Elastic Suspension Means Patents (Class 181/172)
  • Patent number: 8081791
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a frame, a magnetic circuit supported by the frame, voice coil body provided movably in relation to a magnetic gap provided at the magnetic circuit, a diaphragm having an outer rim being joined via a first edge to the frame and an inner rim being joined to the voice coil body, and a damper located towards the magnetic circuit from the diaphragm. The damper has an inner rim joined to the voice coil body. The damper has an outer rim joined via a second edge to the frame. The second edge protrudes towards the diaphragm or in a direction opposite to the diaphragm. The damper includes a first protrusion protruding towards the diaphragm and a second protrusion protruding in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first protrusion protrudes. A protrusion out of the first and second protrusions is closest to the second edge among the protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Funahashi
  • Patent number: 8045745
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a speaker apparatus includes: a voice coil bobbin; and a diaphragm that is vibrated by the voice coil bobbin, the diaphragm including an edge portion at an outer circumference of the diaphragm, the edge portion including at least two ridge portions protruding forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Horigome, Teruaki Kaiya, Yuichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7980355
    Abstract: There is provided an acoustic diaphragm used for a loudspeaker, having an injection-molded edge molded using a thermoplastic elastomer, in which the edge is formed using a workable polyolefinic elastomer, as a material, containing a soft segment having rubber particles of 1 ?m to 10 ?m in diameter uniformly dispersed therein, and a hard segment composed of an olefinic resin, and the edge is formed into a shape allowing the resin to be aligned as being not causative of anisotropy in the physical characteristics of the edge, as a result of thin-wall molding by the injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Tokura, Masaru Uryu, Toru Takebe
  • Patent number: 7971337
    Abstract: The production of a hearing aid device can be simplified by the use of a microphone module with a plurality of microphones. To attach and electrically contact the microphones, the invention provides a microphone carrier with three-dimensionally directed conductor traces in MID technology. In a complicated microphone arrangement with a plurality of microphones, a single microphone module can thereby be used on which all microphones of the hearing aid device are attached and electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Kral, Joseph Sauer, Markus Trautner
  • Patent number: 7954215
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an acceleration sensing unit includes: providing an element support substrate in which a plurality of element supporting members is arranged so as to form a plane, each of the element supporting members being coupled to the other element supporting member through a supporting part and having a fixed part and a movable part that is supported by the fixed part through a beam, the beam having a flexibility with which the movable part is displaced along an acceleration detection axis direction when an acceleration is applied to the movable part; providing an stress sensing element substrate in which a plurality of stress sensing elements is arranged so as to form a plane, each of the stress sensing elements being coupled to the other stress sensing element through an element supporting part and having a stress sensing part and fixed ends that are formed so as to have a single body with the stress sensing part at both ends of the stress sensing part; disposing the stress sensing element
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Epson Toyocom Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshikuni Saito
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7937829
    Abstract: The Med-ic™ Electronic Compliance Monitor (ECM) addresses the problem of patient non-compliance with prescribed medication. The Med-ic™ ECM provides precise information about the patient's use of blister-packaged medication in clinical research and general pharmacy settings. Using an on-board central processing unit (CPU), the Med-ic™ ECM records the time each tablet or capsule is expelled from the blister package, keeping a record for later analysis. At the time of refilling or follow-up visit, the information is downloaded to the research assistant's, physician's or pharmacist's computer where it can be displayed graphically. The data can be stored for later analysis. Production of a Med-ic™ ECM Tag involves numerous steps. These steps incorporate certain methods and technologies to accomplish their objective, the steps being detailed in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Intelligent Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Petersen, Allan Wilson, Mykola Sherstyuk
  • Patent number: 7931115
    Abstract: A surround for a diaphragm includes at least one rib section oriented to be extended during excursions of the diaphragm. The surround includes at least one membrane section supported by one or more rib sections contributing to a compliance characteristic different from the contribution of the one or more rib sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventor: Jason D. Silver
  • Patent number: 7926163
