With Mechanical Amplifier Arrangement Patents (Class 381/161)
  • Patent number: 11310589
    Abstract: An audiovisual device and a control method of the audiovisual device are provided, the audiovisual device includes a backboard, the backboard is provided with a directional speaker, a regulator component and a display component that is configured for providing visual content, the directional speaker is configured for emitting a directional sound to a display side of the display component, and the regulator component is configured for regulating an orientation of the directional speaker on the display side of the display component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenbo Li, Zhihong Du, Junwei Liu
  • Patent number: 10701480
    Abstract: A head-mounted wearable device (HMWD) includes a plurality of microphones. These microphones may be used to acquire audio data produced by the user, such as speech, or sound from the ambient environment. In one implementation, a first air conduction (AC) microphone is emplaced at a bridge of the nose of the HMWD, a second AC microphone at a hinge, and a bone conduction (BC) microphone is positioned at a distal end of one of the temples of the HMWD. For example, the BC microphone may be located in the left temple proximate to the apex of the user's ear. A semi-rigid structure may provide mechanical coupling between the user's head and the BC microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jung Sik Yang, Xuan Zhong, Jianchun Dong, Zhen Xu
  • Patent number: 10178465
    Abstract: A headphone unit comprising a headphone, a headphone pre-amplifier for pre-amplification of an audio signal to be reproduced, and a cable between the headphone pre-amplifier and the headphone. The headphone has two symmetrically designed electrostatic transducers in the push-pull mode of operation. The pre-amplifier is adapted to output an audio signal to be reproduced by way of a first amplifier stage as a voltage-amplified audio signal at an output. The headphone has second amplifier stages which are in the form of high-voltage amplifier stages which are supplied by way of the cable with a pre-amplified audio signal to be reproduced and a high-voltage supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Axel Grell, Manfred Hibbing
  • Patent number: 8929060
    Abstract: An apparatus of the present disclosure enhances the audio/visual experience of a portable digital device, and comprises a lens positioning slot, a lens storage compartment, a passive audio amplifier, a receiving station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Screendoor Studio, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Waitzman, III, Lewis Dorsey Cox, Zachary A. Griggs
  • Publication number: 20140270193
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to acoustic transducers. In certain aspects, the acoustic transducer includes a diaphragm and an actuator. In further aspects, the acoustic transducer includes a connector having a planar proximal end that tapers to a distal end. The proximal end may be coupled to the diaphragm and the distal end coupled to the actuator, such that the actuator causes movement of the diaphragm. In additional aspects, the acoustic transducer includes a connector having a proximal end that couples to the diaphragm and a distal end that couples to the actuator. The proximal end of the connector can include a damping element. In other aspects, the diaphragm includes a connector, in which the connector tapers to a distal end that is configured to mate with the actuator such that the actuator causes movement of the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Emo Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Terrence Keith Jones
  • Patent number: 8718307
    Abstract: A bone conduction hearing aid includes an in-the-ear (ITE) component including a transducer that is carried by the ITE component and positioned in the concha of the ear when in use. A vibrationally conductive structural member of the ITE component conducts vibration produced the transducer into the ear canal and such vibrations are transferred through a housing of the transducer. From there, the vibrations are transferred to a cochlea of the user by way of the mastoid bone, enabling enhanced hearing perception in patients with hearing loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel R. Schumaier, David M. Campbell, II
  • Patent number: 8693709
    Abstract: An audio speaker has at least one transducer for converting electrical signals into mechanical motion. There is a planar sound producing structure that has a first face and a second face. A mechanical connection connects the at least one transducer to the sound producing structure, such that mechanical motion produced by the at least one transducer induces the sound producing structure to vibrate and produces sound from the first face and the second face. A deflector is interposed between the at least one transducer and the sound producing structure. The deflector is adjacent to the second face of the sound producing structure and reflects the produced sound from the second face of the sound producing structure to a listening area forward of the first face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventor: Allan Schneider
  • Patent number: 8625821
    Abstract: A method of outputting an audio signal includes receiving an audio signal; generating a carrier waves having phases differing from each other; generating modulation signals by comparing the respective carrier waves with the audio signal; amplifying the modulation signals; and outputting the amplified modulation signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hae-jong Kim, Hae-kwang Park
