Plural Or Compound Reproducers Patents (Class 381/182)
  • Publication number: 20140140551
    Abstract: A localized multimodal haptic system includes one or more electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducers, each including an EMP layer, such as an electrostrictive polymer active layer. In some applications the EMP transducer may perform an actuator function or a sensor function, or both. The EMP polymer layer has a first surface and a second surface on which one or more electrodes are provided. The EMP layer of the EMP actuator may be 5 microns thick or less. The EMP transducers may provide local haptic response to a local a stimulus. In one application, a touch sensor may be associated with each EMP transducer, such that the haptic event at the touch sensor may be responded to by activating only the associated EMP transducer. Furthermore, the EMP transducer may act as its own touch sensor. A variety of haptic responses may be made available. The EMP transducers may be used in various other applications, such as providing complex surface morphology and audio speakers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: STRATEGIC POLYMER SCIENCES, INC.
    Inventor: Christophe Ramstein
  • Patent number: 8731228
    Abstract: An earbud adapter or in-ear monitor includes an Ear Interface that fits the human ear and further permits the wearer of these devices to adjust parameters of the fit. In additional aspects, the Ear Interface portion of these devices permits the user to adjust the transmission of ambient sound. The Ear Interface portion also allows the user to change ornamentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Verto Medical Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Seth Burgett, Richard J. Daniels, Melvin Joshua Leedle
  • Patent number: 8712084
    Abstract: A transducer assembly with a U-shaped element at least a part of which forms a part of a magnet housing is disclosed. One or more magnets are attached to the magnet housing which is adapted to conduct magnetic flux from one or more magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland BV
    Inventors: Dennis Jacobus Mattheus Mocking, Sietse Jacob van Reeuwijk, Adrianus Maria Lafort, Jeroen Leonardus Carolus de Vroomen
  • Patent number: 8699729
    Abstract: An audio speaker assembly including a housing defining an internal compartment, and a glass membrane having a first portion supported in the housing and a second portion extending externally from the housing. The second portion having a length greater than its width, the length of the second portion extending orthogonal to the width of the housing, the second portion defining at least one aperture and a curved section formed along an edge of the glass membrane. A driver is mounted to the membrane that is responsive to an electrical signal causing the membrane to vibrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: Nausser Fathollahi
  • Patent number: 8699742
    Abstract: A sound system, the sound system including: (a) a signal processor that is adapted to generate a first sound signal and a second sound signal, to provide the first sound signal to a loudspeaker; and to provide the second sound signal to a bone conduction speaker; and (b) the bone conduction speaker that is adapted to transduce the second signal to a bone conductible sound signal that is carried in a bone of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Bone Tone Communications Ltd.
    Inventors: Arie Heiman, Uri Yehuday, David Weissman
  • Patent number: 8682008
    Abstract: A speaker assembly includes a speaker housing with a closed top wall that is substantially planar and forms a support surface. A first midrange driver and a first tweeter are mirror images of a second midrange driver and a second tweeter. A first support bracket supports the first midrange driver and first tweeter along a first side of the closed top wall adjacent the first sidewall of the speaker housing. The first support bracket includes a planar support surface which is obliquely oriented relative to a plane in which the closed top wall lies. A second support bracket supports the second midrange driver and the second tweeter along a second side of the closed top wall adjacent the third sidewall of the speaker housing. The second support bracket includes a planar support surface which is obliquely oriented relative to the plane in which the closed top wall lies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventor: Dennis A. Tracy
  • Patent number: 8675899
    Abstract: A front surround sound reproduction system which improves the performance of beam steering by using a speaker array arranged geometrically on two or more planes or on one curved surface, and a signal reproducing method of the system. The audio reproduction apparatus to reproduce a multi-channel audio signal by using a plurality of speakers includes a signal distribution unit to duplicate a multi-channel audio signal and to distribute the duplicated signals as one or more groups of multi-channel signals corresponding to one or more speaker array groups, a steering processing unit to form sound beams with steering angles predetermined in relation to each speaker array group, from the groups of multi-channel signals distributed by the signal distribution unit, and a speaker array unit having one or more speaker array groups to reproduce the sound beams of each group formed by the steering processing unit, in the speaker array group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-ho Jung
