Plural Intensifying Portions Patents (Class 181/187)
  • Patent number: 11937046
    Abstract: A sound diffuser includes a first annular control member, a second annular control member, and a third annular control member. The first annular control member includes a first communication hole and an annular inclined plate that surrounds the first communication hole and is inclined relative to an axial direction of the first communication hole. The second annular control member includes a second communication hole and an annular inclined plate that surrounds the second communication hole, houses the first annular control member therein, and is inclined relative to an axial direction of the second communication hole. The third annular control member has a plurality of third communication holes and surrounds the second annular control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Ioku, Masumi Adachi
  • Patent number: 11632622
    Abstract: The invention relates to speaker systems for high-quality sound reproduction. It provides a simplified structure of the device, improves the device manufacturability and durability. The speaker system includes the driver, the horn for reproducing low-frequency range sound (rear horn), and the horn for reproducing high-frequency and mid-frequency range sound (front horn); both horns are made in the form of a single enclosure with the capability of mounting the driver in this enclosure, while the enclosure is made of two solid parts symmetrical with respect to the plane of the central vertical section, each part represents a half of the overall profile of the front and rear horns, with no joints at the junction between the front and the rear horns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventor: Konstantin Rumyantsev
  • Patent number: 11564032
    Abstract: A speaker system is provided with a housing adapted to mount to a support. A driver is supported by the housing and arranged to project sound about a first axis extending at an offset angle relative to a longitudinal axis extending from the housing. A waveguide extends from the driver to define a cavity extending along the first axis. The waveguide includes a first segment formed at a first angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and a second segment formed at a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second segment is arranged opposite the first segment and the second angle is greater than the first angle to collectively provide an asymmetrical sound pattern in a first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Christian Manuel Garcia, An Duc Nguyen, James Garrett
  • Patent number: 11509997
    Abstract: An acoustic waveguide in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present technology that comprises a housing having a proximal end with an inlet aperture and a distal end with an outlet aperture, and a mounting flange positioned at the proximal end and configured to acoustically couple a driver to inlet aperture. A plurality of sound channels extend through the housing and acoustically couple the inlet aperture to the outlet aperture. Each sound channel at least partially defining a sound path has an acoustic length, wherein at least one of the sound paths of the plurality of sound channels has a bend angle that exceeds 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: QSC, LLC
    Inventors: Jerome Halley, Chris Smolen
  • Patent number: 10284945
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved passive radiator device by utilizing a stacked construction in which there exist two or more generally parallel and separate movable diaphragm sections, in which the relative motion of adjacent diaphragm sections will either move toward each other, or away from each other, as air pressure or sound waves emanating from the interior of a loudspeaker cabinet impinges upon the interior air openings of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventor: Eugene Julius Christensen
  • Patent number: 10225648
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for loudspeaker arrays that maximize a number of transducers and associated channel waveguides for a given length of the arrays. In one example, a loudspeaker array includes a plurality of transducers arranged in adjacent groups on opposing sides of a vertical axis of the loudspeaker array, and a plurality of channel waveguides, each channel waveguide coupled to a different transducer of the plurality of transducers, outlets of each channel waveguide being center aligned with one another along the vertical axis of the loudspeaker array. In the example, at least two inlets of the plurality of channel waveguides are substantially aligned along a horizontal plane, the horizontal plane being perpendicular to the vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Alexander Voishvillo, Alex Pliner, Toni Lilienthal
  • Patent number: 9769560
