Optimized piezo design for a mechanical-to-acoustical transducer

• US 20080273720A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Emo Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Emo Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Abelson, Matthew D., Johnson, Kevin M.
• Application Number:
  US11/421,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20080273720A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/190
• 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

The present invention relates to an acoustic transducer that coverts a mechanical motion into acoustical energy. The acoustic transducer includes a diaphragm and at least one support on at least a portion of the diaphragm. At least one actuator may then be provided that is operatively coupled to the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm or the actuator include one or more areas of reduced stiffness relative to other areas on the diaphragm or actuator. In addition, the present invention relates to modifications in actuator design with respect to engagement of the diaphragm and engagement of the actuator with a given support.

Claims

1. An acoustic transducer that coverts a mechanical motion into acoustical energy, said acoustic transducer comprising:

a diaphragm;

at least one support on at least a portion of said diaphragm;

at least one actuator operatively coupled to said diaphragm, wherein said diaphragm or said actuator include one or more areas of reduced stiffness relative to other areas on said diaphragm or actuator.

2. The acoustic transducer of claim 1 wherein said diaphragm has a thickness and said area of reduced stiffness includes an area in said diaphragm of reduced thickness.

3. The acoustic transducer of claim 1 wherein said actuator has a thickness and said area of reduced stiffness includes an area in said actuator of reduced thickness.

4. The acoustic transducer of claim 1 wherein both said diaphragm and said actuator include an area of reduced stiffness relative to other areas on said diaphragm and actuator.

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

6. An acoustic transducer that coverts a mechanical motion into acoustical energy, said acoustic transducer comprising:

a diaphragm;

at least one support on at least a portion of said diaphragm;

at least one actuator operatively coupled to said diaphragm, wherein said actuator and said diaphragm have a stiffness, and wherein said diaphragm and said actuator are joined by a material of reduced stiffness relative to said actuator stiffness or said diaphragm stiffness.

7. The acoustic transducer of claim 6 wherein said support overlies a video screen and said diaphragm is spaced from said video screen.

8. An acoustic transducer that coverts a mechanical motion into acoustical energy, said acoustic transducer comprising:

a diaphragm;

at least one support on at least a portion of said diaphragm;

at least one actuator operatively coupled to said diaphragm, wherein said activator comprises a piezo actuator wherein all or a portion of said actuator, not coupled to said diaphragm, is restricted in its movement.

9. The acoustic transducer of claim 8 wherein said actuator is restricted in its movement by clamping all or a portion of said actuator.

10. The acoustic transducer of claim 8 wherein said support overlies a video screen and said diaphragm is spaced from said video screen.

11. An acoustic transducer that coverts a mechanical motion into acoustical energy, said acoustic transducer comprising:

a diaphragm;

at least one support on at least a portion of said diaphragm;

at least one actuator operatively coupled to said diaphragm, wherein said actuator includes a substrate that extends outward from the actuator and which supplies an attachment area for coupling to said diaphragm.

12. The acoustic transducer of claim 11 wherein said substrate attachment area for said diaphragm comprises an area for which the diaphragm may tangentially attach to said actuator.