  • Patent number: 8520370
    Abstract: An apparatus of the present disclosure enhances the audio/visual experience of a portable digital device, and comprises a lens positioning slot, a lens storage compartment, a passive audio amplifier, a receiving station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Screendoor Studio, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Waitzman, III, Lewis Dorsey Cox, Zachary A. Griggs
  • Patent number: 8450907
    Abstract: A sound generator includes a transducer converting electric energy to mechanical energy, a mechanical amplifier mechanically amplifying a vibration generated in a piezoelectric component of the transducer, and a radiation plate radiating a sound wave from a signal amplified by the mechanical amplifier, wherein the radiation plate includes a first step having a height for compensating for a first resonance frequency and a second step having a height for compensating for a second resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: POSTECH Academy-Industry Foundation
    Inventors: Won Kyu Moon, Haksue Lee, Yub Je
  • Patent number: 8369543
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobukazu Suzuki, Masaru Uryu, Yoshio Ohashi
  • Patent number: 8126183
    Abstract: An audio source tracking arrangement, integrated in or connected to a video conference system, for determining a position of a source creating a sound, including: at least an audio signal processing module configured to determine the position of the source creating the sound based on a plurality of audio signals originating from the source respectively captured by a plurality of microphones; and one or more microphone housings, respectively encapsulating at least one of the plurality of microphones, the one or more microphone housings including a cavity in which at least one of the plurality of microphones is localized, an aperture on a surface of the microphone housing, and a channel extending from the cavity to the aperture, wherein the channel and the cavity are dimensioned to form an acoustical amplifier with a frequency response having one or more high frequency peaks in a frequency band of the sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Tandberg Telecom AS
    Inventors: Gisle Enstad, Trygve Frederik Marton, Johan Ludvig Nielsen
  • Patent number: 8098853
    Abstract: A microphone unit includes: a partition member, including a vibration film configured to be vibrated by sound; a housing, defining an inner space, and formed with a first opening and a second opening, the inner space being divided into a first space and a second space by the partition member, the first space adapted to be communicated with an outer space via the first opening, and the second space adapted to be communicated with the outer space via the second opening; and a shutter, configured to close one of the first and second openings; and an amplifier, configured to: amplify an electric signal at a first gain when the shutter closes the one of the first and second openings; and amplify the electric signal at a second gain that is larger than the first gain when first and second openings are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Takeshi Inoda, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8009839
    Abstract: A method of bringing automotive sound and sensation back into the automobile via the existing sound system, titrating the music and automotive noise together, and via a subwoofer or other vibrational means in the car seat or seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: Gary E. Hagen
  • Publication number: 20110170719
    Abstract: A method of outputting an audio signal includes receiving an audio signal; generating a carrier waves having phases differing from each other; generating modulation signals by comparing the respective carrier waves with the audio signal; amplifying the modulation signals; and outputting the amplified modulation signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hae-jong KIM, Hae-kwang PARK
  • Publication number: 20100020990
    Abstract: A sound generator includes a transducer converting electric energy to mechanical energy, a mechanical amplifier mechanically amplifying a vibration generated in a piezoelectric component of the transducer, and a radiation plate radiating a sound wave from a signal amplified by the mechanical amplifier, wherein the radiation plate includes a first step having a height for compensating for a first resonance frequency and a second step having a height for compensating for a second resonance frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: POSTECH Acadaemy-Industry Foundation
    Inventors: Won Kyu MOON, Haksue LEE, Yub JE
  • Publication number: 20090232327
    Abstract: A method of bringing automotive sound and sensation back into the automobile via the existing sound system, titrating the music and automotive noise together, and via a subwoofer or other vibrational means in the car seat or seats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventor: GARY E. HAGEN
  • Patent number: 7548630
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system including a plurality of sonic converters fixed in or to the rear of sound passage openings of a carrier plate is disclosed. The carrier plate is configured in the form of a wall plate for interior spaces or outside facades of buildings and the sonic converters are integrated into the carrier plate. The loudspeaker system or loudspeaker wall plate, respectively, permit the realization of an optimum acoustic irradiation of a space without aesthetically annoying loudspeaker boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forshcung e.V.
