# US 11,308,930 B2 · Electronic horn

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- Number: US 11,308,930 B2
- Document ID: US11308930B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/761,999
- Filed: 2017-11-09
- Published: 2020-10-08
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-11-09
- Assignees: Imasen Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Imasen Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Katsunori Uchimura; Koichi Toyama; Junjiro Yoshimura; Toshihiko Kawamura; Yoshio Miyata
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11308930B2

## CPC

- G10K 9/122: using piezoelectric driving means {(G10K9/121 takes precedence)}
- H04R 1/2857: {for loudspeaker transducers}
- H04R 1/345: {for loudspeakers}
- H04R 17/10: Resonant transducers, i.e. adapted to produce maximum output at a predetermined frequency
- H04R 7/04: Plane diaphragms
- H04R 17/00: Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers (piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners {H10N30/00})
- H04R 2499/13: Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)

## Abstract

An electronic horn for use, e.g., in a vehicle, includes a piezoelectric element (52) that excites a plate-shaped oscillator (51). A resonator (7) is provided with an opening (71) and covers forward of the oscillator such that a resonance space (S) is defined between the resonator and the oscillator. An inner cylinder (62) and an outer conical housing (63) are provided concentrically around the resonator. A circular cover (8) covers the inner cylinder (62) and the outer conical housing (63) from the front, such that a buffer chamber (BR), at least one first sound amplifying chamber (MH1), and a second sound amplifying chamber (MH2) are defined around an entire circumference of the opening of the resonator.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic horn comprising:
a plate-shaped oscillator;
a piezoelectric element configured to excite the oscillator;
a resonator having an opening, the resonator at least partially covering one side of the oscillator and a resonance space being defined between a first side of the resonator and the oscillator;
a buffer chamber that communicates with the resonance space via the opening;
at least one first sound amplifying chamber configured to guide a warning sound, which is output through the buffer chamber, the at least one first sound amplifying chamber having a first portion that extends away from the buffer chamber in a first direction and a second portion that inversely curves in a second direction opposite of the first direction and radially outwardly relative to the first portion while gradually increasing in diameter;
a second sound amplifying chamber configured to further reflect and guide the warning sound, which has been guided by the first sound amplifying chamber, in the first direction;
an inner cylinder disposed radially outward of the resonator;
an outer conical housing disposed radially outward of the resonator; and
a circular cover covering the inner cylinder and at least partially covering the outer conical housing in the first direction;
wherein the buffer chamber, the at least one first sound amplifying chamber, and the second sound amplifying chamber are defined by the cover and the cylindrical walls of the inner cylinder and the outer conical housing such that the at least one first sound amplifying chamber and the second sound amplifying chamber extend around an entire circumference of the opening of the resonator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic horn according to claim 1, further comprising:
a horn body having a cylindrical wall and a recessed support surface extending radially inward and perpendicular from the cylindrical wall,
wherein:
an outer peripheral end portion of the plate-shaped oscillator is supported by being clamped against the recessed support surface of the horn body, and
an outer peripheral edge of the plate-shaped oscillator is spaced apart from the cylindrical wall of the horn body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electronic horn according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first sound amplifying chamber comprises three first sound amplifying chambers in series that inversely curve in the first and second directions before reaching the second sound amplifying chamber.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The electronic horn according to claim 3, wherein the buffer chamber, the three first sound amplifying chambers, and the second sound amplifying chamber are defined by the cover and the walls of the inner cylinder and the outer conical housing such that the three first sound amplifying chambers and the second sound amplifying chamber extend around the entire circumference of the opening of the resonator.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electronic horn according to claim 4, further comprising:
a horn body having a cylindrical wall and a recessed support surface extending radially inward and perpendicular from the cylindrical wall,
wherein:
an outer peripheral end portion of the plate-shaped oscillator is supported by being clamped against the recessed support surface of the horn body, and
an outer peripheral edge of the plate-shaped oscillator is spaced apart from the cylindrical wall of the horn body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The electronic horn according to claim 5, further comprising:
an intermediate element defining the resonator and clamping the outer peripheral end portion of the plate-shaped oscillator against the recessed support surface of the horn body.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The electronic horn according to claim 6, wherein:
the inner cylinder is formed on the intermediate element and comprises two concentric cylinder walls that project from a base of the inner cylinder in the first direction, and
the circular cover includes a cylindrical projection that extends in the second direction and projects at least partially between the two concentric cylinder walls of the inner cylinder.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electronic horn according to claim 1, wherein a central portion of the circular cover projects in the second direction and at least partially into a space defined by the inner cylinder.

