Armature Linked To Diaphragm Patents (Class 381/418)
  • Patent number: 11582558
    Abstract: An acoustic receiver includes a first receiver subassembly having bottom housing plate with at least a portion of a motor fastened thereto, and a second receiver subassembly having a closed-ended housing wall with at least one open end that is fastened to the bottom housing plate. A method of making and assembling the components is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: KNOWLES ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Shehab Albahri, Paul Dayton, Thomas Miller
  • Patent number: 11070901
    Abstract: The present application provides a thin-type phone receiver, comprising a housing, a vibration membrane assembly and a coil. The vibration membrane assembly comprises a frame, a diaphragm and a sealing membrane. The coil is sealedly fixed in the mounting area and sealedly sleeved on the frame, and the spreading sealing membrane seals an entirety of a first gap between the frame and the diaphragm, thereby, the vibration membrane assembly separates a mounting cavity of the housing into two cavities that are arranged side by side and separate. When the coil is energized and an electromagnetic field generated by the coil interacts with a fixed magnetic field of the permanent magnets in the phone receiver, the entire diaphragm vibrates, thus, as the coil is sleeved on the vibration membrane assembly to form the thin-type phone receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SUZHOU YICHUAN ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yiqian Wu, Xiaoming Chen
  • Patent number: 10993032
    Abstract: A distributed mode loudspeaker (DML) includes a flat panel extending in a panel plane. The DML also includes a rigid, elongate member displaced from the flat panel and extending parallel to the panel plane, the elongate member being mechanically coupled to the flat panel at a first position along the elongate member and extending away from the first position to an end of the member free to vibrate in a direction perpendicular to the plane. The elongate member includes a soft magnetic material. The DML also includes an electromagnet system including at least one electrically-conducting coil having an axis perpendicular to the panel plane and displaced from the elongate member. The DML further includes an electronic control module electrically coupled to the electromagnet system and programmed to energize the electrically-conducting coil sufficient such that a magnetic field produced by the electrically-conducting coil displaces the free end of the elongate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Edward Beckett, Mark William Starnes
  • Patent number: 10848045
    Abstract: An armature is vibrated by a magnetic field generating unit and a coil. A diaphragm is driven by the armature. In the magnetic field generating unit, a first protective layer is provided on the magnetized surface of a first magnet, and a second protective layer is provided on the magnetized surface of a second magnet. Since protective layers with a certain thickness are present, it is possible to prevent the armature from being left attracted to the first magnet or second magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 10567882
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a magnet, a T-yoke, a frame, a top plate, a voice coil, a damper, a dust cap, a cone paper, and a gasket. The cone paper being provided with a surround, the gasket being located below the outer edge of the frame, the magnet being located above said T-yoke. A magnetic gap is formed between the top plate and the T-yoke. The voice coil being arranged in the magnetic gap, the voice coil including VC wire part and VC tube part. The top plate being provided with a riveted groove on the outer side, the top plate being riveting mounted in the frame via the riveted groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: TYMPHANY ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGY (HUIZHOU) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Changlin Guo, Richeng Yao
  • Patent number: 10009693
    Abstract: A receiver including a housing defining a chamber, and a motor assembly that includes a magnet assembly and an armature. The receiver includes a diaphragm operationally attached to the armature. The motor assembly is attached to the housing by a movable suspension structure. A method of reducing vibrations includes providing a housing defining a chamber, providing a motor assembly including a magnet assembly and an armature, providing a diaphragm, providing a movable suspension structure, attaching the diaphragm to the armature, and attaching the motor assembly to an inner wall of the housing by the movable suspension structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Aart Zeger van Halteren, Adrianus Maria Lafort, Rasmus Voss, Caspar Titus Bolsman, Andreas Tiefenau, Paul Christiaan van Hal
  • Patent number: 9992579
    Abstract: An integrated armature and yoke for an acoustic receiver is disclosed. The armature includes a generally u-shaped member having a first portion arranged substantially parallel to a second deflecting portion. The yoke includes a central portion connected to the first portion, and first and second wall portions extending from opposite sides of the central portion toward the second deflecting portion. In a receiver, the second portion of the integrated armature and yoke is disposed through a receiver coil and extends into a space between permanent magnets, wherein an excitation signal applied to the coil causes the second deflecting portion of the armature to deflect between the magnets and to drive an acoustic sound generating diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Shehab Albahri, Ya-hui Zhang
