Acoustic Enclosure Patents (Class 381/345)
  • Patent number: 7111706
    Abstract: The acoustic enclosure comprises a box, on which is mounted at least one electro-acoustic transducer, and a vent which together with the box produces a bass-reflex system with a specified bass-reflex resonant frequency. The vent comprises means of attenuation at the bass-reflex resonant frequency. Included is an audiovisual apparatus comprising a display device and such an enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Gilles Bourgoin
  • Patent number: 7110536
    Abstract: An acoustic seal system (100). The system (100) includes a flexible sealing element (110) having a ridge (134) for engaging a cover (118) with a sealing interference fit, a plate (112) in which the flexible sealing element (110) is secured to the plate (112) and a mesh (114) for controlling particle contamination. The mesh (114) is secured to the plate (112), and the plate (112) and at least a portion of the flexible sealing element (110) are secured to a portion of an inner housing (116). The portion of the flexible sealing element (110) engages the portion of the inner housing (116) with a sealing interference fit. When the cover (118) engages the inner housing (116), the flexible sealing element (110) provides an acoustic seal between the cover (118) and the inner housing (116).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick A. Hampton, Julio C. Castañeda, Robert T. Jamilla
  • Patent number: 7103193
    Abstract: A bandpass loudspeaker enclosure having three sub chambers, a first subchamber being a Helmholtz-reflex chamber with a passive acoustic radiator operating in parallel with the transducer, and the remaining two chambers utilizing two passive acoustic radiators to achieve three Helmholtz-reflex vent tunings and a multiple of low pass acoustic filters that provide an acoustic bandpass with reduced diaphragm displacement and substantially reduced distortion and pipe resonances above the pass band. A further embodiment provides a reduced lowest frequency vent size for a given low frequency subchamber size and tuning frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: American Technology Corporation
    Inventor: James J. Croft, III
  • Patent number: 7096995
    Abstract: The invention provides a loudspeaker system having a housing made of a plastic casing and a foam positioned against the interior walls of the casing through a reaction between the foam and the interior wall. The foam increases the stiffness of the walls as well as provides sound damping. Additionally, the foam may create a foam rib between a stud and the casing to support the stud and transfer the stiffness of the stud to a wall of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: David H. Cox, Chen-Hui Huang
  • Patent number: 7093688
    Abstract: A speaker assembly includes a speaker mounted within a housing having a front plate and a base plate. The speaker is inclined with respect to the front plate. The base plate includes one of an inclined type structure, a convex type structure, a radial rib type structure having radial ribs, and an uneven structure having projections. The front plate includes holes of certain shapes such as having two half holes formed on opposite sides of front plate and communicating with each other through a common opening formed between the two half holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae-Eop Lee
  • Patent number: 7088838
    Abstract: An acoustic accessory is provided having a loudspeaker and a circuit board disposed therein. An acoustic suspension system is formed within the acoustic accessory by board retention rings disposed within the upper and lower housings of the accessory. The board suspension rings clench the printed circuit board, which includes at least one aperture. Rubber gaskets are coupled to the board retention rings to form an airtight seal. The air mass above the printed circuit board joins with the air mass below the printed circuit board to form a unitary reactance against which the loudspeaker works. The size and number of apertures may be varied in accordance with the acoustic application. Board retention posts optionally seat within notches in the printed circuit board to prevent the printed circuit board from moving laterally. Electrical connections may be made through the printed circuit board into the acoustic chamber, thereby not compromising the airtight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan P. Rye, Martin H. Ramsden
  • Patent number: 7074296
