Mounting Or Support Feature Of Housed Loudspeaker Patents (Class 381/386)
  • Patent number: 10889251
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to audible vehicle alert systems that include bracket assemblies for detachably mounting components of the audible vehicle alert systems to vehicles. Exemplary audible vehicle alert systems may include a first bracket, a second bracket detachably secured to the first bracket, and a speaker unit mounted to the second bracket. The second bracket may be disconnected from the first bracket during a servicing event for servicing the speaker unit or some other component of the audible vehicle alert system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Emil Jackson, Aaron Nunn, Raymond Rouse, Russell Knight
  • Patent number: 10827254
    Abstract: A passive radiator vibration speaker having a phase reversal structure can include a driving unit configured to generate a driving force, a diaphragm f disposed on an upper side of the driving unit to reproduce a first sound of a sound band of a specific range by being vibrated by the driving unit, a passive radiator disposed above the diaphragm in a state of being spaced apart from the diaphragm by a determined distance to reproduce a second sound of a relatively lower sound band than that of the diaphragm through vibration, and a phase reversal unit having one side being in contact with a lower surface of the diaphragm to reverse a phase of a part of the vibration of the diaphragm so as to transmit a phase-reversed vibration to the passive radiator, where the phase-reversed vibration is in a reversed phase to the vibration of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Youngbeom Kim
  • Patent number: 10820081
    Abstract: A speaker mounting system having a driver housing and a plurality of clamping assemblies is disclosed. The driver housing includes a face surrounded by a flange, a driver and a central axis. The clamping assemblies are coupled to the driver housing, each including an enclosure, a dog ear, an actuator, and a biasing element. Each dog ear has a core, a threading, and an arm, is rotatably coupled to the enclosure along a first axis, and slideable along a path. Each actuator has a body and a threading, and is rotatably coupled to the enclosure along a second axis. Each biasing element biases the dog ear towards the face. Each clamping assembly is movable between a hidden configuration, an extended configuration, and a tightened configuration. The speaker mounting system may also include a powered rough-in assembly having a mounting frame and a wiring block with two terminals and two wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SOUNDVISION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brock Belliston, Kary Wawrzyniak, Bryan Garner
  • Patent number: 10820076
    Abstract: A sound output device includes: a speaker unit that has a sound emitting portion; an attaching member by which the speaker unit is attached to an object; a separating member that is provided between the speaker unit and the attaching member to separate the speaker unit from the attaching member; and a sealing member that is provided between the speaker unit and the attaching member to reduce a sound that is emitted from a side of the speaker unit opposite to the sound emitting portion and is transmitted to a sound emitting portion side. The attaching member has a first portion on a side of the sound emitting portion of the speaker unit, and the first portion of the attaching member has an opening that corresponds to the sound emitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunito Takahashi, Akiyoshi Sato, Tsuyoshi Okami
  • Patent number: 10728673
    Abstract: An assembly method of a loudspeaker with closed membrane provides for preassembling a mobile unit having two centering devices fixed to a voice coil; pre-assembling a fixed unit that has a basket fixed to a magnetic unit, assembling the mobile unit in the fixed unit, by a centering device; extracting the centering device and fixing a closed membrane to the voice coil and to the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ASK INDUSTRIES SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Claudio Panni, Dario Cinanni, Manrico Colonna
  • Patent number: 10715894
    Abstract: A portable audio input/output device may include an assembly enclosure that contains electrical and mechanical components of the device. A substantially cylindrical frame may encircle the assembly enclosure and may be surrounded by a tube of seamless material. A top end of the tube of seamless material may fold over a top end of the substantially cylindrical frame, and a bottom end of the tube of seamless material may fold over a bottom end of the substantially cylindrical frame. A cover assembly may couple to a top end of the assembly enclosure and secure the top end of the seamless fabric. A charging foot may be coupled to a bottom end of the assembly enclosure and secure the bottom end of the seamless fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Mann Chamberlin, Chia Hung Kuo, Jacob William Beatty, Duane Everard Whyte, Adrian Roy Ramiscal Santos, Tony David, Albert John Yu Sam Chua
  • Patent number: 10587956
    Abstract: The invention relates to a new membrane for a loudspeaker. The membrane comprises a central portion having a sound emitting surface and a back surface. The membrane further comprises a first edge directly adjacent to the central portion and surrounding the central portion. The membrane further comprises a second edge surrounding the first edge and an intermediate portion located between the first edge and the second edge, wherein the intermediate portion comprises at least one convex shaped section with regard to the sound emitting surface area of the central portion and at least one concave shaped section with regard to the sound emitting surface area of the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Sound Solutions Austria GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Hintennach, Armin Timmerer
  • Patent number: 10555059
    Abstract: A bracket assembly is used to secure a housing to a support structure such as a post, wall or ceiling. The bracket assembly includes an inner bracket, an outer bracket and a connector. The inner bracket is configured to be mounted on the support structure separately from the outer bracket, and the outer bracket is configured to be quickly mounted on the inner bracket. The outer bracket and connector are joined by a ball and socket joint. Angular adjustment of the ball relative to the socket is made prior to mounting of the outer bracket on the inner bracket, and the desired orientation is maintained using a clamping assembly. The bracket assembly includes sealing features that prevent moisture from entering the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignees: Bosch Security Systems, Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Edgar Nicolas, Darin Stephenson
  • Patent number: 10516147
    Abstract: Implementations of a battery pack with reduced magnetic field emission are provided. In some implementations, the battery pack may be configured to reduce and/or eliminate the magnetic field normally generated while electrical current is being drawn from one or more cylindrical-steel electrochemical cells (e.g., AA batteries) by a connected electrical device. In some implementations, each electrochemical cell of a battery pack may include a conductive sleeve comprised of four conductive strips that are separated from the electrochemical cell by a thin insulating layer of material. In this way, the conductive sleeve provides a return path for electrical current that minimizes the loop area between the electrochemical cell and the conductive sleeve thereof. In some implementations, the four conductive strips of a conductive sleeve may be equally spaced 90 degrees apart and/or positioned longitudinally on a cylindrical-steel electrochemical cell, separated therefrom by the insulating layer of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: 9013733 CANADA INC.
    Inventors: David Giessel, Bruce Hildesheim
  • Patent number: 10482727
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing. A semi-rigid polymer light pipe ring is positioned along the housing. A portion of the semi-rigid polymer light pipe ring extends outwardly beyond a convex major surface of the housing. A substantially planar housing member is coupled to and seals an interior of the semi-rigid polymer light pipe ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Herrmann, Marcello Zuffo, ChoonShin You
  • Patent number: 10469925
    Abstract: A speaker device includes: a loudspeaker including a diaphragm and a field portion disposed rearwardly of the diaphragm; and a cabinet accommodating the field portion. The loudspeaker also includes a mounting member with which the loudspeaker is mounted to the cabinet, and a mounting plane of the mounting member includes a center of gravity of the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Suemei Fukuhara, Kazuki Honda, Takafumi Yuasa, Churo Sato, Ippei Kiyama, Satoshi Takayama
  • Patent number: 10419836
    Abstract: A combination of a loudspeaker housing and a suspension bracket for hanging the loudspeaker to a fixed suspension point, whereby the suspension bracket and the loudspeaker housing are provided with complementary mechanical coupling devices and whereby the suspension bracket and the loudspeaker are provided with complementary electrical contact points that are arranged to make contact with one another in the situation in which the loudspeaker housing and the suspension bracket are mechanically coupled by means of the mechanical coupling devices, and are further provided with means to fix the loudspeaker in a desired position with respect to the suspension bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: APART AUDIO, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP
    Inventors: Koen Jan Claerbout, Tom Jozef Maria Gheysens, Wim Corten
  • Patent number: 10299022
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic device. In an embodiment, the electronic device may include a body, a display combined with the front of the body, and a speaker assembly embedded on at least one side of the body, wherein the speaker assembly may include a casing configured to form an external appearance and a speaker unit combined with the casing and configured to have at least part of an element of the speaker assembly exposed to an outside of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yongjun Je, Youngin Ko
  • Patent number: 10299045
