# US 12,010,497 B2 · Highly compliant miniature transducer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,010,497 B2 - Document ID: US12010497B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/636,097 - Filed: 2020-08-21 - Published: 2022-09-15 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-21 - Assignees: Bose Corporation - Applicants: Bose Corporation - Inventors: Lei Cheng; Andrew D. Munro; Mark A. Hayner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010497B2 ## CPC - H04R 7/20: Securing diaphragm or cone resiliently to support by flexible material, springs, cords, or strands - H04R 9/06: Loudspeakers - H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type} - H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)} - H04R 1/1075: {Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones} - H04R 7/127: {dome-shaped} - H04R 7/04: Plane diaphragms - H04R 7/12: Non-planar diaphragms or cones - H04R 2231/003: Manufacturing aspects of the outer suspension of loudspeaker or microphone diaphragms or of their connecting aspects to said diaphragms - H04R 2307/204: Material aspects of the outer suspension of loudspeaker diaphragms - 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 Various implementations include miniature loudspeaker drivers. In some aspects, an electro-acoustic driver includes: a cone having a surface area configured to radiate acoustic energy; a suspension coupled to the cone; and a support structure coupled to the suspension and having an outer linear dimension in a plane of the cone of approximately 6.0 millimeters (mm) or less, wherein the surface area of the cone is at least 49% of an overall cross-sectional area of the electro-acoustic driver in the plane of the cone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electro-acoustic driver, comprising: a cone having a surface area configured to radiate acoustic energy; a suspension coupled to the cone, wherein the suspension is non-planar in a resting position; and a support structure coupled to the suspension and having an outer linear dimension in a plane of the support structure of approximately 6.0 millimeters (mm) or less, wherein the surface area of the cone is at least 49% of an overall cross-sectional area of the electro-acoustic driver in the plane of the support structure, wherein a diameter of the cone is greater than approximately 70 percent of the outer linear dimension of the support structure, wherein the suspension provides a stiffness of approximately 35 Newton/meter (N/m) or less, and wherein the stiffness enhances a spectral output of the electro-acoustic driver. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electro-acoustic driver of claim 1, wherein the suspension provides a stiffness of approximately 20 (N/m or less. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electro-acoustic driver of claim 2, wherein the suspension provides a stiffness of approximately 10 N/m or less, or approximately 8 N/m or less, and wherein the spectral output is characterized by acoustic displacement and output power across a range of frequencies. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electro-acoustic driver of claim 1, wherein the support structure is circular, and wherein the outer linear dimension comprises a diameter of the support structure as measured in a direction perpendicular to an axis of motion of cone while radiating acoustic energy. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electro-acoustic driver of claim 1, wherein the suspension has an approximately half-rolled shape in the resting position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electro-acoustic driver of claim 1, wherein the outer linear dimension of the support structure is equal to or less than approximately 5.2 mm, approximately 4.2 mm, approximately 4.0 mm, or approximately 3.0 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electro-acoustic driver of claim 1, wherein the suspension comprises an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is molded, and wherein the surface area of the cone has a portion that is not covered by the elastomer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electro-acoustic driver of claim 1, wherein the suspension provides a stiffness of approximately 25 (N/m or less, and wherein the surface area is from approximately 7 square millimeters (mm2) to approximately 40 mm2. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electro-acoustic driver of claim 8, wherein an outer dimension of the suspension is from approximately 2 mm to approximately 10 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electro-acoustic driver of claim 9, wherein the driver defines an acoustic volume of approximately 45-90 cubic millimeters, and wherein the stiffness of the suspension is maintained at or below approximately 25 N/m while the electro-acoustic driver radiates acoustic energy at up to approximately 130 decibels of sound pressure level (dBSPL) to approximately 145 dBSPL, and wherein the spectral output is characterized by acoustic displacement and output power across a range of frequencies. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The electro-acoustic driver of claim 9, wherein the surface area is less than approximately 40 mm2. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electro-acoustic driver of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the surface area to the stiffness of the suspension is 360 mm3/N or greater. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electro-acoustic driver of claim 1, wherein the surface area of the cone is non-planar and acts as a piston in radiating acoustic energy. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electro-acoustic driver of claim 13, wherein the non-planar cone is dome-shaped. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The electro-acoustic driver of claim 1, wherein the electro-acoustic driver has an acoustically effective diameter of the less than approximately 4.0 mm, and wherein the suspension provides a stiffness of approximately 25 N/m or less. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An earphone with in-ear active noise cancelation comprising the electro- acoustic driver of claim 1. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A high-fidelity earphone or a hearing aid comprising the electro-acoustic driver of claim 1. ### Claim 18 A diaphragm assembly for an electro-acoustic driver, the diaphragm assembly comprising: a cone having a surface area configured to radiate acoustic energy; and a suspension coupled to the cone, wherein the suspension is non-planar in a resting position, wherein the suspension comprises an elastomer, and wherein the suspension provides a stiffness of approximately 10 N/m or less, wherein the stiffness enhances a spectral output of the electro-acoustic driver, and wherein the electro-acoustic driver has an outer dimension of approximately 8 millimeters (mm) or less. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The diaphragm assembly of claim 18, wherein the elastomer is molded, wherein the surface area of the cone has a portion that is not covered by the elastomer, wherein the surface area is from approximately 7 square millimeters (mm2) to approximately 40 mm2, wherein the surface area of the cone is non-planar and acts as a piston in radiating acoustic energy, and wherein the spectral output is characterized by acoustic displacement and output power across a range of frequencies. ### Claim 20 An in-ear audio device, comprising: a controller; and an electro-acoustic driver coupled with the controller, the electro-acoustic driver comprising: a cone having a surface area configured to radiate acoustic energy; a suspension coupled to the cone, wherein the suspension is non-planar in a resting position; and a support structure coupled to the suspension and having an outer linear dimension in a plane of the support structure of approximately 6.0 millimeters (mm) or less, wherein the surface area of the cone is at least 49% of an overall cross-sectional area of the electro-acoustic driver in the plane of the support structure, wherein a diameter of the cone is greater than approximately 70 percent of the outer linear dimension of the support structure, wherein the suspension provides a stiffness of approximately 8 Newton/meter (N/m) or less, and wherein the stiffness enhances a spectral output of the electro-acoustic driver. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The in-ear audio device of claim 20, wherein the suspension comprises an elastomer, wherein the driver defines an acoustic volume of approximately 45-90 cubic millimeters, wherein the stiffness of the suspension is maintained at or below approximately 25 N/m while the electro-acoustic driver radiates acoustic energy at up to approximately 130 decibels of sound pressure level (dBSPL) to approximately 145 dBSPL, wherein the surface area of the cone has a portion that is not covered by the elastomer, wherein the surface area is from approximately 7 square millimeters (mm2) to approximately 40 mm2, wherein an outer dimension of the suspension is from approximately 2 mm to approximately 10 mm, wherein the support structure is circular, and wherein the outer linear dimension comprises a diameter of the support structure as measured in a direction perpendicular to an axis of motion of cone while radiating acoustic energy, and wherein the spectral output is characterized by acoustic displacement and output power across a range of frequencies.