Electromagnetic (e.g., Dyynamic) Patents (Class 381/396)
  • Publication number: 20100278370
    Abstract: A motor structure of loudspeaker comprises a magnet, a top plate, a bottom plate, and a pole piece. The magnet has two opposite sides. The top plate rests on one of the two sides of the magnet and jointly forms a central bore with the magnet. The bottom plate supports the magnet from the other side of the magnet. The pole piece is formed on the bottom plate and extends into the central bore to face an inner periphery of the top plate and to form an air gap between the pole piece and the top plate. What is characterized in that a distance between the pole piece and an axial mid-part of the inner periphery being larger than another distance between the pole piece and any one of two axial ends of the inner periphery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventor: Tzu-Chung Chang
  • Publication number: 20100278361
    Abstract: Contemplated planar magnetic induction transducers comprise a driver portion that provides a static magnetic field and a dynamic magnetic field to an electrically conductive sound producing membrane to thereby induce a current in the membrane that operates as a voice coil. Most typically, the dynamic magnetic field is produced by a coil that surrounds the magnet, and the membrane is floating above the driver portion. In especially preferred aspects, the sound producing membrane is physically independent from the driver portion and can be separately installed from the driver portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: HPV TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Vahan Simidian, II, Dragoslav Colich
  • Patent number: 7822221
    Abstract: A speaker device includes a terminal member, a voice coil bobbin, and a connecting member mounted on the voice coil bobbin. The connecting member has a terminal mounting part. A pair of claw part and hook-shaped projecting part is provided on an upper end portion of the terminal mounting part, and a mounting base having a groove is provided on a lower end portion thereof. A projecting part and an opening are provided at the upper end portion of the terminal member, and a mounting part is provided at the lower end portion thereof. The projecting part has a function to move the upper end portion of the terminal member to a circumferential direction of the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7817815
    Abstract: An armature for a receiver includes a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and a connection portion in communication with the first and second leg portions. The connection portion reduces the stiffness of the armature and minimizes magnetic reluctance of the connection between the first and second leg portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas E. Miller
  • Patent number: 7813521
    Abstract: A speaker apparatus includes a speaker frame, an acoustic vibrating plate movably supported on the speaker frame, and a magnetic driver formed in the speaker frame for vibrating the acoustic vibrating plate. The magnetic driver is connected such that it may vibrate different portions of the acoustic vibrating plate independently. The acoustic vibrating plate of the speaker apparatus may vibrate with the same phase, thereby increasing sound pressure and improving acoustic efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soo-chan Lim
  • Patent number: 7802356
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a resonator is presented in the present application. The method includes providing a handle substrate, providing a host substrate, providing a quartz substrate comprising a first surface opposite a second surface, applying interposer film to the first surface of the quartz substrate, bonding the quartz substrate to the handle substrate wherein the interposer film is disposed between the quartz substrate and the handle substrate, thinning the second surface of the quartz substrate, removing a portion of the bonded quartz substrate to expose a portion of the interposer film, bonding the quartz substrate to the host substrate, and removing the handle substrate and the interposer film, thereby releasing the quartz substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: David T. Chang, Randall L. Kubena, Pamela R. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7804976
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method is disclosed for providing auxiliary heat dissipating capacity to a loudspeaker assembly. The apparatus comprises a plug that is inserted into a vent at the back of a loudspeaker assembly and extends away therefrom. The plug makes a thermal connection with the pole piece through which the vent is bored, so that the plug conducts at one end the heat from the pole piece that is radiated thereto by the voice coil and radiates this heat to the ambient air at its other end. A plate may be affixed to it other end to provide an additional heat sink for the apparatus. The apparatus may be removable or permanently affixed to the pole piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Inventor: Wayne Parham
  • Patent number: 7795063
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device includes a back-plate substrate, having an intended region formed with a plurality of perforating holes. A first structural dielectric layer, disposed on the back-plate substrate, wherein the dielectric layer having an opening above the intended region. An etching stop layer, disposed over the first structural dielectric layer. A second structural dielectric layer, formed over the back-plate substrate. The etching stop layer and the second structural dielectric layer form at least a part of a micro-machine diaphragm, and cover over the opening of the first structural dielectric layer to form a chamber between the micro-machine diaphragm and the back-plate substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Solid State System Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsung-Min Hsieh, Chien-Hsing Lee
  • Patent number: 7792320
    Abstract: A loudspeaker and method of assembly according to this invention provides for precise alignment between the frame and motor structure before they are connected to one another, and employs a fixture to form the moving assembly of the speaker, i.e. the voice coil, upper and lower suspensions and diaphragm, outside of the frame so that concentric tolerance stack-up is minimized. The moving assembly, once formed, is mounted as a unit to the frame and motor structure to facilitate assembly and repair of the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: JL Audio, Inc.