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a miniature speaker, including a vibration unit, a magnetic unit and a housing, the vibration unit includes a first diaphragm, a centering support, a second diaphragm and a voice coil; the centering support includes a first centering support and a second centering support having a conductive portion electrically connected with an external circuit; the second diaphragm includes a first half-diaphragm assembled with the first centering support and a second half-diaphragm assembled with the second centering support, the first half-diaphragm and the second half-diaphragm are asymmetrical configured with respect to each other. Under such structure, it is only necessary to adjust the material and shape of the first half-diaphragm and the second half-diaphragm, swing of the miniature speaker at low frequency can be effectively suppressed, a maximum output sound pressure of the miniature speaker can be effectively improved, and low-frequency sound quality can be improved accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Bo Xiao, Ronglin Linghu
  • Patent number: 10244309
    Abstract: A speaker system includes an enclosure, a speaker unit, and an elastic sheet. The speaker unit is disposed in the enclosure. The elastic sheet includes a first fiber made of a resin and a second fiber made of a resin, and is disposed in the enclosure. The second fiber is thicker than the first fiber and entangled with the first fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10182286
    Abstract: The invention discloses a sound device. The sound device includes a frame and a lower plate. The frame includes a side wall and a leaking hole penetrating the side wall. The sound device also includes an air-permeable isolator covering the leaking hole, and the air-permeable isolator covers the leaking hole completely. Compared with the related technologies, when the sound device is provided in the box body to form a sound device box, a back cavity circumvented and formed by the sound device and the sound device box can be directly filled with acoustic absorbent to form a virtual acoustic cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Shuwen Wu, Wei Song, Haifei Huang
  • Patent number: 10129619
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a receiver comprising an outer housing that consists of a first housing, a second housing and a third housing fitting to each other from top to bottom. The third housing is an integral structure, and includes a magnetic conductive piece and a plastic piece integrally injection-molded therewith. The magnetic conductive piece is bonded and fixed with a magnet and a washer. The magnetic conductive piece, the magnet and the washer together form a magnetic circuit system of the receiver, and the third housing is fixed with the second housing by ultrasonic welding through the plastic piece. The receiver of the present invention can realize one-step assembly of the rear cavity housing of the product, simplify the production process of the product, save the production time, and further reduce the production cost of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Gang Chen, Linjin Mao
  • Patent number: 10111345
    Abstract: A hub comprises a main body with a speaker; a communication module included in the main body; a window formed of a transparent material; a display panel for displaying a screen based on information exchanged via the communication module; and a cover housing coupled to a top of the main body and having a display panel and an opening at an upper surface thereof. The window is provided on an upper surface of the display panel, wherein a normal vector with respect to a predetermined plane in which the opening falls is at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane, and a vector acquired by orthogonally projecting the normal vector with respect to the horizontal plane faces forward. A portion of the inner surface of the cover housing is parallel with the normal vector, and the window is provided so that an upper surface faces the direction of the normal vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Sangin Kim
  • Patent number: 10051352
    Abstract: A method of controlling a speaker grill of a speaker including a play unit separable from the speaker grill in a vehicle includes: collecting at least one of information outputted by a sensor equipped in the vehicle and information indicating an operating state of a device equipped in the vehicle; determining an opening ratio of the speaker grill of the speaker based on the collected information; and controlling a motor device coupled to the speaker grill to achieve the opening ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Young Tak Jeon
  • Patent number: 10034072
    Abstract: An inflatable speaker includes a collapsible inflatable housing and a loudspeaker, the collapsible housing includes a circumferential side wall, a first end wall, a second end wall, and a valve for inflating the collapsible inflatable housing, wherein the first end wall includes a first inner layer, a first outer layer, and a speaker support plate between them provided with an audio transmission inner sound hole, the first outer layer is provided with an outer sound hole. The loudspeaker is positioned between the first inner layer and speaker support plate, a waterproof ventilated acoustic membrane is placed to cover the loudspeaker frame, a first waterproof adhesive permanently binds the waterproof ventilated acoustic membrane and speaker support plate together, and a second waterproof adhesive permanently binds the edge portion of the outer sound hole and speaker support plate together, thus, giving the inflatable speaker a higher level of protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Seksun Corporation Limited
    Inventor: Songping Chen
  • Patent number: 9992036
    Abstract: A hub includes a main body including a communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with another device and a cover housing coupled to a top portion of the main body, the cover housing including a sidewall that extends in a vertical direction and a partition extending from an inner surface of the sidewall to divide an inside of the sidewall into upper and lower regions. The hub further includes a display panel positioned in the cover housing, the display panel providing a visual output; and a display Printed Circuit Board (PCB) positioned on the partition, the display panel being positioned on an upper surface of the display PCB. The cover housing further includes a rib protruding upward from the partition, the rib extending through a gap between the display PCB and the sidewall to contact with a periphery of the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Dajeong Eom, Sanghoon Chi
  • Patent number: 9990002
    Abstract: A hub has a display Printed Circuit Board (PCB) having a contact switch; a display panel positioned above the display PCB and controlled by the display PSB to output content. A window support is positioned over the display panel and has an opening exposing at least a section of display panel. A window formed of a transparent material is positioned over the window support. The window support includes a window support plate defining the opening, the window being positioned on an upper surface of the window support plate; at least one manipulation protrusion extending downward from the window support plate at a position corresponding to the contact switch, the manipulation protrusion operating the contact switch in response to pressure applied to the support plate through the window; and support bosses extending downward from the window support plate and coupled to the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Sangin Kim
  • Patent number: 9982832
    Abstract: A bracket assembly is used to secure a housing to a support structure such as a post, wall or ceiling. The bracket assembly includes an inner bracket, an outer bracket and a connector. The inner bracket is configured to be mounted on the support structure separately from the outer bracket, and the outer bracket is configured to be quickly mounted on the inner bracket. The outer bracket and connector are joined by a ball and socket joint. Angular adjustment of the ball relative to the socket is made prior to mounting of the outer bracket on the inner bracket, and the desired orientation is maintained using a clamping assembly. The bracket assembly includes sealing features that prevent moisture from entering the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: Bosch Security Systems Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Edgar Nicolas, Darin Stephenson
  • Patent number: 9976692
    Abstract: A bracket assembly is used to secure a housing to a support structure such as a post, wall or ceiling. The bracket assembly includes an inner bracket, an outer bracket and a connector. The inner bracket is configured to be mounted on the support structure separately from the outer bracket, and the outer bracket is configured to be quickly mounted on the inner bracket. The outer bracket and connector are joined by a ball and socket joint. Angular adjustment of the ball relative to the socket is made prior to mounting of the outer bracket on the inner bracket, and the desired orientation is maintained using a clamping assembly. The bracket assembly includes sealing features that prevent moisture from entering the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignees: Bosch Security Systems, Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Edgar Nicolas, Darin Stephenson
  • Patent number: 9942636
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted speaker system achieves improvement in the weather resistance against a vehicle exterior environment and enables degradation in sound quality to be prevented. In the vehicle-mounted speaker system, a supporting member separating a vehicle interior space from a vehicle exterior space is provided with an opening. The supporting member supports a speaker, and a rear cover covering the back of the speaker closes the opening. The rear cover includes an annular flexible member supported by the supporting member, and a non-flexible vibrating plate supported by an inner portion of the annular flexible member. An enclosed space is defined between the rear cover having such a configuration and a diaphragm of the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Kei Tanabe, Ryo Ito, Akio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9924249
    Abstract: A horn for use with a loudspeaker may include an entrance disposed at a first axial end of the horn and configured to receive a driver. A mouth may be disposed at a second axial end of the horn opposite the entrance. A contoured surface may extend between the entrance and the mouth. A cross sectional shape of a coverage pattern of audible sound emitted by the loudspeaker coupled with the horn may be independent of a shape of the entrance and a shape of the mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Charles M. Sprinkle
  • Patent number: 9913044
