Transducer diaphragm

• US 9,998,834 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2017
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Little, Richard Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Application Number:
  US15/589,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20170245056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 181157, 181165, 181167, 181171, 181173, 381298, 381423, 381426, 381430, 381431, 381432
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2231/003 Manufacturing aspects of the outer suspension of loudspeaker or microphone diaphragms or of their connecting aspects to said diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 31/003 for diaphragms or their outer suspension
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/04 Plane diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/12 Non-planar diaphragms or cones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/20 Securing diaphragm or cone resiliently to support by flexible material, springs, cords, or strands
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/24 Tensioning by means acting directly on free portions of diaphragm or cone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/045 Mounting H04R9/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/06 Loudspeakers

Abstract

A diaphragm for a loudspeaker may include a continuous primary diaphragm having an upper surface and a lower surface, where the primary diaphragm comprises a ring-shaped, flat region having an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The diaphragm may also include a reinforcing ring attached to the upper surface of the primary diaphragm, where the reinforcing ring has an inside diameter and an outside diameter, and where the reinforcing ring is attached to the upper surface of the primary diaphragm such that the inside diameter of the reinforcing ring coincides with the inner diameter of the flat region.

Claims

1. A diaphragm for a loudspeaker, the diaphragm comprising:

a primary diaphragm having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the primary diaphragm comprises a ring-shaped, flat region having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the inner diameter defines a center aperture, and wherein the primary diaphragm comprises a groove adjacent to the inner diameter of the flat region; and

a reinforcing ring attached to the upper surface of the primary diaphragm, wherein the reinforcing ring has an inside diameter and an outside diameter, and wherein the reinforcing ring is attached to the upper surface of the primary diaphragm such that the inside diameter of the reinforcing ring coincides with the inner diameter of the flat region.

2. The diaphragm of claim 1, wherein the primary diaphragm has a uniform thickness.

3. The diaphragm of claim 2, wherein the reinforcing ring comprises a thickness equal to the uniform thickness of the primary diaphragm, such that a combined thickness of the diaphragm where the reinforcing ring is attached is twice the uniform thickness.

4. The diaphragm of claim 1, wherein the outside diameter of the reinforcing ring coincides with the outer diameter of the flat region.

5. The diaphragm of claim 1, wherein the groove comprises an indentation on the lower surface of the primary diaphragm and a corresponding protrusion on the upper surface of the primary diaphragm.

6. The diaphragm of claim 1, wherein the groove of the primary diaphragm surrounds the center aperture.

7. The diaphragm of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm further comprises a bead of adhesive joining the inside diameter of the reinforcing ring with the groove.

8. A loudspeaker comprising:

a frame;

a voice coil suspended at least partially within a gap of a magnetic structure, wherein the magnetic structure is attached to the frame;

a diaphragm comprising;

a primary diaphragm having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the primary diaphragm comprises a ring-shaped, flat region having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and wherein the inner diameter defines a center aperture; and

a reinforcing ring attached to the upper surface of the primary diaphragm, wherein the reinforcing ring has an inside diameter and an outside diameter, and wherein the reinforcing ring is attached to the upper surface of the primary diaphragm such that the inside diameter of the reinforcing ring coincides with the inner diameter of the flat region;

a first suspension element attached circumferentially to an outer edge of the primary diaphragm, wherein the first suspension element is further attached to the frame; and

a second suspension element attached circumferentially to the lower surface of the primary diaphragm, wherein the second suspension element is further attached to the frame.

9. The loudspeaker of claim 8, wherein the primary diaphragm has a uniform thickness.

10. The loudspeaker of claim 9, wherein the reinforcing ring comprises a thickness equal to the uniform thickness of the primary diaphragm, such that a combined thickness of the diaphragm where the reinforcing ring is attached is twice the uniform thickness.

11. The loudspeaker of claim 8, wherein the outside diameter of the reinforcing ring coincides with the outer diameter of the flat region.

12. The loudspeaker of claim 8, wherein the primary diaphragm comprises a groove adjacent to the inner diameter of the flat region, and wherein the voice coil is attached to the lower surface of the primary diaphragm at the groove.

13. The loudspeaker of claim 12, wherein the groove comprises an indentation on the lower surface of the primary diaphragm and a corresponding protrusion on the upper surface of the primary diaphragm.

14. The loudspeaker of claim 12, wherein the groove of the primary diaphragm surrounds the aperture.

15. The loudspeaker of claim 12, wherein the diaphragm further comprises a bead of adhesive joining the inside diameter of the reinforcing ring with the groove.

16. A method of assembling a diaphragm for a loudspeaker comprising:

forming, from a first material having a uniform thickness, a primary diaphragm having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein forming the primary diaphragm comprises forming a flat region having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the inner diameter defines a center aperture, and wherein forming the primary diaphragm comprises forming a groove adjacent to the inner diameter of the flat region;

forming, from a second material, a reinforcing ring having an inside diameter and an outside diameter; and

attaching the reinforcing ring to the upper surface of the primary diaphragm such that the inside diameter of the reinforcing ring coincides with the inner diameter of the flat region.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

applying a bead of adhesive to the diaphragm such that the bead of adhesive joins the inside diameter of the reinforcing ring with the groove.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

attaching a voice coil to the lower surface of the primary diaphragm, wherein the voice coil is attached at the groove.