Inverted, Folded, Or Curled Patents (Class 381/341)
  • Patent number: 10848862
    Abstract: Embodiments are described for a high-frequency waveguide that improves the performance of large-scale surround sound and immersive audio environments. A horn waveguide is configured to be asymmetric about one of a vertical axis and horizontal axis of the waveguide to form an asymmetric horn waveguide. A spherical enclosure surrounds the asymmetric horn waveguide to form a horn speaker, and a three-axis mounting system is configured to fix the horn speaker to one of a wall or ceiling surface of the venue, wherein the mounting system facilitates rotating the horn speaker to a location that provides maximum coverage of the venue within the passband of the asymmetric horn waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Garth Norman Showalter, Mario Di Cola, John Michael Gott, Patrick Ross Spurlock, Gregory Lynn Carney, Bryce Joseph Gott
  • Patent number: 10791394
    Abstract: Various implementations include loudspeakers. In some particular cases, a loudspeaker includes: a diaphragm; a basket; an electro-magnetic motor supported by the basket and coupled to the diaphragm for driving motion of the diaphragm relative to the basket along a motion axis; a surround coupling an outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm to the basket; and a waveguide coupled to the basket and surrounding the diaphragm. The waveguide has an arcuate inner surface that is complementary with an arcuate outer surface of the diaphragm and extends along a portion of the arcuate outer surface of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Greg Joseph Zastoupil
  • Patent number: 9271071
    Abstract: A magnetic assembly and a loudspeaker a magnetic assembly. The magnetic assembly has a pole piece that is designed to form an outer air gap and an inner air gap for coaxial voice coils of the loudspeaker. The same magnet is used for the magnetic circuits of the two voice coils. The pole piece is shaped to split the magnetic circuits into a low frequency magnetic circuit and a high frequency magnetic circuit. A convex dome is attached to the high frequency voice coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: MUSIC Group Innovation SC Ltd.
    Inventor: Philippe Jean-Baptiste Robineau
  • Patent number: 9173019
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a circuit board, a base mounted on a rear side of the circuit board, a positioning apparatus slidably installed between the base and the circuit board, a sound-reflecting member positioned at a front side of the circuit board, a connecting member connected between the base and the sound-reflecting member, a sound generator, and a controller. The sound-reflecting member includes a sound-reflecting plate and a number of magnetic pieces around the sound-reflecting plate. Many first electromagnets are mounted on the front side of the circuit board, aligning with the magnetic pieces. The position apparatus includes a positioning bracket. The connecting member includes a rotating portion rotatably connected to the base. A second electromagnet is mounted to the circuit board, to move the positioning bracket. The controller controls one or more of the first electromagnets to attract the corresponding magnetic pieces, to allow the sound-reflecting member to swing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chih-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 9126524
    Abstract: A pedestrian alert system includes, a noise producing member having a primary acoustic output surface configured and disposed to direct noise from the noise producing member along a first axis, and at least one secondary acoustic output surface that allows noise to pass from the noise producing member along a second axis that is distinct from the first axis. An acoustic focusing member is provided about the noise producing member. The acoustic focusing member is configured and disposed to re-direct noise from the second axis toward the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher L. Fulton, Timothy C. Schutt
  • Patent number: 9049517
    Abstract: A loudspeaker including an acoustic waveguide includes an enclosure, an acoustic transmission line formed within the enclosure, and a plurality of acoustic transducers contained within the enclosure and disposed along a length of the acoustic transmission line. Each acoustic transducer is configured to emit acoustic energy directly into the acoustic transmission line at two separated locations along the length of the acoustic transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Geoffrey C. Chick
  • Patent number: 8953830
    Abstract: A horn loudspeaker, in particular for reproducing bass sound in public address systems, in which the horn (23) is mounted directly to the driver element (21) without any intervening compression chamber. The back side of the driver element (21) is covered by a back chamber (24) designed with walls of a semi-permeable material. The walls may be perforated or made of a “leaky” material such as cell foam with open structure, or a fibrous material. The “leaky” back chamber will prevent the build up of high pressures in the back chamber at large cone excursions. The horn loudspeaker is suitable for stacking in groups of two or more, so as to produce a sound source scalable for reproducing any frequency range heard by humans in public address systems or hi-fi systems. Due to the back chamber design, the horn loudspeaker, for high frequencies especially in conical horn shaped versions, can be stacked close together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventor: Rune Skramstad
