Honeycomb Patents (Class 381/425)
  • Patent number: 11265630
    Abstract: A speaker includes a frame, a vibration unit fixed to the frame, and a magnetic circuit unit fixed to the frame. The vibration unit includes a diaphragm fixed to the frame, and a coil configured to drive the diaphragm to vibrate and sound. The diaphragm includes a dome. The dome includes a first layer, a second layer and a third layer which are stacked sequentially in a direction from the coil to the diaphragm. The second layer includes a honeycomb structure. The third layer includes a body and a plurality of through holes extending through the body in a vibration direction of the diaphragm. The through holes communicate with the honey structure of the second layer form a resonance cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Qiu, Shasha Liu
  • Patent number: 11102582
    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: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: WING ACOUSTICS LIMITED
    Inventors: David John Palmer, Michael Ian Palmer
  • Patent number: 10917726
    Abstract: A diaphragm is provided, including a dome and a suspension extending from a periphery of the dome. The dome includes a stack of an aluminum foil layer, a foam layer and a carbon fiber layer. The dome is recessed from the aluminum foil layer toward the carbon fiber layer to form a receiving recess. The receiving recess is arranged surrounding the periphery of the dome. The suspension is partially received in the receiving recess and is fixed to the dome. A sounding device is also provided, the sounding device includes the diaphragm. The diaphragm and the sounding device of the present disclosure have better high frequency acoustic performance and excellent reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhiwei Zhong, Wei Song
  • Patent number: 9424829
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides diaphragm and a method for manufacturing the same. The diaphragm includes a first macromolecular material layer, a graphene layer, a glue layer and a second macromolecular material layer in sequence. The first macromolecular material layer is directly attached to the graphene layer, and the second macromolecular material layer is attached to the graphene layer via the glue layer. The strength and the stiffness of the diaphragm is enhanced to improve the acoustic performances of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Bingke Zhu
  • Patent number: 9173033
    Abstract: A composite vibration diaphragm fabrication method includes the steps of: (a) mixing a reinforcing material with a hot melt adhesive to form a first mixture and to let the reinforcing material be wrapped in the hot melt adhesive uniformly, (b) mixing the first mixture with a thermosetting adhesive to form a second mixture, (c) coating the second mixture on a vibration diaphragm material and then heating the second mixture coated vibration diaphragm material, and (d) cooling down the coated vibration diaphragm material in which the second mixture is cured and bonded to the vibration diaphragm material. Thus, when baking the second mixture, the internal hot melt adhesive will be melted and integrated with the thermosetting adhesive, and the thermosetting adhesive will also be cured, enabling the reinforcing material to be uniformly bonded to the vibration diaphragm to reinforce the strength and rigidity of the composite vibration diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: MERRY ELECTRONICS (SUZHOU) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ching-Lan Lin, Chen-Mao Yang, Po-Yu Chen, Feng-Min Lai
  • Patent number: 9113250
    Abstract: A diaphragm arrangement includes a middle foaming layer defining a first flat surface and an opposed flat surface, a first layer overlapped on the first flat surface of the middle foaming layer, and a second layer overlapped on the second flat surface of the middle foaming layer to form a flat speaker diaphragm which is arranged to mount at an opening of a supporting frame of a speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: TANG BAND INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hsin Min Huang
  • Patent number: 8942392
    Abstract: A flat panel speaker system is provided. The system includes, a modified panel having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the modified panel acts as a diaphragm for the flat panel speaker system; a supporting member coupled to the rear surface of the modified panel; and a detachable driver operationally coupled to the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Kwun-Wing W. Cheung
  • Patent number: 8646570