  • Patent number: 9800980
    Abstract: The invention relates to audio transducers, such as loudspeaker, microphones and the like, and includes improvements in or relating to hinge systems for rotational action audio transducers. The hinge systems of the invention being configured to operatively support a diaphragm in use, and comprising a hinge assembly having one or more hinge joints, wherein each hinge joint comprises a hinge element and a contact member. The contact member comprises a contact surface and the configuration is such that during operation each hinge joint is configured to allow the hinge element to move relative to the associated contact member, while maintaining a substantially consistent physical contact with the contact surface. The hinge assembly biases the hinge element towards the contact surface. Preferably the hinge assembly is configured to apply a biasing force to the hinge element of each joint toward the associated contact surface, compliantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Wing Acoustics Limited
    Inventors: David John Palmer, Michael Ian Palmer
  • Patent number: 9736591
    Abstract: A loudspeaker having a first magnet configured to output a first magnetic field in a first magnet gap, an elongate armature extending through the first magnet gap, a first coil configured to generate a magnetic flux in the armature, a first diaphragm, a first element configured to transfer force and/or movement from the armature to the first diaphragm, a base and a first and a second support element, the first support element connecting the armature to the base at a first longitudinal position at a first side of a predetermined portion along the length of the armature, and the second support element connecting the armature to the base at a second longitudinal position at a second, opposite side of the predetermined portion. The base may flex between a U-shape and an inverted U-shape and may thus provide force to move the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Aart Zeger van Halteren, Adrianus Maria Lafort, Caspar Titus Bolsman
  • Patent number: 9706290
    Abstract: A balanced armature (“BA”) based valve is described. The valve includes a motor having a coil assembly and a magnetic system, an armature extending through or being located adjacent to the motor, a drive pin coupled to the armature, and a valve flap of a membrane having a hole therein. The valve flap is actuated by the drive pin into open and closed positions, in response to respective motions of the armature. A housing contains the motor, the armature, the drive pin, and the membrane. In one embodiment, the membrane is attached to the housing and divides the housing into an upper space and a lower space, and there is airflow through the hole, between the upper space and the lower space, only when the valve flap is open. A first spout of the housing may deliver sound generated by an acoustic driver in the housing into a wearer's ear canal, and is also open to the upper space. A second spout of the housing is open to the bottom space and to an ambient environment. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Scott C. Grinker
  • Patent number: 9432774
    Abstract: A transducer having a housing defining a chamber, a bent armature with a first leg and a second leg, a magnet assembly for providing a magnetic field in an air gap, and a coil comprising a coil tunnel. The coil tunnel and the air gap extend substantially parallel or perpendicular to each other. Furthermore, the first leg extends in a first direction through the coil tunnel and the second leg extends in a second direction through the air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventor: Caspar Titus Bolsman
  • Patent number: 9357287
    Abstract: A receiver assembly comprising a first and a second receiver housing and a spout. The second receiver housing is positioned over a first sound outlet port of the first receiver housing and the spout is positioned over a second outlet port of the second receiver housing. An acoustic duct is located between the first and second receiver housing acoustically connecting the first sound outlet port to the spout and is provided with an acoustic mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Onno Geschiere, Mike Geskus
  • Patent number: 9137610
    Abstract: An acoustic apparatus includes a first acoustic element, a second acoustic element, and a registration portion. The first acoustic element and the second acoustic element are elements such as a coil, a reed, or a yoke. The registration portion is configured to register the first acoustic element with respect to the second acoustic element such that an exact and relative alignment and positioning between the first acoustic element and second acoustic element is provided and ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: KNOWLES ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Mekell Jiles, Matthew Mason, Phillip M McCratic
  • Patent number: 9137605