    Inventor: Lucio Proni
  • Patent number: 7792318
    Abstract: A speaker may include a center pole, a voice coil bobbin having a nonmetallic pipe body, and a first and a second electrodes which are provided on an inner peripheral face of the pipe body for detecting an electrostatic capacity. The first and the second electrodes are disposed so as to be separated from each other with a predetermined space along an axial direction of the center pole. Further, a stepped portion may be formed in the side circumferential face of the center pole such that, when the voice coil bobbin is operated, a first facing area of the first electrode to the side circumferential face defined by the stepped portion of the center pole increases while a second facing area of the second electrode to the side circumferential face defined by the stepped portion of the center pole decreases by a same amount as an increased amount of the first facing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Nidec Pigeon Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Ushikoshi, Shinsuke Takahashi, Kenji Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7787650
    Abstract: An electromagnetic exciter includes a magnetic circuit assembly having an outer yoke, a magnet, and an inner yoke. A voice coil is inserted into a magnetic gap formed in the magnetic circuit assembly. A casing having a cylindrical wall is disposed around the magnetic circuit assembly. A suspension is set between a cylindrical side wall of the outer yoke and the cylindrical wall of the casing to supportingly connect the magnetic circuit assembly to the cylindrical wall of the casing. A weight is secured to the outer side surface of the side wall of the outer yoke. The suspension has an outer ring, an inner ring, and a pair of arcuate arms. Each arm is connected to the outer ring at one end thereof and connected to the inner ring at the other end thereof The arms and/or portions of the weight that face the arms are sloped so that the weight will not contact the arms when the magnetic circuit assembly is vibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Miura
  • Publication number: 20100215206
    Abstract: An audio speaker has at least one transducer for converting electrical signals into mechanical motion. There is a planar sound producing structure that has a first face and a second face. A mechanical connection connects the at least one transducer to the sound producing structure, such that mechanical motion produced by the at least one transducer induces the sound producing structure to vibrate and produces sound from the first face and the second face. A deflector is interposed between the at least one transducer and the sound producing structure. The deflector is adjacent to the second face of the sound producing structure and reflects the produced sound from the second face of the sound producing structure to a listening area forward of the first face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Allan SCHNEIDER
  • Patent number: 7778436
    Abstract: A vibration-sound generating device and yoke thereof are described. The vibration-sound generating device comprises a diaphragm, a vibration part comprising a magnet and a yoke, which is positioned apart from the diaphragm by a desired distance, a suspension elastically supporting the vibration part, a supporting part supporting the diaphragm and the suspension, and a voice coil electromagnetically driving the diaphragm and the vibration part. The yoke of the invention has higher specific gravity and magnetic permeability than iron. So that it can improve performance of vibration and sound device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Seuk-Hwan Chung, Jun-Kun Choi, Sang-Won Kim, Seong-Geun Kim, Seok-Jun Park
  • Publication number: 20100195861
    Abstract: An audio system with an illumination mechanism is disclosed. One embodiment includes a device which can be mounted in the center of an audio speaker and used to create an optical effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: Kristopher C. King
  • Patent number: 7760901
    Abstract: A speaker device includes a magnetic circuit system and a vibration system. The vibration system has a voice coil bobbin, a voice coil wound therearound, a damper, an annular member, a diaphragm and one additional annular member fixed to the voice coil via an adhesive. In the vibration system, the additional annular member and the annular member are arranged on the lower side of the damper and on the upper side of the damper, respectively. A flat portion in the vicinity of the inner peripheral edge portion of the damper is sandwiched between the additional annular member and the annular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Teruaki Kaiya, Seiya Sato
  • Publication number: 20100166247
    Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer according to the present invention is provided. The electro-acoustic transducer includes a conductive plate with a plurality of openings, an electret diaphragm and a fluorescent layer. The electret diaphragm is positioned on the conductive plate and has a film body and an electrode layer. The film body has static charges carried and the electrode layer is formed on the upper surface of the film body. The fluorescent layer is positioned between the lower surface of the film body and the conductive plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: HTC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fang Ching LEE