  • Patent number: 8917896
    Abstract: 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. The first and second side panels are each fabricated from a sheet of flexible material held in a stressed, curved shape by at least a rigid support member. The panels are designed by an automated process based on a number of electro-acoustic transducers to be used in a loudspeaker, horizontal and vertical coverage angles for the loudspeaker, and a wall length for a horn of the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher B. Ickler, Clifford A. Henricksen, Akira Mochimaru, Kenneth D. Jacob, Soichiro Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20140294219
    Abstract: A speaker system with an enclosure having a spiral pathway is presented. The speaker system includes an electro-acoustic transducer that generates sounds according to an audio input. The speaker system also includes an enclosure having an interior pathway defined by a wall that is curved substantially as a spiral. The speaker system is configured such that the sound generated by the electro-acoustic transducer travels along at least a portion of the curved pathway before leaving the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: COLORADO ENERGY RESEARCH TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Wayne J. Powell
  • Patent number: 8824718
    Abstract: A loudspeaker apparatus has at least one sound generator wherein an at least partially sound-conducting channel is arranged in a sound radiation direction of the sound generator and is suitable for directing sound emerging from the sound generator along the course of the sound-conducting channel such that the sound emerges from the loudspeaker apparatus at a second end of the sound-conducting channel, which end is in the form of a sound outlet opening, at a radiation angle which defined by the sound outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Frank Held
  • Patent number: 8781146
    Abstract: A combined passive acoustic speaker and stand for a portable, handheld electronic device includes a block with an inclined slot in the side oriented at an acute angle with respect to a bottom of the block to receive and retain a portion of the portable, handheld electronic device therein at an acute inclined angle with respect to a support surface. An aperture in the bottom of the slot extends through the side of the block and into a hollow therein. The hollow includes a non-symmetrical, arcuate-axis, frusto-conical horn with a larger forward sound outlet opening in the front of the block and a smaller rearward sound inlet opening in a rear of the horn open to the aperture in the bottom of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: American Covers, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryce Haymond
  • Patent number: 8781145
    Abstract: In a low frequency transducer system a multi-compression chamber, an inverse horn structure is employed in combination with a resonance-distortion filter chamber. The filter chamber effectively expands the effective enclosure volume at low frequencies and connected to one of the compression chambers filter parasitic resonances and distortion and allowing the system to more efficiently reproduce low frequencies while being able to use smaller diameter transducers and maintaining good system sensitivity. Compression chambers are organized for constant or continuous compression on a section-by-section basis throughout the inverse horn system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: Philip R. Clements
  • Publication number: 20140161294
    Abstract: A combined passive acoustic speaker and stand for a portable, handheld electronic device includes a block with an inclined slot in the side oriented at an acute angle with respect to a bottom of the block to receive and retain a portion of the portable, handheld electronic device therein at an acute inclined angle with respect to a support surface. An aperture in the bottom of the slot extends through the side of the block and into a hollow therein. The hollow includes a non-symmetrical, arcuate-axis, frusto-conical horn with a larger forward sound outlet opening in the front of the block and a smaller rearward sound inlet opening in a rear of the horn open to the aperture in the bottom of the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: American Covers, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryce Haymond
  • Patent number: 8737660
