With Damping Means Patents (Class 181/166)
  • Patent number: 8135164
    Abstract: A speaker of the present invention includes the following: a diaphragm that includes an inner periphery coupled to a voice coil, and a corrugation provided at the intermediate position between the inner periphery and an outer periphery; a speaker edge for supporting the outer periphery of the diaphragm; and a damping member attached to an outer peripheral part of the diaphragm outside the vicinity of an outer periphery of the corrugation. The effective vibration area of an inner peripheral part of the diaphragm inside an inner periphery of the corrugation is substantially half or less of the total effective vibration area. The damping member is configured as a damping portion by extending an overlap portion of the speaker edge overlapping with the diaphragm to the vicinity of the outer periphery of the corrugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shoji Tanaka, Hiroko Tsutsumi, Takafumi Yuasa
  • Patent number: 8073185
    Abstract: An electronic device equipped with a speaker includes: a first cushion member interposed between the side surfaces of the speaker and the side guides of the speaker holding section formed on the cabinet; a second cushion member that is formed of a material softer than the first cushion member and is interposed between the undersurface of the speaker and the pedestal of the speaker holding section; and a third cushion member that is formed of a material softer than the first cushion member and is interposed between the rear surface of the speaker and the backrest of the speaker holding section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hideki Watanabe, Ikki Tatsukami
  • Publication number: 20110293121
    Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer includes a frame defining a hollow space, and an elastic member mounted on the frame. The elastic member includes a circular plane lamina and a plurality of elastic arms extending outwardly from a circumference of the circular plane lamina. A diaphragm includes a vibrating film mounted with the circular plane lamina, and an edge damper integrally formed with an outer periphery of the vibrating film. A voice coil is attached below the vibrating film and electrically connected to the circular plane lamina. At least two through holes are formed between an outer periphery of the circular plane lamina and an inner side of the voice coil for balancing the air pressure of the air below the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: Xu-Dong Yan
  • Patent number: 7946378
    Abstract: A membrane for an electroacoustic transducer is disclosed having a first area, a second area, which is arranged for translatory movement in relation to said first area, and a third area, which connects said first area and said second area, wherein local, planar spring constants along a closed line within said third area encompassing said second area, are determined in such a way that local, translatory spring constants along said line in a direction of said translatory movement are substantially constant or exclusively have substantially flat, mutual changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Susanne Windischberger, Helmut Wasinger, Josef Lutz
  • Publication number: 20110026759
    Abstract: Ring-shaped membrane for an electro-acoustical loudspeaker, where said membrane comprises two or more dome-shaped annulus concentrically arranged around a central portion through which an imaginary axis of symmetry passes, where an outer periphery of said membrane is suitable to be attached to a surround; where the central portion is attached to a tower, which again is fastened to the loudspeakers driver, wherein the angle between a plane being perpendicular to the axis of symmetry and the attachment of the membrane to the surround resp. the tower is in the interval 0° to 40°, most preferred around 30°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Lars Goller
  • Publication number: 20110026757
    Abstract: A diaphragm for acoustic converter includes a base and a damping layer formed on one surface or both surfaces of the base. The damping layer includes a particle having a heat dissipating function, and has detachability with respect to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicants: PIONEER CORPORATION, TOHOKU PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Takahashi, Hayato Otomo, Kenji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7877856
    Abstract: An edge (29) for supporting a diaphragm assembly (100) with respect to a frame (26) is bonded to the frame (26) along the outer periphery thereof and joined to a diaphragm (27) in a position more peripherally inward than a voice coil (28) along the inner periphery thereof. The edge (29) partly overlaps diaphragm (27). This structure allows downsizing of the speaker, without reducing the sizes of a permanent magnet (21) and the edge (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Fukuyama, Tomoyasu Takase, Koji Sano, Hiroshi Yano, Masanori Nakano, Shigeru Tomoeda, Kazuki Honda, Kazuya Yamasaki, Kazutaka Kubo, Takeshi Shimokawatoko, Mitsutaka Enomoto, Masahide Sumiyama
  • Patent number: 7845461
    Abstract: An acoustic diaphragm includes a diaphragm formed of a uniform material and a first standing wave suppression member provided on a surface of the diaphragm along a first direction of passing through a center of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Imamura, Junji Iino, Shinji Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20100224437
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a diaphragm that may be used with a mechanical-to-acoustical transducer. The diaphragm may include a layer of optically clear film, a damping layer and another layer of optically clear film. The damping layer may be an adhesive. The diaphragm may also comprise two optically clear films, optionally including a damping layer, wherein the films indicate a desired coefficient of linear thermal expansion in one or both of the machine and transverse directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: EMO LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Davis Booth, Stefan Bokaemper, Robert H. White, JR.
