Reflector Baffle Patents (Class 181/155)
  • Patent number: 9654880
    Abstract: A sound generator 30 includes a piezoelectric element 1, a vibrating body 3a, a reflection member 81, a reflection member 82, an opening 21, and an opening 22. The vibrating body 3a vibrates due to vibration of the piezoelectric element 1 and generates a sound. The reflection member 81 is disposed in a first direction from the vibrating body 3a so as to be inclined with respect to the vibrating body 3a. The reflection member 82 is disposed in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, from the vibrating body 3a so as to face the reflection member 81 with the vibrating body 3a therebetween and so as to be inclined with respect to the vibrating body 3a. The opening 21 faces in a third direction. The opening 22 faces in a fourth direction, which is different from the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Fukuoka, Noriyuki Kushima, Kentarou Miyazato, Tooru Takahashi, Yutaka Makino, Atsushi Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9648440
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to speakers and circuits that reflect sound off a ceiling to a listening location at a distance from a speaker. The reflected sound provides height cues to reproduce audio objects that have overhead audio components. The speaker comprises upward firing drivers to reflect sound off of the upper surface and represents a virtual height speaker. A virtual height filter based on a directional hearing model is applied to the upward-firing driver signal to improve the perception of height for audio signals transmitted by the virtual height speaker to provide optimum reproduction of the overhead reflected sound. The virtual height filter may be incorporated as part of a crossover circuit that separates the full band and sends high frequency sound to the upward-firing driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Brett G. Crockett, Christophe Chabanne, Mark Tuffy, Alan J. Seefeldt, C. Phillip Brown, Patrick Turnmire
  • Patent number: 9641923
    Abstract: A reflector and an electronic system produce a diffuse way by creating time delays in accordance with a number sequence. An acoustical passive reflector incorporates a series of wells in its surface to transform an acoustical wave into a series of acoustical waves having a time difference based on a number sequence. The electronic signal conversion system converts a signal into a series of signals having a time difference based on a number sequence. This can be used in an audio speaker system having N×N array of speakers where N is an odd prime number, arranged to be driven by the electronic signal conversion system in which the signal is converted into a series of signals centered on the signal with at least one signal being timed to precede the signal and at least one signal to follow the signal and the signal being arranged to be sent to the central speaker in the N×N array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ACOUSTIC 3D HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventor: Joseph Francis Hayes
  • Patent number: 9583093
    Abstract: A sound deflector apparatus having mutually coextensive tab and wall portions, the tab portion mounted to an area of an electronic device adjacent the speaker outlet(s), and the wall portion having a curvilinear segment or bend directing sound waves toward the listener(s) viewing programming on a flat-screen television, monitor, smart device, and/or similar electronic devices with such speaker outlet configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventor: Stanley G. Coates
  • Patent number: 9544681
    Abstract: An omni-directional acoustic deflector includes an acoustically reflective body having a truncated conical shape including a substantially conical outer surface, a top surface and a cone axis, the acoustically reflective body having an opening in the top surface centered on the cone axis. An acoustic absorber is disposed at the opening in the top surface. The deflector may also include at least one opening disposed along a circumference of the substantially conical outer surface at a cone radius associated with a pressure maximum of an acoustic resonance mode with an acoustic absorber at each such opening. Speaker systems employing the omni-directional acoustic deflector have an improved high frequency acoustic spectrum response regardless of the location of the listener with respect to the speaker system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Wontak Kim, George E. P. Chute
  • Patent number: 9510106
    Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphones associated with a tunable back cavity are described. Provided implementations can comprise a MEMS acoustic sensor element associated with a first back cavity, which first back cavity can be separated and/or acoustically coupled by a tuning port to a second back cavity. In addition, various physical and acoustic filtering configurations of MEMS microphones and tunable back cavities are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Aleksey S. Khenkin, Anthony D. Minervini
  • Patent number: 9503806
    Abstract: The present invention is a small high fidelity full spectrum speaker, which arranges a passive speaker and two active speakers such that fidelity of a larger speaker or one with a cross-over network is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph B Crosswell, William J Godwin
  • Patent number: 9467772
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an audio generator comprising, a first and a second transducer element, and the first transducer element has a first membrane having a surface which is non-flat, and a reflector, wherein the reflector has a surface with a non-flat contour and the reflector co-operating with directive guiding walls so as to lead and guide audio pressure waves to propagate in predetermined directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: KPO INNOVATION AB