    Abstract: An electric horn (1) has a coil bobbin (4) in a casing (2). A fixed iron core (3) is fixed in a hole (4f) in the coil bobbin (4) and is magnetized to define an exciting coil (C). A moving iron core (10) is at the center of a diaphragm (9) at the open end of the casing (2) and faces the fixed iron core (3). The moving iron core (10) is displaced relative to the fixed iron core (3) by a power supply of the exciting coil (C); thus beeping an alarm. The moving iron core (10) has an end face toward the fixed iron core (3) that strides over a reference position (N) within the amplitude (W) of the moving iron core (10). The end portion on the moving iron core (10) side of the wound portion (4e) of the exciting coil (C) is the reference position (N).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Hidefumi Takahashi, Toshio Takahashi, Yoshihiro Murakoshi
  • Publication number: 20140029781
    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: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Plamen Ivanov Valtchev, Dimitar Kirilov Dimitrov
  • Patent number: 8627920
    Abstract: A low frequency exponential folded horn enclosure employing a bifurcated horn terminal pathway and a single driver with a bifurcated throat channel, with driver access from the top or bottom of the enclosure. The horizontal “butterfly” throat is located at the rear of the enclosure and expands vertically, and the vertically arranged bifurcated horn terminus exhausts in a mostly forward direction on opposite sides of the back chamber which is reflex-ported; said ports arranged to each exhaust into the channel folds at each respective corner of the terminal horn channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Inventor: Dana A. Moore
  • Patent number: 8615097
    Abstract: A loudspeaker assembly, including an acoustic waveguide; an acoustic driver mounted in the waveguide so that a first surface radiates sound waves into the waveguide so that the sound waves are radiated from the waveguide; and an acoustic volume acoustically coupled to the acoustic waveguide for increasing the amplitude of the sound waves radiated from the acoustic waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Bose Corportion
    Inventors: Robert Preston Parker, Eric J. Freeman, Jeffrey J. Hoefler
  • Patent number: 8489214
    Abstract: There is provided a dock without a power source for a portable digital device with at least one integrated speaker driver. The dock may include a platform for placement of the portable digital device; a protrusion located at the platform for connection of the portable digital device with the dock with the protrusion including a slot for egress of air from at least one hole in a casing of the portable digital device to the dock; and at least one primary chamber to receive air from the portable digital device with the at least one primary chamber having a vented port for the egress of air. Advantageously, sound from the at least one integrated speaker driver is amplified when the portable digital device is connected to the dock. The connection of the portable digital device with the dock may be securable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Xiao Xiang Shen, Bin Yu, Hock Guan Tan
  • Patent number: 8422712
    Abstract: A sound reproduction system is disclosed in which at least one driver is provided, along with a horn member in acoustic loading relationship to the driver. The horn member defines an internal passageway having a first end and a second open end, with the driver at the first end, producing a driver soundwave having an initial central axis and an initial amplitude distribution. A plurality of vanes are disposed in the internal passageway, at different angles from the central axis to deflect respective portions of the driver soundwave so as to alter the initial amplitude distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas J. Danley
  • Patent number: 8401216
    Abstract: The present invention is an acoustic traveling wave tube system for propagating a directional acoustic wave comprising an acoustic traveling wave tube having a cylindrical shape with a load on one end of the tube, a plurality of excitation rings positioned around a circumference of the tube and spaced at predetermined intervals along a length of the tube and a microprocessor having a database containing a plurality of waveforms representative of acoustic signals. The microprocessor energizes one of the plurality of excitation rings to form an acoustic wave, sequentially energizes one or more of the remaining excitation rings along the length of the tube to amplify the acoustic wave as the acoustic wave travels along the length of the tube, and propagates the acoustic wave from an end of the tube opposite the load as a shaped directional acoustic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Saab Sensis Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Rougas, Pasquale Dinovo
  • Patent number: 8351629
    Abstract: A loudspeaker assembly, including an acoustic waveguide; an acoustic driver mounted in the waveguide so that a first surface radiates sound waves into the waveguide so that the sound waves are radiated from the waveguide; and an acoustic volume acoustically coupled to the acoustic waveguide for increasing the amplitude of the sound waves radiated from the acoustic waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Preston Parker, Eric J. Freeman, Jeffrey J. Hoefler
  • Patent number: 8345909
    Abstract: A loudspeaker assembly comprises a base supporting at least one electro-acoustic transducer and at least one waveguide segment detachably supported by the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher B. Ickler
