Acoustic transducers with bend limiting member
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An acoustic transducer, the transducer comprising:
- a diaphragm;
a connector coupled to the diaphragm;
a piezoelectric actuator having a proximal end directly coupled to a support and a distal end coupled to the connector wherein movement of the distal end of the actuator is transmitted to the diaphragm by the connector; and
a member that is configured to limit bending of the distal end of the actuator by interacting with the connector wherein said member does not interact with the connector in a normal range of motion of the actuator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention generally relates to acoustic transducers. In certain aspects, the acoustic transducer includes a diaphragm and a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the diaphragm to cause movement of the diaphragm. In certain aspects, the transducer also includes a member that limits bending of the actuator.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. An acoustic transducer, the transducer comprising:
-
a diaphragm; a connector coupled to the diaphragm; a piezoelectric actuator having a proximal end directly coupled to a support and a distal end coupled to the connector wherein movement of the distal end of the actuator is transmitted to the diaphragm by the connector; and a member that is configured to limit bending of the distal end of the actuator by interacting with the connector wherein said member does not interact with the connector in a normal range of motion of the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. An acoustic transducer, the 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; a connector coupled to the diaphragm and a distal end of the first actuator or a distal end of the second actuator wherein movement of at least one of the distal end of the first actuator or the distal end of the second actuator is transmitted to the diaphragm by the connector; and a member that is configured to limit bending of at least one of the first actuator or the second actuator by interacting with the connector wherein said member does not interact with the connector in a normal range of motion of the first or second actuator; wherein movements between the 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.
-
Specification