Diaphragm Membrane And Supporting Structure Responsive To Environmental Conditions

• US 20060269087A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emo Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Emo Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Abelson, Matthew D., Johnson, Kevin M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,884,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/164
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2307/029 Diaphragms comprising fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2400/00 Loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops

Abstract

An acoustic transducer is disclosed that is capable of converting mechanical motion into acoustical energy may include a diaphragm and a support on one portion of the diaphragm. An actuator may then be provided that is operatively coupled to a second portion of the diaphragm. The support and actuator may be configured to be environmentally responsive to surrounding conditions of, e.g., heat and/or humidity which may then substantially maintain the diaphragm'"'"'s acoustic performance.

Claims

1. An acoustic transducer capable of converting mechanical motion into acoustical energy comprising:

a diaphragm;

a support on one portion of said diaphragm including an actuator operatively coupled to a second portion of said diaphragm wherein said support and actuator are separated by a distance and are capable of relative motion to adjust said distance.

2. The acoustic transducer of claim 1 wherein said support and actuator are capable of relative motion in response to temperature.

3. The acoustic transducer of claim 1, wherein said support and actuator are located on a frame, and said frame is capable of providing relative motion to adjust said distance between said actuator and said support.

4. The acoustic transducer of claim 3 wherein said frame is mounted to a sub-structure structure wherein said sub-structure is formed from a material with a CLTE that is capable of controlling said distance between said support and actuator.

5. The acoustic transducer of claim 4 wherein said diaphragm has a CLTE and said CLTE of said substructure is 0.25-1.50 of the CLTE of said diaphragm.

6. The acoustic transducer of claim 3 wherein said diaphragm has a CLTE and any portion of the frame as between the actuator and the support includes a material that has a CLTE that is 0.25-1.50 of said diaphragm CLTE.

7. The frame of claim 3 wherein said frame comprises two sections, wherein one section including said support is slidably engaged to a second section including said actuator.

8. The acoustic transducer of claim 3 wherein said frame has a CLTE that is 25-150% of the CLTE of the diaphragm.

9. The acoustic transducer of claim 1 including a component engaged to said support and said actuator, wherein said component is capable of expanding and/or contracting due to temperature to adjust said distance of said membrane between said support and said actuator.

10. The acoustic transducer of claim 9 wherein said component engaged to said support and said component is capable of moving said actuator and adjusting said distance of said membrane between said support and said actuator.

11. The acoustic transducer of claim 1 wherein said support overlies a video screen and said diaphragm is spaced from said video screen

12. The acoustic transducer of claim 1 wherein said actuator is capable of bending in response to temperature to adjust said distance as between said diaphragm and said support.

13. An acoustic transducer capable of converting mechanical motion into acoustical energy comprising:

a diaphragm that is preformed with curvature;

at least one support on at least one portion of said preformed diaphragm; and

at least one actuator operatively coupled to said preformed diaphragm.

14. The acoustic transducer of claim 13 wherein said actuator is configured to move such that movement of said actuator produces corresponding movement of said preformed diaphragm, said preformed diaphragm movement being amplified with respect to said actuator movement.

15. The acoustic transducer of claim 13 wherein said support overlies a video screen and said preformed diaphragm is spaced from said video screen.

16. The acoustic transducer of claim 13 wherein said diaphragm is formed of optically clear material.

17. The acoustic transducer of claim 13 wherein said preformed diaphragm includes one section that is convex and another section that is concave.

18. The acoustic transducer of claim 13 wherein said preformed diaphragm is fixed along an edge and said at least one actuator includes a plurality of actuators that are each operatively coupled to said diaphragm.

19. The acoustic transducer of claim 13 wherein said preformed diaphragm is formed by thermoforming.

20. A method for compensating for environmental conditions in a transducer capable of converting mechanical motion into acoustical energy comprising:

supplying a transducer including a diaphragm and a support on one portion of said diaphragm including an actuator operatively coupled to a second portion of said diaphragm wherein said support and actuator are separated by a distance;

wherein said transducer is exposed to changes in temperature and adjusts said distance between said support and said actuator.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said support is positioned over a video screen.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said distance between said support and said actuator is adjusted by pivoting of said actuator.