All items written by James Croft

Patent Review: An Orthogonal Ergonomic Speaker

July 6, 2022 by James Croft

Patent Review: An Orthogonal Ergonomic Speaker

This review looks at an independently patent submitted in 2013 and awarded in 2016 to Jack Nilsson (Canton, OH), describing a system and method for an audio system including a first speaker that reproduces sounds in a first frequency range and a second speaker that reproduces sounds in second frequency range. As James Croft comments, the patent is interesting in its purposeful application of breaking currently established rules and may be useful in certain applications or environments. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, August 2016.

Patent Review: Improved Speaker Structure by Jazz Hipster

June 28, 2022 by James Croft

Patent Review: Improved Speaker Structure by Jazz Hipster

This article reviews a patent application submitted in 2010 by to two inventors, on behalf of Jazz Hipster Corp. (Taiwan), regarding an improved structure of a speaker using the surround to reduce the resistance of the diaphragm excursion, which helps to generate a more linear diaphragm movement, with less resistance, and reduced distortion. As James Croft noted, the approach had been used in the past, but its use decreased due to the high-performance achieved with well-designed roll-surrounds, at a lower cost. No surprisingly this patent was subsequently abandoned.

Patent Review: A Speaker Device Offering Extended Bass Performance

May 17, 2022 by James Croft

Patent Review: A Speaker Device Offering Extended Bass Performance

This review discusses an intriguing speaker design patented by Walter Ka Wai Chu, from Taiwan. The design allows the speaker device to potentially improve the bass performance in the entire low-frequency band instead of being limited to only a few low-frequency points, the inventor claims. While James Croft confesses to being somewhat skeptical of whether, in its current disclosed form, the device will provide a useful advantage, he found the design sufficiently interesting to be analyzed in more detail.

Patent Review: An Acoustic Device from Bose

May 12, 2022 by James Croft

Patent Review: An Acoustic Device from Bose

This patent analysis looks at an interesting wearable acoustic device, patented by five inventors on behalf of Bose Corp, and which the company would later apply in its Bose SoundWear Companion - the brand's own iteration of an around-the-neck or neckband concept, launched at the end of 2017. With a significant number of claims, the awarded patent describes “a neck loop that is constructed and arranged to be worn around the neck," with drivers located, one each, below the left and right ears of the user, and two acoustically coupled waveguides.

Patent Review: Compact Wideband Bass and Midrange Horn-Loaded Speaker System

March 23, 2022 by James Croft

Patent Review: Compact Wideband Bass and Midrange Horn-Loaded Speaker System

This patent describes, a compact high-fidelity sound reproduction system achieving high efficiency, low distortion, wide bandwidth, and extended low-frequency reach, and which can be used as a sub-bass woofer, bass woofer, mid-bass woofer, and mid-range speaker for residential or commercial large venue applications. The system includes a dynamic driver driven bass horn, a looped resonator duct (ring geometry), which can be folded, and an adjustable feedback duct allowing sound characteristics to be tailored. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, April 2016.

Patent Review: Apparatus Using Missing Fundamental Frequencies to Improve Loudspeaker Sound Focusing

March 16, 2022 by James Croft

Patent Review: Apparatus Using Missing Fundamental Frequencies to Improve Loudspeaker Sound Focusing

This review discusses an invention that promises to successfully process an audio signal to focus an acoustic signal by an arrangement of a plurality of loudspeakers, using a frequency analyzer, a signal processor, and a signal output interface. The frequency analyzer is configured to determine a fundamental frequency and the signal processor configured to adapt an overtone of the fundamental frequency. An approach that can work quite well, even though there are well-known drawbacks that the patent intends to resolve.

Patent Review: Virtual Height Filter for Reflected Sound Rendering Using Upward Firing Drivers

February 17, 2022 by James Croft

Patent Review: Virtual Height Filter for Reflected Sound Rendering Using Upward Firing Drivers

This review discusses a patent that applies to speakers designed for new immersive audio formats in home applications and Dolby Atmos, in particular. Not surprisingly, the patent was awarded to Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp. As the patent was granted, Voice Coil provided an extensive and informative review - recommended reading for anyone considering entering this important home-theater market segment. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, February 2016.

Patent Review: Extended Duct with Damping for Improved Speaker Performance

January 11, 2022 by James Croft

Patent Review: Extended Duct with Damping for Improved Speaker Performance

This article reviews a patent granted to Apple, describing an electronic audio device including an enclosure having an acoustic output opening and a speaker positioned within the enclosure, as implemented in the company’s range of iMac desktop computers. The speaker and the acoustic output opening are acoustically coupled by an acoustic output pathway and damping chamber. Apple’s patent cites the Matsushita patent as prior art, but this is a more developed concept. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, December 2015.

Patent Review: Loudspeaker Having a Passive Radiator US9426548B2

January 3, 2022 by James Croft

Patent Review: Loudspeaker Having a Passive Radiator US9426548B2

This article discusses a very interesting design and patent granted in August 2015 to Gary A. Rayner and James C. Larsen, as the inventors, on behalf of Treefrong Developments, from San Diego, CA. The patent abstract details a loudspeaker using one or more active drivers, with a passive radiator connected to each driver and dedicated processors and amplifier per channel - a slightly different approach to a familiar concept. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, November 2015.

Patent Review: Acoustical Window Assembly for Vehicle and Home Theater Solution

December 29, 2021 by James Croft

Patent Review: Acoustical Window Assembly for Vehicle and Home Theater Solution

James Croft reviews two patents for a new type of subwoofer architecture. The first is intended for use in an automobile and the second, for use in a domestic listening room. The first patent relates to an “Acoustical Window Assembly for Vehicle,” while the second describes a home-theater solution using essentially the same concept, adapted to one or more home windows. Both patents were awarded to Magna International, Inc. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, October 2015.

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