Low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer

Abstract

A low-profile loudspeaker transducer, featuring: - a magnet (13); - an upper plate (14) which is arranged above the magnet (13); - a voice coil former (21) having a first end that terminates above the upper plate (14); - a membrane (18) extending over the upper plate (14); - a coupler (20) that connects the diaphragm (18) to the first end of the voice coil former; - a first suspension (17) arranged below the membrane (18) and attached at one end to the membrane (18) and at the other end to the upper plate (14); and - a second suspension (16) extending from an outer edge of the diaphragm (18) to a frame (11) of the loudspeaker transducer, wherein the coupler (20) is attached to one end of the voice coil former (21) and has a connecting surface at an opposite end for attachment to the diaphragm (18), wherein the connecting surface of the coupler (20) is larger than the connecting surface of the voice coil former (21) provided by the surface area of ​​the upper end of the voice coil former (21), wherein the first suspension (17) has a spider suspension having a corrugated cross-sectional profile, wherein the second end of the spider suspension (17) is attached to a ring separator (25) mounted on the upper plate (14), wherein the ring separator (25) extends around the voice coil former (21) on the upper plate (14), and wherein the first suspension (17) has two of the spider suspensions (17a, 17b), one of which is arranged above the other, the second ends of both spider suspensions (17a, 17b) are attached to this ring separator (25).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention is in the category of electroacoustic transducers, and in particular in the category of transducers used in loudspeaker systems. background

[0002] In the audio field, it is desirable for loudspeakers to be designed for use in smaller and thinner form factor products while maintaining sound reproduction.

[0003] The modern consumer electronics market demands integrated loudspeakers within audio products with ever more features (such as wireless connectivity chipsets, larger user interfaces, audio signal processing modules, amplification, rechargeable batteries, etc.), all packed into compact designs. These requirements generally lead to an increase in the size of the associated electronics and a reduction in the dimensions of the packaging, which is directly related to the loudspeaker enclosure volume. Furthermore, there are a number of other applications where flat designs are also incorporated, such as within a very thin television monitor, where a significant reduction in effective depth and volume can compromise the performance of the transducers.

[0004] Small transducers are typically chosen as a solution for such systems because they require less acoustic volume than conventionally sized transducers. However, it is known that small transducers exhibit low efficiency and limited performance when reproducing low frequencies at high levels, as a consequence of compromised parameters, including a limited diaphragm surface area and cubic volume displacement.

[0005] There is a need for an improved converter that can be integrated into smaller or thin-profile audio products when the desired acoustic performance and high sound reproduction are required.

[0006] JP 2009 284 064 A discloses a loudspeaker comprising an annular diaphragm, an inner circumferential end and an outer circumferential end of nearly equal height, wherein the outer circumferential end is attached to a cylindrical section forming an annular support element, and the inner circumferential end is attached to a voice coil former. An annular damper extends downwards from the inner circumferential end to the outer circumferential end when the diaphragm is stopped and is attached at its inner circumferential end to the voice coil former and at its inner circumferential end to a projection formed on a frame forming the support element, in order to expand or contract when the diaphragm vibrates.

[0007] US 2004 / 0037447 A1 discloses a structure for a rectangular panel-shaped loudspeaker. The structure comprises a radiating panel, a transducer, a frame, and a suspension assembly. The radiating panel comprises a rectangular laminated composite panel with a length b and a width a, and the laminated composite panel includes a core interlayer embedded between two fiber-reinforced polymer layers. The transducer excites the radiating panel to generate bending vibrations. The transducer comprises a voice coil assembly and a magnet assembly, the voice coil assembly being connected to a first side of the laminated composite panel at a first defined location. The frame is used to position the laminated composite panel and the magnet assembly. The suspension assembly is made of a soft material and is positioned between the periphery edges of the laminated composite panel and the frame.

[0008] US 2012 / 0250931A1 discloses an improved flat loudspeaker comprising a shaped diaphragm with an outer, hanging, annular, cylindrical sub-cone connected to a channel formed in the outer circumference of the spider. Embodiments for round and square (polygonal, etc.) loudspeakers are provided. The top plate has a raised outer annular portion to receive an annular toothed flange, with or without screw holes for securing the inner toothed flange to a toothed ring. In the square loudspeakers, the flanges extend from the cylindrical sections to the square sections, including an inner adhesive flange of the diaphragm across the recessed central section, and from the annular cylindrical sub-cone both outward and inward to the upper diaphragm sections.