    Abstract: An acoustic apparatus includes a top assembly and a bottom assembly. The bottom assembly is coupled to the top assembly to form an overall assembly. A diaphragm assembly is disposed in the overall assembly so as to separate the overall assembly into a front volume and a back volume. The diaphragm assembly includes a frame and the frame has a first end, a second end, and a middle portion that is disposed between the first end and the second end. The first end and the second end are not in the same plane as the middle portion. The first end is coupled to the bottom assembly and the second end is coupled to the top assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: KNOWLES ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Manley, Alex Grossman
  • Patent number: 9020173
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to the use of a MEMS magnetometer or an array of MEMS magnetometers as energy harvesting sensor(s) in a hearing assistance device. The MEMS magnetometer(s) can be located within the existing geometry of a typical balanced-armature receiver currently used in hearing assistance devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Howard Burns
  • Patent number: 8995705
    Abstract: A multi-layer armature for a moving armature receiver. The armature includes a first armature layer and a displacement region. The first armature layer includes a first surface and a second armature layer having a second surface positioned adjacent to the first surface. The displacement region provides relative displacement between the armature layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Sietse Jacob van Reeuwijk, Theodorus Geradus Maria Brouwer, Adrianus Maria Lafort, Mikhail Joerjevitsj Korneev
  • Patent number: 8948435
    Abstract: Provided is a driver unit including an acoustic conversion unit; and a housing body in which the acoustic conversion unit is housed, and in which an opening is formed. The acoustic conversion unit includes a pair of magnets arranged to face each other, a coil to which an input signal is supplied, an armature at which a vibrating part passing through the coil and arranged between the pair of magnets is formed, and a vibrating plate connected to the armature. A size of the opening is larger than 40 ?m and smaller than 100 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuusuke Oosato, Koji Nageno, Takahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8948440
    Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer includes a frame with an accommodating space defined therein and an opening opened in a top surface thereof, at least one driving unit equipped in the accommodating space of the frame, a diaphragm movably mounted at the opening of the frame, at least one fulcrum settled in the accommodating space of the frame, and at least one lever placed next to the fulcrum to contact with and use the fulcrum as rotation center thereof. The lever connects with the driving unit and the diaphragm at two ends thereof and transmits vibration wave from the driving unit to the diaphragm. The lever has a longer length from the fulcrum to the diaphragm than from the fulcrum to the driving unit for increasing the vibration stroke of the diaphragm during transmitting the vibration wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: You Ruei Lin
  • Patent number: 8948439
    Abstract: An acoustic conversion device includes: a driving unit including a pair of magnets disposed so as to face each other, a yoke to which the pair of magnets are attached, a coil to which driving current is supplied, a vibrating portion which vibrates when driving current is supplied to the coil, and an armature disposed between the pair of magnets with the vibrating portion being passed through the coil; and a diaphragm unit including a diaphragm, and a beam portion for propagating the vibration of the vibrating portion to the diaphragm; with a coil attachment portion to which the coil is attached, located in a state in parallel with the vibrating portion, being provided to the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Nagumo, Koji Matsuda, Koji Nageno, Takeshi Hara, Takahiro Suzuki, Takayuki Ishii, Kenji Hiraiwa
  • Patent number: 8897472
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer comprises one or more electromagnetic motors that drive one or more sets of multiple diaphragms to provide acoustically efficient loudspeaker systems having dimensions that allow use in applications that would be difficult or impossible with traditional transducers. The diaphragms may be driven directly, inertially or fluidically. If diaphragms are driven by rods that pass through holes in the diaphragms, noise may be generated by air that leaks through the pass-through holes. This noise may be reduced or eliminated by measures that reduce or eliminate the air leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Tymphany HK Limited
    Inventors: Andrew David Unruh, Robert J. True, Edward T. Norcott, Jr., Jens-Peter Axelsson, Alireza Jabbari, David J. Prince, Kenneth L. Kantor, Ioannis Kanellakopoulos, Shaolin Wei
  • Patent number: 8824726
    Abstract: An armature apparatus includes a first tine member, a second tine member, a center tine member, and a connecting portion. The connecting portion is coupled to the first tine member, the second tine member, and the connecting portion, and the connecting portion has a line of symmetry. The center tine member is attached to the connecting portion along the line of symmetry such that approximately one half the area of the connection portion is above the center tine member and approximately one half the area of the connection portion is below the center tine member. The attachment is effective to prevent a formation of a horizontal force in the center tine member along the third length when a vertical force is applied to the center tine member in the direction of third thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Miller, Clifford Ryan Grounds, Henry Nepomuceno, David E. Schafer, George Patterson
  • Patent number: 8792672
    Abstract: Moving armature receiver assemblies wherein a first U-shaped armature and a second U-shaped armature are configured for suppression of vibration of a housing structure along a longitudinal housing plane. The first armature has a fixed leg and a deflectable leg both extending parallelly to a first longitudinal armature plane and mechanically and magnetically interconnected through a first curved linkage portion. Likewise, the second armature has a fixed leg and a deflectable leg both extending parallelly to a second longitudinal armature plane and mechanically and magnetically interconnected through a second curved linkage portion. In some configurations, the deflectable legs of the first and second U-shaped armatures are configured for oppositely directed displacement along an orthogonal plane extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal housing plane so as suppress vibration of the housing structure in the orthogonal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Aart Zeger van Halteren, Andreas Tiefenau, Adrianus Maria Lafort
  • Patent number: 8687837
    Abstract: A frame has a notch having an opening at a side plane of the frame. A diaphragm is vibratably attached to one plane of the frame. A voice coil is attached to the diaphragm. A terminal is attached to the other plane of the frame. A lead is connected to the voice coil, drawn from one plane to the other plane through the notch, and connected to the terminal. One of intersection points at which a normal to the side plane that passes through the position of the lead in the notch and the side plane intersect that is closest to the opening and the lead in the notch are intervened therebetween by the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8638974
    Abstract: A frame has a notch having an opening at a side plane of the frame. A diaphragm is vibratably attached to one plane of the frame. A voice coil is attached to the diaphragm. A terminal is attached to the other plane of the frame. A lead is connected to the voice coil, drawn from one plane to the other plane through the notch, and connected to the terminal. One of intersection points at which a normal to the side plane that passes through the position of the lead in the notch and the side plane intersect that is closest to the opening and the lead in the notch are intervened therebetween by the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8634587
    Abstract: An acoustic conversion device includes: a driving unit including a pair of magnets, a yoke, a coil, a vibrating portion which vibrates when driving current is supplied to the coil, and an armature disposed between the pair of magnets with the vibrating portion being passed through the coil; and a diaphragm unit including a holding frame having an opening, a resin film adhered to the holding frame, a diaphragm held within the holding frame, and a beam portion for propagating the vibration of the vibrating portion to the diaphragm; with the beam portion being combined with one edge side of the diaphragm, a predetermined gap being formed between the other edge of the diaphragm, and the inner face of the holding frame, a reinforcing member being provided to the predetermined gap, and the diaphragm being combined with the holding frame by the resin film and the reinforcing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Nagumo, Koji Matsuda, Koji Nageno, Takeshi Hara, Takahiro Suzuki, Takayuki Ishii, Kenji Hiraiwa
  • Publication number: 20130315436
    Abstract: An armature apparatus includes a first tine member, a second tine member, a center tine member, and a connecting portion. The connecting portion is coupled to the first tine member, the second tine member, and the connecting portion, and the connecting portion has a line of symmetry. The center tine member is attached to the connecting portion along the line of symmetry such that approximately one half the area of the connection portion is above the center tine member and approximately one half the area of the connection portion is below the center tine member. The attachment is effective to prevent a formation of a horizontal force in the center tine member along the third length when a vertical force is applied to the center tine member in the direction of third thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Miller, Clifford Ryan Grounds, Henry Nepomuceno, David E. Schafer, George Patterson
  • Patent number: 8588456
    Abstract: An acoustic conversion device includes: a driving unit including a pair of magnets disposed so as to face each other, a yoke to which the pair of magnets are attached, a coil to which driving current is supplied, a vibrating portion which vibrates when driving current is supplied to the coil, and an armature disposed between the pair of magnets with the vibrating portion passed through the coil; and a diaphragm unit including a holding frame having an opening, a resin film adhered to the holding frame in a state covering the opening of the holding frame, a diaphragm held on the inner side of the holding frame in a state adhered to the resin film, and a beam portion of which the tip portion formed integrally with the diaphragm is combined with the vibrating portion of the armature, for propagating the vibration of the vibrating portion to the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Nagumo, Koji Matsuda, Kenji Hiraiwa, Takayuki Ishii, Koji Nageno, Takeshi Hara, Takahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8526659
