Patent Review: A Circular Shaped Planar Speaker System

The patent in review was granted in February 2015 to inventor Zhijun Zhao (West Bloomfield, MI) on behalf of Harman International Industries. As James Croft notes, planar magnetic transducers are often preferred for their thin form factor, ideal for shallow mounting spaces where a standard transducer may not fit, such as in-wall systems and automotive applications. The patent in review offers a practical solution for an oval or circular format planar magnetic transducer for such applications. This article was original published in Voice Coil, April 2015.