[0009] JP H04 111 597 A discloses a loudspeaker in which a central portion of a diaphragm projects rearward, with a voice coil mounted on a former and the magnetic circuit positioned in front of the center of the diaphragm, and a damper located behind the diaphragm. Because the damper is located behind the diaphragm, a sound wave radiated by the damper in accordance with the vibration of the voice coil is interrupted by the diaphragm and its edge, preventing it from propagating to the front listening position and thus avoiding distortion of the sound from the diaphragm. The edge of the damper is connected to the outer circumferential edge of the diaphragm, and the damper can also be attached to the inner circumferential edge of the diaphragm or further back by a former. This allows for a considerable distance between the edge and the damper, thereby stabilizing the movement of the diaphragm and voice coil.

[0010] JP 2006 - 121 422 A discloses a loudspeaker in which a voice coil wound on a coil former is arranged in a magnetic gap G surrounded by a yoke, wherein a diaphragm is arranged on an outside of the radial direction of the coil former in a tapered shape, and an inner circumferential edge of the diaphragm supports a base end of the coil former, wherein a notched part is provided in an outer wall of the yoke, an annular spacer made of a magnetic material is connected to the notched part, each of the inner circumferential edges of the first and second dampers is attached to both end faces of the annular spacer in its axial line direction, and each of the inner circumferential edges of the first and second dampers is attached to the diaphragm to support the diaphragm through the two dampers. Brief description of the invention

[0011] The problem underlying the invention is solved by a low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer with the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in dependent claims 2 to 7.

[0012] The present invention provides a simple and effective transducer that can maintain the diaphragm surface area and displacement of conventionally sized transducers while significantly reducing the transducer height cross-section. In a preferred embodiment, the low-profile loudspeaker transducer can be integrated in an inverse relationship between the ambient suspension and the spider suspension, with the spider suspension positioned above the ambient suspension, which is contained within the volume of a projecting hood or an inverted diaphragm. This allows for a flatter structure while maintaining stability and reducing voice coil vibration in the voice coil cavity during diaphragm excursions.In many of the preferred embodiments, a connecting element acts as an intermediate connecting element between the voice coil former and the diaphragm, providing improved contact surface attachment and support on the diaphragm.

[0013] These and other forms and advantages will become apparent with the following description, which is revealed below. Brief description of the characters

[0014] The figures show preferred embodiments of the present invention for illustrative purposes only. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structure and methods described herein can be used without departing from the principles of the invention as described. Fig. Figure 1A is a cross-sectional view of a first exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 1B is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 2 is a close-up view of a cutaway image of the first exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 3A is a close-up view of a cross-sectional image of the second exemplary embodiment of a loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a third exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. 4A is a close-up view of the third exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 6A is a close-up view of a cross-sectional image of the fifth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a sixth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 7A is a close-up view of a cross-sectional image of the sixth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a seventh exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 8A is a close-up view of a cross-sectional image of the seventh exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of an eighth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a ninth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 10A is a close-up view of a cross-sectional image of the ninth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of a tenth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of an eleventh exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 12A is a view of a membrane component of the eleventh exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a twelfth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a thirteenth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of a fourteenth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of a fifteenth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of a sixteenth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; Fig. Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of a seventeenth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention; and Fig. Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of an eighteenth exemplary loudspeaker transducer according to the invention. Detailed description

[0015] The mechanical and magnetic structures of a loudspeaker transducer designed and embodying the principles of the present invention can take many forms depending on factors such as the nature of the system packaging, the desired frequency response, the power handling, and / or the level of linearity considered desirable. The target price of a specific magnetic transducer according to the present invention will also be a factor, with improved frequency response, maximum power handling, and increasing linearity generally associated with higher costs.

[0016] Accordingly, a number of different examples of the present invention are described below. In the following discussion, elements that are common or may be common in different embodiments may be designated with the same reference numerals.

[0017] Initially referring to the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 1A shows a first example of a preferred embodiment of a low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer 10a of the present invention. The first exemplary transducer 10a has a frame 11 connected to the T-collar 12, preferably made of iron, and in this example, it is shown to be formed with a vented pole piece opening 22. This and other embodiments can be designed with or without a vented opening in the T-collar. A connecting spacer 11a can be provided as an intermediate connecting plate coupled to a rear plate 12a of the T-collar 12 and the magnet structure 13, as shown in Figure 1A. Fig. 1 with two stacked ring magnets and in Fig. Figure 2 shows a ring magnet which may be made of ceramic or iron materials, but will include any of a wide variety of magnetic materials normally used in the field of loudspeaker transducers.