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a manifold composites sound from multiple drivers into a single aperture that includes multiple concentric rings. In operation, channels within the manifold isolate the sound generated by each driver from the sound generated by the other drivers. The channels within the manifold are intertwined to route the sound from each driver to a separate location in one of the multiple concentric rings. When the sound generated by each of the drivers is judiciously and deterministically delayed, the manifold generates a single point source of sound that may be fed into an acoustic horn. Notably, by isolating the sound generated by each driver, the manifold minimizes reflections and resonances that often degrade the sound fidelity of conventional horn loudspeakers. Consequently, the disclosed manifold enables an acoustic horn to project coherent sound for significantly longer distances than the acoustic horn would achieve using a conventional manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Douglas J. Button
  • Patent number: 9392358
    Abstract: An acoustic waveguide includes a plurality of projections to redirect sound waves to obtain a desired wave front, such as a flat plane wave front or an asymmetric curved wave front. The waveguide includes two waveguide members that are mirror images of each other. The waveguide members have corresponding vanes and projections. The waveguide includes an essentially circular input opening for alignment with a compression driver and provides a substantially rectangular output opening from the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mark DeLay, David Carlson
  • Patent number: 9357283
    Abstract: Earphone apparatus (40) comprising: a substantially planar substrate (43) defining at least one electrical connection path (44); an electro-acoustic driver (41) and sensing microphone (42) each mounted on the substrate (43) and connected to the at least one electrical connection path (44); wherein the substrate (43) at least in part defines an acoustic waveguide (47) having a part extending through the substrate (43) for conveying sound from outside of the earphone apparatus (40) to the sensing microphone (42); and the part of the acoustic waveguide (47) extends through the substrate (43) substantially normal to the thickness of the substrate (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Soundchip SA
    Inventor: Paul Darlington
  • Patent number: 9204212
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for waveguide structures and speaker assemblies. In one embodiment, a waveguide may include an input aperture configured to receive a sound signal from a sound source, and a plurality of isolated sound paths having substantially equal path lengths. Each isolated sound path may be formed within a housing of the waveguide and formed with a curved path to reduce the depth of the waveguide. The waveguide may include a plurality of plugs, wherein each plug divides an output of one of the isolated sound paths into a plurality of output sound paths and defines a plurality of output apertures of the waveguide. Each output sound path is characterized by a reduced width relative to the output of the isolated sound path, the plurality of output apertures configured to output a combined sound signal based, at least in part, on the plurality of sound signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: QSC Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Adams
  • Patent number: 8757318
    Abstract: A behind the detector sounder has a base plate and walls which define mechanical horns having throats which open into a space at the centre of the base plate. The mouths of the mechanical horns are at the outer periphery of the base plate and the walls bound sound paths which are longer than the straight line distance from the throat of each mechanical horn to the mouth of that mechanical horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventors: Dunstan Walter Runciman, David Denoon-Stevens
  • Patent number: 8649544
    Abstract: A phasing plug for a compression driver includes a base portion and a hub portion. The base portion includes a first side, a second side, and a plurality of apertures extending between the first and second sides. The hub portion extends from the base portion along an axis. The hub portion includes an outer surface and a plurality of ribs disposed on the outer surface. A plurality of recesses are defined by the outer surface and respective pairs of adjacent ribs. At least one aperture fluidly communicates with at least one of the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Alexander Voishvillo
  • Publication number: 20130146390
    Abstract: A behind the detector sounder has a base plate and walls which define mechanical horns having throats which open into a space at the centre of the base plate. The mouths of the mechanical horns are at the outer periphery of the base plate and the walls bound sound paths which are longer than the straight line distance from the throat of each mechanical horn to the mouth of that mechanical horn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: UTC FIRE & SECURITY AMERICAS CORPORATION, INC.
