The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator, which is designed to be connected to a backside of a plate like structure and which comprises an annular coil arrangement and a magnet system being designed to generate a magnetic field transverse to the annular coil arrangement. The annular coil arrangement and the magnet system are connected to each other by a plurality of springs, which are arranged inside of the annular coil arrangement.

A flat panel assembly includes a rectangular piezoelectric transducer, a flat panel, and an adhesive member for attaching the piezoelectric transducer to the panel, the adhesive member extending lengthwise along the longer edge of the piezoelectric transducer. When a voltage source is applied, the piezoelectric transducer vibrates, inducing vibration of the panel. The transducer is attached to a flat panel using a parallelogram-shaped double-sided tape to form a loudspeaker system providing uniform frequency response over its operating frequency. The loudspeaker system may include at least two transducers for providing stereo sound, especially in OLED applications providing video programming. The lightweight flat panel assembly may be conveniently mounted in vehicles such as cars, buses, airplanes, or other mobile applications.

An exciter-equipped glass diaphragm, includes: a glass plate structure; and a first exciter and a second exciter, which are attached to the glass plate structure, in which, when a lowest resonant frequency of the first exciter is F1(0) (Hz), and a lowest resonant frequency of the second exciter is F2(0) (Hz), the exciter-equipped glass diaphragm satisfies: 3|F1(0)F2(0)|100 (Hz).

A system comprising a diaphragm having a first face and a second face, a roll surround disposed around a perimeter of the first face of the diaphragm, a modal coupling apparatus comprising a plurality of connecting arms and a central body, the modal coupling apparatus coupled to the second face of the diaphragm using the plurality of connecting arms, the central body having a shaped first end for receiving a voice coil former, a voice coil wound upon and secured to an outer surface on a first end of the voice coil former, a second end of the voice coil former placed within the shaped first end of the central body, and a positive electrical terminal and a negative electrical terminal, each terminal coupled to the voice coil for transmitting an electrical current through the voice coil upon receiving electrical power.

An apparatus includes at least one actuator configured to generate vibrations over a range of vibration frequencies. The at least one actuator includes a housing configured to be positioned on or within a recipient's body. The actuator further includes a support portion configured to be in operative communication with a fixture implanted within the recipient's body. The actuator further includes an oscillator within the housing, the oscillator includes piezoelectric material and has a first portion in mechanical communication with the support portion and a second portion spaced from the support portion. The piezoelectric material is configured to undergo bending oscillations in response to received electric voltage signals in which the second portion moves relative to the first portion. The actuator further includes at least one damper configured to damp at least one vibrational resonance of the at least one actuator over at least a portion of the range of vibration frequencies and independently of spring damping by the piezoelectric material.

A piezoelectric transducer is disclosed for providing haptic feedback. The transducer has a stacked structure including a protective layer, a piezoelectric layer, two electrodes positioned on the top and bottom of the piezoelectric layer, an adhesive layer positioned over the piezoelectric layer, and a substrate layer positioned on top of the adhesive layer. The transducer is cured using an autoclave process giving it a curved shape which facilitates electrical connection with a printed circuit board. Curved and custom-shaped molds may be used to effectively increase and precisely control the curvature of the transducer. The transducer may be used to provide haptic feedback in trackpads, keyboards, touch displays, and virtual buttons. One implementation is a bimorph piezoelectric transducer that includes two piezoelectric layers.

A flat panel loudspeaker configured for mounting in an opening in a mounting surface includes a planar resonant panel configured to be inserted into an opening in the mounting surface and having a front surface and a rear surface. The flat panel loudspeaker also includes an exciter coupled to the rear surface and configured to cause an active portion of the planar resonant panel to vibrate and generate sound. An outer boundary of the active portion of the planar resonant panel is fixed relative to the mounting surface, the outer boundary defining the active portion as an area of the planar resonant panel. The planar resonant panel comprises an edge portion extending beyond the outer boundary of the active portion in at least one direction. The edge portion is configured to overlap the mounting surface.

A system comprising a diaphragm having a first face and a second face, a roll surround disposed around a perimeter of the first face of the diaphragm, a modal coupling apparatus comprising a plurality of connecting arms and a central body, the modal coupling apparatus coupled to the second face of the diaphragm using the plurality of connecting arms, the central body having a shaped first end for receiving a voice coil former, a voice coil wound upon and secured to an outer surface on a first end of the voice coil former, a second end of the voice coil former placed within the shaped first end of the central body, and a positive electrical terminal and a negative electrical terminal, each terminal coupled to the voice coil for transmitting an electrical current through the voice coil upon receiving electrical power.