Acoustic Transducer Patents (Class 29/594)
  • Publication number: 20120064845
    Abstract: A cable assembly for electronic devices such as cellular telephones and music devices is disclosed. The cable assembly can comprise either one or two earpieces, each of which is configured to be received into the concha of a user's ear. The earpiece(s) can be configured so as to be held in place by at least one anatomical structure of the concha. A speaker can be in acoustic communication with each earpiece. A cable can be configured to communicate a signal representative of sound from the electronic device to each earpiece. A microphone can be permanently attached or removably attachable to the cable to facilitate use with a cellular telephone. The cable assembly can facilitate hands free operation of a cellular telephone and can facilitate listening to a music device. Other implementations and related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Richard C. Smith, Diann Y. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120063631
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a spiral coil, the method including: forming a solenoid having a diameter larger than a length by spirally winding an insulated electric wire; forming a spiral coil having folded corners by folding four corners in a circumference direction with respect to the solenoid; fixing the folded corners of the spiral coil; and fixing two terminal portions corresponding to start and end points of the spiral coil to a fixing module. According to the method, a thin and long spiral coil having folded corners is easily manufactured by using a general insulated electric wire. In addition, the spiral coil manufactured by using such a method is applicable to a surface radio frequency (RF) coil optimized for various applications of an electro-magnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) and enables easy access to an optimized transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Myoung Seon Choi, Sung Joon Kim, Won Nyoung Heo
  • Patent number: 8132314
    Abstract: A method and system for packaging and mounting a sensor to a flex plate for use in sensing, for example, torque. In some instances, a SAW sense die can be adhesively bonded to a metal disc that includes at least one locating feature formed in the metal disc. An insulator having lead pins can be adhesively bonded to the metal disc, and may surrounds at least part of a periphery of the sense die in a particular orientation. In some instances, a cap may be bonded over the insulator. The metal disc, along with the SAW sense die, can be aligned to the flex plate by, for example, matching the at least one locating feature formed in the metal disc with at least one corresponding locating feature of a cutout in the flex plate. The aligned metal disc and the flex plate can be bonded together by, for example, laser welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Pavan Ramachandravitthal Kashyap
  • Publication number: 20120056282
    Abstract: A MEMS transducer (10) for an audio device comprises a substrate (12), a membrane (14) attached to the substrate (12), and a back-electrode (18) attached to the substrate (12), wherein a resonant frequency of the back-electrode (18) is matched to a resonant frequency of the membrane (14). Further, a method of manufacturing a MEMS transducer (19) for an audio device comprises attaching a membrane to a substrate (12), attaching a back-electrode (18) to the substrate (12), matching a resonant frequency of the back-electrode (18) to a resonant frequency of the membrane (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: KNOWLES ELECTRONICS ASIA PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Twan Van Lippen, Geert Langereis, Josef Lutz, Hilco Suy, Cas Van Der Avoort, Andreas Bernardus Maria Jansman
  • Publication number: 20120057736
    Abstract: An audio device is provided with a plurality of Helmholtz resonators. Whereas a cross-sectional area of a neck and a volume of a cavity communicating with the neck are same between at least two of the Helmholtz resonators, a ratio of minimum and maximum values of distances between a center of gravity of the cross section of the neck and individual points defining an outer periphery of the cross section is different between said at least two of the Helmholtz resonators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo SHIOZAWA, Hirofumi Onitsuka
  • Publication number: 20120057739
    Abstract: An earpiece that substantially lacks a lower lobe is disclosed. In one example, the earpiece can have a generally arcuate rib having upper and lower ends. A lobe can be formed at the upper end of the arcuate rib. No lobe is formed at the lower end of the arcuate rib. An extension can extend from the earpiece and can be configured to extend into the ear canal. Eliminating the lower lobe mitigates discomfort during use and also reduces the likelihood of tissue damage and infection. The extension can enhance communication of desired sound, e.g., from a two-way radio, to an eardrum while mitigating communication of undesirable ambient noise to the eardrum. Other implementations and related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Richard C. Smith, Diann Y. Smith
  • Patent number: 8127427
    Abstract: A quartz crystal oscillator has an amplifier, a capacitor, a resistor and a quartz crystal unit comprised of a case, a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator vibratable in a flexural mode and a lid connected to the case. At least one groove with a first surface opposite a first side surface and a second surface connected to the first surface through a third surface is formed in each of first and second main surfaces of each of first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines. The width of each groove is greater than a distance in the width direction of the groove measured from an outer edge of the groove to an outer edge of the corresponding tuning fork tine. A first electrode is disposed on the first surface of the groove and a second electrode is disposed on the first side surface so that the first electrode has an electrical polarity opposite to the electrical polarity of the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Piedek Technical Laboratory