    Inventors: Dunstan Walter Runciman, David Denoon-Stevens
  • Patent number: 8452038
    Abstract: A horn coupled to multiple acoustic transducers includes first and second throat portions and a mixing area integrally formed with the first and second throat portions. The first throat portion has a first throat opening adjacent to a first transducer, and the second throat portion has a second throat opening adjacent to a second transducer. The mixing area includes a common mouth opening shared by the first and second throat portions for at least one of transmitting or receiving acoustic signals. At least one dimension of the first throat portion is different from a corresponding dimension of the second throat portion, so that a first cutoff frequency corresponding to the first throat portion is different from a second cutoff frequency corresponding to the second throat portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Osvaldo Buccafusca, Atul Goel, Bruce Beaudry
  • Patent number: 8036403
    Abstract: The present invention belongs to the field of loudspeaker and relates to directional sound wave radiator comprising a sound transmission duct, a reverser, an annular director, a parabolic reflector, and a straight tubular loudspeaker cylinder. The sound transmission duct is mounted substantially coaxially with said parabolic reflector. The straight tubular loudspeaker cylinder is connected to said parabolic reflector. The reverser is provided inside said straight tubular loudspeaker cylinder and at the outlet end of said sound transmission duct; the outlet end of said reverser has an annular section, which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said parabolic reflector and is positioned substantially at the focus of said parabolic reflector. The annular director is mounted around said sound transmission duct and at the outlet end of said reverser to define an annular shape of the outlet end of said reverser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Beijing Wave Energy Technology Development Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Baoshu Xi
  • Patent number: 7886869
    Abstract: An acoustic device including a first acoustic waveguide having two open ends; a second acoustic waveguide; and an acoustic driver having a first and second radiating surface positioned so that the first: radiating surface radiates into the first waveguide and the second surface radiates into the second waveguide. An acoustic device including an acoustic driver and an acoustic waveguide with two open ends. A method for making the acoustic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin Bastyr, Hidehiko Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7802650
    Abstract: A middle frequency horn and high frequency horn assembly having a straight pathway with a shared unitary terminus defined by shared side walls which approach a perpendicular angle compared to the horn axis. The two air columns are separated and partially defined by an internal horizontal baffle in which the top and bottom surfaces are angled to decrease in vertical separation in both upward and downward directions starting from the vertical distance between the respective throat openings and decreasing in separation while progressing toward the mouth, where the angled surfaces intersect and terminate the baffle substantially proximate to the horn mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Inventor: John Kevin Bartlett
  • Publication number: 20100006367
    Abstract: A middle frequency horn and high frequency horn assembly having a straight pathway with a shared unitary terminus defined by shared side walls which approach a perpendicular angle compared to the horn axis. The two air columns are separated and partially defined by an internal horizontal baffle in which the top and bottom surfaces are angled to decrease in vertical separation in both upward and downward directions starting from the vertical distance between the respective throat openings and decreasing in separation while progressing toward the mouth, where the angled surfaces intersect and terminate the baffle substantially proximate to the horn mouth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: John Kevin Bartlett
  • Patent number: 7510049
    Abstract: An acoustic transformer for transforming sound waves generated by, for example, a round membrane, into a rectangular wave front with reduced interfering resonances is provided in a form of a waveguide with a generally circular entrance and a generally rectangular exit defined by outer walls. The sound waves, arriving from the radiating membrane, are divided geometrically into two flows of sound waves of generally semicircular cross section. Each of the two flows of sound waves is deformed individually into a rectangular shape. Subsequently, the flows of sound waves are brought together once again at an acute angle. The division of the sound flow of circular cross section into two sound flows of semicircular cross section creates two sound flows, which already have a straight side surface. The two sound flows are passed into curved sound guides, which initially have a generally semicircular cross section and then gradually change over into a generally rectangular cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Inventor: Martin Kling
  • Patent number: 7392880
    Abstract: A new approach has been developed to combine mid-range and high frequency sound into the throat of a horn designed for sound reinforcement. An acoustic low pass filter element is interposed between the lower frequency passage and the higher frequency passage, so that a smooth combination of the two frequency bands is achieved at the entrance to the horn bell. Thus, each frequency band has nearly identical dispersion, and the two sources have equal delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Gibson Guitar Corp.