    Abstract: In a diaphragm of an electric sound converter which converts vibration such as sound into an electrical signal, a center dome is reinforced while suppressing variations in the sensitivity and frequency response to the minimum, whereby reduction in a high-pass reproduction limit is suppressed, and occurrence of anomalous resonance is prevented. In a diaphragm 1 of an electric sound converter having a center dome 2, a reinforcing film 7 made of the same material as that of the center dome and formed into the same shape as that of the center dome is applied to the center dome with a hot-melt adhesive 6 of the same nature as that of the center dome, a groove 7a formed in a polygonal reticulate pattern is provided on one surface of the reinforcing film adhered with the adhesive, and a convex rib 8 corresponding to the groove is formed on the other surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 8270662
    Abstract: Improved loudspeakers, systems and components are adapted to interconnect with many forms of communication media. In one embodiment, a speaker is mountable within a receptacle. The speaker includes a magnetic driver and a diaphragm mounted to a frame. The frame includes a mounting member extending from a surface of the frame behind the flange plane. The mounting member is engagable in a notch formed in the receptacle for securing the speaker within the receptacle. In another embodiment, a low-profile loudspeaker has a front-mounted magnetic driver disposed within a cone-shaped acoustic diaphragm. The magnetic driver includes a first rare earth magnet centrally disposed within an electromagnetic shielding material. In another embodiment, a low-profile, two-way loudspeaker includes a cone-shaped diaphragm and a dome-shaped (tweeter) diaphragm. A front-mounted magnetic driver comprises first and second rare earth magnets each centrally disposed within electromagnetic shielding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Dr. G Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Godehard A. Guenther
  • Patent number: 8265307
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer radiates a sound wave into a medium, and includes: a shaft member which extends at a center portion of the acoustic transducer; first and second cylindrical acoustic radiation plates which have a cylindrical shape, a central axis of the first and second cylindrical acoustic radiation plates agreeing with the longitudinal axis of the shaft member, the first and second cylindrical acoustic radiation plates alternately arranged in a direction of the central axis; a plurality of connection members which have a ring shape, and connect adjacent first and second acoustic radiation plates to each other; a plurality of bending vibration plates each of which connects the shaft member and one of the connection members to each other; and a plurality of vibrators which are provided on the bending plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Hama
  • Patent number: 8068634
    Abstract: A first enforcing rib, a second enforcing rib, and a third enforcing rib are integrally formed at least at one of a front side and a back side of a diaphragm, the first enforcing rib being formed as an aggregate of a plurality of hexagons, enhancing strength and achieving light weight of a speaker using the diaphragm, preventing a difficulty of the speaker in emitting an audio sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Goro Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20090175487
    Abstract: A first enforcing rib, a second enforcing rib, and a third enforcing rib are integrally formed at least at one of a front side and a back side of a diaphragm, the first enforcing rib being formed as an aggregate of a plurality of hexagons, enhancing strength and achieving light weight of a speaker using the diaphragm, preventing a difficulty of the speaker in emitting an audio sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Goro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7428946
    Abstract: A suspension with a plurality of roll sections each of which has a semi-cylindrical shape from a cross-section view. The roll sections are disposed side by side based on a straight line connecting two points on an inner periphery or an outer periphery. The roll sections form a closed loop in a manner that a roll section of the roll sections being disposed first adjoins a roll section of the roll sections being disposed last. Adjacent roll sections are coupled with each other through a boundary section forming a continuous three dimensional curved surface. A linearity of compliance improves, and generation of distortion or rolling is restricted using the suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Honda, Koji Sano, Tatsuya Omori
  • Patent number: 7120263
    Abstract: A bending wave panel-form acoustic radiator formed from sheet material to define an acoustically active area and having at least one integral stiffening member in the form of a corrugation extending out of the plane of the sheet and at least partially across the acoustically active area of the radiator, which stiffening member is of substantially U-shaped cross section. Also disclosed is a method of making a bending wave panel-form acoustic radiator, comprising forming a sheet into a panel having at least one integral corrugation member extending out of the plane of the sheet and at least partly across the sheet and of substantially U-shape cross-section, to stiffen the sheet to have a desired ability to support and propagate bending waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Henry Azima, Martin Colloms, Graham Bank, Charles Bream, Julian Fordham
  • Patent number: 7062064
    Abstract: A flat panel loudspeaker arrangement with several panel loudspeakers of similar construction is disclosed. The panel loudspeakers are arranged seamlessly side-by-side and are rigidly connected with one another along their respective edges with a high shear strength. The panel loudspeakers can be supported by an existing stable wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Harman Audio Electronic Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bachmann, Gerhard Krump, Hans-Juergen Regl, Andreas Ziganki
  • Patent number: 6988339
    Abstract: A media window system includes a window unit having a window frame defining a frame perimeter and a glass unit located within the frame perimeter. The window unit includes a display area adapted to receive a display image. A display image source is configured to project an image onto the display surface. The window unit also includes a speaker element disposed on the window. The display are of the window unit is capable of transforming from a first transparent state to a second increased opacity state for receiving the display image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Andersen Corporation
    Inventors: Russell J. Pylkki, James B. Libby, Kurt E. Heikkila
  • Patent number: 6956957
    Abstract: A loudspeaker drive unit comprising a resonant acoustic radiator, an exciter on the radiator to apply bending wave energy to the radiator to cause it to resonate, a support for the loudspeaker drive unit, and means resiliently coupling the exciter to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Henry Azima, Martin Colloms, Martin Roberts, Graham Bank, Neil Harris, Bijan Djahansouzi
  • Patent number: 6888946
    Abstract: A tweeter with a light, thin sandwich plate which can be excited into multiple reflected bending waves, and a driver which makes a vibrating contact and excites the sandwich plate, where the driver is designed for higher sound frequencies and the sandwich plate for propagating bending waves with low damping. The sandwich plate is freely carried with low damping by holding elements, where the latter are designed to be low damping at higher sound frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Harman Audio Electronic Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bachmann, Gerhard Krump, Hans-Juergen Regl, Andreas Zinganki
  • Patent number: 6862361
    Abstract: An audio speaker including a chassis and a diaphragm defining an axis. A suspension movably interconnects the diaphragm and the chassis for reciprocating movement of the diaphragm along the axis. A motor is operably connected to the diaphragm for powered movement thereof. The diaphragm includes a cylindrical flange extending from its peripheral edges axially in the direction of the motor. The termination of said cylindrical flange provides an attachment for an annular rear flexible suspension member that, in turn, attaches to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventors: Floyd John James, David Lewis Clark
  • Publication number: 20040146176
    Abstract: A paper-honeycomb-paper sandwich multi-layer loudspeaker cone structure comprises a first paper cone and a second paper cone, and a honey-comb core structure made of Nomex or aluminum material and disposed between the first and second paper cones; the honey-comb core structure is glued with the first and second paper cones by coating a resin on the surface of the interface between the first and second paper cones bonded the honeycomb core in between to constitute the multi-layer loudspeaker cone structure. The material application and improved structure of the multi-layer speaker make the entire set of loudspeaker cone light in weight and excellent in internal loss for the paper material inside, and thus significantly improving the rigidity of the loudspeaker cone and enhancing its performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: Meiloon Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wei-Chung Wu
  • Patent number: 6687381
    Abstract: A planar loudspeaker is disclosed having a unique multi-layered sound resonator plate. The resonator has an upper layer and a lower layer maintained in a flat spaced-apart relationship. Divider walls or ribs are present to maintain the upper and lower layers spaced-apart, and in a self-taut state with internal chambers. The resonator layers and divider walls establish a plurality of internal passages or chambers that may or may not be sealed. The planar speaker includes a frame assembly having a mount plate and a resonator driver attached to the mount plate. The driver being responsive to an electrical signal and attached to a radiator that is movable in accordance with the movement of the driver. The flat spaced-apart resonator is attached to the radiator and frame, which produces sound when vibrated. The aspect ratio of the planar loudspeaker is preferably at least about 1.3 to 1 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventors: Mayuki Yanagawa, Muto Keiko
