Plural Or Compound Reproducers Patents (Class 381/182)
  • Patent number: 10110990
    Abstract: An acoustic device includes an enclosure defining an internal cavity. A first passive radiator arrangement including a first passive radiator diaphragm is arranged along a first side of the internal cavity and a second passive radiator diaphragm arranged along a second, opposite side. The first passive radiator arrangement is mounted such that the first passive radiator diaphragm and the second passive radiator diaphragm can vibrate relative to the enclosure, and the first and second passive radiator diaphragms are coupled together such that there is substantially no relative movement therebetween. A second passive radiator arrangement includes a third passive radiator diaphragm. The second passive radiator arrangement is mounted such that the third passive radiator diaphragm can vibrate relative to the enclosure. An active electro-acoustic transducer arranged to radiate acoustic energy into the internal cavity and thereby excite vibration of the first, second, and third passive radiator diaphragms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Roman N. Litovsky, Michael Tiene
  • Patent number: 10101588
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to speaker assemblies for head worn computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Osterhout Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Haddick, Robert Michael Lohse, Nima L. Shams, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • Patent number: 10070210
    Abstract: A speaker assembly and integrated light, comprising: a speaker having at least one sound emitting element; and, at least one array of LEDs mounted on the speaker. In some arrangements, the speaker may be wirelessly connected to an audio source. The invention has many potential applications and is particularly suitable for recreational vehicles (sometimes referred to as RVs) and/or outdoor use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: CAMEC PTY LTD
    Inventor: Les Battyanyi
  • Patent number: 10063952
    Abstract: An acoustic pillow includes a pillow body top having an outer surface and an inner surface with assembly projections extending from the inner surface, and a pillow body base having an outer surface and an inner surface with assembly depressions molded into the inner surface of the pillow body base. The pillow body top is assembled with the pillow body base with the inner surface of the pillow body top opposing the inner surface of the pillow body base and the assembly projections inserted into the assembly depressions. The acoustic pillow includes a wireless communication system disposed between the pillow body base and the pillow body top having a controller housing, a power source, at least one speaker housing, and a controller interface housing for operating the acoustic pillow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Comfort Revolution, LLC
    Inventors: David Fuchs, Shelton McCoy, Robert Heiblim
  • Patent number: 9998819
    Abstract: A case having a recessed holding, an acoustic waveguide, and at least one audio transducer device. The recessed holding well is configured to receive and captively hold a stand-alone keyboard within the recessed holding well. The acoustic waveguide is integrated with a bottom cover of the case and between a bottom surface of the case and the recessed holding well. The at least one audio transducer device is coupled to a signal processing device and the acoustic waveguide. The at least one audio transducer device is configured to generate an audible audio output in response to an audio signal output from the signal processing device. The acoustic waveguide is configured to receive the audible audio output and generate an enhanced bass audio output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Avnera Corporation
    Inventors: Manpreet Singh Khaira, Thomas Irrgang
  • Patent number: 9992577
    Abstract: Embodiments for a speaker basket of a speaker assembly are provided. A speaker basket may include a central opening through which a speaker sub-assembly may be mounted and a conductive material that includes: (i) a central portion molded within the speaker basket, (ii) an input portion configured to be coupled to an output of an audio source, and (iii) an output portion configured to be coupled to an input of the speaker sub-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Popken, Anthony Ferraro, Richard Warren Little, Brandon Holley
  • Patent number: 9924263
    Abstract: A narrow-profile balanced subwoofer or similar speaker includes a number of drivers placed side by side in the same lateral plane, with a first set of drivers facing one direction and second set of drivers facing the opposite direction. Their orientation is such that the sum of the forces from the first set of drivers is equal and opposite the sum of the forces from the second set of drivers, thus cancelling, and the sum of the moments from all of the drivers about a center or pivot point substantially equals zero. The speaker may include three or more drivers, symmetrically or asymmetrically spaced. The drivers may be of the same or different sizes, and the audio signal amplitudes may be adjusted to help balance the speaker. Each set of drivers may output sound into separate sound ducts, which may output sound from one or more apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: THX Ltd.