  • Patent number: 8320597
    Abstract: An accessory for a portable electronic device having a speaker uses an acoustic wave guide to passively amplify and direct the output of the device's speaker. The accessory has a housing with a docking cavity formed therein. The docking cavity has supportive sidewalls that are adapted to receive and support the portable electronic device in an upright position. A cable access channel is formed in the docking cavity that allows a connector and cable to be coupled to the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is mounted in the docking cavity. An acoustic waveguide having a spiral shaped acoustic chamber is positioned in the housing such that an entrance to the acoustic waveguide corresponds to a hole in the docking cavity that is positioned to correspond to the location of the speaker of the device when the device is mounted in the docking chamber. The exit of the acoustic chamber corresponds to an exterior opening in a sidewall of the housing and the hole in the docking cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Griffin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul P. Griffin, Jr., Benjamin T. Guy, George Anderson Cook
  • Patent number: 8275164
    Abstract: A transmission line speaker enclosure featuring a main enclosure, a speaker driver and an exit port in the main enclosure, exit port walls extend from the exit port into the main enclosure; and an inner sub enclosure in the main enclosure having a curved vertex facing the speaker driver and walls extending from ends of the vertex, the vertex has an angle between about 40 to 80 degrees, the vertex is either attached or separated from the magnet of the speaker driver by a gap, the vertex functions to divert sounds exiting the speaker driver between walls of the inner sub enclosure wall the main enclosure, then between the walls of the inner sub enclosure and the exit port and further out of the exit port, wherein back waves generated by the speaker driver can have total travelling distance of about ¼ wavelength of a tuned frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventor: Thach T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8265320
    Abstract: A loudspeaker for projecting siren and other warning signals which is compact to facilitate installation in emergency vehicles, and which provides a horn projector in the compact space. The loudspeaker has a support in which an electrically driven driver unit is mounted. A chamber providing a plurality of cyclonic or spiral paths for sound from the speaker is located at one end of the support as by being connected to the support or being a part thereof. The support has a plurality of passageways for sound from each of the paths to exit ports at an end of the support opposite to the end thereof attached to or having the chamber. The cyclonic paths and the passageways are of like length and taper so that the sound from the exit ports combined in reinforcing relationship and projects outwardly from the exit port end of the support. The support provides a recombiner for the sound propagating along the cyclonic paths and passageways to provide the effect of a long horn in the compact space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Star Headlight & Lantern Co., Inc.
    Inventors: R. Michael Datz, James J. Cronmiller
  • Patent number: 8205712
    Abstract: A loudspeaker enclosure has a first aperture in which a driver can be mounted, the driver having a first resonant frequency. A second aperture defines a port extending between the interior and the exterior of the enclosure. The port is tuned to a second resonant frequency. A sound absorbing element comprises at least one exponentially tapered horn having a mouth in communication with the interior of the enclosure. The horn has a cut-off frequency equal to or greater than the resonant frequency of the port, and preferably two to four times greater. The horn can be defined by tapering external walls of the enclosure, or by structures located within the enclosure which define a plurality of individual horns. The described enclosure combines the benefits of ported enclosures with those of enclosures employing tapered sound absorbing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Inventor: Laurence George Dickie
  • Patent number: 8204245
    Abstract: A sound projecting bumper may include a vehicle bumper configured to be attached to a vehicle, the bumper comprising a plurality of uprights and at least one generally horizontal member, the bumper further comprising a horn for emitting sound, the horn comprising a driver, a cone, a speaker and a diaphragm for producing the sound, and wiring to connect the bumper device to the vehicle's electrical system. The horn may be configured to focus sound particularly forward of the vehicle. The driver may be attached to one of the uprights, and the bumper may include a second driver attached to a second one of the uprights. The horn may be generally aligned with one of the uprights, or the horn may be formed in a generally horizontal member. The bumper may further include a channel in the generally horizontal member, wherein the channel extends generally along a portion of the generally horizontal member, turning to form the horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Lund Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Tobin, Paul A. Lundberg