  • Patent number: 8670585
    Abstract: Spherical sound source comprising two coaxial loudspeakers and two mid-high frequency compression drivers. Low frequencies are radiated by the two low-frequency sections of the coaxial loudspeakers. Mid-frequencies 500 Hz-2000 Hz are radiated by the two mid-high frequency compression drivers. High-frequencies 2 kHz-10 kHz are radiated in the horizontal plane by the same mid-high frequency arrangement together with two compression drivers of the coaxial loudspeakers in each vertical direction. Identical drivers form three pairs. One driver from each pair is enclosed in one of two symmetrically opposite half-embodiments, spaced at predetermined distance to create a common radially expanding horn for the two mid-high frequency compression drivers. All loudspeakers share the same vertical axis of rotational symmetry. The two half-embodiments might be used as separate standalone spherically radiating sources when installed on hard surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventors: Plamen Ivanov Valtchev, Dimitar Kirilov Dimitrov
  • Patent number: 8670580
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided, including a conductive substrate, an electret diaphragm, a plurality of spacers, a first electrode, and two second electrodes. The conductive substrate has a plurality of openings. The spacers are disposed between the conductive substrate and the electret diaphragm to define an acoustic projecting portion and two acoustic receiving portions on the electret diaphragm. The first electrode is disposed on the acoustic projecting portion and coupled with the conductive substrate for generating an acoustic signal. The second electrodes are disposed on the acoustic receiving portions and coupled with the conductive substrate, wherein the acoustic receiving portions receive the acoustic signal and vibrate to vary an electrical field between the second electrodes and the conductive substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventor: Fang-Ching Lee
  • Publication number: 20140064524
    Abstract: Entertainment systems are provided including directional sound speakers associated with a media player of the entertainment system; and a directional sound controller associated with the directional sound speakers of the media player. The directional sound controller is configured to direct a sound beam associated with the media player at a defined target region such that the sound beam is only audible within the defined target region and experiences less than about 20 dB of leakage outside the target region during operation of the media player. In-flight entertainment systems and related methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Brett Bleacher, Christopher K. Mondragon
  • Patent number: 8660288
    Abstract: Provided is a technique for improving frequency characteristics by an acoustics-related method so that a sound is heard with natural frequency characteristics when a sound-isolating earphone is fitted in a human ear. A sound-isolating earphone is provided with two or more electroacoustic transducers, wherein independently generated sound waves are passed through isolated sound leading pipes and are mixed just before an entrance of an external auditory canal, and a sound wave of which is twice the difference between path lengths of the two sound leading pipes is attenuated. This serves to provide an easy-to-hear improved sound quality by suppressing the sound wave at around 6 kHz that is transmitted with characteristically high intensity in a sound-isolating earphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ocharaku Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 8660279
    Abstract: A loudspeaker driver (22) also suitable for compound applications comprising a rigid speaker frame (11, 13, 15, 19, 8) to which is attached a permanent magnet (13) with which a voice coil winding (9) is adapted to interact through electromagnetic force. The voice coil winding (9) is adapted to deliver axial motion to a diaphragm assembly (21), which includes an elastic outer section (2), whose outer rim (5) is attached to the outer part of the speaker frame (11). The diaphragm assembly (21) comprises an essentially rigid primary vibrating diaphragm (4) attached between the elastic outer section (2) and an elastic inner section (3), whose inner rim (10) is attached to the inner part of said speaker frame (8). Said voice coil winding (9) is fixed to the primary vibrating diaphragm (4) through said voice coil former (6), which is adapted to move said diaphragm assembly (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Genelec Oy
    Inventors: Anni Tuulia Kolisoja, Terhi Ina Aurora Varla, Arno Mikael Varla
  • Publication number: 20140029763
    Abstract: A digital speaker system that can perform both enhancement of reproduction capability and simplification of construction is provided with a construction using plural speaker units for one audio channel. The digital speaker system has a first signal processor 32A for generating plural driving digital signals SS1 to SS6 from one digital audio signal SB1 into which an input digital audio signal SA is branched, and a second signal processor 32B for generating a single driving digital signal SS7 from the other digital audio signal SB2 into which the input digital audio signal SA is branched, and a speaker unit for one audio channel is constructed by a main speaker unit 22A having a voice coil bobbin 23A with plural voice coils supplied with the plural driving digital signals SS1 to SS6, and a sub speaker unit 22B having a voice coil bobbin 23B with a single voice coil supplied with the single driving digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: CLARION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Takada, Kenji Kono, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Masayoshi Uehara
