EP0847664B1 - Haut-parleurs comprenant des elements radiants acoustiques en forme de panneau - Google Patents

Haut-parleurs comprenant des elements radiants acoustiques en forme de panneau Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0847664B1
EP0847664B1 EP96929399A EP96929399A EP0847664B1 EP 0847664 B1 EP0847664 B1 EP 0847664B1 EP 96929399 A EP96929399 A EP 96929399A EP 96929399 A EP96929399 A EP 96929399A EP 0847664 B1 EP0847664 B1 EP 0847664B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
panel
radiator
frame
transducer
form loudspeaker
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96929399A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0847664A2 (fr
Inventor
Henry Azima
Martin Colloms
Neil Harris
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
NVF Tech Ltd
Original Assignee
New Transducers Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=34865245&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0847664(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Priority claimed from GBGB9517918.0A external-priority patent/GB9517918D0/en
Priority claimed from GBGB9522281.6A external-priority patent/GB9522281D0/en
Priority claimed from GBGB9606836.6A external-priority patent/GB9606836D0/en
Application filed by New Transducers Ltd filed Critical New Transducers Ltd
Publication of EP0847664A2 publication Critical patent/EP0847664A2/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0847664B1 publication Critical patent/EP0847664B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R7/00—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones
    • H04R7/02—Diaphragms for electromechanical transducers; Cones characterised by the construction
    • H04R7/04—Plane diaphragms
    • H04R7/045—Plane diaphragms using the distributed mode principle, i.e. whereby the acoustic radiation is emanated from uniformly distributed free bending wave vibration induced in a stiff panel and not from pistonic motion
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2440/00—Bending wave transducers covered by H04R, not provided for in its groups
    • H04R2440/07—Loudspeakers using bending wave resonance and pistonic motion to generate sound

