# US 9,883,289 B2 · Acoustic generator, acoustic generation device, and electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,883,289 B2 - Document ID: US9883289B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/410,722 - Filed: 2013-07-30 - Published: 2015-11-12 - Granted: 2018-01-30 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-10 - Assignees: KYOCERA Corporation - Applicants: KYOCERA Corporation - Inventors: Noriyuki Kushima; Shuichi Fukuoka; Takeshi Hirayama; Kenji Yamakawa; Hiroshi Ninomiya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883289B2 ## CPC - H04R 7/045: {using the distributed mode principle, i.e. whereby the acoustic radiation is emanated from uniformly distributed free bending wave vibration induced in a stiff panel and not from pistonic motion} - 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 1/227: {using transducers reproducing the same frequency band} - H04R 1/26: Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges - H04R 2440/05: Aspects relating to the positioning and way or means of mounting of exciters to resonant bending wave panels - 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 acoustic generator according to an embodiment includes at least a plurality of piezoelectric elements (exciters) and a vibrating portion. The piezoelectric elements vibrate upon reception of input of an electric signal. The piezoelectric elements are attached to the vibrating portion. The piezoelectric elements are attached to the vibrating portion asymmetrically with respect to all the symmetry axes of a figure drawn by a contour of the vibrating portion when seen from the above. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An acoustic generator comprising at least: a plurality of piezoelectric elements including a plurality of piezoelectric layers and electrode layers, and configured to vibrate upon reception of an input of an electric signal; and a vibrating portion to which the piezoelectric elements are attached, wherein the piezoelectric elements are two elements that have a same planar shape and a same size, the piezoelectric elements are attached to the vibrating portion asymmetrically with respect to all symmetry axes of a figure of a contour of the vibrating portion when seen from above, a centroid of the vibrating portion is located between the two piezoelectric elements, and a center of symmetry of a plane figure formed by the two elements is deviated from a centroid of the vibrating portion, and a thickness of at least one of the piezoelectric elements is different from thicknesses of the other piezoelectric elements such that mass distribution of the piezoelectric elements when seen from the above is asymmetric with respect to all the symmetry axes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The acoustic generator according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric elements are attached to the vibrating portion asymmetrically with respect to a centroid of the figure drawn by the contour of the vibrating portion when seen from the above. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The acoustic generator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the piezoelectric elements has a point-asymmetric shape when seen from the above. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An acoustic generation device comprising: a housing; and the acoustic generator according to claim 1 that is provided on the housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An electronic device comprising: a case; the acoustic generator according to claim 1 that is provided on the case; and an electronic circuit connected to the acoustic generator, wherein the electronic device has a function of generating sound from the acoustic generator. ### Claim 6 An acoustic generator comprising at least: a plurality of piezoelectric elements including a plurality of piezoelectric layers and electrode layers; and a vibrating portion to which the piezoelectric elements are attached, wherein the piezoelectric elements are two elements that have a same planar shape and a same size, the piezoelectric elements attached to the vibrating portion asymmetrically with respect to all symmetry axes of a shape of an outline of the vibrating portion when viewed in a plan view, a centroid of the vibrating portion is located between the two piezoelectric elements, and a center of symmetry of a plane figure formed by the two elements is deviated from a centroid of the vibrating portion, and a thickness of at least one of the piezoelectric elements is different from thicknesses of the other piezoelectric elements such that mass distribution of the piezoelectric elements when seen from the above is asymmetric with respect to all the symmetry axes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The acoustic generator according to claim 6, wherein the piezoelectric elements are attached to the vibrating portion asymmetrically with respect to a centroid of a shape of an outline of the vibrating portion when viewed in a plan view. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The acoustic generator according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the piezoelectric elements has a point-asymmetric shape when viewed in a plan view. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The acoustic generator according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the piezoelectric elements has a point-asymmetric shape when viewed in a plan view. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) An acoustic generation device comprising: a housing; and the acoustic generator according to claim 6 that is provided on the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) An electronic device comprising: a case; the acoustic generator according to claim 6 that is provided on the case; and an electronic circuit connected to the acoustic generator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) An electronic device comprising: a case; the acoustic generator according to claim 7 that is provided on the case; and an electronic circuit connected to the acoustic generator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) An electronic device comprising: a case; the acoustic generator according to claim 8 that is provided on the case; and an electronic circuit connected to the acoustic generator.