Patents by Inventor Ralph E. Hyde

Ralph E. Hyde 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: 10306370
    Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer includes a diaphragm movable relative to a central axis, a magnetic assembly axially spaced from the diaphragm, and a magnetic gap annularly disposed about the central axis. A voice coil is coupled to the diaphragm and includes spaced first and second coil portions which are at least partially disposed in the magnetic gap. A housing includes a rear frame surrounding and supporting the magnetic assembly, the rear frame having an annular well portion in fluid communication with the magnetic gap. At least one channel is formed in the rear frame in fluid communication with the well portion and extends outwardly beyond the well portion in a radial direction. A vent is provided on an outer surface of the rear frame in fluid communication with the at least one channel, wherein air exits the transducer via the vent to transfer heat from the transducer to the ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Ralph E. Hyde
  • Publication number: 20180206040
    Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer includes a diaphragm movable relative to a central axis, a magnetic assembly axially spaced from the diaphragm, and a magnetic gap annularly disposed about the central axis. A voice coil is coupled to the diaphragm and includes spaced first and second coil portions which are at least partially disposed in the magnetic gap. A housing includes a rear frame surrounding and supporting the magnetic assembly, the rear frame having an annular well portion in fluid communication with the magnetic gap. At least one channel is formed in the rear frame in fluid communication with the well portion and extends outwardly beyond the well portion in a radial direction. A vent is provided on an outer surface of the rear frame in fluid communication with the at least one channel, wherein air exits the transducer via the vent to transfer heat from the transducer to the ambient environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventor: Ralph E. HYDE
  • Patent number: 8249291
    Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer includes an electromagnetic dual-coil or multi-coil driver having at least one spacer member placed between at least two permanent magnets. The inclusion of at least one spacer member increases the axial dimension of the magnetic assembly of the driver so that the magnetic gaps in a dual-coil or multi-coil driver are moved farther apart than would occur with a corresponding electromagnetic driver using a permanent magnet instead of two permanent magnets separated by a spacer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Ralph E. Hyde
  • Patent number: 8014555
    Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer includes a housing, a diaphragm, a conductive coil, and a magnetic assembly having a plurality of air passages. The coil communicates with the diaphragm such that a flexible portion of the diaphragm is movable in response to movement of the coil. The coil includes axially spaced first and second coil portions. The magnetic assembly is disposed in the housing and is axially spaced from the diaphragm by an interior region. The coil portions are at least partially disposed in an annular gap formed in the magnetic assembly. Each air passage communicates with the interior region and with a respective aperture of the housing. The air passages provide respective air flow paths between the diaphragm and the ambient environment. Air flow through the passages is affected by movement of the flexible diaphragm portion for transferring heat from the transducer to the ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Ralph E. Hyde, Douglas J. Button
  • Publication number: 20070230737
    Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer includes an electromagnetic dual-coil or multi-coil driver having at least one spacer member placed between at least two permanent magnets. The inclusion of at least one spacer member increases the axial dimension of the magnetic assembly of the driver so that the magnetic gaps in a dual-coil or multi-coil driver are moved farther apart than would occur with a corresponding electromagnetic driver using a permanent magnet instead of two permanent magnets separated by a spacer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventor: Ralph E. Hyde
  • Patent number: 6847726
    Abstract: Loudspeaker and other transducers of the dual-voice-coil/dual-magnetic-gap type can be improved by the addition of one or more annular shorting rings strategically located in the vicinity of the two magnetic gaps. The shorting rings have no effect on a steady state magnetic field but act in opposition to any change in flux density or any displacement of the flux lines such as those that occur under the loading imposed when the voice coils are driven hard with audio frequency current. The location of the shorting rings determines their effect: location close to a voice coil reduces the voice coil inductance, location entirely within the magnetic flux loop centerline favors reduction of second harmonic distortion and higher order even harmonic distortion, a centered location on the flux loop centerline, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas J. Button, Ralph E. Hyde, Alex V. Salvatti
  • Patent number: 6768806
    Abstract: Loudspeakers and other transducers of the dual-voice-coil/dual-magnetic-gap type can be improved by the addition of one or more annular shorting rings strategically located in the vicinity of the two magnetic gaps. The shorting rings have no effect on a steady state magnetic field but act in opposition to any change in flux density or any displacement of the flux lines such as those that occur under the loading imposed when the voice coils are driven hard with audio frequency current. The location of the shorting rings determines their effect: location close to a voice coil reduces the voice coil inductance, location entirely within the magnetic flux loop centerline favors reduction of second harmonic and higher order even harmonic distortion, a centered location on the flux loop centerline, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas J. Button, Ralph E. Hyde, Alex V. Salvatti
  • Publication number: 20030190052
    Abstract: Loudspeaker and other transducers of the dual-voice-coil/dual-magnetic-gap type can be improved by the addition of one or more annular shorting rings strategically located in the vicinity of the two magnetic gaps. The shorting rings have no effect on a steady state magnetic field but act in opposition to any change in flux density or any displacement of the flux lines such as those that occur under the loading imposed when the voice coils are driven hard with audio frequency current. The location of the shorting rings determines their effect: location close to a voice coil reduces the voice coil inductance, location entirely within the magnetic flux loop centerline favors reduction of second harmonic distortion and higher order even harmonic distortion, a centered location on the flux loop centerline, i.e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: JBL Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas J. Button, Ralph E. Hyde, Alex V. Salvatti