  • Patent number: 6590993
    Abstract: A panel-shaped loudspeaker includes a panel (1) and an exciter coupled to the panel. The panel is provided with two parallel extending thin walls (1a, 1b) which are interconnected by a structure of thin strip-shaped partitions (1c) situated between the walls. The longitudinal axes of all partitions extend parallel to each other and give the panel an anisotropic bending stiffness. The material of the walls and the partitions of the panel has an internal damping which is at least 2.5% of the critical damping of the relevant material, used in the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Guido O. M. D'Hoogh, David M. E. Corynen
  • Patent number: 6560348
    Abstract: The invention proposes a contact connection for sound reproduction devices according to the flexural wave principle. Since the drive systems 21 of such installations require high current intensities and such current intensities could only be properly transmitted by massive contact connections which however hinder the flexural wave propagation, the object of the invention is to propose a contact connection which eliminates the problems of the state of the art, and which is also very easy to implement. To that end it is proposed that at least one of the two cover layers 12 and/or the core layer 11 contain conductive areas 17 which are connected to the lines 32 of a sound signal source. It is particularly advantageous if the conductive areas 17 can be manufactured together with the components that are also used to manufacture the core layer 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Harman Audio Electronic Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bachmann, Gerhard Krump, Hans-Jürgen Regl
  • Publication number: 20030081799
    Abstract: A flat panel sound radiator having improved audio performance is provided. The sound radiator has a panel to which is coupled a traditional electromechanical exciter for imparting audio frequency vibrational energy to the panel. The panel has a honeycomb core made of Kraft paper, which is flexible, has a low self noise, and high noise damping characteristics. The core is sandwiched between facing skins made of a material with a high Young's modulus, a high tan delta, a high tensile strength, and low self noise. Preferably, this material is an aramid polyamide such as Kevlar®, Nomex®, Conex®, or Technora®, all of which exhibit these properties. The facing skins are fixed to the core with an adhesive that is flexible and has high acoustic damping qualities and high shock resistance, such as rubber cements, silicone adhesives, and water-based acrylic adhesives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Klasco, Pablo Tobiano, Carlos Go
  • Publication number: 20030059068
    Abstract: A touch pad assembly for use in an electronic article. The assembly comprises a touch pad, a coupler for mechanically coupling the touch pad to casing of the electronic article and a transducer which is mounted by coupling means on the coupler or the touch pad to drive the casing as an acoustic radiator. An electronic article can incorporate the same. An electronic article comprises a body in or on which a bending wave loudspeaker is mounted. The loudspeaker comprises a bending wave acoustic radiator and an electromechanical force transducer mounted to the radiator to vibrate the radiator to produce an acoustic output. The transducer has an intended operative frequency range and comprises a resonant element having a frequency distribution of modes in the operative frequency range and coupling means for mounting the transducer to the radiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: NEW TRANSDUCERS LIMITED
    Inventors: Graham Bank, Martin Colloms, Neil Simon Owen, Neil Harris, Martin Christopher Cassey
  • Patent number: 6456723
    Abstract: An acoustic device has a plurality of resonant bending wave modes along the length of a member. The fundamental frequency of resonant bending wave modes in directions perpendicular to the length is much higher, so that the lower frequency resonant bending wave modes are substantially one directional. A plurality of transducers may be spaced across the width of the member at a preferred position along the length of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Graham Bank, Neil Harris
  • Publication number: 20020094108
    Abstract: A planar loudspeaker is disclosed having a unique multi-layered sound resonator plate. The resonator has an upper layer and a lower layer maintained in a flat spaced-apart relationship. Divider walls or ribs are present to maintain the upper and lower layers spaced-apart, and in a self-taut state with internal chambers. The resonator layers and divider walls establish a plurality of internal passages or chambers that may or may not be sealed. The planar speaker includes a frame assembly having a mount plate and a resonator driver attached to the mount plate. The driver being responsive to an electrical signal and attached to a radiator that is movable in accordance with the movement of the driver. The flat spaced-apart resonator is attached to the radiator and frame, which produces sound when vibrated. The aspect ratio of the planar loudspeaker is preferably at least about 1.3 to 1 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Mayuki Yanagawa, Muto Keiko
