GB2376829A

GB2376829A - Removable audio exciter system

Info

Publication number: GB2376829A
Application number: GB0109899A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Andrew Beadman; Paul Edmondson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-21
Filing date: 2001-04-21
Publication date: 2002-12-24
Also published as: GB0109899D0

Abstract

A loudspeaker comprises an audio transducer 5 attached to a panel 7 (eg glass, card, wood, plastic, metal, ceramic, laminate) via a mechanical fixing clip 8. The connection to the panel may be made with adhesive, adhesive tape or vacuum suction cup. The transducer 5 produces little or no noise unless it is connected to a panel 7. The device may be used with compact disc players, radios, cassette tape players, digital audio players or personal computers.

Description

Removable Audio Exciter System This invention relates to a removable audio exciter system.

Audio reproduction systems using loud speakers are well known. In recent developments flat panel speaker systems have been developed. Many of these flat panel systems use conventional moving coil transducers with some systems utilising Piezo based transducers.

These transducers have been developed to be small to allow the complete transducer and panel combination to be as shallow and compact as possible.

According to the present invention there is a method of exciting a variety of materials in such a way that audio is reproduced. This could consist of a transducer driven by an amplifier with the input being from any audio source such as a Compact Disk player, Cassette Tape Player or Radio. This could be powered using a stored energy source such as a battery or connected to a permanent supply. The system could consist of one or more transducers and driving means where the system alone is not capable of reproducing significant levels of audio, since there is no sound reproduction medium attached to the transducer. Audio reproduction is achieved by the user attaching the system to materials suitable to act as the audio reproduction medium. These materials could consist of any material including but not restricted to glass, card, wood, plastics, metal ceramic or laminated materials. The quality of the reproduction will depend on the choice of material, the size and existing fixings of the material and the position of the system on that material. The method of fixing the system to the reproduction medium should be such that the transducer is well attached to the medium by the moving or active section of the transducer such that the efficiency of the overall audio reproduction is maximised. The fixing method could consist of, but not restricted to, adhesives, tape based adhesives or a form of clip or suction cup attached to the audio reproduction material. In the case of a clip the clip mechanism could be designed such that it allows the transducer to be removed from the reproduction medium so that the transducer system can be used in more than one place.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a system diagram for a typical embodiment of the invention. It comprises of an audio reproduction system, 1, comprising a compact disc (CD), 2, a compact disc player, 3, an audio amplifier, 4, and a transducer, 5. There is also an audio reproduction medium, 6, which comprises a panel material, 7, and a fixing clip, 8. The compact disk player, 3

reproduces an audio signal from the data contained on the compact disk, 2, and this audio signal is amplified in the audio amplifier, 4, such that the transducer, 5, is excited by the audio signal. The audio reproduction medium, 7, has a fixing clip, 8, attached to it using adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape. While the tansducer, 5, is separated from the fixing clip, 8 the transducer, 5, produces little or no noise since there is no reproduction medium attached.

When the audio reproduction system, 1, and the audio reproduction medium, 6 are joined together mechanically using the fixing clip, 8, then the system produces audio from the panel material, 7.

In another embodiment the compact disk player, 3, and compact disk, 2, may be replaced by another audio source such as a cassette tape player and cassette, or a radio, or a solid state digital audio player or any audio source such as a HiFi system, or from audio data stored on a personal computer system.

In another embodiment the compact disk player, 3, and compact disk, 2, may be replaced by a remote input connected by lead connection for any audio source such as a Compact Disk player and compact disk or a cassette tape player and cassette, or a radio, or a solid state digital audio player or a HiFi system, or from audio data stored on a personal computer system.

In another embodiment the transducer may be physically separated from the amplifier with the two connected using wires in a similar way to standard speakers.

In another embodiment the physical connection between the panel material and the audio reproduction system may be achieved using other mechanical means such as adhesives, adhesive tapes, vacuum suction cup or alternative clip arrangements.

Claims

Claims:
2. An audio reproduction device including an audio transducer where the transducer is not capable of significant sound output unless rigidly attached to a suitable audio reproduction medium that is not part of the device.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 where the audio transducer can be rigidly attached to a suitable audio reproduction medium using a removable mechanical clip,
4. A device as claimed in claim 2 where the combination of audio transducer and mechanical clip are not capable of significant audio output.
5. A device as claimed in claim 2 where the clip may be rigidly attached to a suitable audio reproduction medium using adhesive or adhesive tape.
6. A device as claimed in claim 2 where the clip may be rigidly attached to a suitable audio reproduction medium using a suction cup.
7. A device as claimed in claim 1 where the audio transducer may be rigidly attached to a suitable audio reproduction medium using adhesive or adhesive tape.
8. A device as claimed in claim 1 where the audio transducer may be rigidly attached to a suitable audio reproduction medium using a suction cup rigidly attached to the audio transducer.
9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim that includes an amplifier, is battery operated and functions by receiving an electronic audio signal from an external source.
10. An audio reproduction device as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.