Techniques for generating audio signals

• US 8,861,752 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonicedge Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Margalit, Mordehai
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US13/390,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20130044904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 381/77, 381/79, 381/152, 381/160, 381/182, 381/186, 381/386, 381/387, 381/189, 381/190, 381/191, 381/431
• US Class Current: 381/152
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/04 Sound-producing devices G10K15/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/00 Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/023 Screens for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/22 for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only circuit for combining transducers having different responses H04R3/00; for hearing aids H04R25/407
• 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 19/005 using semiconductor materials
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/02 Loudspeakers H04R19/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/003 Mems transducers or their use of the electrostatic type H04R19/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2217/03 Parametric transducers where sound is generated or captured by the acoustic demodulation of amplitude modulated ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 31/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor manufacture of microstructural arrangements of deformable or non-deformable structures in general B81C1/00182
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 Acoustic transducer

Abstract

Techniques described herein generally relate to generating an audio signal with a speaker. In some examples, a speaker device is described that includes a membrane and a shutter. The membrane can be configured to oscillate along a first directional path and at a first frequency effective to generate an ultrasonic acoustic signal. The shutter can be positioned about the membrane and configured to modulate the ultrasonic acoustic signal such that an audio signal can be generated.

Claims

1. A speaker device, comprising:

a membrane positioned in a first plane, wherein the membrane is configured to oscillate along a first directional path and at a first frequency effective to generate an ultrasonic acoustic signal; and

a shutter positioned in a second plane that is substantially separated from the first plane, wherein the shutter is configured to modulate the ultrasonic acoustic signal such that an audio signal is generated.

2. The speaker device of claim 1, wherein the shutter is configured effective to move along a second directional path substantially perpendicular to the first directional path.

3. The speaker device of claim 2, wherein the shutter is configured to move along the second directional path at a second frequency, wherein the frequency of the audio signal is substantially equal to the difference between the first frequency and the second frequency.

4. The speaker device of claim 2, further comprising a blind positioned in a third plane located between the membrane in the first plane and the shutter in the second plane.

5. The speaker device of claim 4, wherein the membrane, the blind, and the shutter are positioned in planes that are substantially parallel to each other.

6. The speaker device of claim 4, wherein the shutter is configured to move along the second directional path between a first position and a second position defining a displacement along the second directional path, wherein the displacement is substantially equal to a distance between two adjacent openings of the first set of openings of the blind.

7. The speaker device of claim 6, wherein the shutter includes a second set of openings.

8. The speaker device of claim 7, wherein when the shutter is at the first position, the first set of openings are substantially aligned with the second set of openings.

9. The speaker device of claim 2, further comprising a blind positioned in a third plane that is substantially separated from the first plane and the second plane.

10. The speaker device of claim 1, wherein the membrane and the shutter comprise an individual speaker from an array of speakers in the speaker device.

11. A method for generating an audio signal, comprising:

selectively oscillating a membrane located in a first plane along a first directional path and at a first frequency effective to generate an ultrasonic acoustic signal; and

selectively moving a shutter positioned in a second plane that is separated from the first plane effective to modulate the ultrasonic acoustic signal and generate the audio signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein moving the shutter further comprises moving the shutter along a second directional path substantially perpendicular to the first directional path.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising moving the shutter along the second directional path at a second frequency, wherein the frequency of the audio signal is substantially equal to the difference between the first frequency and the second frequency.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein moving the shutter along the second directional path further comprises moving the shutter between a first position and a second position.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a displacement between the first position and the second position is associated with a distance between two adjacent openings on the blind.

16. A speaker array, comprising:

a first speaker device, comprising

a first membrane positioned in a first plane, wherein the first membrane is configured to oscillate along a first directional path and at a first frequency effective to generate a first ultrasonic acoustic signal; and

a first shutter positioned in a second plane that is substantially separated from the first plane, wherein the first shutter is configured to modulate the first ultrasonic acoustic signal such that a first audio signal is generated; and

a second speaker device, comprising

a second membrane positioned in the first plane, wherein the second membrane is configured to oscillate along the first directional path and at a second frequency effective to generate a second ultrasonic acoustic signal; and

a second shutter positioned in the second plane, wherein the second shutter is configured to modulate the second ultrasonic acoustic signal such that a second audio signal is generated.

17. The speaker array of claim 16, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are substantially the same.

18. The speaker array of claim 16, wherein the first shutter is configured to move at a third frequency along a second directional path substantially perpendicular to the first directional path, the second shutter is configured to move at a fourth frequency along the second directional path.

19. The speaker array of claim 18, wherein the third frequency and the fourth frequency are substantially the same.

20. The speaker array of claim 19, wherein the first shutter is simultaneously adapted to cover the top of the first speaker device, while the second shutter is adapted to cover the top of the second speaker device.

21. The speaker array of claim 19, wherein the first shutter is simultaneously adapted to cover the top of the first speaker device, while the second shutter is adapted to reveal an opening at the top of the second speaker device.