    Inventor: Marshall D. Buck
  • Patent number: 7367423
    Abstract: A speaker assembly aimable relative to a remote target. The speaker assembly comprising a sound generating device configured to project sound in a sound pattern about a sound axis. A speaker aiming device is coupled to the sound generating device for use in visually aiming the sound generating device relative to the remote target. The speaker aiming device having first and second aiming portions spaced apart from each other and positioned along an aiming axis in a fixed orientation relative to the sound axis. The first and second aiming portions being positioned to allow a user to visually see along the aiming axis past the first and second portions aiming device to the remote target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: QSC Audio Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Barron Ferrell, Francois Godfrey, Bernie Hawkins, John Brodie
  • Patent number: 7299893
    Abstract: A loudspeaker horn (11) having a throat end (13) for receiving acoustic power from aligned acoustic power sources (41, 43, 45), an elongated throat (33), and a flared section (17) is provided with grating lobe mitigation fins (27, 29) that extend substantially parallel to the propagation axis of the horn from the throat end toward the mouth end of the horn's flared section. The length of the grating lobe mitigation fins is established in accordance with the degree of suppression of the grating lobes produced by the aligned acoustic power sources that is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Meyer Sound Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: John D. Meyer, Perrin Meyer, Roger Schwenke
  • Patent number: 7278513
    Abstract: This invention provides a lens system for a loudspeaker. The loudspeaker may include a driver unit and a waveguide attached to the driver unit. The loudspeaker further may include a lens system. The lens system may include a plurality of plates. The plates may be positioned to divide an interior of the waveguide into a plurality of acoustic paths of substantially equal length. The acoustic paths may bend the propagation of one or more acoustic elements of a sound wave so that each acoustic element arrives at a plane substantially at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: James S. Brawley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7134523
    Abstract: This invention provides a radiation boundary integrator (“RBI”) for integrating sound radiation from mid-range and high-frequency sources in multi-way loudspeakers. The RBI is a substantially solid boundary that is placed over the mid-range speakers to provide smooth, wave-guiding side walls to control the angular radiation of the high-frequency sound waves emanating from the high-frequency sound sources. To allow the mid-range frequency sound waves generated from mid-range sound sources to pass through the RBI, the RBI is designed with openings. To further prevent the possibility of having high-frequency sound radiate through the openings in the RBI, the RBI may be designed with porous material in the openings of the RBI. The porous material would be transparent to the mid-range sound radiation, but would prevent the high-frequency sound radiation from being disturbed by the openings in the RBI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Mark Engebretson
  • Patent number: 7095868
    Abstract: A phase plug for optimally matching a drive-unit's diaphragm to the throat of a waveguide is disclosed. Specific embodiments of a circular diaphragm matched to an elliptical waveguide and a circular diaphragm to a rectangular waveguide are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Inventor: Earl Geddes
  • Patent number: 7068805
    Abstract: Acoustic waveguide contours that approximate either or both of the Elliptic Cylinder and the Prolate Spheroidal coordinate systems that allows for a more accurate prediction and control over the sound radiation polar pattern are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventor: Earl Russell Geddes
  • Patent number: 6981570
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of audio loudspeaker enclosures, and more particularly to a method of mounting the internal components in the loudspeaker so as to control the loudspeaker output. Specifically a mounting structure and method for mounting the loudspeaker horn to its associated compression driver are disclosed. The mounting structure allows the directivity of the loudspeaker output, and the frequency/phase control of the loudspeaker, output to be controlled by the spatial arrangement of these components in the loudspeaker enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Richard H. Dalbec
  • Patent number: 6905001
    Abstract: A sounder is disclosed which has walling (36, 38) defining a first air column (26) leading to a first sound aperture (34) through which the first column opens to atmosphere, and walling (40, 44) defining a second air column (60) leading to a second aperture (64) through which the second column opens to atmosphere. A diaphragm (16) is between the air columns and means are provided for causing said diaphragm to vibrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: GSBS Development Corporation
    Inventor: Dunstan Walter Runciman
  • Patent number: 6712177
    Abstract: The invention relates to a horn loudspeaker system. The horn loudspeaker system includes a pair of vertically displaced horns with cross-fired aiming angles. A common throat section couples the horns to a driver. A substantially asymmetrical baffling is incorporated into the loudspeaker system to further improve the acoustic performance. One advantage of the unique horn loudspeaker system is that it provides a wide horizontal directivity response. Another advantage is that it provides a narrow vertical directivity response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventor: Mark S. Ureda
