New technology from the UK

[Ed Holland]

I thought this would be of interest to the readers of this section:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7976991.stm

A new "flexible film technology" for speaker applications.

They have a website here:

http://www.warwickaudiotech.com/

But rather little info about the active ingredients & operating principle beyond a comparison to ESLs. If I get a chance, I'll try and dig around for patent material.

Ed

 

[Ziggy]

Nice find Ed

But, it's only a midrange transducer?......what the???

 

[Ed Holland]

I reckoned as much, but just thought it intriguing. Agreed, it's hard to see how this might develop into something with the qualities we seek for "Hi Fi".

Ed

 

[Few]

Their website is sure short on details! From the sound of it (sorry for the unintentional pun) they have a pair of conducting electrodes sandwiching a piezoelectric polymer. If it works when flat, then I wonder if applying a voltage modulates the polymer's thickness. That would be different from most other piezoelectric polymer applications, such as the tweeters in the Gallo loudspeakers and the old Pioneer HPM speakers from the 70s. Of course I could be completely wrong and it might have nothing to do with piezoelectricity...
Few