Patents by Inventor Gordon R. Dix

Gordon R. Dix 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: 11190870
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Publication number: 20200322718
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Patent number: 10798482
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Publication number: 20190082254
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Patent number: 10154339
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Patent number: 10149046
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Patent number: 9820033
    Abstract: Examples of speaker assemblies are described. A speaker assembly according to some embodiments may include a speaker enclosure with a first opening (e.g., a speaker opening) and a second opening (e.g. a bass reflex port), a speaker unit mounted to the enclosure at the first opening, and an acoustic damping mechanism mounted to the enclosure at the second opening. The acoustic damping mechanism may be a dual-layer mesh screen including a first mesh with a first acoustic resistance (AR) for providing acoustic damping, and a second mesh with a second AR lower than the first AR. The second mesh may be nearly acoustically transparent and may serve to increase the stiffness of the first mesh. The first mesh may be bonded to the second mesh, and the dual-layer mesh screen may be coupled to the bass reflex port for reducing noise associated with turbulence at the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon R. Dix, Michael K. Morishita
  • Patent number: 9762999
    Abstract: A directivity pattern generator for producing sound patterns using a modal architecture is described. The directivity pattern generator may include a beam pattern mixing unit, which defines sound patterns to be emitted by an audio system in terms of a set of frequency invariant modes or modal patterns. The beam pattern mixing unit produces a set of modal gains representing the level or degree each of the predefined modal patterns is to be applied to a set of audio streams. Modal filters may be used to modal amplitudes that compensate for inefficiencies of the each modal pattern at low frequencies. The directivity pattern generator may include a modal decomposition unit for generating driving signals for each transducer in one or more loudspeaker arrays based on weighted values for the modal gains/amplitudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Vijay G. Prabakaran, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Publication number: 20170238091
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Publication number: 20170238090
    Abstract: A multi-way speaker array is disclosed that includes rings of transducers of different types. The rings of transducers may encircle the cabinet of the speaker array such that the speaker array is rotationally symmetric. The distance between rings of transducers may be based on a logarithmic scale. By separating rings of transducers using logarithmic spacing, denser transducer spacing at short wavelengths is achieved while limiting the number of transducers needed for longer wavelengths by spacing them in larger and larger logarithmic increments. Transducers with overlapping frequency ranges may be used in the speaker array to avoid initial dips or shortfalls in directivity for corresponding beam patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Gordon R. Dix, Michael B. Howes, Gary P. Geaves, Tom-Davy William Jendrik Saux
  • Patent number: 9107003
    Abstract: An electronic audio device including an enclosure having an acoustic output opening and a speaker positioned within the enclosure. The speaker and the acoustic output opening are acoustically coupled by an acoustic output pathway. The acoustic output pathway includes a damping chamber to dampen a resonance frequency of the acoustic output pathway. The speaker is between the damping chamber and the acoustic output opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon R. Dix, Justin Derry Crosby, Martin E. Johnson, Michael Kai Morishita
  • Publication number: 20140093113
    Abstract: Examples of speaker assemblies are described. A speaker assembly according to some embodiments may include a speaker enclosure with a first opening (e.g., a speaker opening) and a second opening (e.g. a bass reflex port), a speaker unit mounted to the enclosure at the first opening, and an acoustic damping mechanism mounted to the enclosure at the second opening. The acoustic damping mechanism may be a dual-layer mesh screen including a first mesh with a first acoustic resistance (AR) for providing acoustic damping, and a second mesh with a second AR lower than the first AR. The second mesh may be nearly acoustically transparent and may serve to increase the stiffness of the first mesh. The first mesh may be bonded to the second mesh, and the dual-layer mesh screen may be coupled to the bass reflex port for reducing noise associated with turbulence at the port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon R. Dix, Michael K. Morishita
  • Publication number: 20130156245
    Abstract: An electronic audio device including an enclosure having an acoustic output opening and a speaker positioned within the enclosure. The speaker and the acoustic output opening are acoustically coupled by an acoustic output pathway. The acoustic output pathway includes a damping chamber to dampen a resonance frequency of the acoustic output pathway. The speaker is between the damping chamber and the acoustic output opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon R. Dix, Justin Derry Crosby, Martin E. Johnson, Michael Kai Morishita