Definitions

  • the invention relates to loudspeakers and more particularly to loudspeakers comprising panel-form acoustic radiating elements.
  • Embodiments of the present invention use members of nature, structure and configuration achievable generally and/or specifically by implementing teachings of our co-pending PCT publication No. WO97/09842 of even date herewith.
  • Such members thus have capability to sustain and propagate input vibrational energy by bending waves in operative area(s) extending transversely of thickness often but not necessarily to edges of the member(s); are configured with or without anisotropy of bending stiffness to have resonant mode vibration components distributed over said area(s) beneficially for acoustic coupling with ambient air; and have predetermined preferential locations or sites within said area for transducer means, particularly operationally active or moving part(s) thereof effective in relation to acoustic vibrational activity in said area(s) and signals, usually electrical, corresponding to acoustic content of such vibrational activity.
  • This invention is particularly concerned with active acoustic devices in the form of loudspeakers.
  • the invention is a panel-form loudspeaker comprising a member having a periphery and having capability to sustain and propagate input vibrational energy by bending waves in at least one operative area extending transversely of thickness to have resonant mode vibration components distributed over said at least one area and have predetermined preferential locations or sites within said area for transducer means and having a transducer mounted on said member at one of said locations or sites to vibrate the member to cause it to resonate forming an acoustic radiator which provides an acoustic output when resonating, a frame supporting the radiator round its periphery, the transducer being coupled between the radiator and the frame and resilient suspension means coupled between the frame, and the radiator periphery whereby the radiator is capable of pistonic movement and resonant behaviour, and wherein the transducer (9) is adapted to move the radiator pistonically.
  • the frame may have a portion surrounding the radiator.
  • the resilient suspension may be of an elastomeric material.
  • the frame may comprise a floor stand having a ground engaging portion, a substantially upright portion extending from the ground engaging portion and a plurality of arms extending from the upright portion, the distal ends of which arms connect to the frame portion surrounding the radiator.
  • the radiator may be rectangular, and the arms may extend near to the corners of the radiator.
  • the transducer may be mounted on or adjacent to the upright portion of the frame.
  • the transducer may be mounted on a lug projecting from the upright portion.
  • a balancing pair of transducers may be provided.
  • the radiator may comprise a lightweight core separating a pair of high modulus lightweight skins.
  • a panel-form loudspeaker (81) of the kind described and claimed in our co-pending International publication No. W097/09842 of even date herewith comprising a rectangular frame (1) carrying a resilient suspension (3) round its inner periphery which supports a distributed mode sound radiating panel (2).
  • a transducer (9) e.g as described in detail with reference to our co-pending International publication Nos. W097/09859, WO97/09861, W097/09858 of even date herewith, is mounted wholly and exclusively on or in the panel (2) at a predetermined location defined by dimensions x and y , the position of which location is calculated as described in our co-pending International publication No. W097/09842 of even date herewith, to launch bending waves into the panel to cause the panel to resonate to radiate an acoustic output.
  • the transducer (9) is driven by a signal amplifier (10), e.g. an audio amplifier, connected to the transducer by conductors (28).
  • a signal amplifier (10) e.g. an audio amplifier
  • Amplifier loading and power requirements can be entirely normal, similar to conventional cone type speakers, sensitivity being of the order of 86 - 88dB/watt under room loaded conditions.
  • Amplifier load impedance is largely resistive at 6 ohms, power handling 20-80 watts. Where the panel core and/or skins are of metal, they may be made to act as a heat sink for the transducer to remove heat from the motor coil of the transducer and thus improve power handling.
  • Figures 2 a and 2 b are partial typical cross-sections through the loudspeaker (81) of Figure 1.
  • Figure 2 a shows that the frame (1), surround (3) and panel (2) are connected together by respective adhesive-bonded joints (20).
  • Suitable materials for the frame include lightweight framing, e.g. picture framing of extruded metal e.g. aluminium alloy or plastics.
  • Suitable surround materials include resilient materials such as foam rubber and foam plastics.
  • Suitable adhesives for the joints (20) include epoxy, acrylic and cyano-acrylate etc. adhesives.
  • Figure 2 b illustrates, to an enlarged scale, that the panel (2) is a rigid lightweight panel having a core (22) e.g. of a rigid plastics foam (97) e.g. cross linked polyvinylchloride or a cellular matrix (98) i.e. a honeycomb matrix of metal foil, plastics or the like, with the cells extending transversely to the plane of the panel, and enclosed by opposed skins (21) e.g. of paper, card, plastics or metal foil or sheet.
