US4403117A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sonic transducer having diaphragm tensioning spring directly attached to diaphragm
Assignee: Polaroid Corp
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Filing: 1981-06-04
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Granted: 1983-09-06
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Expires: 2001-06-04
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for significantly reducing the size and cost of an electroacoustical transducer. The transducer assembly includes a backplate with a grooved electrically conductive surface and a spring whose center portion supports the center portion of said backplate. The vibratile diaphragm of said transducer cooperatively engages said grooved backplate surface and the periphery of said diaphragm is bonded to a peripheral extension of said spring while said spring is being compressed under a predetermined amount of spring-flexing force.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Paglia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:56
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R19/00; H04R7/00; H04R7/16; H04R7/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An electroacoustical transducer assembly comprising a backplate having opposed major surfaces, a thin diaphragm having opposed electrically conductive and nonconductive surfaces, said diaphragm extending across one major surface and around the perimeter of said backplate with its non-conducting surface in adjoining relation to said backplate, and a spring member positioned in engagement with the other surface of said backplate, said spring member having a peripheral portion directly affixed to said diaphragm so as to urge said one major surface of said backplate into engagement with said diaphragm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
An electroacoustical transducer assembly comprising a backplate having opposed major surfaces, a thin diaphragm having opposed electrically conductive and nonconductive surfaces, said diaphragm extending across one major surface and around the perimeter of said backplate with its non-conducting surface in adjoining relation to said backplate, and a spring member positioned in engagement with the other surface of said backplate, said spring member having a peripheral portion directly affixed to said diaphragm so as to urge said one major surface of said backplate into engagement with said diaphragm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein said peripheral portion of said spring is a generally circular shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The transducer of claim 2 wherein said backplate and spring include cooperating portions configured for centrally aligning of each with the other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The transducer of claim 3, wherein said backplate and said spring member cooperating portions include a recess at the center of one of said major surfaces of said backplate and a raised portion at the center of said spring and said raised spring member portion cooperatively engages said backplate recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The transducer of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said periphery of said diaphragm is adhesively affixed to said peripheral portion of said spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
An electroacoustical transducer assembly, comprising: a flexible spring member having inner and outer portions; a relatively inflexible backplate member having an electrically conductive major surface and an opposed surface; and a relatively flexible diaphragm having electrically conductive and electrically nonconductive surfaces on opposite sides thereof, the center portion of the nonconductive surface of said diaphragm cooperatively engaging said conductive major surface and peripheral portions of said diaphragm being fixedly attached to said spring member outer portion, said spring member being flexed a predetermined amount prior to being so fixedly attached, to thereby provide the force necessary to properly tension said diaphragm and to maintain the said nonconductive surface of said diaphragm in proper cooperative engagement with the said conductive surface of said backplate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
An electroacoustical transducer assembly, comprising: a flexible spring member having inner and outer portions; a relatively inflexible backplate member having an electrically conductive major surface and an opposed surface; and a relatively flexible diaphragm having electrically conductive and electrically nonconductive surfaces on opposite sides thereof, the center portion of the nonconductive surface of said diaphragm cooperatively engaging said conductive major surface and peripheral portions of said diaphragm being fixedly attached to said spring member outer portion, said spring member being flexed a predetermined amount prior to being so fixedly attached, to thereby provide the force necessary to properly tension said diaphragm and to maintain the said nonconductive surface of said diaphragm in proper cooperative engagement with the said conductive surface of said backplate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said spring member is compressed toward said backplate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said spring member includes a raised portion projecting from the center of its said inner portion and said backplate includes a recess at the center of said opposed surface, said raised spring portion and said backplate recess cooperatively engaging one another to thereby center said spring member and said backplate with respect to one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said backplate recess has a cylindrical shape and wherein said raised portion of said spring member also has a cylindrical shape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein both of said cylindrical shapes are circular in cross section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said backplate is circular and said cylindrical recess is at the geometrical center of said circular backplate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
118 words
An electroacoustical transducer assembly, comprising: a relatively inflexible backplate member having an electrically conductive major surface and having a spring portion projecting therefrom; and a pliant, relatively inelastic vibratile diaphragm having electrically conductive and electrically nonconductive surfaces on opposite sides thereof, the center portion of the nonconductive surface of said diaphragm cooperatively engaging said backplate surface and peripheral portions of said diaphragm being fixedly attached to peripheral portions of said flexible spring, said spring being flexed a predetermined amount prior to being so fixedly attached to thereby provide the force necessary to properly tension said diaphragm and to maintain the said nonconductive surface of said diaphragm in proper cooperative engagement with the said conductive surface of said backplate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
118 words
An electroacoustical transducer assembly, comprising: a relatively inflexible backplate member having an electrically conductive major surface and having a spring portion projecting therefrom; and a pliant, relatively inelastic vibratile diaphragm having electrically conductive and electrically nonconductive surfaces on opposite sides thereof, the center portion of the nonconductive surface of said diaphragm cooperatively engaging said backplate surface and peripheral portions of said diaphragm being fixedly attached to peripheral portions of said flexible spring, said spring being flexed a predetermined amount prior to being so fixedly attached to thereby provide the force necessary to properly tension said diaphragm and to maintain the said nonconductive surface of said diaphragm in proper cooperative engagement with the said conductive surface of said backplate.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claims 6 or 12 wherein said peripheral portions of said diaphragm and said outer portion of said spring member are fixedly attached to one another with an adhesive.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claims 6 or 12 wherein said diaphragm is circular and wherein said peripheral portion of said flexible spring terminates in a circular ring.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of assembling an electroacoustical transducer of the type having a backplate with an electrically conductive major surface, a vibratile diaphragm with electrically conductive and electrically nonconductive surfaces on opposite sides thereof and a flexible spring having inner and outer portions, comprising the steps of: mounting the outer portion of said flexible spring on a support such that the inner portion can be flexed toward said support; mounting said backplate on said spring with the side of said backplate opposite said major surface in engagement with said inner portion of said flexible spring; placing said vibratile diaphragm on said backplate such that the nonconductive surface of said diaphragm contacts said major surface; flexing said flexible spring such that the said outer portion of said spring moves a predetermined distance toward said backplate; and fixedly attaching portions of the periphery of said diaphragm to said outer portion of said spring while said spring is so flexed.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of assembling an electroacoustical transducer of the type having a backplate with an electrically conductive major surface, a vibratile diaphragm with electrically conductive and electrically nonconductive surfaces on opposite sides thereof and a flexible spring having inner and outer portions, comprising the steps of: mounting the outer portion of said flexible spring on a support such that the inner portion can be flexed toward said support; mounting said backplate on said spring with the side of said backplate opposite said major surface in engagement with said inner portion of said flexible spring; placing said vibratile diaphragm on said backplate such that the nonconductive surface of said diaphragm contacts said major surface; flexing said flexible spring such that the said outer portion of said spring moves a predetermined distance toward said backplate; and fixedly attaching portions of the periphery of said diaphragm to said outer portion of said spring while said spring is so flexed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the periphery of said diaphragm is wiped around the outer backplate edge before said peripheral diaphragm portions are fixedly attached to said outer portions of said spring.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said spring is flexed by pressure on said backplate directed toward said spring support.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3373251A
Cited
US4085297A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-09-05 | 1987-03-07 | 1987-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-09-05 | 1991-03-07 | 1991-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-09-05 | 1995-03-07 | 1995-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |