Acoustics: Sound Fields, Transducers and Vibration, 2nd Edition

15.2. Construction

A typical electrostatic loudspeaker configuration is shown in Fig. 15.1.

In the middle is a light flexible membrane, which is held under tension and clamped at its perimeter between insulating ring spacers. The spacers separate the membrane from the rigid stators or ring electrodes located on either side of it at a distance d. The membrane is circular with a radius a and has a conductive coating that is charged by a polarizing supply with a dc voltage E _P . The polarizing supply is connected via a high-value resistor R _P to prevent the charge on the membrane from varying significantly when the alternating signal voltage e ˜ in is applied to deflect the membrane to either side of its central position. ...