IP Library Granted Patent US 9,544,696
Granted Patent B2
US 9,544,696 · App. 14/138,484 · Granted Jan 10, 2017

Flexible, shapeable free-form electrostatic speakers

Inventors: Ivan Poupyrev (Pittsburgh, PA); Yoshio Ishiguro (Pittsburgh, PA)
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
H04R19/02B06B1/0292H04R19/005H04R31/00H04R1/028H04R19/013H04R2400/03
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,544,696
App. No.
14/138,484
Granted
Jan 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An embodiment provides a free-form electrostatic speaker, including: a three dimensional object body; at least a portion of the three dimensional object body having a free-form electrode layer disposed thereon; the free-form electrode layer being shaped to substantially match the at least a portion of the three dimensional object body; a free-form diaphragm positioned proximate to, and being shaped to substantially match, the free-form electrode layer; and an input element coupled to the free-form electrode layer that accepts input from an external source. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims (26)

1. A free-form electrostatic speaker, comprising:

a three dimensional object body with at least a portion of the three dimensional object body having a free-form electrode layer disposed thereon, wherein the free-form electrode layer is shaped to substantially match the portion of the three dimensional object body;

a free-form diaphragm positioned proximate to, and being shaped to substantially match, the free-form electrode layer; and

an input element coupled to the free-form electrode layer that is configured to accept input from an external source;

wherein the three dimensional object body is a three dimensional printed object; and

wherein the free-form diaphragm is selected from the group of materials consisting of a three dimensional printed material and a conductive material sprayed onto the three dimensional object body.

2. A free-form electrostatic speaker, comprising:

a three dimensional object body with at least a portion of the three dimensional object body having a free-form electrode layer disposed thereon, wherein the free-form electrode layer is shaped to substantially match the portion of the three dimensional object body;

a free-form diaphragm positioned proximate to, and being shaped to substantially match, the free-form electrode layer; and

an input element coupled to the free-form electrode layer that is configured to accept input from an external source;

wherein the free-form diaphragm is a substantially continuous layer disposed on an outer surface of the three dimensional object body; and

wherein the free-form diaphragm is a conductive material sprayed onto the three dimensional object body.

3. The free-form electrostatic speaker of claim 2 , further comprising an insulating layer disposed on an outer surface of the free-form diaphragm.

4. A free-form electrostatic speaker, comprising:

a three dimensional object body having a conductive layer disposed on at least a portion thereof;

a three dimensional printed diaphragm having a conductive layer disposed on at least a portion thereof;

the three dimensional printed diaphragm having an insulating layer disposed on the conductive layer;

a connecting element fixing the three dimensional printed diaphragm with respect to the conductive layer disposed on at least a portion of the three dimensional object body; and

an input element coupled to the conductive layer of the three dimensional object body that accepts input from an external source.

5. The free-form electrostatic speaker of claim 4 , wherein the three dimensional object body comprises a three dimensional printed object.

6. The free-form electrostatic speaker of claim 4 , wherein the conductive layer disposed on at least a portion of the three dimensional object body covers substantially all of the three dimensional object body.

7. The free-form electrostatic speaker of claim 6 , wherein the three dimensional printed diaphragm co-extends with the conductive layer covering substantially all of the three dimensional object body to cover substantially all of the three dimensional object body.

8. The free-form electrostatic speaker of claim 4 , wherein the conductive layer disposed on at least a portion of the three dimensional object body is sprayed thereon.

9. The free-form electrostatic speaker of claim 8 , wherein the conductive layer disposed on the three dimensional printed diaphragm is sprayed thereon.

10. The free-form electrostatic speaker of claim 9 , wherein the insulating layer disposed on the three dimensional printed diaphragm is sprayed thereon.

11. The free-form electrostatic speaker of claim 4 , wherein the input from an external source is selected from the group of inputs consisting of input producing ultra sonic speaker output and input producing audible speaker output.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2013
From: POUPYREV, IVAN; ISHIGU, YOSHIO
To: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 031839/0732 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150181350A1 · Jun 25, 2015