System and method for a loudspeaker with a diaphragm

• US 10,560,778 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2018
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coleridge Design Associates LLC
• Original Assignee: Coleridge Design Associates LLC
• Inventors: Boyd, Geoffrey Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US15/985,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20180270569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 181155, 34042643, 381152, 381186, 381191, 381398, 381399, 381400, 381404, 381409, 381410, 381430, 381433, 381 92, 381322, 381394, 381396, 381408, 381412, 381414, 381415, 381423, 381424, 381431, 367 6
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/023 Screens for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/24 Structural combinations of separate transducers or of two parts of the same transducer and responsive respectively to two or more frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2803 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2834 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2207/021 Diaphragm extensions, not necessarily integrally formed, e.g. skirts, rims, flanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/04 Plane diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/20 Securing diaphragm or cone resiliently to support by flexible material, springs, cords, or strands
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/025 Magnetic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/047 in which the windings of the moving coil lay in the same plane

Abstract

A loudspeaker is disclosed. The loudspeaker includes a diaphragm with a fixed portion and a movable portion. The fixed portion is attached to the movable portion by a plurality of leaf springs disposed between the fixed portion and the movable portion of the diaphragm. A coil is disposed over the diaphragm in the movable portion of the diaphragm. A magnet assembly is operatively disposed relative to the coil, wherein upon flow of current through the coil, the movable portion of the diaphragm moves relative to the fixed portion.

Claims

1. A loudspeaker, comprising:

a diaphragm wherein the diaphragm has a fixed portion and a movable portion and wherein the fixed portion is attached to the movable portion by a plurality of leaf springs disposed between the fixed portion and the movable portion of the diaphragm;

a coil disposed over the diaphragm in the movable portion; and

a magnet assembly operatively disposed relative to the coil, wherein upon flow of current through the coil, the movable portion of the diaphragm moves relative to the fixed portion,

wherein the leaf spring has a first end portion, a second end portion and a body portion, the first end portion connected to the movable portion about an outer periphery of the movable portion and the second end portion connected to the fixed portion about an inner periphery of the fixed portion;

wherein a gap between the body portion of the leaf spring and the fixed portion define a portion of a first slot and a gap between the body portion of the leaf spring and the movable portion define a portion of a second slot, wherein, the first slot extends to an adjacent leaf spring to define a gap between the body portion of the adjacent leaf spring and the movable portion, and wherein, the second slot extends to another adjacent leaf spring to define a gap between the body portion of the another adjacent leaf spring and the fixed portion, and wherein the first slot and the second slot is filled with a material to substantially maintain a pressure differential between a top portion of the diaphragm and the bottom portion of the diaphragm created by the movement of the movable portion of the diaphragm; and

wherein the magnet assembly includes a top magnet assembly and a bottom magnet assembly and the diaphragm disposed between the top magnet assembly and the bottom magnet assembly.

2. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the magnet assembly creates a magnetic field substantially in the plane of the diaphragm and perpendicular to the flow of current through the coil.

3. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the magnet assembly creates the magnetic field in a plurality of directions and the coil includes a plurality of sub coils, with each sub coil subjected to one of the plurality of directions of magnetic field, wherein a flow of current through each of the sub coils is arranged so as to move the movable part in the same direction.

4. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein a plurality of through holes are disposed in the top magnet assembly and the bottom magnet assembly to permit sound produced due to the vibration of the diaphragm to pass through the top magnet assembly and the bottom magnet assembly.

5. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein a bottom receiver cover is disposed over the bottom magnet assembly and a tweeter is disposed in the bottom receiver cover.

6. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the material is a viscous material.

7. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein a stiffener is selectively disposed on the movable portion so as to maintain a substantially constant mechanical impedance for the movable portion.

8. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein a conductor of the coil begins and terminates on the fixed portion and a portion of the conductor of the coil enters and exits the movable portion over the body portion of one of the leaf spring.

9. The loudspeaker of claim 8, wherein a plurality of dummy conductors are disposed in the body portion of the other leaf springs so as to maintain a substantially similar compliance between the one of the leaf spring and other leaf springs.

10. The loudspeaker of claim 3, wherein, a winding length of each of the sub coil is selectively chosen based on the magnetic field strength imparted to each of the sub coil, to generate a substantially uniform force across the plurality of sub coils.

11. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is a planar diaphragm.

12. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is a panel form diaphragm.

13. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is a conical diaphragm.

14. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein a central portion of the diaphragm is dome shaped.

15. A loudspeaker, comprising:

a diaphragm wherein the diaphragm has a fixed portion and a movable portion and wherein the fixed portion is attached to the movable portion by a plurality of leaf springs disposed between the fixed portion and the movable portion of the diaphragm;

a coil disposed over the diaphragm in the movable portion; and

a magnet assembly operatively disposed relative to the coil, wherein upon flow of current through the coil, the movable portion of the diaphragm moves relative to the fixed portion,

wherein the coil is selectively etched on a metal clad flexible printed circuit, a portion of a substrate of the flexible printed circuit selectively cut to form the plurality of leaf springs and the substrate of the flexible printed circuit, the coil and the plurality of leaf springs together form a combination of the diaphragm, coil and the plurality of leaf springs.

16. The loudspeaker of claim 15, wherein the leaf spring has a first end portion, a second end portion and a body portion, the first end portion connected to the movable portion about an outer periphery of the movable portion and the second end portion connected to the fixed portion about an inner periphery of the fixed portion;

wherein a gap between the body portion of the leaf spring and the fixed portion define a portion of a first slot and a gap between the body portion of the leaf spring and the movable portion define a portion of a second slot, wherein, the first slot extends to an adjacent leaf spring to define a gap between the body portion of the adjacent leaf spring and the movable portion; and

wherein, the second slot extends to another adjacent leaf spring to define a gap between the body portion of the another adjacent leaf spring and the fixed portion, and wherein the first slot and the second slot is filled with a material to substantially maintain a pressure differential between a top portion of the diaphragm and the bottom portion of the diaphragm created by the movement of the movable portion of the diaphragm.

17. The loudspeaker of claim 15, wherein the magnet assembly creates a magnetic field substantially in the plane of the diaphragm and perpendicular to the flow of current through the coil.

18. The loudspeaker of claim 15, wherein the magnet assembly creates the magnetic field in a plurality of directions and the coil includes a plurality of sub coils, with each sub coil subjected to one of the plurality of directions of magnetic field, wherein a flow of current through each of the sub coils is arranged so as to move the movable part in the same direction.

19. The loudspeaker of claim 15, wherein the magnet assembly includes a top magnet assembly and a bottom magnet assembly and the diaphragm disposed between the top magnet assembly and the bottom magnet assembly;

and

wherein a plurality of through holes are disposed in the top magnet assembly and the bottom magnet assembly to permit sound produced due to the vibration of the diaphragm to pass through the top magnet assembly and the bottom magnet assembly.

20. The loudspeaker of claim 15, wherein a bottom receiver cover is disposed over the bottom magnet assembly and a tweeter is disposed in the bottom receiver cover.

21. The loudspeaker of claim 15, wherein the leaf spring has a first end portion, a second end portion and a body portion, the first end portion connected to the movable portion about an outer periphery of the movable portion and the second end portion connected to the fixed portion about an inner periphery of the fixed portion;

and

wherein a conductor of the coil begins and terminates on the fixed portion and a portion of the conductor of the coil enters and exits the movable portion over the body portion of one of the leaf spring.

22. The loudspeaker of claim 21, wherein a plurality of dummy conductors are disposed in the body portion of the other leaf springs so as to maintain a substantially similar compliance between the one of the leaf spring and other leaf springs.

23. A loudspeaker, comprising:

a diaphragm wherein the diaphragm has a fixed portion and a movable portion and wherein the fixed portion is attached to the movable portion by a plurality of leaf springs disposed between the fixed portion and the movable portion of the diaphragm;

a coil disposed over the diaphragm in the movable portion; and

a magnet assembly operatively disposed relative to the coil, wherein upon flow of current through the coil, the movable portion of the diaphragm moves relative to the fixed portion,

wherein the coil is selectively printed on a substrate, a portion of the substrate selectively cut to form the plurality of leaf springs and the substrate, the coil and the plurality of leaf springs together form a combination of the diaphragm, the coil and the plurality of leaf springs.

24. The loudspeaker of claim 23, wherein the leaf spring has a first end portion, a second end portion and a body portion, the first end portion connected to the movable portion about an outer periphery of the movable portion and the second end portion connected to the fixed portion about an inner periphery of the fixed portion;

wherein a gap between the body portion of the leaf spring and the fixed portion define a portion of a first slot and a gap between the body portion of the leaf spring and the movable portion define a portion of a second slot, wherein, the first slot extends to an adjacent leaf spring to define a gap between the body portion of the adjacent leaf spring and the movable portion; and

wherein, the second slot extends to another adjacent leaf spring to define a gap between the body portion of the another adjacent leaf spring and the fixed portion, and wherein the first slot and the second slot is filled with a material to substantially maintain a pressure differential between a top portion of the diaphragm and the bottom portion of the diaphragm created by the movement of the movable portion of the diaphragm.

25. The loudspeaker of claim 23, wherein the magnet assembly creates a magnetic field substantially in the plane of the diaphragm and perpendicular to the flow of current through the coil.

26. The loudspeaker of claim 23, wherein the magnet assembly creates the magnetic field in a plurality of directions and the coil includes a plurality of sub coils, with each sub coil subjected to one of the plurality of directions of magnetic field, wherein a flow of current through each of the sub coils is arranged so as to move the movable part in the same direction.

27. The loudspeaker of claim 23, wherein the magnet assembly includes a top magnet assembly and a bottom magnet assembly and the diaphragm disposed between the top magnet assembly and the bottom magnet assembly;

and

wherein a plurality of through holes are disposed in the top magnet assembly and the bottom magnet assembly to permit sound produced due to the vibration of the diaphragm to pass through the top magnet assembly and the bottom magnet assembly.

28. The loudspeaker of claim 23, wherein a bottom receiver cover is disposed over the bottom magnet assembly and a tweeter is disposed in the bottom receiver cover.

29. The loudspeaker of claim 23, wherein the leaf spring has a first end portion, a second end portion and a body portion, the first end portion connected to the movable portion about an outer periphery of the movable portion and the second end portion connected to the fixed portion about an inner periphery of the fixed portion;

and

wherein a conductor of the coil begins and terminates on the fixed portion and a portion of the conductor of the coil enters and exits the movable portion over the body portion of one of the leaf spring.

30. The loudspeaker of claim 29, wherein a plurality of dummy conductors are disposed in the body portion of the other leaf springs so as to maintain a substantially similar compliance between the one of the leaf spring and other leaf springs.

31. A loudspeaker, comprising:

a diaphragm wherein the diaphragm has a fixed portion and a movable portion and wherein the fixed portion is attached to the movable portion by a plurality of leaf springs disposed between the fixed portion and the movable portion of the diaphragm;

a coil disposed over the diaphragm in the movable portion; and

a magnet assembly operatively disposed relative to the coil, wherein upon flow of current through the coil, the movable portion of the diaphragm moves relative to the fixed portion,

wherein the coil is selectively deposited on a substrate, a portion of the substrate selectively cut to form the plurality of leaf springs and the substrate, the coil and the plurality of leaf springs together form a combination of the diaphragm, the coil and the plurality of leaf springs.

32. The loudspeaker of claim 31, wherein the leaf spring has a first end portion, a second end portion and a body portion, the first end portion connected to the movable portion about an outer periphery of the movable portion and the second end portion connected to the fixed portion about an inner periphery of the fixed portion;

wherein a gap between the body portion of the leaf spring and the fixed portion define a portion of a first slot and a gap between the body portion of the leaf spring and the movable portion define a portion of a second slot, wherein, the first slot extends to an adjacent leaf spring to define a gap between the body portion of the adjacent leaf spring and the movable portion; and

wherein, the second slot extends to another adjacent leaf spring to define a gap between the body portion of the another adjacent leaf spring and the fixed portion, and wherein the first slot and the second slot is filled with a material to substantially maintain a pressure differential between a top portion of the diaphragm and the bottom portion of the diaphragm created by the movement of the movable portion of the diaphragm.

33. The loudspeaker of claim 31, wherein the magnet assembly creates a magnetic field substantially in the plane of the diaphragm and perpendicular to the flow of current through the coil.

34. The loudspeaker of claim 31, wherein the magnet assembly creates the magnetic field in a plurality of directions and the coil includes a plurality of sub coils, with each sub coil subjected to one of the plurality of directions of magnetic field, wherein a flow of current through each of the sub coils is arranged so as to move the movable part in the same direction.

35. The loudspeaker of claim 31, wherein the magnet assembly includes a top magnet assembly and a bottom magnet assembly and the diaphragm disposed between the top magnet assembly and the bottom magnet assembly;

and

wherein a plurality of through holes are disposed in the top magnet assembly and the bottom magnet assembly to permit sound produced due to the vibration of the diaphragm to pass through the top magnet assembly and the bottom magnet assembly.

36. The loudspeaker of claim 31, wherein a bottom receiver cover is disposed over the bottom magnet assembly and a tweeter is disposed in the bottom receiver cover.

37. The loudspeaker of claim 31, wherein the leaf spring has a first end portion, a second end portion and a body portion, the first end portion connected to the movable portion about an outer periphery of the movable portion and the second end portion connected to the fixed portion about an inner periphery of the fixed portion;

and

wherein a conductor of the coil begins and terminates on the fixed portion and a portion of the conductor of the coil enters and exits the movable portion over the body portion of one of the leaf spring.

38. The loudspeaker of claim 37, wherein a plurality of dummy conductors are disposed in the body portion of the other leaf springs so as to maintain a substantially similar compliance between the one of the leaf spring and other leaf springs.