    Abstract: An oscillator device having an oscillating member, a resilient support and a supporting member is produced. The oscillating member is supported by the resilient support for oscillation about an oscillation axis. The oscillating member is formed with a movable element having protrusions for adjusting its mass, the protrusions extending from the movable element parallel to the oscillation axis and being formed in pairs disposed at positions symmetrical with respect to the oscillation axis. A sectional area of each protrusion along a plane perpendicular to the oscillation axis is constant in the oscillation axis direction. A laser beam is projected to a cutting position of protrusions, so as to partly remove the protrusion. The protrusions are cut based on adjusting the cutting position. The sum of the lengths removed from the protrusions by the cutting becomes equal to a predetermined length to thereby adjust an inertia moment of the oscillating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahisa Kato, Yukio Furukawa, Takahiro Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7905006
    Abstract: Provided is a faceplate for an In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing aid and a method of manufacturing a faceplate for an In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing aid in which the faceplate can be manufactured in a compact size, using a foldable flexible printed circuit board (PCB), while maintaining the quality, enabling mass-production, and reducing the manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventor: You Jung Kwon
  • Patent number: 7895727
    Abstract: In an electroacoustic transducer (21) with a stationary transducer part (23) and with a membrane configuration (17) comprising a membrane (15) and a handling ring (1) for the membrane (15) connected with the membrane (15), the membrane configuration (17) is connected with the stationary transducer part (23) via the handling ring (1), and the handling ring (1) and membrane (15) are connected together via an interlocking connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Ewald Frasl
  • Patent number: 7877855
    Abstract: A method for forming a vertical coupling structure for non-adjacent resonators is provided to have a first and a second resonators, a dielectric material layer, a first and a second high-frequency transmission lines and at least one via pole. The first and the second resonators respectively have a first and a second opposite metal surfaces. The dielectric material layer is disposed between the opposite second metal surfaces of the first and the second resonators. The first and the second transmission lines are respectively arranged at sides of the first metal surfaces of the first resonator and the second resonator. The first high-frequency transmission line is vertically connected to the second high-frequency transmission line by the via pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute, National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Chia-Cheng Chuang, Ruey-Beei Wu, Tze-Min Shen
  • Patent number: 7866439
    Abstract: A membrane (2?) for an electroacoustic transducer (1) is disclosed having a first area (A1), a second area (A2), which is arranged for translatory movement in relation to said first area (A1), and a third area (A3), which connects said first (A1) and said second area (A2), wherein local, planar spring constants (psc) along a closed line (L) within said third area (A3) encompassing said second area (A2), are determined in such a way that local, translatory spring constants (tsc) along said line (L) in a direction (DM) of said translatory movement are substantially constant or exclusively have substantially flat, mutual changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Susanne Windischberger, Helmut Wasinger, Josef Lutz
  • Patent number: 7839052
    Abstract: A sensing membrane applied to a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device includes a body, a stress releasing structure and a connecting portion. The stress releasing structure for releasing a membrane residual stress surrounds the body. The stress releasing structure has several first perforations and several second perforations. The first perforations are located between the body and the second perforations. The connecting portion connects the stress releasing structure and a substrate of the MEMS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chia-Yu Wu, Jien-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 7822222
    Abstract: A loudspeaker is provided, which has a configuration in which suspension holder extending in a cylindrical shape widening downward is provided on the rear surface of diaphragm so as to be integrated with diaphragm, and the periphery of suspension holder is coupled to frame via second edge. With such a configuration, adhesion work between the suspension holder and the diaphragm as well as heating and drying work of adhesive are not required, thus enabling the productivity to be considerably improved and production equipment and space to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Funahashi
  • Patent number: 7793404
    Abstract: A resonant-oscillating-device fabrication method for integrally forming a structure comprising a support, a beam vibratably extending from the support, and an oscillating element which is supported by the beam so as to oscillate in resonance with the vibration of the beam at a desired resonant frequency, by using a substrate. The resonant-oscillating-device fabrication method having a thickness measurement step of measuring the thickness of the substrate, an etching condition determination step of determining conditions of etching a portion forming the beam in the substrate to provide the desired resonant frequency, in accordance with the thickness of the substrate measured in the thickness measurement step, and an etching step of etching the substrate in accordance with the etching conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Murakami, Nobuaki Asai
  • Patent number: 7699139