  • Patent number: 8638957
    Abstract: There is provided a sound reproduction apparatus including a sub-woofer unit and a plurality of wireless speakers. A method of speaker charging and speaker calibration using the sound reproduction apparatus is also provided. The sub-woofer unit may be configured to perform tasks of both charging a power source in each of the plurality of wireless speakers; and calibrating speaker identity for each of the plurality of wireless speakers. It is advantageous that both of the tasks are performed when the plurality of wireless speakers is coupled to the sub-woofer unit. The speaker identity may include, for example, left front, right front, left rear, right rear, and center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Wong Hoo Sim, Boon Keat Eddy Toh, Jeng Khim Tan, Susimin Suprapmo
  • Patent number: 8634586
    Abstract: A ceiling-mounted loudspeaker includes a horn-shaped enclosure, an acoustic driver, and a front module. The tubular or horn-shaped enclosure carries a slanted woofer or loudspeaker driver which radiates into an angled or slanted first opening. The tubular enclosure terminates at bottom in a second, circular opening substantially parallel to a second plane, wherein the woofer's slanted plane is inclined with respect to the second plane. The slanted woofer can be oval and radiates sound through the enclosure's interior lumen and outwardly through ports defined in a substantially circular baffle carrying the front module and connected to the second opening. The baffle carries a midrange and tweeter near the ceiling where they can provide enhanced sound dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Polk Audio, Inc.
    Inventors: Lowell J. Smith, Stuart W. Lumsden, Scott Orth
  • Patent number: 8590136
    Abstract: A dual backplate MEMS microphone system including a flexible diaphragm sandwiched between two single-crystal silicon backplates may be formed by fabricating each backplate in a separate wafer, and then transferring one backplate from its wafer to the other wafer, to form two separate capacitors with the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuang L. Yang, Li Chen, Thomas D. Chen
  • Patent number: 8594358
    Abstract: An audio device has passive radiators that are driven by acoustic drivers. The passive radiators are arranged so that the net mechanical vibration is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Roman N. Litovsky, Hal Greenberger
  • Publication number: 20130301855
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system for the reproduction of acoustic waves of music, sound and speech in a substantially circular horizontal plane. The loudspeaker system includes multiple spherical enclosures, each enclosure housing a pair of transducers, each pair of transducers producing acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: J. CRAIG OXFORD, D. MICHAEL SHIELDS
  • Patent number: 8571240
    Abstract: Adjustments to an electro-acoustic transducer may be made to match the performance of a second electro-acoustic transducer such that a net inertial force generated by movement of the electro-acoustic transducers' diaphragms are substantially zero. Adjustments may include adjusting a moving mass of one of the elector-acoustic transducers. Adjustments may include applying an equalization to one of the electro-acoustic transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Bastyr, Michael W. Stark
  • Publication number: 20130259283
    Abstract: A multi-speaker audio system is configured to provide flexible use of speakers in any number of different environments. The multi-speaker system may include a stationary speaker unit and a portable speaker unit. The portable speaker unit may be operated in conjunction with, or separate from, the stationary speaker unit. When connected or otherwise used with the stationary speaker unit, the portable speaker unit may receive audio signals and pass at least some of the signals and/or corresponding data to the stationary speaker unit for output. When disconnected from the stationary speaker unit, the portable speaker unit may receive audio signals and output sound accordingly. The stationary speaker unit may also be able to receive audio signals and pass at least some of the signals or corresponding audio data to the portable speaker unit or output the data itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: David Gengler, Arthur Healey, Jeffrey King, Terrence Hulsman
  • Patent number: 8539913