    Abstract: An earphone includes an earphone casing inside which a sound path that guides sound to a sound discharging hole is formed, and an acoustic transducer disposed inside the earphone casing. The acoustic transducer includes an accommodation casing having accommodated therein a yoke on which paired magnets disposed so as to face each other are mounted, a coil to which a driving current is supplied, an armature provided with a vibrating part vibrating when the driving current is supplied to the coil, the vibrating part being disposed between the paired magnets, and a diaphragm coupled to the vibrating part of the armature, a sound output hole is formed on a surface that faces a vibration surface of the diaphragm in the accommodation casing, and the acoustic transducer has the sound output hole disposed in the earphone casing so that the sound output hole is acoustically coupled to the sound path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Nageno, Takahiro Suzuki, Takeshi Hara
  • Patent number: 8526641
    Abstract: A bone conduction device, comprising: a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing said acoustic sound signal; and a transducer configured to generate motion of a mass component based on said electrical signal so as to generate one or more mechanical forces resulting in one or more of motion and vibration of a recipient's skull thereby causing sound perception, wherein one or more of the size and shape of said mass component is selectable at least partially based on a desired mechanical force to be generated by said transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: John L. Parker, Derek Ian Darley
  • Patent number: 8494209
    Abstract: An armature apparatus includes a first tine member, a second tine member, a center tine member, and a connecting portion. The first tine member has a first length and a first width and these define a first surface. The second tine member has a second length and a second width and these define a second surface. The first surface generally faces the second surface and the first surface is generally parallel relation to the second surface. The center tine member has a third length and the third length is generally parallel to the first length and the second length. The connecting portion couples the center tine member to the first surface along the first length and to the second surface along the second length. The center tine member is generally disposed in a plane extending between the first tine member and the second tine member and the plane divides the first surface of the first tine member and the second surface of the second tine member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Miller, Clifford Ryan Grounds, Henry Nepomuceno, David E. Schafer, George Patterson
  • Patent number: 8385583
    Abstract: An example apparatus comprises a drive coil energizable by a drive signal, at least one permanent magnet, and at least one magnetic return path element for flux induced by the drive signal, the magnetic return path element, such as a balanced armature, being configured to provide a variable reluctance, so as to reduce nonlinearities in a displacement versus drive signal relationship. Modifying the reluctance versus flux properties of the magnetic return path of a transducer, e.g. the armature of a balanced armature device, allows compensation for nonlinearity arising in another part of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Stephen C. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8315422
    Abstract: A miniature receiver or transducer with improved viscous damping. The receiver may be a moving armature receiver using shearing forces for damping the deflection of the diaphragm. In this receiver, the damping element, which may be a liquid, extend in a direction of the deflection of the armature or diaphragm. Another embodiment relates to a transducer where the damping element engages the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Aart Zeger van Halteren, Paul Christiaan Van Hal, Onno Geschiere
  • Patent number: 8300874
    Abstract: Loudspeakers are provided that include a moveable magnet that can be positioned relative to the speaker piston. A user of the loudspeaker may position the moveable magnet to achieve a desired tone, distortion, or other sound without requiring the loudspeaker to be operated at an undesirable sound pressure level. The loudspeaker may include an indicator showing the relative position of the magnet relative to the piston to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: James F Winter
  • Patent number: 8295537
    Abstract: A loudspeaker including a moving magnet motor. The moving magnet motor includes an armature comprising a magnet carrier, and a lever arm, coupling the armature and a pivot. The lever arm further couples the armature and an acoustic diaphragm to transmit motion of the armature to the acoustic diaphragm to cause the acoustic diaphragm to move. The loudspeaker described may be torque balance and moment balanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Tucker Carlmark, Geoffrey C. Chick, Brian M. Lucas, Thomas C. Schroeder, Joseph A. Stabile
  • Patent number: 8295536
