Acoustic Enclosure Patents (Class 381/345)
  • Patent number: 7436972
    Abstract: A loudspeaker has a loudspeaker driver and a first tube having a base end coupled to the driver and extending towards the rear end of the loudspeaker. A second tube of larger cross sectional dimensions extends over the first tube and loudspeaker driver and has a rear end wall spaced from the open rear end of the second tube and a front end coupled to the driver. A third, open ended tube of smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the first tube extends through a rear end wall of the second tube and into the first tube, with the front end of the third tube spaced from the base of the first tube. A folded, three segment transmission line is formed between the first and second tubes, between the second and third tubes, and through the third tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Inventor: Peter M. Bouvier
  • Patent number: 7433483
    Abstract: A narrow profile speaker unit comprises at least one speaker outputting sound towards an internal surface and through a duct with an output terminus, such as a slot, having a narrow dimension, effectively changing the cross-section of the speaker's audio output wave. A pair of speakers may face one another, outputting sound towards a common output slot. Multiple pairs of speakers may be used to form an inline speaker unit for increased sound output. A slotted speaker unit may include multiple speakers facing the same direction, towards a groundplane or reflecting surface, and having parallel apertures for allowing sound radiation. The speaker units may be integral with or attached to electronic appliances such as desktop computers or flatscreen devices, or may be used in automobiles or other contexts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: THX Ltd.
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Fincham
  • Patent number: 7433484
    Abstract: An acoustic vibration sensor, also referred to as a speech sensing device, is provided. The acoustic vibration sensor receives speech signals of a human talker and, in response, generates electrical signals representative of human speech. The acoustic vibration sensor includes at least one diaphragm positioned adjacent to a front port and at least one coupler. The coupler couples a first set of signals to the diaphragm while isolating the diaphragm from the second set of signals. The coupler includes at least one material with acoustic impedance matched to the acoustic impedance of human skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: AliphCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Asseily, Andrew E. Einaudi
  • Publication number: 20080240483
    Abstract: A child soothing device includes a frame comprising a structural support, a housing coupled to the structural support and comprising a cover with an opening, and a speaker including a speaker driver and a speaker chamber. The speaker driver has a diaphragm disposed relative to the opening in the cover for external sound wave propagation via displacement of the diaphragm, and the speaker chamber has a volume defined by the housing and in communication with the diaphragm for internal sound wave propagation via the displacement of the diaphragm. The device further includes a partition within the housing to further define the volume of the speaker chamber. The volume may include a region obliquely oriented relative to the diaphragm to support a low frequency response of the speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Godiska, Joshua E. Clapper, Nick Efthemios Papageorge
  • Publication number: 20080212818
    Abstract: An audio system including an audio power amplifier, a transducer electrically connected to the audio power amplifier, an enclosure coupled to the transducer, and a secondary resonant element coupled to the enclosure. An electrical feedback signal representative of the transducer current is negatively fed back to the audio power amplifier to synthesize a positive output impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth B. DelPapa, Michael B. Nussbaum, Jay N. Teixeira, George Nichols, Thomas A. Froeschle
  • Patent number: 7418104
    Abstract: A speaker system having a first speaker, a second speaker, and a housing having a first mounting surface to which the first speaker is mounted and a second mounting surface to which the second speaker is mounted. The first mounting surface and the second mounting surface are substantially planar and abut one another to form an included angle of between 120 degrees and 140 degrees. By so arranging the mounting surfaces, the sound produced by each speaker is allowed to mix to provide a full sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Inventor: Robert G. Spinale
  • Publication number: 20080170736
    Abstract: A sound broadcasting mechanism and an electronic device using the same are provided. The sound broadcasting mechanism includes a sound box, a sound broadcasting element and a sound enhancing element. The sound broadcasting element is disposed at the surface of the sound box to generate a sound signal. The sound enhancing element is disposed at the surface of the sound box. The sound enhancing element includes a resonating film and a weight increasing element. The resonating film can resonate with the sound signal in a resonating frequency range to enhance the sound intensity of the sound signal in the resonating frequency range. The weight increasing element is attached to the surface of the resonating film. The weight of the weight increasing element is related to the resonating frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicants: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC., NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Wen-Ting Yu, Mingsian R. Bai, Rong-Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 7400910
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile terminal such as a mobile telephone or the like which has a speaker built in, and realizes a sound emission structure for separately extracting the front output and back output of the speaker in a plurality of directions. The construction of this mobile terminal comprises a first sound emission part which is formed in one surface part of a case having a speaker built in, and which conducts the front output of the speaker to the outside of the case, a sound conducting hole which is formed in case internal members disposed inside the case, and which causes the back output of the speaker to pass through the interior of the case, and conducts this output to the other surface of the case, and a second sound emission part which is formed in the other surface part of the case, and which conducts the back output from the sound conducting hole to the outside of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiya Matsumoto, Kouji Hirata, Yoshito Fukata, Katsushige Kohri
  • Publication number: 20080165998
    Abstract: An acoustic chamber as part of adapter or appliance for an appliance. The acoustic chamber is substantially enclosed except at the exterior surface, and is configured to interchangeably receive a plurality of different consumer electronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas D. LeClear, Ruben E. Rothermel, Andrew M. Tenbarge, James W. Kendall, Richard A. McCoy
  • Publication number: 20080152180
    Abstract: A film-type audio output apparatus includes an audio output device, at least one speaker unit, and at least one film. The at least one speaker unit is positioned at any side of the audio output device. The speaker unit can be an embedded speaker unit. The at least one film can be positioned at any or more places of an inner side and an outer side of the audio output device. When the speaker unit of the audio output device releases sound, the film positioned on the audio output device can get vibration of the sound so that the inside of the audio output device can generate resonance. Thus, the audio output apparatus can generate softer undertone and wider diapason.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventor: Lian-Tan Tsai
  • Publication number: 20080152181
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing. A waveguide is located within the housing. The waveguide includes a first subsection that bends around a first axis and has a first cross-sectional area with an aspect ratio that is substantially different from unity. A second subsection bends around a second axis that is non-parallel to the first axis and includes a second cross-sectional area with an aspect ratio that is substantially different from unity. A third subsection acoustically couples the first subsection to the second subsection. The third subsection includes a third cross-sectional area with an aspect ration that varies between the first aspect ratio and the second aspect ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Preston Parker, Roman Litovsky, Jacky Chi-Hung Chan, Todd Charter Brown
  • Patent number: 7388963
    Abstract: A speaker apparatus includes 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-hyun Han, Woo-nam Byun
  • Publication number: 20080137894
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system has a front loudspeaker enclosure (30) having at least one first loudspeaker (20) and a rear loudspeaker enclosure (50) having at least one second loudspeaker (60). The rear loudspeaker enclosure (50) is in the form of a bandpass enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: d&b audiotechnik AG
    Inventor: Matthias Christner
  • Patent number: 7379556
    Abstract: A speaker device includes an acoustic capacity unit; an acoustic pipe connected to the acoustic capacity unit; and a driving speaker attached to the acoustic capacity unit. The acoustic capacity unit and the acoustic pipe constitute the Helmholtz resonator, and resonate at a predetermined Helmholtz resonant frequency. On the other hand, the acoustic pipe itself has a resonant frequency. By setting the resonant frequency of the acoustic pipe to be 0.5 to 2.5 octaves higher than the Helmholtz resonant frequency, the speaker device can be obtained which outputs signals of continuous frequency band from the Helmholtz resonant frequency to the resonant frequency of the acoustic pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Maekawa, Hiroyuki Dohi
  • Patent number: 7369673
    Abstract: A speaker supporting structure, which includes a speaker supporting device with improved assembly characteristics, and an electronic device comprising this speaker supporting device. The speaker supporting device is a structure which supports a speaker mounted in a case, and comprises a main body part which covers a wiring board disposed inside the case, and a mounting part which is formed in this main body part, and on which the speaker is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, NTT DoCoMo, Inc
    Inventors: Yoshiya Matsumoto, Kouji Hirata, Yoshito Fukata, Katsushige Kohri
  • Publication number: 20080101639
    Abstract: A speaker module for a consumer electronics device encloses a speaker. The speaker module is sized to fit within a housing of the consumer electronics device and below an input control of the consumer electronics device. The speaker module is oriented so that the speaker projects audible sound through one or more interstitial gaps between the input control and the housing, or one or more through-holes formed in the input control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
    Inventors: William Chris Eaton, Jason D. Mareno, John Kevin Schoolcraft
  • Patent number: 7353907
    Abstract: A process and kit is provided for retro-installing a speaker enclosure for a wall mounted speaker. The process includes mounting a selected speaker surround member in a building wall between the front and back wall surfaces and between the wall studs and around the opening for a wall mounted speaker and adhesively mounting a selected sheet of vibration dampening material to the back wall surface behind the opening for the wall mounted speaker and attaching a flexible sound absorbent material to the vibration dampening material so that a wall mounted speaker enclosure is installed in an existing building wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Inventor: Scott R. Whitaker
  • Patent number: 7333625
    Abstract: A collapsible electro-acoustic transducer system (ā€œCETSā€) is described. The CETS system may include a base housing with at least one electro-acoustic transducer, where the base housing includes a base housing top and a base housing bottom, and a movable housing having at least one electro-acoustic transducer, where the movable housing is movably attached to the base housing. The CETS may also include an attaching element movably attaching the movable housing to the base housing, where the movable housing is configured to collapse within the base housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Anchor Audio, Inc.
    Inventors: David Jacobs, Shawn Pasternak
  • Patent number: 7333626
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for changing a coverage angle of sound produced from a loudspeaker system. The loudspeaker system includes an enclosure that projects sound at a predetermined angle. A sound integrator includes an inner surface positioned adjacent to a mid-range frequency sound source. An outer surface of the sound integrator includes a planar and a curved surface. The surfaces control the angle which sound radiates from the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott M. Opie, Mark E. Engebretson, Yoshiyuki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7324654
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for changing a coverage angle of sound produced from a loudspeaker system. The loudspeaker system includes an enclosure that projects sound at a predetermined angle. A sound integrator includes an inner surface positioned adjacent to a mid-range frequency sound source. An outer surface of the sound integrator includes a planar and a curved surface. The surfaces control the angle which sound radiates from the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Opie, Mark E. Engebretson, Yoshiyuki Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20070297629
    Abstract: A device (300) and method (600) for equal audio porting is provided. The device can include a first side with at least one first audio port (182) providing a data communication aspect, a second side with at least one second audio port (184) providing an audio communication aspect, and a transducer (110) positioned between the first side and the second side. The transducer projects sound out of the at least one first audio port and the at least one second audio port such that a quality of the sound through the at least one first audio port and the at least one second audio port are substantially the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Shlomo Gelbart, Deborah A. Gruenhagen, Karl F. Mueller
  • Publication number: 20070280498
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for providing high quality speaker performance in a small-scale design are disclosed. In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, a small-scale speaker assembly is provided which is capable of delivering high-fidelity wideband audio. The speaker assembly includes a speaker driver and a number of electronic components within an enclosure. In some embodiments at least one microphone is included in the assembly. In some embodiments the speaker assembly is well suited for audio conferencing. In some embodiments low-frequency performance is improved in a small-scale design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: POLYCOM, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Rodman, Wayne Stanley Foletta
  • Patent number: 7298862
    Abstract: An embedded loudspeaker system is set forth incorporating at least two asymmetric enclosures having different but overlapping frequency responses in order to achieve a substantially flat frequency response. At least one of the speaker enclosures is preferably ported (bass-reflex system) to provide as much output as possible in the low-frequency range. By using a plurality of speakers at least one of which has a bass reflex enclosure, a monophonic system is provided with a flat frequency response. The dimensions of the speaker enclosures are chosen such that the anti-resonance of one loudspeaker enclosure is compensated for by the resonance of another speaker enclosure, without making use of damping, so that no ā€œnotchā€ appears in the frequency response of the combined system at the listening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
    Inventors: Stephane Dedieu, Philippe Moquin, Anders Fahrendorff
  • Patent number: 7292702
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an in-wall speaker system, specifically a system that is not readily visible and mounted in a room. The in-wall speaker system is comprised of a base frame that is adapted to be mounted between support members of a wall. The in-wall speaker system further has a speaker assembly mounted to the base frame and an active member that has an outer surface which is substantially coplanar with the surrounding wall section and in one form extends slightly outward therefrom. The base frame, speaker assembly, and the active member cooperate to form an acoustic chamber that is positioned behind the inner surface of the active member. Acoustic energy is transferred from the speaker assembly to the active member where the sound is produced therefrom to the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Dimensional Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul N. Hagman
  • Patent number: 7280666
    Abstract: An acoustic porting arrangement is provided that uses sound pressure signal ports (202, 112) to enhance speaker (406) and microphone cartridge (402) performance when mounting the speaker (406) on a moveable component, such as a flip part (102) of a flip-type cellular phone (100). A speaker acoustic path (504) is incorporated into the moveable component (102) to enhance the acoustic performance of an acoustic transducer (406). A microphone acoustic pathway (502) is also created through the moveable component (102) that delivers sound pressure energy to a microphone (402) that is mounted on a base (104) when the moveable component (102) is in its closed position and covering the microphone (108). Some embodiments reuse a surface acoustic port (202) for both paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Inventors: Nicolas E. Guyot, Joseph M. Friedman
  • Patent number: 7272236
    Abstract: A speaker housing for mounting at least one speaker therein is disclosed. The speaker housing includes a speaker enclosure sealed to a speaker cover. The speaker enclosure includes an opening for sealing a connector attached to a crossover printed circuit board assembly thereto. The connector protrudes through the opening in the speaker enclosure while the printed circuit board to which it is attached compresses a compressible gasket against a wall surrounding the opening in the speaker enclosure, sealing the connector thereto. The chassis wiring is coupled to the connector providing an inexpensive sealed interface between the electronics chassis and the crossover board assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: John Edward Nicholson, Patrick Thomas Whitsett, Lawrence Charles Coan
  • Patent number: 7269270
    Abstract: The frequency at which standing waves occur in a loudspeaker enclosure may be reduced by the addition of an internal barrier to the enclosure in order to lengthen the effective length of an internal dimension of the enclosure. Additionally, the internal barrier may be configured such that it forms a resistive coupling between two sides of the barrier. By configuring the internal barrier to form a resistive coupling, aberrations in the frequency response of the loudspeaker caused by certain standing waves may be dampened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Freeman, Timothy Holl
  • Patent number: 7266204
    Abstract: The rearview assembly of the present invention may include any one or more of the following: a housing for attaching to the vehicle, the housing may define an interior space that is acoustically separated into at least two chambers; a first speaker that may be located in a first one of the at least two chambers of the interior space of the housing; a first microphone subassembly located on the top surface of the housing; a second microphone subassembly located on the bottom surface of the housing; a display positioned in the housing; an audio/data transceiver for transmitting and receiving audio and data signals to/from a portable device; and a control circuit for determining whether a portable device having a predetermined identification code is within the range of the audio/data transceiver, and for exchanging data with the portable device through the audio/data transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Alan R. Watson, Michael A. Bryson
  • Patent number: 7263387
    Abstract: A speaker module (200) having a speaker unit (210) and a speaker box (220) is provided. The speaker module is mounted in a casing (22) of a hand-held electronic device (20). The speaker box (220) has a wall defining an aperture (222a) receiving the speaker unit therein. The speaker box has a neck section (224) formed by narrowing a peripheral wall of the speaker box. The neck section connects front and rear speaker chambers (222, 226) each of which has a cross-sectional dimension larger than that of the neck section. The speaker module is mounted on a printed circuit board (24) by fitting the neck section in a hole (24a) of the printed circuit board. The speaker unit is mounted in a front wall of the front chamber (222). An antenna module (26) is mounted in the casing behind the speaker module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: High Tech Computer, Corp.
    Inventors: San-Chi Ho, Kar-Chai Luk, Teerada Sirirattanasit
  • Patent number: 7260364
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: William Chris Eaton
  • 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: 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: 7242785
    Abstract: A portable speaker system includes a telescoping enclosure containing at least two drivers. The telescoping enclosure includes an inner section nested within an outer section. Each of the inner section and the outer section includes at least one speaker driver. The telescoping enclosure is configurable in at least two positions, a retracted or collapsed position and an extended position. By extending the telescoping enclosure, greater channel separation and greater internal volume for the enclosure is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Wade McNary
  • Patent number: 7233678
    Abstract: A communication terminal includes a housing carrying therein a radio antenna element, a speaker, and a chamber that acts as an electromagnetic resonance cavity for the antenna and as an acoustic resonance cavity for the speaker. The speaker is mounted inside the chamber and is coupled to the outside of the housing through a sound channel. The terminal includes a user interface on a front side of the housing and the speaker is placed behind the user interface as viewed from the front side, with the sound channel extending from a channel inlet at the speaker to a channel front outlet at the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Mats Erixon, Gƶran Schack, Stig Frohlund, Olof Simonsson
  • Patent number: 7227969
    Abstract: A loudspeaker apparatus is provided with a loudspeaker unit attached to an inner panel. The inner panel of the loudspeaker unit is provided with: an opening to which the loudspeaker unit is attached; a volume unit in which the loudspeaker unit is housed from the opening to form a closed space; and a groove passing through to the volume unit. The loudspeaker unit is housed in the volume unit, and a rear space of the loudspeaker unit in the volume unit is used as an acoustic volume unit of the loudspeaker unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Maekawa, Tetsuya Onuma, Takeshi Ito
  • Patent number: 7218747
    Abstract: An externally ported speaker enclosure includes a primary enclosure having a port or opening. The primary enclosure may continuously vary from a first dimension to a dimension of the port or opening. Alternatively, a duct or tube may extend from, and external to, the primary enclosure. The duct or tube may transition from a first dimension to a dimension of the port or opening. The dimensions of the port, primary enclosure, and transition from primary enclosure to port are configured to reinforce the low frequency response of a speaker mounted to the enclosure. A cylindrical primary enclosure may transition gradually or continuously to a port. The cylindrical primary enclosure can include a closed first end and an open port end. A speaker can be mounted to the cylindrical face of the primary enclosure. Alternatively, the speaker may be mounted parallel to an axis of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Inventor: Nick Huffman
  • Patent number: 7212647
    Abstract: By having multiple air passage holes 10c in the housing 1 and by creating a clearance G2 between the outer surface of the yoke 20 and the inner surface of the housing 1, the measurement of the clearance being confined to a range exceeding 0% but not exceeding 2.5% of the inner radius of the housing, the amount of air movement is limited by the clearance G2, and by this means the frequency range within which the desired acceleration can be attained is expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Namiki Seimitsu Houseki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Kaneda, Takayuki Kumagai, Yuichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7207413
    Abstract: An acoustic impedance matching enclosure is provided having a driver loaded into a chamber buffering the throat/mouth of a closed loop transmission line. Transmission line consists of a termination member, outer and inner enclosure walls, high-density lining and throat/mouth area. Transmission line eliminates internal random standing waves while providing variable-frequency standing waves that through superposition of the waves compensates for mass-acceleration loss of the high-end of the driver output while damping the resonance of the driver. Alternative application of the acoustic impedance matching enclosure is that of compression loading the driver directly into the closed loop transmission line and using an acoustic low pass filter to translate the output into low frequencies only through a port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: TBI Audio Systems LLC
    Inventor: Jan Princeton Plummer
  • Patent number: 7206422
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Jody H. Akens, Jeffrey W. Ashton, Jorge L. Garcia
  • Patent number: 7201252
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system includes a loudspeaker drive unit (1) and a rear sound absorption system (20) having a multiplicity of tubes connected to the rear of the loudspeaker drive unit. In one example, the rear sound absorption system (20) comprises a collector tube (22) for sound waves emerging from a passage in the magnet assembly of the loudspeaker drive unit, an annular diffuser (24) for sound waves coming from the back of the diaphragm (4), and a disk-shaped diffuser (26) for second waves collected by the collector tube (22). The disk-shaped diffuser (26) is part of a basket-like assembly (28) mounted on the rear of the magnet assembly (6). The annular diffuser (24) is mounted against the wall (2) of the enclosure in which the loudspeaker drive unit (1) is mounted. The annular diffuser (24) includes a base portion (24A) with integral upstanding vanes (24B) arranged in a spiral configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: B & W Loudspeakers Limited
    Inventor: Stuart Michael Nevill
  • Patent number: 7184562
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Seki, Makoto Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 7162050
    Abstract: A case is provided for mounting an information equipment and a frame of the compound sound generator is set in the case. A speaker and receiver are provided in the frame. A first back chamber is formed in the speaker and a second back chamber is formed in the receiver. A baffle is formed integrally with the frame so as to separate the first and second back chambers from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahito Furuya, Hironori Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 7162049
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Britannia Investment Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew S Polk, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7130420
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer assembly comprising an acoustic transducer body having one or more apertures through which an audio signal is passed. Two housing parts when assembled provides a acoustic transducer cavity for containing the acoustic transducer body and a resilient sealing gasket, and the acoustic transducer cavity has a sound passage through the housing wall. The resilient sealing gasket provides a channel for transferring said audio signal from said one or more apertures to the sound passage through the housing wall. The housing parts have an inclined wall part that transfers a biasing force originating from the two housing parts and acting on the acoustic transducer body to a force acting on the resilient sealing gasket in order to provide a sealing between the resilient sealing gasket and the sound passage through the housing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Limited
    Inventors: Lars Windeballe, Peter Thorndahl
  • Patent number: 7123736
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: William Chris Eaton
  • Patent number: 7123725
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for high intensity acoustic test cells that employ the Helmholtz resonator principle, incorporating at least one moderately-sized volume or test cell that is tunable to a given infrasonic to low-sonic frequency and generates sound of high intensity with very pure sinusoidal waveforms in this test cell or volume, by varying the geometry of a port which is connected to the test volume and open to either atmosphere or a second or input volume and by introducing to the test volume or the input volume a driving acoustic signal at the given tuned frequency. The apparatus and method are used for testing or performing experiments on materials, structures, devices, products, biological entities or humans at high acoustic intensities and frequencies in the low-sonic to infrasonic ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Harold E. Boesch, Jr., Bruce T. Benwell, Christian G. Reiff
  • Patent number: 7116795
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Inventors: Michael P Tuason, Robert D. Zucker
  • Patent number: 7113813
    Abstract: A portable communication terminal employs an electro-acoustic transducer having openings on the housing. The openings of the transducer are coupled to a housing of the terminal or acoustic pipes unitarily formed with the housing of the transducer. An opening of the acoustic pipe faces an opening provided in the housing of the terminal. The terminal uses a transducer including a diaphragm, a cover closely jointed to an outer periphery of the diaphragm and facing a front face of the diaphragm, and a frame provided at a rear face of the diaphragm. The terminal and the transducer consume less power and yet radiate greater output sound pressure with smaller bodies. They can deliver sound from a display section, so that a user accepts the sound normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Shimokawatoko, Shigeru Tomoeda, Koji Sano, Tetsuya Mori, Kazutaka Kubo
  • 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. CastaƱeda, Robert T. Jamilla