Driven Diverse Static Structure (e.g., Wall, Sounding Board) Patents (Class 381/152)
  • Patent number: 7620193
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer comprises an active element which changes in length along a first axis in response to an audiofrequency input signal, the element being mounted between an inertial mass and a foot which in use engages a surface whereby audiofrequency vibrations produced by the active element are transmitted to the surface, characterised in that the foot is hingedly connected to the inertial mass and the active element is located between the foot and the mass such that the angle between the first axis and the surface is less than 90°, in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Newlands Technology Limited
    Inventors: William John Metheringham, David Anthony Johnson, Brian Douglas Smith, Neil Munns, Martin Geoffrey Aston
  • Patent number: 7620190
    Abstract: The invention refers to a device (3) for actuating a membrane arranged in an opening to a space, and a vehicle having such a device. The membrane (1) has a first surface (1?) and a second opposite surface (1?), and is limited by an edge area. The device includes a first strip (5) to be attached to the first surface of the membrane in the edge area, and a second strip (6) to be attached to a surface of a frame portion extending around the opening. An exchanging number (8) is arranged between and connecting the first strip with the second strip. An actuating member (20) is arranged to transfer a reciprocating primary movement to the exchanging member converting the primary movement to a reciprocating secondary movement, which has a longer length of stroke than the primary movement and acts on the strips to move towards and away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Magna Donnelly Corporation
    Inventor: Mats Gustavsson
  • Publication number: 20090268929
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sound output device, method and program, and room capable of producing sounds from individual parts in a wide range of a vibrating member by appropriately vibrating the parts. A vibrating member 26A vibrates to thereby output sounds. A vibrator 27A is mounted to the vibrating member 26A, and vibrates the vibrating member 26A based on a first sound signal. A vibrating member 27B is mounted to the vibrating plate 26A such that a given space is formed between the vibrator 27A and the vibrating member 27B. The vibrating member 27B vibrates the vibrating member 26A based on a second sound signal to thereby appropriately vibrate individual parts of a wide range of the vibrating member 26A. Sounds can be produced from the individual parts. The present invention can be applied to a sound output device and to a room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Shima, Akihiko Arimitsu
  • Patent number: 7596235
    Abstract: Improved transducer for reproducing and/or recording sound, comprising a membrane onto which is provided a one-piece or multipart piezo-electric element, characterized in that the membrane is composed of two or several layers of which at least one layer is made of polymer, and the shape of the perimeter of the piezo-electric element differs from the shape of the perimeter of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Sonitron, Naamloze Vennootschap
    Inventor: Hugo Michiels
  • Patent number: 7583812
    Abstract: In an electro-acoustic converter, a frame is bonded to the magnetic circuit, and the diaphragm is bonded to a circumferential edge of the frame. The voice coil is attached to the diaphragm and a part thereof is located in a magnetic gap of the magnetic circuit. The terminal is made of a sheet metal having spring property and electrical conductivity, and a part thereof is fixed to the frame. The terminal has a bent portion and a contact portion, and is electrically connected to the voice coil. The stopper is provided around a portion of the terminal at one side nearer to the frame than the bent portion, and protrudes from a surface of the frame where the contact portion of the terminal protrudes. The stopper restricts bending of the terminal to an extent within a threshold value of reversibility of a material the sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Honda, Koji Sano, Kazuya Yamasaki, Kazutaka Kubo, Masahide Sumiyama
  • Patent number: 7570771
    Abstract: A loudspeaker comprising a bending wave panel-form acoustic radiator having a first portion and at least one further portion a transducer for exciting bending waves in the radiator, the transducer being coupled to the further portion of the radiator to cause the radiator to radiate an acoustic output, and means confining low frequency radiation to the further portion of the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Timothy Christopher Whitwell, Nicholas Patrick Roland Hill, Geoffrey Arthur Coleridge Boyd
  • Patent number: 7564984
    Abstract: A bending wave loudspeaker having an operating frequency range and a coincidence frequency which is above the operating frequency range, comprising a resonant panel having two generally orthogonal axes, vibration exciting means coupled to the panel to excite the panel into resonance along the one axis of the panel, and means restraining or preventing resonance along the other axis of the panel whereby the panel radiates an acoustic output which is of wide directivity along the one axis and of narrow directivity along the other axis of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Graham Bank, Andrew Marchant, Martin Colloms, Paul Burton