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8127426
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus has a display portion, and first and second oscillating circuits each having a quartz crystal resonator, the quartz crystal resonator of each of the first and second oscillating circuits vibrating in a different mode from each other. One of the quartz crystal resonators is a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having first and second tuning fork tines. Electrodes are disposed on side surfaces of each of the first and second tuning fork tines so that the electrodes of the first tuning fork tine have an electrical polarity opposite to an electrical polarity of the electrodes of the second tuning fork tine. The capacitance ratio r1 of a fundamental mode of vibration of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is less than a capacitance ratio r2 of a second overtone mode of vibration thereof. An output signal of the oscillating circuit having the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is a clock signal used to display time information at the display portion of the electronic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Piedek Technical Laboratory
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20120047717
    Abstract: In a method of making an ultrasonic transducer, a piezoelectric ceramic material that is at least partially covered by metal plating is provided. A plurality of substantially parallel cuts is formed in the plating so as to define a plurality of transducer elements and a ground element. A plurality of conductors is provided. An end portion of each conductor is operatively connected, such as by ultrasonic bonding, to a respective one of the transducer elements or the ground element. Next, a backing material is bonded to the plurality of transducer elements and the ground element such that the end portion of each conductor is sandwiched between the backing material and a respective one of the transducer elements or the ground element. The conductors are bent to allow for operative connection to an ultrasound system. The operative connection between the conductors and the transducer elements is maintained during the bending step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: TRANSDUCERWORKS, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Todd Spigelmyer, Derek Ryan Greenaway
  • Patent number: 8122587
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a quartz crystal unit comprises the steps of adjusting an oscillation frequency of a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator that is vibratable in a flexural mode of an inverse phrase and that has first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines, forming at least one groove in each of two of opposite main surfaces of each of first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines, disposing an electrode on a surface of the at least one groove formed in each of two of the opposite main surfaces and each of two of opposite side surfaces of each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines so that the electrodes of the grooves of the first quartz crystal tuning fork tine are connected to the electrodes of the side surfaces of the second quartz crystal tuning fork tine and the electrodes of the grooves of the second quartz crystal tuning fork tine are connected to the electrodes of the side surfaces of the first quartz crystal tuning fork tine, the quartz crystal tuning fork resonat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Piedek Technical Laboratory
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20120045078
    Abstract: A MEMS microphone has a support surface, a microphone substrate over the support surface and an assembly of a microphone membrane and spaced back electrode supported over the substrate. The substrate has an opening beneath the assembly. The interface between the support surface and the substrate comprises a plurality of discrete spaced portions. This structure provides some resilience to differential expansion and contraction that can arise during processing. The support surface can then be a different material to the substrate, for example a PCB laminate as the support surface and silicon as the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Robert J. P. Lander
  • Publication number: 20120046780
    Abstract: A microphone assembly for an electronic device is described. The microphone assembly can include a microphone, a microphone boot and a printed circuit board. The microphone boot can be a composite microphone boot that is formed from multiple materials. A hardness of the each of the materials used in the microphone boot can be selected to improve sealing integrity and reduce shock transmission. In one embodiment, the composite microphone boot can be formed using a double-shot injection molding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Phillip M. Hobson, Adam Mittleman, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Publication number: 20120038248
