Systems and methods for improved acousto-haptic speakers

Abstract

The systems and methods described herein relate to, among other things, a transducer capable of producing acoustic and tactile stimulation. The transducer includes a rigid mass element disposed on the diaphragm of a speaker. The mass element may optionally be removable and may have a mass selected such that the resonant frequency of the transducer falls within the range of frequencies present in an input electrical audio signal. The systems and methods advantageously benefits from both the fidelity and audio performance of a full-range speaker while simultaneously producing high-fidelity, adjustable and palpable haptic vibrations.

1 . A transducer capable of generating acoustic and haptic signals, comprising:
 a speaker, including a diaphragm, configured to transform an electrical signal having audio information in a first range of frequencies, into an acoustic signal,   an echo chamber formed adjacent to the diaphragm, and   a mass element attached to the diaphragm,   wherein the mass of the mass element is selected such that a portion of a resonant frequency range of the combination of the speaker and the mass element falls within the first range of frequencies.   
     
     
         2 . The transducer of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is substantially rigid and the speaker further comprises a semi-rigid diaphragm attached to a voice coil and rigid diaphragm, such that the echo chamber is formed in the region enclosed by the semi-rigid diaphragm and the rigid diaphragm. 
     
     
         3 . The transducer of  claim 2 , wherein the rigid diaphragm is cone-shaped and the semi-rigid diaphragm is substantially hemispherical shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The transducer of  claim 1 , wherein the mass element is removably attached to the diaphragm. 
     
     
         5 . The transducer of  claim 1 , wherein the mass element is glued to the center region of the diaphragm. 
     
     
         6 . The transducer of  claim 1 , wherein the mass element is formed from a rigid material having a mass in the range of about 0.1 g to 20 g. 
     
     
         7 . The transducer of  claim 1 , wherein the mass element is formed from a metal. 
     
     
         8 . The transducer of  claim 1 , wherein the mass element is disk-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The transducer of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of surface area of the top surface of the diaphragm to the surface area of the top surface of the mass element is about 4:1. 
     
     
         10 . The transducer of  claim 1 , wherein the speaker further includes
 a voice coil attached to a diaphragm for receiving the electrical signal and moving the diaphragm in response to the electrical signal, and   a spider attached to the voice coil for damping oscillations of the voice coil, the diaphragm and the mass element.   
     
     
         11 . The transducer of  claim 1 , further comprising a holder attached to the diaphragm for holding the mass element. 
     
     
         12 . The transducer of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of mass elements removably stacked on top of each other. 
     
     
         13 . The transducer of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing having a cap such that the speaker and mass element are disposed within the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The transducer of  claim 13 , wherein the diaphragm is capable of moving up to a maximum height within the housing, and wherein the mass element has a height selected such that when the diaphragm has moved up to the maximum height, the mass element is within the housing and below the cap. 
     
     
         15 . The transducer of  claim 1 , wherein the speaker is a full-range speaker. 
     
     
         16 . The transducer of  claim 1 , wherein resonant frequency range is from 2 to 800 Hz. 
     
     
         17 . The transducer of  claim 1 , comprising a controller connected to a source of the electrical signal and the speaker for splitting the electrical signal and driving the speaker and the mass element with at least one of a signal containing information in the audible frequencies, and a signal containing information in the haptic frequencies. 
     
     
         18 . The transducer of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to amplify the signal containing information in the haptic frequencies. 
     
     
         19 . A transducer capable of generating acoustic and haptic signals, comprising:
 a speaker, including a diaphragm, configured to transform an electrical signal having audio information in a first range of frequencies, into an acoustic signal,   a mass element attached to the diaphragm, and   a rotation assembly including a socket, and a ball attached to a portion of the speaker, the ball being configured to fit within the socket,   wherein the mass of the mass element is selected such that a portion of a resonant frequency range of the combination of the speaker and the mass element falls within the first range of frequencies, and   wherein the speaker is configured to rotated within the socket.   
     
     
         20 . The transducer of  claim 19 , further comprising a sponge block positioned within the socket, wherein the ball is positioned on a surface of the sponge block. 
     
     
         21 . A transducer capable of generating acoustic and tactile signals from an electrical signal having audio information, comprising:
 a commercially-available speaker, having a voice coil and a diaphragm disposed within a housing, capable of generating an acoustic signals from electrical signals having audio information within a first range of frequencies,   an echo chamber formed between the diaphragm and the voice coil, and   a mass element coupled to the diaphragm,   wherein the mass element is selected such that the transducer has a resonant frequency that falls within the first range of frequencies.   
     
