US 8,428,295 B2Granted

Loudspeaker that is axially stabilized out of the diaphragm suspension plane

AssigneeAperion Audio, Inc.

InventorKen Humphreys

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Abstract

An improved mid to high-frequency loudspeaker of the type having a central dome diaphragm having an outer periphery, and in one embodiment an outer ring-radiator diaphragm portion defining an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the ring-radiator diaphragm being attached at its inner periphery to an armature voice coil assembly and at its outer periphery to a diaphragm chassis in a first plane. The central diaphragm portion is attached at its outer periphery to either the inner periphery of the outer ring-radiator diaphragm or the voice coil armature, and the improvement comprises axially-located stabilizing means attached to the central diaphragm portion, or alternatively a central stabilizing framework, in a second plane parallel to the first plane and that is of sufficient distance from the first plane to provide leverage sufficient to stabilize the diaphragm to minimize rocking, allow improved alignment of the voice coil allowing tighter tolerances between the voice coil and magnet assembly, thus improving performance and minimizing distortion.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An improved loudspeaker comprising diaphragm chassis, top plate, magnet, yoke, voice coil armature, the top plate and yoke defining an annular air gap for the voice coil armature, a face plate defining an opening for a speaker diaphragm having a central portion having inner and outer surfaces, a central area and an outer periphery, and an outer annular arch-profiled strip diaphragm portion having an outer periphery and an inner periphery, the central diaphragm portion being attached along the outer periphery of the central diaphragm and in a first plane to one of the voice coil armature and the inner periphery of the outer diaphragm portion, the outer periphery of the outer diaphragm portion being attached to the diaphragm chassis in the first plane, wherein the improvement comprises:

a bridge member depending from one of the face plate and the diaphragm chassis;
a stabilizing member comprising a star-shaped support having integral support ribs and a base, said stabilizing member further comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion of said stabilizing member being attached to said bridge member and the proximal portion of said stabilizing member being attached to the center of the central diaphragm portion in a second plane parallel to the first plane and that is of sufficient distance from the first plane to provide out-of-axis movement resistance sufficient to stabilize the diaphragm against rocking.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.