    Abstract: A wearable sound system includes an article wearable by an animal and having compartment sections, strap end portions extending from respective ones of two of the compartment sections, and a fastener that removably connects the strap end portions to one another when the article is worn by the animal. A programmable source of audible signals is located within one of the compartment sections, and two speakers are located within respective ones of the two compartment sections of the article from which the pair of strap end portions extend. Each speaker is disposed between the fastener and the programmable source and in an area disposed proximate to an ear of the animal when the article is worn by the animal so as to project a sound content of the audible signals towards an immediate vicinity of the ear of the animal in a region located forward or around the ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventors: Lisa Caputo, Kristin Baggelaar
  • Patent number: 8538047
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a digital sound projector including a first flat speaker, a second flat speaker, a connecting device and a signal input device. The connecting device pivotally connects the first flat speaker and the second flat speaker to form an angle between a surface of the first flat speaker and a surface of the second flat speaker. The angle is larger than 0 degrees and smaller than 180 degrees. The signal input device inputs electrical signals to each of the first and the second flat speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Beijing FUNATE Innovation Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Li Qian, Yu-Quan Wang
  • Patent number: 8538046
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure and a speaker set received in the enclosure. The speaker set includes a shell, a pair of first and second speakers received in the shell. The first speakers provide high frequency acoustic output, and the second speakers provide low and middle frequency acoustic output. The shell includes a fixing plate. The fixing plate defines two tweet outlets aligning respectively with the first speakers, and two middle woof outlets aligning respectively with the second speakers. A central point of each middle woof outlet is located nearer to an imaginary central line of the fixing plate than a central point of each tweet outlet. A portion of each of the middle woof outlets is shaded by a portion of the electronic device. The tweet outlets are located beside the portion of the electronic device but not shaded by the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hwang-Miaw Chen
  • Patent number: 8526662
    Abstract: An articulating speaker assembly includes a first member including a first driver and a second member including second driver. The first member and the second member are pivotally connected for selectively changing the profile of the speaker assembly. A central housing member is pivotally connected to each of the first member and the second member, wherein the central housing member supports a third driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventor: Dennis A. Tracy
  • Patent number: 8520883
    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: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Dennis A. Tracy
  • Patent number: 8516681
    Abstract: In a loud speaker, the diaphragm has a protruded part protruding on a yoke side on the inside and in the vicinity of an inner coupling part as a coupled portion to a voice coil. The loud speaker can be manufactured with the voice coil accurately positioned with respect to a diaphragm, and the voice coil is accurately vibrated vertically inside a magnetic gap. The possibility of the voice coil coming into contact with a plate and a yoke as a magnetic circuit body of the loud speaker can be reduced, thereby to improve production efficiency and a yield at the time of manufacturing the loud speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsukazu Kuze, Takehiko Tanabu, Satoshi Itoh, Masashi Kawabe, Mamiko Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 8503690
    Abstract: There is provided a loudspeaker unit, in particular a ceiling loudspeaker unit, which has a housing (50) having a front housing portion (60). Arranged in the front housing portion (60) are a woofer unit (10), a baffle panel (70) and a tweeter unit (30) in a 2-way coaxial system. The tweeter unit (30) has a tweeter horn having a plurality of legs (33) and a plurality of openings (31) at the edge of the tweeter horn (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jorg Knieschewski
  • Patent number: 8488816
    Abstract: One mode of the present invention provides an electroacoustic transducer composed of a multifaced diaphragm assembly and a multifaced speaker housing assembly that is housed inside the multifaced diaphragm assembly. The multifaced speaker housing is configured by combining the outer peripheral surface of a plurality of individual speaker drive units into a nearly spherical shell. The multifaced diaphragm assembly, which has thereinside the multifaced speaker housing assembly, is configured to have a plurality of regular pentagonal diaphragm segments that are combined together into a nearly spherical shape shell, and a plurality of speaker drive units opposing the diaphragm segments from inside in one-to-one relation. Each speaker drive unit has a bobbin, the one end portion of which is adhered to the center portion of the inner surface of each diaphragm segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Inagaki, Manabu Omoda, Jiro Nakaso
  • Patent number: 8472649