  • Patent number: 7726441
    Abstract: There is provided an acoustic vibratory plate having at least first to third laminated bodies layered. In the acoustic vibratory plate, the first and third laminated bodies are formed of a polymer material, and the second laminated body is formed of a polymer material different from the polymer material forming the first and third laminated bodies in dynamic internal loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Uryu, Yoshio Ohashi, Kunihiko Tokura
  • Patent number: 7686129
    Abstract: A horn and a loudspeaker employing the horn are disclosed that include a body having a throat that expands outwardly to a mouth such that a first interior area defined by the throat is smaller than a second interior area defined by the mouth. A plurality of raised surface areas is located on an interior surface of the body. The raised surface areas extend into a hollow interior defined by the body a predetermined distance and are utilized to channel sound waves through the body and out the mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Klipsch LLC
    Inventor: Rogelio Delgado, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090285431
    Abstract: A multifunctional transducer diaphragm may be configured as audio speaker system for displays wherein the multifunctional transducer diaphragm is capable of polarizing light transmitted therethrough and can convert mechanical motion into acoustical energy. In a related embodiment, a display panel system may comprise a multifunctional display screen comprising a single multifunctional transducer diaphragm capable of polarizing light which converts mechanical motion into acoustical energy, simultaneously providing both display screen and audio speaker functionalities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: Emo Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason L. CARLSON, Stefan BOKAEMPER
  • Patent number: 7447322
    Abstract: A speaker having a transparent sound panel and an exciter connected to the transparent sound panel for converting electrical energy received by the exciter, into vibrations that are transmitted to the transparent sound panel, resulting in the transparent sound panel transmitting sound. The speaker also contains a stiff panel located between the exciter and the transparent sound panel, where the stiff panel minimizes dampening qualities associated with material utilized to fabricate the transparent sound panel and minimizes bending of the portion of the transparent sound panel that is in contact with the stiff panel. In addition, a dampening pad is located within the exciter for absorbing a portion of excessive mid-high frequency vibrations emanating from the exciter prior to transmission to the transparent sound panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Brookstone Purchasing, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth David Harris, Jr., Vian W. Y. Li, Timothy L. Trzepacz
  • Patent number: 7325650
    Abstract: A speaker according to the present invention is equipped with a diaphragm having a central portion of a dome shape and an edge portion formed on an outer periphery thereof. Further, the speaker has also a frame attached with an outermost fringe of the edge portion and a damper member provided inside the central portion to support the central portion. The damper member supports an inner side surface of a voice coil bobbin also, so that a voice coil can be adequately positioned within a magnetic gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Horigome, Hiroshi Sato
  • Patent number: 7319772
    Abstract: A speaker device for improving mid/high-range frequencies includes a magnetic base, a frame annularly mounted to the magnetic base, a cone mounted to an inner side of the frame, a voice coil mounted to the cone and suspended in a gap of the magnetic base, and a deadening phase plug mounted on a central portion of the magnetic base. The magnetic base includes a T-iron, a magnet, and a pole plate. The deadening phase plug is made of a sound-absorbing material for absorbing and eliminating sound waves generated by the voice coil and the cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: George Chang
  • Patent number: 7316289
    Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer includes a tone generator, a vibrator, and a case. The tone generator includes a diaphragm, and a voice coil joined to the diaphragm. The vibrator includes a magnetic circuit having a magnetic gap at which the voice coil is positioned, and a suspension made of metal and having a first end joined to the magnetic circuit to suspend the magnetic circuit for allowing the magnetic circuit to vibrate. The case is joined to a periphery of the diaphragm, and includes a metal plate joined to a second end of the suspension. The metal plate is joined to the suspensions reliably, hence allowing the electro-acoustic transducer to be manufactured stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Ajiki, Kimihiro Ando, Masashi Kawabe
  • Patent number: 7306073
