Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8170243 | Audio output apparatus and vibrator An audio output apparatus is provided. The audio output apparatus includes: a vibration member, a vibrator, a vibrator positioning unit, and a vibrator-depth positioning unit. The vibration member vibrates to output a sound. The vibrator is in contact with the vibra... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8098853 | Microphone unit and sound input apparatus A microphone unit includes: a partition member, including a vibration film configured to be vibrated by sound; a housing, defining an inner space, and formed with a first opening and a second opening, the inner space being divided into a first space and a second spa... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8081782 | Acoustic-electric transducer, electronic device, method, and computer program product An acoustic-electric transducer for a microphone may include a cavity delimited by a wall and having an opening; a diaphragm having an outer boundary, said diaphragm extending across said opening so that an air gap is provided transversely outwards of the diaphragm ... | 12/20/2011 |
| 7995776 | Timepiece with sound generator A timepiece includes a casing having a casing interior having a viewer's side provided with a viewing opening, a base side provided with a sound aperture, and an annular surface surrounding the sound aperture. A membrane extending over the sound aperture closes the ... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7889876 | Loudspeaker driver assemblies An improved driver assembly for a panel loudspeaker includes a retaining element for locating the voice coil with respect to the magnet assembly and forming a surface for removable attachment of the driving assembly to a radiating member. In a preferred embodiment, ... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7372968 | Loudspeaker driver An inertial exciter (40) for an acoustic radiator (42), and a loudspeaker incorporating an acoustic radiator and such an exciter. The exciter has a massive member (44); a coupler (56) adapted for attachment to the acoustic radiator (42... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7324657 | Speaker apparatus A voice coil and a magnetic driving circuit oscillate a diaphragm and a center cap. A magnetic lighting circuit for providing a magnetic field to an induction coil is mounted separately from a magnetic driving circuit. The induction coil generates an electromotive f... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7317804 | Sound collecting device minimizing electrical noise A sound collecting device is provided which is designed to minimize adverse effects on an output caused by exposure of an electroacoustic transducer to the air. The device includes an electroacoustic transducer and a vibrating circuit. The transducer is exposed to t... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7306073 | Electroacoustic transducer comprising a membrane with a middle area comprising stiffening grooves A membrane (20) has a membrane axis (5) and a middle area (50), a central cup-shaped depression (52) being provided around said membrane axis (5), which depression (52) preferably has a connecting channel (53), wherei... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7302068 | Loudspeaker A loudspeaker for audible sound is described having a sound emitting element mounted onto a support structure and at least one actuator adapted to rotate said sound emitting element around a hinge section, wherein the actuator is made of piezoelectric material. In v... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7177439 | Methods and apparatus for dissipating heat in a voice coil The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for dissipating heat in a voice coil of a loudspeaker, where at least one of: a bobbin having a substantially cylindrical shaped wall member is operable to support the voice coil, and the wall member include... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7174025 | Resonant panel-form loudspeaker A loudspeaker assembly comprising a visual display screen, a resonant panel-form member positioned adjacent to the display screen, and a vibration exciter to cause the panel-form member to resonate as an acoustic resonator. At least a portion of the panel-form membe... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7082668 | Electro-acoustic transducer having vibrating function and method of manufacturing the same A mechanical resonance frequency of a vibration section of an electro-acoustic transducer having a vibrating function is measured during an assembly process, and is compared with a predetermined mechanical resonance frequency. Based on a difference obtained by this ... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7085392 | Loudspeaker sound modulation appliance In combination with a loudspeaker assembly that includes a speaker diaphragm that is displaced to produce sound, the combination comprising a spinner element mounted to rotate in the path of sound waves produced by the speaker diaphragm; and a rotary drive for rotat... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7035422 | Wearable speaker garments The personal wearable speaker system includes a garment having a plurality of substantially hollow tubular ducts formed from a substantially flexible material designed to promote superior sound wave flow and anti-collapse (pinch) functionality, and a plurality of pa... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7020295 | Piezoelectric electroacoustic transducer and manufacturing method of the same A piezoelectric electroacoustic transducer includes a substantially rectangular piezoelectric diaphragm having electrodes and flexurally vibrating in response to application of an alternating signal between the electrodes, a resin case having a supporting member dis... | 03/28/2006 |
| 6985593 | Baffle vibration reducing A vibration reducing apparatus comprising, a baffle subject to vibration, a first electroacoustical transducer characterized by a first mass seated in the baffle, a second electromechanical transducer mechanically connected to said first transducer or said baffle in... | 01/10/2006 |
| 6978031 | Loudspeaker sound modulation apparatus A loudspeaker assembly includes a speaker diaphragm that is displaced to produce sound, and a spinner element mounted to rotate in the path of sound waves produced by the speaker diaphragm, the spinner defining sound wave passing through openings, in said path. Illu... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6975061 | Apparatus for moving a pair of opposing surfaces in response to an electrical activation An apparatus for moving a pair of opposing surfaces in response to an electrical activation having a support including a rigid non-flexing portion, at least one pivotable arm portion extending from the rigid non-flexing portion, a pair of opposing surfaces with one ... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6963652 | Low frequency generator A low frequency generator having a housing with a recess extending at least partially therethrough. A diaphragm is positioned within the recess and has at least one engagement device. A motor is positioned on an inner surface of the housing and extending substantial... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6834114 | Multifunction acoustic device A rotor having a yoke is rotatably supported in a frame, and a stator provided in the frame at a central portion of the frame. An annular first permanent magnet is provided on the yoke, and an annular second permanent magnet is provided on the yoke. A diaphragm is s... | 12/21/2004 |
| 6807284 | Speaker and speaker device A speaker has a very small size and is arranged to emit sound waves in a non-directional manner. The speaker includes a case and a speaker unit attached to a plate provided at an opening of the case. The speaker is arranged so that the speaker unit is mounted or att... | 10/19/2004 |
| 6798888 | Mount for underwater acoustic projector A mount for acoustic transducers has a resilient sheet with a plurality of mounting apertures therein. Each mounting aperture has an annular groove formed about the inside surface of the sheet to accommodate one of the acoustic transducers. A pair of rigid, acoustic... | 09/28/2004 |
| 6751329 | Loudspeaker driver A drive module for attachment to a rigid panel and adapted to apply bending wave energy at audio frequencies to the panel whereby the panel can radiate an audio output. The drive module has a housing adapted to be secured to the panel, at least one foot on the housi... | 06/15/2004 |
| 6744904 | Multifunction acoustic device A speaker vibrating plate having a voice coil secured thereto is provided in a frame, a rotor having poles is rotatably supported in the frame, and a stator having poles is provided in the frame. A permanent magnet is provided in the rotor for forming a magnetic cir... | 06/01/2004 |
| 6739425 | Evacuated enclosure mounted acoustic actuator and passive attenuator This invention presents a novel means to passively achieve a compact moving-coil actuator with a very low natural frequency. The diaphragm and voice coil are mounted in a sealed enclosure from which the air is partially or completely evacuated. This reduces the air ... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6711269 | Multifunction acoustic device A multifunction acoustic device has a rotor rotatably supported in a frame, a stator provided in the frame. A permanent magnet is provided on the rotor, a coil is provided for forming magnetic fluxes between the rotor and the stator. Voltage detecting means is provi... | 03/23/2004 |
| 6590993 | Panel-shaped loudspeaker A panel-shaped loudspeaker includes a panel (1) and an exciter coupled to the panel. The panel is provided with two parallel extending thin walls (1a, 1b) which are interconnected by a structure of thin strip-shaped partitions (1c) situated between the wa... | 07/08/2003 |
| 6522759 | Speaker A reduced-size speaker for generating sound waves in wide low frequency audio region includes a cylindrical main body which is open at the top and bottom surfaces, a top lid being provided on the top surface of the main body and a circular ring-shaped bas... | 02/18/2003 |
| 6438242 | Acoustic transducer panel An electro-acoustic transducer in which a plurality of cymbal-type electro-acoustic actuators are disposed in mechanical and electrical parallel between a pair of stiff plates. The resultant transducer resonates at a lower frequency than the cymbals, with... | 08/20/2002 |
| 6430297 | Speaker and speaker device A speaker has a very small size and is arranged to emit sound waves in a non-directional manner. The speaker includes a case and a speaker unit attached to a plate provided at an opening of the case. The speaker is arranged so that the speaker unit is mou... | 08/06/2002 |
| 6427016 | Acoustic devices Acoustic devices rely on bending wave action in a panel member, particularly distribution of resonant modes of such bending wave action and related acoustically significant surface vibration over area of said panel member favourable to desired or at least... | 07/30/2002 |
| 6411719 | Loudspeaker assembly A loudspeaker assembly for use in electronic devices especially hand held communication devices e.g. a cellular mobile telephone, comprising a loudspeaker (12) for emitting sound through a front cover (9), and a board (8) for mounting components, the boar... | 06/25/2002 |
| 6298140 | Electroacoustic transducer with improved tonal quality An electroacoustic transducer with attenuated effective output irregularities caused by intrinsic normal modes of oscillation. What stands out, as a structural property of a preferred embodiment, is a sandwich assembly, having an oscillating medium of lay... | 10/02/2001 |
| 6198831 | Panel-form loudspeakers A panel form loudspeaker/microphone combination has a distributed resonant bending wave member and two transducers mounred on the member at sites where the number of vibrationally active resonance anti-nodes is relatively high. One transducer is capable o... | 03/06/2001 |
| 6108433 | Method and apparatus for a magnetically induced speaker diaphragm An ultrasonic emitter device having broad frequency range capacity with relatively large diaphragm displacement compared to typical electrostatic diaphragm movement. The device includes a core member able to establish a variable magnetic field adjacent th... | 08/22/2000 |
| 5995635 | Sound pickup and amplifier apparatus for vibrating strings An apparatus to pick up and amplify sounds created by vibrations of a flexible member having a base which supports a sound pick up that transmits a signal to an amplifier. The apparatus is attached to the flexible member by an attachment assembly mounted ... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5802189 | Subwoofer speaker system The present invention provides for an electromechanical transducer for producing sound in response to an audio signal. The transducer has a generally rectangular enclosure, a diaphragm, a cylinder, a drive shaft, a lever means, and a motor means. The diap... | 09/01/1998 |
| 5442710 | Body-felt sound unit and vibration transmitting method therefor A body-felt sound unit having a vibration transmitting member imbedded in a human body support member, for example, a chair, a bed, etc., and an electro-mechanical vibration transducer attached to the vibration transmitting member, the transducer generati... | 08/15/1995 |
| 5282858 | Hermetically sealed implantable transducer A hermetically sealed acoustic mechanism for an implantable hearing aid system having a signal processing unit having at least one electromechanical transducer coupled to the auditory system of a human. The transducer having an outer casing and at least o... | 02/01/1994 |