[0018] The upper plate 14, preferably made of iron, is coupled to the upper region of the magnetic structure 13, which forms a magnetic circuit or a magnetic circuit with the T-collar 12, preferably made of iron, and the rear plate 12a. In this embodiment, the membrane 18 is located in the Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B is shown as a seamless, convex hood connected to the frame 11 by a concave or convex shape (inverted and non-inverted shape), and a compliant environment suspension 16. The present invention does not limit the shape of the environment, and therefore any environment shape traditionally implemented in acoustic transducers can be considered, such as multi-roller environments, double environments, or single environment shapes. That is to say, the Fig. 1A and Fig. Figure 1B shows a single environment 16. However, in other embodiments of the invention, the transducer 10a may have one or more additional environment supports arranged radially outside the environment 16 shown and / or radially inside it. The additional environment supports may be shaped similarly to or differently from the environment support 16. Furthermore, the environment support 16 and / or the additional environment supports may have any desirable shape. For example, the environment supports may have a convex or concave curved cross-sectional shape, as shown in the Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B shown, or alternatively, the environmental suspensions can have a linear cross-sectional profile or a profile that has both linear and curved aspects. The environmental suspension 16 is shown here with ribs 16b in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B is shown, but the surrounding suspension can be designed with or without ribs, and the surrounding suspension 16 can also be a non-inverted concave shape, as shown in 16a in Fig. 3 shown, designed.

[0019] The diaphragm 18 is coupled to the voice coil former 21 via the coupling element 20, which is connected between the diaphragm 18 and the voice coil former 21. In this preferred embodiment, the voice coil former 21 is not directly connected to the diaphragm 18. The conducting voice coil 19 is attached to the voice coil former 21 and suspended in a magnetic field gap between the upper plate 14 and the upper end of the T-collar 12, without being in contact with the T-collar 12 or the upper plate 14.

[0020] The diaphragm 18 is also attached to and suspended by the spider suspension 17, which is attached to the upper plate 14, and in a plane above the surrounding suspension 16, in order to stabilize the diaphragm 18 in order to minimize vibration of the voice coil 19 during dynamic deflections of the diaphragm 18. Fig. Figure 1B shows the separator 25, which connects the inner circumference of the spider suspension 17 to the upper plate 14. This ring separator helps to control the spider suspension attachment points to both the diaphragm 18 and the magnetic motor structure. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the ring separator 25 is located at the upper end of the upper plate 14 and extends annularly around the coil former 21 and the electrically conductive voice coil 19. The ring separator generally has a rectangular cross-sectional shape and may have a seat on its upper surface for receiving and holding one end of the spider suspension 17. The ring separator 25 may extend continuously or intermittently around the voice coil former 21 and may have a cross-sectional shape that includes curved and / or straight aspects.The ring separator 25 can extend onto the upper plate 14 in a ring-shaped manner, as shown, or in any other desired geometry, e.g. pentagon, hexagon, oval, diamond shape, etc.

[0021] The input terminal 15 is adapted to receive an audio input signal, and (not shown) conductive wires connect the input terminal 15 to the voice coil 19.

[0022] Fig. 2 is a view of a sectional drawing of the same basic device. Fig. Figure 1 shows an enlarged detail of an example of a coupler 20 and how it is coupled to the voice coil former 21. For illustrative purposes, the diaphragm 18 is positioned some distance from the coupler 20. It can be seen that the coupler 20 has a wider surface area than the top of the voice coil former 21, such that when coupled to the diaphragm, the coupler 20 provides a larger diaphragm / coupler interface, resulting in improved diaphragm integrity, reduced diaphragm separation, and more piston-like diaphragm mobility over a wider bandwidth. The coupler 20 can be directly connected to the diaphragm 21 or via a compliant or damped interface material. The coupler 20 can also have various regular or irregular geometries for its outer edge; it can be not only circular but also pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.

