Abstract: An actuator module includes a baseplate extending in a plane, a voice coil connected to the baseplate, and a magnet assembly. The actuator module also includes a rigid frame attached to the baseplate, the rigid frame comprising four stubs. The actuator module further includes a pair of springs suspending the magnet assembly relative to the frame and baseplate so that the voice coil extends into the air gap, the pair of springs including a first and second spring each shaped as a loop defining an aperture sized to accommodate motion of the magnet assembly along a direction of the coil axis, the first spring being attached to the frame at a first pair of the four stubs, the second spring being attached to the frame at a second pair of the four stubs, and both being attached to separate portions of the magnet assembly.

Abstract: While performing a tomosynthesis procedure, the breast of a patient is compressed between two compression elements to create an imaging condition. Foam is secured to the rigid substrate of a one of the compression elements. The patient's chest wall is aligned with the leading edge surface of the foam. The inner side of the breast is disposed proximate the lateral edge surface of the foam and the outer side of the breast is disposed proximate the outer lateral edge surface of the foam. A mid-plane is disposed between the inner and outer lateral edge surfaces of the foam. An interface connects a leading edge surface of the foam and compressive surfaces. A portion of the leading edge surface which is aligned with the mid-plane is incompletely compressed.

Abstract: An actuator module includes a base plate extending in a plane, a voice coil connected to the base plate, and a magnet assembly that includes a back side facing the base plate and a front side facing away from the base plate. The magnet assembly includes a base layer and sidewalls defining a cup and an inner element including a center magnet mounted within the cup. The sidewalls include a first and second pair of sidewalls. The actuator module includes a rigid frame attached to the base plate, the rigid frame including four stubs.

Abstract: An actuator module includes a base plate extending in a plane, a voice coil connected to the base plate, and a magnet assembly that includes a back side facing the base plate and a front side facing away from the base plate. The magnet assembly includes a base layer and sidewalls defining a cup and an inner element including a center magnet mounted within the cup. The sidewalls include a first and second pair of sidewalls. The actuator module includes a rigid frame attached to the base plate, the rigid frame including four stubs. The actuator module also includes a plurality of springs suspending the magnet assembly relative to the frame and base plate, the plurality of springs including a first spring attached to the frame at a first pair of the four stubs and a second spring attached to the frame at a second pair of the four stubs.

Abstract: An actuator module includes a baseplate extending in a plane, a voice coil connected to the baseplate, and a magnet assembly. The actuator module also includes a rigid frame attached to the baseplate, the rigid frame comprising four stubs. The actuator module further includes a pair of springs suspending the magnet assembly relative to the frame and baseplate so that the voice coil extends into the air gap, the pair of springs including a first and second spring each shaped as a loop defining an aperture sized to accommodate motion of the magnet assembly along a direction of the coil axis, the first spring being attached to the frame at a first pair of the four stubs, the second spring being attached to the frame at a second pair of the four stubs, and both being attached to separate portions of the magnet assembly.

Abstract: An actuator module includes a base plate extending in a plane, a voice coil connected to the base plate, and a magnet assembly that includes a back side facing the base plate and a front side facing away from the base plate. The magnet assembly includes a base layer and sidewalls defining a cup and an inner element including a center magnet mounted within the cup. The sidewalls include a first and second pair of sidewalls. The actuator module includes a rigid frame attached to the base plate, the rigid frame including four stubs. The actuator module also includes a plurality of springs suspending the magnet assembly relative to the frame and base plate, the plurality of springs including a first spring attached to the frame at a first pair of the four stubs and a second spring attached to the frame at a second pair of the four stubs.

Abstract: An actuator module includes a baseplate extending in a plane, a voice coil connected to the baseplate, and a magnet assembly. The actuator module also includes a rigid frame attached to the baseplate, the rigid frame comprising four stubs. The actuator module further includes a pair of springs suspending the magnet assembly relative to the frame and baseplate so that the voice coil extends into the air gap, the pair of springs including a first and second spring each shaped as a loop defining an aperture sized to accommodate motion of the magnet assembly along a direction of the coil axis, the first spring being attached to the frame at a first pair of the four stubs, the second spring being attached to the frame at a second pair of the four stubs, and both being attached to separate portions of the magnet assembly.

Abstract: An actuator module includes a base plate extending in a plane, a voice coil connected to the base plate, and a magnet assembly that includes a back side facing the base plate and a front side facing away from the base plate. The magnet assembly includes a base layer and sidewalls defining a cup and an inner element including a center magnet mounted within the cup. The sidewalls include a first and second pair of sidewalls. The actuator module includes a rigid frame attached to the base plate, the rigid frame including four stubs. The actuator module also includes a plurality of springs suspending the magnet assembly relative to the frame and base plate, the plurality of springs including a first spring attached to the frame at a first pair of the four stubs and a second spring attached to the frame at a second pair of the four stubs.

Abstract: An outdoor loudspeaker that is weather resistant and includes environmental lighting is described. The lamp is mounted to a cap at the top of the loudspeaker. An audio driver is mounted below the lamp. A system outdoor loudspeakers is also described. The lighting circuitry and the audio circuitry is separate, e.g., separate conduits and wiring in the loudspeaker. The cap can include a light guide, e.g., a lens centrally mounted in the cap or an opaque cover to direct the light downwardly and outwardly. At least part of the loudspeaker can be mounted underground and, in the case of a sub-woofer, the entire chamber can be mounted below ground.