    Abstract: A membrane (20) has a membrane axis (5) and a middle area (50), a central cup-shaped depression (52) being provided around said membrane axis (5), which depression (52) preferably has a connecting channel (53), wherein the middle area (50) comprises groups of stiffening grooves (54, 55, 56, 57) which extend parallel to radial directions and of which a first group of long stiffening grooves (54, 55, 56) extends up to the depression (52), said connecting channel (53) issuing into two of the long stiffening grooves (55, 56), thus interconnecting these two long stiffening grooves (55, 56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Ewald Frasl
  • Patent number: 7155021
    Abstract: A panel-shaped loudspeaker comprising a panel (1) having a first main surface (1A) and a second main surface (1B) parallel to the first main surface and further comprising an exciter (3) positioned at the first main surface. When the exciter is energized the panel is capable of sustaining bending waves and has a distribution of resonant modes of its natural bending wave vibration, which results in an acoustic radiation. The loudspeaker has a tuning element (17) extending near the second main surface of the panel and positioned opposite the exciter so as to form a resonant cavity (18) between the panel and the exciter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: David Magda Eddy Corynen
  • Patent number: 6920957
    Abstract: A loudspeaker diaphragm affixed with a coil includes an edge portion located outside of a portion affixed with the coil and a center portion located inside of the portion affixed with the coil. The center portion is provided thereon with ribs. With these ribs, the height of the center portion can be limited to the height of the ribs. Therefore, it is possible to save a space of a loudspeaker where the loudspeaker diaphragm is placed, thereby slimming down the loudspeaker. Furthermore, with these ribs, the rigidity of the center portion can be improved without using a conventional solution of forming, for example, a dome shape on the center portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sawako Usuki, Shuji Saiki
  • Patent number: 6863152
    Abstract: A symmetrically loaded, shallow suspension speaker with stiff diaphragm having a minimum dimension that is greater than the diameter of the magnet that drives the diaphragm thus allowing the suspension of the diaphragm to extend nearly to the bottom of the speaker basket on the maximum inward excursion of the voice coil and diaphragm such that the suspension operational depth is not the limiting factor of the overall height of the speaker. The elements of the suspension system are designed to maximize the spacing between the inner and outer portions of the suspension, thus minimizing the possibility of wobble in the speaker. The speaker design maximizes air movement in a given mounting depth with a configuration that optimizes the operation of the moving parts that complements the fixed mechanical structural configuration of the non-moving parts in either an overhung or underhung configuration. The design also accommodates user replacement of the voice coil or cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventor: Joseph Yaacoub Sahyoun
  • Publication number: 20040251077
    Abstract: An acoustic enclosure such as a loudspeaker (10) uses within the cabinet adsorbent material, and/or containment means (22) for the adsorbent material, which is at least partially hydrophobic. Preferably, the material is activated carbon treated to provide it with hydrophobic properties. Preferably, the adsorbent material is treated with a silicon-containing compound. This improves the acoustic compliance of the acoustic enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Julian Wright, Thomas Anthony Ryan
  • Patent number: 6830876
    Abstract: An acoustic resistor or damper and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The damper has mesh material and mounting material attached to the mesh material. The mounting material defines an open region for transmission of sound through the mesh material, and has a mounting surface for mounting the damper on a surface surrounding an acoustic port or tube. The mounting surface is located on a plane different from the mesh material, thereby shielding the mesh material from adhesive applied between the mounting surface and the surface surrounding the acoustic port or tube. The method of manufacturing an acoustic damper comprises exposing emulsion applied to a mesh material through at least one opening in a photographic mask to ultraviolet light and removing the emulsion exposed. A portion of the remaining emulsion and mesh material is cut in a shape surrounding the removed emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Etymotic Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Mead C. Killion, Andrew J. Haapapuro
  • Publication number: 20040245042
