IP Library Granted Patent US 12,323,759
Granted Patent B2
US 12,323,759 · App. 18/423,594 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Elliptical ring radiator diaphragm, tweeter and damping method

Inventor: Sean O'Brien, Sr. (Harwood, MD)
Assignee: Polk Audio, LLC
H04R1/24H04R1/345H04R7/127H04R7/18H04R9/025H04R9/045H04R9/06H04R2400/11
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,323,759
App. No.
18/423,594
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A loudspeaker driver or tweeter (e.g., 100, 200 or 300 ) having a voice coil connected with a loudspeaker diaphragm (e.g., 106, 206 or 306 ), having a substantially circular diaphragm portion which is connected with or rests upon a voice coil attachment segment (e.g., 104, 204, 304 ). The diaphragm also includes a first central elliptical (non-circular-shaped) inner roll portion (e.g., 112, 212, 312 ) defining a central recessed area and a second, outer elliptical (non-circular-shaped) roll portion (e.g., 108, 208, 308 ) so the central portion and the outer roll portion that have substantially elliptical edge circumferences with substantially circular central peripheral edges to define diaphragm segments with a varying radial Chord lengths having non-uniform diameter dimensions (inside diameter to outside diameter) and when in use, the excursion of the diaphragm is controlled such that any breakup modes are minimized and the associated resonances are minimized.

Claims (18)

1. A loudspeaker driver, comprising:

a chassis;

a magnet system connected to the chassis;

a voice coil operatively associated with the magnet system; and

a diaphragm operatively associated with the voice coil, the diaphragm comprising:

a first portion having a first height that varies along a first continuous length of the first portion;

a second portion having a second height that varies along a second continuous length of the second portion; and wherein the first and second heights vary in such a manner as to produce an undulating motion around a central axis of the loudspeaker driver during excursion;

wherein the first portion has a substantially circular first outer edge and a non-circular first inner edge, and wherein the second portion has a substantially circular second inner edge and a non-circular second outer edge, and

wherein the non-circular first inner edge comprises an elliptical first inner edge having a first major axis and a first minor axis, and wherein the non-circular second outer edge comprises an elliptical second outer edge having a second major axis and a second minor axis.

2. The loudspeaker driver of claim 1 , wherein the first and second major axes are aligned with one another, and wherein the first and second minor axes are aligned with one another.

3. A loudspeaker driver, comprising:

a chassis;

a magnet system connected to the chassis;

a voice coil operatively associated with the magnet system; and

a diaphragm operatively associated with the voice coil, the diaphragm comprising:

a first portion having a first height that varies along a first continuous length of the first portion;

a second portion having a second height that varies along a second continuous length of the second portion; and wherein the first and second heights vary in such a manner as to produce an undulating motion around a central axis of the loudspeaker driver during excursion; and

wherein the first portion is positioned inside of the second portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2024
From: O'BRIEN, SEAN, SR.
To: POLK AUDIO, LLC
Reel/Frame 066259/0097 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17431126
Provisional Application 62805044 · Feb 13, 2019
Related Publication 20240171900A1 · May 23, 2024
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