    Abstract: A loudspeaker including a moving magnet motor. The moving magnet motor includes an armature comprising a magnet carrier, and a lever arm, coupling the armature and a pivot. The lever arm further couples the armature and an acoustic diaphragm to transmit motion of the armature to the acoustic diaphragm to cause the acoustic diaphragm to move. The loudspeaker described may be torque balance and moment balanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Tucker Carlmark, Geoffrey C. Chick, Brian M. Lucas, Thomas C. Schroeder, Joseph A. Stabile
  • Patent number: 8265331
    Abstract: An earpiece for communications comprises a frame, a vibration system disposed in the frame and a magnetic field system disposed in the frame. The vibration system includes a vibrating armature, a diaphragm and a connecting rod. The magnetic field system includes a magnet to generate a first magnetic field on a first axis and a coil to generate a second magnetic field on a second axis. One of the magnet and the coil is connected to the frame. The first and the second magnetic fields produce a net magnetic force to cause the vibration system to move. The first axis is parallel to the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: BYD Company Limited
    Inventors: Jundong Zhou, Jinjun Wang
  • Patent number: 8160283
    Abstract: In order to reduce feedback in a hearing aid, a hearing aid receiver is provided that comprises a housing having an inside surface and an outside surface, a motor, an active armature that is attached to the motor and attached to the inside surface of the housing, the active armature being driven in a vibrational manner by the motor, and an external passive component that is attached to the outside surface of the housing, the external passive component designed to vibrate in a direction opposed to vibrations of the active armature. A corresponding method for operating such a hearing aid receives is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Hearing Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Oleg Saltykov, Fred McBagonluri
  • Patent number: 8135163
    Abstract: A balanced armature apparatus is disclosed that includes dual transducers for generating sound waves in response to electric audio signals. The dual transducers include a motor assembly coupled to a diaphragm. A housing defines an interior chamber and the motor assembly and the diaphragm are positioned within the interior chamber. A pair of acoustic output ports is located in a respective end of the housing. A low pass acoustic filter is in communication with one of the acoustic output ports that is operable to attenuate a predetermined range of frequencies from an audio signal produced by one of the diaphragms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Klipsch Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Alan Blanchard, Bradley Carl Geswein, Eric A. Hruza, Onno Geschiere
  • Patent number: 8131005
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrodynamic transducer (1) with a dome type diaphragm (2), comprising an electrodynamic motor with a coil (6) borne by a mandrel (3) integral with the diaphragm suspended to a yoke (7), the coil being placed in an air gap of a vertical free space in which it can move and which is defined, toward the center, by an internal magnetic construction (4), and toward the periphery, by an external magnetic construction (5), wherein the suspension comprises neither peripheral suspension nor internal suspension, the transducer comprises at least two magnetic field confinement means (11) in the air gap in order to form by mean of a ferromagnetic liquid at least two ferrofluidic seals (12, 13, 14) stepped in the air gap, fulfilling at least the guidance of the coil and the pneumatic tightness between the front and rear faces of the diaphragm, at least one of the ferrofluidic seals being continuous. Application to loudspeakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignees: Universite du Maine
    Inventors: Guy Lemarquand, Bernard Richoux, Valérie Lemarquand
  • Patent number: 8098854
    Abstract: A speaker module for a personal communication device includes two transducers for generating sound on the basis of an electrical signal. One transducer outputs sound to the surroundings from a sound output thereof and the other transducer outputs sound to the surroundings via the first transducer. In this manner, two transducers require only one sound output. The sound from the second transducer may be transmitted through and filtered by an opening in a diaphragm of the first transducer. Filtering elements may be provided between the two transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland BV
    Inventors: Aart Zeger van Halteren, Onno Geschiere
  • Patent number: 8081782
    Abstract: An acoustic-electric transducer for a microphone may include a cavity delimited by a wall and having an opening; a diaphragm having an outer boundary, said diaphragm extending across said opening so that an air gap is provided transversely outwards of the diaphragm between said outer boundary of said diaphragm and said cavity wall; and an actuator configured to adjust a size of said air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Gunnar Klinghult
  • Patent number: 7995789