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system comprises a loudspeaker drive unit (1) and a rear sound absorption system (20) comprising a multiplicity of tubes connected to the rear of the loudspeaker drive unit. In one example, the rear sound absorption system (20) comprises a collector tube (22) for sound waves emerging from a passage in the magnet assembly of the loudspeaker drive unit, an annular diffuser (24) for sound waves coming from the back of the diaphragm (4), and a disk-shaped diffuser (26) for sound waves collected by the collector tube (22). The disk-shaped diffuser (26) is part of a basket-like assembly (28) mounted on the rear of the magnet assembly (6). The annular diffuser (24) is mounted against the wall (2) of the enclosure in which the loudspeaker drive unit (1) is mounted. The annular diffuser (24) comprises a base portion (24A) with integral upstanding vanes (24B) arranged in a spiral configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: B &W LOUDSPEAKERS LIMITED
    Inventor: Stuart Michael Nevill
  • Patent number: 6820719
    Abstract: A butterfly damper comprises an inner circumferential frame, an outer circumferential frame and at least one arm member. The arm member has one end connected to the outer circumferential frame and the other end connected to the inner circumferential frame. The arm member has a racetrack-shaped cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Shoichi Toyoda
  • Patent number: 6814181
    Abstract: There is provided an electrically conductive damper device for a speaker in which local bending is reduced and break-downs of material of the damper and metallic wires incorporated in the damper are prevented, by additionally providing one or more sheets of damper fabric as a reinforcing damper 142 and by bonding it to a main damper 141 by way of various kinds of resin, in order to reinforce a neck portion of the electrically conductive damper. Further, properties of the damper can be adjusted by varying an outer diameter of the reinforcing damper 142, or by selecting the resin to be employed as an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Abe, Koji Matsumoto, Koji Takayama, Hiroyuki Tomiyama
  • Patent number: 6796401
    Abstract: In a speaker apparatus equipped with a speaker unit including a magnet, a frame and a diaphragm, a speaker housing has a substantially cylindrical shape, and also has such a structure that the speaker unit is secured onto one end surface of the cylindrical shape of the speaker housing so as to substantially cover the speaker unit except for front and back surfaces of the diaphragm. Further, the speaker housing has an opening in another end surface of the cylindrical shape thereof. A support bar extends and has one end secured to a back surface of the magnet of the speaker unit. Furthermore, a weight is secured to another end of the support bar, and then, the weight holds the support bar in a substantially vertical direction and grounds the magnet acoustically and virtually, thereby attenuating and suppressing oscillation transmitted from the magnet to the support bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Timedomain Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yoshii, Haruhiko Imamura
  • Patent number: 6789643
    Abstract: A butterfly damper comprises an inner circumferential frame, an outer circumferential frame and at least one arm member. The outer circumferential frame has opposite end surfaces and an inner peripheral surface. The inner peripheral surface is connected to the opposite end surfaces to form opposite connecting edge portions. The arm member has one end connected to the outer circumferential frame and the other end connected to the inner circumferential frame. The one end of the arm member is connected to a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the outer circumferential frame, which portion exclude the opposite connecting edge portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Shoichi Toyoda
  • Publication number: 20040134711
    Abstract: A cutout portion is formed in the vicinity of a speaker (vibration generating source) on an attaching plate. The cutout portion is arranged in an arc shape to be concentric around the speaker. Preferably, the cutout portion is filled with a filler, and a fold-back portion folded to the rearside is given at an edge of the cutout portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshikazu Yoshimi, Kensaku Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6751330
    Abstract: A driver unit is fixed to a stand. A front box and a rear box are directly fitted to the stand through a buffer material. A box comes into contact with the driver unit through a buffer material and is fixed to the stand. Therefore, sound of the driver unit is not transmitted to the box and the drop of sound quality of the speaker can be prevented. The driver unit is fixed to the stand at an immovable foundation, and sound energy can be efficiently transmitted from a speaker cone to the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignees: Fujitsu Ten Limited, Timedomain Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kowaki, Akira Nishikawa, Katsuhiko Tsumori, Hiroyuki Yoshii
  • Publication number: 20040104070
    Abstract: A speaker's damper is comprised of a main body and lead wires, in which the damper's main body is essentially a piece of woven cloth pressed in form of an annular disk with a corrugated cutaway section while the lead wire is a metallic wire in texture properly interwoven in the damper's main body, such that the jumping-rope phenomenon of the lead wire can be avoided when the damper's main body is in vibration. Also, by means of a guide sleeve, two lead wires can be prevented from being short-circuited during vibration of the damper's main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventor: Yen-Chen Chan
