Lewis S Athanas

US Patent:

6449376, Sep 10, 2002

Filed:

Sep 20, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/399536

Inventors:

Carlos Beltran - Beverly MA
Lewis Athanas - Newbury MA
David Cahill - Merrimac MA
Wako Iwasaki - Brookline MA
Andrew Kotsatos - Arlingtion MA

Assignee:

Boston Acoustics, Inc. - Peabody MA

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

381423, 381424

Abstract:

A planar-type loudspeaker is provided which includes at least two separate, substantially flat, substantially coplanar diaphragms driven by a common drive mechanism. The diaphragms are each of a material and are dimensioned so that each has only a limited number of natural modes of vibration in the frequency band in which it is to operate and that corresponding natural modes for the diaphragms are close enough to achieve beneficial mechanical coupling and acoustics interference so as to provide a generally uniform acoustic pressure response over the selected frequency band. The diaphragms are preferably coupled only through the drive mechanism and it is preferable that each diaphragm have only two natural modes of vibration in the selected frequency band.

US Patent:

6720708, Apr 13, 2004

Filed:

Jan 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/755895

Inventors:

Lewis Athanas - West Newbury MA 01985

Assignee:

Lewis Athanas - West Newbury MA

International Classification:

H01L 4108

US Classification:

310324, 310317

Abstract:

A mechanical-to-acoustical transducer has at least one actuator, preferably a piezo motor, that is coupled, generally perpendicularly, to one edge of a diaphragm formed from a thin, flexible sheet material. The diaphragm is fixed at a point spaced from the actuator in the direction of its motion so that excursion of the actuator is translated into a corresponding, mechanically-amplified, excursion of the diaphragmâtypically amplified five to seven times. The diaphragm is curved, preferably parabolically, and to a small degree. The diaphragm, if optically clear, can be mounted on a frame over a video display screen to provide a screen speaker. Preferably, such a screen speaker is pinned or adhered at upper and lower edges at or near its vertical centerline and is supported by and driven at both lateral edges by one or more single layer piezo actuators. The actuators are secured at one end to the frame or other stationary member, and at a free, movable end, to an edge of the diaphragm, generally at right angles. A gasket seals the edges of the diaphragm to maintain an acoustic pressure gradient across the diaphragm.

US Patent:

7038356, May 2, 2006

Filed:

Apr 13, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/822951

Inventors:

Lewis Athanas - West Newbury MA, US

Assignee:

Unison Products, Inc. - West Newton MA

International Classification:

H01L 41/08

US Classification:

310324, 310311, 310317, 310328

Abstract:

A mechanical-to-acoustical transducer has at least one actuator, preferably a piezo motor, that is coupled, generally perpendicularly, to one edge of a diaphragm formed from a thin, flexible sheet material. The diaphragm is fixed at a point spaced from the actuator in the direction of its motion so that excursion of the actuator is translated into a corresponding, mechanically-amplified, excursion of the diaphragm—typically amplified five to seven times. The diaphragm is curved, preferably parabolically, and to a small degree. The diaphragm, if optically clear, can be mounted on a frame over a video display screen to provide a screen speaker. Preferably, such a screen speaker is pinned or adhered at upper and lower edges at or near its vertical centerline and is supported by and driven at both lateral edges by one or more single layer piezo actuators. The actuators are secured at one end to the frame or other stationary member, and at a free, movable end, to an edge of the diaphragm, generally at right angles. A gasket seals the edges of the diaphragm to maintain an acoustic pressure gradient across the diaphragm.

US Patent:

20110274283, Nov 10, 2011

Filed:

Jul 21, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/841141

Inventors:

Lewis Athanas - Marblehead MA, US

International Classification:

G10K 11/16

US Classification:

381 717, 381 711

Abstract:

An active noise cancellation device is described that is capable of cancelling an ambient sound wave in an open air environment via destructive interference. The active noise cancellation device comprises a directional microphone, a directional loudspeaker, and a signal processing module. The directional loudspeaker can comprise either one or two dipole loudspeakers in combination with a sealed loudspeaker. Multiple active noise cancellation devices can be arranged in arrays to create open air active noise cancellation systems. Each active noise cancellation device within the array, when combined with the outputs of the other devices within the array, produces a noise cancellation wavefront that actively cancels a portion of an ambient sound wavefront. Arrays of any geometry or spatial dimension are possible.

US Patent:

52838358, Feb 1, 1994

Filed:

Nov 15, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/792581

Inventors:

Lewis S. Athanas - West Newbury MA

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

381190

Abstract:

An acoustic transducer is formed by a rigid substrate and a strip of a laminated sheet material including an intermediate layer of a ferroelectrical material sandwiched between inner and outer layers of a conductive material. Two lines of conductive epoxy supply an AC signal across the full height of the inner and outer layers. The ferroelectric layer is preferably a piezoelectric plastic such as PVDF with a preferred direction of displacement oriented laterally across the strip. The strip is preferably secured in a groove in the substrate by a cement having acoustical properties closely matching those of the strip and the substrate. The strip is curved in a parabola by its own tension. The strip is sufficiently stiff to be self supporting without the use of a foam or rubber backing layer. The conductive layers are preferably each a layer of copper overlayed with a layer of nickel.

US Patent:

53352874, Aug 2, 1994

Filed:

Apr 6, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/043308

Inventors:

Lewis S. Athanas - West Newbury MA

Assignee:

Aura, Ltd. - Lewiston ME

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

381197

Abstract:

A loudspeaker is provided with a viscous magnetic fluid suspension for the voice coil, rather than the corrugated disk suspension that is conventionally used. Specially designed vent passages are formed in the magnet assembly, in order to prevent internal pressure build-ups, or subatmospheric conditions, that could cause the magnetic fluid to be blown out of the magnetic gap, in which the voice coil is located. The vent passages permit use of a relatively low viscosity fluid to be used for the fluid suspension. A fluid viscosity of about fifty (50) centipoise is contemplated.

US Patent:

20150381024, Dec 31, 2015

Filed:

Mar 14, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/214641

Inventors:

Lewis Athanas - Marblehead MA, US

International Classification:

H02K 41/035
H04R 7/04
H04R 1/42

Abstract:

A linear loudspeaker motor. A flat, relatively thin, rigid elongate motor armature is disposed in a gap between the north pole of one elongate magnet and the south of another elongate magnet, or a gap between the north and south poles of the same, or effectively the same, magnet. Several alternative means are provided to suspend the armature in the gap. The armature includes an elongate electrically conductive, low impedance strip. When a current flows in the strip, a force is produced that tends to move the elongate armature in or out of the gap, thereby displacing a loudspeaker diaphragm to which it is attached.

US Patent:

20150382110, Dec 31, 2015

Filed:

Mar 14, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/214585

Inventors:

Lewis Athanas - Marblehead MA, US

International Classification:

H04R 7/02
H04R 1/00

Abstract:

An acoustic transducer and method for driving same. A flat or somewhat curved panel has one or more drive motors at selected locations to generate transverse waves in the panel and concomitant longitudinal acoustic waves in an acoustic medium in which the panel is disposed. It also has attenuation features, such as damping or active wave cancellation motors, at one or more boundaries to substantially attenuate or essentially cancel arriving transverse waves and the reflections they would otherwise produce, thereby creating virtual infinite panel boundaries and reducing or substantially eliminating unwanted modes and wave interference in the panel. A linear motor is provided for driving one or more edges of the panel.