  • Publication number: 20100158304
    Abstract: A diaphragm (6) for an electroacoustic transducer is preferably designed to be essentially rectangular and has a diaphragm inner region (20) for sound conversion and a diaphragm outer region (21) for attaching the diaphragm (6) and a diaphragm intermediate region (22) which lies between the diaphragm inner region (20) and the diaphragm outer region (21), wherein the diaphragm inner region (20) is delimited toward the outside by preferably rectilinear sides (23, 24, 25, 26) and the diaphragm outer region (21) is delimited toward the inside again by preferably rectilinear sides (31, 32, 33, 34), and wherein the aforementioned sides (23, 24, 25, 26) of the diaphragm inner region (20) are joined to rounded outer corner regions (27, 28, 29, 30) with a mean outer radius value R and the aforementioned sides (31, 32, 33, 34) of the diaphragm outer region (21) are joined to rounded inner corner regions (35, 36, 37, 38) with a mean inner radius value r, wherein the mean inner radius value r of each inner corner region
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Benjamin Reinecke
  • Patent number: 7742616
    Abstract: Provided is an electromagnetic acoustic transducer including a main body formed of a non-metal material and having a hollow portion, a magnetic field generation portion generating two magnetic fields parallel to a lengthwise direction of the rod member and in opposite directions to each other, at both sides of the rod member that is inserted in the hollow portion of the main body, and a coil wound around an outer circumferential surface of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Seoul National University Industry Foundation
    Inventors: Yoon Young Kim, Soon Woo Han
  • Patent number: 7734056
    Abstract: A damper structure for a speaker is provided to preventing irregular vibrations, and the improvements comprises the damper having one or more elastic reinforcing pieces attached with a corrugated surface of the damper. The reinforcing pieces may be of smaller annular strips, larger annular strips, or straight strips corresponding to and attached to the corrugated surface of the damper in its inner region, outer region, and in its radial direction and preferably in equiangular distribution, respectively, to strengthen its structural strength and uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ohara
  • Patent number: 7729504
    Abstract: An audio speaker has a driver unit having a support frame with a central portion forming a magnetic structure defining an annular gap around a central magnetic post, a vibration system having a diaphragm and a voice coil, the voice coil is attached to one side of the diaphragm where the vibration system is fixed to the support frame and where the voice coil is movably mounted in the annular gap, and a magnetic fluid disposed in the annular gap only in a space between one side of the voice coil and a surface of the annular gap having a higher magnetic flux density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Ferrotec Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Tsuda, Ronald E. Rosensweig
  • Patent number: 7724913
    Abstract: A composite damper for a speaker comprises an inner ring surface material, an outer ring surface material, and a plurality of ribs connected between the inner ring surface material and the outer ring surface material. The inner ring surface material and the outer ring surface material have a plurality of alternating concentric peaks and valleys; thereby when it is coupled with a periphery of a voice coil of the speaker, it has a more stable vibration frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ohara
  • Publication number: 20100124352
    Abstract: A micro magnetic device having a body defining at least part of an enclosed chamber, the body comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall. A pole comprising a soft magnetic material is within the chamber and an electrically conductive coil is positioned around the pole. A diaphragm is connected to the first sidewall and a permanent dipole magnet is connected to the second sidewall at a first end and to the diaphragm at a second end. The dipole magnet is offset centrally from the pole. The diaphragm may also be offset centrally from the first pole. The micro magnetic device may be made by MEMS or thin film techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Insik Jin, Dadi Setiadi, Yong Lu, Jun Zheng
  • Patent number: 7715584
    Abstract: An air deflector is positioned relative to the through bore in the pole piece of the motor structure of a speaker such that the flow of air entering and leaving a cavity overlying the voice coil and pole piece is directed along a flow path which passes in thermal communication with at least a portion of the inner surface of the former of the voice coil opposite the wire winding on the outer surface of the former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: JL Audio, Inc.