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer for use in a fluid medium includes at least one piezoelectric transducer element, at least one matching body for the promotion of a vibrational coupling between the piezoelectric transducer element and the fluid medium, and at least one compensating body situated between the piezoelectric transducer element and the matching body for the reduction of thermal stresses, the compensating body having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is between a coefficient of thermal expansion of the piezoelectric transducer element and a coefficient of thermal expansion of the matching body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Roland Mueller, Gerhard Hueftle, Michael Horstbrink, Tobias Lang, Sami Radwan, Bernd Kuenzl, Roland Wanja
  • Patent number: 8114700
    Abstract: In the present invention, a semiconductor substrate wherein a plurality of MEMS microphones is formed is disposed opposed to a discharge electrode in a state of being stuck on a sheet. Electretization of a dielectric film provided in the MEMS microphone is performed by irradiating the dielectric film between a fixed electrode and a vibration film provided in the MEMS microphone with ions resulting from a corona discharge of the discharge electrode in a state that a predetermined potential difference is applied to the fixed electrode and the vibration film and fixing charges based on the ions to the dielectric film. The electretization is successively performed to each MEMS microphone on the semiconductor substrate by relatively moving the semiconductor substrate and the discharge electrode. Therefore, electretization of the dielectric film in the MEMS microphone chip is realized using a low-cost and simple fabricating equipment and productivity can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Miyashita, Kazumoto Doi, Tadao Imai, Hiroaki Iwaseki
  • Publication number: 20120033846
    Abstract: A method for fabricating flat loudspeakers comprising manufacturing a flat loudspeaker including at least one microspeaker array, having first and second main surfaces; and covering at least one of the main surfaces of the loudspeaker with a cover member including an airtight sound-pressure wave transparent thin polymer film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: AUDIO PIXELS LTD.
    Inventors: Shay Kaplan, Yuval Cohen, Daniel Lewin, Meir Ben Simon
  • Publication number: 20120027223
    Abstract: A sports board apparatus and method including a first speaker housing adapted to receive a first speaker and an audio device housing adapted to receive an audio device. The first speaker housing can be adapted to mount the first speaker substantially flush with the top surface of the sports board. The audio device housing can be adapted to mount an audio device substantially flush with the top surface of the sports board. An electrical conduit can be operably coupled to the first speaker housing and adapted to be coupled to the audio device so that a sports board owner can listen to music or other audio programming while engaging in leisurely activities, such as surfing, snowboarding, kayaking, wakeboarding, windsurfing, or skateboarding. The sports board can also include a stabilizing fin, a power supply, a solar collection device, an amplifying device, and a second speaker for deterring aquatic creatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: Jeremy ZAPALAC
  • Publication number: 20120027241
    Abstract: A microphone mounting assembly (800A/800b) include one or more transducers (801) mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) (805) where a spacer (803) is used having a channel (807) positioned on the PCB (805) for allowing acoustical energy to pass through the channel (807) to a port (809) in the PCB (805). A first cover (811) is positioned over the channel (807) for disrupting the direct encounter with airflow into the channel (807) while a top section (813) having a second cover (815) is further positioned adjacent to the first fabric cover (811) for preventing debris from obstructing the first fabric cover (811).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Robert R. Turnbull, Alan R. Watson, Michael A. Bryson
  • Publication number: 20120029393
    Abstract: A compact ultrasound transducer assembly is provided. The ultrasound transducer assembly comprises a compact housing, a therapy transducer disposed in the compact housing, and an interchangeable Fresnel lens having a flat surface and a structured surface. The Fresnel lens is disposed in the compact housing so that the flat surface of the Fresnel lens faces the therapy transducer. The structured surface of the Fresnel lens is disposed in a direction away from the therapy transducer, and the Fresnel lens is removably coupled to the therapy transducer, the compact housing, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Warren Lee
  • Patent number: 8099854
    Abstract: A groove is formed on a handling member, on a face to be fixed to an element, the groove making up a portion of a channel that externally communicates in the state of being fixed to the element. In the fixing process of the substrate and then handling member, the handling member is fixed so that the edge direction of the vibrating membrane supporting portion and the edge direction of the groove of the handling member intersect. Thus, the probability that a membrane will break during handling or processing of the substrate is reduced, and the handling member can be quickly removed from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayako Kato, Chienliu Chang
  • Patent number: 8099853
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a boundary acoustic wave device prevents formation of discontinuous portions in a dielectric film without a significant decrease in the thickness of an IDT when the dielectric film is formed by deposition and without deterioration of electrical characteristics. The method includes the steps of forming an IDT on a piezoelectric substrate, forming a lower dielectric film so as to cover the IDT, conducting a planarizing step so as to smooth the rough surface of the lower dielectric film, and forming an upper dielectric film so as to cover the lower dielectric film of which the rough surface is smoothed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kando, Naohiro Nodake, Masahiko Saeki, Toshiyuki Fuyutsume