    Inventors: Berthold Schlenker, Thomas Sporer, Karlheinz Brandenburg
  • Patent number: 7463744
    Abstract: A ported electroacoustical device uses the action of the port to provide cooling airflow across a heat producing device. The device includes a loudspeaker enclosure including a first acoustic port, and an acoustic driver, mounted in the loudspeaker enclosure. The device also includes a heat producing device. The acoustic driver and the acoustic port are constructed and arranged to coact to provide a cooling, substantially unidirectional airflow across the heat producing device, thereby transferring heat from the heat producing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Preston Parker, Antonio M. Lage, Mark R. Hickman
  • Patent number: 7454025
    Abstract: In a loudspeaker device of the present invention, an interior space of a cabinet is parted into first and second chambers, a diaphragm on which ring-shaped magnetic boards are fixed is attached to a parting board via an edge portion, and ring-shaped fixed magnets are provided so as to face the magnetic boards, respectively. Vibration of the diaphragm vibrated by sound pressure from a speaker unit is intensified by forces of attraction of the magnets in order to reduce an acoustic stiffness of the cabinet and equivalently increase a cabinet volume, thereby realizing satisfactory bass reproduction with a small cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Saiki
  • Patent number: 7352873
    Abstract: An electret-condenser microphone according to the present invention includes a vibrating diaphragm and a back electrode which compose a condenser; a cylindrical case which houses the vibrating diaphragm and the back electrode; a circuit board which is housed in an opening of the cylindrical case, is fixed to the opening by crimping a crimp edge formed by bending an opening end of the cylindrical case inward, and covers the opening; and a substrate fastened to an outer surface of the circuit board. A circular pattern and annular pattern are formed on the outer surface of the circuit board and a circular pattern and annular pattern are formed on that surface of the substrate which is farther from the circuit board. The circular pattern and annular pattern are connected with the circular pattern and annular pattern via thru-holes in the substrate, and that surface of the substrate on which and are formed serves as a reflow-soldering surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shigeno, Mamoru Yasuda, Yasuo Sugimori, Naoki Toyoda
  • Publication number: 20040264716
    Abstract: A line array electroacoustical transducing system includes at least first and second line arrays detachably secured in electrical and mechanical coupling relationships. The assembly may be detachably secured to a base having an amplifier in electrical and mechanical coupling relationships.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Paul Fidlin, Clifford A. Henricksen, Kenneth Dylan Jacob, Hilmar Lehnert, Peter C. Santoro
  • Patent number: 6807284
    Abstract: A speaker has a very small size and is arranged to emit sound waves in a non-directional manner. The speaker includes a case and a speaker unit attached to a plate provided at an opening of the case. The speaker is arranged so that the speaker unit is mounted or attached to a floor or support surface such that a space formed by the case, the plate and the speaker unit is airtight and so that the back-and-forth motion of a vibrator of the speaker unit generates expansion and contraction of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6751329
    Abstract: A drive module for attachment to a rigid panel and adapted to apply bending wave energy at audio frequencies to the panel whereby the panel can radiate an audio output. The drive module has a housing adapted to be secured to the panel, at least one foot on the housing and adapted to fix the housing securely to the panel, an electro-mechanical transducer in the housing, a support for the transducer in the housing, the transducer being adapted to contact the panel to apply bending wave energy thereto when energized with an electrical audio signal, and an audio signal amplifier in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Martin Colloms, Ian David MacFarlane
  • Patent number: 6748090
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system with multi-mode radiator panels used to reproduce sound. The multi-mode radiator panels include at least one driver, a core layer and two cover layers connected to the core layer. The panels are typically mounted in a frame with attachments providing a connection between the frame and the unit formed of the core layer and the cover layers. To protect the system against overload and damage, the entire driver electronics is housed in a hermetically sealed air space located between the frame, the core layer and the attachments. The driver electronics includes a power amplifier powered by low-voltage power supply. The voltage supply may be buffered by a battery to keep the average power supplied to the electronics small, while still being able to reproduce infrequently occurring peak power events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Harman Audio Electronic Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bachmann, Gerhard Krump, Hans-Juergen Regl
  • Patent number: 6430297
    Abstract: A speaker has a very small size and is arranged to emit sound waves in a non-directional manner. The speaker includes a case and a speaker unit attached to a plate provided at an opening of the case. The speaker is arranged so that the speaker unit is mounted or attached to a floor or support surface such that a space formed by the case, the plate and the speaker unit is airtight and so that the back-and-forth motion of a vibrator of the speaker unit generates expansion and contraction of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Nakamura