    Inventor: Olle Ekedahl
  • Patent number: 9180822
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose a vehicle which has a vehicle ceiling having a first sound wave reflection portion having a first sound wave reflection characteristic and a second portion having a second sound wave reflection characteristic, wherein the first sound wave reflection portion is more sound wave reflecting than the second sound wave reflection portion and at least one speaker arranged in the vehicle, so that a main sound emission direction is directed to the first sound wave reflection portion, so that a sound wave emitted by the speaker and reflected by the first sound wave reflection portion is perceptible as a diffuse sound by a person in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Silzle, Ulrik Heise, Stefan Varga, Matthias Lang, Oliver Hellmuth
  • Patent number: 9131301
    Abstract: The invention relates to a speaker enclosure and a method for fabricating the same. The speaker enclosure comprises a main housing, a top cover, and a bottom plate. The main housing fabricated by a molding process and having a continuous side wall, end faces, and an inner space, wherein, a plurality of ribs are formed on the inner surface of the continuous side wall, so that the inner surface is an irregular surface. Therefore, the reflected direction of sound waves generated by a speaker unit in the inner space will be changed and the amplitude of sound waves will be decreased by an irregular surface formed in the inner surface of the continuous side wall. As the result, standing waves and echoes mixing with original sound waves may be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignees: USHER AUDIO TECHNOLOGY, OS-TECH PRECISION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lien-Shui Tsai, Heng-Tzu Tseng, Chao-Liang Yin
  • Patent number: 8887861
    Abstract: A manipulated vortex waveguide loudspeaker alignment that provides frequency independent amplification and projects with even dispersion and signal correlation from both sides of the transducer. The loudspeaker of the present invention may include a housing that contains a driver baffle that supports at least one transducer. The present invention may further include pressure baffles, waveguide baffles, and output flare baffles arranged within the housing to project amplified sounds with reflection resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventors: Stephen David Regier, Thomas Michael Ewers
  • Patent number: 8869931
    Abstract: A loudspeaker assembly is provided that is suitable for use with a small mobile device, the assembly utilizing a bass-reflex design to increase low frequency efficiency and decrease speaker distortion. The loudspeaker assembly utilizes a single sound port in which the sound pressure emitted by the diaphragm is combined with the sound pressure passing through the bass-reflex channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Curtis Gahimer
  • Patent number: 8750540
    Abstract: An omnidirectional speaker having a high frequency driver, which generates sound over a high frequency range and which has a first diameter, and a high frequency waveguide having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. A first midrange driver and a second midrange driver have a third diameter and a fourth diameter, respectively. Each midrange driver generates sound over a middle frequency range and the first midrange driver faces the second midrange driver. First and second midrange waveguides have a fifth diameter and a sixth diameter, respectively, and correspond to the first and second midrange drivers, respectively. The fifth diameter is larger than the third diameter and the sixth diameter is larger than the fourth diameter. Both of the midrange frequency waveguides are positioned between the first midrange driver and the second midrange driver so as to block a direct path from the first midrange driver to the second midrange driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Dream Audiolab Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kok Leong Tan
  • Patent number: 8746398
    Abstract: An acoustic material can be electromagnetically tuned to produce alterations in its acoustical properties without physical contact. The acoustic material should contain a periodic structure and a medium that has acousto-elastical properties that can be altered through the application of electromagnetic radiation. Changes in volumetric properties such as density result in changes to the velocity at which sound passes through the material. The acoustic material can be a phononic crystal that undergoes a change in its acoustic bandgap after being subjected to electromagnetic radiation. This electromagnetic tuning ability results in the ability to change the acoustic properties of various phononic devices without physical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: University of North Texas
    Inventors: Arup Neogi, Ezekiel Walker
  • Patent number: 8744108
    Abstract: A duct design and methods for designing ducts are described herein. The duct has a profile described by an equation that balances momentum of the fluid flowing through the duct with an adverse pressure gradient. The duct profile is configured to: (i) maintain the fluid's momentum to be greater than the adverse pressure gradient present at any location within the duct, such that no boundary layer separation occurs; and (ii) achieve a fluid exit momentum of approximately zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Strata Audio LLC
    Inventor: Mark Trainer
  • Publication number: 20140060959