    Inventor: Lucio Proni
  • Publication number: 20100111351
    Abstract: A sound generator, particularly a loudspeaker, configured to emit sound, comprising a rigid element (2) enclosing a plurality of air compartments (3), wherein the rigid element (2) has a back side (B) comprising apertures (4), and a front side (F) that is closed, wherein the generator is provided with at least one actuator (6), for instance one or more electromagnetic actuators and/or piezoelectric elements, configured to actuate the rigid element (2) for the generation of the sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Arthur Perry Berkhoff
  • Patent number: 7711131
    Abstract: An electric-acoustic transducer/housing assembly includes an electric-acoustic transducer and a housing within which the electric-acoustic transducer is arranged. The electric-acoustic transducer includes a casing, a first and second vibratory plates transversely mounted within the casing, and an exciter disposed between the first and second vibratory plates and operated to vibrate the first and second vibratory plates. The first vibratory plate cooperates with the exciter to define a first inner chamber therebetween. A sound pipe extends outwardly from the casing and is adapted to allow the first inner chamber to be communicated with the outside of the housing. The second vibratory plate cooperates with the exciter to define a second inner chamber therebetween. The casing has a through sound hole through which the second inner chamber is communicated with the outside of the casing. The sound pipe is kept out of communication with the through sound hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahito Furuya
  • Patent number: 7706560
    Abstract: A cross-sectionally substantially-semicircular portion of an edge portion adapted to connect an outer periphery of a diaphragm to a speaker frame is configured to have an uneven-thickness structure in which the thickness of the portion gradually decreases toward a sticking portion of an outer peripheral portion of the speaker frame from a sticking portion of the outer periphery of the diaphragm. Thus, the propagation characteristic of vibrations generated on the edge portion is improved. Disturbance is prevented from occurring in an mid-range frequency characteristic due to inverse resonance caused by the edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Takayama, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Shinichi Hayasaka, Kazuki Yuze
  • Patent number: 7706563
    Abstract: A voice-coil transducer includes two radially concentric magnets, a voice-coil located in the gap between the inner and outer magnets, and a diaphragm coupled to the voice-coil. An audio loudspeaker includes the voice-coil transducer with two radially concentric magnets, a voice-coil located within the gap between the inner and outer magnets, a diaphragm coupled to the voice-coil in order to create sounds from the voice-coil, and a chassis to support the magnets, voice-coil, and diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: John S. Stewart
  • Publication number: 20100080409
    Abstract: An apparatus uses a transducer to produce vibration in the ultrasonic frequency range and in the audible frequency range. A membrane or cantilever structure is coupled to the transducer to produce acoustic waves. When the vibration is in the audible frequency range, the membrane structure works like a conventional loudspeaker. When the vibration is in the ultrasonic frequency range, the ultrasonic signal is modulated by audio signal for creating better directivity. The acoustic waves in the ultrasonic frequency range can reproduce directional audible sound due to the nonlinear interaction of ultrasonic waves in air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Liangfeng Leon Xu, Chenguang Cai, Jani K. Nurminen, Xia S. Wang, Antti O. Salo, Koray Ozcan
  • Publication number: 20100067731
    Abstract: A loudspeaker comprising a housing provided with a magnet unit that generates a magnetic field, and a membrane which is mounted in a frame and which is provided with an electrical conductor arranged in a pattern on the membrane, which membrane is positioned in the magnetic field in such a manner that a force is exerted when current is fed through the conductor pattern on the membrane, which force is capable of setting at least part of the membrane in motion so as to produce sound, wherein a part of the conductor pattern extends beyond the plane of the aforesaid movable part of the membrane near at least one end of the membrane. Preferably, the aforesaid part of the conductor pattern makes an angle of about 90 degrees with the aforesaid movable part of the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: ALCONS AUDIO B.V.
