Method and apparatus for reconstruction of soundwaves from digital signals
First Claim
1. A method of reconstructing a waveform from a multi-bit digital signal, comprising:
- using at least certain bits of a multi-bit digital signal to drive a plurality of sealed, micromachined mesh, membranes suspended above a substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Each of a plurality of speaklets (MEMS membranes) produces a stream of clicks (discrete pulses of acoustic energy) that are summed to generate the desired soundwave. The speaklets are selected to be energized based on the value of a digital signal. The greater the significance of the bit of the digital signal, the more speaklets that are energized in response to that bit. Thus, a time-varying sound level is generated by time-varying the number of speaklets emitting clicks. Louder sound is generated by increasing the number of speaklets emitting clicks. The present invention represents a substantial advance over the prior art in that sound is generated directly from a digital signal without the need to convert the digital signal first to an analog signal for driving a diaphragm.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of reconstructing a waveform from a multi-bit digital signal, comprising:
using at least certain bits of a multi-bit digital signal to drive a plurality of sealed, micromachined mesh, membranes suspended above a substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of directly constructing a waveform from a multi-bit digital signal, comprising:
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inputting at least certain bits to drive electronics to produce drive pulses; controlling the position of a plurality of sealed, micromachined mesh, membranes suspended above a substrate with said drive pulses. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of producing a waveform from a digital signal, comprising:
generating a plurality of discrete acoustic energy pulses with a plurality of sealed, micromachined mesh, membranes suspended above a substrate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A digital sound reproduction apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of sealed, micromachined mesh, membranes suspended above a substrate; a plurality of drivers for driving said plurality of membranes in response to a digital signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A device for producing an acoustic wave from a digital signal, comprising:
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a plurality of drivers responsive to a digital signal for producing drive pulses representative of said digital signal; and a plurality of sealed, micromachined mesh, membranes suspended above a substrate and of substantially the same size responsive to said drive pulses.
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22. A device for producing an acoustic wave from a digital signal, comprising:
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a plurality of drivers responsive to a digital signal for producing drive pulses representative of said digital signal; and a plurality of sealed, micromachined mesh, membranes suspended above a substrate and of different sizes responsive to said drive pulses.
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Specification