    Abstract: A manipulated vortex waveguide loudspeaker alignment that provides frequency independent amplification and projects with even dispersion and signal correlation from both sides of the transducer. The loudspeaker of the present invention may include a housing that contains a driver baffle that supports at least one transducer. The present invention may further include pressure baffles, waveguide baffles, and output flare baffles arranged within the housing to project amplified sounds with reflection resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Ewers, Stephen David Regier
  • Patent number: 8627920
    Abstract: A low frequency exponential folded horn enclosure employing a bifurcated horn terminal pathway and a single driver with a bifurcated throat channel, with driver access from the top or bottom of the enclosure. The horizontal “butterfly” throat is located at the rear of the enclosure and expands vertically, and the vertically arranged bifurcated horn terminus exhausts in a mostly forward direction on opposite sides of the back chamber which is reflex-ported; said ports arranged to each exhaust into the channel folds at each respective corner of the terminal horn channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Inventor: Dana A. Moore
  • Publication number: 20130333975
    Abstract: The present invention provides a loudspeaker with a port tube having an acoustic leakage path through a motile part thereof. In this way, excess energy caused by longitudinal resonance at higher frequencies is radiated transversely through the port tube walls rather than contributing to the output of the loudspeaker itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: GP Acoustics (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Mark Alexander Dodd
  • Publication number: 20130208925
    Abstract: A reflector and an electronic system produce a diffuse way by creating time delays in accordance with a number sequence. An acoustical passive reflector incorporates a series of wells in its surface to transform an acoustical wave into a series of acoustical waves having a time difference based on a number sequence. The electronic signal conversion system converts a signal into a series of signals having a time difference based on a number sequence. This can be used in an audio speaker system having N×N array of speakers where N is an odd prime number, arranged to be driven by the electronic signal conversion system in which the signal is converted into a series of signals centred on the signal with at least one signal being timed to precede the signal and at least one signal to follow the signal and the signal being arranged to be sent to the central speaker in the N×N array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventor: Joseph Francis Hayes
  • Patent number: 8428284
    Abstract: A loudspeaker is provided that passively achieves a directional polar response at low frequencies with a high degree of attenuation between the front and the back of the loudspeaker. The loudspeaker 11 has a transducer 13, an enclosure 21 behind the transducer, and port openings 29 in the sidewalls 23 of the enclosure to allow a back-wave produced by the transducer to exit the enclosure and combine with the front wave produced by the transducer. Cancellation behind the loudspeaker at low frequencies is achieved by delaying the back wave with low loss. Low loss delay at low frequencies is achieved by inserting a low-density fibrous fill material 33 in the acoustic chamber 27 formed behind the transducer 13 by the enclosure 21. A fibrous material is selected having a low-pass transfer function and low acoustic loss in its low-frequency pass band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Meyer Sound Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: John D. Meyer, Jean Pierre Mamin, Pablo Espinosa, Peter Kowalczyk
  • Patent number: 8422713
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system for the reproduction of acoustic waves of music, sound and speech in a substantially circular horizontal plane. The loudspeaker system includes multiple spherical enclosures, each enclosure housing a pair of transducers, each pair of transducers producing acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8422714
    Abstract: A speaker with acoustic chamber is provided. The speaker includes a main body and an acoustic chamber fixed to the main body. The acoustic chamber can be converted between a collapsed state and an expanded state. The acoustic chamber is drawn to the expanded state to increase the volume of the acoustic chamber and is collapsed to the collapsed state to decrease the volume of the acoustic chamber. When the acoustic chamber is drawn to the expanded state, the quality of the sound output by the speaker is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Da-Yi Peng
  • Patent number: 8333261
    Abstract: A durable, high performance, compact subwoofer speaker cabinet having a first elongate speaker tube attached to at least a second elongate tube. The at least a second elongate tube is attached to the first elongate speaker tube using a flying bridge brace structure. The at least a second elongate tube being a sound port or another speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Ryan L. Barnes
  • Patent number: 8151929
    Abstract: An acoustic waveguide with at least two portions coupled by vibration damping structure. The vibration damping structure may be a conformable material such as closed cell foam. The vibration damping structure may further include structure for inhibiting motion in a direction transverse to the interface between the vibration damping structure and a portion of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Jacky Chi-Hung Chan, Brian J. Gawronski
  • Patent number: 8132642
