Patent ID: 8761418

Claim:
A microelectromechanical loudspeaker array, comprising: a plurality of microelectromechanical loudspeaker elements each having: a diaphragm element configured to be deflected from a neutral position into at least one deflection position to produce a sound pulse; and an actuation device configured to put the diaphragm element into the at least one deflection position from the neutral position on the basis of drive signals; and a control device coupled to the plurality of microelectromechanical loudspeaker elements, the control device being configured to send (i) a first drive signal configured to produce the sound pulse by actuating the diaphragm element at a respective driving time, wherein one or more sound pulses represent a sound signal, and (ii) a respective second drive signal configured to relax the diaphragm element into the neutral position during a predetermined period of time after the driving time to the actuation device of at least one of the microelectromechanical loudspeaker elements, wherein the predetermined period of time is shorter than the duration of a half-cycle of the sound signal.