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Fincham
  • Patent number: 9900683
    Abstract: A headphone device comprising a surrounding ear pad and a sound generator which has a substantially rigid plate and a drive system for converting electrical signals into mechanical oscillations of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Elmar Stein (né Schulze), André Grandt
  • Patent number: 9888332
    Abstract: The invention concerns a mobile terminal with at least two transducers (LSm, LSs1, LSS2) used simultaneously as loudspeakers for stereophonic effect. According to the invention, one of said transducers is a main transducer (LSm) with a main working frequency band (Bm) corresponding to at least the phone frequency band, while the other transducer is a secondary transducer (LSs1; LSs2) with a secondary working frequency band (Bs1; Bs2) band different from said main frequency band, the lowest frequencies of said secondary working frequency band (Bs1; Bs2) being greater than the lowest frequencies of said main working frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Douhet, Stephane Dufosse, Alain Guillotin
  • Patent number: 9877112
    Abstract: An audio system includes an audio panel. The audio panel includes a first face plate, a second face plate, and a core that includes a plurality of structural members that extend between the first face plate and the second face plate. The plurality of structural members define a plurality of cavities in the core. The audio system also includes a first piezoelectric actuator mounted to at least one of the first face plate, the second face plate, and the core. The first piezoelectric actuator is configured to convert electrical signals into mechanical energy to cause the audio panel to generate sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Prakhar Srivastava, Mitchell Anthony Markow, Douglas Jarrett Peeler, Andrew Thomas Sultenfuss
  • Patent number: 9860647
    Abstract: A high sound quality piezoelectric speaker includes a moving coil speaker, a support frame, a vibration plate, and a piezoelectric ceramic plate. The support frame is arranged on the moving coil speaker and the vibration plate is positioned on the support frame. With the piezoelectric ceramic plate being positioned on the vibration plate, the moving coil speaker and the piezoelectric ceramic plate may collaboratively and better handle both high-frequency and low-frequency sounds, exhibiting relatively wide playback band and making sound quality better, to thereby reach the standard of high sound quality and provide users with improved enjoyment of sound perception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: TRANSOUND ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tseng-Feng Wen, Huming Zheng, Zhijian He, Xiaolin Deng
  • Patent number: 9763008
    Abstract: A system and method for driving a loudspeaker array across directivities and frequencies to maintain timbre constancy in a listening area is described. In one embodiment, a frequency independent room constant describing the listening area is determined using the directivity index of a first beam pattern, the direct-to-reverberant ratio DR at the listener's location in the listening area, and an estimated reverberation time T60 for the listening area at a designated frequency. On the basis of this room constant, an offset may be generated for a second beam pattern. The offset describes the decibel difference between first and second beam patterns to achieve constant timbre and may be used to adjust the second beam pattern at multiple frequencies. Maintaining constant timbre improves audio quality regardless of the characteristics of the listening area and the beam patterns used to represent sound program content. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Martin E. Johnson, Tomlinson Holman
  • Patent number: 9736582
    Abstract: An audio amplifier and a warning sound amplifier are connected in parallel to each other, relative to a voice coil of a loudspeaker. A resistor having an impedance greater than an impedance of the voice coil is connected to the voice coil and is also connected to the warning sound amplifier. An audio signal from the warning sound amplifier is input to the voice coil via the resistor. Thus, since the warning sound amplifier is connected to the resistor having the impedance greater than the impedance of the voice coil of the loudspeaker, even in a case where only the audio amplifier is operated, a large current is prevented from flowing into the warning sound amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Keiichiro Tanaka, Shigeki Kato
  • Patent number: 9729960
    Abstract: An acoustic layer is added to a keyboard-type device including: enclosing walls, optionally—one or more microphones, a signal processing device, at least one audio transducer, and an acoustic waveguide. The acoustic layer adjoins one or more internal areas of a keyboard-type device. The signal processing device receives an internal signal from an electronic device either through wires or wirelessly. The signal processing device provides a directive sound enhancement of the audio input signals based on room acoustics, such as reverberation, echo, noise, delay, frequency response, and/or speaker-positional information that is determined by the signal processing device. The audio transducer device generates an audible audio output in response to an audio signal output from the signal processing device. The acoustic waveguide receives the audible audio output and generates an enhanced bass audio output from the acoustic waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manpreet Singh Khaira, Thomas Irrgang
  • Patent number: 9723398
    Abstract: A modular loudspeaker includes a plurality of chambers and a plurality of vibration plates. Each vibration plate is fixed to two chambers, to cause the chambers to be secured to each other in a certain orientation by the vibration plates. A vibrator is attached to each vibration plate. A processor and a wireless communication unit are received in each chamber. The vibrator attached to each vibration plate is electrically connected to the processor, and the processor is configured to control the vibrator to vibrate when the loudspeaker receives a wireless audio signal via the wireless communication unit, thereby causing the vibration plate to vibrate and output sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jen-Tsorng Chang
  • Patent number: 9716929