    Abstract: A surround for supporting a diaphragm used to create acoustic waves includes a rib section extending away from the diaphragm and a membrane section that is supported by the rib section. The membrane section has a thickness in a direction substantially normal to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the membrane section which is substantially thinner than a thickness of the rib section in a direction substantially normal to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the rib section. A restoring force returning the diaphragm to a home position is contributed to more due to deformation of the rib section than to deformation of the membrane section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: K. Venkat Subramaniam, Zhen Xu, Robert Preston Parker, Jason D. Silver
  • Patent number: 7669310
    Abstract: An acoustic mirror of alternately arranged layers of high and low acoustic impedances is manufactured in that a basic material having a first layer of the layer sequence is initially provided, on which a second layer of the layer sequence is created on the first layer such that the second layer of the layer sequence partially covers the first layer. Subsequently, a planarization layer is applied onto the layer sequence, and the planarization layer is removed in an area which in the common layer plane projects laterally beyond the second layer so as to result in a residual planarization layer. Finally, a termination layer is applied onto the layer sequence and the residual planarization layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Wireless IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Gernot Fattinger
  • Patent number: 7647688
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a low frequency quartz resonator includes metalizing a top-side of a quartz wafer with a metal etch stop, depositing a first metal layer over the metal etch stop, patterning the first metal layer to form a top electrode, bonding the quartz wafer to a silicon handle, thinning the quartz wafer to a desired thickness, depositing on a bottom-side of the quartz wafer a hard etch mask, etching the quartz wafer to form a quartz area for the resonator and to form a via through the quartz wafer, removing the hard etch mask without removing the metal etch stop, forming on the bottom side of the quartz wafer a bottom electrode for the low frequency quartz resonator, depositing metal for a substrate bond pad onto a host substrate wafer, bonding the quartz resonator to the substrate bond pad, and removing the silicon handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: David T. Chang, Randall L. Kubena, Frederic P. Stratton, Pamela R. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20090200101
    Abstract: A loudspeaker for acoustic enclosure, in particular a tweeter or a medium-frequency loudspeaker, which consists of a spherical diaphragm with direct radiation, with a front side that is concave in relation to the spool, and onto which is attached at a certain level, for example at mid-height or approximately at mid-height, the moving spool so as to achieve an optimal mechanical coupling capable of reproducing frequencies lower than 1 kHz with a high efficiency. Material such as pure beryllium or a Be/Al alloy or similar alloys is used to make the diaphragm. Loudspeakers of the tweeter or medium type, especially for very high-fidelity acoustic enclosures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: FOCAL-JMLAB (S.A.)
    Inventors: Dominc Baker, Jacques Mahul
  • Patent number: 7568552
    Abstract: An acoustic passive radiator that controls “rocking mode” vibration. An acoustic passive radiator includes a diaphragm for radiating acoustic energy. The diaphragm has a perimeter portion and a central portion. The perimeter portion is thicker than the central portion. The passive radiator further includes a passive radiator suspension. The suspension includes a skin element encasing the diaphragm. The skin element comprises a surround for physically coupling the passive radiator to an acoustic enclosure, pneumatically sealing the diaphragm and the enclosure. The surround has a non-uniform width. The passive radiator a non-pneumatically sealing, non-surround, non-spider suspension element. The non-surround suspension element and the surround coact to control the motion of the diaphragm and to support the weight of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Roman Litovsky, Jingyi Liu, Roger Mark, Nachiketa Tiwari
  • Patent number: 7558399
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a vibrating plate of a dynamic microphone and a method of manufacturing the vibrating plate. The vibrating plate includes a center dome and a sub-dome which includes a damping thin film having stable quality. Referring to FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 7548766
    Abstract: A flat panel speaker unit includes, within a frame (1), a transparent diaphragm (2) for outputting sound, a vibration generating part (4) for vibrating the diaphragm (2); and a display device (3) disposed inward of the diaphragm (2), for displaying information. The diaphragm (2) and the display device (3) are stacked with a gap therebetween so that an image on the display device (3) can be viewed through the diaphragm (2). The diaphragm (2) is fixed to the frame (1) by mounting a peripheral portion of the diaphragm (2) on to the frame (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Takahata, Minoru Kumita, Takashi Marugami
  • Patent number: 7542583
    Abstract: A loudspeaker has a configuration in which edge diameter in the cross section of second edge coupled to suspension holder is set to be larger than edge diameter in the cross section of first edge coupled to diaphragm. With such a configuration, a loudspeaker with reduced harmonic distortion is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Funahashi
  • Patent number: 7480390
    Abstract: The present invention provides a loudspeaker including an edge formed in such manner that a thickness of a sectional shape in a radial direction increases from an inner peripheral portion toward an outer peripheral portion. Due to this structure, a mechanical impedance of the edge against a diaphragm is decreased and bad influences on a vibration mode of the diaphragm are suppressed, and also, vibration energy is absorbed by a thick portion of the outer peripheral portion, thereby suppressing standing waves of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Tabata, Hidekazu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20080296086