  • Publication number: 20090175469
    Abstract: An audio signal output apparatus includes a driving unit and an output unit. The driving unit is configured to receive incident waves and generate a driving signal with the same phase as the incident waves. The output unit is configured to be driven by the driving signal and output waves with the same phase as the incident waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Shima, Akihiko Arimitsu, Takuro Ema
  • Patent number: 7555133
    Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer includes a first electro-acoustic transduction unit. The first electro-acoustic transduction unit includes an acoustic radiation plate which radiates a sound wave, a bending vibration plate including a vibrator, and a first coupling member which couples an edge portion of the acoustic radiation plate with an edge portion of the bending vibration plate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Hama
  • Patent number: 7545948
    Abstract: This invention discloses a loudspeaker 100 that includes a casing 110, a drive assembly 111 with a magnetic core 112, and an induction (voice) coil 113 attached to a first rigid plate 114 for the transmission of vibrations to a support 300. The first rigid plate 114 is attached to the casing 110 by a second plate 115 used for the suspension and the radial positioning of the voice coil 113, and elastic studs 116, used for the elastic suspension of the first rigid plate 114 in relation to the casing 110. By virtue of the invention a room can be transformed easily into an auditorium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Inventor: Bernard Fradin
  • Publication number: 20090046875
    Abstract: To provide a speaker system in which arrival times of sounds radiated from each speaker are aligned, sound pressures of speakers other than a woofer are enhanced as in a horn-type speaker, and each speaker unit, which disperses with a conventional horn, is gathered to integrate functions of each speaker and present a balanced appearance. Two or more types of speakers 3, 4, 5 including a reference speaker 4 for reproducing a high frequency range next to a reproduction range of a woofer 3 are arranged in line and a pair of enhanced walls 10a is disposed on a front face of a baffle board 2 to pass by left and right sides of a radiating face of the reference speaker 4, vertically extend along the front face of the baffle board 2, and open left and right toward forward. Accordingly, the radiated sound from the reference speaker 4 is enhanced by an inside space of the pair of enhanced walls 10a without enhancing the radiated sound from the woofer 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventor: Tadashi Masuda
  • Publication number: 20090034759
    Abstract: At least one exciter is used to produce sound for a flat panel display. The exciter vibrates the housing for production of sound. The housing may also include a plate mounted on the front surface of the housing and the exciter may be attached to the plate, which serves as a resonance plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Young In Ko, Hee Jin Kim
  • Publication number: 20090034758
    Abstract: At least one exciter is used to produce sound for a flat panel display. The exciter vibrates the housing for production of sound. The housing may also include a plate mounted on the front surface of the housing and the exciter may be attached to the plate, which serves as a resonance plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Young In KO, Hee Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 7475598
    Abstract: An electromechanical force transducer comprises at least two adjacent resonant elements and a damping layer coupled between their adjacent faces. The damping layer is selected so that the output is increased in the region of internal cancellation in the transducer. The adjacent resonant elements are beam-like and have substantially the same length. The resonant elements may be supported on a stub of low rotational stiffness whereby the fundamental resonance of the transducer becomes less dependent on bending motion of the transducer and more rigid body-like. The transducer may also include a member for increasing the rotational impedance of the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Mark William Starnes, James John East, Neil Simon Owen, Steven Mark Hoyle
  • Publication number: 20080304680
    Abstract: A sound generating device for transforming an object into a loudspeaker is includes an exciter module adapted for receiving audio signals from an audio source and a mounting device connected to the exciter module for removably connecting the exciter module to an object such that the object is transformed into a loudspeaker when the exciter module is energized by the audio source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventor: Clinton Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20080285778
    Abstract: A screen-integrated speaker in which mutual interference among channels does not occur easily, a high quality sound and a wide range of frequency are ensured, flexible and light, and downsizing for storage and transport are easy owing to its easiness of rolling up and deployment under a multi-channel structure is provided. The screen-integrated speaker according to an aspect of the invention includes a screen mainly composed of a fibrous structure and an exciter mounted to the back surface of the screen. Preferably, a exciting panel is interposed between the exciter and the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: TEIJIN FIBERS LIMITED