  • 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: 6198831
    Abstract: A panel form loudspeaker/microphone combination has a distributed resonant bending wave member and two transducers mounred on the member at sites where the number of vibrationally active resonance anti-nodes is relatively high. One transducer is capable of vibrating the member to couple to and excite resonant bending wave modes in the member and cause the member to produce an acoustic output. The other transducer also is capable of coupling to he resonant bending wave modes in the member, but it produces an output signal in response to resonance of the member due to incident acoustic energy. The combination may be part of a loudspeaker system including an amplifier for the source signal coupled to the first transducer, and a signal receiver coupled to the second transducer for treating the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Henry Azima, Martin Colloms, Neil Harris
  • Patent number: 5995635
    Abstract: An apparatus to pick up and amplify sounds created by vibrations of a flexible member having a base which supports a sound pick up that transmits a signal to an amplifier. The apparatus is attached to the flexible member by an attachment assembly mounted on the base at an approximate center of gravity of the apparatus. The attachment assembly has two points of attachment such that when the flexible member is under tension a rotational force around the attachment assembly brings the sound pick up close to or in contact with the flexible member. The apparatus may also have the sound pick up mounted to a speaker that is mounted to the base. The apparatus may also have the sound pick up mounted to the base and transmit a signal to a separate amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventor: William Fletcher
  • Patent number: 5351220
    Abstract: The present invention involves a moving-coil electrodynamic electroacoustical transducer, comprising a disk made of a hard, nonmagnetic material (12), which is superimposed on the diaphragm (11) and has openings for the output of sound, a power-factor-improvement device/super charger (13) made of a nonmagnetic material which is placed in the concavity of the diaphragm (11) and which has annular, concentric ducts (13') having a conical shape, and a cover (14) made of a nonmagnetic material serving as the lid in both configurations of the transducer, the said cover being applied to the body facing the concavity of the said diaphragm in a direct-radiation transducer, while it is applied to the body facing the convexity of the said magnetic disk (12) in an indirect-radiation transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Online S.N.C. Di Noselli G. & C.
    Inventor: Guido Noselli
  • Patent number: 4864611
    Abstract: An attachment for a telephone handset used by users of in-the-ear hearing aids including a cup shaped member which acoustically couples the handset to the ear and serves to cancel feedback between the hearing aid receiver and microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Inventor: Keld T. Helmuth
  • Patent number: 4837833
    Abstract: A high frequency emphasis microphone particularly adapted to a hearing aid application provides a steeply rising frequency response characteristic relative to frequency, and has a low pass sonic attenuator for providing to the undriven side of the microphone diaphragm a sonic counterpressure which at low frequencies substantially cancels ambient sound pressure delivered to the driven side of the diaphragm, the attenuator reducing this counterpressure at elevated frequencies to provide accentuated high frequency response. The attenuator includes a pair of inertance-forming restricted passageways passing a portion of incoming sound to a bypass port leading to the undriven side of the diaphragm, the passageways being defined by a U-shaped plate disposed within a chamber confronting the driven side of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Industrial Research Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter L. Madaffari
  • Patent number: 4805221
    Abstract: An installation of sound converters (e.g., speakers) in an enclosure having mechanical fasteners such that the transmission of solid-borne sound from the speakers to the enclosure is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Inventor: Jurgen Quaas
  • Patent number: 4777650
    Abstract: A dual cavity pressure microphone comprising a microphone housing and an oscillating element mounted in or on said housing. The oscillating element including a membrane which is in principle only sensitive to a sound field on one side, the second side forming part of a closed cavity in the microphone housing, said cavity being connected to the ambient atmosphere through a narrow pressure equalizing channel. The microphone comprises an additional cavity representing an additional acoustic capacitance and an additional pressure equalizing channel located in series therewith and representing an additional acoustic resistance, the second capacitance and the second resistane being located in series with the capacitance and resistance, respectively, of the first cavity and the first channel in such a manner, that the pressure equalization of the microphone is also effected through the additional pressure equalizing channel and the additional cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: A/S Bruel & Kjar
    Inventor: Erling Frederiksen