     
         22 . A system of generating acoustic and tactile signals from an electrical signal having audio information, comprising:
 a transducer, having
 a voice coil configured to receive an output electrical signal having information within a output range of frequencies, 
 a diaphragm and a spider coupled to the voice coil, 
 an echo chamber formed between the diaphragm and the voice coil, and 
 a mass element coupled to at least one of the voice coil and the diaphragm, and having a mass selected such that the resonant frequency of the transducer is within the output range of frequencies; and 
   a controller, comprising
 a splitter for receiving an input electrical signal, and splitting the input electrical signal into at least a first portion having a first range of frequencies and a second portion having a second range of frequencies, wherein the resonant frequency is within the second range of frequencies, 
 an amplifier, for amplifying the second portion, and 
 a switch connected to the splitter and the amplifier, configured to receive the first portion, the amplified second portion and a combination of the first portion and the amplified second portion. 
   
     
     
         23 . A system of generating acoustic and tactile signals from an electrical signal having audio information, comprising:
 a transducer, having
 a voice coil configured to receive an output electrical signal having information within a output range of frequencies, 
 a diaphragm and a spider coupled to the voice coil, 
 a rotation assembly including a socket, and a ball attached to a portion of the transducer, the ball being configured to fit within the socket, wherein the transducer is configured to rotate within the socket, and 
 a mass element coupled to at least one of the voice coil and the diaphragm, and having a mass selected such that the resonant frequency of the transducer is within the output range of frequencies; and 
   a controller, comprising
 a splitter for receiving an input electrical signal, and splitting the input electrical signal into at least a first portion having a first range of frequencies and a second portion having a second range of frequencies, wherein the resonant frequency is within the second range of frequencies, 
 an amplifier, for amplifying the second portion, and 
 a switch connected to the splitter and the amplifier, configured to receive the first portion, the amplified second portion and a combination of the first portion and the amplified second portion. 
   
     
     
         24 . A method of generating acoustic and tactile signals from an electrical signal having information within a first range of frequencies, comprising
 providing a transducer having
 a mass element disposed on a diaphragm of a speaker, wherein, the mass of the mass element is selected such that a portion of a resonant frequency range of the transducer falls within the first range of frequencies, and 
 an echo chamber formed adjacent to the diaphragm; 
   receiving, at the transducer, the electrical signals;   generating, at the transducer, acoustic signals due to the vibration of the diaphragm, and haptic signals due to the resonance of the transducer created by the movement of the mass element at a frequency within the resonant frequency range, such that the haptic signals are amplified by the echo chamber.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the speaker includes a voice coil for receiving the electrical signals, and a spider connected to the voice coil, the method further comprising damping, by the spider, the vibration of the diaphragm and the movement of the mass element. 
     
     
         26 . A method of manufacturing a transducer capable of generating acoustic and haptic signals from an electrical signal, comprising
 providing an acoustic transducer having a rigid diaphragm, spider and voice coil,   attaching a mass element to the diaphragm, and   attaching a semi-rigid diaphragm adjacent to the rigid diaphragm to form an echo chamber,   wherein the mass element includes a rigid metal having a mass selected such that the resonant frequency of the acoustic transducer combined with the mass element falls within a range of frequencies of the electrical signal.   
     
     
         27 . A method of manufacturing a transducer capable of generating acoustic and haptic signals from an electrical signal, comprising
 providing an acoustic transducer having a rigid diaphragm, spider and voice coil,   attaching a mass element to the diaphragm, and   attaching a rotation assembly including a socket, and a ball to a portion of the transducer, the ball being configured to fit within the socket, wherein the transducer is configured to rotated within the socket,   wherein the mass element includes a rigid metal having a mass selected such that the resonant frequency of the acoustic transducer combined with the mass element falls within a range of frequencies of the electrical signal.   
     
     
         28 . A transducer capable of generating acoustic and haptic signals, comprising:
 a speaker, including a diaphragm, configured to transform an electrical signal having audio information in a first range of frequencies, into an acoustic signal,   a holder attached to a portion of the diaphragm, the holder includes an opening positioned above a center region of the diaphragm, and   a mass element attached to the holder above the center region of the diaphragm, the mass element having an opening positioned above the opening of the holder,   wherein the mass of the mass element is selected such that a portion of a resonant frequency range of the combination of at least the speaker and the mass element falls within the first range of frequencies, and   wherein the opening of the mass element and the opening of the holder are positioned such that at least a portion of the acoustic signal passes from the speaker and through the openings.