Light-emitting panel-form loudspeaker

• US 6,443,586 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: New Transducers Limited (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Owen, Neil Simon, Dunk, Kieron, Azima, Henry, Jarvis, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US09/523,099
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362/31, 362/86, 362/147, 362/87, 362/811, 362/364, 381/87, 381/88, 181/141, 181/150, 181/153
• US Class Current: 362/86
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/021 Transducers or their casings adapted for mounting in or to a wall or ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/045 using the distributed mode principle, i.e. whereby the acoustic radiation is emanated from uniformly distributed free bending wave vibration induced in a stiff panel and not from pistonic motion

Abstract

A combination panel-form loudspeaker/light comprising a panel having a front face and rear face, a vibration exciter mounted to the member to excite bending-wave vibration in the member, and a light emitter mounted at or adjacent to the panel and arranged to illuminate an area adjacent to the panel.

Claims

1. A combination panel-form loudspeaker/light comprising a panel having a front face and rear face, a vibration exciter mounted to the panel to excite bending-wave vibration in the panel, a light emitter mounted at or adjacent to the panel and arranged to illuminate an area adjacent to the panel, and an enclosure defining a cavity enclosing at least a portion of the rear face of the panel, wherein the enclosure is transparent or translucent to light.

2. A combination according to claim 1, comprising a light reflector positioned adjacent to the light emitter to direct light from the light emitter.

3. A combination according to claim 1, comprising at least one window in the enclosure, and wherein the light-emitter is disposed in the cavity and is arranged to emit light through the at least one window.

4. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the enclosure is moulded from a clear plastics.

5. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure is formed with at least one lens to direct emitted light.

6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein the lens is moulded integrally with the enclosure.

7. A combination according to claim 6, wherein the enclosure is acoustically opaque to prevent or reduce acoustic radiation from the rear face of the panel.

8. A combination according to claim 7, wherein the panel is translucent.

9. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure is adapted to be wall mounted or to be ceiling mounted.

10. A combination according to claim 1, comprising a ceiling tile mounted to the enclosure.

11. A combination panel-form loudspeaker/light comprising a translucent panel having a front face and rear face, a vibration exciter mounted to the panel to excite bending-wave vibration in the panel, a light emitter mounted at or adjacent to the panel and arranged to illuminate an area adjacent to the panel, and an enclosure defining a cavity enclosing at least a portion of the rear face of the panel, wherein the enclosure is acoustically opaque to prevent or reduce acoustic radiation from the rear face of the panel.