    Abstract: An apparatus for positioning two speakers relative to each other includes a link member with a first securing through hole and a first plurality of adjusting through holes. A first anchor plate which can be secured to a first speaker has a second securing through hole. A first pin is able to be passed through the first and second securing through holes to secure the link member and the first anchor plate together at a back, central location of the speaker. A second anchor plate which can be secured to a second speaker has a second plurality of adjusting through holes. A second pin is able to be passed through one of the first plurality of adjusting through holes and one of the second plurality of adjusting through holes to secure the link member and the second anchor plate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin Lippitt
  • Patent number: 9703523
    Abstract: Embodiments herein adjust speaker volume according to a predefined volume level assigned to a display device that displays an application generating audio output. In one example, the display device is assigned a volume level that is a function of the size of its display area. When an application displayed on the monitor begins to output audio, the audio is outputted using the volume level assigned to the monitor. If a computing system includes multiple display devices, the computing system automatically changes the volume setting of a speaker as the application outputting the audio is moved from one display device to another. Once the application moves from a first display device to a second display device, the computing system automatically adjusts the speaker volume to the volume level assigned to the second display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lisa K. Armstrong, Kathleen M. Garitty, Michelle A. Mandel, James H. Royal
  • Patent number: 9706307
    Abstract: A sound system using wireless power transmission is provided. A power and data transmission apparatus in the sound system, includes a data transmitting unit configured to wirelessly transmit, to a sound output device, sound data. The apparatus further includes a power transmitting unit configured to wirelessly transmit, to the sound output device, power. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the data transmitting unit and the power transmitting unit based on a distance between the apparatus and the sound output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Wook Yoon, Sang Wook Kwon, Nam Yun Kim, Eun Seok Park, Ki Young Kim, Dong Zo Kim, Yun Kwon Park, Young Ho Ryu, Jin Sung Choi, Young Tack Hong
  • Patent number: 9706277
    Abstract: An articulating speaker assembly includes a first member pivotally connected to a second member for selectively changing the profile of the speaker assembly. A central driver is positioned between the first member and the second member. The first member includes a first enclosure with a cavity shaped and dimensioned for receiving a first driver, the first driver being secured within the first enclosure. The second member includes a second enclosure with a cavity shaped and dimensioned for receiving a second driver, the second driver being secured within the second enclosure. Each of the first member and the second member includes a central driver aperture and the central driver is mounted within the central driver apertures of the first member and the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: Dennis A. Tracy
  • Patent number: 9668081
    Abstract: A response compensation method, an electronic device and a computer recording medium are provided, where the method is adapted to an electronic device having two non-coplanarly disposed speakers and includes the following steps. A stereo audio signal is respectively high-pass filtered and low-pass filtered followed by sound-field processing to generate a modified high-frequency right-channel signal, a modified high-frequency left-channel signal, a modified low-frequency right-channel signal, and a modified low-frequency left-channel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Lei Chen, Hann-Shi Tong, Chih-Chiang Cheng, Yu-Chieh Lai, Che-Yi Hsiao
  • Patent number: 9651787
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to speaker assemblies for head worn computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Osterhout Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Haddick, Robert Michael Lohse, Nima L. Shams, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • Patent number: 9654864
    Abstract: A loudspeaker module includes a housing composed of a hollow spherical central section having a central cavity and a plurality of wing members extending from the spherical central section. Each of the plurality of wing members includes a wing member cavity in fluid communication with the central cavity of the spherical central section. A central driver mounting plate secures a low-frequency driver to an aperture formed in the spherical central section. A loudspeaker module may also include a mid-range/high-frequency driver where a full range of sound frequencies are desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Inventor: Dennis A Tracy
  • Patent number: 9628916
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a light-emitting element, a frame, a magnetic circuit provided with a magnetic gap, a diaphragm, a voice coil bobbin, and a voice coil. The diaphragm includes an inner peripheral end portion having an end face to which a light-emitting element is coupled, a light-guide portion, a reflective surface, and an outer peripheral end portion coupled to the frame. The first end of the voice coil bobbin is coupled to the inner peripheral end portion of the diaphragm, and the second end thereof is inserted into the magnetic gap. A voice coil is wound on the second end of the voice coil bobbin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Yuasa, Kenji Yamauchi, Satoshi Takayama, Koichi Nakayama, Ryo Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 9609405
    Abstract: A narrow-profile balanced subwoofer or similar speaker includes a number of drivers placed side by side in the same lateral plane, with a first set of drivers facing one direction and second set of drivers facing the opposite direction. Their orientation is such that the sum of the forces from the first set of drivers is equal and opposite the sum of the forces from the second set of drivers, thus cancelling, and the sum of the moments from all of the drivers about a center or pivot point substantially equals zero. The speaker may include three or more drivers, symmetrically or asymmetrically spaced. The drivers may be of the same or different sizes, and the audio signal amplitudes may be adjusted to help balance the speaker. Each set of drivers may output sound into separate sound ducts, which may output sound from one or more apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: THX Ltd.
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Fincham
  • Patent number: 9596545
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a light-emitting element, a frame, a magnetic circuit provided with a magnetic gap, a diaphragm, a voice coil bobbin, and a voice coil. The diaphragm includes an inner peripheral end portion having an end face to which a light-emitting element is coupled, a light-guide portion, a reflective surface, and an outer peripheral end portion coupled to the frame. The first end of the voice coil bobbin is coupled to the inner peripheral end portion of the diaphragm, and the second end thereof is inserted into the magnetic gap. A voice coil is wound on the second end of the voice coil bobbin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Yuasa, Kenji Yamauchi, Satoshi Takayama, Koichi Nakayama, Ryo Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 9549267
    Abstract: An implantable magnetic transducer arrangement is described for a hearing implant in a recipient patient. An implant housing hermetically encapsulates an interior housing volume and is fixedly attached to skull bone beneath the skin of the patient. A magnetic transducer is located within the housing volume and includes multiple pie-shaped permanent magnets wherein adjacent magnets have different direction magnetic polarities, and one or more suspension elements that resiliently couple adjacent magnets to allow their relative movement. The magnetic transducer is operatively coupled to an external magnetic drive component above the skin of the patient to form an oscillating system that develops a mechanical stimulation signal to the implant housing for delivery by bone conduction of the skull bone as an audio signal to the cochlea of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Nagl, Thomas Lechleitner
  • Patent number: 9544696
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a free-form electrostatic speaker, including: a three dimensional object body; at least a portion of the three dimensional object body having a free-form electrode layer disposed thereon; the free-form electrode layer being shaped to substantially match the at least a portion of the three dimensional object body; a free-form diaphragm positioned proximate to, and being shaped to substantially match, the free-form electrode layer; and an input element coupled to the free-form electrode layer that accepts input from an external source. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Poupyrev, Yoshio Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 9538268
    Abstract: An improved loudspeaker system includes an asymmetrical array of dissimilar drivers, namely a first driver and a second complementary driver configured in an array and driven in parallel so that the measured on-axis frequency response and the output power (SPL) is improved as compared to a symmetrical array (with similar or matched midrange or mid-bass drivers), while retaining a flat tonal balance. This speaker system and method for voicing was discovered to provide lower distortion, improved frequency response and greater clarity as compared to the prior art or traditional (e.g., MTM) loudspeaker configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. Gladwin, Jason B. Cochrane, David Logan
  • Patent number: 9538290
    Abstract: Coaxial loudspeaker arrangement with an outer diaphragm (21) for operating in a lower frequency range, an inner diaphragm (23) for operating in a higher frequency range, both located in a common loudspeaker frame (10), with an outer voice coil (22) connected to the outer diaphragm (21), an inner voice coil (24) connected to the inner diaphragm (23), two coaxially arranged magnets (31, 32), and ferrite cores (41, 42, 43) in association with the magnets, wherein the voice coils (22, 24) extend into air gaps (51, 52) between the ferrite cores, and the diaphragms are connected to the loudspeaker frame (10) through flexible suspending elements (11-14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Magyar Innovacios Szovetseg
    Inventor: Gergely Papp
  • Patent number: 9532132
    Abstract: It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a hearing-impaired person assistance speaker that emits sound waves having an increased sound pressure level so as to provide improved original sound production capabilities. The inner circumferential face of a coupler 199 is bonded to one end of a bobbin 124 that is the other end thereof around which a coil 148 is wound. A portion of the coupler 199 configured so that it extends outward is bonded to a vibrating unit 121. As described above, the bobbin 124 and the vibrating unit 121 are coupled with each other via the coupler 199, instead of a line-contact connection structure that connects them. This reduces an amount of adhesive agent that can lead to degradation in the sound clarity. Thus, the present embodiment provides improved sound clarity of the sound to be received by a hearing-impaired person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: Shinichirou Nakaishi
  • Patent number: 9510115
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a transcutaneous active bone anchored hearing aid device is disclosed. The transcutaneous active bone anchored hearing aid device comprises an audio processor comprising means for being externally worn by a hearing aid user and an implantable part comprising transducer means for providing a structure-borne acoustic signal to the skull bone of the hearing aid user. The implantable part comprises a low frequency vibrator and a high frequency vibrator arranged next to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: OTICON MEDICAL A/S
    Inventor: Bengt Bern
  • Patent number: 9503831
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an audio playback method and apparatus. The embodiments of the present invention provide an audio playback method, applied to a mobile terminal that has a spatial attitude sensor, where the mobile terminal includes at least three speakers, and the at least three speakers are not in a same straight line, where the method includes: when screen rotation is performed on the mobile terminal, acquiring spatial attitude information; and controlling, according to the spatial attitude information, audio content played by each speaker, so that a speaker located on the left of currently played video information plays a left audio channel, and a speaker located on the right of the currently played video information plays a right audio channel. The audio playback method and apparatus provided in the embodiments of the present invention can be applied to the mobile terminal having the spatial attitude sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xi Chen
  • Patent number: 9503805
    Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic dual-frequency earphone structure includes an earphone housing, a dynamic transducer, a piezoelectric ceramic transducer and a circuit board. The piezoelectric ceramic transducer is installed in the receiving region. The piezoelectric ceramic transducer is connected to the dynamic transducer via a support unit and a positioning unit. The circuit board is assembled in the receiving region and connected to acoustic signal cables. The acoustic signal cables are connected to a dynamic voice coil of the dynamic transducer and the piezoelectric ceramic transducer. When electric signals are applied to a ceramic membrane of the piezoelectric ceramic transducer, a metal sheet of the piezoelectric ceramic transducer is vibrated to generate high frequency sound, and the high frequency sound are then mixed with the sound from the dynamic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: JETVOX ACOUSTIC CORP.
    Inventors: To-Teng Huang, Ming-Fang Hung
  • Patent number: 9462391
    Abstract: A speaker system, particularly useful as a subwoofer, comprises an enclosure with one acoustic transducer facing to the right and one acoustic transducer facing to the left, which effectively cancels out transducer cone mass induced vibration within the enclosure. The enclosure also has one passive radiator facing up and one passive radiator facing down. The passive radiator facing down effectively couples acoustic energy at very low frequencies into the floor. The passive radiators each have a rather a large area and high mass. The large, high mass, bottom mounted passive radiator will produce large amounts of enclosure vibration, and so to cancel this vibration, the upper passive radiator is of substantially the same mass and size. The resulting system will be vibrationally balanced on all axes while simultaneously effectively coupling low frequency energy onto the floor of the listening room with good efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventors: Robert G. Johnston, Sanford M. Gross
  • Patent number: 9456269
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plug earphone with a front portion and a rear portion, wherein a flexible plug can be placed on the front portion which includes an outer portion and an inner portion. An electroacoustic transducer is arranged in the rear portion, wherein the front portion is positioned on the electroacoustic transducer and on an opening of the rear portion produced in this area. To achieve a reliable acoustic friction piece which is easy to manufacture, the front portion, and optionally an inner portion and an outer portion, together with a front wall of the rear portion, forms at least one radial channel leading from the interior of the front portion to the outside, and an acoustic friction piece is optionally arranged in the radial channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: AKG Acoustics GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Perkmann, Hannes Lehdorfer, Alex Dobrocsi
  • Patent number: 9407979
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a hermetically-sealed enclosure, a first driver arranged at outside of the enclosure and along a wall of the enclosure, a second driver arranged at inside of the enclosure and parallel to the first driver across the wall of the enclosure from the first driver, and a pipe communicating the first driver and the second driver. Each of the drivers has a diaphragm, and a frame surrounding the diaphragm. The frame has an opening. The pipe is connected to the opening of the frame of the first driver, penetrates through the wall of the enclosure, and is connected to the opening of the frame of the second driver, and thereby forming one hermetically-sealed space enclosed with the diaphragms and the frames of the two drivers. The second driver is configured to output a signal of opposite phase to that of the first driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: ZORZO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Teppei Yamada
  • Patent number: 9402135
    Abstract: An ultrasonic audio magnetostrictive emitter configured to emit an audio modulated ultrasonic beam. The magnetostrictive emitter may include an emissive surface, a back plate and at least one magnetostrictive actuator positioned between the emissive surface and the back plate. Ultrasonic audio systems incorporating a magnetostrictive emitter may further be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Turtle Beach Corporation
    Inventors: Elwood Grant Norris, Brian Alan Kappus
