IP Library Granted Patent US 10,455,317
Granted Patent B2
US 10,455,317 · App. 15/627,803 · Granted Oct 22, 2019

Hybrid ring-radiator headphone driver

Inventor: David Zepp (Poway, CA)
Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.
H04R1/1075H04R1/24H04R3/12H04R9/025H04R9/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,455,317
App. No.
15/627,803
Granted
Oct 22, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for a hybrid ring-radiator headphone driver, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

Claims (51)

1. A hybrid headphone driver comprising:

a frame;

a center radiator comprising:

an inner magnet; and

an inner coil that moves in relation to the inner magnet;

a ring radiator comprising:

a ring-shaped outer magnet that encircles the inner magnet; and

an outer coil that moves in relation to the outer magnet;

at least a first diaphragm portion coupled to the inner coil; and

at least a second diaphragm portion coupled to the outer coil,

wherein the frame comprises a plurality of rings that separate the inner magnet from the outer magnet.

2. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a vent hole in a back side of the frame, the vent hole allowing air flow between the back side of the frame and an inner volume of the frame between two of the plurality of rings.

3. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 2 , wherein the vent hole allows air flow for the center radiator.

4. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 1 , wherein a first ring of the plurality of rings has a first height from a back side of the frame, and a second ring of the plurality of rings has a second height from the back side of the frame, wherein the second height is greater than the first height.

5. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 4 , wherein the first ring of the plurality of rings defines a center space in which at least a portion of the inner magnet is positioned and in which at least a portion of the inner coil is positioned.

6. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a planar back side, at least a portion of which is directly behind the center radiator.

7. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 1 , comprising a magnet cup in which the inner magnet is positioned, and wherein at least one of the plurality of rings defines a space into which the magnet cup is press fit.

8. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 1 , wherein the first diaphragm portion and the second diaphragm portion are different portions of a same diaphragm.

9. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 1 ,

wherein:

the inner magnet and the outer magnet are independent magnets; and

the inner magnet comprises a slot in which the inner coil moves.

10. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 9 , wherein the outer magnet comprises a slot in which the outer coil moves.

11. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 9 , wherein the ring-shaped outer magnet defines an central space bounded by an inner perimeter surface of the ring-shaped outer magnet, and the inner magnet extends entirely through the central space.

12. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 9 , wherein the inner magnet is thicker than the outer magnet.

13. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 9 , wherein the inner magnet comprises a permanent magnet, and the outer magnet comprises a permanent magnet.

14. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 9 , wherein each of the inner magnet and the outer magnet comprises a center hole.

15. A hybrid headphone driver comprising:

a frame;

a center radiator comprising:

an inner magnet; and

an inner coil that moves in relation to the inner magnet;

a ring radiator comprising:

a ring-shaped outer magnet that encircles the inner magnet; and

an outer coil that moves in relation to the outer magnet;

at least a first diaphragm portion coupled to the inner coil and coupled directly to the frame; and

at least a second diaphragm portion coupled to the outer coil and coupled directly to the frame, wherein the frame comprises a continuous ring of a same material, the at least a first diaphragm portion is coupled directly to the ring, and the at least a second diaphragm portion is coupled directly to the ring.

16. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 15 , wherein the second diaphragm portion comprises two lobes that encircle the first diaphragm portion, and an interface between the two lobes is positioned directly in front of the outer magnet.

17. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 15 , wherein each of the center radiator and the ring radiator comprises a same respective effective radiating area.

18. The hybrid headphone driver of claim 15 , wherein each of the center radiator and the ring radiator comprises a similar respective Theil/Small parameter.

19. A hybrid headphone driver comprising:

a frame;

a center radiator comprising:

an inner magnet; and

an inner coil that moves in relation to the inner magnet;

a ring radiator comprising:

a ring-shaped outer magnet that encircles the inner magnet; and

an outer coil that moves in relation to the outer magnet;

at least a first diaphragm portion coupled to the inner coil and coupled directly to the frame; and

at least a second diaphragm portion coupled to the outer coil and coupled directly to the frame,

wherein the first diaphragm portion and the second diaphragm portion are different portions of a same diaphragm.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 075315/0067 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2026
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 075311/0625 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 072470/0260 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 4, 2025
From: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072338/0059 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2025
From: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 072337/0391 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2024
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066797/0517 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Dec 19, 2018
From: CRYSTAL FINANCIAL LLC
To: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
Reel/Frame 047954/0518 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2018
From: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 045776/0648 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2018
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
To: CRYSTAL FINANCIAL LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 045573/0653 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 5, 2017
From: ZEPP, DAVID
To: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
Reel/Frame 042912/0396 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,328,545