EP0847672B1 - Packaging - Google Patents

Packaging Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0847672B1
EP0847672B1 EP96929391A EP96929391A EP0847672B1 EP 0847672 B1 EP0847672 B1 EP 0847672B1 EP 96929391 A EP96929391 A EP 96929391A EP 96929391 A EP96929391 A EP 96929391A EP 0847672 B1 EP0847672 B1 EP 0847672B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
transducer
packaging
packaging according
panel
box
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
EP96929391A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0847672A2 (en
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
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 EP0847672A2 publication Critical patent/EP0847672A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0847672B1 publication Critical patent/EP0847672B1/en
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
    • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/02—Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein
    • H04R1/028—Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
    • 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

Definitions

  • the invention relates to packaging and more particularly to packaging incorporating loudspeakers.
  • US-A-4,607,747 of STEINER discloses packaging comprising means for generating a signal or melody when opening the packaging.
  • a resiliently mounted signal generator is disclosed.
  • 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. W097/09842 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 packaging incorporating acoustic devices e.g. in the form of loudspeakers.
  • the term 'packaging' is intended to encompass containers generally whether or not they are disposable.
  • distributed mode radiators are intended to be characterised as in the above PCT application and/or otherwise as specifically provided herein.
  • the invention is packaging comprising a sound generator, characterised by a board component forming a part of the packaging and acting as a member 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 wholly and exclusively 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.
  • the member may comprise a cellular core sandwiched between skin layers.
  • the member may comprise a core of foamed plastics sandwiched between sheets of craft board.
  • the transducer may be a piezo-electric bender, and the bender may be crystalline.
  • the member may form one side of a box.
  • the box may have a lid, and means associated with the lid for triggering actuation of the transducer on movement of the lid relative to the box.
  • the packaging may comprise a signal generator, an amplifier and an electric battery to drive the transducer.
  • 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. WO97/09859, WO97/09861, WO97/09858 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. WO97/09842 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 packaging incorporating the loudspeaker technology of Figures 1 and 2.
  • the packaging is in the form of a box (111) having a hinged lid (139), the box, or at least part of it being made from a composite comprising a core of foamed plastics sandwiched between sheets of craft board to form a panel as shown in Figure 2, such that the box comprises a rigid, lightweight distributed mode acoustic radiator as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
  • the rear panel (140) of the box is used to form a distributed mode radiator loudspeaker (81), although any one of the panels making up the sides of the box would be suitable if suitably constructed.
  • An alternative placement for the transducer (9) is shown in dotted lines.
  • a piezo transducer (9) as shown in Figure 4 is attached to the inner face of the rear panel (140) of the box and is driven by a sound generator/amplifier/battery unit (112) also mounted on the rear panel.
  • the unit (112) is controlled by a switch formed integrally with a hinge (53) by which the lid (139) is secured to the box, whereby the sound generator is activated when the lid is lifted.
  • edge termination of the panel (2) is formed by the corners of the box so that no additional frame (1) or suspension (3) of the kind shown in Figures 1 and 2 is required.
  • the packaging need not be of the shape shown in the drawing, and could, for example, be shaped according to the requirements of the contents.
  • the packaging might be shaped to enclose a compact disc or the like and may be arranged to provide an audio preview of the contents of the compact disc or to provide other information relating thereto.
  • the packaging may form a musical box.
  • the packaging may be arranged to give audio instructions concerning the contents.
  • FIG 4 shows a transducer (9) for a distributed mode panel (2) in the form of a crystalline disc-like piezo bender (27) mounted on a disc (118), e.g. of brass, which is bonded to a face of the panel (2), e.g. by an adhesive bond (20).
  • a transducer (9) for a distributed mode panel (2) in the form of a crystalline disc-like piezo bender (27) mounted on a disc (118), e.g. of brass, which is bonded to a face of the panel (2), e.g. by an adhesive bond (20).
  • a transducer (9) via leads (28) will cause the piezo disc (27) to bend and thus locally resiliently deform the panel (2) to launch bending waves into the panel.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Piezo-Electric Transducers For Audible Bands (AREA)
  • Diaphragms For Electromechanical Transducers (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
  • Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
  • Details Of Audible-Bandwidth Transducers (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
EP96929391A 1995-09-02 1996-09-02 Packaging Expired - Lifetime EP0847672B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9517918 1995-09-02
GBGB9517918.0A GB9517918D0 (en) 1995-09-02 1995-09-02 Acoustic device
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/GB1996/002146 WO1997009855A2 (en) 1995-09-02 1996-09-02 Packaging incorporating loudspeakers