[0023] Fig. 3 shows a sectional view and Fig. Figure 3A is a close-up showing a second example of a low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer device 10b. The second example 10b is similar to the device in Figure 3. Fig. 1 , however, wherein the environment 16a is shown as a non-inverted, convex design, and the hood diaphragm 18a is a two-part diaphragm having a central through-hole 28 with a central dust cap cover 24 to complete the diaphragm 18a, and the diaphragm 18a is fixed, and the convex central dust cap 24 is attached to one or both of the coupler 20 and the voice coil former 21.

[0024] Fig. 4 is a sectional view, and Fig. Figure 4A shows an enlarged view of a third example of a cross-sectional loudspeaker transducer device 10c. The third example 10c is essentially the same as the device from Figure 4A. Fig. 1, however, the ambient suspension 16a is shown as a non-inverted convex design. Across the various examples, the inverted concave ambient suspension and the non-inverted convex ambient suspension can be used interchangeably. The device 10c is optimized for use as a woofer or subwoofer application to produce low frequencies that may require larger excursions of the diaphragm 18, with larger linear excursions being achieved by using double spider suspensions 17a and 17b, which are attached to the outer region of the diaphragm 18 and to the ring separator 25, which is mounted on the upper plate 14. Here, the upper plate 14 can have a seat for receiving and holding the ring separator 25.In the illustrated embodiment, the ring separator is a ring-shaped part with a generally straight cross-sectional profile, which has one of the spider suspensions 17a mounted on an upper side of the separator and the other suspension 17b mounted on a lower side of the separator 25. As described with reference to . Fig. As discussed in Figure 1B, the ring separator 25 can have any desired cross-sectional shape and can extend transversely across the upper plate 14 in any desired configuration to create wavy or interrupted mounting of the spider suspensions. The double spider suspension 17a and 17b acts as a more stable centering device that maintains the position of the voice coil 19 and prevents it from rubbing against the plate during large low-frequency signal excursions.

[0025] Fig. Figure 5 shows a sectional view illustrating a fourth example of a cross-sectional loudspeaker transducer device 10d. The fourth example 10d is essentially the same as the device from Figure 5. Fig. 1, wherein the ambient suspension 16a is shown as a non-inverted, convex configuration, and the magnetic structure 13, comprising two ring magnets 13a and 13b, wherein the ring magnet 13b has a larger outer diameter, a greater amount of magnetic material, and a greater magnetic energy, such that the magnetic structure 13 has a greater overall magnetic energy. This can be used to increase the overall magnetic energy or to create a greater free-space deflection of the membrane 18 and a spider suspension 17 relative to the upper plate 14 and the upper magnet 13b.

[0026] Fig. 6 shows a sectional view and Fig. Figure 6A shows an enlarged view illustrating a fifth example of a low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer device 10e. Referring to the device from Fig. In the fifth example, 10e, the ambient suspension 16a differs in that the diaphragm 18b has an extended outer diameter 18c that extends beyond the attachment point of the ambient suspension 16a to 18b. Additionally, the loudspeaker transducer 10e utilizes the larger diameter diaphragm extension to its advantage by positioning the stabilizing spider suspension 17c attachment to the diaphragm extension 18c below the ambient suspension 16a.

[0027] In various preferred embodiments of the invention, the spider suspension 17c can be attached or positioned above or below the plane of the surrounding suspension 16a, and in certain embodiments, it can be attached or positioned essentially in the same plane as the surrounding suspension 16a. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 18, a spider suspension 31 can be positioned below the environment suspension 16, even at the bottom of the converter behind the back plate 12b.

[0028] Fig. Figure 7 shows a sectional view, and Fig. Figure 7A shows an enlarged view depicting a sixth example of a low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer device 10f. The sixth example 10f is the device from Fig. Figure 1 is similar, wherein the environment 16a is shown as a non-inverted convex design and the convex hood diaphragm 18a has a central through-hole 28 with a flat dust cap cover 24 which is mounted to complete the diaphragm 18a. The diaphragm 18a is attached to the coupler 20, and the flat central dust cap 24 can be attached to one or both of the diaphragm 18a and the voice coil former 21.

[0029] Fig. Figure 8 shows a sectional view and Fig. Figure 8A shows an enlarged view depicting a seventh example of the low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer device 10g. Example 10g is similar to the device from Fig. 6, however, it is designed as a low-cross-section transducer with a high-frequency tweeter transducer 27, which is mounted in the opening 28 cut out of the diaphragm 18a. The tweeter 27 can be mounted on the upper part of the T-collar 12 and in a vented pole piece opening 22, spaced from the inner surface of the voice coil former 21. The diaphragm 18a is attached to the coupler 20, and the coupler 20 is attached to the voice coil former 21.

