Transducer With Variable Compliance

An electromagnetic transducer, comprising:

• (a) a support structure, the support structure supporting a pair of magnetic poles of opposite polarity, the pair of magnetic poles creating a first area of magnetic flux concentration;
• (b) a vibratable sound-producing member, the vibratable sound-producing member being at least partially disposed in the first area of magnetic flux concentration;
• (c) an armature, the armature having a first end that is integral with the vibratable sound-producing member and a second end that is fixed relative to the support structure;
• (d) a coil positioned substantially between the first and second ends of the armature to induce a variable magnetic flux in the armature and creating a magnetic field in the armature having a pole of a first polarity at the first end and opposite polarity at the second end, the variable induced magnetic field in the armature being operative to vary the magnetic flux in the armature in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic flux at the first area of magnetic flux concentration, to change the magnetic polarity of the first end of the armature, and to magnetically move the vibratable sound-producing member between the magnetic poles.
• (e) An electromagnetic transducer as recited in claim 1 wherein the armature is integrally formed with the vibratable sound-producing member by securing the first end of the armature to the sound-producing member.