Patent ID: 8477979

Claim:
A transducer adapted for use as a loudspeaker for generating an acoustic signal, comprising: a compression driver having a diaphragm with a central axis, said diaphragm being suspended within the inner wall of a front plate to generate an acoustic signal; a phase plug proximate said diaphragm and having a circular opening in an exit plane having a first area for passing said diaphragm's acoustic signal; a planar backplate member with a tapered throat defined therein, said backplate throat defining a flared, linear interior sidewall surface which originates proximate said diaphragm's exit plane and defines at least one angled boundary for a horn throat; an adapter plate with a central lumen adapted to engage said backplane member and receive said acoustic signal from said diaphragm via said backplate's tapered throat; said adapter plate including an interior sidewall segment which is co-linear with said angled boundary for said backplate throat; a flared impedance matching horn segment having a proximal horn throat segment adapted to engage said adapter plate and receive an acoustic signal from said diaphragm via said backplate's tapered throat; said horn segment including an interior sidewall segment which is co-linear with said angled boundary for said horn throat; wherein said backplate, said adapter plate and said horn segment define an axially aligned, tapered central lumen with at least one interior sidewall boundary having a selected included angle in a first plane for said horn throat and said flared horn segment; and whereby said acoustic signal propagates distally through said phase plug and through said backplate's tapered throat and wherein directional control of a sound wave projected into free space begins at said backplate's tapered throat.