  • Publication number: 20040003961
    Abstract: A low frequency horn apparatus including a throat (20), barrel (30) and mouth (40). The barrel (30) includes a series of chambers (50 and 60) wherein the cross-sectional area of each chamber in the series increases linearly from one end of the chamber to the other. The rate of linear increase is greatest in the first chamber 50 in the series. The chambers are in communication with one another so that sound waves entering the throat aperture (20) of the first chamber (50) in the series travel though each chamber in the series and exit the series of chambers through the mouth (40) of the last chamber (60) in the series. Sounds waves may be created by an electroacoustic transducer (70) that includes a cone. Further, the cross-sectional area of the mouth (40) may be less than the cross-sectional area of the cone (78).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: Mackie Designs Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Gunness
  • Patent number: 6668969
    Abstract: A manifold for a horn loudspeaker has an input end having at least one input port for receiving acoustic power from at least one acoustic driver, and an output end for delivering acoustic power to the throat end of the horn. The output end of the manifold has at least two and suitably multiple output ports. An acoustic power waveguide is provided for each output port and connects each of the output ports to the input port of the manifold. Acoustic power received by the input port is divided between the acoustic waveguides such that it is delivered to the aligned output ports to simulate a line array of acoustic power sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Meyer Sound Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: John D. Meyer, Perrin Meyer, Richard D. Herr
  • Publication number: 20030209384
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of audio loudspeaker enclosures, and more particularly to a method of mounting the internal components in the loudspeaker so as to control the loudspeaker output. Specifically a mounting structure and method for mounting the loudspeaker horn to its associated compression driver are disclosed. The mounting structure allows the directivity of the loudspeaker output, and the frequency/phase control of the loudspeaker, output to be controlled by the spatial arrangement of these components in the loudspeaker enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventor: Richard H. Dalbec
  • Publication number: 20030132056
    Abstract: A manifold for a horn loudspeaker has an input end having at least one input port for receiving acoustic power from at least one acoustic driver, and an output end for delivering acoustic power to the throat end of the horn. The output end of the manifold has at least two and suitably multiple output ports. An acoustic power waveguide is provided for each output port and connects each of the output ports to the input port of the manifold. Acoustic power received by the input port is divided between the acoustic waveguides such that it is delivered to the aligned output ports to simulate a line array of acoustic power sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: John D. Meyer, Perrin Meyer, Richard D. Herr
  • Patent number: 6408080
    Abstract: A microphone may use boundary layer technology in concert with a concave reflector to produce improved sensitivity. The concave reflector may be arranged with respect to a boundary layer creating surface such that the sound waves are concentrated at the boundary layer creating surface. Thus, an intense compression layer is formed proximate to the boundary layer creating surface. A transducer may arranged in opposition to the boundary layer creating surface to convert the boundary layer energy into an electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: David H. Koizumi
  • Patent number: 6394223
    Abstract: A loudspeaker horn, loudspeaker and a loudspeaker system wherein at least one loudspeaker includes a horn composed of a waveguide, a plurality of throats acoustically coupled to a single waveguide at their mouths and to respective drivers of a plurality of drivers at their inlets. The axis of the throats form an arc in the plane of the long axis of the waveguide to optimize energy distribution in this plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Clair Brothers Audio Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Lehman
  • Patent number: 6393131
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a cabinet designed so as to define a central compartment sandwiched between upper and lower compartments. The cabinet is symmetrical about a vertical central, fore-and-aft extending plane. Located in each of the upper and lower compartments are a pair of vertical horn walls which are exponentially curved and diverge forwardly from an inlet located at a rear part of the respective compartments, to the front of opposite side walls of the cabinet. These horn walls define bass horns which have drivers coupled to their inlets. Located in the middle compartment and diverging at an angle of 15° from each other are a pair of mid/high frequency horns that are each formed by a pair of vertical horn walls that are exponentially curved and diverge forwardly from respective inlets located in a rear part of the middle compartment on opposite sides of the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventor: Scott Michael Rexroat
  • Publication number: 20020038740