  • Publication number: 20120140971
    Abstract: In a low frequency transducer system a multi-compression chamber, an inverse horn structure is employed in combination with a resonance-distortion filter chamber. The filter chamber effectively expands the effective enclosure volume at low frequencies and connected to one of the compression chambers filter parasitic resonances and distortion and allowing the system to more efficiently reproduce low frequencies while being able to use smaller diameter transducers and maintaining good system sensitivity. Compression chambers are organized for constant or continuous compression on a section-by-section basis throughout the inverse horn system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Philip R. Clements
  • Patent number: 8194905
    Abstract: A horn apparatus comprises a high frequency horn housed within a low frequency horn. High frequency and low frequency drivers are positioned side by side and are at substantially the same distance from a reflective surface. Sound emitted by both drivers strikes this same reflective at approximately the same position and the low frequency and high frequency sound is reflected at the same angle. The sound emitted by both drivers is thus time aligned and superposition of sound at the same frequencies from both drivers will not cancel out or cause significant interference and sound distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Gordon Alfred Vinther, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8175312
    Abstract: The present invention essentially comprises a horn separated into a plurality of sections, wherein the horn is supported by a mounting bracket that may be both rotatable and pivotable and wherein the horn is made of two portions wherein the general middle is used as the attachment point to a bracket while both ends are also supported by the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Inventors: Jeff M. Bezdek, Jonathan Mooneyham, Stan Carroll, Chris Johnson
  • Patent number: 8094855
    Abstract: In a low frequency transducer system a multi-compression chamber, inverse horn structure is employed in combination with a resonance-distortion filter chamber. The filter chamber effectively expands the effective enclosure volume at low frequencies and connected to one of the compression chambers filter parasitic resonances and distortion and allowing the system to more efficiently reproduce low frequencies while being able to use smaller diameter transducers and maintaining good system sensitivity. Compression chambers are organized for constant or continuous compression on a section-by-section basis throughout the inverse horn system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventor: Philip R. Clements
  • Patent number: 8050442
    Abstract: A horn based loudspeaker system provides control over peak to peak pressure of an acoustic signal across its frequency spectrum. Frequency spectrum matched acoustic energy added to the acoustic signal at diverse points distributed along the horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 8036403
    Abstract: The present invention belongs to the field of loudspeaker and relates to directional sound wave radiator comprising a sound transmission duct, a reverser, an annular director, a parabolic reflector, and a straight tubular loudspeaker cylinder. The sound transmission duct is mounted substantially coaxially with said parabolic reflector. The straight tubular loudspeaker cylinder is connected to said parabolic reflector. The reverser is provided inside said straight tubular loudspeaker cylinder and at the outlet end of said sound transmission duct; the outlet end of said reverser has an annular section, which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said parabolic reflector and is positioned substantially at the focus of said parabolic reflector. The annular director is mounted around said sound transmission duct and at the outlet end of said reverser to define an annular shape of the outlet end of said reverser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Beijing Wave Energy Technology Development Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Baoshu Xi
  • Patent number: 7936893
    Abstract: In a hearing aid, a main body case has a fitting-use first communication terminal provided inside the main body case, so that the first communication terminal can be visually checked when the battery case is removed by turning, and the battery case has a first locking protrusion that is engaged with the main body case and a pressing protrusion that is opposite the first communication terminal, when the battery case is turned for installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Tada, Yosimasa Simogochi, Kazumasa Okamura
  • Publication number: 20110019854
    Abstract: A blended acoustic folded horn and reflector provides for throughput of higher frequency bands without giving rise to standing waves. The horn includes a parabolic region intersected by a first direct radiant axis centered on the throat. The parabolic region is shaped and oriented to define a reflected radiant axis through the mouth for frequency components of the acoustic input above a cut-off frequency. The parabolic region operates to focus sound in the upper portion of the operational frequency range of the loudspeaker and to reflect the resulting focused sound beam along a second radiant axis through the mouth of the folded horn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 7773765
    Abstract: A loudspeaker assembly is described suitable for flown arrays and incorporating a horn load planar or ribbon transducer. Planer acoustic transducers have a relatively limited power output capacity. Addition of a horn suitable for an elongated source effectively amplifies the power output capacity of the planar devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 7760899
    Abstract: A single folded, expanding horn loudspeaker reproduces low frequency audible sound at high power output levels. A compact enclosure houses a plurality of identical transducers, characterized by small vibrational surface areas. The throats for each transducer into the horn are acoustically differentially spaced from the mouth of the horn with the spacing between adjacent throats progressively increasing in the acoustic direction of the horn mouth from the throat origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis E. Graber
  • Patent number: 7751581
    Abstract: The invention relates to a public address system including one or more loudspeakers, each of which is in particular equipped with a section for reproducing high-frequency sounds, including a wave expansion guide, which receives, at its input sound waves coming from a transducer and having, projecting in a plane, a form opening outwards from its input to its output for distributing, in a solid transmission angle, the sound waves coming from the expansion guide. According to the invention, the expansion guide includes one or more mobile flaps that can be moved by a movement made parallel to the plane, so as to enable the solid transmission angle of the sound waves to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: L-Acoustics
    Inventor: Christian Heil
  • Patent number: 7602934
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a satellite speaker system wherein the horn mouth of a main speaker, typically of a folded horn design, is divided by braces into satellite speaker storage chambers. This allows the satellite speakers to be placed into the storage chambers for storage and transportation, and then easily removed and placed into their remote locations for a show, performance or gig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Cerwin-Vega, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Zuccaro
  • Patent number: 7520368
    Abstract: A low frequency folded horn enclosure intended for use in proximity with at least one planar surface with access to the horn throat from the top of the enclosure. The horn is bifurcated at the throat and folds horizontally around a central trapezoid-shaped columnar back chamber which includes a phase-inverting means. The throat channel expands vertically to the single fold and expands vertically and horizontally to the horn mouth, maximizing back chamber volume within the constraints imposed by footprint size, frequency response, and driver characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Inventor: Dana A. Moore
  • Patent number: 7513332
    Abstract: A low frequency exponential bass horn enclosure employing a bifurcated horn pathway and twin throats, convertible to a variety of front-loaded or rear-loaded configurations without modifications by the use of interchangeable parts, with driver access typically from the front. Optimized for corner placement but fully enclosed horn channel allows for floor or wall use. The horizontal “butterfly” throat is located at the rear of the enclosure and expands vertically, and the vertically arranged horn terminus exhausts in forward-canted splay angles around a partially rectangular back chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Inventor: Dana A. Moore
  • Publication number: 20090087008
    Abstract: A sound reproduction system (10) is disclosed in which a sound barrier (14) defines a horn passageway having an upstream (22) and a downstream section (24). A driver (12) is mounted at the throat (16) of the upstream section (22) so that its rearward directed output communicates with the downstream section (24). Output from the upstream section and the rearward directed output of the driver are merged at a tap point located at the beginning of the downstream section. By altering the respective areas and lengths of the upstream and downstream sections a variety of different frequency dependent responses are obtained. In one example, low-frequency response systems of heretofore unobtainable compact size are realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas J. Danley
  • Patent number: 7506721