    Inventors: Saori Kuroda, Hitoshi Yano, Kunio Kosaka, Mikihiko Tsuchida, Hiroshi Kitoh
  • Patent number: 7450729
    Abstract: One embodiment of a low-profile transducer includes a at least one fin perpendicularly mounted on a planar diaphragm, with a voice coil mounted onto the fin. The voice coil may reside in a strong uniform magnetic field. The locations at which the diaphragm is connected to a frame may be coplanar with a center of mass of the diaphragm. The three-dimensional structure of diaphragm and fins may be formed using origami techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: An Duc Nguyen, Charles M. Sprinkle
  • Patent number: 7447322
    Abstract: A speaker having a transparent sound panel and an exciter connected to the transparent sound panel for converting electrical energy received by the exciter, into vibrations that are transmitted to the transparent sound panel, resulting in the transparent sound panel transmitting sound. The speaker also contains a stiff panel located between the exciter and the transparent sound panel, where the stiff panel minimizes dampening qualities associated with material utilized to fabricate the transparent sound panel and minimizes bending of the portion of the transparent sound panel that is in contact with the stiff panel. In addition, a dampening pad is located within the exciter for absorbing a portion of excessive mid-high frequency vibrations emanating from the exciter prior to transmission to the transparent sound panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Brookstone Purchasing, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth David Harris, Jr., Vian W. Y. Li, Timothy L. Trzepacz
  • Publication number: 20080268793
    Abstract: A modified housing in a portable product (400, 500, 700, or 800) includes a housing detail (405, 506, 706 or 710 or 806) forming at least a portion of a loud speaker back cavity having a pipe inner diameter for a resonant pipe (408, 508, 708, or 808), and a modification to the housing detail altering a cross section area of the pipe inner diameter to compensate for changes to a loud speaker back cavity volume. The housing detail can include a battery door (404, 504, 704) for the portable product that forms at least one side of the resonant pipe. The battery door can define the loud speaker back cavity volume and further fills at least part of the resonant pipe in a manner that maintains the loud speaker back cavity volume and the cross sectional area of the pipe inner diameter at a predetermined ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: GLENN R. NELSON, BRIAN T. FEIN
  • Publication number: 20080260186
    Abstract: A speaker included in a speaker unit has a conical diaphragm. An end of a substantially circular cylindrical wall member is secured to the large-diameter end of the diaphragm. The inner surface of the wall member is arranged substantially parallel to a direction in which the diaphragm vibrates. Audio signals input to a voice coil cause the diaphragm and the wall member to vibrate in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a surface of a cabinet. This causes air in front of the diaphragm to be compressed and then released. A shock that occurs when the compressed air is released propagates and is perceived as sound. The wall member prevents leakage of the compressed air from the front to the side of the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Takeshi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20080240472
    Abstract: A bending vibration type sound transmitter includes a plurality of vibrating bodies that perform resonant vibration and two lids. The plurality of vibrating bodies is fastened between the two lids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Hiroshi Shiba
  • Patent number: 7412065
    Abstract: One embodiment of a low-profile transducer includes a at least one fin perpendicularly mounted on a planar diaphragm, with a voice coil mounted onto the fin. The voice coil may reside in a strong uniform magnetic field. The locations at which the diaphragm is connected to a frame may be coplanar with a center of mass of the diaphragm. The three-dimensional structure of diaphragm and fins may be formed using origami techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: An Duc Nguyen, Charles M. Sprinkle
  • Publication number: 20080175416
    Abstract: A speaker device includes an acoustic-vibration member, an actuator that is driven on the basis of a sound signal and that includes a displacement-output unit that can obtain the displacement corresponding to the sound signal, and a displacement-output-transfer member configured to connect the displacement-output unit to a point predetermined on a face of the acoustic-vibration member. A displacement output of the actuator is transferred to the predetermined point via the displacement-output-transfer member, and the acoustic-vibration member is excited in a face direction from the predetermined point according to the displacement output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobukazu Suzuki, Masaru Uryu, Yoshio Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7403628
