Low profile parametric transducers and related methods

• US 8,934,650 B1
• Filed: 07/03/2013
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Turtle Beach Corporation
• Original Assignee: Turtle Beach Corporation
• Inventors: Norris, Elwood G., Bolton, John, Groeli, Julian, Chen, Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Application Number:
  US13/935,246
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 381/173, 381/190, 381/191, 381/345
• US Class Current: 381/190
• 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 2217/03 Parametric transducers where sound is generated or captured by the acoustic demodulation of amplitude modulated ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/00 Stereophonic arrangements stereophonic pick-ups H04R9/16, H04R11/12, H04R17/08, H04R19/10

Abstract

A low profile ultrasonic emitter comprises a support member operable to support an ultrasonic emittive material, the support member including a plurality of support ribs, each support rib being spaced from adjacent support ribs and extending longitudinally along the support member. An ultrasonic emittive film is coupled to upper portions of the support ribs so as to be carried by the support member. A first electric lead is coupled to a first face of the emittive film and a second electric lead coupled to an opposing face of the emittive film. The first and second leads are coupled to their respective faces adjacent one another but staggered from one another so as to not overlap one another when the film is positioned between the leads.

Claims

1. A low profile ultrasonic emitter, comprising:

a support member operable to support an ultrasonic emittive material, the support member including a plurality of support ribs, each support rib being spaced from adjacent support ribs and extending along the support member, the support member including at least one wrap edge around which an emittive film can be wrapped, the wrap edge including a rounded profile, and an upper planar portion and a lower planar portion on opposing sides of the support member, each of the upper planar portion and the lower planar portion being positioned adjacent to the rounded profile;

an ultrasonic emittive film coupled to upper portions of the support ribs so as to be carried by the support member;

a first electric lead in contact with a first face of the emittive film; and

a second electric lead in contact with an opposing face of the emittive film;

the first electric lead and the second electric lead being in contact with the first face and the second face, respectively, at staggered locations so as to not overlap one another when the film is contacting the leads;

wherein at least one of the first and second leads extends parallel to the rounded profile and is positioned between the emittive film and one of;

i) the upper planar portion of the wrap edge and ii) the lower planar portion of the wrap edge.

2. The emitter of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second leads is in contact with the film atop the upper planar portion of the wrap edge, and an other of the first and second leads is in contact with the film atop the lower planar portion of the wrap edge.

3. The emitter of claim 1, wherein the first and second emittive leads are coupled on opposing sides of the emittive film and are positioned adjacent one another atop only one of:

i) the upper planar portion of the wrap edge and ii) the lower planar portion of the wrap edge.

4. The emitter of claim 1, wherein the leads extend along, and make electrical contact with, substantially an entire length of the emittive film.

5. A method of forming a low profile parametric emitter, comprising:

obtaining a support member operable to support an ultrasonic emittive material, the support member including a plurality of support ribs, each support rib being spaced from adjacent support ribs and extending along the support member, the support member having an ultrasonic emittive film coupled to upper portions of the support ribs so as to be carried by the support member, the support member including at least one wrap edge around which an emittive film can be wrapped, the wrap edge including a rounded profile, and an upper planar portion and a lower planar portion on opposing sides of the support member, each of the upper planar portion and the lower planar portion being positioned adjacent to the rounded profile;

positioning a first electric lead in contact with a first face of the emittive film;

positioning a second electric lead in contact with an opposing face of the emittive film;

orienting the first electric lead and the second electric lead so as to be in contact with the first face and the second face, respectively, at staggered locations so as to not overlap one another when the film is positioned between the leads; and

positioning at least one of the first and second leads such that it extends parallel to the rounded profile and is positioned between the emittive film and one of;

i) the upper planar portion of the wrap edge and ii) the lower planar portion of the wrap edge.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein one of the first and second leads is in contact with the emittive film atop the upper planar portion of the wrap edge, and an other of the first and second leads is in contact with the emittive film atop the lower planar portion of the wrap edge.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second leads are coupled on opposing sides of the emittive film and are positioned adjacent one another atop only one of:

i) the upper planar portion of the wrap edge and ii) the lower planar portion of the wrap edge.