  • Publication number: 20120014543
    Abstract: An electrostatic speaker and a method for manufacturing the speaker are disclosed. Said speaker comprises a vibrating film; an electrode portion disposed on a surface of the vibrating film and joined with the vibrating film; and a conductive backplate spaced from the electrode portion by a distance, the conductive backplate forming a plurality of holes, the vibrating film being deformed and vibrated to generate and release a sound through the holes due to a variation of an electric field generated between the conductive backplate and the electrode portion, wherein the conductive backplate is covered by a polymer layer serving as a protective film. The covering polymer layer on the conductive backplate is capable of improving the stability of the electrostatic speaker and increasing its lifespan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Taiwan Electrets Electronics Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Dar-ming Chiang, Jen-luan Chen, I-hui Lin
  • Patent number: 8096042
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a quartz crystal unit comprises the steps of forming a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having a quartz crystal tuning fork shape, forming at least one groove in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines so that a spaced-apart distance between the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines is greater than or equal to a width of the at least one groove, determining the dimension of each of the quartz crystal tuning fork shape and the at least one groove so that a capacitance ratio r1 of a fundamental mode of vibration of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is less than a capacitance ratio r2 of a second overtone mode of vibration thereof, mounting the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator on a mounting portion of a case, and connecting a lid to the case to cover an open end of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Piedek Technical Laboratory
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20120008804
    Abstract: A transducer and method of forming a transducer is disclosed. The method comprises locating a feed wire for forming a drive pin on a reed surface, welding a first end of the feed wire to the reed, cutting the feed wire to form a drive pin, and securing the drive pin to a paddle. The first end of the feed wire can be welded to the reed by a laser welding operation. The laser melts the reed to form a molten reed material, and the feed wire is pushed through the molten reed material to form a weld between the feed wire and the reed, once the molten reed material solidifies. The wire coil is then cut with a second laser to form the drive pin. The drive pin is then adhered to a paddle with an adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: SHURE ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Bedwell, Lajos Frohlich
  • Patent number: 8091189
    Abstract: A quartz crystal unit has a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator that is capable of vibrating in a flexural mode and that has a quartz crystal tuning fork base, and first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines. The quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is mounted on a mounting portion of the case after which the oscillation frequency of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is adjusted. The quartz crystal unit comprising the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator has a series resistance R1 of a fundamental mode of vibration less than a series resistance R2 of a second overtone mode of vibration. At least one groove is formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines so that a width of the at least one groove is greater than a distance in the width direction of the at least one groove measured from an outer edge of the at least one groove to an outer edge of the corresponding one of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Piedek Technical Laboratory
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8091190
    Abstract: A mirror for a piezoelectric resonator consisting of alternately arranged layers of high and low acoustic impedance is manufactured by at first producing a first layer on which a second layer is produced, so that the second layer partially covers the first layer. Then, a planarization layer is applied on the first layer and on the second layer. Subsequently, a portion of the second layer is exposed by structuring the planarization layer, wherein the portion is associated with an active region of the piezoelectric resonator. Finally, the resulting structure is planarized by removing the portions of the planarization layer remaining outside the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Wireless IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Thalhammer, Stephan Marksteiner, Gernot Fattinger
  • Publication number: 20120002837
    Abstract: There is provided a speaker which has a frame structure divided into a first frame and a second frame, wherein tinsel wires are arranged so as not to overlap, with respect to the plane direction, the second frame to which a magnetic circuit is attached, whereby the second frame can be arranged as forward as possible thus enabling reduction of the thickness of the speaker. Also, the first frame and the second frame are both provided with respective frame connection mechanisms and therefore can be easily positioned and connected to each other thus enhancing the workability. The speaker enables further reduction of the thickness without deteriorating input durability and bass range reproduction capability and can be produced with an excellent assembly workability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoharu OUCHI