    Abstract: An audio speaker enclosure assembly that includes a first enclosure portion, a second enclosure portion, a speaker magnet, and a cone assembly. The first enclosure portion has a magnet receiving structure with the speaker magnet being fully installed and supported therein. The second enclosure portion has a main wall with an opening. The cone assembly is installed to the main wall with a cone portion of the cone assembly extending through the opening such that a coil portion of the cone assembly extends into a gap of the speaker magnet. The first enclosure portion supports the speaker magnet and the second enclosure portion supports the cone assembly independent of the first enclosure portion with the first and second enclosure portions attached to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Brian O'Neal
  • Patent number: 9870055
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing, a display carried by the housing, and audio output transducer and passive radiator pairs carried by the housing. The electronic device may also include a controller capable of selectively operating the audio output transducers. In another embodiment, the electronic device may include audio output transducer and serpentine tuning port pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ryan J. Mihelich, Inna Lobel
  • Patent number: 9866933
    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: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Slot Speaker Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Fincham
  • Patent number: 9860630
    Abstract: A loudspeaker damping assembly can mechanically damp or isolate a loudspeaker transducer from a mounting surface. The damping assembly can include a loudspeaker housing or frame that receives a loudspeaker transducer, and a flexible, deformable, or conformable flange damper extending outward from an edge of the loudspeaker housing. The flange damper can be positioned against a loudspeaker wall or ceiling mounting surface. The damping assembly optionally includes a clamp damper opposite the flange damper, or a peripheral edge damper at an outer perimeter edge of the loudspeaker housing. In an example, a loudspeaker system includes a low frequency first transducer and an array of high frequency transducers overlapping a front face of the low frequency transducer. In an example, the transducer array has an arcuate profile, and an axis of the array is non-coaxial with a central axis of the first transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: CORE BRANDS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael L. Strange, Doug S. Wright, Vance Dickason
  • Patent number: 9854351
    Abstract: A speaker device includes a housing, first speaker unit disposed at a front surface of the housing, a second speaker unit disposed at the front surface, a first passive radiator disposed at the front surface, a second passive radiator disposed at a rear surface of the housing, and at least one structure disposed inside the housing, where the one of the at least one structure is disposed between the first passive radiator and the second passive radiator and disposed to form a gap, through which air flows, between the structure and at least one of the housing, the first speaker unit, the second speaker unit, and another of the at least one structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Byung Gon Han, Soo Jin Park, Gun Lim
  • Patent number: 9826296
    Abstract: A speaker assembly and a display device including the speaker assembly are provided. The speaker assembly may include a first speaker, a first magnet provided on a side of the first speaker, a second speaker, a second magnet provided on a side of the second speaker that faces the side of the first speaker and having a magnetic polarity different from a magnetic polarity of the first magnet, a first bracket provided under the first speaker to support the first speaker, and a second bracket provided under the second speaker to support the second speaker, the second bracket configured to slide out from the first bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Brian Chung, Youngsung Kim, Sumin Yoon
  • Patent number: 9813820
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a light-emitting element, a frame, a magnetic circuit provided with a magnetic gap, a diaphragm, a voice coil bobbin, and a voice coil. The diaphragm has an inner circumferential end including an end face facing the light-emitting element, and a light guide having a reflecting surface formed thereon and provided at a position where light enters from the end face. The first end of the voice coil bobbin is joined to the inner circumferential end of the diaphragm, and the second end is inserted into the magnetic gap. The voice coil is wound around the second end of the voice coil bobbin. Light from the light-emitting element enters the end face of the diaphragm, is diffused by the light guide, and is reflected on the reflecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi Yuasa, Kenji Yamauchi, Satoshi Takayama, Koichi Nakayama, Ryo Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 9800978
    Abstract: An audio driver assembly comprises a driver housing and an audio driver secured within the driver housing. The audio driver comprises a magnet assembly, a flexible diaphragm overlying the magnet assembly, and a stabilizer extending through the driver housing and into the magnet assembly. A headphone and a method of forming a headphone are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Noertker, John Timothy, Randall J. Hull, Sam Lepley, Matthew Windt, Gregory R. Woolston
  • Patent number: 9736341
    Abstract: To provide a technology for offering new communication and entertainment options using speakers that are flexible enough to change their shapes. There is provided an electroacoustic transducer including an oscillator formed in a film shape, a detection section adapted to detect the apparent change in shape of the oscillator resulting from a user's act, and an audio output section adapted to output audio based on audio data stored in a given storage area via the oscillator if the change in shape is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Shinichi Honda, Shinichiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 9716949
    Abstract: A panel-form loudspeaker is disclosed. The panel-form loudspeaker includes a lower cover including a recess, and a vibration acoustic unit facing the recess with a periphery thereof fixed on the lower cover for actuating the lower cover to vibrate and generate sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Rongguan Zhou, Hongxing Wang, Lubin Mao
  • Patent number: 9706294
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a transducer package includes a circuit board including a port, a lid disposed over the port, an acoustic transducer disposed over the port and including a membrane, and an environmental transducer disposed at the circuit board in the port. The lid encloses a first region, and the membrane separates the port from the first region. Other embodiments include corresponding systems, apparatus, and structures, each configured to perform the actions or steps of corresponding embodiment methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andreas Kopetz, Andreas Wiesbauer, Roland Helm, Christian Mandl, Arnaud Walther
  • Patent number: 9699536
    Abstract: A loudspeaker device is presented which includes a zeolite material comprising zeolite particles having a silicon to aluminum mass ratio of at least 200. For an increased pore fraction of pores with a diameter in a range between 0.7 micrometer and 30 micrometer shows an increased shift of the resonance frequency down to lower frequencies has been observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: Sound Solutions International Co., Ltd., Nautilus Capital Corporation
    Inventors: Maria Papakyriacou, Johannes Kobler, Jürgen Sauer
  • Patent number: 9681216
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing having an audio output port therein, a display carried by the housing, and an internal partition carried within the housing and defining a baffle space behind at least a portion of the display. The electronic device may also include an audio output transducer carried by the internal partition and acoustically coupled to the audio output port, and a passive radiator within the baffle space, acoustically coupled between the audio output transducer and the display, and acoustically isolated from the audio output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ryan J. Mihelich, Inna Lobel
  • Patent number: 9654863
    Abstract: A computer system having a loudspeaker mounted on a main logic board by a hermetic seal, is disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the computer system include an acoustic cavity defined between the loudspeaker, the main logic board, and the hermetic seal. Embodiments of the computer system may include a compressible seal separated from the hermetic seal by the loudspeaker and/or the main logic board. The compressible seal may define an acoustic channel and the loudspeaker may emit sound in a high frequency range through the acoustic channel toward a system exit. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Justin D Crosby, Matthew A Donarski, Andrew P Bright, Joss N Giddings, Ron A Hopkinson, Nathan A Johanningsmeier, William F Leggett, Mikael M Silvanto
  • Patent number: 9641922
    Abstract: An apparatus and method wherein the apparatus comprises: a covering portion configured to cover at least part of an electronic device; and an audio transducer; and a flexible portion comprising at least one conductive trace wherein the flexible portion is configured to connect the audio transducer to the covering portion and the at least one conductive trace is configured to electrically connect the audio transducer to circuitry within the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Benedict Slotte, Reino Jaakkola, Antti Kangasaho
  • Patent number: 9622005
    Abstract: A sound transducer is disclosed. The sound transducer includes a plastic frame having a cavity and a wall surrounding the cavity, the wall having an inside surface face toward the cavity and an outside surface opposite to the inside surface, a number of sinks disposed on the inside surface of the plastic frame in a row, a yoke located in the cavity and including a sidewall for contacting with the plastic frame, a gap formed by the sink cooperatively with the sidewall of the yoke, and bonding adhesive located in the gap for fixing the yoke in the frame firmly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: ChangLiang Wang, BiMing Zhang
  • Patent number: 9602899
