The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 29, 2007
Filed:
Dec. 21, 2000
Anthony Hooley, Cambridge, GB;
David Henry Pearce, Birmingham, GB;
Gareth Mckevitt, Cambridge, GB;
Mark Richard Shepherd, Herfordshire, GB;
James Allan, Suffolk, GB;
Simon Andrew Longbottom, Cambridge, GB;
Ursula Ruth Lenel, Hertfordshire, GB;
Anthony Hooley, Cambridge, GB;
David Henry Pearce, Birmingham, GB;
Gareth McKevitt, Cambridge, GB;
Mark Richard Shepherd, Herfordshire, GB;
James Allan, Suffolk, GB;
Simon Andrew Longbottom, Cambridge, GB;
Ursula Ruth Lenel, Hertfordshire, GB;
1. . . Limited, Cambridge, GB;
Abstract
A loudspeaker comprising: a support, a sound-generating element mounted to the support for vibration to generate sound; and an electro-active device coupled between the support and the sound-generating element for vibrating the sound-generating element in response to an electrical signal. The electro-active device comprises a structure extending along a minor axis which extends in a curve around a major axis parallel to the vibration direction of the sound-generating element, the structure comprising successive electro-active portions arranged with electrodes to bend around the minor axis on activation in response to application of the electrical signal to the electrodes, and coupled together such that bending of successive portions causes concomitant rotation of adjacent portions around the minor axis adding incrementally along the minor axis, which rotation causes concomitant change of the axial length of the structure along the major axis.