Acoustic transducers

• US 9,094,743 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emo Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Emo Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Bokaemper, Stefan, Jones, Terrence Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): San Martin, Edgardo
• Application Number:
  US14/212,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20140262599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 181/173, 181/167, 181/161, 181/154, 181/166, 381/152, 381/162, 381/163, 381/191, 381/423, 381/426, 381/431, 381/190, 381/395, 381/388, 381/333
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/00 Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/026 Supports for loudspeaker casings
• 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 1/24 Structural combinations of separate transducers or of two parts of the same transducer and responsive respectively to two or more frequency ranges
• 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 17/005 using a piezoelectric polymer
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2217/01 Non-planar magnetostrictive, piezoelectric or electrostrictive benders
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2307/021 Diaphragms comprising cellulose-like materials, e.g. wood, paper, linen
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2307/023 Diaphragms comprising ceramic-like materials, e.g. pure ceramic, glass, boride, nitride, carbide, mica and carbon materials
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2307/025 Diaphragms comprising polymeric materials
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2307/027 Diaphragms comprising metallic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2400/11 Aspects regarding the frame of loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2440/05 Aspects relating to the positioning and way or means of mounting of exciters to resonant bending wave panels
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/00 Stereophonic arrangements stereophonic pick-ups H04R9/16, H04R11/12, H04R17/08, H04R19/10
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/12 Non-planar diaphragms or cones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/16 Mounting or tensioning of diaphragms or cones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/18 at the periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/066 using the principle of inertia

Abstract

The invention generally relates to acoustic transducers. In certain aspects, the acoustic transducer includes a diaphragm and an actuator coupled to the diaphragm to cause movement of the diaphragm. The transducer includes a member that limits bending of the diaphragm.

Claims

1. An acoustic transducer comprising:

a curved diaphragm;

a first actuator operably coupled to a face of the curved diaphragm, near one end of the face;

a second actuator operably coupled to the same face of the curved diaphragm, near an opposite end of the face;

a support; and

a member comprising a housing having a curved slot that corresponds to the curved diaphragm and configured to fit over the diaphragm while the diaphragm extends through the slot such that the slot limits bending of the diaphragm but does not contact the diaphragm when the diaphragm is at rest;

wherein movements between the first actuator and the diaphragm and the second actuator and the diaphragm employ mechanical amplification; and

wherein the first and second actuators are configured to move simultaneously in opposite directions so that the diaphragm oscillates between a greater and a lesser degree of curvature around a resting degree of curvature.

2. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the member surrounds the diaphragm.

3. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a piezoelectric actuator.

4. The transducer according to claim 3, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is a bending-type piezoelectric actuator.

5. The transducer according to claim 4, wherein the bending-type piezoelectric actuator is a unimorph, bimorph, or multimorph actuator.

6. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, paper, carbon-fiber composite, fabric, foam, paper, and a combination thereof.

7. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the member is coupled to the support.

8. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the member is removably coupled to the support.

9. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the member is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, glass, metal, carbon-fiber composite, rubber, wood, and a combination thereof.

10. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the member comprises a structure that wraps around a vertical edge of the diaphragm and limits movement of the diaphragm.

11. The transducer of claim 1, wherein a plurality of actuators act upon the diaphragm such that a plurality of audio signals is emitted separately from the diaphragm.

12. The transducer of claim 11, wherein the plurality of audio signals include a right and a left stereo signal.

13. The transducer of claim 11, wherein the plurality of audio signals includes a right, a left, and a center channel.

14. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is composed of a non-piezo electric material.