  • Patent number: 9392382
    Abstract: An implantable magnetic transducer arrangement is described for a hearing implant in a recipient patient. An implant housing hermetically encapsulates an interior housing volume and is fixedly attached to skull bone beneath the skin of the patient. A magnetic transducer is located within the housing volume and includes multiple permanent magnets wherein adjacent magnets have opposite magnetic polarities, and one or more suspension elements that resiliently couple adjacent magnets to allow their relative movement. The magnetic transducer forms a coupled oscillating system with an external magnetic drive component above the skin of the patient to develop a mechanical stimulation signal to the implant housing for delivery by bone conduction of the skull bone as an audio signal to the cochlea of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Nagl, Thomas Lechleitner
  • Patent number: 9369791
    Abstract: A first speaker unit A has a first yoke 31, a first vibrating film 33 supported by the first yoke 31, and a first driving part 35 supported in the first yoke 31, for driving the first vibrating film 33 by an applied voice signal, and a second speaker unit B has a second yoke 49, a second vibrating film 51 supported by the second yoke 49, and a second driving part supported in the second yoke 49, for driving the second driving film 51 by the voice signal, wherein the first speaker unit A and the second speaker unit B are integrally formed with a space between the first and second vibrating films 33 and 53 set in an airtight state, and the first and second vibrating films 33 and 53 are driven so as to be displaced and vibrated in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventor: Kenta Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9363588
    Abstract: A panel-form loudspeaker is disclosed. The panel-form loudspeaker includes a cover having a bottom forming an opening in a middle portion thereof; a vibration plate at least partially accommodated in the opening; an actuator fixed with the cover and engaging with the vibration plate for driving the vibration plate to vibrate; a gap formed between the vibration plate and the bottom of the cover; and a suspension. The vibration plate includes an inner surface and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface. The suspension includes a first connecting portion connecting with the inner surface of the vibration plate, and a second connecting portion connecting with a top of the bottom for suspending the vibration plate in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: AAC Acoustic Technologies (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongxing Wang, Rongguan Zhou, Lubin Mao
  • Patent number: 9344784
    Abstract: An earphone with dual loudspeakers includes a casing, a retaining member, a tweeter, and a woofer. The casing has a first sound outlet passage and an accommodation space therein. The retaining member is installed in the accommodation space. Two ends of the retaining member are formed with a first accommodation cavity and a second accommodation cavity, respectively. The tweeter and the woofer are respectively installed in the first and second accommodation cavities and then installed in the casing. The tweeter has a sound outlet side facing the first sound outlet passage. A second sound outlet passage is formed between the outer wall of the tweeter and the inner wall of the first accommodation cavity. The second sound outlet passage communicates with the first sound outlet passage. The woofer has a sound outlet side facing the second sound outlet passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TRANSOUND ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsengfeng Wen, Huiguang Yang
  • Patent number: 9338535
    Abstract: A micro-speaker is disclosed. The micro-speaker includes a frame, a magnetic circuit unit in the frame, a first vibration unit, and a second vibration unit. The magnetic circuit unit forms a first volume cooperatively with the first vibration unit, and a second volume cooperatively with the second vibration unit. The magnetic circuit unit further includes an aperture for communicating the first volume with the second volume for enabling the first vibration unit in phase with the second vibration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi Shao, Haifei Huang, Yunxia Xu
  • Patent number: 9258630
    Abstract: A disclosed coaxial audio speaker may include a treble sound unit and a bass sound unit co-axially surrounding the treble sound unit. The bass sound unit may be in form of a single magnetic gap mechanism and have a magnetic-conductive base. The magnetic-conductive base may be with an auxiliary magnetic adjoining space and a coil movement space adjacent to the auxiliary magnetic adjoining space. A magnet, a vibrating vocal tone diaphragm along with a wiring board may be disposed within the coil movement space. A bass vibration audio source point and a treble vibration audio source point may be at the same horizontal level. Therefore, the size of the audio speaker may be reduced. And the broader electricity adjustability may be achieved as the bass vibration audio source point and the treble vibration audio source point may be horizontally aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Huiyang Dongmei Audio Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Chung Chu, Pin-Tang Lee, Shoichi Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9237301