Abstract: An acoustic lens may improve the directional audio performance of a loudspeaker. Application of the improved directional audio performance to a sound system in a listening area may improve the performance of the audio system. The acoustic lens (or phase plug) may be acoustically opaque and partially fill the cavity formed by the loudspeaker cone. The acoustic lens may provide an improved frequency response and directivity. The improved loudspeaker may provide an improved listening location, for example, in a vehicle, a room or a concert hall.

Abstract: An outdoor loudspeaker that is weather resistant and includes environmental lighting is described. The lamp is mounted to a cap at the top of the loudspeaker. An audio driver is mounted below the lamp. A system outdoor loudspeakers is also described. The lighting circuitry and the audio circuitry is separate, e.g., separate conduits and wiring in the loudspeaker. The cap can include a light guide, e.g., a lens centrally mounted in the cap or an opaque cover to direct the light downwardly and outwardly. At least part of the loudspeaker can be mounted underground and, in the case of a sub-woofer, the entire chamber can be mounted below ground.

Abstract: An acoustic lens may improve the directional audio performance of a loudspeaker. Application of the improved directional audio performance to a sound system in a listening area may improve the performance of the audio system. The acoustic lens (or phase plug) may be acoustically opaque and partially fill the cavity formed by the loudspeaker cone. The acoustic lens may provide an improved frequency response and directivity. The improved loudspeaker may provide an improved listening location, for example, in a vehicle, a room or a concert hall.

Abstract: An improved loudspeaker system includes an asymmetrical array of dissimilar drivers, namely a first driver and a second complementary driver configured in an array and driven in parallel so that the measured on-axis frequency response and the output power (SPL) is improved as compared to a symmetrical array (with similar or matched midrange or mid-bass drivers), while retaining a flat tonal balance. This speaker system and method for voicing was discovered to provide lower distortion, improved frequency response and greater clarity as compared to the prior art or traditional (e.g., MTM) loudspeaker configurations.

Abstract: An electrodynamic acoustic transducer has a diaphragm and a frame with a pole piece carrying a bulbous waveguide tip which reduces or eliminates high frequency distortions caused by destructive interference within the transducer. The bulbous-tip structure clears the moving parts of the transducer and minimizes diffraction of sound energy, extending forward approximately to the plane defined by the outer periphery of the diaphragm when the diaphragm and voice coil are at rest. The bulbous-tip waveguide member extends radially outward above the central radiating area of the transducer diaphragm or cone so as to obscure the center portion of the diaphragm.

Abstract: An electro-dynamic loudspeaker transducer's motor structure includes a magnetic circuit having a pole with minimal reluctance that allows the use of larger magnets and thicker front plates, thus generating higher flux density in the voice coil gap. The lower reluctance is achieved by increasing the pole piece's outside diameter at all points outside of the voice coil gap and the area swept out by the voice coil at maximal inward excursion. Increasing the pole's diameter over a substantial amount of the pole's distally projecting length (but not extending into the magnetic gap), provides an increased cross sectional area and a reduced magnetic circuit reluctance.

Abstract: An improved loudspeaker system includes an asymmetrical array of dissimilar drivers, namely a first driver and a second complementary driver configured in an array and driven in parallel so that the measured on-axis frequency response and the output power (SPL) is improved as compared to a symmetrical array (with similar or matched midrange or mid-bass drivers), while retaining a flat tonal balance. This speaker system and method for voicing was discovered to provide lower distortion, improved frequency response and greater clarity as compared to the prior art or traditional (e.g., MTM) loudspeaker configurations.

Abstract: An electrodynamic acoustic transducer has a diaphragm and a frame with a pole piece carrying a bulbous waveguide tip which reduces or eliminates high frequency distortions caused by destructive interference within the transducer. The bulbous-tip structure clears the moving parts of the transducer and minimizes diffraction of sound energy, extending forward approximately to the plane defined by the outer periphery of the diaphragm when the diaphragm and voice coil are at rest. The bulbous-tip waveguide member extends radially outward above the central radiating area of the transducer diaphragm or cone so as to obscure the center portion of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A forward focused bipolar loudspeaker system includes a front-facing driver array and a rear facing driver array with substantially identical front-facing and rear-facing midrange or mid-bass drivers voiced and driven so that the measured SPL curves of each of the arrays, when measured individually, are tonally balanced. The front array and rear array have substantially identical on-axis and off axis frequency response and the rear array's output power (SPL) is reduced by, preferably, about 6 dB with respect to the output power produced by the front-facing array, while retaining a flat tonal balance for both the front and rear speakers, to produce a sound power ratio of about 2:1 as measured by comparing the front and back SPL levels of the speakers. This bipolar speaker system and method for voicing was discovered to provide greater clarity and improved localization while retaining the spacious envelopment of the bipolar sound field.

Abstract: An electro-dynamic loudspeaker transducer's motor structure includes a magnetic circuit having a pole with minimal reluctance that allows the use of larger magnets and thicker front plates, thus generating higher flux density in the voice coil gap. The lower reluctance is achieved by increasing the pole piece's outside diameter at all points outside of the voice coil gap and the area swept out by the voice coil at maximal inward excursion. Increasing the pole's diameter over a substantial amount of the pole's distally projecting length (but not extending into the magnetic gap), provides an increased cross sectional area and a reduced magnetic circuit reluctance.