    Inventor: Philip Derek Eduard De Haan
  • Patent number: 7680294
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer includes a magnetic circuit part and a voice coil operatively connected to the magnetic circuit part. A tubular casing accommodates the magnetic circuit part and the voice coil. An annular first support spring has an outer peripheral portion embedded and secured in the casing. The first support spring extends radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the casing and has an inner peripheral portion abutting on and fixed to the magnetic circuit part. An annular second support spring has an outer peripheral portion abutting on and fixed to one end portion of the casing. The second support spring extends radially inward and has an inner peripheral portion abutting on and fixed to the magnetic circuit part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroo Kajiwara, Kazumi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7669310
    Abstract: An acoustic mirror of alternately arranged layers of high and low acoustic impedances is manufactured in that a basic material having a first layer of the layer sequence is initially provided, on which a second layer of the layer sequence is created on the first layer such that the second layer of the layer sequence partially covers the first layer. Subsequently, a planarization layer is applied onto the layer sequence, and the planarization layer is removed in an area which in the common layer plane projects laterally beyond the second layer so as to result in a residual planarization layer. Finally, a termination layer is applied onto the layer sequence and the residual planarization layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Wireless IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Gernot Fattinger
  • Publication number: 20100046787
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an audio device comprising a first audio path comprising a loudspeaker for reproducing an audio signal, and a second audio path comprising in series: a band-pass filter (22) for passing frequency components of the audio signal lying between a first frequency and a second frequency, said first frequency being lower than said second frequency, and for attenuating frequency components of the audio signal lower than said first frequency and higher than said second frequency, a detector (23) for detecting an amplitude of the band-pass filtered audio signal, a multiplier (24) for multiplying a periodic signal having a third frequency by the amplitude of the band-pass filtered audio signal, a vibration device (13) for reproducing the multiplied periodic signal, wherein the third frequency is substantially equal to the resonance frequency of the vibration device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventor: Ronaldus Maria Aarts
  • Publication number: 20100034418
    Abstract: A micro speaker having a first core assembly and a second core assembly, with a diaphragm between the first and second core assemblies. Each of the core assemblies includes a housing with a pole and a cover plate, and a permanent magnet within the housing. At least one of the core assemblies includes an electrically conductive coil positioned around the pole. Each of the cover plates has a groove therein. The micro speaker further includes a soft magnetic armature present between each cover plate and the diaphragm, with a portion of each armature present and moveable within the grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Wayne Allen Bonin
  • Patent number: 7657053
    Abstract: In a speaker unit of the present invention, a diaphragm with an aspect ratio exceeding one is provided in an internal space of a frame. The frame has both ends thereof provided with a pair of air holes opening on a rear surface, and a pair of electrode members attached thereto. Each of the electrode members includes a clamping portion to be fixed to an end of the frame, and an elastic arm portion extending from the clamping portion along the frame. The elastic arm portion is opposed to the air hole. A clamping portion rear area and a main body rear area having the air hole opened thereon are formed on the rear surface of the frame. The main body rear area is formed lower than the clamped portion rear area in a direction apart from the elastic arm portion of the electrode member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Kosuda
  • Publication number: 20100022963