    Abstract: The invention relates to a horn loudspeaker system. The horn loudspeaker system includes a pair of vertically displaced horns with cross-fired aiming angles. A common throat section couples the horns to a driver. A substantially asymmetrical baffling is incorporated into the loudspeaker system to further improve the acoustic performance. One advantage of the unique horn loudspeaker system is that it provides a wide horizontal directivity response. Another advantage is that it provides a narrow vertical directivity response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventor: Mark S. Ureda
  • Patent number: 6278789
    Abstract: An acoustic waveguide loudspeaker system has an electroacoustical transducer having a vibratile surface. An acoustic waveguide has a first end open and a second end adjacent to the vibratile surface and an effective length corresponding substantially to a quarter wavelength at the lowest frequency of pressure wave energy to be transmitted between the first and second ends. Damping material in the waveguide near the vibratile surface is positioned so as to negligibly attenuate bass frequency energy while of sufficient volume to damp peaks at higher frequencies above the range of the bass frequency energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Dewey Potter
  • Patent number: 6112847
    Abstract: A loudspeaker horn, loudspeaker and a loudspeaker system wherein at least one loudspeaker includes a horn composed of a wave guide, a plurality of throats acoustically coupled to a single wave guide at their mouths and to respective drivers of a plurality of drivers at their inlets. The axis of the throats form an arc in the plane of the long axis of the wave guide to optimize energy distribution in this plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Clair Brothers Audio Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Lehman
  • Patent number: 6059069
    Abstract: A loudspeaker horn has straight wall section and a curved wall section. The straight wall section has diverging walls defining a coverage angle and the curved wall portion is connected to the straight wall portion at a point tangent thereto, and has a proximal end disposed perpendicular to the plane of the throat entrance. At least one coverage angle in orthogonal planes has a common apex in the plane of the throat entrance and along the horn axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Peavey Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Charles Emory Hughes, II
  • Patent number: 5925856
    Abstract: A loudspeaker horn for use with an acoustical driver has a rectangular throat opening with a long dimension relative to the wavelength of the sound pressure waves generated within the high frequency range of the horn. A relatively short pre-load chamber corrects the phase of the sound pressure waves over the long dimension of the throat opening. The pre-load chamber provides control over the directivity of the horn and provides a uniform frequency response with minimal distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Meyer Sound Laboratories Incorporated
    Inventors: John D. Meyer, Alejandro Antonio Garcia Rubio
  • Patent number: 5327985
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an acoustical transducer enclosure which is particularly adapted for directing sound waves and is housed in a multisided enclosure. The enclosure has a cylindrical hollow tube, held in position by a pair of forward baffles, with a speaker housed within. Forward wave guides line the interior area of the enclosure. A wave form vent is located on a horizontal plane with the speaker at one end of the cylindrical hollow tube. A rear back pressure booster baffle is located at the end of the cylindrical hollow tube with a wave splitter which is located proximate the rear back pressure booster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Inventor: Louis Porzilli
  • Patent number: 5160815
    Abstract: A megaphone apparatus includes an elongate conical conduit directed into an outwardly flaring forward body portion. The conduit includes an entrance opening, with the flaring body including a plurality of exit openings defined by a central outlet conduit coaxially aligned with the inlet conduit, with a plurality of right and left branch conduits extending laterally to each side of the central conduit aligned in a single plane along a common diameter of the various conduits. A modification of the invention includes various residence modulating caps selectively positionable over the conduits to include a flexible web, with at least one slit directed diametrically therethrough, and including a plurality of pockets arranged in a spaced relationship relative to the slit to include a flexible rod selectively positioned within each pocket as desired for varying modulation of the flexible web of each cap in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Inventor: Michael A. Prater
  • Patent number: 5027411
    Abstract: An improved loudspeaker assembly for frequencies higher than approximately 6 kHz, i.e., a tweeter assembly, is disclosed. The tweeter assembly includes a dome tweeter driver for delivering high frequency sound to a listener, and a cylindrical housing for mounting the tweeter driver in a horizontal plane. A centrally located aperture is provided in the top surface of the housing for receiving the dome portion of the tweeter, and a plurality of concentric annular ridges are also provided, and are spaced outwardly from the tweeter dome. The annular ridges function to reflect sound energy transmitted off the dome structure, and are used to disperse the high frequency energy in a horizontal direction within the listening room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Clyde W. Pierce
    Inventor: Amel L. Hill
  • Patent number: 5025887