[0030] Fig. Figure 9 shows a sectional view depicting an eighth example of a low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer device 10h. The fourth example 10h is similar to the device from Fig. 1, the main difference being that the magnetic structure 13c is mounted inside the voice coil former 21. In this embodiment, the magnetic structure 13c preferably uses at least one high-energy magnet 13d and neodymium or samarium-cobalt. To better accommodate the magnetic structure 13c, the structure 12c is arranged outside the magnetic structure 13c and the voice coil former 21, and the upper plate 14a is arranged inside the voice coil former 21. In this design, the opening 22 in the T-collar 12 of other examples is replaced by a vented opening 22a in the U-collar 12c and the magnetic structure 13c. In this embodiment 10h, the magnetic structure 13c consists of one or more magnetic disks with an opening in the center.

[0031] Fig. Figure 10 shows a sectional view and Fig. Figure 10A shows an enlarged view depicting a ninth example of a low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer device 10i. The ninth example 10i is essentially the same as the device from Figure 10. Fig. 1 except that in this embodiment the coupler 20b has an upper cap 23 transversely over the upper area of ​​the voice coil coil former 21, which creates a very wide surface contact area between the coupler 20b and the diaphragm 18, improves the stiffness in the area of ​​the diaphragm 18, controls the diaphragm division modes and improves the frequency response of the transducer 10i.

[0032] Fig. Figure 11 shows a close-up view of a tenth example of a low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer 10j, similar to the device from Fig. 10, however, the coupler 20c is an upper cup whose shape fits over the upper area of ​​the voice coil body 21 and is attached in the surface area of ​​the diaphragm 18, which improves the structural integrity.

[0033] Fig. Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view, an eleventh example of a low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer 10k of the same basic structure as the one from Fig. Figure 2 shows the convex hood membrane 18 made of Fig. 2 by a frustoconical inverted convex cone structure 18c (shown in Fig. 12a) upper central opening 28 is replaced. The diaphragm 18c is connected to the coupler 20, and the flat dust cap 24a is mounted in the opening 28 and attached to one or both of the voice coil formers 21 and the second coupler 20d, which is mounted on the inner circumference of the voice coil former 21. The side 18d of the conical diaphragm 18c can be flat or in a convex or concave shape.

[0034] Fig. Figure 13 shows a cross-sectional view, which is a twelfth example of a low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer 101 of the same basic structure as the one from Fig. Figure 12 shows the flat upper dust cap 24a made of Fig. 12 is replaced by a straight-sided concave dust cap 24b, which is mounted in the opening 28 and with one or both of the voice coil former 21 and the diaphragm 18b, and the diaphragm 18b is attached to the coupler 20.

[0035] Fig. Figure 14 shows a cross-sectional view of a thirteenth example of a low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer 10m with the same structure as the one from Fig. Figure 13 shows the concave dust cap 24b and the membrane 18b made of Fig. 13 is replaced by a seamless inverted conical diaphragm, which is connected to the voice coil body 21 by the coupler 20 and to one or both of the voice coil body 21 and the diaphragm 18, and the diaphragm 18b is attached to the coupler 20.

[0036] Fig. Figure 15 shows a cross-sectional view of a fourteenth example of the low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer of the same basic structure as the one from Fig. 13 is shown, with the straight-sided concave dust cap 24c made of Fig. 13 is replaced by a round convex dust cap 24c, which is replaced on one or both of the coil former 21 and the diaphragm 18b. The diaphragm 18b is attached to the coupler 20 and the voice coil former 21.

[0037] In various embodiments, it is generally preferred to attach the diaphragm 18 to the coupler; however, optionally the diaphragm can be attached directly to the voice coil former 21 without a coupler 20, or the diaphragm 18 can be attached to both the voice coil former 21 and the coupler 20.

[0038] Fig. Figure 16 shows a cross-sectional view of a fifteenth example of the low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer 10o with the same basic structure as the one from Fig. 15 shows, with the rounded convex dust cap 24c made of Fig. 15 is turned into a concave shape in this example 10o. The diaphragm 18b is shown attached to the coupler, and the dust cap 24d is attached to the diaphragm 18b in this example.

