IP Library Granted Patent US 12,593,175
Granted Patent B2
US 12,593,175 · App. 18/672,707 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

Electro-acoustic transducer

Inventors: Koichi Irii (Tokyo, JP); Hiroshi Akino (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Audio-Technica Corporation
H04R7/04H04R7/16H04R2201/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,593,175
App. No.
18/672,707
Granted
Mar 31, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electro-acoustic transducer includes: a housing, a partition member disposed inside the housing, a first electro-acoustic conversion unit, and a second electro-acoustic conversion unit. The first electro-acoustic conversion unit includes a fixed electrode, a vibrating membrane, and a support member that supports a partial region of the vibrating membrane and brings a part of the vibrating membrane in contact with the fixed electrode. The first electro-acoustic conversion unit and the second electro-acoustic conversion unit are disposed facing each other across the partition member so that a sound emitting part and a sound emitting part communicate with an acoustic outlet, and the partition member supports the support member and the support member.

Claims (33)

1 . An electro-acoustic transducer comprising:

a housing that includes an acoustic outlet for emitting a sound to the outside;

a partition member disposed inside the housing;

a first electro-acoustic conversion unit disposed inside the housing; and

a second electro-acoustic conversion unit disposed inside the housing, wherein the first electro-acoustic conversion unit and the second electro-acoustic conversion unit each include:

a fixed electrode;

a vibrating membrane which is disposed opposite to the fixed electrode and vibrates in accordance with a potential difference generated between the fixed electrode and the vibrating membrane, on the basis of an electrical signal; and

a support member that supports a partial region of the vibrating membrane and brings a part of the vibrating membrane into contact with the fixed electrode,

wherein a distance between the vibrating membrane and the fixed electrode in a thickness direction of the fixed electrode becomes longer as the distance from the partial region to an outer side increases,

wherein the first electro-acoustic conversion unit and the second electro-acoustic conversion unit are disposed facing each other across the partition member so that a sound emitting part of the first electro-acoustic conversion unit and a sound emitting part of the second electro-acoustic conversion unit communicate with the acoustic outlet, and

the partition member supports the support member of the first electro-acoustic conversion unit and the support member of the second electro-acoustic conversion unit.

2 . The electro-acoustic transducer according to claim 1 , wherein

the partition member includes:

a first concave part, formed on a first surface defining a part of an acoustic space of the first electro-acoustic conversion unit, that receives and supports the support member of the first electro-acoustic conversion unit; and

a second concave part, formed on a second surface defining a part of an acoustic space of the second electro-acoustic conversion unit, that receives and supports the support member of the second electro-acoustic conversion unit.

3 . The electro-acoustic transducer according to claim 1 , wherein

the partition member is configured to divide an interior of the housing into a first space and a second space.

4 . The electro-acoustic transducer according to claim 3 , wherein

the partition member is a plate-shaped member, and is formed with a through-hole in which one opening is exposed in the first space and the other opening is exposed in the second space.

5 . The electro-acoustic transducer according to claim 4 , wherein

the through-hole is formed to extend in a plate thickness direction of the partition member.

6 . The electro-acoustic transducer according to claim 1 , wherein

the housing is cylindrical, and

the acoustic outlet is formed in a side surface part of the housing.

7 . The electro-acoustic transducer according to claim 6 , wherein

the first electro-acoustic conversion unit and the second electro-acoustic conversion unit are disposed with an inclination such that, in a cross-sectional view in a thickness direction of the housing, a distance between the first electro-acoustic conversion unit and the second electro-acoustic conversion unit gradually decreases from an end portion, where the acoustic outlet is located in the housing, to the end portion that opposes the acoustic outlet.

8 . The electro-acoustic transducer according to claim 7 , wherein

a thickness of the housing at the end portion that opposes the acoustic outlet is less than a thickness of the housing at the end portion on the acoustic outlet side.

9 . The electro-acoustic transducer according to claim 1 , wherein

the housing includes:

a cylindrical housing member;

a first cover member attached to one end portion of the housing member; and

a second cover member attached to the other end portion of the housing member.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2026
From: IRII, KOICHI
To: AUDIO-TECHNICA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 073505/0403 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2026
From: AKINO, HIROSHI
To: AUDIO-TECHNICA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 073505/0423 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-199185 · Dec 8, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2022033774 · Sep 8, 2022
Related Publication 20240388850A1 · Nov 21, 2024
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