Abstract: A mass excited acoustic device (1100) includes a soundboard (1102), a pedestal (1104) and a transducer (300). The soundboard (1102) has a predetermined resonance frequency and couples motional energy to a device user. The pedestal (1104) includes a platform (1106) formed for mounting a transducer (300), and a foot (1108). The platform (1106) and foot have an axis extending centrally therethrough. The foot (1108) is contiguous to the platform (1106) and to the soundboard (1102), and is substantially smaller in size than the platform (1106) and separates the platform (1106) from the soundboard (1102). The transducer (300) is coupled to the platform (1106) about the axis and converts an electrical input signal into motional energy generated in a direction parallel to the axis. The motional energy is delivered to the soundboard (1102) through the foot (1108) without substantially modifying the resonance frequency of the soundboard (1102).

Abstract: A taut armature reciprocating impulse transducer (100) includes an electromagnetic driver (24, 26) which effects an alternating electromagnetic field in response to an input signal. An armature (12) includes an upper planar suspension member (14) formed by a first pair of non-linear spring members arranged along a first radial axis (50), and a lower planar suspension member (16) formed by a second pair of non-linear spring members arranged along a second radial axis (52) which is substantially perpendicular to the first radial axis (50). The upper and lower planar suspensions members are coupled to the electromagnetic driver (24, 26) and suspend a magnetic motional mass (18) therebetween. The alternating electromagnetic field alternately moves the magnetic motional mass (18), the movement being transformed through the upper and lower planar suspension members (14, 16) and the electromagnetic driver (24, 26) into motional energy.