### Claim 9

An electronic horn comprising:
a plate-shaped oscillator;
a piezoelectric element configured to excite the oscillator;
an intermediate element defining at least (i) a resonator having an opening and (ii) an inner cylinder surrounding the opening and projecting in a first direction, the resonator at least partially covering one side of the oscillator, a resonance space being defined between a first side of the resonator and the oscillator, and a buffer chamber being defined by a second side of the resonator and the inner cylinder;
at least one first sound amplifying chamber in fluid communication with the buffer chamber and being configured to amplify and guide a warning sound generated by the oscillator, the at least one first sound amplifying chamber having a first portion extending in the first direction and a second portion in fluid communication with the first portion that causes the warning sound to move in a second direction, the second portion being disposed at least partially radially outward of the first portion;
a second sound amplifying chamber disposed at least partially radially outward of the at least one first sound amplifying chamber and being configured further amplify and guide the warning sound from the at least one first sound amplifying chamber, the second sound amplifying chamber having a first portion that receives the warning sound moving in the second direction and a second portion in fluid communication with the first portion that causes the warning sound to move in the first direction, the second portion being disposed at least partially radially outward of the first portion; and
a circular cover covering the inner cylinder and at least partially covering an outer conical housing in the first direction, the second portion of the second sound amplifying chamber being defined, in part, by the conical outer housing disposed radially outward of the inner cylinder;
wherein the buffer chamber, the at least first sound amplifying chamber, and the second sound amplifying chamber are defined by the cover and the walls of the inner cylinder and the outer conical housing such that the at least one first sound amplifying chamber and the second sound amplifying chamber extend around an entire circumference of the opening of the resonator.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electronic horn according to claim 9, wherein a central portion of the circular cover projects in the second direction and at least partially into a space defined by the inner cylinder.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The electronic horn according to claim 10, wherein:
the inner cylinder comprises two concentric cylinder walls that project from a base of the inner cylinder in the first direction, and
the circular cover further includes a cylindrical projection that extends in the second direction and projects at least partially between the two concentric cylinder walls of the inner cylinder, the cylindrical projection of the circular cover being concentric to the central portion of the circular cover that projects in the second direction and at least partially into the space defined by a radially inward-most one of the two concentric cylinder walls of the inner cylinder.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The electronic horn according to claim 11, wherein the at least one first sound amplifying chamber comprises three first sound amplifying chambers in series that inversely curve in the first and second directions before reaching the second sound amplifying chamber, the three first sound amplifying chambers being defined at least in part by the two concentric cylinder walls of the inner cylinder, the circular cover, the central portion of the circular cover and the cylindrical projection of the cover.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The electronic horn according to claim 12, further comprising:
a horn body having a cylindrical wall and a recessed support surface extending radially inward and perpendicular from the cylindrical wall,
wherein:
an outer peripheral end portion of the plate-shaped oscillator is clamped between the intermediate element and the recessed support surface of the horn body, and
an outer peripheral edge of the plate-shaped oscillator is spaced apart from the cylindrical wall of the horn body.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The electronic horn according to claim 13, wherein the three first sound amplifying chambers and the second sound amplifying chamber meander back-and-forth in the first and second directions.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The electronic horn according to claim 12, wherein the three first sound amplifying chambers and the second sound amplifying chamber meander back-and-forth in the first and second directions.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The electronic horn according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate element and the circular cover both have a circular outer periphery.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The electronic horn according to claim 9, further comprising:
a horn body having a cylindrical wall and a recessed support surface extending radially inward and perpendicular from the cylindrical wall,
wherein:
an outer peripheral end portion of the plate-shaped oscillator is clamped between the intermediate element and the recessed support surface of the horn body, and
an outer peripheral edge of the plate-shaped oscillator is spaced apart from the cylindrical wall of the horn body.

### Claim 18

An electronic horn comprising:
a plate-shaped oscillator;
a piezoelectric element configured to excite the oscillator;
an intermediate element defining at least (i) a resonator having an opening and (ii) an inner cylinder surrounding the opening and projecting in a first direction, the resonator at least partially covering one side of the oscillator, a resonance space being defined between a first side of the resonator and the oscillator, and a buffer chamber being defined by a second side of the resonator and the inner cylinder;
at least one first sound amplifying chamber in fluid communication with the buffer chamber and being configured to amplify and guide a warning sound generated by the oscillator, the at least one first sound amplifying chamber having a first portion extending in the first direction and a second portion in fluid communication with the first portion that causes the warning sound to move in a second direction, the second portion being disposed at least partially radially outward of the first portion; and
a second sound amplifying chamber disposed at least partially radially outward of the at least one first sound amplifying chamber and being configured further amplify and guide the warning sound from the at least one first sound amplifying chamber, the second sound amplifying chamber having a first portion that receives the warning sound moving in the second direction and a second portion in fluid communication with the first portion that causes the warning sound to move in the first direction, the second portion being disposed at least partially radially outward of the first portion;
wherein the at least one first sound amplifying chamber comprises three first sound amplifying chambers in series that inversely curve in the first and second directions before reaching the second sound amplifying chamber.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The electronic horn according to claim 18, wherein the three first sound amplifying chambers and the second sound amplifying chamber meander back-and-forth in the first and second directions.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The electronic horn according to claim 19, further comprising:
a conical outer housing disposed radially outward of the inner cylinder and at least partially defining the second portion of the second sound amplifying chamber; and
a circular cover covering the inner cylinder and at least partially covering the outer conical housing in the first direction;
wherein the buffer chamber, the three first sound amplifying chambers, and the second sound amplifying chamber are defined by the cover and the walls of the inner cylinder and the outer conical housing such that the three first sound amplifying chambers and the second sound amplifying chamber extend around an entire circumference of the opening of the resonator.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The electronic horn according to claim 18, further comprising:
a horn body having a cylindrical wall and a recessed support surface extending radially inward and perpendicular from the cylindrical wall;
wherein:
an outer peripheral end portion of the plate-shaped oscillator is clamped between the intermediate element and the recessed support surface of the horn body; and
an outer peripheral edge of the plate-shaped oscillator is spaced apart from the cylindrical wall of the horn body.