    Abstract: Normally a speaker is used by attaching to a sealed or semi-sealed cabinet so that vibration generated at the front and the back of a diaphragm does not mutually interfere. Therefore, a certain depth and a volume are necessary, and in a limited location such as a front panel of a device, there is a case that it cannot be attached to the most suitable position for a listener. As a means to solve that, a method that a speaker sound at a distant position is led to a front panel by a waveguide is practically used. However, still it has limitations in depth and attaching position, and good results cannot be obtained also in efficiency. A speaker is attached so that a sound generated at the front of the speaker attached to a cabinet is led to a plane such as a front panel of a device by a waveguide, and the opening surface of the waveguide is almost perpendicular to the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: M. I. Laboratories Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuru Takashima
  • Patent number: 8130994
    Abstract: A waveguide configured to function as a high frequency waveguide for a high frequency sound source mounted to the waveguide, and to function as an acoustical low pass filter for a low frequency sound source mounted behind the waveguide in a multi-way loudspeaker system. The waveguide includes openings that overlay the vibrating surface of the low frequency source. The openings are configured by selection of various geometrical parameters to tailor filtering characteristics as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas J. Button, Alexander V. Salvatti
  • Patent number: 8104569
    Abstract: A speaker cabinet includes a first surface oriented generally along a first plane and a second surface oriented generally along a second plane. The second plane is generally orthogonal to the first plane. A third surface may be positioned between the first and second surfaces and may be oriented generally along a third plane that intersects the first plane and the second plane. The third surface may be configured to redirect an audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Daniel B. Klein
  • Patent number: 8094842
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system includes a loudspeaker enclosure having an inside space, a loudspeaker provided on the loudspeaker enclosure, a first diaphragm which has one of ends fixed to a surface of the loudspeaker enclosure and the other end, a second diaphragm which has one of ends fixed to the surface of the loudspeaker enclosure and the other end, a coupling portion having an elasticity, and coupling the other end of the first diaphragm to the other end of the second diaphragm, an opening structure provided in the surface of the loudspeaker enclosure, and a sealing member provided to a portion among the first and second diaphragms, the coupling portion and an edge part of the opening structure, and closing the inside space to hold an airtightness of the loudspeaker enclosure in a state that the first and second diaphragms can be vibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Noro, Akira Arai
  • Patent number: 8014545
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system includes an enclosure having an open end defining a plane, a baffle, a loudspeaker operating in the 4 kHz to 10 kHz range, and a device, preferably a ribbed portion having a plurality of grooves, coupled to the baffle for modifying the spectral profile of the projected sound waves. The baffle includes first and second angled surfaces each oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the plane. The speaker is coupled to the first angled surface and the ribbed portion is coupled to the baffle along the intersection of the first angled surface and the second angled surface. When mounted in a wall or ceiling, the system projects a sound field substantially indistinguishable from that of a loudspeaker located within the listener's listening plane. The baffle can also have acoustic damping material attached thereto, with grooves formed therein, to prevent reflections of 4 kHz to 10 kHz sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: DEI Headquarters, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Grant, Timothy A. Gladwin, Robert G. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8002078
    Abstract: An acoustic waveguide with at least two portions coupled by vibration damping structure. The vibration damping structure may be a conformable material such as closed cell foam. The vibration damping structure may further include structure for inhibiting motion in a direction transverse to the interface between the vibration damping structure and a portion of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Jacky Chi-Hung Chan, Brian J. Gawronski
  • Patent number: 7878296
    Abstract: The present invention relates to speakers and, more particularly, to a speaker sound system, characterized in that the speaker, mounted on a speaker housing constituting a sound emission apparatus, has a guide cover to guide sound radiating from the back of the speaker forwards when the sound is output both forwards and backwards because of fluctuations of a cone of the speaker due to electrical signals, that is integrally attached to the surface of the speaker, thereby providing vivid high-fidelity sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: In-hee Lee
  • Patent number: 7845462
    Abstract: A middle to high frequency straight pathway horn with wide horizontal dispersion characteristics having extended terminus side walls which approach a perpendicular angle compared to the horn axis which are further extended by a rearwardly divergent angled or curved surface from the terminus frontal plane to reduce the deleterious effects of horn mouth, edge, and baffle diffraction, allowing for traditional front baffle mounting or free-standing use. Modular baffle elements allow the invention to be configured for the further reduction of diffraction effects in a variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Inventor: Dana A. Moore
