Granted Patent B1

US 8,976,997 · App. 14/330,794 · Granted Mar 10, 2015

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. An ultrasonic audio speaker, comprising:

a first transparent base layer;

a transparent conductor disposed on the first transparent base layer;

a second transparent base layer; and

a partially open transparent conductive layer disposed on the second transparent base layer between the first and second transparent base layers, wherein the partially open conductive layer comprises conductive portions, the conductive portions having a thickness and being arranged to define one or more open volumes adjacent the second transparent base layer.

2. The ultrasonic audio speaker according to claim 1 , further comprising an insulating layer disposed between the first transparent base layer and the partially open conductive layer, and wherein the open volumes defined by the conductive portions are between the second transparent base layer and the insulating layer.

3. The ultrasonic audio speaker according to claim 1 , further comprising a transparent conductive layer disposed between the second transparent base layer and the partially open conductive layer.

4. The ultrasonic audio speaker according to claim 1 , wherein the open volumes defined by the conductive portions are further defined by a surface of the second transparent base layer and a facing surface of the first transparent base layer.

5. The ultrasonic audio speaker according to claim 1 , wherein the partially open conductive layer comprises a wire mesh.

6. The ultrasonic audio speaker according to claim 5 , wherein the wire mesh comprises a woven mesh of conductive wires.

7. The ultrasonic audio speaker according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive portions of the partially open conductive layer comprises conductive filaments.

8. The ultrasonic audio speaker according to claim 1 , wherein a diameter and spacing of the conductive portions of the partially open conductive layer are selected such that the partially open conductive layer has a transparency in the visible spectrum of greater than 80%.

9. The ultrasonic audio speaker according to claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic audio speaker has a resonant frequency and wherein the resonant frequency is defined by the quantity and volume of the open volumes in the partially open conductive layer.

10. The ultrasonic audio speaker according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive portions of the partially open conductive layer comprises a plurality of sections of conductive wire arranged in an intersecting pattern defining open areas there between.

11. The ultrasonic audio speaker according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive portions of the partially open conductive layer comprises a textured conductive member, the textured conductive member comprising a plurality of conductive ridges arranged so as to have openings there between.

12. The ultrasonic audio speaker according to claim 11 , wherein the conductive ridges comprise a plurality of peaks defining valleys in the conductive ridges therebetween.

13. The ultrasonic audio speaker according to claim 1 , wherein the transparent conductor disposed on the first transparent base layer comprises carbon nanowire.

14. The ultrasonic audio speaker according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second transparent layers and the transparent conductor have a combined transmittance of greater than 80% in the visible spectrum.

15. An electronic content device, comprising:

a power supply;

a content engine coupled to receive power from the power supply and to generate electrical signals representing audio content and electrical signals representing display content;

a display coupled to the content engine and configured to receive the electrical signals representing display content and to generate a visual representation of the display content; and

a transparent ultrasonic carrier audio emitter disposed on the display, the emitter comprising:

a first transparent base layer;

a transparent conductor disposed on the first transparent base layer;

a second transparent base layer; and

a partially open transparent conductive layer disposed on the second transparent base layer between the first and second transparent base layers, wherein the partially open conductive layer comprises conductive portions, the conductive portions having a thickness and being arranged to define one or more open volumes adjacent the second transparent base layer.

16. The electronic content device according to claim 15 , further comprising

a modulator coupled to receive the electrical signals representing audio content, and to modulate the received electrical signals onto an ultrasonic carrier; and

a driver circuit having two inputs configured to be coupled to receive the audio content modulated onto an ultrasonic carrier signal, and two outputs, wherein a first output is coupled to the transparent conductor and the second output is coupled to the partially open transparent conductive layer.

17. The electronic content device according to claim 15 , wherein the transparent ultrasonic carrier audio emitter comprises a screen of the display.

18. The electronic content device according to claim 15 , wherein the transparent ultrasonic carrier audio emitter further comprises an insulating layer disposed between the first transparent base layer and the partially open conductive layer, and wherein the open volumes defined by the conductive portions are between the second transparent base layer and the insulating layer.

19. The electronic content device according to claim 15 , wherein the transparent ultrasonic carrier audio emitter further comprises a transparent conductive layer disposed between the second transparent base layer and the partially open conductive layer.

20. The electronic content device according to claim 15 , wherein the open volumes defined by the conductive portions are further defined by a surface of the second transparent base layer and a facing surface of the first transparent base layer.

21. The electronic content device according to claim 15 , wherein the partially open conductive layer comprises a wire mesh.

22. The electronic content device according to claim 15 , wherein the conductive portions of the partially open conductive layer comprises conductive filaments.

23. The electronic content device according to claim 15 , wherein a diameter and spacing of the conductive portions of the partially open conductive layer are selected such that the partially open conductive layer has a transparency in the visible spectrum of greater than 80%.

24. The electronic content device according to claim 15 , wherein the transparent ultrasonic carrier audio emitter has a resonant frequency and wherein the resonant frequency is defined by the quantity and volume of the open volumes in the partially open conductive layer.

25. The electronic content device according to claim 15 , wherein the conductive portions of the partially open conductive layer comprise a plurality of sections of conductive wire arranged in an intersecting pattern defining open areas there between.

26. The electronic content device according to claim 15 , wherein the conductive portions of the partially open conductive layer comprise a textured conductive member, the textured conductive member comprising a plurality of conductive ridges arranged so as to create openings there between.

27. The electronic content device according to claim 26 , wherein the conductive ridges comprise a plurality of peaks defining valleys in the conductive ridges therebetween.

28. The electronic content device according to claim 15 , wherein the transparent conductor disposed on the first transparent base layer comprises carbon nanowire.

29. The electronic content device according to claim 15 , wherein the first and second transparent layers and the transparent conductor have a combined transmittance of greater than 80% in the visible spectrum.

Assignments (13)