[0039] Fig. Figure 17 shows a cross-sectional view illustrating a sixteenth example of the low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer 10p, which is based on the embodiment shown in Fig. 12 is similar, except that the standard coupler 20 is made of Fig. The dust cap 24a is replaced by a compliant coupler 29, which is located and attached between the upper dust cap 24a and the voice coil former 21. The dust cap 24a is attached to the diaphragm 18b. The compliant coupler 29 can be designed as an open structure with a compliant side wall 30 or as a sealed structure, with the air contained within the assembly providing greater stiffness to the compliant coupler. Additionally, resistive losses can be incorporated into the compliant coupler. The compliant coupler 29 can be used as a mechanical low-pass filter by progressively decoupling the voice coil former 21 from the dust cap 24a and the diaphragm 18b, essentially forming a bandpass system.Alternatively, the compliant coupler 29 can be designed as a mechanical one, wherein the elastic compliance of the coupler and the moving mass of the diaphragm 18b form a resonance which can be used to tune the amplitude response of the high frequencies of the loudspeaker transducer 10p.

[0040] Fig. Figure 18 shows a cross-sectional view depicting a seventeenth example of the low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer 10q, which is the same as the device from Fig. 2 is equipped with a rear suspension 31, which is mounted below the backplate 12b and attached to the coupling rod 32, which projects through the open T-collar 22 and couples the rear suspension 31 to the diaphragm 18. The rear suspension 31 adds an additional degree of stability to minimize vibration or twisting of the voice coil former 21 during large excursions of the diaphragm 18. In alternative embodiments, a coupling structure replacing the coupling rod 32 can be arranged outside the magnet structure with an alternative rear spider having a larger outer diameter. This is a particularly useful approach with smaller diameter magnet structures, such as neodymium structures, which are used in Fig. Figure 9 shows that, with the application of spider suspension 31, spider suspension 17 can be omitted from the converter or can be used in conjunction with spider suspension 31.

[0041] In various embodiments, the membrane 18 can be made of a number of materials including aluminium, titanium, fabric, paper, pulp and a wide variety of materials known for loudspeaker transducer materials according to the prior art.

[0042] In the various embodiments, the invention utilizes the space provided by the projecting hood or the inverted conical diaphragm 18 geometry to raise the magnetic structure 18 into the concave inner chamber of the diaphragm 18, thereby reducing the overall height of the transducer. Due to the requirement of a short distance between the diaphragm and the motor, the spider is designed as disclosed. The spider 17, with its inner circumference attached and coupled to the upper plate 14 of the motor / housing and its outer circumference attached to the hood diaphragm 18, is an essential element of the transducer according to the invention.

[0043] The hood-shaped or inverted conical diaphragm 18 embodies a characteristic of the invention in that the diaphragm structure preferably has a geometry with a height and an internal chamber volume. This can be a hood-shaped inverted cone or a pyramidal diaphragm shape, such that the maximum height is reached at the center of its geometry at certain points above the voice coil former.

[0044] As mentioned above, the shape of the diaphragm is not limited to a hood shape, but geometries that provide enough height in the central area and at the attachment point to the environment to accommodate the magnetic motor structure; straight diaphragms (from the environmental connection upwards to the maximum point, conical shape), flat tips on the coil former, inverted cone geometries and other generally convex shapes can be effective.

[0045] Certain interrupted surface membrane 18 designs can also improve the acoustic performance of the transducer. This can dampen the modes that occur in the middle part of the membrane by improving the stiffness of this area.

[0046] Different materials can be applied to each part of the two-part membrane 18a (as described in Fig. (As shown in Figure 3) inner disks 24 – the area of ​​the diaphragm 18a and the outer section of the diaphragm 18a – are used as structures. The connection between these two parts can be made by the transducer 20. The connection between the inner disk 24 and the coupler is desirablely as strong as possible, with the outer disk 18a attached using a soft or damping adhesive. At high frequencies, this design acts as a damping regulator for the vibration transmitted to the outer disk 18a, which is useful for smooth peaks caused by a breakup phenomenon. Alternatively, it can create a low-pass filter at high frequencies and progressively reduce the effective diaphragm diameter with increasing frequency.

[0047] The coupler can improve the acoustic and mechanical capability of the transducer 10 by improving the stiffness of the central area of ​​the diaphragm 18 radiation surface, which has advantageous effects on the frequency response of the driver 10 (extension of the piston radiation area); especially at the high ends of the operating range, where the strength of the diaphragm 18 is improved, it helps to control the amplitude of its vibration modes.