    Abstract: Integrated processing of audio/video signals can eliminate unnecessary signal processors and converters without losing the functionality of typical home entertainment system components. The integrated system includes a main player that captures and processes signals digitally, a dummy display, and a dummy speaker. The dummy display may only have a display panel and a panel driver. The dummy speaker may only have a driving unit and no crossover logic. The main player may have a PC architecture and process all signals digitally for outputting signals tailored for the display device and the individual driving units of the dummy speaker. The integrated system may also provide dynamic signal adjustments based on the surrounding environment. The main player may include a storage device and can process media content stored therein to produce supplemental information to provide an optimal audiovisual experience. This supplemental information can be shared among users over a network connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Mondo Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Chul Chung
  • Patent number: 9232306
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing the effects of stray magnetic flux are provided. For example, an electronic device can employ the system and can include a first audio component configured to have a first acoustic phase and a first magnetic phase. The electronic device can also include a second audio component configured to have the first acoustic phase and a second magnetic phase that is opposite the first magnetic phase. The first audio component can be positioned with respect to the second audio component, such that any stray magnetic flux from the first audio component enters the second audio component during operation of the first and second audio components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Justin D. Crosby, Derek J. Yap, William F. Leggett
  • Patent number: 9226088
    Abstract: Embodiments include methods and apparatuses for sensing acoustic waves for a conferencing application. A conferencing apparatus includes a plurality of directional microphones oriented to cover a corresponding plurality of direction vectors and disposed in a housing. An orientation sensor is configured to generate an orientation signal indicative of an orientation of the housing. A processor is operably coupled to the plurality of directional microphones and the orientation sensor. The processor is configured to automatically adjust a signal processing characteristic of one or more directional microphones of the plurality of directional microphones responsive to the orientation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: ClearOne Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashutosh Pandey, Darrin T. Thurston, David K. Lambert, Tracy A. Bathurst
  • Patent number: 9210509
    Abstract: A system and method for the directional transmission of sound is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises an audio source configured to generate an audio signal, a control module configured to receive the audio signal and generate a driving signal, based at least in part on the audio signal, and an array comprising a plurality of loudspeakers, wherein the loudspeakers are linearly arranged such that the spacing between two adjacent loudspeakers increases along the array. In a particularly, embodiment, the spacing increases exponentially, and broadband dipole loudspeakers are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Istvan B. Kadar
  • Patent number: 9191747
    Abstract: The present invention provides a loudspeaker with at least two diaphragm assemblies, in which the reactive forces acting on the magnets in each assembly cancel. By linking the two magnets together via a non-rigid material, resonance in the drive assemblies is highly damped and corresponding distortion of the loudspeaker output is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: GP Acoustics (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Mark Alexander Dodd
  • Patent number: 9185476
    Abstract: In general, in some aspects, a loudspeaker includes a horn including a first end panel, a second end panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. Edges of at least the first and second side panels define a diffraction slot opening. A plurality of manifold components each has an output opening coupled to the diffraction slot opening. The output openings of the plurality of manifold components together constitute a diffraction slot source at the diffraction slot opening. A plurality of electro-acoustic transducers are each coupled to an input opening of one of the manifold components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher B. Ickler, Clifford A. Henricksen, Akira Mochimaru, Kenneth D. Jacob, Hayashi Soichiro
  • Patent number: 9167341
    Abstract: The invention relates to a loudspeaker (1) for filling a room with sound, having a tweeter (2) with a high-frequency diaphragm (12), which generates a high-frequency sound cone (22) with a high-frequency main radiation direction (13) during operation, and having at least one further tweeter (3) with a further diaphragm (8) and a further main radiation direction (7), wherein the high-frequency main radiation direction (13) is arranged transversely with respect to the further main radiation direction (7) in such a manner that the high-frequency diaphragm (12) is arranged opposite a reflection wall (14) spaced apart from the latter by a clearance (9), and the high-frequency main radiation direction (13) is directed towards the reflection wall (14) during operation, and the clearance (9) has openings (16, 17, 18) for the exit of high-frequency sound waves towards the room to be filled with sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: ProDigitAlive e.K.
    Inventor: Vadim Bogdanov