  • Patent number: 7813770
    Abstract: A speaker module and a mobile device having the speaker module are provided herein. The speaker module includes a speaker unit and a speaker box. The speaker box has a wall defining an aperture receiving the speaker unit therein. The speaker box has a first speaker chamber, a second speaker chamber and a connecting section connecting the first speaker chamber and the second speaker chamber. The cross-sectional height of the space of the connecting section is lower than that of the first speaker chamber or the second speaker chamber. In other option, the space of the connecting section is smaller than that of the first speaker chamber or the second speaker chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: San-Chi Ho, Kar-Chai Luk, Teerada Sirirattanasit
  • 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: 7760895
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system positioned to one side of a listener includes a closed-back tweeter supported in front of a concave reflective surface. The curvature of the surface is formed by vertical and parallel first and second sides of a rectangle wherein the first side is rotated around the second side as axis. The tweeter projects sound with hemispherical directionality away from the listener and toward the surface. Some of the sound projected by the tweeter is reflected off of the surface toward the listener at an angle of less than about 10° relative to a principal plane of the concavity. A low frequency range loudspeaker projects sound towards the listener generally at an azimuth nearly equal to that of a virtual center of radiation of the sound projected by the tweeter off of the concavity. Thereby, the listener localizes a well-defined sound image at a few meters behind the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Inventor: Peter H. Lehmann
  • Patent number: 7711135
    Abstract: In order to divide the inside space of the cabinet into at least two with a speaker being the center, obtain a plurality of emitted sound energies through openings constructed in each divided sphere, and utilize a cabinet of a loudspeaker apparatus as a sound echo box, a partition wall 4 is disposed at a right angle to a baffle board 2 or a front board 7, passing through the center O of a speaker 3 disposed on the baffle board 2 or the front board 7 of the cabinet 6, and divides the inside space of the cabinet 6 into at least two of an upper chamber 11U and a lower chamber 11D, so that sound energies are emitted from openings 8 and 9 which are provided in each chamber of 11D and 11U, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventor: Teruo Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 7669692
    Abstract: A sound diffuser includes a front plate defining a plurality of sound exit holes. An outer frustoconical wall extends from the front plate, the outer frustoconical wall decreasing in diameter from the front plate. An inner frustoconical wall extends from the outer frustoconical wall toward the front plate, the inner frustoconical wall decreasing in diameter toward the front plate and defining a sound entry opening spaced apart from the front plate. A plurality of legs are coupled to at least one of the front plate and the outer frustoconical wall, the legs extending away from the front plate to contact a speaker cover. First and second straps operatively extend from the front plate, the first strap having a distal end with a fastener for connection to a speaker case. The second strap also has a distal end with a fastener for connection to the speaker case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Inventor: James W. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 7621369
    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: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Publication number: 20090277712
    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: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 7584820
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an acoustic device comprising a waveguide having a sound opening at one end facing a space, an audio source, an acoustic driver at another end of the waveguide, the acoustic driver facing a listening area, and structure supporting the acoustic device, the audio source, and the acoustic driver, as an integrated audio system, the acoustic driver and the opening in the waveguide facing in substantially different directions from the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Preston Parker, Dewey Potter
  • Publication number: 20090211839
    Abstract: A speaker attenuation system includes a foam attenuating member attached to a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is configured for attachment to a baffle board of a speaker cabinet and the foam attenuating member is configured to be positioned in a central beam region of a speaker of the speaker cabinet when the mounting bracket is attached to the baffle board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: Frank LaMarra
  • Patent number: 7565948
    Abstract: An acoustic waveguide system contains a trunk waveguide and a number of branch waveguides. The trunk waveguide section defines an interior passage and includes at least one open end. A number of branch waveguide sections define an interior passage and include a junction end and a terminal end, with the junction end coupled to the trunk waveguide. One or more cavities can be coupled to at least one of the trunk or branch sections and communicate therewith through a vent for damping the resonance peak of a target standing wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Preston Parker, Dewey Potter, Hal P. Greenberger