  • Patent number: 6732832
    Abstract: A speaker damper comprises a damper casing and a metallic whisker, wherein the damper casing is substantially a woven pad formed as a circular wafer with corrugated sections, while the metallic whisker is substantially a conductive wire intermittently penetrated and buried in the damper casing. A fastening string is provided to tie the metallic whisker intermittently and hold it steadily to the damper casing without incurring the so-called repetitious jump-rope phenomenon during vibration of the later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: Yen-Chen Chan
  • Patent number: 6634456
    Abstract: A kind of vibrating diaphragm of false speaker structure which includes a center piece with integrated formation directly on a larger outer diameter surface layer body, a connected suspended edge provided at the side way of the surface layer body in circle, and the hardness of the center piece is greater than the surface layer body and a gap reserved at the separation of the formation of the surface layer body and the suspended edge; with this provision, it provides aesthetic and consistence in appearance to the vibrating diaphragm formation, and save the adhesion of the suspended edge and the center piece which reduce the process and lower cost and make the center piece embedded with the product firmly without loosen, meeting various test condition and prolong the service life of the structure in practice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Meiloon Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jack Peng
  • Patent number: 6626262
    Abstract: A waterproof speaker has a yoke provided with a magnet and a center pole therein. A top plate is attached on the periphery of the yoke, wherein the center pole protrudes through a center opening of the top plate. A frame is mounted on a front surface of the top plate. A cone-shaped diaphragm has a middle through-hole that mounts a bobbin and is enclosed by a cap, wherein the diaphragm has its rim portion attached to a forward end portion of the frame via an edge portion. A voice coil is mounted around the periphery of the bobbin. A waterproof damper is supported by the frame and defined with a hole through which the bobbin is protruded, and the damper is formed of two layers, wherein a first layer is cloth material, and a second layer is waterproof material to prevent moisture entering the yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Ting-Pang Chen
  • Patent number: 6567528
    Abstract: An electrodynamic transducer includes a frame, a magnet assembly providing a magnetic field across an air gap, a voice coil, a coil former for supporting the voice coil in the air gap, and a diaphragm having an outer perimeter and an apex. The coil former is coupled to the apex so that current through the voice coil causing the voice coil to move in the air gap causes the diaphragm to move. A spider is coupled to the coil former to support the voice coil in the air gap. The spider has convolutions radially outward from the coil former. The convolutions include arcs and generally straight sections. A surround is coupled to the outer perimeter and the frame to support the outer perimeter from the frame. The surround has convolutions radially outward from the outer perimeter. The convolutions include arcs and generally straight sections. The generally straight sections may have non-uniform lengths and non-uniformly varying lengths with increasing distance from the coil former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas P. Heed
  • Patent number: 6549637
    Abstract: Differential flow vents allow airflow within a vent to be preferential. A flange disposed within a vent introduces non-linearities and causes a preferred direction of airflow into an expanding volume. The differential flow vents are used in conjunction with the natural motion of the loudspeaker cone acting as a pump to cool the loudspeaker cabinet enclosure without having to directly cool the woofer magnet structure. In one embodiment, at least one pair of opposed differential flow vents within the cabinet enclosure provide fresh air to be preferentially circulated to cool the interior of a loudspeaker system. In another embodiment, by providing an odd number of opposed differential flow vents within the cabinet enclosure, positive air circulation also results. By making either the pairs or odd number of differential flow vents to be asymmetrical, dynamic woofer offset is compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Peavey Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Jon M. Risch
  • Publication number: 20020144858
    Abstract: A butterfly damper comprises an inner circumferential frame, an outer circumferential frame and at least one arm member. The outer circumferential frame has opposite end surfaces and an inner peripheral surface. The inner peripheral surface is connected to the opposite end surfaces to form opposite connecting edge portions. The arm member has one end connected to the outer circumferential frame and the other end connected to the inner circumferential frame. The one end of the arm member is connected to a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the outer circumferential frame, which portion exclude the opposite connecting edge portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shoichi Toyoda
