US4352961A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transparent flat panel piezoelectric speaker
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1980-06-02
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Granted: 1982-10-05
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Expires: 2000-06-02
Abstract
Abstract This invention intends to provide a speaker which assumes a comparatively large area in a device without spoiling various display effects. The transparent flat panel speaker of this invention is a speaker of high efficiency which can give forth a sound volume large considering the small-sized device even when driven by a low voltage. The transparent flat panel speaker of this invention comprises, at least, a transparent resonator plate and a plate of a piezoelectric material held between at least one pair of electrodes, the resonator being excited by the piezoelectric material plate, a periphery of the resonator plate having a shape which is represented by a curve or in which straight lines are connected by smooth curves with at least two centers of curvature. As the peripheral shapes, an ellipse, a curve expressed by Xn/a+Yn/b=1, a plane figure obtained by molding the corners of a polygon circumscribed or inscribed to an ellipse, etc. are especially favorable for the speaker.
Inventors
- 👤 Akio Kumada
- 👤 Shigeo Nakamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R17/00; H04R17/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A transparent flat panel speaker comprising: (a) a resonator plate having a periphery in the shape of a smooth curve or in the shape of straight lines connected by smooth curves, in either case the curve or curves forming said periphery having at least two centers of curvature; (b) means for inducing a resonance in said resonator plate comprising: (i) a plate of transparent piezoelectric material; and (ii) electrodes disposed on opposite faces of said plate of piezoelectric material; and (c) each of said resonator plate, said plate of piezoelectic material and said electrodes being transparent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A transparent flat panel speaker comprising: (a) a resonator plate having a periphery in the shape of a smooth curve or in the shape of straight lines connected by smooth curves, in either case the curve or curves forming said periphery having at least two centers of curvature; (b) means for inducing a resonance in said resonator plate comprising: (i) a plate of transparent piezoelectric material; and (ii) electrodes disposed on opposite faces of said plate of piezoelectric material; and (c) each of said resonator plate, said plate of piezoelectic material and said electrodes being transparent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A transparent flat panel speaker according to claim 1, wherein the shape of said resonator is an ellipse.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A transparent flat panel speaker according to claim 2, wherein the ellipse has a major axis which is √1.75-√2.25 times longer than a minor axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A transparent flat panel speaker according to claim 1, wherein when normalized, the shape of said resonator is represented by an expression of X n +Y n =1 (where 4≦n≦20).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A transparent flat panel speaker according to claim 1, wherein when normalized, the shape of said resonator is represented by an expression of X n /a+Y n /b=1 (where 2≦n≦20).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A transparent flat panel speaker according to claim 1, wherein when normalized, the shape of said resonator is represented by an expression of X n /a+Y n b=1 (where 4≦n≦20 and 1≦b/a≦√2.5).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A transparent flat panel speaker according to claim 1, wherein the shape of said resonator is a polygon whose corners are smoothly molded.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A transparent flat panel speaker according to claim 7, wherein the proportion of the radius of the molding at the corners relative to the length of one side is 3 to 30%.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
A transparent flat panel speaker according to claim 1, wherein the shape of said resonator consists of a smooth combination of desired parts of a plurality of shapes selected from the group consisting of an ellipse, a shape represented by an expression of X n +Y n =1 (4≦n≦20) when the shape of said resonator is normalized, a shape represented by an expression of X n /a+Y n /b=1 (2≦n≦20) when the shape of said resonator is normalized, and a polygon whose corners are smoothly molded.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A transparent flat speaker according to claim 1, wherein said speaker is the speaker of a subminiature radio set fitted to the casing thereof, said transparent speaker covering a display indicative of tuning of said radio set.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A transparent flat speaker according to claim 1, wherein said transparent resonator plate comprises the glass cover of a wrist watch, said means for inducing resonance attached to said glass cover with a transparent binder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A transparent flat panel speaker according to claim 1, wherein said resonator is selected from the group consisting of transparent inorganic materials and transparent synthetic resins.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A transparent flat panel speaker according to claim 12, wherein said resonator plate is selected from the group consisting of glass, quartz, sapphire and acrylic resin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4048454A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-10-04 | 1986-04-05 | 1986-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-10-04 | 1990-04-05 | 1990-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-10-04 | 1994-04-05 | 1994-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |