Speaker for automotive vehicle audio system having a vehicle panel serving as sound-amplifying medium
First Claim
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1. A speaker for an automotive vehicle having an audio system comprising:
- a vehicle panel which forms a part of a vehicle body and which is sufficiently flexible to oscillate at an audio frequency, said vehicle panel comprising at least a section adapted to oscillate for producing an audio sound,a housing fixed to said section, anda driving unit resiliently suspended within said housing, associated with said audio system for receiving an audio signal produced by said audio system, and fixed to said section of said vehicle panel separately from said housing to drive said section for oscillation at an audio frequency for producing the audio sound, said driving unit comprising a support element secured to said vehicle panel, a coil wrapped around said support element, and a driver assembly having a permanent magnet positioned adjacent said coil for causing oscillations of said support element,whereby said vehicle panel forms part of said vehicle body and also functions as a diaphragm member of the speaker for producing the audio sound.
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Abstract
A speaker for use in an automotive vehicle audio system has a vehicle panel oscillating to produce audio frequency sounds. The vehicle panel is driven by a driver of the speaker at a frequency and amplitude corresponding to frequency and amplitude of an audio signal. Such a speaker is especially adapted to reproduce relatively low-frequency sounds.
99 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A speaker for an automotive vehicle having an audio system comprising:
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a vehicle panel which forms a part of a vehicle body and which is sufficiently flexible to oscillate at an audio frequency, said vehicle panel comprising at least a section adapted to oscillate for producing an audio sound, a housing fixed to said section, and a driving unit resiliently suspended within said housing, associated with said audio system for receiving an audio signal produced by said audio system, and fixed to said section of said vehicle panel separately from said housing to drive said section for oscillation at an audio frequency for producing the audio sound, said driving unit comprising a support element secured to said vehicle panel, a coil wrapped around said support element, and a driver assembly having a permanent magnet positioned adjacent said coil for causing oscillations of said support element, whereby said vehicle panel forms part of said vehicle body and also functions as a diaphragm member of the speaker for producing the audio sound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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6. An automotive speaker for an automotive audio system producing an audible frequency of an audio system, comprising:
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a vehicle panel having a section oscillable at an audio frequency and forming part of a vehicle body, said section of said vehicle panel being adapted to serve as a diaphragm of the speaker; a housing fixed to said section of said vehicle panel; a driver unit resiliently suspended within said housing and adapted to drive said vehicle panel section at an audio frequency according to the audio signal from said audio system, said driver unit comprising a support element, a coil wrapped around said support element, a driver assembly having a permanent magnet suspendedly positioned adjacent said coil for causing mutual oscillations of said support element and driver assembly, a cone element connected to said support element for oscillating with said support element and means for coupling oscillations of said driver assembly to said section. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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7. A speaker for an automotive audio system which produces an audio signal, comprising:
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a vehicle panel facing a vehicle compartment and having a section adapted for oscillation at an audio frequency to produce an audible sound; a driver unit housing secured to said section of said vehicle panel; and a driver unit received in said housing and suspended therein, said driver unit adapted to drive said section of said vehicle panel for transmitting an audible frequency of oscillation to produce an audible sound according to the audio signal fed from said audio system, said drive unit comprising a first support element, a first coil wrapped around said first support element, a first driver assembly having a permanent magnet and positioned adjacent said first coil for causing oscillations of said first support element, a cone element connected to said first support element for oscillating with said first support element, a second support element, a second coil wrapped around said second support element, a second driver assembly resiliently supported from said housing having a permanent magnet and positioned adjacent said second coil for causing oscillations of said second support element and means for connecting said second support element to said section of said panel.
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18. A speaker for an automotive vehicle having an audio system comprising:
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a vehicle panel which forms a part of a vehicle body and which is sufficiently flexible to oscillate at an audio frequency, said vehicle panel comprising at least a section adapted to oscillate for producing an audio sound, a housing fixed to said section, a resilient plate mounted on and within said housing, and a driving unit mounted on said plate to be resiliently suspended within said housing, associated with said audio system for receiving an audio signal produced by said audio system, and fixed to said section of said vehicle panel separately from said housing to drive said section for oscillation at an audio frequency for producing the audio sound, whereby said vehicle panel forms part of said vehicle body and also functions as a diaphragm member of the speaker for producing the audio sound.
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Specification