  • Patent number: 8087153
    Abstract: A handling member is prepared that provides a channel that can withstand subsequent back face processing as to a substrate having elements made up of a substrate and a membrane, and the handling member is fixed to the substrate so that at least a portion within the elements are supported by the handling member. This provides a manufacturing method wherein the physical strength of an element at the time of manufacturing an electromechanical transducing apparatus is strengthened, and the handling member is easily detached in a short time after processing of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayako Kato, Chienliu Chang
  • Patent number: 8087152
    Abstract: A groove is formed on a handling member, on a face to be fixed to an element, the groove making up a portion of a channel that externally communicates in the state of being fixed to the element. The handling member is fixed so that the cleavage direction of the vibrating membrane and the edge direction of the groove of the handling member intersect. Thus, the probability that a membrane will break during handling or processing of the substrate is reduced, and the handling member can be quickly removed from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayako Kato, Chienliu Chang
  • Publication number: 20110316389
    Abstract: An ultrasound probe and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. More particularly, a one-dimensional or two-dimensional ultrasound probe having a multi-element-type piezoelectric material is easily manufactured by inserting a flat wire in a backing material, wherein the flat wire is used as a signal cable to supply electrical signals, enabling easy and simple arrangement of piezoelectric units as well as the signal cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Oh Soo KWON, Jeong Pyo KIM
  • Publication number: 20110316387
    Abstract: An aspect of one embodiment, there is provided an ultrasonic transducer including a plurality of oscillators, each of the oscillator having a convex portion, a printed wiring board provided to be opposed to the convex portion, an adhesive material including at least a portion of the convex portion, the adhesive material joining the oscillator and the printed wiring board, and a resin provided between the oscillator and the printed wiring board, the resin covering the convex portion and the adhesive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takashi TOGASAKI, Takeshi Miyagi, Satoru Asagiri, Michiko Ooishi
  • Publication number: 20110309896
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a two-track surface acoustic wave (SAW) device that has a first SAW track and a second SAW track. The second SAW track may include an interconnecting grating that divides an acoustic cavity of the second SAW track into two acoustic cavities, which are acoustically coupled to one another. The first SAW track and the second SAW track may be electrically coupled to one another transversally via a first re-radiation interconnection and a second re-radiation interconnection. When the two-track SAW device is used in a bandpass filter, by including the interconnecting grating, insertion loss and roll-off response characteristics of the bandpass filter may be improved. Further, in one embodiment of the two-track SAW device, addition of capacitance between the re-radiation connections may improve return loss of the two-track SAW device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: RF MICRO DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Aleh Loseu
  • Publication number: 20110308317
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic transducer for use in a fluid medium is described. The ultrasonic transducer includes at least one transducer core having at least one acoustic-electric transducer element. The ultrasonic transducer furthermore includes at least one housing which at least partially surrounds the transducer core and which has at least one opening facing the fluid medium. In the method, at least one sealing film is stretched and connected to the housing in the stretched state in such a way that the sealing film at least partially seals the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Roland Mueller, Gerhard Hueftle, Michael Horstbrink, Tobias Lang, Sami Radwan, Bernd Kuenzl, Roland Wanja
  • 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: 8081049
    Abstract: A band-pass filter device includes: a plurality of band-pass filter elements on a principal plane of a substrate; wherein the band-pass filter elements correspond to a plurality of respective channels divided by frequency regions, and each have a plurality of piezoelectric resonators. Each of the piezoelectric resonators includes a piezoelectric film whose periphery is supported by the substrate, a first electrode formed on a lower surface of the piezoelectric film, a second electrode formed on an upper surface of the piezoelectric film and formed in a state of overlapping at least a part of the first electrode with the piezoelectric film interposed between the second electrode and the first electrode, a lower space formed between the substrate and the piezoelectric film, and an upper space formed over the piezoelectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8077900