    Abstract: A speaker and a method of producing a speaker, the speaker including: an enclosure; at least one transducer mounted in the enclosure; and at least one passive radiator mounted in the enclosure, including a suspension and a center panel encircled by and adhered to the suspension, wherein the at least one transducer is combined with the at least one passive radiator, and functions as at least a part of the center panel. According to the speaker of the present disclosure, by fully or partly replacing the center panel of the at least one passive radiator by one or more transducer(s), both the internal space and the cost of the speaker are saved without sacrificing the sound quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: Harman International (China) Holdings Co., Ltd., Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Shengbo Li
  • Patent number: 9602914
    Abstract: An integrated audible sound output system incorporated in a personal media device is described. The integrated audible sound output system includes a first audio output port, the first audio output port acoustically coupled with the audible sound generator unit by way of a first air path and a second audio output port. In the described embodiments, the second audio output port is acoustically coupled with the audible sound generator unit by way of a second air path. The first and the second air paths cooperate to pass the audible sound generated by the audible sound generator unit to the external environment by way of the first audio port and the second audio port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Adam D. Mittleman, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Phillip M. Hobson, Eric S. Jol, Stephen Brian Lynch, Douglas J. Weber
  • Patent number: 9586531
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes an electro-acoustic transducer for converting electrical audio signals into sound waves, and a housing that supports the electro-acoustic transducer. The loudspeaker also includes a shutter that is supported by the housing and is displaceable between a first, closed position in which the shutter substantially covers the transducer, and a second, open position in which the transducer is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Carl J. Price
  • Patent number: 9485585
    Abstract: A motor includes an armature, a coil, and a magnetic support structure. The motor also includes at least one magnet that defines a space. The coil forms a tunnel. The space is defined by the at least one magnet being aligned with the tunnel formed by the coil. Portions of the armature extend through the space and the tunnel. An opening at an end of the coil is shaped so as to restrict movement of the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: KNOWLES ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McCratic, Matthew Mason, Ryan Grounds, Dennis R. Kirchhoefer, Thomas E. Miller, Henry G. Nepomuceno, Shehab Albahri
  • Patent number: 9479873
    Abstract: A support chassis mounted on a sounding side of a speaker apparatus is formed of an iron material. The support chassis is formed in a shape in which a central supporting part nears a main-body chassis. A magnetic field generating unit is fixed to the central supporting part on a side of a recess of the support chassis. The support chassis includes a frame part, the central supporting part, and spoke parts. In the spoke part, a width dimension D1 of an inner end part is formed narrower than a width dimension D2 of an outer end part. Therefore, a resistance in a case where a magnetic flux passes through the spoke part increases, and the leaked magnetic field is hardly induced from the magnetic field generating unit to the spoke part. Therefore, a reduction in a speaker output can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Masaru Yamagami, Arata Tada, Kei Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9456262
    Abstract: A display device includes a monitor, a stand, and a speaker module. The monitor includes a first side and a second side. An accommodating groove is formed on the first side, and a slot is formed on the second side. The stand is selectively installed inside the accommodating groove for being stored in the first side of the monitor or inserted into the slot for supporting the monitor on a supporting surface. The speaker module is installed inside the stand for outputting an audio signal transmitted from the monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Guo-Wei Huang, Ho-Tang Chiang, Shu-hua Dai, Liang Yang, Ji-Lian Su
  • Patent number: 9446559
    Abstract: Embodiments for speaker terminals of a speaker assembly are provided. The speaker terminals may include a first rigid conductive structure having (i) a first input terminal configured to couple to a first output of an audio source and (ii) a first output terminal configured to couple to a first input of a voice coil, and a second rigid conductive structure having (i) a second input terminal configured to couple to a second output of the audio source and (ii) a second output terminal configured to couple to a second input of the voice coil. A speaker basket is molded about at least a portion the first rigid conductive structure and at least a portion of the second rigid conductive structure. Such a speaker basket having molded within the speaker terminals may be a component in a speaker assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Popken, Anthony Ferraro, Richard Warren Little, Brandon Holley
  • Patent number: 9448593
    Abstract: A deformable electronic device comprises a housing deformable by a user, at least one deformable speaker and a processing unit for selecting a sound reproduction method using the at least one speaker in response to deformation of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-Hun Kim, Mi-Hyang Kim, Kwang-Weon Park, Yo-Ywang Im