  • Publication number: 20020144857
    Abstract: A butterfly damper comprises an inner circumferential frame, an outer circumferential frame and at least one arm member. The arm member has one end connected to the outer circumferential frame and the other end connected to the inner circumferential frame. The arm member has a racetrack-shaped cross section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shoichi Toyoda
  • Publication number: 20020112914
    Abstract: There is provided an electrically conductive damper device for a speaker in which local bending is reduced and break-downs of material of the damper and metallic wires incorporated in the damper are prevented, by additionally providing one or more sheets of damper fabric as a reinforcing damper 142 and by bonding it to a main damper 141 by way of various kinds of resin, in order to reinforce a neck portion of the electrically conductive damper. Further, properties of the damper can be adjusted by varying an outer diameter of the reinforcing damper 142, or by selecting the resin to be employed as an adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Abe, Koji Matsumoto, Koji Takayama, Hiroyuki Tomiyama
  • Patent number: 6390232
    Abstract: A speaker cone assembly comprises a felted paper-type cone fabricated of a composite material and a molded surround. The composite cone material contains natural fibers and synthetic fibers, where the synthetic fibers are able to chemically bond to material of the surround, thereby forming an improved bond during the molding procedure by which the surround is formed and attached to the cone. The method of preparing the composite cone material includes formulating and refining the natural fibers, preferably before adding the synthetic fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Communications Products Corporation
    Inventor: Neil Kirschbaum
  • Patent number: 6385327
    Abstract: A device including two bodies (3, 5) which are disposed coaxially with respect to a translation axis (1), and including a comparatively compact suspension via which at least one of the bodies is movable with respect to the other body along the translation axis. The suspension, which allows comparatively large and accurately defined axial excursions of the one body with respect to the other body, includes a set of at least three blade spring elements (7) which are positioned around the translation axis. These blade spring elements each include two blade springs (7a, 7b) which are inclined with respect to a plane (XY) oriented perpendicularly to the translation axis, the blade springs of each blade spring element each having two peripheral portions (7a1, 7a2; 7b1, 7b2) which each extend parallel to the plane which is oriented perpendicularly to the translation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Guido O. M. D'Hoogh
  • Publication number: 20020017423
    Abstract: In a speaker including a voice coil which is wound on a voice coil bobbin and is inserted into a magnetic circuit gap of a magnetic circuit, and a cone which is coupled to the voice coil bobbin for vibration, the cone (16) is constructed of two divided cones: a drive cone (16A) linked to the voice coil bobbin (14) and a cone paper (16B) linked through an edge (17) to a frame (F).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Toshifumi Kato
  • Patent number: 6332029
    Abstract: Acoustic device including a member extending transversely of its thickness and capable of sustaining bending waves at least over an intendedly consequentially acoustically active area of the transverse extent of said member, the member having, by reason of orderly design methodology disclosed and claimed, a distribution of resonant modes of its natural bending wave vibration at least over said area that is dependent on values of particular parameters of said members, including geometrical configuration and directional bending stiffness(es), which values have been selected to predetermine said distribution of natural resonant modes being consonant with required achievable acoustic action of said member for operation of said device over a desired operative acoustic frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Henry Firouz Azima, Martin Colloms, Neil John Harris
  • Patent number: 6321868
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a watertight apparatus capable of being immersed in a liquid, for example a watertight watch, including a case (1) with an inner chamber (10) communicating with the exterior, the chamber being separated from the exterior by a membrane (17) which can be deformed, defining, on one side, a non-watertight outer zone and, on the other side, a watertight inner zone, in which is housed, in association with the membrane, an acoustic transducer (22), the membrane being fixed by its peripheral edge (17A) in the chamber (10) and applied via elastic memeber (20) towards its periphery, but at a distance from the edge, against a support surface (12) arranged in the inner chamber (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mignot, Dominique Dubugnon
  • Patent number: 6305491
    Abstract: A speaker includes a diaphragm, a frame accommodating the diaphragm and an edge attached to an outer periphery of the diaphragm as well as to an inner periphery of the frame so as to retain the diaphragm within an interior of the frame. The edge has a thickness which is smallest at substantially a central portion between the diaphragm and the frame and the vicinity thereof, and increases toward the diaphragm and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Iwasa, Hiroyuki Takewa, Kazue Sato, Mitsuhiro Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6236733
    Abstract: A loudspeaker has a frame, a magnetic circuit formed on the frame, a voice coil bobbin disposed in a magnetic gap of the magnetic circuit, and a diaphragm connected to the voice coil bobbin at an inner periphery and to the frame at an outer periphery thereof. The diaphragm is folded at a position between the inner and outer peripheries to form an annular ridge. The ridge is projected in an axially inner direction of the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignees: Pioneer Electronic Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Kato, Satoshi Hachiya, Takeshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 6144753
    Abstract: A speaker apparatus has a damper for supporting vibrating elements including a vibrating diaphragm. The damper is formed by injecting a predetermined amount of a resin material into a metal mold of an injection molding equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ohyaba, Shunichi Takahashi, Showichiro Terauchi, Takanobu Saito, Tatsuya Ando, Yoshiya Usami, Hiroyuki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 5909014
    Abstract: Shown, in the application, is a novel and extremely cost effective method to replace traditional and contemporary baffles and enclosures used for preventing the cancellation and consequent radiation of lower frequencies from loudspeakers. The space occupied for the added beam element to accomplish this task is smaller than the loudspeaker itself and adds little to the overall size of the loudspeaker system. With this simple element, baffle size, bidirectional, equaphase reproduction down to and including the fundamental loudspeaker resonance, is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Inventor: Clare Louis Mengel
  • Patent number: 5878150
    Abstract: A damper for a loud speaker is produced by molding a substrate into a desired shape in which a fabric or knitted cloth composed of core-sheath type conjugate fibers composed of filaments having a core-sheath type structure is used as the substrate. A resin used for forming a core material in the core-sheath type structure functions as a matrix of the substrate. A sheath material having a lower melting point than that of the core material functions as an excipient, and is fused by a heat treatment and then solidified during the molding process, so as to bond together the intersections of fibers constituting the substrate and to cover the surface of the fibers. Thus, only a simple substrate production process is required and a damper for a loud speaker having excellent moldability, water-proofness, and durability is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Kanebo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Okazaki, Shinya Mizone, Toshihiro Shimizu, Toshihide Tomikawa, Toyohiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5761322
    Abstract: A portable computer system including sealed acoustic suspension speaker enclosures which are each molded of a high density-low-density polymer combination, so that the low-density polymer can provide good sealing to adjacent surfaces. Preferably, neither speaker enclosure is sealed as a free standing unit, but the acoustic seal is completed only when the speaker enclosure is in place inside the portable computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick V. Illingworth, David E. Gough
  • Patent number: 5729616
    Abstract: According to the state of the art, most centering diaphragms (10) for loudspeakers are made of paper, plastic or textile material. These centering diaphragms (10) furthermore have plastic resin coatings. The attachment of the centering diaphragms (10) to the remaining loudspeaker components is mostly made by adhesive bonding. Although such centering diaphragms exhibit good characteristics at low temperatures, they can no longer be used when the ambient temperatures are above 150.degree. degrees Celsius. The invention therefore proposes to make the centering diaphragm (10) for loudspeakers of metal. If the centering diaphragm (10) is subdivided into at least two individual components (10.1 to 10.4), these individual components (10.1 to 10.4) can be used as contact bridges between the wire ends (28) from the voice coil (24) and the audio signal line (30). If the respective surfaces in the connection areas of the individual components (10.1 to 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Nokia Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Geisenberger