  • the skins are of plastics, they may be reinforced with fibres e.g. of carbon, glass, Kevlar (RTM) or the like in a manner known per se to increase their modulus.
  • RTM Kevlar
  • Envisaged skin layer materials and reinforcements thus include carbon, glass, Kevlar (RTM), Nomex (RTM) i.e. aramid etc. fibres in various lays and weaves, as well as paper, bonded paper laminates, melamine, and various synthetic plastics films of high modulus, such as Mylar (RTM), Kaptan (RTM), polycarbonate, phenolic, polyester or related plastics, and fibre reinforced plastics, etc. and metal sheet or foil.
  • Investigation of the Vectra grade of liquid crystal polymer thermoplastics shows that they may be useful for the injection moulding of ultra thin skins or shells of smaller size, say up to around 30cm diameter. This material self forms an orientated crystal structure in the direction of injection, a preferred orientation for the good propagation of treble energy from the driving point to the panel perimeter.
  • thermoplastics allow for the mould tooling to carry location and registration features such as grooves or rings for the accurate location of transducer parts e.g. the motor coil, and the magnet suspension. Additional with some weaker core materials it is calculated that it would be advantageous to increase the skin thickness locally e.g. in an area or annulus up to 150% of the transducer diameter, to reinforce that area and beneficially couple vibration energy into the panel. High frequency response will be improved with the softer foam materials by this means.
  • Envisaged core layer materials include fabricated honeycombs or corrugations of aluminium alloy sheet or foil, or Kevlar (RTM), Nomex (RTM), plain or bonded papers, and various synthetic plastics films, as well as expanded or foamed plastics or pulp materials, even aerogel metals if of suitably low density.
  • Some suitable core layer materials effectively exhibit usable self-skinning in their manufacture and/or otherwise have enough inherent stiffness for use without lamination between skin layers.
  • a high performance cellular core material is known under the trade name 'Rohacell' which may be suitable as a radiator panel and which is without skins. In practical terms, the aim is for an overall lightness and stiffness suited to a particular purpose, specifically including optimising contributions from core and skin layers and transitions between them.
  • piezo and electro dynamic transducers have negligible electromagnetic radiation or stray magnet fields.
  • Conventional speakers have a large magnetic field, up to 1 metre distant unless specific compensation counter measures are taken.
  • electrical connection can be made to the conductive parts of an appropriate DML panel or an electrically conductive foam or similar interface may be used for the edge mounting.
  • the suspension (3) may damp the edges of the panel (2) to prevent excessive edge movement of the panel. Additionally or alternatively, further damping may be applied, e.g. as patches, bonded to the panel in selected positions to damp excessive movement to distribute resonance equally over the panel.
  • the patches may be of bitumen-based material, as commonly used in conventional loudspeaker enclosures or may be of a resilient or rigid polymeric sheet material. Some materials, notably paper and card, and some cores may be self-damping. Where desired, the damping may be increased in the construction of the panels by employing resiliently setting, rather than rigid setting adhesives.
  • Effective said selective damping includes specific application to the panel including its sheet material of means permanently associated therewith. Edges and corners can be particularly significant for dominant and less dispersed low frequency vibration modes of panels hereof. Edge-wise fixing of damping means can usefully lead to a panel with its said sheet material fully framed, though their corners can often be relatively free, say for desired extension to lower frequency operation. Attachment can be by adhesive or self-adhesive materials. Other forms of useful damping, particularly in terms of more subtle effects and/or mid- and higher frequencies can be by way of suitable mass or masses affixed to the sheet material at predetermined effective medial localised positions of said area.
  • An acoustic panel as described above is bidirectional.
  • the sound energy from the back is not strongly phase related to that from the front. Consequently there is the benefit of overall summation of acoustic power in the room, sound energy of uniform frequency distribution, reduced reflective and standing wave effects and with the advantage of superior reproduction of the natural space and ambience in the reproduced sound recordings.
  • Figure 3 illustrates a floor-mounted panel-form loudspeaker (81) of the kind generally shown in Figures 1 and 2 and in which a lightweight rigid rectangular distributed mode sound radiating panel (2) is mounted on a resilient surround (3) which in turn is supported in a rectangular frame (1).