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hearing device including providing a hearing aid housing having an opening, providing an electric/acoustic transducer, providing a support plate forming a blind hole having a membrane as a base, inserting the transducer into the blind hole, bringing the housing and support plate together such that a portion of the transducer enters through the opening in the housing, bonding the housing to the support plate, and trimming excess portion of the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Andi Vonlanthen
  • Patent number: 7068806
    Abstract: A highly miniaturized (condensed) speaker system provides the same desirable performance characteristics as a full size acoustic suspension speaker system by incorporating a combination of one or more low pressure chambers and optionally one or more high pressure gas chambers to emulate the higher internal air volume of the full size acoustic suspension speaker system. The low pressure chamber(s) include the majority of the back (enclosed) side of the speaker diaphragm to eliminate the rigid air spring normally associated with small, enclosed volumes of air at atmospheric pressure. The high pressure gas chamber(s) provide a force to the back (enclosed) side of the diaphragm to counter the atmospheric pressure force on the face (exposed) side of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventor: Casey P. Walsh
  • Patent number: 7068979
    Abstract: A mobile telecommunications device is disclosed and comprises a casing (2), an earpiece (6), and a cover (33) associated with the earpiece (6) to define a resonant cavity (34) between the earpiece (6) and the casing (2), wherein the cover (33) has an opening therein for the transmission of sound from the earpiece (6) via the cavity (34) into an acoustic path formed between the casing (2) and the cover (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Per Pedersen, Alireza Asadi Sohi, Jens Madsen, Kenn Berend Pedersen, Per Højlev
  • Patent number: 7039212
    Abstract: A port for a loudspeaker is disclosed which is sufficiently weather resistant for long term outdoor use and which prevents debris, insects and other vermin from entering the loudspeaker and which is compact and efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Britannia Investment Corporation
    Inventors: John B. Poling, Bradley M. Starobin, Allen S. Baran, Matthew S. Polk, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7027797
    Abstract: In a portable terminal system having a portable terminal device and an external speaker 6 for converting electrical signals from the portable terminal device to electrical signals, the portable terminal device 21 and the external speaker portion 19 are equipped with first and second connectors 20, 2, and by electrically connecting the first and second connectors, the electrical signals from the portable terminal device are transmitted to the external speaker 6. The first connector 20 and the external speaker 6 are provided with transmission holes 18, 8 for transmitting to the portable terminal device side the sound wave signal converted on the basis of the electrical signals by the external speaker 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Ukyo Mori
  • Patent number: 7019621
    Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer comprises a piezoelectric component, an acoustic member attached to one of the surfaces of the piezoelectric component and a dampening material of low elastic modulus attached to one or both surfaces of the piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric component may comprise either an unimorph or a bimorph structure including a piezoceramic wafer made of lead zirconate titanate and a layer of dampening material sandwiched between the piezoelectric component and the acoustic member. The acoustic member comprises a surrounding wall portion and an end portion which form an acoustic chamber when the member is mounted on a surface of the piezoelectrie component. The end portion has an orifice to form a passageway from the chamber through the end portion to the outside of the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventors: Stanley E. Woodard, Robert L. Fox, Robert G. Bryant
  • Patent number: 7016513
    Abstract: A sound system employing wide band loudspeakers, which includes one or more loudspeakers constructed to be placed and housed one inside the other in a closed configuration for transporting and storing and to be detached one from the other and positioned in different combinations in a combined functional configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Outline S.n.c. di Noselli G.& C.
    Inventor: Guido Noselli
  • Patent number: 7013020
    Abstract: Side plates, constituting side surfaces of a speaker cabinet, each comprise a base member having a plurality of grooves formed in its outer surface (obverse surface) region at predetermined intervals, and a decorative plate adhesively bonded to the outer surface of the base member, in a laminated fashion, so as to cover the grooves. The laminated base member and decorative plate are pressed and curved, via upper and lower molds, so as to provide a smooth, convexlycurved outer surface. The grooves are adhesively bonded along their opening edges to the inner surface of the decorative plate, so that the opening edges of each of the grooves will not move toward or away from each other when external force is applied to the side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Ito, Shinichi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7006648
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a speaker cabinet comprising a hollow case in which a top and a bottom thereof both are wavily tapered from a pair of opposite edges of a front opening to a rear thereof. By utilizing the wavy, rearward taper design of the top and the bottom, a ratio of an area of the opening to an area of the rear is increased. Thus, air inside the case will be compressed rearward when a diaphragm of a woofer vibrates. Next, the compressed air will quickly flow toward the rear along the wavy, rearward taper inner surfaces of the top and the bottom. As a result, air dynamic at the rear is higher and stronger low-frequency resonance of the cabinet can be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventor: Chao-Lang Wang
  • Patent number: 6995659
    Abstract: A sound transducer comprises at least one sound unit based on at least one radially sound emitting diaphragm arranged in a substantially cylindrical or tubular form, the diaphragm including electromechanically converting material capable of creating sound by changing its physical state upon electrical excitation. In a single sound unit the diaphragm is arranged to be supported between an inner sound guiding sleeve and an outer sound guiding sleeve in order to form at least one axial acoustic channel between the diaphragm and at least one of the sleeves. At least at the exit side of the acoustic channel the axial ends of the diaphragm and the corresponding sound guiding sleeve are arranged to have mutual non-alignment in the plane perpendicular to the axis of the sound unit in order to reduce the acoustic mass that the acoustic channel represents. The invention further relates to a device with such a transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Alberto Soto-Nicolas
  • Patent number: 6988339
    Abstract: A media window system includes a window unit having a window frame defining a frame perimeter and a glass unit located within the frame perimeter. The window unit includes a display area adapted to receive a display image. A display image source is configured to project an image onto the display surface. The window unit also includes a speaker element disposed on the window. The display are of the window unit is capable of transforming from a first transparent state to a second increased opacity state for receiving the display image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Andersen Corporation
    Inventors: Russell J. Pylkki, James B. Libby, Kurt E. Heikkila
  • Patent number: 6987445
    Abstract: The invention is an modified audible signal, such as a piezoelectric noise-making and audible signaling device, which further includes a hydrophobic covering material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The hydrophobic covering material is known to be water resistant, but does not effect the sound of the audible signaling device, thereby delaying or preventing the failure of the audible signaling device from water corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Mallory Sonalert Products, Inc.
    Inventors: George A. Burnett, Joshua K. Brown, Daniel W. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6968067
    Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a portable entertainment system that includes a housing unit and an audio system supported by the housing unit. A transport structure is coupled to the housing unit such that the housing unit is portable. The audio system includes electronic audio equipment and at least a first pair of speakers coupled to the electronic audio equipment. The housing unit contains a speaker enclosure and a support panel is disposed between and substantially parallel to the front and rear panels and the support panel divides the speaker enclosure to form a front air-filled section and a rear air-filled section. A first audio port extends through the housing unit into a front air-filled section of the speaker enclosure and a second audio port extends through the housing unit at least into a rear air-filled section of the speaker enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Inventor: Patrick Lopez
  • Patent number: 6968069
    Abstract: A vented tweeter with a low profile particularly suited for automotive applications where the mounting depth is limited. The tweeter comprises a motor with a central air passage extending through it and a lateral air chamber formed around it. Radial channels on the top of the motor connect the air gap in the motor with the central air passage, and radial channels under the motor connect the central air passage with the lateral air chamber. As the diaphragm oscillates, air can move back and forth between the air gap around the magnet and lateral space outside the motor. This configuration substantially increases the volume of air that can be acted on by the diaphragm without significantly increasing the length of the assembled tweeter or compromising the power of the motor. To enhance the power of the motor, a secondary magnet can be included above the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Stillwater Designs & Audio, Inc.
