IP Library Granted Patent US 11,140,488
Granted Patent B2
US 11,140,488 · App. 16/416,189 · Granted Oct 5, 2021

Speaker-driver cone with increased stiffness

Inventors: Stuart Nevill (Menlo Park, CA); Ian Bickers (Worthing, GB)
Assignee: B&W Group Ltd.
H04R7/14H04R1/025H04R7/127H04R31/003H04R2499/15
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,140,488
App. No.
16/416,189
Granted
Oct 5, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A diaphragm for use is a loudspeaker is described. This diaphragm may include a housing with an elongated shape having a length along a first axis that is longer than a width along a second axis. Moreover, the housing may include: an outer surface and an inner surface; an outer opening defined by an outer edge and an inner opening defined by an inner edge; and regions having heights relative to the inner surface, where the regions are grouped in pairs that are positioned equidistant and symmetrically about the inner opening along the first axis. Furthermore, the regions may have a second length along the first axis, and the second length may be less than a distance along the first axis between the outer edge and the inner edge. Note that the regions may increase a stiffness of the diaphragm relative to a stiffness of a material in the diaphragm.

Claims (42)

1. A diaphragm configured for use is a loudspeaker, comprising:

a body with an elongated shape having a length along a first axis that is longer than a width along a second axis, wherein the body comprises:

an outer surface and an inner surface;

an outer opening defined by an outer edge and an inner opening defined by an inner edge; and

regions which are grouped in pairs that are positioned equidistant and symmetrically about the inner opening along the first axis, wherein each of the regions has a height relative to the inner surface and comprises an outer portion bounded by an outer curved region comprising an outer radius and an inner portion bounded by an inner curved region comprising an inner radius, the outer radius being spaced apart from the outer edge of the diaphragm and the inner radius being spaced apart from the inner edge of the diaphragm, and

wherein the regions each have a second length along the first axis, and the second length is less than a distance along the first axis between the outer edge and the inner edge.

2. The diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein the heights of the regions comprise one of: raised, depressed or dimpled relative to the inner surface.

3. The diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein the regions comprise embossed regions.

4. The diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the regions is the same as a thickness of the body outside of the regions.

5. The diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein the inner edge is configured to couple to a drive unit associated with the loudspeaker.

6. The diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein the regions protrude from the inner surface towards a central axis of the diaphragm that is perpendicular to the inner opening and is parallel to a symmetry axis of the inner opening.

7. The diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface is at an angle relative to the central axis; and

where the angle is between 0 and 90°.

8. The diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm comprises two raised regions having tear drop shape or propeller shapes.

9. The diaphragm of claim 8 , wherein the tear drop shape has the inner radius and the outer radius; and

wherein the inner radius is less than the outer radius.

10. The diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm comprises a race-track shape.

11. The diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein the heights of the regions vary along the second axis.

12. The diaphragm of claim 11 , wherein the variation of the heights of the regions along the second axis corresponds to a depth radius along the second axis.

13. The diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein the regions are configured to increase a stiffness of the diaphragm relative to a stiffness of a material in the diaphragm.

14. The diaphragm of claim 1 , wherein the second length is greater than 20% of the body length along the first axis.

15. A loudspeaker, comprising a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm comprises:

a body with an elongated shape having a length along a first axis that is longer than a width along a second axis, wherein the body comprises:

an outer surface and an inner surface;

an outer opening defined by an outer edge and an inner opening defined by an inner edge; and

regions which are grouped in pairs that are positioned equidistant and symmetrically about the inner opening along the first axis, wherein each of the regions has a height relative to the inner surface and comprises an outer portion bounded by an outer curved region comprising an outer radius and an inner portion bounded by an inner curved region comprising an inner radius, the outer radius being spaced apart from the outer edge of the diaphragm and the inner radius being spaced apart from the inner edge of the diaphragm, and

wherein the regions each have a second length along the first axis, and the second length is less than a distance along the first axis between the outer edge and the inner edge.

16. The loudspeaker of claim 15 , wherein the regions comprise embossed regions.

17. The loudspeaker of claim 15 , wherein the regions protrude from the inner surface towards a central axis of the diaphragm that is perpendicular to the inner opening and is parallel to a symmetry axis of the inner opening.

18. The loudspeaker of claim 15 , wherein the heights of the regions vary along the second axis; and

wherein the variation of the heights of the regions along the second axis corresponds to a depth radius along the second axis.

19. The loudspeaker of claim 15 , wherein the second length is greater than 20% of the body length along the first axis.

20. An electronic device comprising a loudspeaker, wherein the loudspeaker comprises:

a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm comprises:

a body with an elongated shape having a length along a first axis that is longer than a width along a second axis, wherein the body comprises:

an outer surface and an inner surface;

an outer opening defined by an outer edge and an inner opening defined by an inner edge; and

regions which are grouped in pairs that are positioned equidistant and symmetrically about the inner opening along the first axis, wherein each of the regions has a height relative to the inner surface and comprises an outer portion bounded by an outer curved region comprising an outer radius and an inner portion bounded by an inner curved region comprising an inner radius, the outer radius being spaced apart from the outer edge of the diaphragm and the inner radius being spaced apart from the inner edge of the diaphragm, and

wherein the regions each have a second length along the first axis, and the second length is less than a distance along the first axis between the outer edge and the inner edge.

21. The electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the electronic device further comprises a display.

22. The electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the electronic device comprises a television.

23. The electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the second length is greater than 20% of the body length along the first axis.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL (REEL/FRAME 057187/0572) Recorded Apr 12, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: B & W GROUP LTD
Reel/Frame 059988/0738 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL (REEL/FRAME 057187/0613) Recorded Apr 12, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: B & W GROUP LTD
Reel/Frame 059988/0688 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 16, 2021
From: B & W GROUP LTD
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057187/0613 →
ABL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 16, 2021
From: B & W GROUP LTD
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057187/0572 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2020
From: NEVILL, STUART; BICKERS, IAN
To: B&W GROUP LTD.
Reel/Frame 054665/0716 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS) Recorded Dec 16, 2020
From: LUCID TRUSTEE SERVICES LIMITED
To: EVA AUTOMATION, INC.; EVA HOLDING, CORP.; EVA OPERATIONS CORP.
Reel/Frame 054791/0087 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2020
From: LUCID TRUSTEE SERVICES LIMITED, ACTING AS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT FOR EVA AUTOMATION INC., EVA HOLDING CORP. AND EVA OPERATIONS CORP., AND AS SECURITY AGENT
To: B&W GROUP LTD
Reel/Frame 054765/0526 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62674825 · May 22, 2018
Related Publication 20190364365A1 · Nov 28, 2019