  • the frame (1) is supported by a floor stand (23) having a ground-engaging foot (83) supporting an upright stem (84) having four generally horizontal arms (85) connected at their distal ends (86) to the respective corners (87) of the frame (1).
  • a balanced pair of transducers (9) are mounted at one respective end on the panel (2) and at their other ends are also supported on lugs (88) on the stem (84) to drive the panel.
  • the pair of transducers (9) are located on the panel (2) at predetermined locations as discussed below.
  • This arrangement is intended to operate to drive the panel (2) pistonically at low frequencies by reacting against the stem (84) which along with the arms (85) acts as the chassis of a conventional loudspeaker drive unit and to vibrate the panel at higher frequencies to cause it to resonate to produce an acoustic output.
  • the suspension (3) is compliant, i.e. like the roll surround of a conventional pistonic loudspeaker cone driver.
  • the panel-form loudspeaker of the invention is relatively simple to make, and its flatness makes it relatively easy to house. It has a wide angle of acoustic dispersion in comparison to conventional loudspeakers.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Diaphragms For Electromechanical Transducers (AREA)
  • Obtaining Desirable Characteristics In Audible-Bandwidth Transducers (AREA)
  • Audible-Bandwidth Dynamoelectric Transducers Other Than Pickups (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
  • Piezo-Electric Transducers For Audible Bands (AREA)
  • Details Of Audible-Bandwidth Transducers (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Un haut-parleur (81) en forme de panneau comprenant un élément (2) ayant une périphérie et ayant la possibilité d'entretenir et de faire propager de l'énergie vibratoire d'entrée, par des ondes de flexion, dans au moins une zone active s'étendant transversalement à l'épaisseur, pour avoir des composantes de vibration de mode résonnant réparties sur la zone précitée, et pour avoir des emplacements ou des sites préférentiels prédéterminés à l'intérieur de cette zone pour des moyens à transducteur, et ayant un transducteur (9) monté sur l'élément à l'un des emplacements ou des sites, pour faire vibrer l'élément de façon qu'il résonne en formant un radiateur acoustique qui produit une émission acoustique lorsqu'il résonne, un cadre (1) supportant le radiateur (2) autour de sa périphérie, le transducteur étant couplé entre le radiateur et le cadre, et des moyens de suspension (3) élastiques couplés entre le cadre et la périphérie du radiateur, grâce à quoi le radiateur est capable d'accomplir un mouvement de piston et d'avoir un comportement résonnant, et dans lequel le transducteur (9) est adapté pour déplacer le radiateur avec un mouvement de piston.
  2. Un haut-parleur en forme de panneau selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le cadre (1) a une partie entourant le radiateur (2).
  3. Un haut-parleur en forme de panneau selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la suspension élastique (3) consiste en un élastomère.
  4. Un haut-parleur en forme de panneau selon la revendication 2 ou la revendication 3 lorsqu'elle est rattachée à la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que le cadre (1) comprend un pied (23) ayant une partie (83) venant en contact avec le sol, une partie (84) pratiquement verticale s'étendant à partir de la partie qui vient en contact avec le sol, et un ensemble de bras (85), s'étendant à partir de la partie verticale, les extrémités distales de ces bras étant reliées à la partie de cadre (1) qui entoure le radiateur.
  5. Un haut-parleur en forme de panneau selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que le radiateur (2) est rectangulaire, et en ce que les bras (85) s'étendent au voisinage des coins du radiateur.
  6. Un haut-parleur en forme de panneau selon la revendication 4 ou la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que le transducteur (9) est monté sur la partie verticale (84) du cadre, ou en position adjacente à celle-ci.
  7. Un haut-parleur en forme de panneau selon l'une quelconque des revendications 4 à 6, caractérisé en ce que le transducteur (9) est monté sur une patte (88) qui fait saillie à partir de la partie verticale.
  8. Un haut-parleur en forme de panneau selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par une paire équilibrée de transducteurs (9).
  9. Un haut-parleur en forme de panneau selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le radiateur (2) comprend une âme (22) légère séparant une paire de peaux (21) légères et à module élevé.
EP96929399A 1995-09-02 1996-09-02 Haut-parleurs comprenant des elements radiants acoustiques en forme de panneau Expired - Lifetime EP0847664B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9517918.0A GB9517918D0 (en) 1995-09-02 1995-09-02 Acoustic device
GB9517918 1995-09-02
GB9522281 1995-10-31
GBGB9522281.6A GB9522281D0 (en) 1995-10-31 1995-10-31 Acoustic device
GBGB9606836.6A GB9606836D0 (en) 1996-03-30 1996-03-30 Acoustic device
GB9606836 1996-03-30
PCT/GB1996/002158 WO1997009845A2 (fr) 1995-09-02 1996-09-02 Haut-parleurs comprenant des elements radiants acoustiques en forme de panneau

