Tangential stress reduction system in a loudspeaker suspension
AssigneeHarman International Industries, Incorporated
InventorsBrendon Stead, Clayton C. Williamson, Mark Trainer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is a suspension element having an outer edge and an inner edge. The suspension element, such as a spider or surround, varies in shape along at least a portion of the suspension element to help relieve both the radial and tangential stress placed on the suspension element when it is stretched. The shape employed in the suspension element allows the suspension element to stretch more easily, creating a higher performance speaker of the same size by increasing the diaphragm excursion and voice coil movement.
Claims47
A suspension element comprising a flexible rim having an outer edge and an inner edge, where the flexible rim varies in shape along at least a portion of the rim.
A suspension element comprising a flexible rim having an outer edge and an inner edge and where a cross-section of the flexible rim taken across the outer edge and inner edge varies along at least a portion of the perimeter of the rim.
A method for extending a suspension element in a radial direction and a tangential direction, comprising varying the shape of the cross-section of the suspension element taken across the inner and outer edges of the suspension element along at least a portion of the perimeter of the suspension element.
A speaker system, comprising:
- a diaphragm that vibrates that within an excursion range;
- a former coupled to the diaphragm;
- a voice coil wrapped around an exterior side of the former;
- and
- at least one suspension element coupled to the former, where the shape of the cross-section of the at least one suspension element, taken between the inner and outer edges varies along at least a portion of the circumference of the at least one suspension element.
A speaker system, comprising:
- a diaphragm that vibrates that within an excursion range;
- a former coupled to the diaphragm;
- a voice coil wrapped around an exterior side of the former;
- and
- at least one suspension element coupled to the diaphragm, where the shape of the cross-section of the at least one suspension element, taken between the inner and outer edges varies along at least a portion of the circumference of the at least one suspension element.
39 The system in claim 38, where the at least one suspension element is generally circular in shape.
40 The system in claim 38, where the cross-section of the at least one suspension element, along at least a portion of the circumference of the at least one suspension element, is shaped generally like a dome.
The system of claim 40, where the cross-section varies in shape along the circumference of the at least one suspension element by changing in height.
The system of claim 40, where the dome peaks at its highest point and where the position of the peak of the dome varies along at least a portion of the circumference of the at least one suspension element by moving toward and away from the outer edge of the at least one suspension element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.