    Abstract: A transducer assembly includes a transducer and a coupler with rheological material. A loudspeaker further includes an acoustic radiator. The coupler is mounted to the transducer and is operatively connected to the acoustic radiator. The transducer excites bending waves in the acoustic radiator to produce an acoustic output. By control of the rheological material, which may include mageto-rheological liquid or electro-rheological liquid, the transducer in various embodiments may selectively be substantially rigidly or substantially flexibly coupled to the acoustic radiator. If flexibly coupled the force experienced by the transducer when the host device is dropped, jarred, or pressured may be reduced from that experienced with a rigid connection. The acoustic radiator may be, for example, a display such as an LCD or a window mounted over a display. A mobile terminal may include such a loudspeaker in accordance with one embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Matthew J. Murray
  • Patent number: 7388619
    Abstract: A combination camera and loudspeaker is described herein. The combination camera and loudspeaker includes a lens for selectively manipulating an image and a loudspeaker assembly disposed proximate the lens for projecting audible sounds. In one embodiment, a transparent piezo-electric aligned with at least a portion of the lens projects audible sound based on electrical signals applied to the piezo-electric diaphragm. In another embodiment, a speaker coil and magnet within the loudspeaker assembly encircles an outer perimeter of the lens, while a transparent diaphragm connected to the speaker coil and aligned with at least a portion of the lens projects audible sound based on the interaction between the speaker coil and magnet. The camera captures an image when light is transmitted through the transparent diaphragm to the camera lens. Further, the combination camera and loudspeaker may include a controller for selectively controlling optical properties of the transparent diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Chris Eaton, Matt Murray
  • Patent number: 7382890
    Abstract: A sound reproduction device includes an LCD 20, which is an exemplary front panel, a case 22, and an electromechanical acoustic transducer 23. The LCD 20 is operable to perform a predetermined operation in response to an electrical signal applied thereto. A space 24 for sound emission is formed between the case 22 and the LCD 20. The electromechanical acoustic transducer 23 is connected to the case 22, and emits sound to the space 24. If the electromechanical acoustic transducer 23 emits the sound to the space 24, energy of the emitted sound causes the LCD 20 to vibrate and thereby to externally output the sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Saiki, Sawako Usuki
  • Patent number: 7376240
    Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer comprising a magnetic circuit of a magnetically conductive material with a pair of opposed surfaces defining a gap therebetween, the magnetic circuit comprising a magnet inducing a magnetic field in the gap, the magnet having a surface constituting one of the opposed surfaces. The magnetic circuit further comprises a diaphragm and a coil having electrically conducting paths secured to the diaphragm. The coil has portions of its paths situated in the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Sonion Horsens A/S
    Inventors: Kaj Borge Hansen, Leif Johannsen
  • Patent number: 7372968
    Abstract: An inertial exciter (40) for an acoustic radiator (42), and a loudspeaker incorporating an acoustic radiator and such an exciter. The exciter has a massive member (44); a coupler (56) adapted for attachment to the acoustic radiator (42) and adapted for relative movement with respect to the massive member (44); a motor for effecting relative movement of the coupler with respect to the massive member; and a suspension (60) for supporting the massive member relative to the coupler. The suspension (60) acts in a plane generally passing through the center of mass of the massive member, thereby reducing any moment acting on the suspension. Also disclosed is a loudspeaker exciter assembly (70) that has a base plate (86) for attachment to an acoustic radiator in a non-repeatedly engageable manner, and an exciter (40) attached to the base plate (86) in a repeatedly engageable manner; and a loudspeaker incorporating such an exciter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Andreas Buos, Martin Colloms
  • Publication number: 20080107291
    Abstract: An omni directional adjustable acoustic lens is a means to adjust the Hertz range of sound So it can be acoustically set. Then the lens projects the sound in a 360 degree fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventor: David W. Livingston
  • Publication number: 20080104825
    Abstract: For manufacturing a sound transducer structure, membrane support material is applied on a first main surface of a membrane carrier material and membrane material is applied in a sound transducing region and an edge region on a surface of the membrane support material. In addition, counter electrode support material is applied on a surface of the membrane material and recesses are formed in the sound transducing region of the membrane material. Counter electrode material is applied to the counter electrode support material and membrane carrier material and membrane support material are removed in the sound transducing region to the membrane material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Stefan Barzen, Marc Fueldner
