Diaphragms for Loudspeaker Drive Units For Microphones

1 - 24 . (canceled)

25 . A diaphragm for a loudspeaker drive unit or for a microphone, the diaphragm comprising a dome-shaped member of synthetic diamond, wherein the diaphragm includes an integrally-formed, peripheral skirt.

26 . A diaphragm as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the skirt is selected from the group consisting of a skirt of cylindrical form, and a flared skirt.

27 . A diaphragm as claimed in claim 26 , wherein each side of the skirt has a flare selected from the group consisting of a flare of 30 degrees or less, a flare of 20 degrees or less, and a flare of between 5 and 10 degrees with respect to the central axis of the diaphragm.

28 . A diaphragm as claimed in claim 25 , wherein an integral extension of the peripheral skirt constitutes the former for a voice coil.

29 . A diaphragm as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the peripheral skirt has a depth selected from the group consisting of a depth of 4 millimetres or more,

approximately 5 millimetres,

at least 0.15 millimetres, at least 0.3 millimetres,

less than 1.0 millimetres, and

between 0.5 and 0.8 millimetres, inclusive.

30 . A diaphragm as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the diaphragm is substantially circular in front elevation.

31 . A diaphragm as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the diaphragm has a diameter selected from the group consisting of between 18 and 34 millimetres inclusive, between 22 and 30 millimetres inclusive, and approximately 26 millimetres.

32 . A diaphragm as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the diaphragm has a curvature selected from the group consisting of a substantially constant radius of curvature, a radius of curvature of the diaphragm increasing towards the center of the diaphragm, a radius of curvature of the diaphragm at its periphery less than half the radius of curvature at the center of the diaphragm, and a radius of the diaphragm at its center is selected from the group consisting of between 16 millimetres and 24 millimetres inclusive, and between 18 and 22 millimetres, inclusive.

33 . A diaphragm as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the skirt thickness is selected from the group consisting of:

substantially the same thickness or less than the domed part of the diaphragm,

of substantially greater thickness than the domed part of the diaphragm,

a skirt thickness between 1.5 and 2.5 times, inclusive,

as thick as the domed part of the diaphragm, and

skirt thickness approximately twice as thick as the domed part of the diaphragm.

34 . A diaphragm as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the domed part of the diaphragm has a thickness selected from the group consisting of between 0.010 and 0.1 millimetres inclusive, between 0.025 and 0.035 millimetres inclusive, approximately 0.03 millimetres, between 0.035 and 0.045 millimetres inclusive, approximately 0.04 millimetres, and a greater thickness at the periphery of the domed part of the diaphragm than at its center.

35 . A loudspeaker drive unit or microphone including the diaphragm as claimed in claim 25 .

36 . A loudspeaker drive unit comprising:

a mounting;

a diaphragm a flexible surround connecting the diaphragm to the mounting;

a voice coil assembly comprising a voice coil and a former attached to the diaphragm; and

a magnet assembly surrounding the voice coil, wherein the said diaphragm comprises a dome-shaped member of synthetic diamond, wherein the diaphragm includes an integrally-formed, peripheral skirt and the diaphragm has a diameter of between 22 and 34 millimetres inclusive.

37 . A loudspeaker drive unit as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the domed part of the said diaphragm has a thickness of between 0.025 and 0.045 millimetres inclusive.

38 . A loudspeaker drive unit as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the peripheral skirt has a depth less than 1.0 millimetres.

39 . A loudspeaker drive unit as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the skirt is flared.

40 . A loudspeaker drive unit as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the said diaphragm has a substantially constant radius of curvature of between 18 and 24 millimetres inclusive.

41 . A loudspeaker drive unit comprising:

a mounting;

a diaphragm;

a flexible surround connecting the diaphragm to the mounting;

a voice coil assembly comprising a voice coil and a former attached to the diaphragm; and

a magnet assembly surrounding the voice coil, wherein the diaphragm comprising a dome-shaped member of synthetic diamond, wherein the said diaphragm includes an integrally-formed, peripheral skirt and the said peripheral skirt has a depth of at least 0.3 millimetres and less than 1.0 millimetres.

42 . A loudspeaker drive unit as claimed in claim 41 , wherein the said peripheral skirt has a depth between 0.5 and 0.8 millimetres inclusive.

43 . A loudspeaker drive unit as claimed in claim 41 , wherein the said diaphragm has a diameter of between 22 and 34 millimetres inclusive.

44 . A loudspeaker drive unit as claimed in claim 41 , wherein the domed part of the said diaphragm has a thickness of between 0.025 and 0.045 millimetres inclusive.

45 . A loudspeaker drive unit as claimed in claim 41 , wherein the skirt is flared.