  • Patent number: 7520368
    Abstract: A low frequency folded horn enclosure intended for use in proximity with at least one planar surface with access to the horn throat from the top of the enclosure. The horn is bifurcated at the throat and folds horizontally around a central trapezoid-shaped columnar back chamber which includes a phase-inverting means. The throat channel expands vertically to the single fold and expands vertically and horizontally to the horn mouth, maximizing back chamber volume within the constraints imposed by footprint size, frequency response, and driver characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Inventor: Dana A. Moore
  • Patent number: 7513332
    Abstract: A low frequency exponential bass horn enclosure employing a bifurcated horn pathway and twin throats, convertible to a variety of front-loaded or rear-loaded configurations without modifications by the use of interchangeable parts, with driver access typically from the front. Optimized for corner placement but fully enclosed horn channel allows for floor or wall use. The horizontal “butterfly” throat is located at the rear of the enclosure and expands vertically, and the vertically arranged horn terminus exhausts in forward-canted splay angles around a partially rectangular back chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Inventor: Dana A. Moore
  • Patent number: 7463746
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system having an enclosure having a narrow opening or slot for radiating high frequency acoustic energy. The loudspeaker system has a cover member defining a slot between the cover member and a boundary of a listening space. The loudspeaker system may also include a fixed or adaptive equalizer for modifying frequency response anomalies resulting from the interaction of the acoustic energy, the narrow opening, and the boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald F. Caron, George E. P. Chute, Allan S. Copeland, Eric J. Freeman, Doug Kramer
  • Publication number: 20080169150
    Abstract: A reflection-type sound box comprises a box body and a loudspeaker. The box body comprises an upper shell, a lower shell for correspondingly coupling with the upper shell, and a sound chamber defined by the upper shell and the lower shell jointly. The sound chamber has a reflection duct extending inward from the upper shell and a sound cup extending inward from the lower shell. The sound cup is located to cover the outside of the reflection duct, and the sound cup and the reflection duct are spaced by a predetermined distance. The loudspeaker has an outward expanded opening and the loudspeaker is mounted in the box body for generating the sounds. The upper shell can be coupled with the lower shell easily by convex/concave engagement between the sound cup and the reflection duct. Accordingly, the reflection-type sound box has space-saving, small-noise, high-efficiency, and low-cost advantages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Tsung-Cheng Kuo
  • Publication number: 20080121459
    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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 7296653
    Abstract: A sound controlling apparatus adapted for combination with a speaker unit, comprising a stand configured to support the speaker unit, a reflecting panel or panels associated with the stand to reflect sound waves transmitted by the speaker unit, a side panel or panels associated with the stand, there being a reflected sound transmission path or paths defined by at least one of the following: i) the stand ii) a side panel, or panels, iii) the stand and a side panel or panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Inventors: Harold N. Smith, Jr., Harold N. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 7263387
    Abstract: A speaker module (200) having a speaker unit (210) and a speaker box (220) is provided. The speaker module is mounted in a casing (22) of a hand-held electronic device (20). The speaker box (220) has a wall defining an aperture (222a) receiving the speaker unit therein. The speaker box has a neck section (224) formed by narrowing a peripheral wall of the speaker box. The neck section connects front and rear speaker chambers (222, 226) each of which has a cross-sectional dimension larger than that of the neck section. The speaker module is mounted on a printed circuit board (24) by fitting the neck section in a hole (24a) of the printed circuit board. The speaker unit is mounted in a front wall of the front chamber (222). An antenna module (26) is mounted in the casing behind the speaker module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: High Tech Computer, Corp.
    Inventors: San-Chi Ho, Kar-Chai Luk, Teerada Sirirattanasit
  • Patent number: 7207413
    Abstract: An acoustic impedance matching enclosure is provided having a driver loaded into a chamber buffering the throat/mouth of a closed loop transmission line. Transmission line consists of a termination member, outer and inner enclosure walls, high-density lining and throat/mouth area. Transmission line eliminates internal random standing waves while providing variable-frequency standing waves that through superposition of the waves compensates for mass-acceleration loss of the high-end of the driver output while damping the resonance of the driver. Alternative application of the acoustic impedance matching enclosure is that of compression loading the driver directly into the closed loop transmission line and using an acoustic low pass filter to translate the output into low frequencies only through a port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: TBI Audio Systems LLC
    Inventor: Jan Princeton Plummer