    Abstract: Medicament delivery devices are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a medicament delivery device and an electronic circuit system. The medicament delivery device includes a housing, a medicament container, and a medicament delivery member. The electronic circuit system is coupled to the housing and includes an audible output device and a cover. The housing of the medicament delivery device and the cover of the electronic circuit system collectively define an acoustic enclosure. The audible output device is configured to be disposed within the acoustic enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Eric S. EDWARDS, Evan T. Edwards, Mark J. Licata, Paul F. Meyers, David A. Weinzierl
  • Publication number: 20100021000
    Abstract: A sound producing system includes an electro-acoustic transducer having an electromagnetic motor for moving a diaphragm of the transducer back and forth to create acoustic waves. The diaphragm has a surface that includes one or more of a surface of a dust cap of the diaphragm, a surface of a cone of the diaphragm, and a portion of a surface of a surround of the diaphragm. A solid gas impermeable cover faces the diaphragm surface and has a surface which faces the diaphragm surface. At least a portion of the cover surface has a contour which is substantially the same as a contour of the diaphragm surface. The system includes an asymmetric exit for the acoustic waves to leave a volume defined between the diaphragm surface and the cover surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Allen T. Graff, Robert Preston Parker, John R. Bruss
  • Patent number: 7653209
    Abstract: A speaker apparatus includes at least one of an inner flux applicator and an outer flux applicator includes an annular first member and an annular second member. The first member having a first surface that faces toward the magnetic gap, the first member satisfying L1>W1 where L1 is a length of the first surface in a direction parallel to the central axis and W1 is a width of the first member in a direction orthogonal to a central axis. The second member is magnetically coupled with the first member and arranged on an outer side of the first member, the second member satisfying W2>L2 where W2 is a width of the second member in a direction orthogonal to a central axis and L2 is a length of the second surface in a direction parallel to the central axis, and L1>L2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Abe, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7647688
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a low frequency quartz resonator includes metalizing a top-side of a quartz wafer with a metal etch stop, depositing a first metal layer over the metal etch stop, patterning the first metal layer to form a top electrode, bonding the quartz wafer to a silicon handle, thinning the quartz wafer to a desired thickness, depositing on a bottom-side of the quartz wafer a hard etch mask, etching the quartz wafer to form a quartz area for the resonator and to form a via through the quartz wafer, removing the hard etch mask without removing the metal etch stop, forming on the bottom side of the quartz wafer a bottom electrode for the low frequency quartz resonator, depositing metal for a substrate bond pad onto a host substrate wafer, bonding the quartz resonator to the substrate bond pad, and removing the silicon handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: David T. Chang, Randall L. Kubena, Frederic P. Stratton, Pamela R. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20100002900
    Abstract: Actuator apparatus for generating a physical effect, at least one attribute of which corresponds to at least one characteristic of a digital input signal sampled periodically in accordance with a clock, the apparatus comprising at least one array of moving elements each constrained to travel alternately back and forth along a respective axis in response to an alternating electromagnetic force applied to the array of moving elements, at least one latch operative to selectively latch at least one subset of said moving elements in at least on latching position there by to prevent the individual moving elements from responding to the electromagnetic force, an electromagnetic field control system operative to receive the clock and, accordingly, to control application of the electromagnetic force to the array of moving elements and a latch controller operative to receive the digital input signal and to control the latch accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: AUDIO PIXELS LTD.
