This disclosure relates to loudspeakers that use one or more stacks of electrically actuated cards that pump air through vents to produce sound waves in response to an acoustic signal. Each stack can include several electrostatic actuator cards that are stacked on top of each other and collectively operate to pump air through a vent to produce a sound wave. Each card may include an electrically conductive membrane that is pushed/pulled between two electrically conductive stators. As the membrane is pushed and pulled along a first axis, air is pumped through vents in a direction orthogonal to the first axis. In one embodiment, stacks of cards can be arranged in series to increase sound pressure generated by the loud speaker. In another embodiment, a single stack of cards can be driven with relatively high electric field strength to increase the sound pressure generated by the loud speaker.

An acoustic device (90) for use with a movable loudspeaker element (12), the acoustic device defining an enclosure (16) with an aperture to locate the movable loudspeaker element (12), and with a port (20, 28) communicating with the outside of the enclosure, wherein the acoustic device includes at least one sound-suppressing duct (22) incorporating at least one vortex chamber (24) to absorb sound waves propagating through the duct and so suppress sound waves from the port. The acoustic device (90) may be a driver or a frame for a driver; alternatively it may be a loudspeaker or a housing for a loudspeaker.

A speaker includes a housing, at least one electro-acoustic driver including a diaphragm, and a cover secured to one or more of the housing and driver. The cover is configured to partially extend over the diaphragm to affect an associated cavity resonance frequency of an air cavity adjacent to the diaphragm.

A voice-controlled electronic device that includes a device housing having a longitudinal axis bisecting opposing top and bottom surfaces and a side surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The device can further include one or more microphones disposed within the device housing and distributed radially around the longitudinal axis; a processor configured to execute computer instructions stored in a computer-readable memory for interacting with a user and processing voice commands received by the one or more microphones and first transducer and second transducers configured to generate sound waves within different frequency ranges.

The technology described in the document can be embodied in a speaker that includes one or more drivers, and an acoustic horn that includes a first side panel and a second side panel. Edges of the first and second side panels defines an opening for receiving acoustic outputs from one or more drivers. The speaker also includes a manifold disposed between the opening and the one or more drivers, the manifold including a plurality of acoustic passages for connecting the opening to each of the one or more drivers, and an adaptor. The adaptor is disposed between the manifold and the acoustic horn, and includes multiple apertures for the plurality of acoustic passages. The adaptor is configured to conform to a profile of the opening while maintaining a seal between the acoustic horn and the plurality of acoustic passages.

An acoustic hailing device includes an outer housing and a pair of compression drivers oriented in the outer housing adjacent one another. Each of the compression drivers includes two diaphragms oriented facewise relative to one another within each compression driver. One or more waveguide housings are coupled to the outer housing, the one or more waveguide housings forming a portion of a waveguide associated with each of the compression drivers. A pair of driver covers are each coupleable to one of the compression drivers, each of the driver covers forming another portion of the waveguide associated with each of the compression drivers.

The technology described in the document can be embodied in a speaker that includes a housing, at least one electro-acoustic driver including a diaphragm, and a cover secured to one or more of the housing and driver. The cover is configured to partially extend over the diaphragm to affect an associated cavity resonance frequency of an air cavity adjacent to the diaphragm.

The technology described in the document can be embodied in a speaker that includes one or more drivers, and an acoustic horn that includes a first side panel and a second side panel. Edges of the first and second side panels defines an opening for receiving acoustic outputs from one or more drivers. The speaker also includes a manifold disposed between the opening and the one or more drivers, the manifold including a plurality of acoustic passages for connecting the opening to each of the one or more drivers, and an adaptor. The adaptor is disposed between the manifold and the acoustic horn, and includes multiple apertures for the plurality of acoustic passages. The adaptor is configured to conform to a profile of the opening while maintaining a seal between the acoustic horn and the plurality of acoustic passages.

Systems and methods for speaker assemblies with wide dispersion patterns are disclosed. In one embodiment, a speaker assembly includes at least two speaker drivers and a diffraction baffle affixed to each speaker driver, where each diffraction baffle includes a baffle face having a diffraction slot positioned over the driver and each diffraction baffle is affixed to and sealed to the driver, the area across each diffraction slot is less than the surface area of the driver, each diffraction slot provides a path for substantially all of the acoustic pressure waves produced by the speaker driver to propagate away from the driver and the acoustic pressure waves are within a frequency range determined by the characteristics of the driver, and the width of each diffraction slot in the horizontal direction is equal to the wavelength of a predetermined target frequency.

This disclosure relates to loudspeakers that use one or more stacks of electrically actuated cards that pump air through vents to produce sound waves in response to an acoustic signal. Each stack can include several electrostatic actuator cards that are stacked on top of each other and collectively operate to pump air through a vent to produce a sound wave. Each card may include an electrically conductive membrane that is pushed/pulled between two electrically conductive stators. As the membrane is pushed and pulled along a first axis, air is pumped through vents in a direction orthogonal to the first axis. In one embodiment, stacks of cards can be arranged in series to increase sound pressure generated by the loud speaker. In another embodiment, a single stack of cards can be driven with relatively high electric field strength to increase the sound pressure generated by the loud speaker.