Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7492919?dq=6031454
Timestamp: 2016-05-03 01:28:36
Document Index: 334641983

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 1011733', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'arts 3', 'art 3', 'art 4']

Patent US7492919 - Method for fixing a diaphragm in an electroacoustic transducer - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsAn electroacoustic transducer employing a polymer connection for maximizing volume displacement. The transducer includes a diaphragm in a case and means for converting. The diaphragm includes a central portion. The means for converting converts between an electric signal and a vibration of the central...http://www.google.com/patents/US7492919?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7492919 - Method for fixing a diaphragm in an electroacoustic transducerAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7492919 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/453,358Publication dateFeb 17, 2009Filing dateJun 15, 2006Priority dateApr 6, 1999Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE60003904D1, DE60003904T2, EP1166598A1, EP1166598B1, US7110565, US20060230598, WO2000060902A1Publication number11453358, 453358, US 7492919 B2, US 7492919B2, US-B2-7492919, US7492919 B2, US7492919B2InventorsWilmink Engbert, Aart Zeger van Halteren, Hendrik Dolleman, Paul Christiaan Van HalOriginal AssigneeSonion Nederland B.V.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (23), Referenced by (12), Classifications (17), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod for fixing a diaphragm in an electroacoustic transducer
US 7492919 B2Abstract
1. A method for manufacturing a transducer, comprising the steps of:
providing a case having an inner wall portion;
forming a diaphragm assembly, said diaphragm assembly including a central diaphragm portion having a circumferential edge;
disposing into said case said diaphragm assembly such that said circumferential edge of said central diaphragm assembly and said inner wall portion of said case have a capillary space therebetween; and
providing a polymer in said capillary space to connect said diaphragm assembly to said inner wall portion.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said forming includes attaching said central diaphragm portion to a film having an outer circumferential edge, and dimensioning said central diaphragm portion to leave a free strip of film along at least a portion of said circumferential edge of said film.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said capillary space is formed by folding a portion of said film along said outer circumferential edge of said film.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein said polymer is a flexible polymer and wherein said forming includes:
removing selected areas of said sheet to define said central diaphragm portion, a circumferential area surrounding said central diaphragm portion, and at least one connecting bridge connecting said central diaphragm portion to said circumferential area.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein said central diaphragm portion and said circumferential area are substantially coplanar.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein said central diaphragm portion and said free strip of film are substantially coplanar.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein said outer circumferential edge of said film engages said case.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said forming includes the steps of:
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said central diaphragm portion and said circumferential area are substantially coplanar, and wherein said polymer is a flexible polymer having a low viscosity, does not influence a frequency response of said diaphragm assembly, and said flexible polymer increasing resistance to deformation of said diaphragm when subjected to a sound.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer is polybutene.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer is a flexible polymer having a low viscosity.
12. A method for manufacturing a transducer, comprising the steps of:
forming a diaphragm assembly, said diaphragm assembly including a generally planar central diaphragm portion having a circumferential edge;
disposing into said case said diaphragm assembly such that at least a portion of said circumferential edge of said central diaphragm assembly and a portion of said inner wall portion of said case define a capillary space therebetween; and
providing a polymer in said capillary space to connect said diaphragm assembly to said inner wall portion, said polymer increasing resistance to deformation of said central diaphragm portion when subject to a sound.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said forming includes:
attaching said central diaphragm portion to a film having an outer circumferential portion, said outer circumferential portion engaging said case; and
disposing said central diaphragm portion on said film and dimensioning said diaphragm portion to leave a free strip of film, said outer circumferential portion being said free strip of film.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said capillary space is a fold in said film.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein said polymer is a flexible polymer having a low viscosity.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein said polymer is polybutene.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein said forming includes:
removing selected areas of said sheet to define said central diaphragm portion, an edge portion surrounding said central diaphragm portion, and at least one connecting bridge connecting said central diaphragm portion to said edge portion, said edge portion being substantially coplanar with said central diaphragm portion.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said edge portion and said central diaphragm portion are aluminum.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein said case includes a lid portion and a dish portion, and said edge portion of said diaphragm assembly is connected between said lid portion and said dish portion.
20. The method of claim 12, wherein said forming includes:
removing selected areas of said sheet to define said central diaphragm portion, an edge portion surrounding said central diaphragm portion, and at least one connecting bridge connecting said central diaphragm portion to said edge portion, said edge portion being substantially coplanar with said central diaphragm portion;
disposing said central diaphragm portion on said film and dimensioning said diaphragm portion to leave a free strip of film, said outer circumferential portion being said free strip of film;
wherein said case includes a lid portion and a dish portion, and said edge portion of said diaphragm assembly is connected between said lid portion and said dish portion, said polymer has a low viscosity, and said edge portion and said central diaphragm portion are aluminum. Description
This application is a divisional application of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/958,510, entitled “Electroacoustic Transducer With A Diaphragm And Method For Fixing A Diaphragm In Such Transducer,” filed Jan. 23, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No.7,110,565 now allowed, which is a U.S. National phase of International Application No. PCT/NL00/00233, filed Apr. 5, 2000, which is a complete and foreign application of Dutch Patent Application No. 1011733, filed Apr. 6, 1999, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
This invention relates to electroacoustic transducers and methods thereof, and, more particularly, to electroacoustic transducers having a diaphragm and methods for fixing a diaphragm in such transducer.
According to an aspect of the invention, an electroacoustic transducer comprises: a case comprising a lid portion and a dish portion each having an inner wall, an outer wall and end edges connecting these; a diaphragm disposed in the case, comprising a central diaphragm portion comprising a circumferential edge; the central diaphragm portion comprising a circumferential edge; the central diaphragm portion being provided on a film, such that along at least a part of the circumferential edge a free strip of film is present, the central diaphragm portion and the free strip of film being located in the same plane; means for, respectively, converting an electric signal to a vibration of the central diaphragm portion or converting a vibration of the central diaphragm portion to an electric signal, while the edge portion of the diaphragm is connected to a wall portion of the case.
According to another aspect of the invention, an electroacoustic transducer comprises: a case; a diaphragm disposed in the case, comprising a central diaphragm portion and an edge portion extending therearound; means for, respectively, converting an electric signal to a vibration of the central diaphragm portion, or converting a vibration of the central diaphragm portion to an electric signal, while the edge portion of the diaphragm is connected to a wall portion of the case.
An object of the invention is to provide a transducer of the present type and a method for the production thereof, in which the aforementioned drawbacks do not occur. To this end, in a first exemplary embodiment, the invention is characterized in that between the outer circumferential edge of the film and the inner wall of the case a capillary space is present in which a polymer is provided as a connection between the circumferential edge and the inner case wall.
Another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the central diaphragm portion comprises an outer edge, that the edge portion comprises a circumferential edge, that is located in the same plane, as the central portion of the diaphragm, spaced apart from the outer edge of the central portion, that the central portion and the circumferential edge consist of the same material and are connected to each other via at least one strip also consisting of this material, and that between the circumferential edge of the diaphragm and the outer edge a capillary space is present in which a polymer is provided as a connection between the circumferential edge and the outer edge.
The aforementioned embodiment has the further advantage that the number of process steps is reduced; that errors can more easily be corrected, in particular before the polymer is provided, and that the diaphragm is suspended very flexibly from the circumferential edge, which is connected to the case, so that forming the suspension, as when a film is used, is no longer necessary. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the diaphragms can be manufactured inexpensively in mass production by means of punching. Automatic assembly of the diaphragms is equally possible.
In still another embodiment, a method is provided for manufacturing an electroacoustic transducer for, for instance, a hearing aid, with a diaphragm arranged in a housing. According to this embodiment, the diaphragm is attached onto a film or punched from a sheet of material, such that along the circumferential edge of the diaphragm, a free strip of film or a strip of material remains present. In a capillary space between the circumferential edge of the film and the inner wall of the housing, or in a capillary space between the diaphragm and the strip of material, a polymer of a low viscosity is provided to connect the diaphragm with the housing wall. Through the aforementioned method, the production of the transducer is greatly simplified.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a diaphragm according to the invention; and
The electroacoustic transducer 1 comprises a case 2 consisting of two parts, namely a first case part 3 and a second case part 4. The case 2 is generally shaped as a rectangular box, and the two case parts 3 and 4 generally have a substantially U-shaped cross section, the concave sides of the case parts-3 and 4 facing one another and, when assembled, enclosing the interior of the case 2. In the following, the first case part 3 win also be designated by the term “lid” and the second case part 4 will also be designated by the term “dish”.
In the interior of the case 2 a diaphragm 5 is positioned. The diaphragm has a central diaphragm portion 6, and an edge portion 7 extending therearound, intended for fixing the diaphragm 5 to the case 2. Between the central diaphragm portion 6 and the edge portion 7, the diaphragm 5 has a transition portion 8, which may be shaped as a pattern of folds.
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