    Abstract: A push-pull type speaker device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The speaker device includes a frame, a permanent magnet installed within the frame using a fixing device, a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm installed in opposite end portions of the frame, a pair of electromagnets, respectively corresponding to the first and second diaphragm, each installed at a distance from the permanent magnet, and a power source driver for supplying current to the pair of electromagnets, wherein a winding direction of each electromagnet is formed such that, when current is provided from the power source driver to each of the electromagnets, the pair of electromagnets have an opposite magnetic flux direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Il Yang
  • Publication number: 20130156236
    Abstract: An audio apparatus includes a main body, a plurality of speakers provided in the main body, a storage section configured to store a conversion table which indicates a correspondence between postures of the main body and control contents of audio signals to be supplied to the speakers, and a control section configured to refer to the conversion table of the storage section, and control the audio signals to be supplied to the speakers in accordance with a posture of the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: YAMAHA CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8467557
    Abstract: A coaxial speaker system that minimizes detrimental sound wave reflections from its high frequency speaker. The coaxial speaker system includes a high frequency speaker coaxially mounted within a low frequency speaker. The high frequency speaker includes a sound reproducing membrane, a voice coil assembly and magnet assembly for actuating the sound reproducing membrane in response to an electrical audio signal, and optionally a wave guide horn for directing sound waves produced by the sound reproducing membrane. The wave guide horn has a throat disposed adjacent the sound reproducing membrane and a mouth disposed opposite the throat. The low frequency speaker also includes a sound reproducing membrane assembly and a voice coil assembly and magnet assembly for actuating the sound reproducing membrane assembly in response to an electrical audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: MS Electronics LLC
    Inventors: Brian Howard Miller, Charles Emory Hughes, II, Jonathan Neil Hart
  • Publication number: 20130142364
    Abstract: A linear interleaved magnetic motor in which the B-field flows between a plurality of motor cell elements, creating a long, serpentine gap. The motor is used with at least one flex circuit as a drive coil. The motor can be used as a drive motor for a loudspeaker transducer. Multiple loudspeaker transducers can be connected together to make a loudspeaker frame or system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Paul Heed
  • Patent number: 8452032
    Abstract: A nested compound loudspeaker comprising a speaker assembly chassis (11), an outer driver (18) connected to the speaker assembly chassis (11) and having an inner edge, which defines an opening in the outer driver (18) and forms a functional edge (20), and an inner driver (8) connected to the speaker assembly chassis (11) and at least partially surrounded by the opening of the outer driver (18) and the inner driver (8) having an acoustical center axis located at a distance (r) from the functional edge (20) in a radial direction (?). The distance (r) is non-constant around the acoustical center axis, wherein the distance (r) has a first value in a first radial direction (?) and a second value different to the first value in a second radial direction (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Genelec Oy
    Inventors: Ilpo Martikainen, Anni Tuulia Kolisoja, Terhi Ina Aurora Varla, Arno Mikael Varla
  • Publication number: 20130121509
    Abstract: A sound transducer includes a substrate with a cavity with extending from a first surface of the substrate, a body at least partially covering the cavity and being connected to the substrate by at least one resilient hinge, a first set of comb fingers mounted to the substrate, and a second set of comb fingers mounted to the body. The first set of comb fingers and the second set of comb fingers are interdigitated and configured to create an electrostatic force driving the body in a direction perpendicular to the first surface of the substrate. The body and the at least one resilient hinge are configured for a resonant or a near-resonant excitation by the electrostatic force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Shu-Ting Hsu, Alfons Dehe
  • Publication number: 20130101144
    Abstract: Positive and negative two terminals of each of a plurality of main speakers constituting an array speaker are connected to each of amplifiers. Then, the main speakers are bridge-driven. Sub-speakers interpolating the main speakers are arranged respectively between the main speakers. Then, the positive and negative terminals of each of the sub-speakers are connected respectively to the terminals of the same polarities of the adjacent two of the main speakers. One sub-speaker receives an average value of the signals provided to the adjacent two main speakers, so that the one sub-speaker interpolates the wavefronts emitted from the adjacent two main speakers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisao Hattori, Junsei Sato, Chanbin Ni
  • Patent number: 8428293
