Edward G Vollmer

US Patent:

6431308, Aug 13, 2002

Filed:

Sep 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/661080

Inventors:

Edward G. Vollmer - San Jose CA 95127
Teresa L. Hart - Santa Cruz CA 95060

International Classification:

H05K 500

US Classification:

181144, 181153

Abstract:

A highly compact loudspeaker which produces high fidelity, omnidirectionally propagated sound from only two sound drivers. The loudspeaker has a cylindrical, sound tight housing in which are mounted a relatively high frequency sound driver and a relatively low frequency sound driver, and optionally, an intermediate frequency sound driver. The high frequency driver is fixed at the top of the cylindrical housing, and is oriented to direct sound upwardly, away from the housing. The low frequency driver is fixed to the housing at the interior thereof, thereby dividing the housing into two sound resonating chambers. The low frequency driver directs sound downwardly into the lower of the two chambers. The bottom of the lower chamber is closed by a floor which bears a crossover network conventionally connected to the two sound drivers. The sound drivers are both coaxially centered within the housing.

US Patent:

8068618, Nov 29, 2011

Filed:

Jan 9, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/327457

Inventors:

Edward G. Vollmer - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

H04R 1/02
H04R 9/06

US Classification:

381 89, 381336, 381335, 381386, 181153

Abstract:

A highly compact loudspeaker system having a spherical housing produces time and phase coherent sound waves in an omnipresent manner throughout a spatial listening environment. Within is a relatively low frequency sound driver and a relatively high frequency sound driver. The spherical housing has upper and lower hemispherical halves. The upper half is hollow and has holes through its surface over most of its surface. The lower half forms a sound compression propagation vacuum chamber for the low frequency driver. Mounted within the lower half is a crossover network conventionally connected to the sound drivers. Acoustic foam lines the interior wall surface of the lower half. The low frequency sound driver is mounted inverted, into the open end of the lower half, and then sealed air tight, at a lowered atmospheric pressure, while the high frequency sound driver is mounted upwardly, affixed to the backside of the low frequency driver.

US Patent:

58473319, Dec 8, 1998

Filed:

Oct 9, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/948243

Inventors:

Edward Vollmer - Capitola CA
Teresa Hart - Capitola CA

International Classification:

H05K 500

US Classification:

181147

Abstract:

A speaker propagating sound waves in the manner of a point source. The speaker includes high, medium, and low range drivers vertically arranged within a vertically arranged tubular support member having sound escape openings in its lateral wall. The high and medium range drivers project sound upwardly, and the low range driver projects sound downwardly. The speaker has a truncated obeliskoid housing including a chamber disposed below the low range speaker. This chamber is muffled to absorb non-coherent sound, and has a vertical air tube for managing air flow within the chamber and conducting sound waves downwardly from the housing. The high range driver is exposed above the housing, so that sound projects upwardly therefrom. Sound produced by the medium range driver passes through the openings in the tubular support member. The housing is supported on casters for mobility.

US Patent:

6186269, Feb 13, 2001

Filed:

Dec 11, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/209838

Inventors:

Edward Vollmer - San Jose CA
Teresa Hart - Santa Cruz CA

International Classification:

H05K 500

US Classification:

181144

Abstract:

A compact loudspeaker having a vertically oriented cylindrical housing supporting a relatively high frequency sound driver and a relatively low frequency sound driver. The high frequency driver closes the top of the housing, and is oriented to project sound upwardly. The low frequency driver is contained within the housing such that it divides the housing into upper and lower sound propagating chambers. The low frequency drive projects sound downwardly into the lower chamber. The lower chamber is closed at the bottom of the housing by a bottom plate. The lower chamber has a port communicating to the exterior of the housing. A crossover network is mounted to the bottom plate. Input terminals are located in the lateral surface of the housing. The interior of the housing is lined with acoustic padding for sound damping. The exterior of the housing is covered with a grille cloth, which in turn is covered with screen material.