  • Publication number: 20080085019
    Abstract: A display device (1) comprises a transparent panel acoustic transducer (6). The transparent front panel (6) has a laminate comprising an outer transparent thin panel (6b) and a supporting panel (6a). The supporting panel (6a) has a considerably larger stiffness than the transparent thin panel (6b), and the transparent thin panel (6b) comprises, at at least one side of the supporting panel, a side area (7) extending beyond the supporting panel (6a), said extending side area (7) being provided with an exciter (8) or a receiver at a side facing the display screen (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Maria Wagenaars, Christiaan Michel Willy Gouwy, Dieter Marie Roger Debels, Johannes Hermanus Van Den Tillaar, Peter Gilbert Clement De Pauw, Harry Van Brussel, Geert Joseph Maria Loeys, Mart P.M. Van Den Thillart
  • Publication number: 20080080727
    Abstract: An in-wall speaker system having at least one pair of active transducers mounted in a wall section. The active transducers may be mounted in at least one enclosure. Each active transducer has a sound radiating surface. Each active transducer is also mounted substantially perpendicular to a surface of the wall section with the sound radiating surfaces substantially parallel to each other. The sound radiating surfaces may be facing each other or away from each other. The in-wall speaker system may also include one or more pairs of passive radiators to generate sound from sound pressure generated by the active transducers. The pairs of speakers in the wall section may be mounted vertically or horizontally within the wall, with a slot or a vent at the opening at the space between the speaker pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Timothy Prenta, An D. Nguyen, Charles Sprinkle
  • Patent number: 7352874
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and related method for acoustically improving an environment. In an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises a partitioning means in the form of a curtain for producing a discontinuity in a sound conducting medium, such as air, and for absorbing sound. One or more microphones serve for receiving acoustic energy and for converting it into electrical signals for supply to a digital signal processor. The processor employs an algorithm for analyzing the electrical signals and providing a control signal based on such analysis. In response to the control signal, an electrical output signal is generated and converted into sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventors: Andreas Raptopolous, Michael Kieslinger
  • Publication number: 20080073981
    Abstract: A tactile wave generating apparatus and method to generate amplified low frequency waves which are then transmitted as tactile waves into a structure and/or to a persons anatomy. There is a housing in which is positioned a drive section that in turn comprises a magnet section that moves upwardly and downwardly as an inertial mass, two coils on opposite sides of the magnet and two flux path return plates for the coils. Each coil comprises upper and lower longitudinally aligned generally linear coil portions which drive the magnet section upwardly and downwardly. The magnet section is supported by upper and lower interconnecting sections that resiliently resist the up and down motion of the magnet section and restrain the magnet section to move up and down within close tolerances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Jeffery T. Springer, James L. Kirschman, Robert M. O'Neill, Conrad P. Sandoval, Joseph B. Young
  • Patent number: 7336793
    Abstract: A sound system obtains a desired sound field from an array of sound sources arranged on a panel. The desired sound field allows a listener to perceive the sound as if the sound were coming from a live source and from a specified location. Setup of the sound system includes arranging a microphone array adjacent the array of sound sources to obtain a generated sound field. Arbitrary finite impulse response filters are then composed for each sound source within the array of sound sources. Iteration is applied to optimize filter coefficients such that the generated sound field resembles the desired sound field so that multi-channel equalization and wave field synthesis occur. After the filters are setup, the microphones may be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Ulrich Horbach, Etienne Corteel
  • Patent number: 7336795
    Abstract: A card-type sound apparatus has, on a card-shaped substrate, a combination of a sound signal input portion to which a sound signal is input from outside and a sound generation portion that generates sound according to the sound signal input to the sound signal input portion, or a combination of a sound collection portion that collects sound from outside and converts the sound into an electric signal and a sound signal output portion that outputs to outside the electric signal obtained from the sound collection portion, or both of these combinations. The sound generation portion generates sound by making the card-shaped substrate itself vibrate according to the sound signal input to the sound signal input portion. The sound collection portion collects sound by converting the vibration of the card-shaped substrate itself into an electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Miyata, Hidetaka Mizumaki
  • Patent number: 7333620