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sanitary acoustic horn for use in the dairy industry for preventing powder build-up in dairy industry drying systems and for meeting U.S.D.A. requirements for equipment which comes in contact with powder product. The sanitary acoustic horn includes a driver and a bell connected to one another by means of sanitary ferrules and quick connect hinged clamps. The sanitary acoustic horn is preferably made from 304 stainless steel and having at least a number 4 finish on all surfaces which will be exposed to powder product. A number 4 finish inhibits the collection of powder on such surfaces by eliminating pits, scratches, grooves and the like therefrom. The quick connect clamp allows for easy assembly and disassembly of the horn for a manual cleaning.The sanitary horn further includes an air delivery chamber which extends about the driver. Such air delivery chamber has sufficient dimension to allow insertion of human fingers and cloths so that such surfaces may be easily cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Inventor: Michael V. Jamison
  • Patent number: 5020630
    Abstract: A loudspeaker for projecting sound over a listening area having a driver and a horn in which the horn has a coupling portion communicating at an interface with an outwardly flaring portion, the horn forming an elongated slot at the interface and being provided with means for controlling the sound energy along the axis of elongation of the slot, namely a slot which is narrower at one end and flares outwardly to the other end, or a plurality of transverse veins dividing the slot and sound channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Electro-Voice, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Gunness
  • Patent number: 4969196
    Abstract: A speaker and horn array having improved audio characteristics is formed in a baffle case. A plurality of small speakers are mounted in the baffle case in a vertical array in close proximity with one another. Each of the speakers has an acoustic baffle over the back of the speaker with an opening located in the baffle. An array of small horns are located in association with the speakers in the baffle case. As with the speakers the horns are also in a vertical array. Each of the horns includes an individual throat, however, all of the horns are joined into a common vertically oriented mouth. The throat of each horn is connected to the opening in the baffle of one of the speakers. This backloads the individual speakers with the common mouth of each of the horns resulting in common backloading of each of the speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Inventor: Hisatsugu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4963855
    Abstract: A warning sound generating device includes a sound source member and an enclosure for protecting the sound source member. A front wall of the enclosure and a sound emitting portion of the sound source member face each other. The front wall of the enclosure has at least one continuous projecting wall extending toward the sound source member. The sound source member has at least one continuous projecting wall extending toward the enclosure and surrounding the sound emitting portion. The enclosure has a plurality of sound exits formed outwardly from the outermost projectng wall of the enclosure. The projecting walls of the sound source member and the enclosure cooperate to define a sound passageway through which a sound generated from the sound emitting portion passes. Each of the projecting walls has a thickness decreasing from the base to the forward rim thereof, so that the passageway has a width between the projecting walls increasing from the sound emitting portion to the sound exits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Kobishi Electric Co., Inc. Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Kojima
  • Patent number: 4930596
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system which comprises a loudspeaker unit for radiating a first sound, a horn unit having a throat coupled to the back of the loudspeaker for radiating a second sound, and an acoustic filter provided in the horn for causing an acoustic impedance of the horn unit to be discontinuous. When the minimum frequency of cyclic dales of the sound pressure observed in the characteristic curves of a sound pressure of a composite of the first and second sounds as a result of a phase delay brought about by the length of the horn unit is expressed by fd, a primary harmonic resonance can be produced between the loudspeaker unit and the acoustic filter which is similar to that produced by a straight acoustic tube having its opposite ends closed, thereby to render the frequency of the primary resonance to be generally equal to the frequency fd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Syuji Saiki, Kazue Sato, Kazuki Honda
  • Patent number: 4893695
    Abstract: A speaker system which has a speaker unit with a diaphragm and an acoustic path provided on the front side of the diaphragm so as to guide sound waves emitted from the diaphragm. The acoustic path is defined by a sound absorbing member. The space in the acoustic path and the sound absorbing member is separated by a partition member which is disposed in such a manner that at least a portion of the sound absorbing member is exposed to the space in the acoustic path, except that the portion of the sound absorbing member just adjacent the diaphragm is not exposed to the acoustic path. This arrangement eliminates peaks and troughs of resonance determined by the length of the acoustic path, so that flat sound pressure frequency characteristics can be obtained over a wide range up to high-pitch tone region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Tamura, Shuji Saiki, Kazue Sato