define a plurality of adjacent radial waveguides, and a plurality of transducers disposed in each radial waveguide, and with one group of transducers being located radially outwardly from another group, the groups being defined in part by all members of the group being the same distance from the apex of the radial waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 8050442
    Abstract: A horn based loudspeaker system provides control over peak to peak pressure of an acoustic signal across its frequency spectrum. Frequency spectrum matched acoustic energy added to the acoustic signal at diverse points distributed along the horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 7912241
    Abstract: A push-pull magnetic-planar acoustic transducer provides easy field replacement of a diaphragm. Push-pull magnetic-planar acoustic transducers are known for the relative vulnerability of their diaphragms to damage. Replacement of the transducers in the field as been problematic because of the high repulsive force between the front and back panels and the need to obtain even tension across the diaphragm. The push-pull transducer assembly incorporates an edge hinge on which the panels can be pivoted to bring the panels into facing positions and a plurality of set screws to be fitted around the perimeter of the panels allowing essentially flat closure of the panels on one another to a working spacing engaging the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 7912234
    Abstract: A broadband sound generator and transmitter provides minimal attenuation of sound over the distance between the generators and a point at a selected distance. The transmission component includes a parabolic dish and a positionable framework for the sound generators. The sound generators are positioned in front of the dish and oriented to direct sound into the dish for reflection toward a target. Drive signal conditioning circuitry apportion components of the drive signal to the several sound generators and adjust the signal in terms of delay and phase to accommodate changes in position of the generators relative to the dish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110038494
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system comprises a plurality of speaker transducer units divided among and arrayed in at least three linear arrays. The linear arrays are disposed in a like plurality of elongated rectangular baffles. The elongated rectangular baffles are disposed in side by side relationship along the respective elongated sides of the baffles in the form of a tube. The speaker transducer units are aligned in a plurality of ranks. The ends of the tube are closed with the result that one side of speaker transducers radiates into the interior of the enclosure and the other side radiates into the environment. The speaker transducers of each rank are spaced no further from one another than one quarter wavelength at a selected frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Publication number: 20110019854
    Abstract: A blended acoustic folded horn and reflector provides for throughput of higher frequency bands without giving rise to standing waves. The horn includes a parabolic region intersected by a first direct radiant axis centered on the throat. The parabolic region is shaped and oriented to define a reflected radiant axis through the mouth for frequency components of the acoustic input above a cut-off frequency. The parabolic region operates to focus sound in the upper portion of the operational frequency range of the loudspeaker and to reflect the resulting focused sound beam along a second radiant axis through the mouth of the folded horn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 7837006
    Abstract: The sound generating and transmitting apparatus is based on a radiator including at least a first, and possibly two or more, shaped reflecting surface(s) having a forward radiant axis. Each of the shaped reflecting surfaces defines sets of equivalent acoustic input locations, with each set being a ring of non-zero circumference centered on the forward radiant axis. The sound source is a distributed, functionally continuous sound source adapted to exploit this feature. In its preferred form the sound source is a sort of closed line array of loudspeakers providing a torodial shaped acoustic source to direct at the hyperbolic cone, the transducers being disposed in a circle with all of the loudspeakers oriented inwardly toward or outwardly from the forward radiant axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 7813516
    Abstract: Front to back linear arrays of loudspeakers provide a sound field compressed both vertical and horizontally with the horizontal directivity patter exhibiting a cardioid shape. The problem addressed is improving the horizontal directivity of linear arrays. A linear array of bass units is placed behind a linear array of mid to high frequency range devices to improve horizontal directivity. The first and second linear arrays are placed back to front, oriented to radiate in a forward direction and spaced by a known distance ā€œdā€. The distance ā€œdā€ may be selected to determine the degree of narrowing of the cardioid pattern sound field generated. Greater directivity is also achieved by adding additional linear arrays of bass units behind the second array. The upper frequency knee of the bass unit arrays must overlap the lower frequency knee of the mid/high-frequency unit array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 7773765
    Abstract: A loudspeaker assembly is described suitable for flown arrays and incorporating a horn load planar or ribbon transducer. Planer acoustic transducers have a relatively limited power output capacity. Addition of a horn suitable for an elongated source effectively amplifies the power output capacity of the planar devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 7766122
    Abstract: The sound generating and transmitting apparatus is based on a radiator including at least a first, and possibly two or more, shaped reflecting surface(s) having a forward radiant axis. Each of the shaped reflecting surfaces defines sets of equivalent acoustic input locations, with each set being a ring of non-zero circumference centered on the forward radiant axis. The sound source is a distributed, functionally continuous sound source adapted to exploit this feature. In its preferred form the sound source is a sort of closed line array of loudspeakers providing a toroidal shaped acoustic source to direct at the hyperbolic cone, the transducers being disposed in a circle with all of the loudspeakers oriented inwardly toward or outwardly from the forward radiant axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 7760899
    Abstract: A single folded, expanding horn loudspeaker reproduces low frequency audible sound at high power output levels. A compact enclosure houses a plurality of identical transducers, characterized by small vibrational surface areas. The throats for each transducer into the horn are acoustically differentially spaced from the mouth of the horn with the spacing between adjacent throats progressively increasing in the acoustic direction of the horn mouth from the throat origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Publication number: 20100119090
    Abstract: An omni-directional acoustic horn for applications in a liquid transmission medium deploys a plurality of transducers distributed along an interior face of the horn to radiate against an opposed surface. The arrangement mimics operation at a greater depth of submergence to depress development of acoustic cavitation bubbles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: D617774
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: D619119
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: D620475
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: D621814
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: D625706
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber