Acoustic Damping Or Attenuating Resonator Patents (Class 381/353)
  • Publication number: 20090208026
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing baffle vibration includes a baffle that is subject to vibration. A first transducer that is seated in the baffle includes a first diaphragm that is acoustically coupled to a listening area in a vehicle and also acoustically coupled to a cavity in the vehicle. A first input signal applied to the first transducer causes the first diaphragm to move in a first direction, thereby generating an acoustic output. A second transducer is mechanically coupled to the first transducer. The second transducer includes a second diaphragm that is acoustically coupled to the first diaphragm and also acoustically coupled to the listening area. A second input signal applied to the second transducer causes the second diaphragm to move in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction to reduce a vibration imparted to the baffle while substantially maintaining the acoustic output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: George Nichols, Michael Rosen, Hal Greenberger
  • Patent number: 7570776
    Abstract: A speaker device has a connecting member on which a groove capable of accumulating a constant amount of adhesive is formed. The groove is in the vicinity of a lower end of an outer peripheral wall of a cylindrical portion, and is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the cylindrical portion along a circumferential direction. A bottom surface of an inner peripheral edge portion of a conductive damper disposed on an upper side in plural dampers is fixed to the connecting member with adhesive applied to the groove. The adhesive is applied between the upper surface of the inner peripheral edge portion of the conductive damper and the outer peripheral wall of the cylindrical portion. Thus, the conductive damper, which is sandwiched by the adhesive applied to the groove and the adhesive applied to the upper surface of the conductive damper, is fixed to the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7565178
    Abstract: A portable wireless handset with enhanced acoustic functions is disclosed having a chamber gasket that has an opening sized to receive a speaker. When inserted into the opening, the speaker seals to the chamber gasket. The chamber gasket also seals to a support surface, so that a sealed acoustic chamber is created. The keypad has an opening in the user interface area for receiving a speaker, and a navigation input key may be positioned over the speaker. In this way, the speaker shares an area with the navigation key, and projects sounds through vents in the navigation key. With the speaker sealed to the keypad, and the keypad sealed to a printed circuit board, a sealed acoustic chamber is formed. Acoustic energy emitted from the back of the speaker is received into the sealed chamber, thereby improving the sound quality for sound projected from the front of the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corp.
    Inventors: Sidney Sitachitt, Sam Shifron, James D. Brownlie, Gregory L. Williams
  • Patent number: 7526094
    Abstract: A system for normalizing and calibrating the microphones of a sound-intensity probe or a composite of such probes, with respect to a stable comparison microphone with known acoustical characteristics. Normalizing and calibrating are performed using an apparatus 57 consisting of a tube with a loudspeaker inserted in one end and a fixture for holding the microphones of the probe together with the comparison microphone in the other end. The comparison microphone has known acoustical characteristics supplied by the manufacturer. Two banks of quarter-wave resonators 83 and 84 are attached to the side of the tube to absorb standing waves. The sound-intensity probe can be either a two-microphone probe used for measuring a single component of the sound-intensity vector or a probe with four microphones in the regular tetrahedral arrangement used for measuring the full sound-intensity vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Inventor: Robert Hickling
  • Patent number: 7515729
    Abstract: A speaker device includes a terminal member, a connecting member and a voice coil. The connecting member has a terminal mounting part, a flat surface and a recessed portion. The terminal member is mounted to the terminal mounting part. On the flat surface, an inner peripheral edge portion of a diaphragm is mounted via an adhesive. A lead wire drawn from the voice coil is drawn along an outer peripheral wall of the voice coil bobbin and inside the recessed portion to be electrically connected to a connecting part of the terminal member. Thus, the lead wire is not sandwiched by the flat surface and the diaphragm. Thereby, at the time of driving the speaker device, pressure is not given to the lead wire drawn into the recessed portion from the diaphragm and the connecting member. The cut of the lead wire can be thus prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20090010470
    Abstract: A resonating speaker comprises: an upper cover, an upper magnet, a positioning member, a magnetostrictive member, a coil, a lower magnet, a lower cover and a sound-transmitting member. The upper magnet, the positioning member, the magnetostrictive member, and the lower magnet are disposed in the upper cover. And then the connecting portion of the lower cover is connected to that of the upper cover, so that the lower magnet, the magnetostrictive member, and the upper magnet are pressed onto the upper cover by the upper cover, while leaving resonance space between the upper and lower covers. The vibration-transmitting member is fixed to the lower cover. Hence, the resonating speaker is small and easy to carry, and can play sound simply by puffing it on a sound-transmitting medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Yan-Min WANG
  • Publication number: 20090000353
    Abstract: A gas gauge for sensing distance to an object includes a gas supply system and a nozzle that supplies the gas from the gas supply system to a space between the nozzle and the object. For example, the gas supply system supplies the gas with a flow rate that corresponds to a flow in a transitional region between laminar flow and turbulent flow. A surface of the nozzle may be roughened so as to increase a friction factor across the surface, which increases gas pressure drop and also a gain of the nozzle. Noise generated by the increased flow rate may be attenuated using one or more strategically placed Helmholtz attenuators and/or snubbers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventor: Herman Vogel
  • Patent number: 7447322
    Abstract: A speaker having a transparent sound panel and an exciter connected to the transparent sound panel for converting electrical energy received by the exciter, into vibrations that are transmitted to the transparent sound panel, resulting in the transparent sound panel transmitting sound. The speaker also contains a stiff panel located between the exciter and the transparent sound panel, where the stiff panel minimizes dampening qualities associated with material utilized to fabricate the transparent sound panel and minimizes bending of the portion of the transparent sound panel that is in contact with the stiff panel. In addition, a dampening pad is located within the exciter for absorbing a portion of excessive mid-high frequency vibrations emanating from the exciter prior to transmission to the transparent sound panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Brookstone Purchasing, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth David Harris, Jr., Vian W. Y. Li, Timothy L. Trzepacz
  • Patent number: 7440580
    Abstract: An acoustical bass absorber which reduces peak and dip frequency response errors caused by interference from naturally occurring axial standing waves in rectangular rooms. The apparatus uses two forms of simple harmonic resonance: pistonic diaphragm resonance and Helmholtz cavity resonance. The pistonic diaphragm resonance is achieved by attaching a rigid planar membrane to metal springs. The Helmholtz cavity resonance is achieved by constructing an enclosed chamber attached to an open cylindrical tube. Coupling these two dissipation devices leads to several-fold improvement in absorption and total room mode attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Performance Media Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Anthony Grimani, Evan Reiley
  • Publication number: 20080159575
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a case, a sound absorbing tunnel, and a uni-directional microphone. The case defines a front acoustic opening and a rear acoustic opening. The sound absorbing tunnel is disposed in the case. The uni-directional microphone is disposed in the case, including a front to receive external sound via the front acoustic opening, and a rear to receive the external sound via the rear acoustic opening and the sound absorbing tunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: FORTEMEDIA, INC.
    Inventors: Ying-Te Chu, Gwo-Liang Yang
  • 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: 7350618
    Abstract: A satellite speaker system includes a side firing low mid driver mounted in a sub-enclosure which is vented into a second sub-enclosure through an acoustic resistance vent and to a third sub-enclosure through a variable aperture second vent. The vents further serve as pivots to allow the side-firing speaker to be rotated through a predetermined range, simultaneously varying the aperture of the second vent. The pivots are isolated by o-rings to provide an airtight seal to the sub-enclosures, as well as to provide vibration control. Third, fourth and fifth resistively damped vents allow the first and second sub-enclosure to establish acoustic communication with the environment. The front firing driver/s that reproduces the mid and high frequencies are mounted in a fourth sub-enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Aik Hee Goh, Susimin Suprapmo, Kar Choon Ng
  • Patent number: 7315627
    Abstract: A sound-damping structure is provided for use as part of a sound-directing component of a loudspeaker. The structure includes a first structural layer, a second structural layer, and a core layer enclosed between the first and second structural layers. The first and second structural layers include a generally rigid material, and the core layer includes a sound-damping material. The first structural layer includes an outside surface facing an exterior of the sound-directing component. The second structural layer includes an inside surface having an interior of the sound-directing component through which sound energy is directed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: David H. Cox, Bernard M. Werner, William J. Gelow
  • Patent number: 7305098
    Abstract: A hearing device has an electrical/acoustical output converter that communicates with ambient air through a membrane. The membrane separates two spaces. Each space communicates with ambient air through a passage that substantially blocks acoustical signals in the range of the audible spectrum and passes acoustical signals at a frequency lower than the audible spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Andi Vonlanthen, Hilmar Meier
  • Patent number: 7302075
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a TV set has a casing (11), a loudspeaker unit (18, 24), a first surface (21) of which faces a wall (11) of the casing. Retaining means (17) are formed in the casing so as to face a second surface (20) of the loudspeaker unit (18, 24). The loudspeaker unit (18, 24) is received between the wall (11) and the retaining means (17) of the casing, and there are at least one first vibration absorbing body (19) forming a spacer between the first surface (21) and the wall (11) and at least one second vibration absorbing body (19) forming a spacer between the second surface (20) of the loudspeaker unit and the retaining means (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Cornelius Sperle, Gilles Bourgoin, Alain Barrault, Roger Restif, André Ros
  • Patent number: 7270215
    Abstract: A loudspeaker cabinet with a laminated internal brace which has a first rigid layer coupled to a first exterior panel of the cabinet, a second rigid layer coupled to an a second exterior panel of the cabinet, and a damping layer affixed between the rigid layers where they overlap. Vibration, flexure, and expansion/contraction of the cabinet are damped by shearing forces applied to the damping layer as the rigid layers move in opposite, parallel directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: STEP Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Enrique M. Stiles
  • 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: 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: 7212644
    Abstract: A mechanical device is tuned using a tunable damping rod. The tunable damping rod can have its tension increased between its respective engines, to in order to increase the resonant frequency of the mechanical device. Different aspects may also be included; the mechanical device may include a constrained layer damping material, which constraints certain mechanical vibrations. The tuning may tuned the mechanical device to reach that vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Marcel Gavriliu, Tuomas Holmberg
  • Patent number: 7206428
    Abstract: The present invention is a receiver that includes electronics for converting an input audio signal to an output acoustic signal. The receiver has a housing for containing at least a portion of the electronics. The housing includes a port for broadcasting the output acoustic signal. A suspension system is coupled to the housing for dampening vibrations of the housing. In one preferred embodiment, the suspension system includes three resilient contact structures for contacting a surrounding structure in which the receiver is placed. The contact structures are positioned at specific locations to provide variable dampening levels. In another embodiment, the dampening is provided by a low-viscosity, gel-like material positioned between the housing and the surrounding structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Onno Geschiere, Jan Hijman, Jeroen P. J. Augustijn, Arno W. Koenderink, Justus Elisa Auf dem Brinke
  • 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: 7088839
    Abstract: The present invention is a receiver that includes electronics for converting an input audio signal to an output acoustic signal. The receiver has a housing for containing at least a portion of the electronics. The housing includes a port for broadcasting the output acoustic signal. A suspension system is coupled to the housing for dampening vibrations of the housing. In one preferred embodiment, the suspension system includes three resilient contact structures for contacting a surrounding structure in which the receiver is placed. The contact structures are positioned at specific locations to provide variable dampening levels. In another embodiment, the dampening is provided by a low-viscosity, gel-like material positioned between the housing and the surrounding structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Onno Geschiere, Jan Hijman, Jeroen P. J. Augustijn, Arno W. Koenderink, Justus Elisa Auf dem Brinke
  • 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: 7035419
    Abstract: An anti-resonant structure for speakers includes a resonant structure which has a housing compartment, at least one elastic element located in the housing compartment that has one end fastening to the resonant structure and another end coupling with a speaker, and at least one buffer element located between the resonant structure and the elastic element to serve as a buffer interface to prevent the speaker from hitting due to elastic element and the resonant structure. The speaker is the element that generates vibration. The elastic element has an elastic section to absorb the vibration energy generated by the speaker to prevent the resonant structure from generating unwanted resonance and noises, and prevent electronic elements from being damaged by the resonant effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Uniwill Computer Corp.
    Inventors: Ching-Hsiang Yu, Ming Yeang Lin, Chin-Fa Liao, Chien-Hung Chen
  • 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: 7011178
    Abstract: A sound transmitter includes at least a vibrating membrane mounted on the wall of an enclosure so that one surface of the speaker membrane radiates in the enclosure, the enclosure being provided with a vent forming a conduit between an outlet inside the enclosure and an outlet outside the enclosure. The vent comprises aerodynamic turbulence attenuating elements at least at one of the outlets, the turbulence resulting from an air stream caused by the large amplitude displacements of the membrane. The invention also concerns a sound transmitter wherein air moves in a conduit (33) extending from the membrane to an outlet (35) of the conduit (33) on the outside. The invention further concerns a speaker whereof the members have an aerodynamic shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignees: Universite Pierre et Marie Curie
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Morkerken
  • Patent number: 6914993
    Abstract: A piezoelectric film loudspeaker comprising a diaphragm having a flexible piezoelectric film and electrodes formed on the both surfaces of the flexible piezoelectric film and a frame for supporting a side of the diaphragm, wherein said respective electrodes disposed on the both surfaces are divided into a plurality of sections. Each area of the divided electrodes is formed differently from one another, and each curvature of the film in the divided section also is formed differently from one another. Thus, the piezoelectric film loudspeaker having a predetermined area can have a broad band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6870941
    Abstract: A dipole radiating dynamic speaker design comprises a diaphragm (32) providing a surface for radiating acoustic output, a voice coil assembly (36) for driving the diaphragm, and a magnet system for providing magnetic flux across the voice coil assembly. The speaker incorporates a vented pole flux conductor (42) and a vent adjacent to the diaphragm permitting the rearward acoustic output to propagate away from the diaphragm producing acoustic output as a dipole radiator. A method of utilizing the dipole radiating dynamic speaker design for tweeter and mid-range speaker applications used in home, automotive, and professional audio systems is disclosed. In addition a novel enclosure design is disclosed that utilizes a front panel perimeter vent providing improvement of audio reproduction quality for mid-range speaker applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Inventor: Glenn A. Marnie
  • Publication number: 20040258266
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microphone, in particular a microphone which is used in microphone headsets (also called boomsets). The object of the present invention is to create a microphone headset which firstly has an unobtrusive lens system, has a small size and with which only few popping sounds are picked up, therefore in which great wind noise insensitivity is provided, which moreover does not have a projecting, bent arm and moreover is also aligned optimally with the user's mouth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Raimund Staat
  • Publication number: 20040202343
    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: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Ryan P. Rye, Martin H. Ramsden
  • Publication number: 20040184631
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transducer for converting between mechanical vibration and electrical signal, the transducer comprising a housing enclosing a substantially cylindrical permanent magnet and a coil, the magnet having a side-to-side polar orientation. The transducer may be used as sensor that is part of a sensor array for detecting vibrations from a hollow-bodied musical instrument and converting the vibrations into electrical signals for amplification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventor: David Hosler
  • Patent number: 6788796
    Abstract: A new acoustic sensing device or directional microphone having greater sensitivity and reduced noise. The directional microphone or acoustic sensor has a rigid, one micron thick, polysilicon membrane having dimensions of about 1 mm×2 mm. The membrane is supported upon its center by rigid supports having torsional and transverse stiffness. The differential microphone is useful in hearing aids, telecommunications equipment, information technology and military applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: The Research Foundation of the State University of New York
    Inventors: Ronald Miles, Sanjay Sundermurthy, Colum Gibbons, Ronald Hoy, Daniel Robert
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6751330
    Abstract: A driver unit is fixed to a stand. A front box and a rear box are directly fitted to the stand through a buffer material. A box comes into contact with the driver unit through a buffer material and is fixed to the stand. Therefore, sound of the driver unit is not transmitted to the box and the drop of sound quality of the speaker can be prevented. The driver unit is fixed to the stand at an immovable foundation, and sound energy can be efficiently transmitted from a speaker cone to the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignees: Fujitsu Ten Limited, Timedomain Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kowaki, Akira Nishikawa, Katsuhiko Tsumori, Hiroyuki Yoshii
  • Patent number: 6751329
    Abstract: A drive module for attachment to a rigid panel and adapted to apply bending wave energy at audio frequencies to the panel whereby the panel can radiate an audio output. The drive module has a housing adapted to be secured to the panel, at least one foot on the housing and adapted to fix the housing securely to the panel, an electro-mechanical transducer in the housing, a support for the transducer in the housing, the transducer being adapted to contact the panel to apply bending wave energy thereto when energized with an electrical audio signal, and an audio signal amplifier in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Martin Colloms, Ian David MacFarlane
  • Publication number: 20040081325
    Abstract: The invention relates to an acoustic structure which complies with protection standard IP 67 and which can be used to provide hands-free capability e.g. in cellular terminals or small radio receivers. The acoustic structure comprises, in a device body (100), two interconnected, separate cavities for speaker means (151, 152, 153) and isolating means (120, 125, 130, 140). An isolating diaphragm (125) belonging to the speaker arrangement according to the invention is utilized simultaneously as an isolating means against dust and water and as a sound-reproduction element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Janne Rautio, Juha Petteri Jylanki
  • Publication number: 20040081330
    Abstract: A speaker with cabinet structure includes a frame in a close ring can be in any shape with inner fasten brim on circumference, a diaphragm located on front of frame, a dust proof cap is on the center of the diaphragm; a voice coil is beneath the diaphragm, an insulation ring is under the voice coil, an iron core and a magnet is also under insulation ring, a pressing ring fastens the diaphragm onto the inner fasten brim, the frame is placed on the open of a box with corresponding shape to form a sealed space inside box to bounce the diaphragm back. When the diaphragm vibrates, the sealed air inside the speaker box can perform the best frequency response, functions like a acoustic cabinet and avoid the damper, he sealed space can achieve the waterproof and moisture proof effect, the structure is simpler for lower manufacturing cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventor: Hsi-Chung Lin
  • Patent number: 6704427
    Abstract: An acoustic damper for covering a housing inlet of a transducer is disclosed. The damper includes a mesh panel and a non-mesh periphery. The non-mesh periphery of the damper is adhesively attached to the housing of the transducer wherein the mesh panel covers the inlet. The non-mesh periphery of the damper inhibits the adhesive from wicking into the mesh panel. The damper is adaptable for attachment of a film. The film is capable of cooperating with a backplate to form a motor assembly of the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Steve Kearey
  • Patent number: 6636750
    Abstract: A speakerphone accessory (100) is provided for use with a portable telephone (102). The speakerphone accessory (100) has a high-level speaker assembly (222) that includes a transducer (500) coupled to first and second resonators (502, 504). The first and second resonators (502, 504) are designed so that the first resonator (502) is most efficient at a high frequency while the second resonator (504) has maximum response at a low frequency. The frequency ranges produced by the first and second resonators (502, 504) overlap to reproduce frequencies between the high and low frequencies. The high-level speaker assembly (222), therefore, provides an acoustic bandpass having improved response when compared to the response of the transducer (500) alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Zurek, Thomas Gitzinger, Michael Charlier
  • Publication number: 20030185412
    Abstract: A space-saving, simply assembled bearing of an electroacoustic miniature transducer that also exhibits good damping properties is provided via a first and second elastic retainer element, whereby the first elastic retainer element is secured to the housing of the electroacoustic miniature transducer only in a central region of the front side of the housing and the second elastic retainer element is secured to the housing of the electroacoustic miniature transducer only in a central region of the housing backside lying opposite the front side of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Anton Gebert, Markus Heerlein
  • Patent number: 6621910
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for improving leak tolerance in an earpiece (100) of a radio device. The invention can be applied preferably in mobile stations. One idea of the invention is that an acoustic volume (111) is arranged behind the earpiece by taking advantage of the RF shield casing (112, 116) of a radio frequency unit of the device. By means of the invention one can form behind the earpiece an acoustic volume which loads optimally the earpiece without therefore needing to enlarge the size of the device. In an embodiment of the invention one wall of the casing arranged behind the earpiece has been formed by means of an electronic circuit board (112), to which circuit board radio frequency components (117) of an electronic unit have been connected. Then between the casing and the external volume one can preferably form an acoustic path by means of through holes (113, 114) arranged in the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd.
    Inventors: Anders Weckström, Jari Suutari, Juha Backman
  • Publication number: 20030165249
    Abstract: When a sound signal is received, a sound wave generated on an upper surface of a vibration plate is transmitted to a sound collection portion through a first air passage, and a sound wave generated on a lower surface of the vibration plate is transmitted to the sound collection portion through a second air passage. The sound waves generated above and below the upper and lower surfaces of the vibration plate are about 180 degrees out of phase from each other and substantially cancel each other which minimize or prevent howling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20030161493
    Abstract: Transducer (100, 200, 300, 500, 600) for converting mechanical vibrations to an electrical signal and/or for converting an electrical signal to mechanical vibration. Damping liquid (122, 222, 522, 622) damps the relative vibration of transducer components (110, 250, 252, 254, 510, 610). The damping liquid can be selected to optimize the sound quality of acoustic vibrations at the point of transduction. Also, a transducer with components that rotate relative to each other (304, 310, 504, 510, 604, 610). For example, a permanent magnet component may simultaneous vibrate rotationally and linearly with respect to an electric signal carrying coil. The characteristics of the rotational vibration may be adjusted to optimize sound quality of acoustic vibrations at the point of transduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventor: David Lee Hosler
  • Publication number: 20030152239
    Abstract: A resonator for noise damping in a sound-conducting tubular channel (2) is provided with an actively controllable sound generator (4) which is arranged in a resonator chamber (12) to generate interference noise (16) to be superimposed on the tubular channel noise. The resonator chamber (12) is connected via a sound-transmitting opening in a tube wall (3) of the tubular channel (2) to the inside of the tubular channel. A measurement signal from a sound sensor (8) arranged in the tubular channel (2), containing information about the sound spectrum in the channel, is connected amplified, to the sound generator (4) with the same frequency and with inverse phase position. To amplify the active suppression of the sound level by the resonator with a resonator of the smallest possible overall size, the sound-transmitting opening in the tube wall is constructed as a peripheral annular gap in the tube wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Applicant: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Graefenstein
  • Publication number: 20030123688
    Abstract: For loudspeaker components with flat and/or curved panel-like regions that require hard surfaces along with sound-damping properties to minimize sound feed-through and resonances, a three-layer laminate is formed from two surface layers of commercially available thermosetting molding compound, co-molded in a single molding operation with an embedded core of suitable sound damping material such as filled vinyl copolymer compound or filled silicon rubber compound. The core region is dimensioned to leave a peripheral margin in which the two layers of molding material become bonded together so as to fully encapsulate and seal the sound-damping core. Furthermore, the margin can be made to have any desired size, thickness or shape to also serve as a mounting, fastening or other function of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: David H Cox, Bernard M Werner, William J Gelow
  • Patent number: 6574347
    Abstract: An economical and compact flat panel loudspeaker is disclosed that effectively dampens undesirable standing waves that form in the diaphragm without adversely affecting the frequency response. The diaphragm is preferably anisotropic, and has at least one compliant compressed dampening member transposed between it and a substantially planar support. The dampening member is preferably positioned at or near at least one mode of constructive or destructive interference on the diaphragm, and urges the diaphragm away from the planar support, thereby placing as light bending force on the diaphragm, and a slight compression force on the dampening member. Accordingly, the dampening member serves as a sink for transferring undesirable standing waves from the diaphragm to the planar support. In a preferred embodiment, the dampening member is an elongated strip of compliant foam rigidly secured to the diaphragm and planar support and extending through a plurality of modes on the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventor: Jason N. Linse
  • Publication number: 20030095678
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a loudspeaker (480), comprising: a support (483); a sound-generating element (481) mounted to the support for vibration to generate sound; and an electro-active device (485) coupled between the support and the sound-generating element for vibrating the sound-generating element (481) in response to an electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Anthony Hooley, David Henry Pearce, Gareth McKevitt, Mark Richard Shepherd, James Allan, Simon Andrew Longbottom, Ursula Ruth Lenel
  • Publication number: 20030063767
    Abstract: A novel cap for a telephone unit is provided to de-couple the loudspeaker diaphragm from the acoustic resonance in the enclosure and dampen the first resonant frequency of the diaphragm. The cap has a flange located at an outer edge thereof and a cavity provided in the cap. The cap cavity is sized to house an acoustical speaker that is directed outwardly through an aperture in an outer casing of the telephone unit. The flange of the cap is coupled to the outer casing so that the cap covers the aperture. A gap is provided between the cap and the outer casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: Mitel Knowledge Corporation
    Inventors: Stephane Dedieu, Philippe Moquin
  • Patent number: 6526150
    Abstract: An apparatus for a microphone and speaker is provided which provides a sealed chamber behind the speaker to prevent sound waves behind the speaker from cancelling sound waves in front of the speaker. In addition, the apparatus is configured to mechanically isolate the speaker from the apparatus housing in order to improve performance of the system. A pliant material such as a damping material with a relatively linear compression characteristic, such as a thermal plastic elastomer, may be used to isolate the speaker from the apparatus housing as well as providing a relatively air tight chamber behind the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Information & Communication Mobile, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel B. Kelly, Jason B. Kihneman, Wayne E. McKinnon
  • Patent number: RE39330
    Abstract: A speaker system suppresses standing waves generated in the system and reproduces clear and dynamic bass sound. The system includes a cabinet formed of acoustic insulation walls, and at least one partition wall situated inside the cabinet to form a space by surrounding the space. The partition wall suppresses the standing waves generated inside the cabinet and is formed of a material having high internal loss. The space has a total capacity more than one tenth of a capacity of the cabinet, wherein a closed end of the partition wall is located between one-half and four-fifths of a distance from one end to the other end, and an opening area of the same partition wall is located at a side opposite to the closed end in a longitudinal direction of the cabinet. The opening area is located between four-fifths and five fifths of a distance from one end to the other end. The material has a density per volume greater than 0.1 g/cm3, a density per area from 0.01 g/cm2 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventor: Katsutoshi Tozawa