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0847664A2 EP0847664A2 (fr) 1998-06-17
EP0847664B1 true EP0847664B1 (fr) 1999-04-28

Family

ID=34865245

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96929399A Expired - Lifetime EP0847664B1 (fr) 1995-09-02 1996-09-02 Haut-parleurs comprenant des elements radiants acoustiques en forme de panneau

Country Status (21)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0847664B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH11512255A (fr)
CN (1) CN1194085A (fr)
AT (1) ATE179563T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU703296B2 (fr)
BR (1) BR9610466A (fr)
CA (1) CA2230161A1 (fr)
CZ (1) CZ58298A3 (fr)
DE (1) DE69602279T2 (fr)
DK (1) DK0847664T3 (fr)
EA (1) EA199800246A1 (fr)
ES (1) ES2131957T3 (fr)
HK (1) HK1008644A1 (fr)
HU (1) HUP9900168A3 (fr)
IL (1) IL123487A (fr)
NZ (1) NZ316556A (fr)
PL (1) PL325211A1 (fr)
RO (1) RO119044B1 (fr)
SK (1) SK26398A3 (fr)
TR (1) TR199800361T1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1997009845A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9806994D0 (en) * 1998-04-02 1998-06-03 New Transducers Ltd Acoustic device
DE29923450U1 (de) 1998-06-22 2000-09-28 Slab Technology Ltd, Albany, Auckland Lautsprecher
DE29811727U1 (de) 1998-07-01 1998-08-27 Alusuisse KAPA GmbH, 49090 Osnabrück Plattenlautsprechervorrichtung
BR0208686A (pt) * 2001-04-05 2004-03-30 New Transducers Ltd Alto-falante
US6813362B2 (en) 2001-04-05 2004-11-02 New Transducers Limited Loudspeaker and method of making same
US11431312B2 (en) 2004-08-10 2022-08-30 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc System and method for digital signal processing
US8284955B2 (en) 2006-02-07 2012-10-09 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc System and method for digital signal processing
US10848118B2 (en) 2004-08-10 2020-11-24 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc System and method for digital signal processing
US10158337B2 (en) 2004-08-10 2018-12-18 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc System and method for digital signal processing
US9615189B2 (en) 2014-08-08 2017-04-04 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc Artificial ear apparatus and associated methods for generating a head related audio transfer function
US10848867B2 (en) 2006-02-07 2020-11-24 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc System and method for digital signal processing
US10701505B2 (en) 2006-02-07 2020-06-30 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc. System, method, and apparatus for generating and digitally processing a head related audio transfer function
US11202161B2 (en) 2006-02-07 2021-12-14 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc System, method, and apparatus for generating and digitally processing a head related audio transfer function
US10069471B2 (en) 2006-02-07 2018-09-04 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc System and method for digital signal processing
US9264004B2 (en) 2013-06-12 2016-02-16 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc System and method for narrow bandwidth digital signal processing
US9883318B2 (en) 2013-06-12 2018-01-30 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc System and method for stereo field enhancement in two-channel audio systems
US9906858B2 (en) 2013-10-22 2018-02-27 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc System and method for digital signal processing
US10820883B2 (en) 2014-04-16 2020-11-03 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc Noise reduction assembly for auscultation of a body
US10639000B2 (en) 2014-04-16 2020-05-05 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc Device for wide-band auscultation
US9615813B2 (en) 2014-04-16 2017-04-11 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc. Device for wide-band auscultation
US9564146B2 (en) 2014-08-01 2017-02-07 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc System and method for digital signal processing in deep diving environment
US9638672B2 (en) 2015-03-06 2017-05-02 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc System and method for acquiring acoustic information from a resonating body
US9906867B2 (en) 2015-11-16 2018-02-27 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc Surface acoustic transducer
US9621994B1 (en) 2015-11-16 2017-04-11 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc Surface acoustic transducer
CN112236812A (zh) 2018-04-11 2021-01-15 邦吉欧维声学有限公司 音频增强听力保护系统
WO2020028833A1 (fr) 2018-08-02 2020-02-06 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc Système, procédé et appareil pour générer et traiter numériquement une fonction de transfert audio liée à la tête
US10782731B1 (en) * 2019-02-28 2020-09-22 Google Llc Modal frequency shifting for loudspeaker devices

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3247925A (en) * 1962-03-08 1966-04-26 Lord Corp Loudspeaker
JPS5748153Y2 (fr) * 1977-11-26 1982-10-22
US4751419A (en) * 1986-12-10 1988-06-14 Nitto Incorporated Piezoelectric oscillation assembly including several individual piezoelectric oscillation devices having a common oscillation plate member
DK0541646T3 (da) * 1990-08-04 1995-03-20 Secr Defence Brit Panelformet højttaler
JP3118363B2 (ja) * 1994-02-25 2000-12-18 株式会社ケンウッド スピーカシステム

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EA199800246A1 (ru) 1998-10-29
HUP9900168A3 (en) 2001-08-28
ATE179563T1 (de) 1999-05-15
HK1008644A1 (en) 1999-05-14
DK0847664T3 (da) 1999-11-08
SK26398A3 (en) 1998-09-09
DE69602279T2 (de) 1999-09-16
BR9610466A (pt) 1999-03-02
TR199800361T1 (xx) 1998-05-21
HUP9900168A2 (hu) 1999-04-28
AU703296B2 (en) 1999-03-25
DE69602279D1 (de) 1999-06-02
IL123487A (en) 2001-11-25
JPH11512255A (ja) 1999-10-19
RO119044B1 (ro) 2004-02-27
CZ58298A3 (cs) 1998-07-15
EP0847664A2 (fr) 1998-06-17
PL325211A1 (en) 1998-07-06
AU6881496A (en) 1997-03-27
WO1997009845A2 (fr) 1997-03-13
CN1194085A (zh) 1998-09-23
CA2230161A1 (fr) 1997-03-13
WO1997009845A3 (fr) 1997-05-29
NZ316556A (en) 1998-05-27
ES2131957T3 (es) 1999-08-01
IL123487A0 (en) 1998-09-24

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