    Abstract: A surround for supporting a diaphragm used to create acoustic waves includes a rib section extending away from the diaphragm and a membrane section that is supported by the rib section. The membrane section has a thickness in a direction substantially normal to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the membrane section which is substantially thinner than a thickness of the rib section in a direction substantially normal to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the rib section. A restoring force returning the diaphragm to a home position is contributed to more due to deformation of the rib section than to deformation of the membrane section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: K. Venkat Subramaniam, Zhen Xu, Robert Preston Parker, Jason D. Silver
  • Patent number: 7438155
    Abstract: A speaker system is provided, including a suspension element having an outer edge and an inner edge. The suspension element, such as a spider or surround, varies in shape along at least a portion of the suspension element to help relieve both the radial and tangential stress placed on the suspension element when it is stretched. The shape employed in the suspension element allows the suspension element to stretch more easily, creating a higher performance speaker of the same size by increasing the diaphragm excursion and voice coil movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Brendon Stead, Clayton Williamson, Mark Trainer
  • Patent number: 7428946
    Abstract: A suspension with a plurality of roll sections each of which has a semi-cylindrical shape from a cross-section view. The roll sections are disposed side by side based on a straight line connecting two points on an inner periphery or an outer periphery. The roll sections form a closed loop in a manner that a roll section of the roll sections being disposed first adjoins a roll section of the roll sections being disposed last. Adjacent roll sections are coupled with each other through a boundary section forming a continuous three dimensional curved surface. A linearity of compliance improves, and generation of distortion or rolling is restricted using the suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Honda, Koji Sano, Tatsuya Omori
  • Patent number: 7418107
    Abstract: A loudspeaker including a frame, a movable diaphragm that oscillates, and a suspension for mounting the diaphragm to the frame, where the suspension comprises a flexible surround having a substantially enclosed space where at least a portion of the flexible surround is air permeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Gilles Milot, Francois Malbos
  • Patent number: 7397927
    Abstract: A loudspeaker suspension structure has an inner circumferential border, and an outer circumferential border, and grooves each extending from the inner circumferential border to the outer circumferential border at an angle with respect to a normal to the inner circumferential border, a profile of a circumferential section of the suspension structure having continuous curvature. Each of the grooves varies from the inner border to the outer border, the variation corresponding to a variation of a principal contour of the suspension structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Pircaro, Subarna Basnet, Mark P. Temple
  • Patent number: 7318496
    Abstract: Several different acoustic radiator designs improve performance over the prior art while providing a larger baffle (cone), a lesser volume of air displaced than by the smaller prior art speaker design, while maintaining the same enclosure mouth diameter and allowing the use of a shallower enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Joseph Y. Sahyoun
  • 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: 7281311
    Abstract: A transfer resistant RFID tag preferably includes an identification chip, a tag coil, a housing and a cap. The identification chip is electrically connected to the tag coil with two wires. A first quantity of bonding compound is applied to a surface that is slightly greater than a surface area of the identification chip. A second quantity of bonding compound is applied to the surface that is slightly greater than the end surface area of the housing. One end of the housing is attached to the second quantity of bonding compound. Then the identification chip is attached to the first quantity of bonding compound. The cap is snapped over the tag coil and the other end of the housing. If someone tries to transfer the RFID tag from one surface to another, the two wires or the identification chip will be destroyed during removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Diyar United Company
    Inventor: Hatem Sadek
  • Patent number: 7275620
    Abstract: A square speaker is disclosed having a novel surround with a novel rounded corner design and with a magnet assembly and former sized, shaped, and arranged to exploit the increased excursions enabled by the novel surround. The arcuate portion of the rounded corner features smoothed trapezoidal circumferential undulations of the radially outer portion and an extension pad forms the arcuate portion of the radially inner portion of the rounded corner. An apex groove separates the inner portion from the outer portion. Tapered protrusions of the outer portion flank the smoothed trapezoidal circumferential undulations. The rounded corner is bounded by edges making angles of between 20 degrees and 40 degrees (preferably about 35 degrees) with straight sides of the square surround. Most of the outer perimeter of the entire inner flange adjoins the inner portions of the rounded corners. Significant increases in volume displacement per speaker size are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Mitek Corp., Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Michael Diedrich, Chad A. Kautz, Daniel Frank Roemer