    Abstract: One embodiment of a low-profile transducer includes a at least one fin perpendicularly mounted on a planar diaphragm, with a voice coil mounted onto the fin. The voice coil may reside in a strong uniform magnetic field. The locations at which the diaphragm is connected to a frame may be coplanar with a center of mass of the diaphragm. The three-dimensional structure of diaphragm and fins may be formed using origami techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: An Duc Nguyen, Charles M. Sprinkle
  • Patent number: 7319766
    Abstract: An improved in-wall speaker assembly providing better performance and less intrusion than prior art speakers. The speaker assembly is oriented such that the driver fires vertically, parallel to the wall studs, rather than horizontally and perpendicular to the wall studs. The cone and surround of the speaker assembly are generally rectangular and/or conform to the area available between studs. Additionally, the cone is not attached to the voice coil, but is connected to the voice coil by a shaft which transmits the energy from the voice coil to the cone. In another aspect of the invention, the cabinet or housing includes two housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Velodyne Acoustics, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Hall, Chris Kallai, Richard Yoder, Felix E. Stephens
  • Patent number: 7315627
    Abstract: A sound-damping structure is provided for use as part of a sound-directing component of a loudspeaker. The structure includes a first structural layer, a second structural layer, and a core layer enclosed between the first and second structural layers. The first and second structural layers include a generally rigid material, and the core layer includes a sound-damping material. The first structural layer includes an outside surface facing an exterior of the sound-directing component. The second structural layer includes an inside surface having an interior of the sound-directing component through which sound energy is directed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: David H. Cox, Bernard M. Werner, William J. Gelow
  • Publication number: 20070291963
    Abstract: A thin input device with a flat input side surface is provided in which a flexible circuit board is disposed inside a chassis so as to extend to the outside or inside of the chassis while preventing the flexible circuit board from bending akwardly. An opening for exposing a portion of a bottom surface of an input panel is formed on a bottom wall of the chassis. A through-hole for guiding the flexible circuit board to the anti-input side of the input panel is formed on a second base disposed on the anti-input side so that the through-hole is inside a first base disposed on the input side at a position corresponding to the opening. The flexible circuit board is disposed to extend to the outside or inside of the chassis through the through-hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Watanabe, Naohisa Masuda
  • Patent number: 7302068
    Abstract: A loudspeaker for audible sound is described having a sound emitting element mounted onto a support structure and at least one actuator adapted to rotate said sound emitting element around a hinge section, wherein the actuator is made of piezoelectric material. In variants the actuator forms part of the hinge section and the loudspeaker is capable of generating vibrations through its support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: 1 . . .Limited
    Inventors: Simon Andrew Longbottom, Andrew Matheson, Gareth McKevitt, Richard Topliss, Matthew John Pitts, Mark Richard Shepherd
  • Patent number: 7292702
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an in-wall speaker system, specifically a system that is not readily visible and mounted in a room. The in-wall speaker system is comprised of a base frame that is adapted to be mounted between support members of a wall. The in-wall speaker system further has a speaker assembly mounted to the base frame and an active member that has an outer surface which is substantially coplanar with the surrounding wall section and in one form extends slightly outward therefrom. The base frame, speaker assembly, and the active member cooperate to form an acoustic chamber that is positioned behind the inner surface of the active member. Acoustic energy is transferred from the speaker assembly to the active member where the sound is produced therefrom to the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Dimensional Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul N. Hagman
  • Publication number: 20070253590
    Abstract: A flat panel display with detachable anti-vibrate speaker includes a speaker body with a front bezel attached at least one speaker driver, a rear bezel and a middle frame. The middle frame with a bottom positioning hole is made of an elastic material and situated between the front bezel and the rear bezel, and an elastic rib is formed on an inner surface of the middle frame to separate and to be against the front bezel and the rear bezel. A stand includes a positioning structure and a top surface groove. The positioning structure is assembled inside the top surface groove and is blocked by a blocking member fixed on an upper surface of the top surface groove. An elastic member is situated in the bottom of the top surface groove and a positioning member with a round top is located between the blocking member and the elastic member and is pushed to fit the positioning hole by the elastic member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Wen-Pin Lin, Kuan-Cheng Hsieh, Shih-Po Lo, Yi-Chung Chiu
  • Patent number: 7283637
    Abstract: An exciting device capable of producing sound by sound-producing vibration body of a main body of an apparatus is provided. An exciting member 32A thin and long in the direction X is provided on a vibration substrate 31 thin and long in the direction X. Both ends of the exciting member 32A are fixed to the vibration substrate 31. Further, a piezoelectric element 33 that functions as vibration generating means is provided in the middle in the direction X of the exciting member 32A. The vibration substrate 31 is directly or indirectly fixed to the sound-producing vibration body. Vibration of the exciting member 32A is transmitted to the sound-producing vibration body through the vibration substrate 31 so that the sound-producing vibration body produces sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Suzuki, Koichi Saito, Takenobu Horino, Shinichi Higuchi, Katsuji Suzuki, Tetsuya Mitsuishi
  • Patent number: 7283636
    Abstract: The present invention provides a planer acoustic transducer including a vibrating diaphragm including a spiral voice coil provided on both surfaces or on one surface of an insulating base film; and a permanent magnet corresponding to the voice coil, wherein, in the vibrating diaphragm, the spiral voice coil is formed by applying a wire conductor, in a coil pattern, onto a sheet-like substrate having an adhesive layer on at least one surface thereof. Alternatively, at least a portion of the vibrating diaphragm, which portion corresponds to the loop of a first or second vibration mode, is reinforced with a rigidity-imparting member; the substrate of the vibrating diaphragm is formed of a resin foam; or the voice coil is formed three-dimensionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nishimura, Kenji Iizuka, Masayuki Ishiwa, Shigeo Yamaguchi, Tsutomu Yokoyama, Masaaki Arahori, Hideharu Yonehara, Hiroshi Ikeda, Sadaaki Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20070223770
    Abstract: A speaker includes a vibration board and at least one illuminant. The vibration board is made of translucent resin, and provided with light diffusing patterns on at least one side thereof. The illuminant is disposed behind the vibration board in a circular manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicants: SEVEN CO., LTD., SHARP SANGYO CO., LTD
    Inventors: Koji Fujisawa, Yu Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20070223744
    Abstract: An electro-optic device includes a display unit having a display area and a plurality of sound generating members, the plurality of sound generating members each include a speaker which is arranged so as to overlap the display area in plan view, and a sound releasing hole that outputs sounds generated by the speaker toward the outside, wherein the plurality of sound releasing holes which constitutes the plurality of sound generating members are arranged on the outside of the display area in plan view along part of the sides of the display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: EPSON IMAGING DEVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi WADA
  • Patent number: 7263196
    Abstract: A mobile communications terminal is provided which is designed to transmit speech signals and to receive and reproduce speech signals, and which has a speech-reproduction device, wherein improved speech quality is achieved in that the speech-reproduction device has a sound transducer, which is disposed inside a housing of the mobile communications terminal, and at least one sound transmission opening provided in the housing, which forwards the sound generated by the sound transducer to the outside of the mobile communications terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Roland Aubauer, Michael Hülskemper
  • Patent number: 7245729
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a box-form structure made from stiff lightweight sheet material to define a plurality of faces, at least one face of the structure forming a panel-form bending wave acoustic radiator, and an electro-acoustic vibration transducer coupled thereto to apply bending wave energy to the radiator to cause it to radiate an acoustic output when an input signal is applied to the transducer. The box-form structure is collapsible, so that the box-form structure can be stored and transported in a flat form and erected as a box when required as a loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Andrew D. Bank, Ian D. MacFarlane, Keith D. Hills, Paul Burton
  • Patent number: RE40860
    Abstract: An electrostatic transducer, such as a loudspeaker or microphone, comprises a multi-layer panel (1) incorporating an electrically insulating middle layer (2) sandwiched between first and second electrically conducting outer layers (3, 4). At least one of the layers has a profiled surface (6) where it contacts the surface of another of the layers. Furthermore a signal generator is provided for applying an alternating electrical voltage across the first and second layers (3, 4) to initiate vibration due to variation of the electrostatic forces acting between the layers, thereby serving as a loudspeaker (or for detecting variation of such electrostatic forces due to received vibration in the case of a microphone).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: University of Warwick
    Inventors: Duncan Robert Billson, David Arthur Hutchins