    Abstract: A transducer comprising a pair of spaced magnets at least partially forming a tunnel having a central axis. A coil having a first and a second side wall and an upper and a lower wall at least partially forms the tunnel. A reed having a central portion extends through the tunnel. The reed has a stationary end, a deflection end, and a tip portion which lies at least partially between the magnets, wherein the reed is mounted for deflection towards or away from the respective magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Paris Tsangaris, Thomas E. Longwell, Thomas E. Miller, Dennis Ray Kirchhoefer, Daniel M. Warren
  • Patent number: 7983432
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for an audio transducer. The audio transducer is excited by driving a paddle of a diaphragm. A plurality of node regions of a paddle is determined for the higher-order modal components, which correspond to resonance frequencies and have an order greater than one. An intersection region of at least two higher-order modal components is identified, in which an excitation point is located with the intersection region. The diaphragm of the audio transducer includes a frame, at least one hinge, and a paddle. The paddle connects to the frame by the at least one hinge and is excited by a signal source at an excitation point to produce an acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Stephen Grinnip, III
  • Patent number: 7970161
    Abstract: A transducer for a hearing aid includes a housing, a relatively thin membrane having a free end suspended in the housing for vibration in response to a motor. The motor has a coil and a magnet assembly, the coil being mounted in the housing beneath the membrane; the magnet assembly being mounted in the housing coaxially with the coil and to one edge of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventor: Aart Z. van Halteren
  • Patent number: 7925041
    Abstract: A linkage assembly is used for mechanically coupling an armature and a diaphragm of a balanced receiver, the linkage assembly formed from a first linkage member displaced from a strip of stock material relative to the plane of the stock material and a second linkage member displaced from the strip relative to the plane. The first and second linkage members are then joined while secured to the strip. At least one severable connecting member securing the linkage member to the strip is severed to release the linkage member from the strip for assembly of the linkage member into the receiver. A method of forming a three-dimensional structure from flat stock is used to form the linkage assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Mekell Jiles, David Earl Schafer
  • Patent number: 7899203
    Abstract: A miniature receiver or transducer with improved viscous damping. The receiver may be a moving armature receiver using shearing forces for damping the deflection of the diaphragm. In this receiver, the damping element, which may be a liquid, extend in a direction of the deflection of the armature or diaphragm. Another embodiment relates to a transducer where the damping element engages the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Aart Zeger Van Halteren, Paul Christiaan Van Hal, Onno Geschiere
  • Patent number: 7869610
    Abstract: A bone conduction transducer suitable for use in a listening device, such as hearing aids, in-ear monitors, headphones, electronic hearing protection devices, and very small scale acoustic speakers, has an end mass assembly disposed within the housing. The end mass assembly is mounted to the acoustic assembly and operatively coupled to the motor assembly via a coupling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Vignesh Jayanth, Henry G. Nepomuceno
  • Publication number: 20100284561
    Abstract: An armature apparatus includes a first tine member, a second tine member, a center tine member, and a connecting portion. The first tine member has a first length and a first width and these define a first surface. The second tine member has a second length and a second width and these define a second surface. The first surface generally faces the second surface and the first surface is generally parallel relation to the second surface. The center tine member has a third length and the third length is generally parallel to the first length and the second length. The connecting portion couples the center tine member to the first surface along the first length and to the second surface along the second length. The center tine member is generally disposed in a plane extending between the first tine member and the second tine member and the plane divides the first surface of the first tine member and the second surface of the second tine member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas E. Miller, Clifford Ryan Grounds, David E. Schafer, Henry Nepomuceno, George Patterson
  • 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: 7706561
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for manufacturing an electroacoustic transducer for, for instance, a hearing aid, with a diaphragm arranged in a housing. The diaphragm is attached onto a film or punched from a sheet of material, such that along the circumferential edge of the diaphragm, a free strip of film or a strip of material remains present, in a capillary space between the circumferential edge of the film and the inner wall of the housing, or in a capillary space between the diaphragm and the strip of material, a polymer of a low viscosity is provided to connect to diaphragm with the housing wall. Through the method, the production of the transducer is greatly simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Engbert Wilmink, Aart Zeger van Halteren, Hendrik Dolleman, Paul Christiaan van Hal