IP Library Granted Patent US 10,448,170
Granted Patent B2
US 10,448,170 · App. 15/825,252 · Granted Oct 15, 2019

Sound generator and sound generation system

Inventors: Satoshi Fukami (Kawasaki, JP); Hiroshi Taimura (Yokohama, JP); Atsuo Chiba (Yokohama, JP); Yuta Sakamoto (Kawasaki, JP); Akinori Wada (Kawasaki, JP); Daisuke Tsuiki (Tokyo, JP); Takashi Ikegami (Yokohama, JP); Kazuya Sono (Yokohama, JP); Hideaki Fujimoto (Yokohama, JP); Seiji Horii (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
H04R17/00B06B1/0253B06B1/0603B06B1/0611H04R3/04H04R3/12H04R2420/01H04R2420/03H04R2420/05H04R2499/11H04R2499/15
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,448,170
App. No.
15/825,252
Granted
Oct 15, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sound generator includes at least one piezoelectric vibrator including a piezoelectric element, a vibration unit in one of a non-contact state not contacting the at least one piezoelectric vibrator and a contact state contacting the at least one piezoelectric vibrator. While in the contact state, the at least one piezoelectric vibrator generates vibration in response to a signal, and causes a contact surface contacted by the vibration unit to vibrate and generate a sound to be emitted from the contact surface. The sound generator can detect driving allowed and driving denied states, and control application of a sound signal in accordance with the two states to the piezoelectric element.

Claims (15)

1. A sound generator comprising:

a housing;

at least one piezoelectric vibrator including a piezoelectric element disposed within the housing; and

a vibration unit which can be switched between a non-contact state not contacting the at least one piezoelectric vibrator and a contact state contacting the at least one piezoelectric vibrator,

wherein while the vibration unit is in the contact state, the at least one piezoelectric vibrator generates vibration in response to a signal, and causes a contact surface contacted by the vibration unit to vibrate and generate a sound to be emitted from the contact surface.

2. The sound generator according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one piezoelectric vibrator includes a cover member that vibrates the vibration unit by transmitting vibration due to deformation of the piezoelectric element to the vibration unit.

3. The sound generator according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration unit includes a cover member that vibrates the contact surface by transmitting vibration due to the at least one piezoelectric vibrator to the contact surface.

4. A sound generator comprising:

a housing;

at least one piezoelectric vibrator including a piezoelectric element disposed within the housing;

a vibration unit in one of a non-contact state not contacting the at least one piezoelectric vibrator and a contact state contacting the at least one piezoelectric vibrator; and

a cover, including the vibration unit, disposed displaceably in the housing, wherein

while the vibration unit is in the contact state, the at least one piezoelectric vibrator generates vibration in response to a signal, and causes a contact surface contacted by the vibration unit to vibrate and generate a sound to be emitted from the contact surface, and

at a first position, the cover places the vibration unit in the contact state, and at a second position, the cover places the vibration unit in the non-contact state and protects the at least one piezoelectric vibrator.

5. The sound generator according to claim 4 , wherein the piezoelectric element is driven when the cover is in the first position and is not driven when the cover is in the second position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: FUKAMI, SATOSHI; TAIMURA, HIROSHI; CHIBA, ATSUO; SAKAMOTO, YUTA; WADA, AKINORI; TSUIKI, DAISUKE; IKEGAMI, TAKASHI; SONO, KAZUYA; FUJIMOTO, HIDEAKI; HORII, SEIJI
To: KYOCERA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044244/0682 →
Priority Claims (5)
JP 2013-225413 · Oct 30, 2013 · national
JP 2013-265928 · Dec 24, 2013 · national
JP 2013-266027 · Dec 24, 2013 · national
JP 2014-066653 · Mar 27, 2014 · national
JP 2014-067089 · Mar 27, 2014 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14499630 · Sep 29, 2014
Related Publication 20180084347A1 · Mar 22, 2018