  • Patent number: 7237315
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a quartz nanoresonator which can be integrated on a substrate, along with other electronics is disclosed. In this method a quartz substrate is bonded to a base substrate. The quartz substrate is metallized so that a bias voltage is applied to the resonator, thereby causing the quartz substrate to resonate at resonant frequency greater than 100 MHz. The quartz substrate can then be used to drive other electrical elements with a frequency equal to its resonant frequency. The quartz substrate also contains tuning pads to adjust the resonant frequency of the resonator. Additionally, a method for accurately thinning a quartz substrate of the resonator is provided. The method allows the thickness of the quartz substrate to be monitored while the quartz substrate is simultaneously thinned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Randall L. Kubena, David T. Chang, Jinsoo Kim
  • Patent number: 7225895
    Abstract: A speaker that is designed to substantially eliminate wobble of the voice coil during operation, and thus remove that source of distortion and early failure of the speaker. This is accomplished with the creation of triangular ring that extends upward from the top edge of the voice coil bobbin with that ring mating with a flat diaphragm at a right angle directly above the top edge of the bobbin. The outer edge of the diaphragm connects to the inner edge of the surround at the point where a sloping side of the “triangle” is also connected and slopes down to the top edge of the bobbin where the opposite end is connected. The outer portion of the diaphragm provides the third side of the triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Inventor: Joseph Yaacoub Sahyoun
  • Patent number: 7218748
    Abstract: A speaker driver surround has tapered thickness to provide improved linearity of the force versus displacement response. The tapered thickness surround provides for a larger emissive piston area, thus increasing the acoustic efficiency of the transducer. The surround has an integral gasket with a groove to accept grill to cover the speaker cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: TC Sounds Inc.
    Inventor: Thilo Stompler
  • Patent number: 7204009
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor electret condenser microphone capable of being reduced in size and including an acoustic sensor 100 and a case 200 for accommodating the acoustic sensor 100, the acoustic sensor 100 has a semiconductor chip 110 forming necessary electronic circuits 111A to 111C, and opening a through hole 112 away from the electronic circuits 111A to 111C, an electrode layer 120 formed on the surface of the semiconductor chip 110 away from the through hole 112, an electret member 130 laminated away from part of the electrode layer 120 and through hole 112, and a diaphragm 140 provided with a spacing 160 to the electret member 130, in which the electrode layer 120 exposed from the electret member 130 is connected to the electrode 111a of the electronic circuit 111A through the case 200 (FIG. 6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hosiden Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Kawamura, Yoshiaki Ohbayashi, Mamoru Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7185735
    Abstract: A speaker that is designed to substantially eliminate wobble of the voice coil during operation, and thus remove that source of distortion and early failure of the speaker. This is accomplished with the creation of triangular ring that extends upward from the top edge of the voice coil bobbin with that ring mating with a flat diaphragm at a right angle directly above the top edge of the bobbin. The outer edge of the diaphragm connects to the inner edge of the surround at the point where a sloping side of the “triangle” is also connected and slopes down to the top edge of the bobbin where the opposite end is connected. The outer portion of the diaphragm provides the third side of the triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Joseph Yaacoub Sahyoun
  • Patent number: 7174990
    Abstract: The invention is a suspension element having an outer edge and an inner edge. The suspension element, such as a spider or surround, varies in shape along at least a portion of the suspension element to help relieve both the radial and tangential stress placed on the suspension element when it is stretched. The shape employed in the suspension element allows the suspension element to stretch more easily, creating a higher performance speaker of the same size by increasing the diaphragm excursion and voice coil movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Brendon Stead, Clayton Williamson, Mark Trainer
  • Patent number: 7103948
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing piezoelectric wafers of surface acoustic wave (SAW) identification tags. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) using a master reticle to form, on each of the piezoelectric wafers, wafer-independent patterns that encode digits of a first significance for SAW identification tags; and (2) using different ones of a library of coding reticles to form, on each of the piezoelectric wafers, wafer-dependent patterns that encode digits of a second significance for SAW identification tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: RF Saw Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Clinton S. Hartmann, Paul S. Brown
  • Patent number: 7103960