    Inventor: Zhijun Zhao
  • Patent number: 6963652
    Abstract: A low frequency generator having a housing with a recess extending at least partially therethrough. A diaphragm is positioned within the recess and has at least one engagement device. A motor is positioned on an inner surface of the housing and extending substantially along the length of the housing. Upon activation of the motor, the motor engages the engagement device and selectively moves the diaphragm within the recess thereby generating a low frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Inventor: James M Colombo
  • Patent number: 6956956
    Abstract: A speaker system in which it is possible for power amplifier heat radiation and satisfactory audio characteristics to coexist. The power amplifier, and other components which are sources of heat, are arranged in an air flow convection path that is formed in a curved path from a lower bass reflex port toward an upper bass reflex port of a speaker box. The heat is exhausted (radiated) to the outside from the interior air space of the speaker box by the air flow and air from outside is introduced into the interior air space with good efficiency. In addition, the power amplifier includes a heat sink. The heat sink includes gaps that are formed between each of a plurality of fins which are opened in a vertical or diagonal direction such that the air flow convection path passes through the gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoaki Kuratani, Kosuke Takata
  • Patent number: 6944312
    Abstract: A light weight fully assembled speaker enclosure is provided that includes a backbox having a peripheral edge; a grill that is crimped around the peripheral edge of the backbox, and a sound-baffle sheet disposed between the backbox and the grill, the sound-baffle sheet having an opening for placement of a speaker. Also provided is a speaker system having an audio speaker; a backbox having a peripheral edge; a grill that is crimped around the peripheral edge of the backbox and that is affixed to the speaker; and a sound-baffle sheet disposed between the backbox and the grill, the sound-baffle sheet having an opening for placement of the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Valcom, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Mason, Kevin G. Lane
  • Patent number: 6896096
    Abstract: An acoustic structure includes a first, rigid panel (7), a second, rigid panel (11) aligned in spaced, substantially parallel, relationship with the first panel (7), a multiplicity of partition walls (15) running transverse to the panels of the panels (7, 11) and dividing the interior space of the enclosures into a single layer of cells (17) bounded at one face by the inside of the first panel (7) and bounded at the opposite face by the inside of the second panel (11), the partition walls (15) being bonded at the one face to the inside of the first panel (7) and at the opposite face to the inside of the second panel (11), and a multiplicity of apertures (19) in the partition walls (15) providing communication between adjacent cells of the single layer of cells (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: B&W Loudspeakers Limited
    Inventors: Stuart Michael Nevill, Morten Villiers Warren
  • Patent number: 6870942
    Abstract: A loudspeaker assembly includes a housing defining a bass-reflex enclosure. The housing has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape in a vertical section running from front to back of the housing. A conventional low frequency cone woofer is mounted in an aperture in the front face of the enclosure. An elongated port is defined in part by one of the sides of the housing and its top and bottom sides. The elongated port has varying vertical and horizontal cross sectional dimensions to conform to the sides of the enclosure while maintaining a constant cross sectional area. A planar is mounted to the front face of the enclosure over a tuned rear chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Inventor: Curtis H. Graber
  • Patent number: 6862360
    Abstract: A speaker system is provided which includes a sound box and a speaker mounted in the sound box. The sound box is divided into a plurality of air chambers, each of which is formed with at least an air dissipating hole connecting the atmosphere of the box and at least an air passing hole connecting at least a neighboring air chamber, so as to generate behind the speaker pressurized air cushions corresponding to each frequency band of the frequency response of the speaker. Meanwhile, upon reaching the air dissipating hole of each air chamber the air cushions are generated depressurized and vanished at an appropriate timing so that formerly air cushions do not interfere with those generated in succession; therefore each frequency band of the frequency response of the speaker is provided with an appropriate and independent pressurized air cushion so that high fidelity sound frequencies can be reproduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventor: Jen-Hui Tsai
  • Publication number: 20040264716
    Abstract: A line array electroacoustical transducing system includes at least first and second line arrays detachably secured in electrical and mechanical coupling relationships. The assembly may be detachably secured to a base having an amplifier in electrical and mechanical coupling relationships.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Paul Fidlin, Clifford A. Henricksen, Kenneth Dylan Jacob, Hilmar Lehnert, Peter C. Santoro
  • Patent number: 6834744
    Abstract: This invention has been made to provide a speaker system capable of miniaturization and presenting a good sound quality. A speaker 15 is mounted on a printed circuit board 21 arranged inside a telephone body enclosure 12. Acoustic waves of positive phase produced by vibration of a diaphragm 23 of the speaker 15 are output through front acoustic apertures 28 and a front air chamber 37 to the exterior from an enclosure acoustic aperture 13. On the other hand, the acoustic waves of opposite phase enter a rear air chamber 35 through rear acoustic apertures 29, reach an enclosure internal space 36 through an opposite-phase opening 34 provided by cutting away a part of a rear sealing member 32, and transmit to a card slot 14, then being output to the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Nozomi Toki
  • Publication number: 20040252859
    Abstract: In a loudspeaker device of the present invention, an interior space of a cabinet 20 is parted into first and second chambers Wb1 and Wb2, a diaphragm 23 on which ring-shaped magnetic boards 29a and 29b are fixed is attached to a parting board 22 via an edge portion 24, and ring-shaped fixed magnets 25 and 27 are provided so as to face magnetic boards 29a and 29b, respectively. Vibration of the diaphragm 23 vibrated by sound pressure from a speaker unit 21 is intensified by forces of attraction of the magnets 25 and 27 in order to reduce an acoustic stiffness of the cabinet 20 and equivalently increase a cabinet volume, thereby realizing satisfactory bass reproduction with a small cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventor: Shuji Saiki
  • Publication number: 20040252856
    Abstract: A bass loudspeaker apparatus capable of according with a horn-type midbass in both the appearance and acoustics is disclosed. A bass loudspeaker apparatus A is provided with a cabinet 70 having an inner space 75 and a sound emission opening 71 in a front section; a corn-type woofer 3 disposed within the cabinet 70; a baffle plate 2 having a woofer mounting section 72 and vertically disposed in the inner space 75 so as to face the sound emission opening 71; a resonant chamber 73 defined in front of the baffle plate 2 for communicating with the sound emission opening 71. The front ends of the loudspeaker apparatuses A and 80 are approximately aligned in the state that the sound source position of the bass loudspeaker apparatus A is aligned with that of the horn-type midbass 80. Thus, the uniformity in the appearance is secured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventor: Tadashi Masuda
  • Publication number: 20040240698
    Abstract: Micro-speaker assemblies and mobile terminals including micro-speaker assemblies are provided. The micro-speaker assembly includes a micro-speaker positioned in a housing. A low frequency back tuning volume is adjacent a front face of the micro-speaker and a high frequency forward tuning volume is adjacent a back face of the micro-speaker. A passageway extends from the forward tuning volume to an opening in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: William Chris Eaton
  • Patent number: 6813364
    Abstract: A transducer module for integration into a hearing aid device. The transducer module has an encapsulation with an opening and a transducer housing resiliently mounted in the encapsulation. The transducer module also has a first membrane and a second membrane. The first membrane forms a first space adjacent to a first side of the membrane which communicates with the opening. The first membrane also forms a second space adjacent to a second side of the first membrane which communicates with an intermediate space between the transducer housing and the encapsulation. The second membrane is for closing the opening of the encapsulation. Further, the transducer forms a self-contained module with the encapsulation as a housing of the module, with the module being adapted for insertion into the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Andi Vonlanthen
  • Patent number: 6810127
    Abstract: A loud speaker enclosure being made in two parts with each of the side panels cut into angle form to assist in angle adjustment, alone with pivot hinges and friction lid supports used to hold it's angled position. The enclosure can be modified to accommodate any design or style of drivers boards. In addition to any design of loudspeaker, any orientation of enclosing may be incorporated with this invention. This enclosure can be used without driver board 5B were by Box B would then operate as an angling base for Box T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Andrew P Bronson, III
  • Publication number: 20040208336
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a support structure of a loudspeaker unit which prevents transmission of vibrations of the loudspeaker unit to a cabinet so that the quality of sound can be improved and has excellent stability in its assembled condition, comprising a cabinet having an opening in which the front side of the loudspeaker unit is located, an anchor to be connected to the backside of the loudspeaker unit, a support for supporting the anchor so that the center of gravity of the anchor inside the cabinet is fixed and a positioning member for positioning the support, wherein a cushioning member is fitted between the support and the positioning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Hamada
  • Patent number: 6807284
    Abstract: A speaker has a very small size and is arranged to emit sound waves in a non-directional manner. The speaker includes a case and a speaker unit attached to a plate provided at an opening of the case. The speaker is arranged so that the speaker unit is mounted or attached to a floor or support surface such that a space formed by the case, the plate and the speaker unit is airtight and so that the back-and-forth motion of a vibrator of the speaker unit generates expansion and contraction of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20040203494
    Abstract: Micro-speaker assemblies and mobile terminals including micro-speaker assemblies are provided. The micro-speaker assemblies include a micro-speaker positioned in a housing. A first forward tuning volume is positioned adjacent a front face of the micro-speaker. A passageway extends from the first forward tuning volume to an opening in the housing. A second forward tuning volume in fluid communication with the passageway is positioned at a location between the first forward tuning volume and the opening in the housing. The second forward tuning volume, the first forward tuning volume and the passageway define a double-resonator that tunes a frequency response of the micro-speaker. Methods for tuning micro-speakers are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: William Chris Eaton
  • Publication number: 20040196999
    Abstract: A speaker apparatus including a speaker, and a circuit to operate the speaker. The speaker apparatus further includes a speaker box having an opening to enclose a back of the speaker; a casing accommodating the speaker box combined with the speaker and the circuit therein, and communicating with an outside so as to dissipate heat from the circuit; and a duct penetrating the casing and the speaker box so as to emit back sound of the speaker. The present invention provides a speaker apparatus, which has high heat-dissipating efficiency, can be manufactured in various designs, and prevents a user from being burned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-hyun Han, Woo-nam Byun
  • Publication number: 20040190746
    Abstract: A loudspeaker apparatus in which sound from a loudspeaker is emitted from a top surface of a loudspeaker cabinet, wherein the top surface is slanted obliquely backward and, in which a sound reflecting panel is mounted such that that the panel can swing on the rear plate of the loudspeaker cabinet, so that the emitted sound is reflected by the panel toward the listener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Hideki Seki, Makoto Yamagishi
  • Publication number: 20040170292
    Abstract: The invention concerns a mobile membrane loudspeaker equipped with a partial closure optimising its radiation. The invention is characterised in that the loudspeaker with mobile diaphragm (19) attached to a rigid frame (15) defining an acoustic emission plane (P) comprises a closure (25) for only one central zone of said emission plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Eric Vincenot
  • Patent number: 6785395
    Abstract: A portable device includes a speaker with an active vent fed by a front of a speaker diaphragm and a larger passive vent fed by a rear of the speaker diaphragm. The outputs of the active and passive vents are acoustically coupled to respective active and passive ports, coupled together outside of the housing within an ear placement region for a user of the portable electronic device to obtain a more uniform frequency response from the speaker configuration over a larger region of a user's ear placement possibilities than would be available with the active vent alone. This is accomplished by a close acoustic coupling of the ports in combination with diverse porting of active and passive acoustic signals. The passive path also serves to relieve pressure near a user's ear to improve signal quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore R. Arneson, Mark A. Barabolak, Giles T. Davis
  • Publication number: 20040165744
    Abstract: A weight is attached to the rear side of a magnetic circuit of a speaker unit. The tip of a boss that projects to the front side from the weight is joined to the rear side of a center pole of the magnetic circuit with a bolt. Even if reactive force that is generated when an electrical signal is converted into mechanical vibration by the magnetic circuit and a voice coil and sound waves are emitted from a vibration plate is transmitted to the magnetic circuit, the vibration of the magnetic circuit is suppressed by the weight. In this manner, sound quality with a good transient characteristic can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Tsumori, Akira Nishikawa, Hiroshi Kowaki, Hiroyuki Yoshii
  • Publication number: 20040165739
    Abstract: An assembly (100) for acoustic sealing of a transducer (104) in a communication device is provided. The assembly (100) allows for assembly along one axis (112) and acoustical sealing along another axis (115). The assembly (100) allows for another transducer (106) to be acoustically sealed on a different plane than that of the first transducer (104). Through the use of a compliant member (204) and rigid member (108) coupled to the transducer (104) a floating seal is formed between the chassis (102) and the housing (103) of the communication device (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Jody H. Akens, Jeffrey W. Ashton, Jorge L. Garcia
  • Patent number: 6782112
    Abstract: An acoustical transducer enclosure has an acoustic lever acoustically coupled to an electro-acoustical transducer so as to force all radiated sound through the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventor: Earl R. Geddes
  • Publication number: 20040156523
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a portable speaker including a speaker driver, a first cylindrical ring coupled to the speaker driver, a base plate configured in parallel with the speaker driver, a second cylindrical ring affixed to the base plate, and one or more interposed unaffixed cylindrical rings, wherein in a first expanded state the sidewalls of adjacent rings form frictional seals and a substantially airtight rigid chamber having a height substantially equal to the sum of the sidewall heights of the cylindrical rings, and in an unexpanded state the sidewalls of the cylindrical rings are substantially parallel to one another. Embodiments of the present invention may be used in an audio system including a class-D amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Michael P. Tuason, Robert D. Zucker
  • Publication number: 20040156526
    Abstract: Disclosed is a linear actuator which includes a core, a coil, a magnet assembly, and a housing. The coil that is shaped to be positioned about the core for movement along a longitudinal axis of the core. The housing is supported by core flanges and positioned about the coil and the core. The magnet assembly includes magnets of the same polarity facing the coil and shaped to be positioned inside or outside of the coil, and supported by the core or by the housing, respectively. The core includes first and second portions, each having an end face, and the first and second portions are positioned along the longitudinal axis so that the end faces oppose each other and are separated by a gap. A cavity is formed in each of the end faces along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Mikhail Godin
  • Publication number: 20040156517
    Abstract: A spa speaker system is disclosed having a housing with a speaker mounted within it. The housing is movably mounted to a track with the housing extendible and retractable from the top of the track. A spring is arranged to urge the housing to extend from the top of the track. A latching mechanism is operable to hold the housing in its retracted position and is thereafter operable to release the housing. The housing extends from the track when the housing is released by the latching mechanism. A system for providing audio to a reservoir of water is also disclosed. The system comprises a reservoir shell capable of holding water and at least one speaker system according to the invention mounted to said reservoir shell above the water line. Each of the speaker systems is independently extendible form the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: WATERWAY PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Darrell Schmidt, Francisco Hinojosa, Michael D. Holtsnider, Raymundo Colin, Stephen L. Samuels
  • Patent number: 6771787
    Abstract: A waveguide system for radiating sound waves. The system includes a low loss waveguide for transmitting sound waves, having walls are tapered so that said crosssectional area of the exit end is less than the cross-sectional area of the inlet end. In a second aspect of the invention, a waveguide for radiating sound waves, has segments of length approximately equal to A ⁡ ( y ) = A inlet ⁡ [ 1 - 2 ⁢ Y B + ( Y B ) 2 ] where l is the effective length of said waveguide and n is a positive integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Hoefler, John H. Wendell, Robert P. Parker, Thomas A. Froeschle, William P. Schreiber
  • Patent number: 6763117
    Abstract: An enclosure assembly for use in an audio speaker includes a driver support, a plurality of cavity forming layers disposed rearward of the driver support, and an end piece disposed adjacent a rearward most cavity forming layer. The driver support includes a front and rear and is adapted to support a driver. Each cavity forming layer includes an outer peripheral edge and a void disposed inward of the outer peripheral edge. The void defines an inner circumferential edge. The cavity forming layers may be removably joined such that the voids and the end piece cooperate to form a cavity rearward of the driver support. The cavity forming layers cooperate to advantageously modify the sound performance of the speaker, while providing a high degree of adjustability to the speaker's application environment. Methods of providing the enclosure assembly are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventors: Barry Goldslager, Philip A. Goldslager, Philip W. Goldslager
  • Publication number: 20040131219
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system includes a cabinet with an interior air volume, a transducer, a first port extending from an opening in the front wall of the cabinet to the interior of the cabinet, and a second port extending from and opening in the rear wall of the cabinet to the interior of the cabinet. The first and second ports are aligned along a common longitudinal axis and the interior ends of the ports are separated from each other by a predetermined distance. First and second flanges having a diameter larger than the first and second ports are disposed at the interior ends of the first and second ports, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: Matthew S. Polk
  • Publication number: 20040125981
    Abstract: A plurality of grooves are radially formed in an annular frame and an annular plate is secured to the frame to form a sound discharge hole in each groove, thereby communicating a back chamber under a diaphragm with the atmosphere. A projected part is outwardly projected from a peripheral edge of the annular plate, and an adhesive is adhered to a peripheral edge of a protector and to an upper surface of the projected part to adhere the protector with the annular plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahito Furuya