    Abstract: A microphone includes: a substrate including a tone hole and having a top surface on which a substrate electrode is provided; a converter provided on the top surface of the substrate and including a main body having a back space, a diaphragm provided at the bottom of the back space of the main body, and a converter electrode provided on a region of a bottom surface of the main body facing the substrate electrode; and a bump connecting the substrate electrode and the converter electrode to each other. The diaphragm vibrates in response to sound entering from the tone hole. The converter converts sound into a signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Minamio, Yoshihiro Tomita, Koji Nomura
  • Patent number: 8074341
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a boundary acoustic wave device includes the steps of preparing a laminated structure in which an IDT electrode is disposed at an interface between first and second solid media and reforming the first medium and/or the second medium by externally providing the laminated structure with energy capable of reaching the inside of the first medium and/or the second medium and thus adjusting a frequency of the boundary acoustic wave device. The above provides a boundary acoustic wave device manufacturing method that enables frequency adjustment to be readily performed with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kando, Masakazu Mimura
  • Patent number: 8074342
    Abstract: A method for using a standard cable to replace the proprietary cables currently used to connect radio components. The invention also includes the hardware provided to carry out the method. A pair of jumper boxes are provided. Each jumper box contains a control jack, a microphone jack, an audio jack, and a VGA jack. The control and microphone jacks are not directly connected to the VGA jack. Instead, the control and microphone jacks are connected to certain pins within a jumper pin array. The VGA jack is connected to other pins within the same jumper pin array. The user can place jumpers within the jumper pin array to connect selected pins within the control and microphone jacks to selected pins within the VGA jack. The two jumper boxes are connected using the VGA cable. One jumper box is connected to the radio, and the other jumper box is then connected to the remote components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventor: William F. Jordan
  • Patent number: 8069543
    Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric vibrator 1 that includes a base substrate 2, a lid substrate 3, a piezoelectric vibrating reed 4, a pair of external electrodes 38 and 39, a pair of through electrodes 32 and 33, and routing electrodes 36 and 37. The lid substrate 3 includes a recess 3a for a cavity and is bonded to the base substrate so that the recess faces the base substrate. The piezoelectric vibrating reed 4 is bonded to the upper surface of the base substrate so as to be received in a cavity that is formed between both the substrates. The pair of external electrodes 38 and 39 is formed on the lower surface of the base substrate. The pair of through electrodes 32 and 33 is formed by hardening paste P, which contains a plurality of metal fine particles and a plurality of metal beads P1, so as to pass through the base substrate, maintains airtightness in the cavity, and is electrically connected to the pair of external electrodes, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi Numata, Kiyoshi Aratake
  • Patent number: 8069542
    Abstract: The present invention provides an interleaved IDT that is connected to and overlaps adjacent IDTs. In particular, the interleaved IDT may be connected to both an input IDT and an output IDT via corresponding bus bars. The first bus bar of the interleaved IDT is connected to the bus bar of the input IDT, and the other bus bar of the interleaved IDT is connected to a bus bar of the output IDT. The interleaved IDT is coupled electrically to the respective input and output ports of the overall surface acoustic wave architecture. As such, the bus bars of the respective input and output IDTs are effectively extended, such that the adjacent edges of the respective input and output IDTs partially overlap one another in an interdigitated fashion at the interleaved IDT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Aleh Loseu, Jayanti Jaganatha Rao
  • Patent number: 8069549
    Abstract: A quartz crystal device includes a crystal resonator element and a package including a plurality of components. The plurality of components are bonded using a metal paste sealing material containing a metallic particle having an average particle size from 0.1 to 1.0 ?m, an organic solvent, and a resin material in proportions of from 88 to 93 percent by weight from 5 to 15 percent by weight, and from 0.01 to 4.0 percent by weight, respectively, to hermetically seal the crystal resonator element in the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoji Nagano, Tatsuya Anzai, Hideo Tanaya
  • Publication number: 20110289764
    Abstract: A method (20) of assembling a hearing aid that uses a shell locator (35) to guide the relative placement of the shell (34) and the faceplate (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: SIEMENS HEARING INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventor: Salman Parsi
  • Publication number: 20110293114
    Abstract: This invention provides a condenser microphone unit having a diaphragm assembly in which a diaphragm does not attach to a fixed electrode even if a polarization voltage is increased. A condenser microphone unit is provided having a diaphragm assembly 1 in which a diaphragm 12 is stretched over a diaphragm support 10 and a fixed electrode 20 arranged to face the diaphragm assembly 1 through a spacer. An opening 10a over which the diaphragm 12 is stretched so as to be able to vibrate is formed in the diaphragm support 10, the diaphragm 12 is stretched over the diaphragm support 10 in a situation where a central part of the diaphragm is dented to be concave, and the concave is arranged to face the fixed electrode 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA AUDIO-TECHNICA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Publication number: 20110286610