    Abstract: A low frequency exponential bass horn enclosure employing a large area unitary throat pathway, bifurcated at a substantially parabolic rearward channel wall, convertible to a front-loaded or rear-loaded configuration by the use of interchangeable parts, with driver access from the front. Intended for corner placement, however, fully enclosed horn channel allows for floor use. The axially-centered throat expands vertically, exhausts rearward, and is bifurcated at the back of the enclosure with two hard reflection points, comprising a single fold, in which the vertically arranged horn terminus exhausts with a forward-canted splay angle around a partially rectangular back chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Inventor: Dana A. Moore
  • Patent number: 7454030
    Abstract: A single folded, expanding horn loudspeaker reproduces low frequency audible sound at high power output levels. A compact enclosure houses a plurality of identical transducers, characterized by small vibrational surface areas. The throats for each transducer into the horn are acoustically differentially spaced from the mouth of the horn. Transducer drive circuitry adjusts a drive signal for the transducers to compensate for the different impedance and propagation time to the horn mouth at each throat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Inventor: Curtis H. Graber
  • Patent number: 7450733
    Abstract: A speaker comprises an enclosure with at least one wall; and an acoustic driver mounted in an interior of the enclosure and being attached to a front wall of the enclosure. An acoustic extension is mounted to the enclosure and is external of the enclosure. The acoustic extension is operatively connected to the interior of the enclosure; and comprises one of: a bass reflex port, a tuned port, a passive radiator, and a concentric loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Susimin Suprapmo, Choon Yen Frankie Shee, Thean Kule Christopher Chang, Kin Fui Chong
  • Patent number: 7252175
    Abstract: A speaker apparatus is a bass-reflex type woofer used in a speaker system, and includes a body portion for housing a speaker unit and a bass-reflex port mounted and fixed in the body portion. Further, in the speaker apparatus, a protrusion for temporarily fastening the bass-reflex port in the case of mounting and fixing the bass-reflex port is provided in the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7252176
    Abstract: A low frequency exponential/hyperbolic hybrid folded horn enclosure intended for use in proximity with at least one planar surface, such as a floor, ceiling, or wall, with access to the horn throat from the top of the enclosure. The horn is bifurcated at the throat and folds horizontally around a central trapezoid-shaped vertical back chamber which is reflex ported for enhanced low frequency response below the frequency cutoff of the horn. The back chamber outer sides define part of the horn channel, resulting in a relatively simple structure with a small footprint and no void internal space. The throat exponential expansion cross-sectional area is consistently maintained while the proportions of the throat channels are elongated to the height of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Inventor: Dana A. Moore
  • Patent number: 7233677
    Abstract: A low frequency exponential horn enclosure intended for corner use with access to the horn throat and entire volume of the back chamber from the top of the enclosure, allowing operation as either a front or back loaded horn. The horn is bifurcated at the throat and folds horizontally around a central triangle-shaped columnar back chamber, the sides of which form part of the horn channel, forming a simple structure with little void space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Inventor: Dana A. Moore
  • Patent number: 7190801
    Abstract: A horn loudspeaker includes a horn housing having a top wall, an inner surrounding wall that extends downwardly from the top wall, a bottom wall that extends laterally and outwardly from the inner surrounding wall, and an outer surrounding wall that extends upwardly from the bottom wall. A cover has a top wall disposed over the top wall of the horn housing, and a surrounding wall that extends downwardly from the top wall of the cover into a gap between the inner and outer surrounding walls. Partitioning members are connected sealingly to the horn housing and the cover so as to define a plurality of sound channels thereamong. A sound-generating driver is adapted to be mounted in the horn housing for generating acoustic pressure wave which propagates through the sound channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventor: Chen-Hugh Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7142680
    Abstract: A flush mountable ceiling speaker (10) with individual coaxial waveguides (20, 22) for both the lower and high-frequency transducers (11, 12). The lower frequency radiation is combined with the sonic energy radiated by the high-frequency transducer (12) and shaped by the high-frequency waveguide (20) to create a coherent, uniformly controlled coverage pattern. The loudspeaker (10) creates a well defined sound dispersion pattern over a relatively large bandwidth, resulting in increased vocal intelligibility and more accurate reproduction of music at relatively great distances from the loudspeaker, as is particularly useful in association with high ceiling installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Telex
    Inventors: William James Gelow, Christopher Sean Beckett