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0847672A2 EP0847672A2 (en) 1998-06-17
EP0847672B1 true EP0847672B1 (en) 1999-03-10

Family

ID=34865238

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96929391A Expired - Lifetime EP0847672B1 (en) 1995-09-02 1996-09-02 Packaging

Country Status (13)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0847672B1 (ru)
JP (1) JPH11512250A (ru)
CN (1) CN1195462A (ru)
AT (1) ATE177581T1 (ru)
AU (1) AU702873B2 (ru)
CA (1) CA2230704A1 (ru)
DE (1) DE69601732T2 (ru)
DK (1) DK0847672T3 (ru)
EA (1) EA000860B1 (ru)
ES (1) ES2131954T3 (ru)
HK (1) HK1008651A1 (ru)
RO (1) RO119054B1 (ru)
WO (1) WO1997009855A2 (ru)

Families Citing this family (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002082856A2 (en) * 2001-04-05 2002-10-17 New Transducers Limited Loudspeaker and method of making same
US7245729B2 (en) 2001-04-05 2007-07-17 New Transducers Limited Loudspeaker
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
US11431312B2 (en) 2004-08-10 2022-08-30 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc System and method for digital signal processing
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
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
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
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
US10820883B2 (en) 2014-04-16 2020-11-03 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc Noise reduction assembly for auscultation of a body
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
JP2018537910A (ja) 2015-11-16 2018-12-20 ボンジョビ アコースティックス リミテッド ライアビリティー カンパニー 表面音響変換器
US9621994B1 (en) 2015-11-16 2017-04-11 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc Surface acoustic transducer
JP2021521700A (ja) 2018-04-11 2021-08-26 ボンジョビ アコースティックス リミテッド ライアビリティー カンパニー オーディオ強化聴力保護システム
WO2020028833A1 (en) 2018-08-02 2020-02-06 Bongiovi Acoustics Llc System, method, and apparatus for generating and digitally processing a head related audio transfer function

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5025474A (en) * 1987-09-29 1991-06-18 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Speaker system with image projection screen

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3247925A (en) * 1962-03-08 1966-04-26 Lord Corp Loudspeaker
CH661022A5 (de) * 1984-09-12 1987-06-30 Andi Steiner Verpackung fuer ein gut sowie behaeltnis.
ATE117155T1 (de) * 1990-08-04 1995-01-15 Secr Defence Brit Paneelförmiger lautsprecher.

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5025474A (en) * 1987-09-29 1991-06-18 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Speaker system with image projection screen

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE177581T1 (de) 1999-03-15
HK1008651A1 (en) 1999-05-14
ES2131954T3 (es) 1999-08-01
CA2230704A1 (en) 1997-03-13
AU702873B2 (en) 1999-03-11
AU6880696A (en) 1997-03-27
EA199800259A1 (ru) 1998-10-29
DK0847672T3 (da) 1999-09-27
EP0847672A2 (en) 1998-06-17
DE69601732D1 (de) 1999-04-15
EA000860B1 (ru) 2000-06-26
DE69601732T2 (de) 1999-09-16
WO1997009855A2 (en) 1997-03-13
JPH11512250A (ja) 1999-10-19
CN1195462A (zh) 1998-10-07
RO119054B1 (ro) 2004-02-27

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