    Inventors: Yuval Cohen, Daniel Lewin, Shay Kaplan
  • Patent number: 7643647
    Abstract: A speaker support system is adapted for use in a suspended ceiling with grid openings and ceiling panels. The system has a speaker support base capable of supporting at least one speaker within a ceiling opening without interfering with the operation of the speaker. A guide flange is integral to the speaker support base and is adapted to align at least a portion of a ceiling tile within the grid opening. A support flange having an offset at each end is integral to the system, connected to the guide flange, and supports at least a portion of the ceiling tile within the ceiling grid opening so that the opening is filled with the speaker support base and the remaining portion of the opening is filled with ceiling tile. The base and guide flange are formed from a single piece of material, which is perforated substantially to at least some of the edges thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Lowell Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Wilhelm R. Lowell, Jeffrey R. Garstick, Carey C. Porter, Daryl Schoolfield
  • Patent number: 7643648
    Abstract: A speaker device includes a vibration system, having a voice coil bobbin, a diaphragm, a supporting cap and a cap, and a magnetic circuit system. The inner peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm is mounted on an area in the vicinity of the upper end portion of the outer peripheral wall of the voice coil bobbin. The projecting portion of the cap is inserted into the opening of the supporting cap, and the supporting cap is placed under the cap. Each of the projecting portions of the cap is fixed to each of the correspondent recessed portions of the diaphragm, and the claw portion of the cap is fixed to the projecting portion of the diaphragm and the third flat portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Teruaki Kaiya, Seiya Sato
  • Publication number: 20090316937
    Abstract: A micro magnetic device having a body defining at least part of an enclosed chamber, a pole comprising a soft magnetic material within the chamber, and an electrically conductive coil positioned around the pole. A diaphragm integral with the body defines a top of the chamber opposite the pole. The diaphragm supports a permanent magnetic film. Multiple micro magnetic devices can be combined to form an array. The micro magnetic device may be, for example, a speaker or a sensor. The micro magnetic device may be made by MEMS or thin film techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Jun Zheng, Song S. Xue, Pat J. Ryan
  • Patent number: 7634101
    Abstract: A thermal management system promotes cooling effects of a loudspeaker. The thermal management system includes an internal heat sink having a tubular shape and mounted between a pole piece and a magnet of the loudspeaker, the internal heat sink having pleat portions to form a plurality of air passages on an inner surface from top to bottom thereof; and a back plate connected to the pole piece and having ventilation holes that vertically penetrate through the back plate, the internal heat sink and the magnet being mounted on the back plate. A lower end of the air passage on the internal heat sink is positionally matched with an upper opening of the ventilation hole on the back plate, thereby allowing an air flow through the air passage and the ventilation hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc
    Inventor: Jason Kemmerer
  • Patent number: 7634102
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a magnetic circuit having a magnetic gap, a frame coupled to the magnetic circuit, a voice coil having a first end positioned in the magnetic gap and a second end opposite to the first end, and a diaphragm coupled to the second end of the voice coil and the frame. The voice coil has a center axis provided through the first end and the second end. The diaphragm has a first portion in which the center axis of the voice coil is provided. The first portion of the diaphragm is provided inside the voice coil. The diaphragm further has a second portion outside the voice coil. One of the first portion and the second portion of the diaphragm has a cross section in a plane including the center axis, and the cross section of the one of the first portion and the second portion of the diaphragm has an elliptic-arc shape. This loudspeaker has a small thickness, has a high sound pressure level in a high frequency range, and secures a wide reproduction range in high frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Takase, Mitsutaka Enomoto, Kazuya Yamasaki, Kazutaka Kubo, Takeshi Shimokawatoko, Masahide Sumiyama
  • Patent number: 7630508
    Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer has a magnetic circuit, a frame, a diaphragm, a voice coil, a terminal, and a stopper. The frame is joined to a magnetic circuit. The diaphragm is joined to a circumferential edge of the frame. The voice coil is joined to the diaphragm and is partially provided at a magnetic gap of the magnetic circuit. The terminal is composed of a metal plate having spring property and conductivity, is partially fixed to the frame, and is electrically connected to the voice coil. The stopper is provided at an outer periphery of the metal plate of the terminal and extends from a main section of the terminal to the frame. The stopper restricts a bending range of the metal plate constituting the terminal to a level equal to or lower than a reversibility limit value of a metal material constituting the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Honda, Koji Sano, Tomoyasu Takase, Takanori Fukuyama, Mitsutaka Enomoto, Masahide Sumiyama
  • Patent number: 7609148
    Abstract: An actuator is provided that includes: a diaphragm that vibrates to generate sound; a housing that is attached to an outer edge of the diaphragm to support the diaphragm; an accommodating space that is formed inside the diaphragm and the housing, and an axis of which extends in a thickness direction of the diaphragm in the middle of the diaphragm; a coil that is wound around the axis, is attached to a face of the diaphragm facing the accommodating space, and is disposed in the accommodating space; a movable body that is disposed in a radial inside space of the coil or on an extension of the space, within the accommodating space; and a spring that supports the movable body such that the movable body is movable in the axial direction within the accommodating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichiro Takashima, Shun Kayama, Minoru Nakano, Yukiko Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7606386
    Abstract: A vibration actuator excites a mass member by interaction between an electric field of a vibration coil provided in an inner space of a case and a magnetic field of a magnetic field unit disposed corresponding to the vibration coil. The vibration actuator has an elastic wire having a wire body fixed to the outer surface of the mass member and elastic ends fixed to the inner surface of the case. The elastic wire is connected between the case and the mass member for elastically supporting mass member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae Lyun Kang, Dai Gil Lee, Sang Wook Park, Hak Sung Kim, Seuk Hwan Chung, Seong Geun Kim, Sang Won Kim, Jun Kun Choi
  • Patent number: 7599510
    Abstract: The present invention is a multifunctional actuator including a magnetic circuit, a suspension that supports the magnetic circuit, a diaphragm positioned facing the magnetic circuit, and a voice coil that is mounted on the diaphragm and inserted in a circular air gap of the magnetic circuit, comprising a housing to accommodate the magnetic circuit, and a cover to cover an open end of the housing, wherein a sound release gap is formed between an outer periphery of the housing and a side wall of the cover for communication between the inside and outside of said housing. Thereby, it can prevent the infiltration of foreign matter into the housing without attaching a dust mesh or non-woven fabric over the sound release hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Namiki Seimitsu Houseki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Ueda, Shoichi Kaneda, Etsuo Ohno
  • Patent number: 7595944
    Abstract: An optical actuator is disclosed. The optical actuator includes a seat bearing the optical element, a yoke comprising an end, a suspension system comprising at least one spring sheet connecting the seat and the end, and a driving device moving the seat relative to the yoke. The spring sheet constrains the movement of the seat. The spring sheet includes an inner connecting portion connected to the seat, an outer connecting portion surrounding the inner connecting portion and connected to the end, and a spring structure disposed between the inner and outer connecting portions and connecting the inner and outer connecting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh Huang, Chau-Yuan Ke
  • Patent number: 7583812
    Abstract: In an electro-acoustic converter, a frame is bonded to the magnetic circuit, and the diaphragm is bonded to a circumferential edge of the frame. The voice coil is attached to the diaphragm and a part thereof is located in a magnetic gap of the magnetic circuit. The terminal is made of a sheet metal having spring property and electrical conductivity, and a part thereof is fixed to the frame. The terminal has a bent portion and a contact portion, and is electrically connected to the voice coil. The stopper is provided around a portion of the terminal at one side nearer to the frame than the bent portion, and protrudes from a surface of the frame where the contact portion of the terminal protrudes. The stopper restricts bending of the terminal to an extent within a threshold value of reversibility of a material the sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Honda, Koji Sano, Kazuya Yamasaki, Kazutaka Kubo, Masahide Sumiyama