Flexible, shapeable free-form electrostatic speakers

Number: 9883292
Published: 2018-01-30
Filed: 2017-01-09
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Poupyrev; Ivan; Ishigu; Yoshio
CPC: H04R7/125; H04R31/006; H04R19/02; H04R19/013; H04R19/005; H04R31/00; B06B1/0292
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Flexible free-form electrostatic speaker.

Abstract

An embodiment provides a free-form electrostatic speaker, including: a three dimensional object body; at least a portion of the three dimensional object body having a free-form electrode layer disposed thereon; the free-form electrode layer being shaped to substantially match the at least a portion of the three dimensional object body; a free-form diaphragm positioned proximate to, and being shaped to substantially match, the free-form electrode layer; and an input element coupled to the free-form electrode layer that accepts input from an external source. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Background

BACKGROUND(1) A loudspeaker is one of the most basic and key output devices in any interactive system. It is a transducer that converts an input electrical signal into an audible acoustic signal. The most common approaches to designing speakers are electromagnetic and piezoelectric speakers, and both approaches have a number of important limitations.(2) Electromagnetic speakers include a voice coil and a magnet, and the sound is generated by the vibrations of the paper cone induced by moving the magnet. Electromagnetic speakers are relatively large and consist of multiple materials and moving parts. The shape of the electromagnetic speaker is usually limited to a classic cone or its variations. Although mass-produced speakers are relatively cheap, designing and producing custom speakers is an order of magnitude more expensive and requires significant engineering efforts.(3) Piezoelectric speakers usually consist of two electrodes with a thin piezoelectric element (PZT), such as lead zirconate titanate, sandwiched in between. As a signal is applied to the electrodes the PZT element bends, creating audible vibration. Although piezoelectric speakers are simple and inexpensive, they are produced by baking piezoelectric paste at very high temperatures, and therefore it is difficult and expensive to produce them in anything other than a flat shape, particularly in small quantities. Increasing the size of the PZT elements is particularly challenging because their response rapidly de

Claims

1. A free-form electrostatic speaker, comprising: a three dimensional object body with at least a portion of the three dimensional object body having a free-form electrode layer disposed thereon, wherein the free-form electrode layer is shaped to substantially match the portion of the three dimensional object body, wherein the three dimensional object body comprises a three dimensional printed object; a free-form diaphragm positioned proximate to, and being shaped to substantially match, the free-form electrode layer, wherein the free-form diaphragm is selected from the group of materials consisting of a three dimensional printed material and a conductive material sprayed onto the three dimensional object body; an insulating layer disposed between the free-form electrode layer and the free-form diaphragm; and an input element coupled to the free-form electrode layer that is configured to accept input from an external source. 9. A method of forming a free-form electrostatic speaker, comprising: printing a three dimensional object using a three dimensional printer; the three dimensional object having a conductive layer disposed on at least a portion thereof; printing a three dimensional diaphragm using a three dimensional printer; the three dimensional diaphragm having a conductive layer disposed on at least a portion thereof; the three dimensional diaphragm having an insulating layer disposed on the conductive layer; fixing the three dimensional diaphragm with respect to the conductive layer disposed on at least a portion of the three dimensional object body using a connecting element; and coupling at least one input element to the conductive layer of the three dimensional object body that accepts input from an external source.