[0048] In addition to improving the stiffness of the central area of ​​the diaphragm 18 radiation surface, the coupler 20 also reinforces the upper end of the voice coil neck, ensures a hard and reliable connection to the diaphragm 18, which improves the frequency response and creates stronger connections for greater mechanical energy handling.

[0049] The coupler device 20 can be designed to have multiple connection points from the voice coil former 21 to the diaphragm 18, which balance the force exerted by the voice coil 19. This design also contributes to improved control of the vibration modes of the diaphragm 18.

[0050] Depending on the material from which the rigid coupler 20 or the flexible coupler 30 is made, the damping of the connection system can be modified and adapted to desired characteristics. Accordingly, the flexible coupler 30 serves as an example in Fig. As shown in Figure 17, it can be operated as a low-pass filter, damper, or resonance system.

[0051] Additionally, a ring with an L-shaped cross-section or a conical part enables the voice coil former 21 to be connected to the diaphragm 18 surface, thus ensuring the permanent use of the diaphragm 18 surface and preventing the structurally weaker contact connection that is normally formed by connecting the voice coil former 21 directly to the diaphragm 18 without the coupler 20.

[0052] One of the possible membrane geometries that meets the aforementioned requirements also has a radiation surface shaped in such a way as to exhibit a dome-shaped geometry 18 that houses the magnetic motor structure of the loudspeaker, and whose body wall is folded upwards, with an outer cone-shaped second geometry (18e) ( Fig. 19) The second geometric body meets the environment (16) at the end of its structure. The outer cone can be made from the same part as the central hood or can be a second separate part that is attached to or coupled with the first geometry, its inner diameter being virtually larger than the magnetic motor structure housed in the central hood. Below this double-geometry membrane structure and at or near its fold or groove point or area (where the two geometries meet), the outer diameter of the spider suspension 17 is connected or coupled (in the remaining embodiments, the spider element is not attached to or near the end of the radiation surface body). This folded hood helps to create the advantage of having loudspeakers with relatively large and low-profile hood membranes whose stiffness is similar to that presented in flat geometries.

[0053] The groove or folded area is used to improve the loudspeaker's behavior in the cutoff frequency range by adding either a stiffening or damping element, such as special types of adhesives, to the groove surface (34). With the same aim (controlling the smoothness of the sound pressure level curve), stiffening or damping elements, such as adhesive or rubber compound, can be positioned / attached to the back of the second geometry (35); their quantity and position depend on the desired effect on the driver performance. This helps to break up the diaphragm's vibration modes at specific frequencies and, consequently, to distribute its energy over a wider range of the audible spectrum.

[0054] A plastic ring or brush (33) is arranged as a connecting element between the magnetic motor structure and the basket. This element provides a suitable enclosure for the motor, which holds it firmly in position and connects it to the basket.

[0055] The manufacturing process can center the voice coil former 21 in the gap by using a fixture that is removed from the front surface of the transducer once the spider 17 and the conical diaphragm 18 are properly bonded to the basket and the former. This method has the advantage that the opening 28 is located in the center of a conical voice coil former 18c (shown in Fig. 12a) Geometry to make the fastening accessible. The attachment of a dust cup 24a over or on the voice coil former 21, and the closing of this opening 28, completes the procedure.