    Abstract: A differential microphone having a perimeter slit formed around the microphone diaphragm that replaces the backside hole previously required in conventional silicon, micromachined microphones. The differential microphone is formed using silicon fabrication techniques applied only to a single, front face of a silicon wafer. The backside holes of prior art microphones typically require that a secondary machining operation be performed on the rear surface of the silicon wafer during fabrication. This secondary operation adds complexity and cost to the micromachined microphones so fabricated. Comb fingers forming a portion of a capacitive arrangement may be fabricated as part of the differential microphone diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventor: Miles N. Ronald
  • Publication number: 20110285510
    Abstract: Methods and systems for passive wireless surface acoustic wave devices for orthogonal frequency coded devices to implement ON-OFF sensors reusing orthogonal frequency code and distinguishing between ON and OFF states using additional PN sequence and on/off switches producing multi-level coding as well as external stimuli for switching and identification of a closure system. An embodiment adds a level of diversity by adding a dibit to each surface acoustic wave devices, thus providing four different possible coding states. The PN on-off coding can be with the dibit for coding in a multi-tag system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Malocha, Nikolai Kozlovski
  • Patent number: 8061014
    Abstract: A method for assembling an ultrasonic surgical assembly includes the steps of substantially simultaneously removably coupling an ultrasonic-driving-wave-signal generating circuit to an ultrasonic surgical handle body and removably inserting an ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end of a rotatably free ultrasonic transducer into the ultrasonic surgical handle body. An ultrasonic waveguide is inserted into the ultrasonic surgical handle body opposite the ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end. The ultrasonic waveguide is rotated with respect to the ultrasonic transducer to fixedly couple the ultrasonic waveguide to the ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end of the ultrasonic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Thomas O. Bales, Matthew A. Palmer, Derek Dee Deville
  • Publication number: 20110268310
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a chassis, a diaphragm, a motor system, a first suspension and a second suspension. The chassis has an inner periphery and an outer periphery. The diaphragm has an inner periphery and an outer periphery. The motor system has a magnet assembly connected to the inner periphery of the chassis, and a voice coil assembly connected to the diaphragm. The first suspension has an inner periphery connected to the outer periphery of the diaphragm, and an outer periphery connected to the outer periphery of the chassis. The second suspension has an inner periphery connected to at least one of the magnet assembly and the inner periphery of the chassis, and an outer periphery connected to the diaphragm between the inner and outer periphery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: George Bullimore
  • Publication number: 20110261990
    Abstract: A frame includes terminals. A diaphragm is supported by a frame so as to vibrate in one direction. A magnet is fixed to frame. A voice coil includes a winding portion and wire portions. Winding portion is fixed to diaphragm so as to receive a magnetic field from magnet. Wire portions and serve to electrically connect wiring portion and terminals, respectively. Wire portions have bending portions bent in one direction from winding portion towards terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kosuda, Yuki Hatanaka
  • Publication number: 20110260576
    Abstract: An electromechanical transducer includes a first electromagnetic element and a second electromagnetic element, such as electrodes, disposed opposite to each other with a sealed cavity therebetween. The sealed cavity is formed by removing a sacrifice layer and then performing sealing. A sealing portion is formed by superposing a film of a hardened second sealing material that has fluidity at normal temperature on a film of a first sealing material that does not have fluidity at normal temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Masaki, Yoshihiro Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20110258839
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing hearing devices comprising an otoplastic individually shaped for a user to be using the respective hearing device is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventor: Daniel Probst
  • Patent number: 8042255
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for making an acoustic transducer. In one possible embodiment, a rigid inner shell is provided with a conductive exterior surface. Masking material is applied onto a first location on the conductive exterior surface of the rigid inner shell. Piezoelectric material is deposited over the conductive exterior surface of the rigid inner shell and the masking material. Conductive material is deposited onto the piezoelectric material. The masking material is removed. A first signal lead is attached to the first location on the conductive exterior surface of the rigid inner shell. A second signal lead is attached to the conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Michael D. Jevnager