  • Publication number: 20020094109
    Abstract: Various embodiments of low-mass sound generators each having a wide frequency band are disclosed. In some embodiments, the acoustic transducer acting as the sound generator is constructed of four layers of PVDF film. The top and bottom bi-laminate members are separately formed in a pre-curved manner to form a rippled geometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventor: Robert D. Corsaro
  • Patent number: 6411723
    Abstract: A flat panel rectangular or elliptical loudspeaker has one or more anisotropic diaphragms 14, 15, made of double skinned fluted polypropylene copolymer (core flute) or corrugated cardboards having a longitudinal bending strength greater than the transverse bending strength. The diaphragm is vibrated by a driver unit 16 which comprises a magnet 17 and voice coil 18. In this version the magnet 17 is mounted on the rear diaphragm 15 and the voice coil 18 is mounted on the front diaphragm 14. The two diaphragms 14, 15 are mounted at their edges to a frame 11 with the driver unit 16 mounted in the space enclosed by the frame and the diaphragms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Slab Technology Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Colin Lock, John Frederick Corey, Graeme Oliver Jones, Kelly Charles Waterman
  • Patent number: 6389935
    Abstract: A display screen (32), e.g., a projection screen comprising a panel having a light reflective surface, characterised in that the screen is a distributed mode acoustic radiator loudspeaker having a transducer (9) mounted wholly and exclusively thereon to vibrate the radiator to cause it to resonate to provide an acoustic output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Henry Azima, Martin Colloms, Neil Harris
  • Publication number: 20010055403
    Abstract: A tweeter with a light, thin sandwich plate which can be excited into multiple reflected bending waves, and a driver which makes a vibrating contact and excites the sandwich plate, where the driver is designed for higher sound frequencies and the sandwich plate for propagating bending waves with low damping. The sandwich plate is freely carried with low damping by holding elements, where the latter are designed to be low damping at higher sound frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Applicant: Harman Audio Electronic Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bachmann, Gerhard Krump, Hans-Juergen Regl, Andreas Zinganki
  • Patent number: 6327369
    Abstract: A panel-form loudspeaker (81) comprising a resonant distributed mode acoustic radiator (2), and drive means (9) mounted to the radiator to excite multi-mode resonance in the radiator, characterised by a baffle (6, 8) surrounding and supporting the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Henry Azima, Martin Colloms, Neil Harris
  • Patent number: 6285770
    Abstract: Visual display apparatus comprising a notice board in the form of a distributed mode acoustic radiator having a transducer (9) mounted thereon at a preferential location or site for coupling to resonant bending wave modes to vibrate the radiator to cause it to resonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Henry Azima, Martin Colloms, Neil Harris
  • Patent number: 6278787
    Abstract: A mid/high frequency loudspeaker drive unit comprising a stiff lightweight resonant panel form member, a housing to which the panel fog member is mounted, a resilient suspension connected between the edges of the panel form member and the housing, the arrangement being such that the housing and the panel for member together define a closed cavity, and an electrodynamic exciter for applying bending wave energy to the panel form member to cause it to resonate to produce an acoustic output, the exciter comprising a magnet assembly rigidly fixed to the housing and defining an annular gap, and a voice coil and coil former assembly disposed in the annular gap and rigidly fixed to the panel form member near to the geometric center thereof, wherein only the resilient suspension centers the voice coil and coil former assembly in the annular gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventor: Henry Azima
  • Patent number: 6275598