[0056] As an alternative preferred method, the mounting that positions the voice coil in its predetermined position must be removed from the rear of the transducer, since the hood diaphragm has no opening through which the centering device is accessible. To accomplish this, the T-collar 12 has two parts: a regular T-collar 12 and an extra backplate 11a (shown in Fig. 1) This extra backplate 11a is positioned between the magnet structure 13 and the base plate 12a of the T-collar 12. Both the basket frame 11 and the motor (which in this case only includes the magnet 13 and the top plate 14) rest on the backplate 12b, which allows the T-collar to be easily detached from the transducer 10 structure. This action does not affect the effectiveness of the transducer 10 assembly or the manufacturing process and takes place after the successful assembly of the diaphragm 18 and the spider 17 in the system. Removing the T-collar 12 provides access to the fastener positioned on the pole piece 12a. Once the fastener is removed, the T-collar 12 is repositioned and bonded (screwed) to the backplate 12b. A proposed assembly procedure is described step by step as follows. 1. Assembly of the backplate and T-collar (no gluing is used). 2. Attach the magnet, the top plate and the aluminum ring (one after the other) to the back plate. 3. Attach the basket frame and back panel together using glue, screws, or both. 4. Attach the inner circumference of the spider to the aluminum ring. 5. Attach the coupler (protruding part) to the coil former using a flat surface to align the upper parts of these two elements (if the coupler is made of two parts, the procedure does not vary; the second part of the coupler, which looks like a steam cup or hood extending onto the coil former, is attached after the first element). 6. Attach the mounting to the pole piece to position the voice coil in its optimal position. 7. Insert the voice coil former into the mounting between the top plate and the pole piece. 8. Attach the hood diaphragm to the voice coil former using the coupler. 9. Glue the connecting cables to the surrounding area below the hood. 10. Attach the hood membrane to the spider and the basket. 11. Remove the T-collar from the structure and the fastening from the pole piece. 12. Reposition the T-collar and fasten it there.

[0057] Similar to in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, this procedure, which is applied to version 1 (shown in Figure 2), includes... Fig. 9) removing the fastening from the back of the converter 10 in the last step.

[0058] The basket / frame design 11 of the invention simplifies the removal of the motor (U-collar 12c, neomagnet 13 and upper plate 14a), while providing access to the mounting. None of the moving parts are directly attached to the magnetic motor, but instead to the basket. There is no aluminum ring in this version.

[0059] It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that various uses and variations of the specific devices and techniques disclosed herein are possible without departing from the inventive concept. Consequently, the invention is made to encompass every new feature and every combination of features disclosed herein, and the examples of the present invention disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, to the scope of protection of the invention.

[0060] Finally, it should be mentioned that the language used in this description is primarily chosen for readability and instructive purposes and cannot be used to describe or paraphrase the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the disclosure of the invention is exemplary but does not limit the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

[1] A low-profile loudspeaker transducer comprising: - a magnet (13); - an upper plate (14) which is arranged above the magnet (13); - a voice coil former (21) having a first end that terminates above the upper plate (14); - a membrane (18) extending over the upper plate (14); - a coupler (20) that connects the diaphragm (18) to the first end of the voice coil former; - a first suspension (17) arranged below the membrane (18) and attached at one end to the membrane (18) and at the other end to the upper plate (14); and - a second suspension (16) extending from an outer edge of the diaphragm (18) to a frame (11) of the loudspeaker transducer, wherein the coupler (20) is attached to one end of the voice coil former (21) and has a connecting surface at an opposite end for attachment to the diaphragm (18), wherein the connecting surface of the coupler (20) is larger than the connecting surface of the voice coil former (21) provided by the surface area of ​​the upper end of the voice coil former (21), wherein the first suspension (17) has a spider suspension having a corrugated cross-sectional profile, wherein the second end of the spider suspension (17) is attached to a ring separator (25) mounted on the upper plate (14), wherein the ring separator (25) extends around the voice coil former (21) on the upper plate (14), and wherein the first suspension (17) has two of the spider suspensions (17a, 17b), one of which is arranged above the other, the second ends of both spider suspensions (17a, 17b) are attached to this ring separator (25). [2] Low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer according to claim 1, wherein the magnet (13) and the upper plate (14) form a magnetic motor which is arranged, at least partially, in a volume generated by the diaphragm (18). [3] Low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm (18) extends over the voice coil former (21), or wherein the diaphragm (18) terminates at the first edge of the voice coil former (21), and the transducer further comprises an upper cover (24) extending from the edge of the diaphragm (18) and extending over the voice coil former (21). [4] The low-profile loudspeaker transducer according to claim 1, wherein the second suspension (16) is an ambient suspension (16) having a concave cross-sectional profile and is arranged below the first suspension (17). [5] The low-profile loudspeaker transducer according to claim 1, wherein the second suspension (16) is an ambient suspension (16a) having a convex cross-sectional profile and is arranged above the first suspension (17). [6] The low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer according to claim 1, wherein the coupler (20) has an upper cap (23) which extends over the voice coil former (21) and serves as a connecting surface for connecting the diaphragm (18) to the coupler (20). [7] The low-cross-section loudspeaker transducer according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm (18) has a cross-sectional profile that is conical, frustoconical, curved, linear, rectangular or a combination thereof.

Images