    Abstract: A speaker device includes a plurality of speaker units arranged in a line when seen from the front side of the speaker device. At least one of intervals between effective vibration regions of adjacent speaker units is set to a predetermined length. The predetermined length is a length that is set such that a difference between a distance from an end of one of the effective vibration regions, which form the at least one of intervals therebetween, to a listening position, and a distance from an end of the other of the effective vibration regions to the listening position can be less than half the shortest wavelength of a reproduced sound of each of the speaker units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akiko Fujise, Hiroyuki Takewa, Mikio Iwasa
  • Publication number: 20130094679
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical loudspeaker array includes a plurality of microelectromechanical loudspeaker elements each having a diaphragm element configured to be deflected from a neutral position into at least one deflection position to produce a sound pulse. The array further includes an actuation device which is configured to put the diaphragm element into the at least one deflection position from the neutral position on the basis of drive signals. The array further includes a control device coupled to the plurality of loudspeaker elements. The control device is configured to send, in each case at a driving time, (i) a first drive signal configured to produce a sound pulse by actuating the diaphragm element, and (ii) a respective second drive signal configured to relax the diaphragm element into the neutral position during a predetermined period of time after the driving time to the actuation device of at least one of the loudspeaker elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Bosch GmbH
  • Publication number: 20130094678
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer assembly is disclosed. It comprises a layer of support material. An electric circuit is integrated with the layer of support material. A plurality of transducers are mounted on the layer of support material to form at least part of an array of transducers A recess or aperture is provided between a pair of the transducers of the array of transducers. The recess or aperture can comprise a recess or aperture of the support material between a pair of transducers of the plurality of transducers mounted on the layer of support material. The layer of support material can be rigid or flexible. A rigid support can be used for supporting at least one transducer of the plurality of transducers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Rick Scholte
  • Publication number: 20130094677
    Abstract: A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for creating a speaker with a diaphragm of a desired size and shape by joining the frames and cones of two or more speakers together using a straight or V-shaped bridge between each adjacent pair. The compound multi-speaker makes it possible to achieve the increased diaphragm area needed for large sound systems without increasing the number of diaphragms, thus avoiding phase cancellation problems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Lew Stude
  • Patent number: 8422721
    Abstract: Loudspeaker system including a housing and at least four transducers arranged therein. Each transducer includes a substantially circular diaphragm and the diaphragms are constructed with specific sizes such that the ratio of a diameter of each diaphragm to the diameter of an immediately larger diaphragm is between 1:1 and 1: Phi2(Phi=(1+?5)/2), preferably 1:Phi, and the ratio of the diameter of each diaphragm to an immediately smaller diaphragm, is between 1:1 and 1:(1/Phi), preferably 1:1/Phi. Moreover, the diaphragms are arranged such that centers thereof lie on a spiral, clockwise or counterclockwise, in ascending size order with the center of the smallest diaphragm being closest to the pole of the spiral. A microphone and single-diaphragm loudspeaker in which the diaphragm has a spiral shape are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Frank Rizzello
  • Patent number: 8422713
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system for the reproduction of acoustic waves of music, sound and speech in a substantially circular horizontal plane. The loudspeaker system includes multiple spherical enclosures, each enclosure housing a pair of transducers, each pair of transducers producing acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventors: J. Craig Oxford, D. Michael Shields
  • Patent number: 8416971
    Abstract: A loudspeaker driver that includes a suspended diaphragm and at least one voice coil disposed lateral to the suspended diaphragm, suspended in a magnetic field and coupled to the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventor: Kourosh Salehi
  • Patent number: 8391516
    Abstract: A method of using an audio device (2) for improving a user's (1) listening experience. The audio device has a transducer (12) for producing output sound and the method comprises the steps of driving the transducer to produce an output sound and placing the audio device against the body of the user so that the user experiences a physical response to the sound while simultaneously listening to the audio device. The audio device may be arranged to produce a resonance in a part of the user's body. Preferably the audio device is positioned on the user's chest to produce a resonance in the chest cavity of the user's body. The audio device may comprise a sum and difference speaker system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Airsound LLP
