Reduction of standing waves and intermodulation distortion in electro-acoustic transducer
First Claim
1. In combination with an electro-acoustic transducer having an active surface for radiating or reflecting acoustic energy, said active surface having a discontinuity, the improvement comprising a plurality of features positioned in a pattern on the active surface, each feature comprising a portion of the active surface having a height different than the height of the portions of the active surface surrounding the feature, the features being grouped into pairs, each feature being separated from each adjacent feature by a gap, the width of said gap being approximately one half the width of the adjacent features, and the features in the pattern extending along and adjacent to at least a substantial portion of said discontinuity
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Abstract
A pattern of blocks or other features is formed on the diaphragm of an electro-acoustic transducer. The features in the pattern extend along and adjacent to an edge of the diaphragm. The features in a pattern are preferably arranged along two parallel lines, with a pair of features along one line positioned adjacent to a gap in the other line. Similar patterns may also be formed along a second, opposite edge of the diaphragm, and/or on enclosing surfaces adjacent to a transducer. The diaphragm may further be covered by a conformal coating which allows vibratory energy propagating through the surface to exceed the speed of sound through air.
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Citations
19 Claims
- 1. In combination with an electro-acoustic transducer having an active surface for radiating or reflecting acoustic energy, said active surface having a discontinuity, the improvement comprising a plurality of features positioned in a pattern on the active surface, each feature comprising a portion of the active surface having a height different than the height of the portions of the active surface surrounding the feature, the features being grouped into pairs, each feature being separated from each adjacent feature by a gap, the width of said gap being approximately one half the width of the adjacent features, and the features in the pattern extending along and adjacent to at least a substantial portion of said discontinuity
- 13. A method of modifying an electro-acoustic transducer so as to reduce standing wave formation and intermodulation distortion, the transducer comprising an active surface for radiating or reflecting acoustic energy, the active surface having a discontinuity, the method comprising forming a plurality of features positioned in a pattern on the active surface, each feature comprising a portion of the active surface having a height different from the height of the portions of the active surface surrounding the feature, the features being grouped into pairs, each feature being separated from each adjacent feature by a gap, the width of said gap being approximately one half the width of the adjacent features, and the features in the pattern extending along and adjacent to at least a substantial portion of said discontinuity.
- 16. In combination with an electro-acoustic transducer having an active surface for radiating or reflecting acoustic energy, said active surface having a discontinuity, the improvement comprising a plurality of features positioned in a pattern on the active surface so as to substantially prevent sound energy reflected from the discontinuity from forming standing waves on the active surface, each feature comprising a portion of the active surface having a height different than the height of the portions of active surface surrounding the feature, the features and the pattern extending along and adjacent to at least a substantial portion of said discontinuity and the features being grouped into pairs, each feature being separated from each adjacent feature by a gap, the width of said gap being approximately one-half the width of the adjacent features.
Specification