    Abstract: The invention presents a sound reproduction device which operates in accordance with the flexural wave principle. Such devices have in common that a panel 10 is provided in which flexural waves are produced by a drive arrangement 16. The drive arrangements 16 in the state of the art are connected to one of the surfaces of the panel 10 and are held by a support structure which functions as a countersupport. Such support structures either hinder the propagation of the flexural waves along the surface of the panel 10 and/or lead to an increase in the constructed depth of such a sound reproduction device. To avoid these disadvantages of the state of the art, the drive system 16 is located in a cutout 15 of the panel 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Harman Electronic Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bachmann, Gerhard Krump, Hans-Jürgen Regl
  • Patent number: 6247551
    Abstract: A panel-form loudspeaker has a resonant multi-mode radiator panel which is excited at frequencies above the fundamental frequency and the coincidence frequency of the panel to provide high radiation efficiency through multi-modal motions within the panel, in contrast to the pistonic motions required of conventional loudspeakers. The radiator panel is skinned composite with a honeycomb or similar core and must be such that it has a ratio of bending stiffness to the third power of panel mass per unit area (in mks units) of at least 10 and preferably at least 100. An aluminum skinned, aluminum honeycomb cored composite can meet this more severe criterion easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventor: Kenneth H Heron
  • Patent number: 6201878
    Abstract: A portable compact-disc player (41), characterized by an opposed pair of loudspeakers (81) attached to the player, and in that each loudspeaker comprises a distributed mode acoustic radiator having a transducer (9) wholly and exclusively mounted thereon to vibrate the radiator to cause it to resonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Henry Azima, Martin Colloms, Neil John Harris
  • Patent number: 6188775
    Abstract: A panel-form loudspeaker has two distributed mode acoustic radiators coupled by a resilient suspension. Each radiator has its own transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: New Transducers Limited
    Inventors: Henry Azima, Martin Colloms, Neil John Harris
  • Patent number: 6176345
    Abstract: A passive radiator assembly for a speaker that substantially reduces diaphragm resonance in the operating frequency range of the device. The new passive radiator assembly includes a quasi-elliptical shaped laminated honeycomb diaphragm, which is damped by an integral outer compliance (suspension) made of an elastomeric material that covers the entire upper surface of the diaphragm. The integrated outer compliance is of a progressive type, having a stiffness that increases in a controlled fashion during large excursions. To prevent non-linear rocking movements and compensate for displacement non-linearities, at least one, and preferably two, opposed spiders supported by a spider assembly frame are used to provide a restoring force applied to the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Mackie Designs Inc.
    Inventors: Calvin C. Perkins, Terry L. Wetherbee, David D. Bie
  • Patent number: 6160898
    Abstract: The invention proposes a suspension mount for sound reproduction devices according to the flexural wave principle. Characteristic for such devices is that a panel 10 is provided which must be flexibly attached to a holder 17. The panel 10 is composed of a core layer with a perforated structure, and two cover layers 12 which cover the core layer 11. Since the usual edge borders of conventional loudspeakers must be designed very hard due to the size and weight of the panel 10, the quality of the sound reproduction by such a device is reduced. For that reason the objective of the invention is a suspension mount which avoids the drawbacks of the state of the art. To that end it is proposed to build the suspension mount with the core layer 11 and/or at least one of the cover layers 12. If the core layer 11 itself provides the flexible attachment, it is also possible without any great effort to flexibly attach the panel 10 away from the edge areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Nokia Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bachmann, Gerhard Krump, Hans-Jurgen Regl
  • Patent number: 6097829
    Abstract: A composite loudspeaker diaphragm is disclosed having first and second substantially flat carbon fiber skins, and a honeycomb core sandwiched between the first and second carbon skins. In a preferred form, each carbon fiber skin comprises a sheet formed of primarily unidirectional carbon filaments bound together by an epoxy resin. In the preferred embodiment, the honeycomb core is formed of nomex, and is glued with epoxy to the first and second carbon skins, and then heated. The sandwich diaphragm is manufactured so that the direction of the carbon fibers of the cross plies of each outer skin are out of phase relative to each other, preferably in the range of approximately ninety degrees. The improved diaphragm is used in an flat-panel loudspeaker system having improved performance at higher frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Precision Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward W. Guenther, Stephen Leigh