    Abstract: A method is provided for making a backing layer for an ultrasonic matrix array transducer useful in medical imaging and the like. A conductive grid is provided which includes a plurality of micro-contacts each joined together by a common base so that spaces are provided between the free ends of the contacts. A mold for the grid is filled with an acoustically absorbent material such that the absorbent material fills the spaces between the contacts, so as to produce a block when cured. The common base is removed so as to separate the contacts from one another within the block. Further machining exposes the opposite ends of micro-contacts so that a like number of contact faces or pads are provided at opposed surfaces of the backing layer. Improved transducer constructions are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Vermon
    Inventor: Flesch Aimé
  • Patent number: 7093343
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer design having a slotted oval-shaped shell and active transducer elements located on the inner surface of the shell is disclosed. The design provides a high power, ultra-low frequency oval projector having a number of applications, including underwater seismic prospecting and fish mitigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, INC
    Inventor: Jason W Osborn
  • Patent number: 7080442
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor electret condenser microphone capable of being reduced in size and including an acoustic sensor 100 and a case 200 for accommodating the acoustic sensor 100, the acoustic sensor 100 has a semiconductor chip 110 forming necessary electronic circuits 111A to 111C, and opening a through hole 112 away from the electronic circuits 111A to 111C, an electrode layer 120 formed on the surface of the semiconductor chip 110 away from the through hole 112, an electret member 130 laminated away from part of the electrode layer 120 and through hole 112, and a diaphragm 140 provided with a spacing 160 to the electret member 130, in which the electrode layer 120 exposed from the electret member 130 is connected to the electrode 111a of the electronic circuit 111A through the case 200 (FIG. 6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Hosiden Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Kawamura, Yoshiaki Ohbayashi, Mamoru Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7054459
    Abstract: The surrounding structure of the loudspeaker forms an annular structure, including attaching parts and curved part. The cross section of the curved part is in a hollow and approximately elliptical form. The height along the major axis of the ellipse is made parallel to the center axis of the vibrating diaphragm of the loudspeaker while the width along the major axis of the ellipse is set in the direction orthogonal to the center axis of the vibrating diaphragm. In the elliptical surrounding structure having such a structure, the width in the cross section of the surrounding structure of the loudspeaker can be made narrow in comparison with a semi-circular surround, whereby the linearity of the amplitude and the maximum displacement are increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsukazu Kuze, Hiroyuki Takewa, Mikio Iwasa
  • Patent number: 7035419
    Abstract: An anti-resonant structure for speakers includes a resonant structure which has a housing compartment, at least one elastic element located in the housing compartment that has one end fastening to the resonant structure and another end coupling with a speaker, and at least one buffer element located between the resonant structure and the elastic element to serve as a buffer interface to prevent the speaker from hitting due to elastic element and the resonant structure. The speaker is the element that generates vibration. The elastic element has an elastic section to absorb the vibration energy generated by the speaker to prevent the resonant structure from generating unwanted resonance and noises, and prevent electronic elements from being damaged by the resonant effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Uniwill Computer Corp.
    Inventors: Ching-Hsiang Yu, Ming Yeang Lin, Chin-Fa Liao, Chien-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 6988584
    Abstract: A speaker diaphragm edge obtained by hot-forming into a desired edge shape, a resin-treated base material, which was prepared by using a silkscreen printing technique to apply a shaping agent layer only to the necessary portion of a base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takahashi, Shinya Tabata, Shinya Mizone, Toshihiro Shimizu, Yukio Sone
  • Patent number: 6978861
    Abstract: A connection of the sound bowl and connecting portion of a loudspeaker is disclosed. The connection area is adhered with the elastic materials similar to the materials of sound bowl and connecting portion in order to beautify the appearance of loudspeaker and enhance the adhesion. Thereby the tolerance of the loudspeaker is enhanced. Thus, the loudspeaker is tolerable to vibration and produces sound with precise tunes, and stabilizes the quality of sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Inventor: A Wen Yu
  • Patent number: 6957714
    Abstract: The speaker has a diaphragm main body 30 supported resiliently on a frame 23 via an edge portion 31 around its outer circumference, and the groove ribs 35 integrally formed in the edge portion 31, wherein a regulation member 37 for partially improving a flexural strength of the edge portion 31 is provided on a part of the front or back face of the edge portion 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Takahashi, Ryo Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 6956957
    Abstract: A loudspeaker drive unit comprising a resonant acoustic radiator, an exciter on the radiator to apply bending wave energy to the radiator to cause it to resonate, a support for the loudspeaker drive unit, and means resiliently coupling the exciter to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Henry Azima, Martin Colloms, Martin Roberts, Graham Bank, Neil Harris, Bijan Djahansouzi