IP Library Granted Patent US 12,262,172
Granted Patent B2
US 12,262,172 · App. 17/816,752 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Compression loaded slit shaped waveguide

Inventor: Kasper Andersen (Aarhus, DK)
Assignee: Roku, Inc.
H04R1/345H04R1/028H04R2499/15
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,262,172
App. No.
17/816,752
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for a sound source with an array of slit shaped waveguide exits. An example embodiment of the sound source includes one or more drivers configured to receive an audio signal current and to generate pressurized air. The sound source further includes one or more chambers coupled to the one or more drivers and configured to direct the pressurized air from the one or more drivers. The sound source further includes an array of two or more slit shaped exits coupled to the one or more chambers and configured to receive the pressurized air from the one or more chambers and to emit sound waves. The directivity of the sound waves is controlled.

Claims (43)

1. A sound source, comprising:

a driver configured to receive an audio signal current and to generate pressurized air;

a plurality of chambers coupled to the driver and configured to direct the pressurized air from the driver; and

a plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits coupled to the plurality of chambers and configured to receive the pressurized air from the plurality of chambers and to emit sound waves,

wherein a first array of the plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits is coupled to a first chamber of the plurality of chambers and a second array of the plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits is coupled to a second chamber of the plurality of chambers, and

wherein a directivity of the sound waves is controlled based at least on a multimedia content associated with the audio signal current, an environment of the sound source, or a feedback from a user of the sound source.

2. The sound source of claim 1 , wherein the driver comprises a compression driver.

3. The sound source of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second driver; and

a second plurality of chambers coupled to the second driver; and

a second array of two or more slit shaped exits coupled to the second plurality of chambers.

4. The sound source of claim 1 , wherein the first array of the plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits comprises a linear array of two or more slit shaped exits that are arranged in a linear arrangement.

5. The sound source of claim 1 , wherein the first array of the plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits comprises a matrix array of two or more slit shaped exits that are arranged in a square matrix arrangement.

6. The sound source of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second driver configured to receive a second audio signal current and to generate second pressurized air.

7. The sound source of claim 6 , further comprising:

a third chamber coupled to the second driver and configured to direct the second pressurized air from the second driver.

8. The sound source of claim 7 , further comprising:

a plurality of slit shaped exits coupled to the third chamber and configured to receive the second pressurized air from the third chamber and to emit second sound waves.

9. The sound source of claim 1 , wherein each slit shaped exit of the first array of the plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits has a length of about 12 mm and a height of about 1 mm.

10. The sound source of claim 1 , wherein the driver comprises an amplifier configured to control the directivity of the sound waves.

11. The sound source of claim 1 , further comprising a passive filter configured to control the directivity of the sound waves.

12. A display device, comprising:

a sound source, comprising:

a driver configured to receive an audio signal current and to generate pressurized air;

a plurality of chambers coupled to the driver and configured to direct the pressurized air from the driver; and

a plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits coupled to the plurality of chambers and configured to receive the pressurized air from the plurality of chambers and to emit sound waves, wherein a first array of the plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits is coupled to a first chamber of the plurality of chambers and a second array of the plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits is coupled to a second chamber of the plurality of chambers; and

a controller configured to control directivity of the sound waves.

13. The display device of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to control the directivity of the sound waves based at least on a multimedia content associated with the audio signal current, an environment of the sound source, or a feedback from a user of the sound source.

14. The display device of claim 12 , wherein the controller comprises a digital filter configured to control the directivity of the sound waves.

15. The display device of claim 14 , wherein the digital filter comprises an amplifier in the driver.

16. The display device of claim 12 , further comprising a passive filter configured to control the directivity of the sound waves.

17. The display device of claim 12 , wherein the driver comprises a compression driver.

18. The display device of claim 12 , wherein the first array of the plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits comprises a linear array of two or more slit shaped exits that are arranged in a linear arrangement.

19. The display device of claim 12 , wherein the first array of the plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits comprises a matrix array of two or more slit shaped exits that are arranged in a square matrix arrangement.

20. A display device, comprising:

a sound source, comprising:

a driver configured to receive an audio signal current and to generate pressurized air;

a plurality of chambers coupled to the driver and configured to direct the pressurized air from the driver; and

a plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits coupled to the plurality of chambers and configured to receive the pressurized air from the plurality of chambers and to emit sound waves,

wherein a first array of the plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits is coupled to a first chamber of the plurality of chambers and a second array of the plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits is coupled to a second chamber of the plurality of chambers, and

wherein the first array of the plurality of arrays of two or more slit shaped exits comprises a matrix array of two or more slit shaped exits that are arranged in a square matrix arrangement; and

a controller configured to control directivity of the sound waves based at least on a multimedia content associated with the audio signal current, an environment of the sound source, or a feedback from a user of the sound source.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2024
From: ROKU, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 068982/0377 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2022
From: ANDERSEN, KASPER
To: ROKU, INC.
Reel/Frame 060693/0700 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 17664099 · May 19, 2022
Related Publication 20230379618A1 · Nov 23, 2023
References Cited (17)
US 5524062A · Oh · 1996 [cited by examiner]
US 10986443B2 · Kim et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20060204022A1 · Hooley · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20090316938A1 · Matsumoto · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100189267A1 · Konagai et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20130121515A1 · Hooley · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20200021909A1 · Smithers et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210176547A1 · Wang et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210200504A1 · Park et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210345037A1 · Rhim et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220182744A1 · Han · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220210548A1 · Zheng et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220240007A1 · Hagio · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20240314494A1 · Jancovich · 2024 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2021050250A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/664,099, “Compression Loaded Slit Shaped Waveguide”, to Kasper Andersen, filed May 19, 2022. pp. 1-33. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 23173357.7 mailed Oct. 12, 2023, 12 pages. [cited by applicant]