    Inventor: Edward Stuart Fletcher
  • Patent number: 8391519
    Abstract: A treble-bass coaxial loudspeaker has an inverted conical frame, a bass resonance assembly mounted to the bottom of the frame, a bracket, and a treble resonance assembly. The bracket is mounted on the bass resonance drumhead and contains the treble resonance assembly inside to separate the treble resonance chip from the bass resonance assembly below. In this way, when the bass resonance drumhead vibrates, the air turbulence between the bass resonance drumhead and the wave damping annular board decreases destruction of the joint strength between the treble resonance chip and the treble resonance drumhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Greness Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ting-Pang Chen
  • Patent number: 8385568
    Abstract: A portable electronic device that provides audio sound output from multiple internal speakers to a common output audio opening in a housing of the portable electronic device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the multiple internal speakers are provided in close proximity to one another, such as adjacent to one another, and serve to produce audio sound pertaining to different audio channels. The sound (i.e., pressure waves) produced by each of the internal speakers is directed into a respective acoustic chamber and output via the output audio opening in the housing. Accordingly, the acoustic chambers for the multiple internal speakers can each direct their audio sound output to the same output audio opening in the housing. The respective acoustic chambers can be formed adjacent to one another with a structural barrier serving to separate the distinct acoustic chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ruchi Goel, Stephen R. McClure
  • Publication number: 20130044904
    Abstract: Techniques described herein generally relate to generating an audio signal with a speaker. In some examples, a speaker device is described that includes a membrane and a shutter. The membrane can be configured to oscillate along a first directional path and at a first frequency effective to generate an ultrasonic acoustic signal. The shutter can be positioned about the membrane and configured to modulate the ultrasonic acoustic signal such that an audio signal can be generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Mordehai Margalit
  • Patent number: 8374595
    Abstract: A handheld electronic device and an operating method thereof are provided, in which at least two sets of sound outputting modules and sound receiving modules are disposed in the handheld electronic device. The operating method detects an orientation of the handheld electronic device by a motion detecting module and enables different sets of the sound outputting modules and the sound receiving modules according to a variation of the orientation of the handheld electronic device, so as to change a direction of a call operation, and thus a user can successfully make a phone call, even if the handheld electronic device is held upside down. Furthermore, the operating method can control the sound outputting modules and the sound receiving modules individually or collectively according to actual demands to achieve a multifunctional product design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Ling Chien, Hsiao-Chuan Huang
  • Publication number: 20130034252
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a transducer module including a first transducer and a second transducer. The first transducer is directly or indirectly disposed on a first plate with a first point, and the second transducer is disposed at a second point of the first transducer. In an embodiment, an inertial mass is further disposed on the second transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: CHIEF LAND ELECTRONIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsi-Yu Chuang, Chia-Nan Ching, Bao-Zheng Liu
  • Patent number: 8370164
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for coding and decoding multi-object audio signals with various channels and providing backward compatibility with a conventional spatial audio coding (SAC) bitstream. The apparatus includes: an audio object coding unit for coding audio-object signals inputted to the coding apparatus based on a spatial cue and creating rendering information for the coded audio-object signals, where the rendering information provides a coding apparatus including spatial cue information for audio-object signals; channel information of the audio-object signals; and identification information of the audio-object signals, and used in coding and decoding of the audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Seung-Kwon Beack, Jeong-Il Seo, Tae-Jin Lee, Yong-Ju Lee, Dae-Young Jang, Jin-Woo Hong, Jin-Woong Kim, Kyeong-Ok Kang
  • Publication number: 20120328133
    Abstract: The invention provides, in some aspects, electronic devices with improved radiators (or “passive drivers”) comprising an elastomerically mounted mass in order to improve sound reproduction fidelity. The mass comprises a component of the device not normally used for such purpose—e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: DR. G LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Godehard A. Guenther